Podcasts about Stepping

On this episode of The Schaub Show, Brendan Schaub breaks down the story of Jack Doherty and three of his friendstrying to step up to Andrei Arlovski — and why that kind of confidence gets people hurt fast. Brendan explains the massive difference between influencer bravado and real fighting experience, why heavyweight legends like Arlovski operate in a completely different reality, and how internet fame can warp people's sense of danger. The conversation highlights why stepping to a real professional fighter isn't entertainment, isn't a joke, and isn't something numbers or followers prepare you for. The episode also dives into influencer fight culture, ego, clout, and why fans consistently underestimate what elite fighters are capable of, even later in their careers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Whether you're newlywed or if you've been married for years, you may have unspoken and sometimes unrealistic expectations that can lead to disappointment, conflict, and resentment. On this episode, Greg and Erin help couples develop better conflict resolution techniques such as pausing during escalated arguments, leaning in during moments of conflict, and utilizing empathy in apologies with Christian counselors Chris and Jamie Bailey. They underscore the importance of mutual support, adjustment to changing life circumstances, and maintaining fun and friendship throughout marriage. We also have a tool to help you set boundaries in your marriage, and we answer a listener question about how to encourage a husband to lead his family. Newlywed Couple's Devotional 12 Pieces of Advice I'd Tell Newlywed Me 5 Traditional Marriage Vows: What They Mean & Why They're Still Important Contact the show! Sign up for our FREE Marriage Newsletter Send us your email or voice mail here! Send Us A Review! Support the show! If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.

Ready to tackle 2026 with purpose? In this episode of Shoe-In Show, the FDRA team shares their personal and professional resolutions—from fitness goals to historical deep dives—while unpacking what's ahead for the footwear industry. From emerging trends and trade dynamics to big-picture planning for the year ahead, this conversation blends insight, humor, and optimism. Tune in for inspiration, a few laughs, and a bold look at what 2026 has in store for footwear. With special guests: Sandi Mines, Thomas Crockett, Gary Raines, and Christie Horan Hosted by: Matt Priest and Andy Polk

This is a recap of the top 10 posts on Hacker News on December 28, 2025. This podcast was generated by wondercraft.ai (00:30): CalendarOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46408613&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(01:46): What an unprocessed photo looks likeOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46415225&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(03:03): Growing up in “404 Not Found”: China's nuclear city in the Gobi DesertOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46408988&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(04:20): Replacing JavaScript with Just HTMLOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46407337&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(05:37): Last Year on My Mac: Look Back in DisbeliefOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46409969&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(06:54): Fathers' choices may be packaged and passed down in sperm RNAOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46407502&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(08:10): Building a macOS app to know when my Mac is thermal throttlingOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46410402&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(09:27): Stepping down as Mockito maintainer after ten yearsOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46414078&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(10:44): Learn computer graphics from scratch and for freeOriginal post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46410210&utm_source=wondercraft_ai(12:01): CEOs are hugely expensive. Why not automate them? (2021)Original post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46415488&utm_source=wondercraft_aiThis is a third-party project, independent from HN and YC. Text and audio generated using AI, by wondercraft.ai. Create your own studio quality podcast with text as the only input in seconds at app.wondercraft.ai. Issues or feedback? We'd love to hear from you: team@wondercraft.ai

What does a year of growth really look like when you step away from the highlight reel and tell the truth? As we reach the end of 2025, we wanted to pause and pull back the curtain on what this year has genuinely been like for us behind the scenes. This episode is an honest, reflective conversation about the reality of running a values led coaching business through a year of challenge, change, and deep learning. We talk openly about the tension between what people often see from the outside and what it has actually felt like to be inside the business. This year has asked a lot of us. There have been moments of momentum and celebration alongside periods of complexity, uncertainty, and sustained effort that few people ever witness. We reflect on how a trip to Dubai at the start of the year became a catalyst for significant shifts in our thinking. Stepping into a different environment gave us the space to see long standing business bottlenecks with fresh eyes. What had felt heavy and immovable suddenly became solvable. That experience reshaped how we approached systems, automation, and the role technology plays in supporting rather than draining a coaching business. We share what it took to bring our Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching programme to life, both in its full facilitated form and later through the Essentials offering. These programmes hold enormous meaning for us, not only because of their impact on coaches and clients, but because of the care, collaboration, and emotional labour involved in creating them well. This year reminded us why programme creation is so demanding and why integrity in delivery matters deeply to us. Much of 2025 has been about strengthening the foundations of the business. We talk about the unglamorous but essential work of refining processes, documenting systems, onboarding team members, and rebuilding parts of the business from the ground up to support scale. This included changing payment systems, migrating our website from co.uk to com, securing trademarks, and rethinking how we structure qualifications and CPD. Alongside all of this, there has been personal growth. We reflect on stepping back into facilitation, reconnecting with learners, and the fulfilment that comes from being closer to the heart of the work. We also share how this year has prompted bigger questions about brand identity, marketing, and how we want to be known as a global coaching organisation. This episode is an invitation to reflect on your own year with honesty and compassion. Whether you are running a coaching business, leading in an organisation, or navigating change, we hope our reflections offer reassurance, perspective, and a reminder that progress is often quieter and messier than it appears.   Timestamps: 00:00 Welcome and why we reflect at the end of each year 01:24 Why 2025 felt challenging as well as successful 01:54 The Dubai trip that changed how we saw our business 02:53 Gaining fresh perspective on systems and processes 05:17 Launching our Neurodivergent Inclusive Coaching programme 06:42 Creating accessible pathways through Essentials 08:04 Rebuilding systems and standard operating procedures 09:52 Moving from co.uk to com and what it represented 11:48 Returning to facilitation and reconnecting with learners 14:32 Securing trademarks and protecting the brand 15:29 Refreshing our ILM Level 3 coaching qualification 16:55 Corporate partnerships and ripple effects of coaching 18:22 Scaling responsibly and supporting hundreds of learners 21:29 Looking ahead to 2026 with clarity and optimism   Key Lessons Learned: Stepping away from the day to day can unlock solutions that feel impossible when you stay too close Strong systems are not restrictive, they create freedom and sustainability Inclusive programme design requires time, care, and collaboration Scaling a coaching business often means rebuilding rather than adding on Reconnecting with clients and learners keeps the heart of the work alive Brand decisions are as emotional as they are strategic Continuous improvement is demanding but deeply worthwhile   Links and Resources: www.igcompany.com/ilmcall www.mycoachingcourse.com    Keywords: coaching business growth, behind the scenes coaching, neurodivergent inclusive coaching, coaching qualifications UK, coaching CPD programmes, emotional coaching practice, coaching business systems, coach training programmes, coaching leadership development, The Coaching Crowd podcast,

Taryn Bozzo is the CEO of AV Images, a California-based full-service audio-visual production company delivering high-impact event solutions for over 40 years. Under Taryn's leadership, AV Images has weathered significant industry shifts, including the pandemic, and continues to serve a national client base with multimillion-dollar revenues and a strong presence in the Las Vegas event market. Having stepped into the CEO role as a second-generation leader, Taryn brings a unique perspective shaped by her early career in public service and her deep roots in the company founded by her father. In this episode… Stepping into a leadership position is hard enough, but what happens when the transition is sudden, emotional, and layered with family history? This episode explores how resilience is built when leadership is inherited, rather than chosen, and tested by uncertainty at every turn. For Taryn Bozzo, the key lies in facing discomfort head-on and staying grounded in people-first values. Drawing from her experience as a second-generation leader shaped by public service, grief, and crisis, she explains that real leadership growth happens in the hardest conversations and quiet moments of self-reflection. Her story shows how resilience is less about having a perfect plan and more about the willingness to adapt, stay vulnerable, and keep moving forward. In this episode, John Corcoran is joined by Taryn Bozzo, CEO of AV Images, to discuss resilient leadership and navigating generational leadership transitions in business. They explore stepping into a family company unexpectedly, rebuilding trust and culture after years of instability, and leading through the pandemic in the live events industry. Taryn also talks about embracing vulnerability, adapting to industry change, and finding confidence as a second-generation CEO.

“Stepping Back"

Stepping into the unknown can feel unsettling, especially when God calls us to leave what is familiar and secure. Abraham’s journey in Genesis 12 reminds us that faith often begins without full clarity—only a promise and a calling from God. Like Abraham, we are sometimes asked to trust before we see the outcome, to move forward despite fear, and to depend fully on the Lord. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to obey God even when the path ahead is unclear. As we learn to trust God’s faithfulness, He strengthens us to take bold steps of faith into what He has prepared. Main Takeaways You’ll learn why obedience to God often requires courage before clarity. Discover how Abraham’s response to God models faith in uncertain seasons. Understand why fear does not disqualify faith—but can deepen dependence on God. Reflect on how courage grows when we trust God’s promises over our fears. Be encouraged to step forward in faith, trusting that God guides every unknown. Bible Verse References Genesis 12:1 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/genesis/12-1.html Matthew 14:29 (Peter walking on water, referenced) – https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/14-29.html Your Daily Prayer Heavenly Father, You know the places in my life where fear and uncertainty hold me back. Give me the courage to trust You fully and follow where You lead, even when I don’t know what lies ahead. Help me release what You are asking me to let go of and step forward in faith, believing Your promises are sure. When fear rises, remind me that You are faithful and always with me. Strengthen my heart to walk boldly in obedience to You.In Jesus’ name, Amen. Want More? Subscribe to Your Daily Prayer for daily encouragement rooted in Scripture. Leave a rating or review to help others discover the podcast. Visit LifeAudio.com for more Christ-centered podcasts. Explore faith-building articles and devotionals at Crosswalk.com and Christianity.com. Relevant Links & Resources Study today’s Scripture passages at:BibleStudyTools.com – https://www.biblestudytools.com Christian living and spiritual growth resources:Crosswalk.com – https://www.crosswalk.comChristianity.com – https://www.christianity.com Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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For decades, Malaysia's policymakers have been analyzing inequality with the wrong lens. Dr Lee Hwok-Aun , a political economy researcher at ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute unpacks how lumping rural and urban together, ignoring regional divides, and oversimplifying ethnic categories creates policies that miss the mark (and fuel division instead of solving it). This conversation explores: → Why comparing all Bumiputeras to all Chinese obscures the real gaps (and ignores Indians entirely) → How B40 inequality between ethnic groups is actually narrowing, but nobody's talking about it → What universal basic pensions could mean for Malaysia's elderly crisis ... Follow Dr Lee here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hwok-aun-lee/ ISEAS: https://www.iseas.edu.sg/about-us/researchers/lee-hwok-aun/ Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=n_UUp7oAAAAJ&hl=en More writing at Fulcrum: https://fulcrum.sg/contributors/lee-hwok-aun/ Articles mentioned in video: NEP: https://www.ehm.my/publications/articles/interethnic-income-inequality-in-malaysia-revisiting-old-records-exploring-new-narratives Happiness: https://fulcrum.sg/all-that-money-cannot-buy-patterns-of-satisfaction-in-malaysias-happiness-index/ Aging: https://fulcrum.sg/malaysia-must-address-ailing-security-of-its-aging-society/ ... CHAPTERS 00:45 - Stepping back from the "for or against" trap 03:27 - Defining group advancement vs. need-based policies 07:31 - The data deception: why national averages lie 15:40 - How to explain inequality to your 17-year-old 21:55 - The real scandal of housing discounts and scholarships 25:47 - A balanced approach: merit + need + identity in universities 35:04 - Malaysia's happiness paradox & why Terengganu beats KL 43:04 - Can Malaysia afford universal pensions? 52:59 - The future of work, AI, and group advancement policy

In this powerful episode, Jesica Henderson and I dive deep into the meaning of identity and the inevitable process of transformation. We explore what "identity" truly signifies and invite you to reflect on the common threads that emerge when it's time to shed old versions of yourself.This is more than just personal growth; it's about strategically embracing your next evolution. We share three essential tips for listeners to recognize the critical moment when they are ready to step into their "2.0."

The meeting is scheduled for the next day.A decision needs to be made. Teams are waiting for direction.As you review the materials one final time, you see it immediately:the analysis is incomplete. Key inputs are missing. Several assumptions haven't been tested.This is not new.You've been clear about expectations before. And there is no time left to send it back without delaying the decision.So you make a choice.In this episode of Grounded & Aligned™, Karen Gombault examines a pattern common at Director–SVP level: stepping in to protect outcomes, and the longer-term cost that decision quietly creates.This is not about commitment or competence. It is about what happens when responsibility repeatedly shifts toward you, without being explicitly agreed, named, or corrected.The episode explores how consistent intervention changes accountability, increases cognitive load, and alters how authority is experienced, not visibly, but structurally.If you often find yourself compensating so the business does not absorb the impact of someone else's gaps, this conversation will feel familiar.What this episode looks at:How repeatedly absorbing work that isn't yours reshapes accountability — even when done for sound reasonsWhy unresolved performance issues persist when consequences never land where they belongHow authority erodes quietly through accumulated mental load, not overt challengeThe difference between short-term decision protection and long-term organizational strengthWhen stepping back is not avoidance, but an intentional leadership decision“Staying accountable to outcomes is of course part of senior leadership. But taking on work that isn't yours repeatedly, that is not.” — Karen GombaultAt senior levels, leadership is not demonstrated by how much you absorb.It is demonstrated by where responsibility sits and how you install boundaries.Next stepIf this pattern shows up in your job, I offer a 15-minute Executive Pulse Call.One situation.Clear perspective.A grounded decision on what to do about it.

During a month-long honeymoon through Hong Kong, Fiji, and New Zealand, DeAndre and Taryn share a special re-release from their appearance on the Wonderland on Points. The conversation revisits how points and miles became part of their lives, blending DeAndre's background as a financial advisor with Taryn's career in management consulting to build a travel strategy rooted in discipline, planning, and long-term thinking.They walk through standout redemptions, including a multi-stop journey to the Maldives booked with points, a stay at the Park Hyatt Maldives, and the behind-the-scenes planning of DeAndre's sandbank proposal. Along the way, they emphasize using credit cards responsibly, avoiding debt, and leveraging tools like TripIt to manage complex itineraries while creating meaningful, experience-driven travel.Key Highlights:DeAndre's entry into points and miles: His journey began through client questions as a financial advisor, leading to deep research into credit cards and transfer partners.Taryn's role in the strategy: She embraced points early and became instrumental in portals, trip planning, and organization.Responsible use of credit cards: Points strategies only work when spending mirrors cash and interest is avoided.Resetting financial habits: Stepping away from credit cards can be necessary to rebuild discipline before optimizing rewards.Transfer partners matter: Flexible points unlock significantly more value than simple cash-back redemptions.Maldives redemption breakdown: Strategic routing and patience made a high-end trip possible on points.Park Hyatt Maldives value: 35,000 points per night delivered outsized luxury compared to typical cash rates.Imperfect itineraries are normal: Award travel often requires creative routing and flexibility.Eco-focused experiences add depth: Local tours in Tulum created more meaningful travel than resort excursions.Trip organization is critical: Tools like TripIt simplify complex, multi-country travel planning.Resources:Book a Free 30 minute points & miles consultationStart here to learn how to unlock nearly free travelSign up for our newsletter!

Before insomnia entered Abbie's life, sleep was effortless. She'd never had to think about it. She fell asleep quickly, stayed asleep, and moved through her days without giving sleep much attention at all. It was simply there — reliable and unremarkable. That changed in the fall of 2021 after a short illness. One sleepless night turned into another, and before long, sleep became the center of everything. What started as confusion quickly grew into anxiety and pressure. Each night felt like a test. Each morning felt heavier. As the nights passed, fear took over — fear of being awake, fear of not functioning, fear that something was permanently wrong. Like many people facing insomnia, Abbie did what made sense. She tried to fix it. She went to bed earlier and earlier. She canceled plans. She followed strict routines. She tried supplements. She searched for answers. And each attempt came with hope — followed by disappointment when sleep didn't show up. Over time, life began to shrink around sleep, and the struggle only intensified. Days became just as difficult as nights. Her mind stayed locked on one question: Am I going to sleep tonight? Anxiety filled the hours. Dread set in as evening approached. Even when she was exhausted, her heart raced and her thoughts refused to slow down. What began to shift things wasn't a new fix — it was a change in how she responded. Abbie started noticing that withdrawing from life wasn't helping. Staying in bed wasn't restoring her energy. And fighting her thoughts wasn't bringing relief. Slowly, she began doing something different: showing up to her life even when sleep felt uncertain. She experimented with staying up later instead of trying to force sleep. She returned to the gym. She made plans. She studied. She lived — without waiting for sleep to cooperate. And over time, something important changed. Sleep became less of a battleground. Her thoughts lost their grip. And trust — in herself and in her body — started to rebuild. In this conversation, Abbie shares what it was like to move through insomnia, how her relationship with sleep changed, and why easing the struggle — not fixing sleep — made all the difference. Click here for a full transcript of this episode. Transcript Martin: Welcome to the Insomnia Coach Podcast. My name is Martin Reed. I believe that by changing how we respond to insomnia and all the difficult thoughts and feelings that come with it, we can move away from struggling with insomnia and toward living the life we want to live. Martin: The content of this podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. The statements and opinions expressed by guests are their own and are not necessarily endorsed by Insomnia Coach LLC. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied. Martin: Okay. Abbie, thank you so much for taking the time out for your day to come onto the podcast. Abbie: Yeah, thanks for having me. Great to be here. Martin: Let’s start right at the very beginning. When did your issues with sleep first begin and what do you feel caused those issues with sleep? Abbie: Yeah. It was fall 2021, so like almost four years ago, which is crazy because it feels so vivid in my memories. Abbie: But I had gotten sick, I think it was like the cold or a flu or something, just like a normal sick, and I wasn’t able to sleep which was really jarring for me at the time because prior to this sort of period of insomnia, I had been a really great sleeper. Like I, had my whole life I had basically like. Abbie: I never really thought much about sleep. I fell asleep immediately. I stayed asleep. Yeah I had gotten sick, I wasn’t able to sleep. And then I remember the next night I was like, okay, tonight’s the night like, I have to sleep. So I was already, like putting that pressure on sleep it has to be tonight. Abbie: And so that kind of started, I would say like the feedback loop of okay, I am stressed about sleep. The more I stress about sleep, the less I’m gonna sleep. Yeah, I think I was also dealing with just like a period of more heightened anxiety in my life at the time too. I was applying to graduate school and taking, the admissions tests for that and so maybe it was just like, kinda like the perfect storm. Abbie: I was like, okay, if I’m gonna get better, I need to sleep. I think it was also like, this was the first time in my life I had experienced a sleepless night. And so it was just like, that was really uncomfortable, like laying there awake all night. The longer you’re awake, the more stressed you’re getting, your heart’s kind of beating fast. Abbie: Like the whole thing was just uncomfortable and new for me. So I was like I don’t want that to happen again. I better sleep tonight. Abbie: I feel like each night I wasn’t sleeping, I was just getting more and more anxious about sleeping. I think I was like a week in at that point and I had probably slept two hours each night and I was like, what is going on? Abbie: Am I ever gonna sleep again? And yeah, I mean it was, I would fall asleep around four or 5:00 AM and then be back up again at 6:00 AM for work. And yeah it was just super uncomfortable and yeah, anyone who’s. Insomnia knows how stressful it is. Abbie: It was like, every hour that passes, I’m like, okay, I gotta get up in what, in three hours, two hours, one hour. And then, just this intense desire to stay in bed in the mornings. I think to see if you’re tired and you haven’t slept, and you’re like, all I wanna do is stay in bed. Abbie: I do think, like looking back, I think having my work routine and schedule was like really hard at the time, but really beneficial in some ways because I couldn’t just sit in bed and all day and try to go back to bed and I had to get up and get out and go to work. And that was also ended up being, I think, a good distraction. Abbie: At least for like the eight hours a day I was working. I wasn’t thinking about sleep. I think that was positive. Martin: What about that day, those days when you didn’t have any work obligations? Were things different then? Abbie: Yeah, I would definitely I think early on I would definitely, stay in bed all morning, like trying to quote unquote rest or see if maybe I could eventually fall asleep. Abbie: And just like really dreading the day because I had slept it all and I was like, Ugh, another day I’m gonna be really tired all day. It’s gonna be so bad. Like kind of those typical anxious, catastrophic thoughts of I just, I don’t wanna do the day. Like I didn’t get any sleep. So if there was, if I didn’t have work and nothing was like forcing me outta bed, I think it was, it would’ve been hard. Martin: So at this point. Things are really difficult as you’ve just described. And when we face difficulties in life or problems in life, we look to solve them. Martin: So what was your next step? What other things were you trying to do to get your sleep back on track and get yourself back to where you used to be? Abbie: Yeah, I think I was trying everything. One of the things I started doing early on was like, canceling all my plans and I would get off work and, as soon as I was done with work like the dread and the anxiety about sleeping that night would kick in. Abbie: And so I would be like, okay, I gotta go home. I gotta make dinner and I gotta get in bed. So I was like, my bedtime was becoming earlier and earlier even though I just, I wasn’t tired. And I think I was also pretty much trying every sleep supplement out there that there is like about a month in, I think I’d seen my doctor and she had prescribed me I think it was like Ambien or something, and I never ended up taking it, but I did try every over the counter supplement, magnesium, melatonin, all the things. Abbie: And I would get like really excited like, okay, this is gonna be the thing, like this is gonna work for me. And then every time it didn’t, it was like a letdown of okay, it was like more evidence in my mind that, my sleep is broken and there’s nothing out there that’s gonna fix it. Martin: I think a lot of people are gonna identify with that. Martin: And all the things you shared are completely logical to try, right? If we want more sleep to happen it’s almost ground into us that we go to bed earlier, that it’s important to go to bed early get more sleep, give sleep that opportunity to show up. And there can be, it can be, it’s almost like we can become really enthusiastic or we can just try so hard that it backfires on us to the point where we do less with our lives and sleep then grows in importance. Martin: It becomes more of a focus. So it’s almost like we’re up in the stakes. It becomes even more important for us to perform sleep and then when it doesn’t happen as we want it to. You did a great job of just describing what that’s like yourself. We can just, it feels, it can feel like a personal failure and it can reinforce perhaps this belief that there is something uniquely wrong, that maybe our sleep system is somehow broken. Martin: But the truth of the matter is, it’s. Perhaps it’s all the ongoing efforts and the trying, which now exists when it never existed before, when we slept fine, that might be the true source of the problem. Abbie: Yeah, definitely. And I think yeah, along the lines of just like trying everything to control sleep, I was like doing all the sleep hygiene, things like that were recommended. Abbie: Like I was no screens before bed. Like I just, I had this whole routine of I got a no caffeine, no alcohol, blah, blah, blah. That was just like adding more and more things when, like you just said in the past I had no sleep routine. Like I was, I would pass out on the couch watching TV and go to bed. Abbie: So yeah, I think that’s exactly right. Martin: Often as we’re engaged in this pursuit of sleep, we end up removing things from our lives that, either give us meaning or are enjoyable. And that could be something like we, we might give up coffee altogether, for example, even though that’s something we really enjoy. Martin: We remove that from our lives. We remove TV from our lives. We remove going out with friends late at night from our lives. And so our sleep generally stays the same because sleep doesn’t really care about any of that stuff. But at the same time, our situation has gotten worse because we’re taking all of that stuff away in order to serve sleep. Martin: And it just makes us, it can make us just feel trapped in this just endless spiral of more difficulty and a less joy from life. More withdrawal and more struggle. Abbie: Yeah. Yeah. I definitely think that was my experience. The more I. I stopped my usual routine. The worse, I think the worse that it got, for sure. Abbie: Which is counterintuitive at the time I was like, I can’t be out until 10 o’clock, like I gotta be in bed. And that ended up being one of the things that I, that down the road really helped me was actually staying out late and doing things late at night and doing all these things despite not being able to sleep. Martin: I’m curious, you mentioned earlier that you went to the doctor and they gave you a prescription for the Ambien, but you didn’t end up taking end. Curious to know why that was? Abbie: Yeah. I was really nervous about taking it, but I think what I was really nervous about is that I, that it would work and that I wouldn’t rely on it to sleep and. Abbie: That was like my worst nightmare. It was like, okay, I can suffer and try to sleep and all these things, and if I took this medication and it worked is that gonna be the rest of my life? Am I never gonna be able to sleep again without this medication? So I definitely was like, I think I was really tempted and really close to probably taking it after a month of not sleeping, but I was like yeah, I just wa I didn’t wanna rip the bandaid off, I guess you could say and go down this like spiral of that I felt like I, I couldn’t get back from. Martin: And I think that’s a good illustration of how any effort or anything that we do to try and make sleep happen can so easily backfire. Because if we try something and it feels like it works. We can feel that reinforces this belief or this idea that we need something to generate sleep, that we’re incapable of generating it by ourselves. Martin: And on the other hand, if we try something and it doesn’t work, then we reinforce this belief that we need. We still need to keep looking, that we can’t generate sleep by ourselves, that we failed at that thing or that we failed at sleep. So we’ve got this potential that regardless of the outcome, every time we try, we might be reinforcing this idea or this belief that there’s something wrong with our sleep system, that there’s something wrong with our situation, that something is broken when that’s never the case, as we’ll explore a little bit later in our conversation. Abbie: Yeah, definitely. I think the reliance, like you said on these external things was really big for me early on and that didn’t end up being the solution. Martin: You also made a good point too, that if we do feel like we’re reliant on something, there might be a point in the future where we don’t wanna be reliant on that thing anymore. Martin: So if we haven’t addressed what the real root cause of this issue might be then we are gonna be having to revisit that at some point in the future. So it never really goes away. It’s always gonna be with us. Abbie: Yeah. Yeah. It definitely felt like a short term solution and I was like, I gotta try, I gotta try something else. Martin: People that aren’t too familiar with insomnia will usually only think of insomnia as like a nighttime problem, but when we’ve been struggling with it or we’ve got that experience of struggling with it, we know that it really is a 24 hour problem, right? It affects our nights and it affects our days. Martin: Maybe it affects our days even more than it affects our nights. I’m curious to hear from you. How was this affecting your days? Not only in terms of like you touched upon your, those kind of withdrawal from the activities and doing things that are important to you, but the way your mind was responding. What was that experience like for you? Abbie: Yeah, I would say it was like really intense anxiety. Pretty much from the moment I got outta bed of just these thoughts of am I gonna sleep tonight? And like I had said going to work was a good distraction, but of course I was like exhausted at work and I was like, I don’t know how many more days and nights of this like I can do. Abbie: And you’re just spiraling. Is this permanent? Is this forever? And I think I also developed a lot of health anxiety around it, like I had all these concerns is this gonna have long-term sort of negative consequences on my health? I think, rightfully there’s so much out there about the number one thing you could do for your health and your longevity is sleep. Abbie: And you Google sleep and there’s 15 articles about the negative consequences of not sleeping. And not to say that the science isn’t true. I just think that was like really unhelpful for me at the time of okay, not only is the consequence, like I’m tired and anxious and I, I physically feel bad, but there’s, if this keeps going this is gonna be bad for my health in the long term. Abbie: So I don’t know. All these thoughts were like spiraling all day long. And then as soon as it. I got dark out, like as soon as the sun started to go down I would get this like intense feeling of dread. And yeah. So it was definitely, like you said, an all day thing, not just like a nighttime thing. Abbie: I think at night it was definitely more I’m sitting in bed and my heart is racing and my thoughts are racing and the more you’re trying to sleep, the more your heart is racing. And so it’s like a lot of physical symptoms. And then during the day it was just like a lot of my mind is consumed with, am I gonna sleep tonight? Martin: The messaging around sleep out there is very focused on sleep is very important and I would agree with that. Sleep is very important, just like breathing is very important and we’re still waiting for a study to come out that shows that insomnia causes any health problem or increases risk of mortality. But boy, when you read some of that stuff that’s online, it really does sound like a life or death situation. And when you are already putting so much importance on sleep, it can just make things so much more difficult. Martin: Because it, again, it ups the stakes, right? And you’re gonna put more pressure on yourself to perform sleep. So yeah, I just wanted to emphasize that yes, sleep is important, but the body can generate it by itself just like it generates breathing by itself. And I think a lot of people here listening to this will really identify with how you described what your mind was doing at the time, it was problem solving for you. It was trying to fix this problem. It was brainstorming, and as it was doing that, it was generating lots of difficult feelings, difficult thoughts. It was generating anxiety to ensure that you were giving it attention. Martin: And there’s also that fatigue, right? That sense of exhaustion. And it can just be when you combine that with your mind is just being focused on sleep and generating all these predictions or these stories it can be really hard to focus and to concentrate on doing stuff that matters. Abbie: Yeah. Yeah. Abbie: That, that was definitely my experience. I think, the anxiety is like enough to deal with and then you’re exhausted, and so that’s only feeding it. And you, I just remember feeling okay, if I don’t like. Die from lack of sleep I’m gonna lose my mind. Yeah, it was just a big spiral. Martin: How did you respond to what your mind was doing at the time? Abbie: At the time I had family and friends and a partner who were really supportive and I could confide in and that was great. But I also think unless you’ve experienced insomnia, I still just felt like very alone, in the experience. Abbie: And finding Insomnia Coach was like huge in realizing that I wasn’t alone and that these aren’t unique thoughts and experiences in, in a good way. So yeah, I was trying to cope I think, as best as I could. I was distracting myself. Trying to distract myself at work and yeah, as soon as I realized that the withdrawing from day-to-day activities was making it worse I think that was a really good kind of switch for me in okay, if I can’t sleep, I can’t control the sleep, but I can control my response and I can control what I’m doing. Abbie: So instead of going to bed at 8:00 PM like I’m gonna go and go to the gym. And I, with no expectation that the gym was gonna make me tired, just like I like to go to the gym and I’m gonna, if I’m up anyway, like I’m gonna study for the GRE and do my grad school application. Abbie: So I think, yeah, as soon as I had that mindset shift from withdrawing to. Going back to my normal routine. If anything it, it was a good distraction. Martin: It sounds like you noticed this conflict between some of the thoughts or the stories that your mind was your problem solving brain was telling you as it was trying to fix this problem for you, like you need to withdraw, you can’t do those things. Martin: You need to do less. You need to say, no, you need to go home. All of these things. And compared to your experience, your experience was telling you well, actually withdrawing isn’t making things any better. It’s not making me feel less fatigued or more rested. It’s certainly not making my life any better. Martin: And once you notice that conflict, maybe there was this kinda light bulb moment there that I can hear all these thoughts. I can listen to all these thoughts and stories. I don’t necessarily need to fight them. I just need to respond in a way that’s of my choosing. I get to decide how to respond to these thoughts. Martin: I don’t have to battle with them, struggle with them. I don’t have to let them control me ultimately. I still have the power here. Abbie: Yeah. I do think that was like the first sort of light bulb going off of okay, all of my thoughts and beliefs about anything but about sleep are not necessarily reality. Abbie: I don’t have to believe that, I have this thought, I’m never gonna sleep again. That doesn’t make it true. Or you have this thought like, I need to go home and cancel all my plans and otherwise we’re gonna be exhausted. I was exhausted anyway yeah I do think the realization that I didn’t have to, I guess believe my. Abbie: My thoughts was also like a really big switch for me. Martin: What did it feel like to realize that what your brain might be telling you or what your brain might be saying might not actually be true? Abbie: Yeah, honestly, it felt like a big relief. I and I also think I realize the worse I feel and the more negative the thoughts, the less true my thinking is and the less serious I need to take my thinking. Abbie: So yeah, I think this big relief of there’s a whole reality that exists out in the world and I can always come back to that and whatever my thoughts, my brain are telling me, it doesn’t always match up with what the reality is. And so as soon as I gave myself like, permission to not believe my thoughts, and I still practice this today. Abbie: Like it’s not easy, but you have an anxious thought or something and you’re like, okay, or here’s the alternative and this isn’t true. So yeah, as soon as I gave myself that permission to, to not one take my thinking so seriously and to two not trust it, especially like when I’m feeling down or bad I think yeah, that, that was a huge sort of flip for me and in my kind of journey with insomnia, but also just like my overall mental health journey. Martin: I think it might be human nature to resist what’s difficult or uncomfortable. So for many of us. We will resist anxiety, for example, or try really hard to fight it when it shows up or avoid it from showing up in the first place. As you develop this insight or this light bulb moment that maybe the thoughts aren’t always true, did that change how you were able to respond to them? Abbie: I think the big thing was just like not taking it so seriously like not taking every thought so seriously. And that in turn helped me take some of the pressure off of sleep because if, if I am, my brain is telling me that, if I don’t sleep tonight there’s gonna be all these consequences and blah, blah, blah, then, but if I don’t have to believe that, then it’s not so much pressure that I sleep tonight or the next night or whenever. Abbie: I do think like getting some distance from my own thoughts was also good. Like I, you’re just, I was so in my own head and every thought that came up, I had to follow that train of thought and act on it. When I realized that I didn’t I think I had a lot more freedom to, to actually do the things that felt Right. Martin: So when you found Insomnia Coach, at this point, you’d already been trying lots of different things. What made you think there might be something here rather than it just being yet another one of these things that you’ll probably try and not get much from? What made it feel different? Abbie: Yeah, I think the main thing was there, this sort of like notion that there’s actually nothing to do, I think a lot of other content, like I had mentioned was like, do this, and this before better or don’t do this and this. And when I found Insomnia Coach, I just really, it was the first time I had seen the messaging like, the more we try, the less sleep will come. Abbie: And so I think when I first found it, I was like, it’s like when some, when you’re stressed and someone tells you to calm down, you’re like, yeah, okay. Stop trying. Sure. That I think at the time seemed like pretty much impossible. But yeah, I think the, there was a lot of content in the emails that you sent that was like one, like I mentioned, making me feel like I’m not alone in this and this isn’t unique to me. Abbie: And two. Maybe I can just let go a little bit, like maybe I can stop trying so hard. And there were some other like specific sort of techniques and things that, that you had mentioned that ended up being really helpful for me, which I am happy to talk about. But yeah, I think it was just the permission to stop trying so hard. Martin: If we are able to remember a time when sleep wasn’t an issue or a concern, what were we doing to make sleep happen so well back then? And maybe our own experience can reveal the most valuable insight, which is that sleep was effortless. It required no effort, there were no rules, there were no rituals. It just happened by itself, and that’s really where we want to get back to. Abbie: Yeah. Yeah. I think that sort of idea you’re mentioning about some of the most valuable information being like my own experience. I think that came up again and again it later in my journey with insomnia. Like when I would have like bumps along the road, I would go back to okay, I’ve had insomnia before. Abbie: I pretty much didn’t sleep for like months on end. And I survived, and I. I went to work and I functioned and all these things like that is evidence for me in my mind that I can do it again. And I think what made this like first like intense bout so hard was that I, this was the first time it had happened. Abbie: Like I didn’t have evidence that I could go back to my baseline, but as soon as I had that, like first night of like normal sleep, I think that was really powerful for me to be like, okay here’s your own experience and evidence that it’s possible to sleep. Again. Martin: It really is a learning experience, I think. Martin: And there’s that classic phrase that we don’t know what we don’t know but if we can approach things with some kindness that we aren’t these all encompassing, all seeing individual geniuses, that there are gonna be things that we don’t know. And we can be kind to it to ourselves about that and be curious and be willing to learn or experiment. Martin: There is so much value there because I think that really is what gives us the opportunity to make change happen. Abbie: Yeah, I definitely wish I had been easier on myself when things were at their peak. I think I, yeah, just like the self-talk and like the things you’re telling yourself why can’t I do this? Abbie: My sleep must be broken. It’s all just negative reinforcement instead of positive sort of affirmations for yourself. I think that can be really hard in the moment. But yeah, looking back, I, I think that would’ve been really useful. Martin: It’s amazing how hard we can be on ourselves when things, when we’re experiencing difficulty and struggle, because I like to believe that there’s good in all of us, and I think that most of us, if we were sitting down with a loved one and they were describing exactly what we were going through themselves, we would talk to them in a completely different way to how we talk to ourselves when we are experiencing that exact same thing. Abbie: Yeah. That is so true. I think that’s something I, I’m still working on, like in every situation what would I tell my loved one, or my friend or my family like I would, if the roles were reversed and a friend had come to me with this insomnia problem, like I would’ve been really like concerned and worried for them. Abbie: But of course I wouldn’t have been like. And I would be like, you’re gonna sleep again. Of course you’re gonna sleep again. And I couldn’t tell myself that at the time. Martin: And if nothing else, again, if we pull on our own experience, we can ask ourselves, how does talking to myself in this way? Or how does acting toward myself in this way help? Martin: Is it improving the situation? Is it making me feel better? Is it helping me emerge from the struggle? Or is it making things more difficult? And I’m a big, I’m a huge proponent of us using our own experience as our best guide, because every person is the expert on themselves. I’m not the expert of anyone other than myself. Martin: But what I can do is encourage people to look within themselves and reflect on their own experience. When it comes to so many struggles in life maybe all of them, the answers that we need are already within us. It’s just a case of. Looking for them. And sometimes we need some kind of external influence or source to tease them out, but all the answers are already within us. Abbie: Yeah. Yeah, that’s a great point. Martin: Let’s get into the changes that you made, that you found most helpful. What ones would you like to share with us? Abbie: Yeah, the most like tangible thing I did was give myself this sort of like wake window in which I couldn’t go to bed. I think I started with three or 4:00 AM or something, and I was like, I’m not even gonna attempt to sleep. Abbie: I have to stay up until 3:00 AM and then I can get in bed and whatever happens, but like until 3:00 AM I am watching tv, I’m doing something, whatever. And I think this like definitely tricked my brain from I have to sleep, I have to sleep, I have to sleep to, I can’t sleep until this time. Abbie: I think that was like really powerful for me. And, it wasn’t like a cure all, like all of a sudden I was sleeping, but it took probably a month when I was like slowly pushing back this sleep sort of window earlier and eventually I would, it would be like 2:00 AM and I would be like passing out to sleep on the couch. Abbie: And I was like, okay, we’ll push it back to 1:00 AM and midnight. And that was really helpful for me. And something that I used, even once my sleep improved, if I had, a bad night or a bad week, I’d be like, okay we’re going back to this like wake window and tonight I’m up until three and we’ll see what happens. Abbie: So yeah it was totally just a mental thing of telling yourself you need to sleep versus telling yourself you have to stay awake. Which is such a simple thing when you, when I look back, but that was like really transformative. Yeah. And the other thing, like I talked about, I think was just like really returning to my routine. Abbie: So like I, I would hang out with friends after work. I would go to the gym, take, my roommate at the time was like a night shift nurse, so she was up anyway, so I’d be like, let’s go do something. And, I’d be out, it’d be like midnight and I’d be like, okay. That was all time in which I was distracted and not thinking about sleep. Abbie: And then I come home and I found sleek to just be a lot easier as soon as I, yeah, sleep to be a lot easier. When I wasn’t laying in bed at 8:00 PM every night waiting for it to happen. Martin: I think what you’ve shared is a great example of there’s no unique way of doing this that is gonna work or be appropriate for everyone. Martin: It’s about finding what’s helpful for you with the intent, as long as the intention is workable, as long as you’re not trying to control what can’t be controlled. So for you, your intent was to move away from trying to make sleep happen. And as a way of helping you reach that goal, you decided I’m gonna make myself stay awake till 3:00 AM instead of trying to fall asleep, I’m gonna try to stay awake. Martin: And that could be such a powerful mindset shift, right? Because then when we’re trying to stay awake. What might happen differently? What was your experience? How did things change when you went from trying to sleep to trying to stay awake? Abbie: Yeah, I just felt like the, I had a new goal, like my brain had a new problem to solve, and the problem was like, we gotta stay up till 3:00 AM and I gotta find stuff to do until 3:00 AM. Abbie: So that was helpful. And just yeah, taking the pressure off from and getting outta my own thoughts of okay, it’s another hour and I’m outta sleep. It’s another hour and I’m not asleep. And into just a more calm and peaceful state of mind. And then of course once that happens, like I would just, I would fall asleep. Abbie: And even on those nights, like when I. I was trying to make to 3:00 AM and I would like doze off at two or something. I would, the next day I would be like, okay, like what did I do? Like how did I do it? And every night it was like I didn’t do anything, like my body just fell asleep and there was enough sleep drive to, to put me to sleep. Abbie: And then, yeah, as soon as I had, like even I, like I mentioned I was really sleeping like very little. So even when I had three or four hours of sleep a night, that was again, more evidence in my mind that my sleep is not broken and it is possible. So it was that positive feedback cycle, whereas before it had been this negative feedback cycle. Martin: When you weren’t trying to make sleep happen, you were now all of a sudden trying to stay awake. That urge to sleep just became stronger because you’re no longer putting that pressure on or putting the effort in. And that came too with the bonus of, it’s a powerful reminder that your sleep system is still there, it’s still intact, it’s not broken. Martin: You are feeling that sense of sleepiness and a sense of sleepiness isn’t always required for sleep to happen, but it can be a nice reassuring reminder when you feel that sleepiness and the difficulty staying awake. And even if someone is listening to this and they don’t really wanna stay awake until 3:00 AM again, that’s not a requirement. Martin: A lot of people just look to stay awake later than they have been. If they feel like they go into bed earlier and it’s not really doing much for them, then how about we just move it a little bit later? Martin: It’s just a tool that’s there for you to practice if and when you as the expert on yourself, feel is gonna be useful. Abbie: Yeah, definitely. We’re trying to get away from here’s the one thing that’s gonna fix everything and that’s not the case. But I do think anything that can flipped the script in your brain from sleep whether it’s distraction or whether it’s staying up later or whatever, I think can be really useful. Martin: Yeah. And sometimes staying up later can be more appealing than going to bed earlier. If we find that when we go to bed earlier is a lot of tossing and turning and struggling and battling, it can be somewhat of a relief to give ourselves permission to stay out of bed and not go to bed until later. Martin: Whereas on the other hand, someone else listening to this might find that time in bed quite pleasant. In which case, why not go to bed at the time you’ve been going? It really does, again, come down to the individual, but there is that potential opportunity, bonus opportunity there of being able to do something else earlier in the night rather than struggling. Martin: The other helpful change that you’ve said that you made was reengaging in life and doing stuff for example, going to the gym which maybe you were doing less of in response to the difficulties with sleep. And I think maybe a lot of people listening to this can recognize that. Yeah I would love to do all these things that matter to me. Martin: But it just feels so difficult to do that. It maybe, it even feels impossible to do that. I’m curious to know if you had those kind of thoughts, and if so, how did you stay committed or how were you willing to experiment with this idea of still doing some of this stuff, re-engaging in this stuff that matters? Abbie: Yeah, I, I think early on, like fighting the urge to just go home and do nothing was so hard. Like the last thing it did, it felt impossible to think I’m gonna go do something with friends after work, or I’m gonna go to the gym or whatever. And I did kind of shy away from everything for a long time because it was so hard. But I think even like that first time that I made plans after work or went to the gym and realized like, okay, nothing bad happened I’m still just as tired as I was before. It wasn’t, I think also at this point, like my body was in such like fight or flight mode that like nothing, like I just was exhausted and nothing was making it better or worse honestly. Abbie: And so when I realized okay, I can either. Go home and toss and turn in bed all night and feel horrible. Or I can go to the movies after work and then come home and feel horrible. I’m gonna pick the thing that at least gives me a little bit of joy for the time that I’m doing it. And yeah not to say doing any of that, like somehow cured my sleep or anything. Abbie: But I started slowly to like care a little bit less and less that I wasn’t sleeping because it, one of the things I had been telling myself is okay, why is it so bad that I can’t sleep? It’s so bad because I’m not gonna be able to live my life. Abbie: I’m not gonna be able to go to work. I’m gonna get fired. All these things. And when you realize that, okay, these things are not conditional on sleep, like I can still do these things. Despite whether or not I sleep, I think there was a lot of freedom in that. Martin: What did progress for you look like? How did you measure progress? Abbie: I definitely think early on it was still all about sleep and the quality of my sleep. And every night was like either a success or a failure. Like I either slept or I didn’t, and things were very black and white. And I think slowly over time I was able to realize, okay, maybe there’s a little bit less anxiety and a little bit less dread before bedtime because I’m excited to go out with my roommate or to go to yoga or whatever. Abbie: Like eventually I got to the point where success, I think I, I always was gonna like care about sleep, but I definitely got to the point where success was a lot more like. What is my mental state about sleep? Am I wrapped up in this like anxious bald spiral or am I thinking and doing other things with my day? Abbie: So yeah, I think measuring progress definitely changed. Does as time went on. And I do think measuring progress in did I sleep or did I not sleep is, was not useful for me personally. Martin: It makes sense why we would want to measure progress based on how we’re sleeping from night to night because that’s the main problem that we are looking to solve. Martin: And yet it can set us up for struggle ’cause our own experience probably tells us that sleep is out of our control. So I think it can be useful to dig a little bit deeper and ask ourselves. What makes sleep important to me? Why do I want to get rid of insomnia? Martin: And on the surface it can sound obvious, but if you do a little bit of digging, we can often find that it reveals bigger insights that are often more related to, we see this as an obstacle to us living the kind of life we want to live. We don’t have freedom over our lives or power over our lives anymore, and we want that back. Martin: And so when you uncover something along those lines, if that’s something that you do uncover. It can help you redirect your attention towards action. And maybe then your markers of progress become more related to action. And that can be so helpful because action is within your control. So if insomnia is an obstacle to you doing things that matter, or if you’ve started to do some things that matter, maybe then that’s the true progress. Martin: ’cause it’s actually moving you closer to where you want to be, rather than trying to eliminate something which you might not be able to direct your control. Abbie: Definitely true for me that one of the worries with insomnia was like, like I said I’m not gonna be able to go to work, I’m not gonna be able to be successful in a career or maintain my relationships, giving myself evidence that’s not true in the form of well, I’m gonna do these things anyway, was so powerful. Martin: It’s connected to that power and influence all these thoughts and these feelings that show up alongside insomnia have over your life. So you are able to reflect on the fact that they were almost certainly still showing up maybe less over time as you’re less tangled up in them. Martin: But I’m sure they would still show up because they’re natural, normal human feelings and thoughts, but they’re not consuming all of your energy and all of your attention. They’re more like water off of a duck’s back rather than some, rather than this huge pair of stadium speakers right in front of your face just blaring heavy metal music. Martin: They’re just starting to lose some of that power and influence. Abbie: Yeah, definitely. And it’s so interesting to reflect now when I have a period of sleeplessness or something like. Just how now it’s like an annoyance. I’m like that was annoying. I might be tired today. When before it was like, the world is ending, so I think the seriousness at which I view not sleeping has, is definitely definitely lessened, which is good Martin: When it shows up it’s more like a mosquito rather than a huge black bear frothing at the mouth. Abbie: Yeah. Martin: As you were making these changes, was it just a case that things just got progressively better? Martin: Or did you find there were periods when things went well and then there were like these road bumps or setbacks? Was there any kind of patterns you were noticing, or was it all over the place? What did that look like for you? What did that journey look like for you? Abbie: Yeah, definitely was not linear. Abbie: I think about maybe after about six months, I felt like I was sleeping okay, maybe six hours a night in my own bed. But I think sleeping elsewhere or having my partner stay over, traveling, all that stuff was like still really hard for me. And like on one pattern I noticed was like on Sunday nights I really had trouble sleeping because I was like, again, putting pressure, like this is my last night before I have an entire work week to get through. If I don’t sleep tonight, I’m gonna be tired all week. And then by the time like Thursday came, I think sleep was like a lot easier ’cause it just was like, okay, I’m at the end of the week. I’m tired. Abbie: But yeah, I would say it was probably about like a year until I felt like I could really sleep elsewhere, like travel or stay at my parents’ house or anything, and sleep. Abbie: There were definitely bumps along the road and about a year in I ended up going to grad school and that was just like a big change in my life and a period of kind of stress and some of the sleep issues came back and I just went right back to the things that I had worked last time. Abbie: Like I went back to my wake windows and I think it was just so much easier when it did come back because instead of thinking like I, I mean there were some thoughts of oh no, like it’s happening again. But more so there were thoughts of I did this before, I can do it again. And I have better tools now. Abbie: So I think looking back, it was like each bump along the road made things better in a way. ’cause it was like, again, more evidence that these things are gonna ebb and flow, but I’m always gonna return to baseline. Martin: You can’t have those bumps in the road unless you’re moving forward on your journey. Martin: And that’s something we can easily lose sight of. We focus on what hasn’t gone right or we focus on the setback but that wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t within that context of some kind of progress. Abbie: Yeah, I definitely had a lot more gratitude, like going from sleeping one or two hours a night, like every next hour that I was able to sleep. Abbie: Like I was just grateful for. And even now if I consistently will get eight hours of sleep and every once in a while I’ll be like, I need to remember to be thankful for that because there was a period in which like four hours of sleep was like the ultimate goal. So yeah, definitely a good exercise in practicing gratitude too. Martin: I think when the difficult nights show up or when the nights when we get less sleep than usual or what we were hoping for, it’s a reminder that as human beings there are gonna be nights when we have less sleep than we want. Just there will be thoughts that show up and some of those thoughts will feel good, some won’t, some will be helpful, some won’t. Martin: And it really is just a case, like you said, of the ongoing practice. You’ve got that experience at that point of what has helped you. It’s just a case of going back to them or refocusing on them. Because every time you practice, you also get better at them. You gain more skill In all these things that we talked about, you develop more resiliency, you become better at it. Martin: But that doesn’t mean you can reach this ultimate peak of enlightenment when none of this stuff affects you and never shows up ever again. Life doesn’t work that way. There’s like this magnet force trying to draw us back into a struggle. But it’s a case of you’ve got that awareness now of when that’s happening, you know an alternative way to respond. Martin: And you can focus on those action based responses to continue moving forward. As you reflect on the journey that you’ve been on, how has it changed your life? What have you learned from this whole experience? Abbie: When it was happening I remember, like I said, just having these really negative thoughts of this is gonna change my life for the worst. Abbie: I’m gonna have long-term, health or otherwise consequences from this. And not only has that not been the case but also I feel like it, it really has had a positive impact in that. I just feel like a lot more equipped to handle. The ebbs and the flows. There was a point in my life where, you know, thinking about having kids and traveling and all these things that were gonna disrupt my sleep, like really stressed me out. Abbie: And those things are a little bit quieter now that I have this like trust that, that I can handle these things. And I think that extends not just to like insomnia, but other areas in my life like these thought patterns and this mentality like can be applied to any sort of like area of anxiety or just any sort of thoughts that I’m having. Abbie: Yeah, I’ve definitely found it just like mentality shift to be useful in other areas of my life as well. Martin: You’re not the first person to say that, and I completely agree with you. A lot of this stuff that we talk about can really powerfully impact our lives in a positive way. It’s not just a way to respond to insomnia. Martin: The experience can be a real growth opportunity, which sounds crazy when you’re still in the struggle with it, but once you’re able to reflect back on it, what you learn from the experience can be a huge asset. Abbie: Yeah, definitely. I think it, like you said, at the time I would’ve just like totally rolled my eyes that this is gonna be a positive thing in the long run. Okay, sure. But yeah it really has been. Given me a lot of coping skills I think that I can take into the future and into other areas of my life. Martin: Abbie, I’m really grateful for the time you’ve taken out your day to come on. If someone with chronic insomnia is listening they feel as though they’ve tried everything. They’re beyond help. They’ll never be able to stop struggling with insomnia. What would you say to them? Abbie: I think first I would say you are not alone. And in the nicest way possible, like your anxiety and your insomnia is not special. I remember feeling like that’s great that all these people have found these solutions, but somehow my insomnia is worse and mine is different. Abbie: And these things like peace and returning to this baseline is not possible for me. And the funny thing is that’s what we’re all thinking. That our insomnia, our anxiety is somehow different and special. And yeah, just to say that, me overcoming this also isn’t special. Abbie: That is possible for everybody. And yeah the path might not be linear, but I think it’s possible for everybody and we can’t control sleep, like we’ve been saying. But you can control how you respond and I think that’s the best way forward. Martin: Thanks again for taking the time to come onto the podcast and to share your journey, your experience, all the insights you’ve picked up on the way. Abbie: Yeah. Thanks so much. It was great to talk. Martin: Thanks for listening to the Insomnia Coach Podcast. If you're ready to get your life back from insomnia, I would love to help. You can learn more about the sleep coaching programs I offer at Insomnia Coach — and, if you have any questions, you can email me. Martin: I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Insomnia Coach Podcast. I'm Martin Reed, and as always, I'd like to leave you with this important reminder — you are not alone and you can sleep. I want you to be the next insomnia success story I share! If you're ready to stop struggling with sleep and get your life back from insomnia, you can start my insomnia coaching course at insomniacoach.com. Please share this episode!

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! You've read the terrifying accounts in House of Darkness, House of Light. You've seen a dramatized version of the events unfold in The Conjuring. But this time, the story comes full circle. In this episode of The Grave Talks, Andrea Perron returns to the farmhouse that forever altered her life—the very place where her childhood was shaped by unseen forces, relentless fear, and an evil that refused to stay buried. Stepping back inside after so many years, Andrea describes a rush of emotions that hit harder than expected: grief, dread, familiarity, and the unsettling realization that the house still feels very much awake. The energy hasn't faded. The atmosphere still presses in. Even more disturbing, Andrea recounts noticeable shifts in her sisters' moods during the visit, as if the property itself was reawakening old patterns long thought dormant. The conversation expands beyond the farmhouse, touching on the lingering psychological and spiritual impact of the pandemic and whether humanity is still navigating a collective energetic aftermath. Is darkness tied to place—or to people? Can trauma imprint itself on walls and beams? And when you return to where it all began, does the house remember you? This is not a retelling. This is a reckoning. This is Part Two of our conversation. #TheGraveTalks #AndreaPerron #TheConjuringHouse #TrueHauntedHistory #RealParanormal #HauntedFarmhouse #ResidualEnergy #ParanormalPodcast #TrueGhostStories #DarkPlaces #SpiritualAftermath #HauntedHomes Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Stepping away from the "Jurassic Park" of local news and the "casino" lights of cable, Lionel dismantles the "Left/Right Paradox"—the trap where the left controls your speech and the right controls your thoughts. From the gritty legal realities of "Uncle Lenny's Law School" to the "existential threats" of AI and globalist agendas, Lionel challenges listeners to become autodidacts and stop relying on political complacency. Whether deconstructing the "tone-deafness" of modern politics or arguing for the legalization of drugs to destroy cartel profits, Lionel cuts through the "petty talk" to find the authentic truth in the modern "Wild West". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Long Island Tea Podcast, Sharon and Stacy pack up the mics and head to the Northport Hotel, where the twinkling lights, charming Main Street views, and cozy North Shore vibes feel like stepping straight into a Hallmark holiday movie. From organization updates to festive happenings across Long Island, it's a warm, merry episode full of community, cheer, and plenty of hot tea. #TasteOfLongIslandWe're recording remotely at The Northport Hotel, a 26-room luxury boutique stay in the heart of downtown Northport, offering an intimate and elevated escape just steps from the harbor, shopping, and the John W. Engeman Theater.Joining us on the show are Kevin O'Neill, owner of The Northport Hotel, and Michael Ross, Executive Chef, sharing what makes the property special and what's ahead in the New Year.Learn more or plan your stay: thenorthporthotel.com#LongIslandLifeCelebrating a Long Island Legend: Billy Joel Symposium AnnouncedThe Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame will host its first-ever Billy Joel Symposium June 6–7 at Stony Brook University, celebrating Billy Joel's lasting impact and deep Long Island roots.

In Part 2 of my conversation with Henry Druce, we explore the shift from a demanding media career to a renewed, more personal relationship with skiing and storytelling. Henry talks openly about burnout, deadlines, and the moment he realised he no longer felt the spark that once drove his work — a turning point that led him to step away from traditional publishing and rediscover his love for the mountains. We also delve into his involvement with Snow Camp, his hosted trips, and the evolving challenges facing the snowsports industry today, from accessibility to generational change. A thoughtful, warm, and insightful episode revealing the human side of one of the UK's most respected ski journalists.Follow Henry on IG @HenryskierFind out more about snowcap here:www.Snow-camp.org.uk Book your next holiday with VIP Chaletswww.vip-chalets.comGet your first or next pair of ski boots sorted in the comfort of your home with Hike and Ridewww.hikeandride.co.uk _____In Part 2, Henry Druce returns to talk about the personal evolution behind his long career in snowsports media. While many imagine ski journalism as all glamour and powder days, Henry lifts the curtain on the pressure, deadlines, and constant output that defined much of his time in publishing. He shares candid reflections on the moment he realised he'd written the same kind of editor's letter dozens of times — a sign that the passion had dulled and a change was needed.Stepping back allowed Henry to find a more balanced, fulfilling relationship with skiing. Today he mixes freelance work, writing, and hosting ski trips, rediscovering the joy that first drew him to the sport.Henry also speaks passionately about his work with Snow Camp, a charity harnessing snowsports to support young people with life skills, mentoring, and mental wellbeing. Giving back has become an important part of his career's new chapter, including matched donations through his hosted trips.We explore the broader landscape of snowsports: misconceptions around skiing, the myth of heli-skiers “jumping out” of helicopters, the rising cost of participation, and the challenge of attracting new and more diverse audiences into the mountains. Henry raises important questions about representation in snowsports and whether the industry is doing enough to welcome the next generation.We also discuss 333 Random Acts of Kindness, a project Henry took on during the pandemic that grew into something far more meaningful, reminding him how much connection and kindness can shape a life.The episode closes with Henry's signature warmth and humour — from his love of flamboyant shirts to reflections on authenticity, fun, and the kind of legacy he hopes to leave.Key ThemesBurnout, reinvention, and rediscovering passionThe reality behind magazine publishingSnow Camp and giving back through snowsports333 Random Acts of KindnessHosted ski trips and a new chapter of workMisconceptions about skiingThe future of snowsports: cost, diversity, accessibilityNew ways people are discovering skiing (festivals, events)Legacy, fun, and being memorable for the right reasons

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

Isn't it beautiful that the deepest meaning of Christmas is found in the One who first gave Himself to us? In this Christmas episode, John continues part two of his Christmas to Remember series, inviting us to step beyond the noise of the season and seek its spiritual core. Through the beloved story “The Man and the Birds,” popularized by Paul Harvey, he offers a vivid picture of God’s compassion and the miracle of Christ coming near, on the rich invitation behind Adeste Fideles (“O Come, All Ye Faithful”) and how its message still calls our hearts today. With gentle guidance and meaningful insight, he encourages us to pause, remember Christ’s gift again, and consider who in our lives may need a simple invitation to experience the wonder of Christmas Eve. In this episode, John discusses:  Stepping away from holiday stress to rediscover the spiritual heart of Christmas The powerful message of The Man and the Birds and how it illustrates God’s love The personal invitation of Adeste Fideles (“O Come All Ye Faithful”) and what it calls us toward Why Jesus is the ultimate gift that gives meaning to every other gift we give Key Takeaways: Christmas is a revelation of God drawing near, stepping into our world so we could understand His love in a way we would never grasp on our own. Every act of giving, kindness, or generosity this season becomes a small reflection of God’s heart, who gave Himself fully and freely. Before we give anything away this season, we’re invited to rest in Jesus, remember Him, and let His presence shape our celebrations. Christmas Eve offers a simple but meaningful opportunity to extend an invitation—one conversation, one question, can open a door for someone to encounter the heart of Christmas. “Christ is not one of the gifts under the tree. He is the gift above the tree.”   CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE MONEY MADE FAITHFUL!   MUSIC: Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful) Howard Kopp (Chimes) and Philip Hauser (Organ) (1917) - YouTube - posted by 'Hankfan Hankfan Christmas'  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z65WouWzxwM VISIT MONEY MADE FAITHFUL: https://moneymadefaithful.com/ GET FREE RESOURCES in THE HUB: https://moneymadefaithful.com/resource-library-access/Landing-page BOOK A WORKSHOP: https://moneymadefaithful.com/money-made-faithful-workshop-2/Landing-page INVITE JOHN TO SPEAK at your conference, church, or event:  https://moneymadefaithful.com/services SPECIAL SAVINGS ON JOHN'S BOOK, 'He Spends She Spends', and the small group guide: https://moneymadefaithful.com/shop FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: @MoneyMadeFaithful FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @MoneyMadeFaithful If this blessed you today, please Subscribe, Leave a Review, and Share with someone who you believe will benefit from this message!  

If this touched something within your spirit and your ready to go deep and heal stick around. thank you for listening

This episode is personal. If you are in a season of grief, transition, or letting go — you're not alone.

This is a Grave Talks CLASSIC EPISODE! You've read the terrifying accounts in House of Darkness, House of Light. You've seen a dramatized version of the events unfold in The Conjuring. But this time, the story comes full circle. In this episode of The Grave Talks, Andrea Perron returns to the farmhouse that forever altered her life—the very place where her childhood was shaped by unseen forces, relentless fear, and an evil that refused to stay buried. Stepping back inside after so many years, Andrea describes a rush of emotions that hit harder than expected: grief, dread, familiarity, and the unsettling realization that the house still feels very much awake. The energy hasn't faded. The atmosphere still presses in. Even more disturbing, Andrea recounts noticeable shifts in her sisters' moods during the visit, as if the property itself was reawakening old patterns long thought dormant. The conversation expands beyond the farmhouse, touching on the lingering psychological and spiritual impact of the pandemic and whether humanity is still navigating a collective energetic aftermath. Is darkness tied to place—or to people? Can trauma imprint itself on walls and beams? And when you return to where it all began, does the house remember you? This is not a retelling. This is a reckoning. #TheGraveTalks #AndreaPerron #TheConjuringHouse #TrueHauntedHistory #RealParanormal #HauntedFarmhouse #ResidualEnergy #ParanormalPodcast #TrueGhostStories #DarkPlaces #SpiritualAftermath #HauntedHomes Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Back Stepping

Emmanuel—“God with us”—is more than a Christmas name; it’s a lived reality for everyday decisions, uncertain transitions, and moments when courage feels thin. Rooted in Matthew 1:23, this devotional reflection highlights how God’s presence shows up faithfully in seasons of change, reminding us that wherever we go, He goes before us and never leaves us alone. Highlights Emmanuel means God is present, not distant or detached. Stepping into the unknown often reveals God’s faithfulness more clearly. God provides protection, community, and provision in unexpected ways. Small details can become powerful reminders of God’s care. Scripture reassures us that God goes before us and stands with us. The same God who guided past seasons is with us right now. Gift Inspiration: Crosswalk's Holiday Gift Guide Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the season? Check out our Holiday Gift Guide—from beautifully illustrated Bibles and devotionals to novels, greeting cards, and picture books, there’s something for everyone on your list. Wrap up stories for loved ones, tuck a book into your own nightstand, and join us in celebrating the wonder of giving this Christmas! Full Transcript Below: Emmanuel: God Is With You, Even Now By: Alexis A. Goring Bible Reading:“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” - Matthew 1:23 NLT I sat at a crossroads in my mind. Physically, I was in the driver’s seat of my car in the parking lot between Panera Bread and my favorite local bookstore. But mentally, my mind was weighing the pros and cons of a new job offer. Minutes earlier, Erin, who was the managing editor for the newspaper where I worked as a freelance reporter, had called me to say a publisher of a newspaper in Montana had called her asking for a recommendation about me. She said he sounded very interested in hiring me. In fact, she thought I was getting the job! I was excited but also apprehensive. If they offered me this job, then was I ready to leave the only home I’d known, pack my bags, and relocate from Maryland to Montana? After all, I was a city and suburb East Coast Girl. Was I ready to take this leap of faith and move out to the West of the USA without knowing anyone there or what to expect? Within a matter of days, the publisher interviewed me via Zoom and offered me the job. I froze. Was this really happening? After a moment of silence, I asked for time to think it over. He agreed. Later that day, my Mom—convinced this was the right opportunity for me at that time—said I should accept the job offer and prepare to move. After prayer—and considering the fact that I needed a job, but no local jobs had been offered to me for several months prior—I agreed and told the publisher I would move to Montana. My Mom took a week off from work to help me relocate. We took a flight from BWI and a connecting flight before landing in a small airport in Montana. I still remember the statue of a big cow standing tall and strong in the center of baggage claim. We had arrived in what they call Big Sky Country. Over the course of that week, Mom and I explored my new neighborhood—a small town that was equally charming as the people were nice. We drove an hour away to Billings (the nearest city), where we shopped for home living essentials at Target and Walmart, visited the Ashley Furniture Store to furnish my apartment, and enjoyed meals at the local village cafe near my new home. We both enjoyed the fresh mountain air, the wide-open spaces of land, and being able to see the stars shine bright in the sky at night. When it came time for Mom to leave before sunrise to catch an early flight at the airport so she could return home to Maryland, she told me to pray this prayer every day: God be with me. After she left and the sun rose in the sky, I put on a brave face and said that prayer, then moved forward fearlessly. Looking back, I see how God protected me and kept me safe during that time when I lived alone. He kept wild animals away (cougars were known to prowl near where I lived). He kept me safe when I drove alone through roadways bordered by majestic mountains. God also sent His blessings my way: He surrounded me with people in the community who seemed to care about me. He blessed me with friends who were Christians and married to each other; they drove me to church in Billings every weekend until my car was shipped to my new location. He blessed me with a good neighbor who lived across the hall from me. Her name was Lindsay. She and her school-age children baked Peanut Butter Blossom cookies for me with Hershey’s Kisses in the center of each cookie. They gave this sweet treat to me as a Christmas gift. It showed me that God cares about the little details in life because I was craving chocolate that night, but couldn’t drive anywhere that late to buy it from the grocery store. When my time in Montana was over, God sent Lindsay to my door the night before I had to catch my flight home to Maryland. When I opened the door, she greeted me with a Christmas card and a sincere expression on her face. When I opened the card, money fell out. She told me she had been praying for me, and God told her that is what I needed. I thanked Lindsay for the generous gift. All the time I journeyed in Montana, God was with me. I felt His Presence as clear as day. He sent the people I needed at the right time every time. He blessed my time there, and He brought me home safely. I am so grateful to have witnessed firsthand how God moves. While in Montana that December, a Christmas song by Casting Crowns titled “God is with Us” became the soundtrack for my real-life story. I encourage you to listen to it here: https://youtu.be/xhzWypOp-E4?si=w8ytw4wn34FE9-bC The same God who was with me while I lived alone in Montana is with us today. The Bible says He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). He goes before us! I can testify to that fact because I saw how God aligned me with every person whom He knew I would need while away from home. May you take heart in knowing that wherever you are in this world—at home or abroad—the Creator of the Universe knows where you are and He is with you, even now. Intersecting Faith & Life: How does it feel to know that the Creator of the Universe is always with you wherever you go? Further Reading:Joshua 1:9Psalm 46:1Psalm 145:18Isaiah 41:10Romans 8:31-39 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Episode 87 Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold Mark McGuinness reads and discusses ‘Dover Beach' by Matthew Arnold. https://media.blubrry.com/amouthfulofair/media.blubrry.com/amouthfulofair/content.blubrry.com/amouthfulofair/87_Dover_Beach_by_Matthew_Arnold.mp3 Poet Matthew Arnold Reading and commentary by Mark McGuinness Dover Beach By Matthew Arnold The sea is calm tonight.The tide is full, the moon lies fairUpon the straits; on the French coast the lightGleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.Come to the window, sweet is the night-air!Only, from the long line of sprayWhere the sea meets the moon-blanched land,Listen! you hear the grating roarOf pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,At their return, up the high strand,Begin, and cease, and then again begin,With tremulous cadence slow, and bringThe eternal note of sadness in. Sophocles long agoHeard it on the Aegean, and it broughtInto his mind the turbid ebb and flowOf human misery; weFind also in the sound a thought,Hearing it by this distant northern sea. The Sea of FaithWas once, too, at the full, and round earth's shoreLay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.But now I only hearIts melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,Retreating, to the breathOf the night-wind, down the vast edges drearAnd naked shingles of the world. Ah, love, let us be trueTo one another! for the world, which seemsTo lie before us like a land of dreams,So various, so beautiful, so new,Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;And we are here as on a darkling plainSwept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,Where ignorant armies clash by night. Podcast Transcript This is a magnificent and haunting poem by Matthew Arnold, an eminent Victorian poet. Written and published at the mid-point of the nineteenth century – it was probably written around 1851 and published in 1867 – it is not only a shining example of Victorian poetry at its best, but it also, and not coincidentally, embodies some of the central preoccupations of the Victorian age. The basic scenario is very simple: a man is looking out at the sea at night and thinking deep thoughts. It's something that we've all done, isn't it? The two tend to go hand-in-hand. When you're looking out into the darkness, listening to the sound of the sea, it's hard not to be thinking deep thoughts. If you've been a long time listener to this podcast, it may remind you of another poet who wrote about standing on the shore thinking deep thoughts, looking at the sea, Shakespeare, in his Sonnet 60: Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,So do our minutes hasten to their end; Arnold's poem is not a sonnet but a poem in four verse paragraphs. They're not stanzas, because they're not regular, but if you look at the text on the website, you can clearly see it's divided into four sections. The first part is a description of the sea, as seen from Dover Beach, which is on the shore of the narrowest part of the English channel, making it the closest part of England to France: The sea is calm tonight.The tide is full, the moon lies fairUpon the straits; – on the French coast the lightGleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay. And as you can hear, the poem has a pretty regular and conventional rhythm, based on iambic metre, ti TUM, with the second syllable taking the stress in every metrical unit. But what's slightly unusual is that the lines have varying lengths. By the time we get to the third line: Upon the straits; – on the French coast the light There are five beats. There's a bit of variation in the middle of the line, but it's very recognisable as classic iambic pentameter, which has a baseline pattern going ti TUM, ti TUM, ti TUM, ti TUM, ti TUM. But before we get to the pentameter, we get two short lines: The sea is calm tonight.Only three beats; andThe tide is full, the moon lies fair – four beats. We also start to notice the rhymes: ‘tonight' and ‘light'. And we have an absolutely delightful enjambment, where a phrase spills over the end of one line into the next one: On the French coast the light,Gleams and is gone. Isn't that just fantastic? The light flashes out like a little surprise at the start of the line, just as it's a little surprise for the speaker looking out to sea. OK, once he's set the scene, he makes an invitation: Come to the window, sweet is the night-air! So if there's a window, he must be in a room. There's somebody in the room with him, and given that it's night it could well be a bedroom. So this person could be a lover. It's quite likely that this poem was written on Arnold's honeymoon, which would obviously fit this scenario. But anyway, he's inviting this person to come to the window and listen. And what does this person hear? Well, helpfully, the speaker tells us: Listen! you hear the grating roarOf pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,At their return, up the high strand,Begin, and cease, and then again begin,With tremulous cadence slow, and bringThe eternal note of sadness in. Isn't that just great? The iambic metre is continuing with some more variations, which we needn't go into. And the rhyme is coming more and more to the fore. Just about every line in this section rhymes with another line, but it doesn't have a regular pattern. Some of the rhymes are close together, some are further apart. There's only one line in this paragraph that doesn't rhyme, and that's ‘Listen! You hear the grating roar'. If this kind of shifting rhyme pattern reminds you of something you've heard before, you may be thinking all the way back to Episode 34 where we looked at Coleridge's use of floating rhymes in his magical poem ‘Kubla Khan'. And it's pretty evident that Arnold is also casting a spell, in this case to mimic the rhythm of the waves coming in and going out, as they ‘Begin, and cease, and then again begin,'. And then the wonderful last line of the paragraph, as the waves ‘bring / The eternal note of sadness in'. You know, in the heart of the Victorian Age, when the Romantics were still within living memory, poets were still allowed to do that kind of thing. Try it nowadays of course, and the Poetry Police will be round to kick your front door in at 5am and arrest you. Anyway. The next paragraph is a bit of a jump cut: Sophocles long agoHeard it on the Aegean, and it broughtInto his mind the turbid ebb and flowOf human misery; So Arnold, a classical scholar, is letting us know he knows who Sophocles, the ancient Greek playwright was. And he's establishing a continuity across time of people looking out at the sea and thinking these deep thoughts. At this point, Arnold explicitly links the sea and the thinking:                                     weFind also in the sound a thought,Hearing it by this distant northern sea. And the thought that we hear when we listen to the waves is what Arnold announces in the next verse paragraph, and he announces it with capital letters: The Sea of FaithWas once, too, at the full, and round earth's shoreLay like the folds of a bright girdle furled. And for a modern reader, I think this is the point of greatest peril for Arnold, where he's most at risk of losing us. We may be okay with ‘the eternal note of sadness', but as soon as he starts giving us the Sea of Faith, we start to brace ourselves. Is this going to turn into a horrible religious allegory, like The Pilgrim's Progress? I mean, it's a short step from the Sea of Faith to the Slough of Despond and the City of Destruction. And it doesn't help that Arnold uses the awkwardly rhyming phrase ‘a bright girdle furled' – that's not going to get past the Poetry Police, is it? But fear not; Arnold doesn't go there. What comes next is, I think, the best bit of the poem. So he says the Sea of Faith ‘was once, too, at the full', and then: But now I only hearIts melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,Retreating, to the breathOf the night-wind, down the vast edges drearAnd naked shingles of the world. Well, if you thought the eternal note of sadness was great, this tops it! It's absolutely fantastic. That line, ‘Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,' where the ‘it' is faith, the Sea of Faith. And the significance of the line is underlined by the fact that the word ‘roar' is a repetition – remember, that one line in the first section that didn't rhyme? Listen! you hear the grating roar See what Arnold did there? He left that sound hovering at the back of the mind, without a rhyme, until it came back in this section, a subtle but unmistakeable link between the ‘grating roar' of the actual sea at Dover Beach, and the ‘withdrawing roar' of the Sea of Faith: Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar, Isn't that the most Victorian line ever? It encapsulates the despair that accompanied the crisis of faith in 19th century England. This crisis was triggered by the advance of modern science – including the discoveries of fossils, evidence of mass extinction of previous species, and the theory of evolution, with Darwin's Origin of Species published in 1859, in between the writing and publication of ‘Dover Beach'. Richard Holmes, in his wonderful new biography of the young Tennyson, compares this growing awareness of the nature of life on Earth to the modern anxiety over climate change. For the Victorians, he writes, it created a ‘deep and existential terror'. One thing that makes this passage so effective is that Arnold has already cast the spell in the first verse paragraph, hypnotising us with the rhythm and rhyme, and linking it to the movement of the waves. In the second paragraph, he says, ‘we find also in the sound a thought'. And then in the third paragraph, he tells us the thought. And the thought that he attaches to this movement, which we are by now emotionally invested in, is a thought of such horror and profundity – certainly for his Victorian readers – that the retreat of the sea of faith really does feel devastating. It leaves us gazing down at the naked shingles of the world. The speaker is now imaginatively out of the bedroom and down on the beach. This is very relatable; we've all stood on the beach and watched the waves withdrawing beneath our feet and the shingle being left there. It's an incredibly vivid evocation of a pretty abstract concept. Then, in the fourth and final verse paragraph, comes a bit of a surprise: Ah, love, let us be trueTo one another! Well, I for one was not expecting that! From existential despair to an appeal to his beloved. What a delightful, romantic (with a small ‘r') response to the big-picture, existential catastrophe. And for me, it's another little echo of Shakespeare's Sonnet 60, which opens with a poet contemplating the sea and the passing of time and feeling the temptation to despair, yet also ends with an appeal to the consolation of love: And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,blockquotePraising thy worth, despite his cruel hand. Turning back to Arnold. He says ‘let us be true / To one another'. And then he links their situation to the existential catastrophe, and says this is precisely why they should be true to each other: for the world, which seemsTo lie before us like a land of dreams,So various, so beautiful, so new,Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain; It sounds, on the face of it, a pretty unlikely justification for being true to one another in a romantic sense. But actually, this is a very modern stance towards romantic love. It's like the gleam of light that just flashed across the Channel from France – the idea of you and me against an unfeeling world, of love as redemption, or at least consolation, in a meaningless universe. In a world with ‘neither joy, nor love, nor light,' our love becomes all the more poignant and important. Of course, we could easily object that, regardless of religious faith, the world does have joy and love and light. His very declaration of love is evidence of this. But let's face it, we don't always come to poets for logical consistency, do we? And we don't have to agree with Matthew Arnold to find this passage moving; most of us have felt like this at some time when we've looked at the world in what feels like the cold light of reality. He evokes it so vividly and dramatically that I, for one, am quite prepared to go with him on this. Then we get the final three lines of the poem:We are here as on a darkling plainSwept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,Where ignorant armies clash by night. I don't know about you, but I find this a little jarring in the light of what we've just heard. We've had the magnificent description of the sea and its effect on human thought, extending that into the idea of faith receding into illusion, and settling on human love as some kind of consolation for the loss of faith. So why do we need to be transported to a windswept plain where armies are clashing and struggling? It turns out to be another classical reference, to the Greek historian Thucydides' account of the night battle of Epipolae, where the two armies were running around in the dark and some of them ended up fighting their own side in the confusion. I mean, fine, he's a classical scholar. And obviously, it's deeply meaningful to him. But to me, this feels a little bit bolted on. A lot of people love that ending, but to me, it's is not as good as some of the earlier bits, or at least it doesn't quite feel all of a piece with the imagery of the sea. But overall, it is a magnificent poem, and this is a small quibble. Stepping back, I want to have another look at the poem's form, specifically the meter, and even more specifically, the irregularity of the meter, which is quite unusual and actually quite innovative for its time. As I've said, it's in iambic meter, but it's not strictly iambic pentameter. You may recall I did a mini series on the podcast a while ago looking at the evolution of blank verse, unrhymed iambic pentameter, from Christopher Marlowe and Shakespeare's dramatic verse, then Milton's Paradise Lost and finally Wordsworth's Tintern Abbey. ‘Dover Beach' is rhymed, so it's not blank verse, but most of the techniques Arnold uses here are familiar from those other poets, with variations on the basic rhythm, sometimes switching the beats around, and using enjambment and caesura (a break or pause in the middle of the line). But, and – this is quite a big but – not every line has five beats. The lines get longer and shorter in an irregular pattern, apparently according to Arnold's instinct. And this is pretty unusual, certainly for 1851. It's not unique, we could point to bits of Tennyson or Arthur Hugh Clough for metrical experiments in a similar vein, but it's certainly not common practice. And I looked into this, to see what the critics have said about it. And it turns out the scholars are divided. In one camp, the critics say that what Arnold is doing is firmly in the iambic pentameter tradition – it's just one more variation on the pattern. But in the other camp are people who say, ‘No, this is something new; this is freer verse,' and it is anticipating free verse, the non-metrical poetry with no set line lengths that came to be the dominant verse form of the 20th century. Personally, I think you can look back to Wordsworth and see a continuity with his poetic practice. But you could equally look forward, to a link with T. S. Eliot's innovations in ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' and The Waste Land. Eliot is often described as an innovator in free verse, which is true up to a point, but a lot of his writing in that early period isn't strictly free verse; it's a kind of broken up metrical verse, where he often uses an iambic metre with long and short lines, which he varies with great intuitive skill – in a similar manner to Arnold's ‘Dover Beach'. Interestingly, when ‘Dover Beach' was first published, the reviews didn't really talk about the metre, which is ammunition for the people who say, ‘Well, this is just a kind of iambic pentameter'. Personally, I think what we have here is something like the well-known Duck-Rabbit illusion, where you can look at the same drawing and either see a duck or a rabbit, depending how you look at it. So from one angle, ‘Dover Beach' is clearly continuing the iambic pentameter tradition; from another angle, it anticipates the innovations of free verse. We can draw a line from the regular iambic pentameter of Wordsworth (writing at the turn of the 18th and 19th century) to the fractured iambic verse of Eliot at the start of the 20th century. ‘Dover Beach' is pretty well halfway between them, historically and poetically. And I don't think this is just a dry technical development. There is something going on here in terms of the poet's sense of order and disorder, faith and doubt. Wordsworth, in the regular unfolding of his blank verse, conveys his basic trust in an ordered and meaningful universe. Matthew Arnold is writing very explicitly about the breakup of faith, and we can start to see it in the breakup of the ordered iambic pentameter. By the time we get to the existential despair of Eliot's Waste Land, the meter is really falling apart, like the Waste Land Eliot describes. So overall, I think we can appreciate what a finely balanced poem Arnold has written. It's hard to categorise. You read it the first time and think, ‘Oh, right, another conventional Victorian melancholy lament'. But just when we think he's about to go overboard with the Sea of Faith, he surprises us and with that magnificent central passage. And just as he's about to give in to despair, we get that glimmering spark of love lighting up, and we think, ‘Well, maybe this is a romantic poem after all'. And maybe Arnold might look at me over his spectacles and patiently explain that actually, this is why that final metaphor of the clashing armies is exactly right. Friend and foe are running in first one direction, then another, inadvertently killing the people on the wrong side. So the simile gives us that sense of being caught in the cross-currents of a larger sweep of history. With all of that hovering in our mind, let's go over to the window once more and heed his call to listen to the sound of the Victorian sea at Dover Beach. Dover Beach By Matthew Arnold The sea is calm tonight.The tide is full, the moon lies fairUpon the straits; on the French coast the lightGleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.Come to the window, sweet is the night-air!Only, from the long line of sprayWhere the sea meets the moon-blanched land,Listen! you hear the grating roarOf pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,At their return, up the high strand,Begin, and cease, and then again begin,With tremulous cadence slow, and bringThe eternal note of sadness in. Sophocles long agoHeard it on the Aegean, and it broughtInto his mind the turbid ebb and flowOf human misery; weFind also in the sound a thought,Hearing it by this distant northern sea. The Sea of FaithWas once, too, at the full, and round earth's shoreLay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.But now I only hearIts melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,Retreating, to the breathOf the night-wind, down the vast edges drearAnd naked shingles of the world. Ah, love, let us be trueTo one another! for the world, which seemsTo lie before us like a land of dreams,So various, so beautiful, so new,Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;And we are here as on a darkling plainSwept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,Where ignorant armies clash by night. Matthew Arnold Matthew Arnold was a British poet, critic, and public intellectual who was born in 1822 and died in 1888. His father was Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School. Arnold studied Classics at Oxford and first became known for lyrical, melancholic poems such as ‘Dover Beach', ‘The Scholar-Gipsy', and ‘Thyrsis', that explore the loss of faith in the modern world. Appointed an inspector of schools, he travelled widely and developed strong views on culture, education, and society. His critical essays, especially Culture and Anarchy, shaped debates about the role of culture in public life. Arnold remains a central figure bridging Romanticism and early modern thought. A Mouthful of Air – the podcast This is a transcript of an episode of A Mouthful of Air – a poetry podcast hosted by Mark McGuinness. New episodes are released every other Tuesday. You can hear every episode of the podcast via Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts or your favourite app. You can have a full transcript of every new episode sent to you via email. The music and soundscapes for the show are created by Javier Weyler. Sound production is by Breaking Waves and visual identity by Irene Hoffman. A Mouthful of Air is produced by The 21st Century Creative, with support from Arts Council England via a National Lottery Project Grant. Listen to the show You can listen and subscribe to A Mouthful of Air on all the main podcast platforms Related Episodes Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold Episode 87 Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold Mark McGuinness reads and discusses ‘Dover Beach' by Matthew Arnold.Poet Matthew ArnoldReading and commentary by Mark McGuinnessDover Beach By Matthew Arnold The sea is calm tonight.The tide is full, the moon lies... Recalling Brigid by Orna Ross Orna Ross reads and discusses ‘Recalling Brigid’ from Poet Town. From The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Episode 85 From The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Mark McGuinness reads and discusses a passage from ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.Poet Samuel Taylor ColeridgeReading and commentary by Mark McGuinnessFrom...

Underground Lounge After Hours goes live from Las Vegas during NBA Cup weekend for a special road trip edition featuring an in-depth conversation with NBA star Jalen Brunson. Stepping outside the usual lounge setting, the crew brings the After Hours energy to Vegas as the NBA Cup takes over the city, creating the perfect backdrop for a candid, unscripted sit-down.The episode opens with relaxed banter and real time reactions before settling into a thoughtful conversation with Brunson about his journey. He reflects on his upbringing and the role his father played in shaping his mindset, discipline, and approach to the game. Brunson speaks on training at a young age, learning accountability early, and how those experiences prepared him for the demands of the NBA.From there, the discussion expands to the evolution of basketball today. The crew and Brunson break down the impact of NIL deals, debating whether they help or hurt young athletes and how early access to money and exposure can change priorities. The conversation naturally leads into a comparison between generations, questioning whether today's high school and college players carry the same hunger and hustle as older players who had to grind for every opportunity.With After Hours in full effect, the tone stays honest and conversational, mixing basketball insight with laughs, perspective, and real talk. The Vegas setting keeps the energy loose, while the conversation stays rooted in experience, work ethic, and what it truly takes to last at the highest level.This special After Hours episode captures basketball from both sides of the timeline, past and present through real conversation, not soundbites. Live from Las Vegas during NBA Cup weekend, the Underground Lounge delivers an authentic look at the game, the culture, and the mindset behind sustained success, with Jalen Brunson at the center of it all.

Hi! If you've been feeling that pull toward something more, like maybe God's been whispering about using your story to help others… Oh friend, this one's for you. I'm officially launching something I've been dreaming about for YEARS: a Life Coach Certification and Training Program—and I want to tell you all about it. In today's episode, I'm sharing: Why I'm finally doing this (and how this dream went from "too big for me" to "okay God, I trust You") What makes a phenomenal life coach (spoiler: it's all about asking really good questions that help people find their own answers) How life coaching changed MY life first before I ever helped anyone else—these tools transformed my own healing journey Why your story matters and how it's meant for His glory, not your shame The "why not you?" question that shifted everything for me (your past doesn't define or limit your purpose) What makes this certification program different and what we'll cover over 6 months together Details about the training—one-on-one coaching with me, group sessions, practice coaching with real feedback, my signature tools and frameworks, plus an optional in-person retreat celebration Why I'm only taking 12 people in this first cohort (I want to pour into your well) Who this might be for—if you feel made for more, called to help people heal, or curious about stepping into your purpose This is a gentle, heartfelt episode about: Not despising small beginnings (God works with your mustard seed of faith) Stepping into what scares you because He equips you Using the very things that broke you to help others break free Trusting that your journey—all of it—has prepared you for this

This episode wasn't planned, but after hearing Glorious by Macklemore, a message came through I had to share. If you're in a hard season, fertility struggles, grief, health challenges, or life transitions, this episode is for you. I'm sharing how to hold the duality of joy and heartbreak, stay grounded, trust your inner knowing, and make aligned decisions even when it's hard. Give yourself space after listening. Walk in silence, reflect, and let it marinate. You've got this, and we're in it together. Ways to work with Corinne: Join the Mind Your Hormones Method, HERE! (Use code PODCAST for 10% off!!)Mentioned in this episode: Trying to Conceive Lifeline Trying to Conceive Accelerator FREE TRAINING! How to build a hormone-healthy, blood-sugar-balancing meal! (this is pulled directly from the 1st module of the Mind Your Hormones Method!) Access this free training, HERE!Join the Mind Your Hormones Community to connect more with me & other members of this community!Come hang out with me on Instagram: @corinneangealicaOr on TikTok: @corinneangelicaEmail Fam: Click here to get weekly emails from meMind Your Hormones Instagram: @mindyourhormones.podcast Disclaimer: always consult your doctor before taking any supplementation. This podcast is intended for educational purposes only, not to diagnose or treat any conditions. 

» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship and cognitive optimisationInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/After years of building genuine connections through unique experiences — from letting people sit in his Bugatti to creating affordable yacht slots — Lord Aleem proves that Dubai makes everyone look successful while hiding who's actually operating.In this episode, you'll hear why his dad's “no money, no honey” rule filters out time-wasters, how car rental became a nightmare when everyone tried to copy his model, and what happens when you realise 80% of your day is solving problems nobody sees.Tune in for his framework on protecting £5 million worth of assets from drunk renters, why being driven beats driving in Dubai, and how staying connected to reality matters more than chasing the ultra-rich pulling up in Bugattis.00:00 Introduction02:10 Launching a yacht business and selling experiences, not just luxury06:31 Learning business lessons from his dad's no-nonsense approach10:10 Dubai's flashy image vs actual wealth and real operators18:06 Choosing who's worth your energy and protecting peace25:18 Building a personal brand with his dad's guidance and rules30:23 Owning the first Bugatti Chiron for rent in the world35:54 Why the car hire business was more about brand than profit39:46 Why the UK rental game lost its spark and profitability43:39 Starting a chauffeur business in Dubai and why Escalades win46:25 Dubai's oversupply problem and setting a higher service standard49:26 Expansion plans and pivoting toward yacht brokerage53:10 The massive costs and logistics of moving a superyacht56:49 YouTube gaps, self-doubt, and needing the right team around him59:14 Stepping up as a businessman and leader in Dubai01:03:53 When to say no, avoid time-wasters, and play the long game01:07:26 Lessons in building legit businesses in Dubai with red tape01:17:18 Why real happiness isn't found through money alone01:20:06 Navigating Dubai's social distraction and staying focused01:24:45 Women in Dubai as masterful operators and tacticians01:27:21 Taking breaks, evolving creatively, and avoiding content burnout» Escape the 9-5 and build your dream life: https://www.digitalplaybook.net/» Transform your physique: https://www.thrstapp.com/» My clothing brand, THRST: https://thrstofficial.com» Custom Bioniq supplements: https://www.bioniq.com/mikethurston• 40% off your first month of Bioniq GO• 20% off your first month of Bioniq PRO» Join our newsletter for actionable insights from every episode:https://thrst-letter.beehiiv.com/» Join Whoop and get your first month for free:https://join.whoop.com/FirstThingsThrst» Follow AleemYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/LordAleemInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lordaleem_official/?hl=en

As a leader, the more you show your human side and reach out to others for help, the stronger the chance that the people around you will start to do the same. There are plenty of leadership lessons for early-career faculty and beyond in this week's Faculty Factory Podcast interview, just in time for the holidays, with our new friend Nicole Jarrett, MD, FACS. We hear about her journey and the transition from faculty member to a formal leadership role as Division Chief. Dr. Jarrett serves as Division Chief of Hand Surgery in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is also an Assistant Professor and the Hand Surgery Fellowship Director at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The confidence to ask questions is an important sign of a confident leader. We all have days when we need help, and displaying the confidence to ask questions is essential. "It's okay to ask for help. We're all going to find ourselves in situations where we feel overwhelmed or where things aren't going right, and we need support,” she said. Midway through the discussion, Dr. Jarrett talks about the art of purposeful socializing. It's crucial to allocate time for social functions in our lines of work, especially in leadership roles, and taking a very strategic and efficient approach to how we engage in these functions pays dividends. It can also save time. “It's not all fun at these parties; you have a job to do. I'm very glad someone gave me that lesson, and I'm happy to pass it along to my faculty,” Dr. Jarrett discussed.

In this episode of AgingGayfully®, hosts Chris and Josh discuss health updates, personal growth, and the importance of stepping into one's comfort zone. Chris shares his recent experiences with artistic expression and how it has helped him rediscover himself. The conversation reflects on life lessons, regrets, and the significance of using one's talents and skills. Takeaways Life does not stop when we get sick.Stepping into your comfort zone can lead to personal growth.Artistic expression can help rediscover oneself.It's important to use your talents and skills.Reflecting on life can help identify what truly makes you happy.There are no regrets, only lessons learned.Finding the right environment can foster growth.Everyone has a story worth sharing.Engaging with the community can lead to meaningful connections.Happiness often comes from using your innate talents. Share your story or drop a line: yesiam@aginggayfully.com Like, subscribe, and ring our bell (figuratively or otherwise). Let's AgeGayfully® together, with intention, humor, and each other. A gay senior, Christopher MacLellan, and an ally, Josh Wilson, podcasting about life, love, liberty and travel. Don't Say Gay?… Say AgingGayfully®! AgingGayfully® is about living life with dignity in an age-friendly society regardless of orientation or economic status because longevity is a justice issue. AgingGayfully® is about finding your voice as we age. We are all part of the aging process and have real connections in diversity. AgingGayfully® is a modern type of activism that supports the concept of belonging. AgingGayfully® is about Adventure, Leisure, Travel, being a citizen of the world, traveling to destinations, and being part of the global community as we age and prosper in body, mind, and spirit.

Hosted by holistic business coach, Katy Stuart, The Soulful CEO podcast is your home for all things business strategy, deep spiritual work, and everything in between. This podcast features solo episodes packed with insight and value, as well as expert guest interviews with some of Katy's favorite names in the industry. The Soulful CEO is designed to empower and educate driven, soul-led women with real stories, honest truths, tried-and-true biz strategy, and everything you need to know to create a life and business better than your wildest dreams.In this guest episode, I am talking with the incredible Aubrianna Kay. A former client, absolute powerhouse and someone I admire greatly.  Aubrianna is a business and sales coach who blends energetics, identity work, and simple high level strategy to help women scale with soul. Her work centers on expanding a clients capacity to receive while building offers, systems, and leadership that hold $20K to $50K months.To access any of the links we mentioned in the show you can navigate using the links below:Aubrianna's insta hereAubrianna's free telegram community here Hope you love this episode as much as we loved recording it! 

If you are a high-achieving founder or leader, you know the feeling of hitting a level of success only to realize: The person I've become no longer fits the life I built. Maybe you're restless, feeling a deep pull toward what comes next, but you are stuck between the fear of getting it wrong and the clarity of your true intuition.Today we welcome Sara Anderson, an executive coach and communication strategist who works with women leaders on presence, resonance, and personal power. Sara's journey - from corporate tech to acting to coaching - gives her a unique perspective on the necessary, often uncomfortable work of stepping into a new identity.In this episode, you'll learn about:The core limiting belief you need to unlearn: How to distinguish between authentic desire and what you think will make you look impressive.The power of reframing fear: Why feeling scared isn't "wrong," but a sign you are meeting your edge.The Jenga Game of Identity: How to approach major life transitions by making small shifts instead of forcing a full, disruptive overhaul.The importance of internal growth metrics over external praise (sales, likes, applause).Tactical ways to regulate your nervous system daily, even if you struggle with consistency or have ADHD.Why protecting your "baby ideas" from fear-based projections is critical for women leaders and recovering people-pleasers.The power of magnetism: How repelling the wrong opportunities and people is just as important as attracting the right ones.Why awareness without judgment is the key to escaping the perfectionist, all-or-nothing trap.Episode Timestamps:00:03:00 – The initial belief you need to unlearn to step into your next version.00:05:00 – The struggle to discern between fear and intuition.00:08:00 – How to get out of your own way: Why the mindset that got you here won't get you there.00:09:00 – Defining and using internal metrics of success.00:11:00 – Simple, tactical ways to regulate your nervous system when you feel overwhelmed.00:15:00 – How to approach major life transitions like a Jenga game (small shifts vs. overhaul).00:18:00 – Navigating the friction when your network is accustomed to an old version of you.00:22:00 – The shift from being polished and "good" to being authentic and magnetic.00:25:00 – Final advice: Why the journey is forever, and why you should lead with compassion.About Sara Anderson: Website: https://saraanderson.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraanderson/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.anderson___/Let's Work Together:Book a 90-Minute Clarity CallToday's episode is brought to you by The Planner's Vault—your go-to resource for wedding pros who want to grow, connect, and thrive. If you're looking for expert education, a supportive community, and real-talk guidance to elevate your business, come join us inside The Vault. We'd love to have you!For Real on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forrealwithmegan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForRealPodcastHosted by Megan Gillikin, For Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Walk West.

What keeps you going when the work is demanding and the days feel relentless? In this solo episode of Everyday Oral Surgery, Dr. Grant Stucki reflects on why giving often leads to deeper, more lasting fulfillment than receiving. He shares lessons from residency, mentorship, and years in practice, exploring how a mindset of contribution shapes both personal growth and the future of the profession. Dr. Stucki also offers a candid look at the time, cost, and intention behind producing the podcast, and the quiet rewards that come from helping others learn and advance. He also connects these experiences to a broader truth echoed by leaders, philosophers, and spiritual traditions, namely, that joy fades quickly when it is tied to what we receive, but it deepens when it comes from service. As the year comes to a close, this episode invites reflection on a simple but powerful question: who can you help next, and how might that generosity renew your own sense of purpose?Key Points From This Episode:Reflections on persistence, imperfection, and producing this podcast despite the challenges.Lessons from residency on being a proactive learner, not a passive participant.Choosing residents who give back to the profession, not just take from it.The lasting impact of attendings who sacrificed income to teach.Stepping back to ask what oral surgery has given you and how you can help others.Why giving leads to deeper, more lasting peace and fulfillment than receiving.What producing the podcast has cost, and why it has been worth it.Why altruistic giving is more powerful when nothing is expected in return.How giving back can help counter burnout and restore joy.An invitation to help one person, or a group of people, and notice how it brings joy.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Giftology — https://www.amazon.com/Giftology-Increase-Referrals-Strengthen-Retention/dp/1619614332Everyday Oral Surgery Website — https://www.everydayoralsurgery.com/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/everydayoralsurgery/ Everyday Oral Surgery on Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/EverydayOralSurgery/Dr. Grant Stucki Email — grantstucki@gmail.comDr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059

Do you feel like the same family conflicts keep resurfacing—no matter how many times you “deal with them”?What if the problem isn't the conflict… but the drama patterns you're unknowingly participating in?In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life Podcast, Greg and Rachel break down the drama triangle—a destructive cycle made up of three familiar roles: victim, rescuer, and persecutor. These roles keep families stuck in emotional reactivity, resentment, and zero real resolution.Here's the truth most parents never hear: you can face conflict head-on without making it dramatic.Stepping out of drama doesn't mean avoiding problems, disengaging, or “letting things slide.” It means learning how to handle disagreement with clarity, courage, and love—so issues actually get resolved instead of endlessly repeated.In this conversation, you'll learn:Why drama is not the same thing as conflict—and how to tell the differenceThe three roles that silently keep family arguments loopingHow one conscious person can interrupt the entire patternThe exact three steps to exit the drama triangle—starting immediatelyHow to shift from victim → creator, rescuer → coach, and persecutor → challengerWhy inner work and emotional awareness are essential to peaceful parentingHow these tools don't just change today's arguments—but transform family legaciesIf you're exhausted from emotional blowups, silent treatments, or constantly playing referee, this episode offers a practical, empowering path forward—one that leads to real resolution, stronger relationships, and a calmer family culture.Key Takeaways✅ Drama is optional—even when conflict is unavoidable.✅ The drama triangle keeps families stuck without resolution.✅ You only need one person to change the pattern.✅ Stopping your automatic reaction is the first powerful step.✅ Awareness creates choice—and choice creates change.✅ Creator, coach, and challenger roles lead to lasting solutions.✅ Inner work is the gateway to calmer, more effective parenting.Memorable Quotes

The Mindset Debrief: Improving emotional control, clarity, and leadership effectiveness in high-pressure situations.There's a split second before things go sideways. A message lands wrong, a meeting gets tense, a plan starts slipping, and you feel that pull to fix it now. To respond fast, clarify, correct, defend, or prove you're in control. But speed isn't the same thing as skill, and under stress, it's easy to treat the first thought as the best thought. That's where this episode lives: in the moment before the consequences show up.The concept of the discipline of stepping back, not as avoidance, silence, or “letting it go,” but as a deliberate pause is addressed, which creates space for clarity. Why so many capable people don't struggle with effort, they struggle with restraint, and how “control” quietly gets mistaken for “fast.” When emotions rise, your nervous system gets loud, assumptions start feeling like facts, and conversations turn into contests. Stepping back interrupts that chain before it turns a manageable problem into collateral damage.This episode reframes composure as something you build, not something you're born with. It's a skill that shows up through repetition: taking the breath on purpose, delaying the conversation you can't handle cleanly, and choosing timing that protects your judgment. You'll also learn why this matters beyond you. Stepping back changes how safe you are to be around when tension hits. It changes whether your presence steadies a room or heats it up. That's leadership, even without a title.This episode presents practices you can use at work, at home, and in any relationship where tone and timing matter. Write the draft without sending it. Put the message in your notes and let it sit. Delay decisions when you're emotionally compromised, not forever, just long enough to regain judgment. Use stepping back as a verification tool, so you don't assign meaning while you're charged up. And when you're about to speak or act, run one simple check: is this about helping the situation, or helping your feelings? Stepping back won't make you passive. It'll make you accurate, safer, and more effective.Share this episode with someone who could benefit from the information.CONNECT WITH THE PODCAST:IG: https://www.instagram.com/paulpantani/WEBSITE: https://www.transitiondrillpodcast.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulpantani/SIGN-UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER:https://transitiondrillpodcast.com/home#aboutQUESTIONS OR COMMENTS:paul@transitiondrillpodcast.comSPONSORS:Frontline Optics Get 10% off your purchase Link: https://frontlineoptics.com Promocode: Transition10

057 In this episode, Megan is joined by the host of Before the Q, Rose Cybulski, to talk about stepping out of one's comfort zone and what the road to the 2026 Canadian Open might look like—interested in learning more? Check it out: Before the Q Podcast Watch Episode 2 of the Vlog! Support Rose & her projects

What does it mean to step into your comfort zone? Chris and Josh discuss how we match our talents and interests with what we do in the world. When we can do this, we find purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. Share your story or drop a line: yesiam@aginggayfully.com Like, subscribe, and ring our bell (figuratively or otherwise). Let's AgeGayfully® together, with intention, humor, and each other. A gay senior, Christopher MacLellan, and an ally, Josh Wilson, are podcasting about life, love, liberty and travel. Don't Say Gay?… Say AgingGayfully®! AgingGayfully® is about living life with dignity in an age-friendly society, regardless of orientation or economic status, because longevity is a justice issue. AgingGayfully® is about finding your voice as we age. We are all part of the aging process and have real connections in diversity. AgingGayfully® is a modern type of activism that supports the concept of belonging. AgingGayfully® is about Adventure, Leisure, Travel, being a citizen of the world, traveling to destinations, and being part of the global community as we age and prosper in body, mind, and spirit.

It's a true family affair on this week's episode of Happy Mum Happy Baby!Gi's sister-in-law Carrie Hope Fletcher and her husband Joel Montague stop by Gi's house for a very festive chat. The couple share what it's like working together in their new roles in Elf The Musical, plus talk about how they prepared for the arrival of their now one-year-old daughter, Mabel.Don't miss the second part of their conversation, coming next week! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special edition of the Inside Line podcast, Jeff Brines interviews Sam Nicols, the former CEO of YT Industries from 2021 to 2024, exploring his journey from a career at Amazon to leading a prominent bike company during tumultuous times. He reflects on his experiences as CEO of YT Industries, discussing the challenges faced in the bike industry, particularly around demand fluctuations, inventory management, and the impact of cash flow on business decisions.00:00 Introduction to Sam Nicols and YT Industries01:49 Sam's Background and Career Path09:28 Challenges of Stepping into YT During the Pandemic11:35 Navigating Supply Chain Issues and Customer Care16:01 The Private Equity Interest and Acquisition Process23:45 Aligning Goals with Private Equity30:15 Understanding the Risks of Private Equity34:11 The Impact of Market Conditions on YT's Valuation37:05 Transitioning to In-House Assembly49:43 Demand Fluctuations and Market Realities50:21 Navigating Demand Fluctuations54:08 Strategic Decisions Amidst Overstocks01:00:05 The Impact of Cash Flow on Business Decisions01:03:43 Cost Management Challenges in the Bike Industry01:10:08 Marketing Strategies: Balancing Brand and Performance01:17:48 The Role of Data in Business Operations01:25:12 Leadership Dynamics and Company Culture01:30:12 Reflections on Competition and Industry Evolution

Transitioning from competitive swimming to the stage requires a specific kind of discipline, but Sadie Dickerson has mastered the pivot. She opens up about the intense audition process for Just in Time, which spanned months and a cross country move to Los Angeles, only to receive the life changing offer while house sitting with some very old dogs. She also shares stories about her time working at a Comic Con t-shirt stand and coaching swim lessons before finally getting her big break. Stepping onto a Broadway stage for the first time is daunting enough, but doing it after sitting backstage for an entire act adds a unique layer of anticipation. Sadie discusses the nerves of that first performance, the supportive environment backstage, and how she balances the technical precision of camera acting with the energy required for live theater. We also get into her love for Newsies and the drive that keeps her pushing for perfection. Sadie Dickerson is an Austin, Texas native and a graduate of Missouri State University where she earned a BFA in Musical Theatre. She was previously seen Off-Broadway in Vladimir at Manhattan Theatre Club and is currently making her Broadway debut as Sandra in Just in Time. Connect with Sadie: Instagram: @Sadie.Dickerson TikTok: @Sadie.Dickerson Connect with The Theatre Podcast: Support the podcast on Patreon and watch video versions of the episodes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/TheTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theatre_podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook.com/OfficialTheatrePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TheTheatrePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Alan's personal Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alanseales⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email me at feedback@thetheatrepodcast.com. I want to know what you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I'm sitting down with Jolee Hughes, NP-BC for a raw and honest conversation about what it actually takes to build a business that grows without consuming your entire life. If you've ever found yourself doing everything, carrying the weight of every decision, or secretly wondering how much longer you can keep pushing at this pace… this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. Jolee shares her journey from being the bottleneck in her business, burned out, overwhelmed, and afraid to let go, to becoming a confident, supported leader with a team she trusts. We talk about the uncomfortable but necessary identity shift from provider to CEO, learning to delegate with clarity, and how structure became the thing that finally gave her freedom. You'll hear the mindset that allowed her to stop white-knuckling her way through growth, the systems that helped her team step up, and the breakthroughs that rebuilt her energy and her confidence. Whether you're in a season of expansion, exhaustion, or somewhere in between, Jolee's story will remind you that scaling doesn't require more hustle, it requires more leadership. And you don't have to do it alone. Resources → Learn more & secure your spot for Confidence to Scale Live → Join the Fierce Factor Society → Follow Kaeli on Instagram: @kaeli.lindholm Additional Ways to Connect: Book a Discovery Call: Ready to scale with intention? Let's map out your next strategic move. KLC Consulting Website Kaeli on LinkedIn

What does it really take to create a keynote that inspires, connects, and builds your speaking career?In this Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand, I'm joined by three incredible women who attended our recent Master Your Message & the Stage Workshop in Orlando: Kait Richardson, Alfarena (Alfie) McGinty, and Niki Ramirez.You'll hear:Why they decided to work on a keynote talkHow they used our Signature Talk Canvas® framework to build a clear and compelling structure for their keynoteThe challenges they faced with getting out of the expert trap and into transformational messagingWhat they learned about shifting their approach from teaching tactics to instead identifying 3 key pillars, lessons, or stages to guide their audienceWhat it was like to practice on stage with real-time coaching and supportIf you've been dreaming of giving a powerful keynote that grows your brand and thought leadership, join us for this behind-the-scenes conversation.Our next 1-day Speaking Workshop is on February 19, 2026, in Downtown Orlando, Florida! If you're ready to accelerate your growth as a speaker, gain hands-on feedback, and have a lot of fun, this is your chance. Learn more and grab your spot at https://www.SpeakingYourBrand.com/orlando/. Links:Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/455/ Video from the live show: https://youtube.com/live/jT5z9EqUjgM Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/Attend our 1-day speaking workshop in Orlando: https://www.SpeakingYourBrand.com/orlando/ Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ Connect on LinkedIn:Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxKait Richardson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitrichardson497/ Alfarena McGinty = https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfarena-mcginty-324619180/ Niki Ramirez = https://www.linkedin.com/in/niki-ramirez-mba-thrp-sphr-65b93710/ Related Podcast Episodes:Episode 435: From Blank Page to On Stage: What It's Like to Create and Practice a Talk in One DayEpisode 439: From Engineer to Inspiring Speaker: Finding Your Authentic Speaking Style

Join Lexy Davis and guest Meg O'Neill in this powerful and perspective shifting convo around freebirth and without any medical visits. Together, they explore love, pregnancy, birthing from the pussy not the protoccol, motherhood, feminine embodiment, deep trust and the freedom that comes with choosing your own path. Meg, an experienced sex and feminine embodiment coach, shares her transformative pregnancy journey, including her decision to have a wild pregnancy and unassisted birth, and how deeply it reshaped her relationship with herself and her partner.Why embracing your desires is essential for healthy, aligned relationshipsMeg's personal story of preparing for motherhood after nearly a decade with her partnerThe importance of inner healing and emotional readiness before conceivingHow to reconnect with your body and trust the natural birthing processWhat a birth keeper does and how they differ from a doulaEmpowering tips for women preparing for a conscious and confident birth experienceWhether you're a mother, planning for pregnancy, exploring embodiment work, or simply curious about intentional motherhood and self-discovery, this episode is filled with wisdom, grounding insights, and encouragement.Listen now for an empowering conversation that inspires you to trust your intuition, honor your body, and embrace your unique path to motherhood.Golden Nuggets From This Episode:✨ “My work is really about owning our desires and bringing them alive in our bodies, our relationships, our births, and our entire life.”✨ “Your desires lead the way—revealing them becomes the portal to everything you want in intimacy and partnership.”✨ “A child is an amplifier—they simply magnify what already exists within us.”Parenthood reflects back our inner world, inviting greater awareness and emotional clarity.✨ “Under every complaint is a desire.”A powerful reframe that transforms conflict into deeper connection and understanding.✨ “I felt ready to pour myself into something meaningful.”Stepping into motherhood often begins with a quiet inner readiness.✨ “The deepest invitation of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood—especially unassisted birth—is surrender and letting go.”True empowerment often comes through releasing control and trusting the process.✨ “I never saw birth as a medical event.”A perspective that honors birth as a natural, intuitive experience rather than a clinical one.✨ “The real work was done before I conceived—I trusted the process fully.”Inner healing and preparation create a strong foundation for conscious motherhood.✨ “The same thing that gets the baby in, gets the baby out.”A reminder of the deep connection between pleasure, trust, and the natural rhythms of the body.Connect More with :IG: @the.meg.oWebsite: www.meg-oneill.comMore Lexy from Heart Snuggles:Soft Girl Season {Instant Access Course}: https://alive-to-enjoy.circle.so/checkout/soft-girl-seasonEmail: lexy@alivetoenjoy.comDating + Relationship Coaching - https://iamlexydavis.com/Instagram: Alivetoenjoy & Heart SnugglesTimestamps from episode:00:00 – Introduction to Lexy Davis00:55 – Welcoming Meg O'Neill03:18 – Meg's Journey to Motherhood06:26 – Conception Story09:04 – Pregnancy and Birth Choices18:31 – Navigating Family Reactions30:20 – Soft Girl Season Ad31:51 – Connecting with the Baby33:19 – Planning an In-Person Immersion During Pregnancy33:51 – Balancing Work and Pregnancy36:02 – Exercise and Supplements During Pregnancy38:02 – Choosing a Birth Keeper40:55 – Preparing for Birth and Postpartum46:23 – The Birth Story01:01:53 – Postpartum Support and Community01:05:02 – Favorite Romantic Memories01:05:47 – Where to Find More Content01:06:58 – Closing Thoughts and Gratitude

Hello, hello! In this week's "Best Lessons of the Year" recap, we're diving into two surprisingly connected themes: How easy it is to lose ourselves in conflict How possible it is to find ourselves in nature We start with a clip from my solo cast, Winning Isn't Everything, where I break down what really happens when our nervous system floods and suddenly our partner becomes… the enemy. (Yes, even if 10 minutes ago they were our favorite person.) Then we shift into wide-open wonder with adventurer and wildlife guide Eli Martinez, who reminds us that reconnecting with the natural world isn't just "nice" — it's an actual portal back to intuition, presence, and our truest selves. Some quote that stand out "Stepping out of win-lose dynamics isn't weakness. It's wisdom." "When we stop fighting for control, we start listening — and that's when we find our way back to ourselves." "Wonder cracks us open in ways certainty never can." Key Takeaways Winning in conflict often means both people lose. We aren't built for battles in our closest relationships. Curiosity is a superpower — in conversation, in conflict, in connection. Nature resets the nervous system. Watching a sunset can be more therapeutic than a dozen self-help books. Adventure and intimacy feel the same in the body. Fear + excitement + vulnerability = transformation. The real lesson? Learning to trust yourself is a practice, not a one-time achievement. Full Episodes Featured Exploring the Wild with Eli Martinez https://youtu.be/nLyXdWeEKI4 Winning Isn't Everything https://youtu.be/VHc_kt3yQ3U Rate, Review & Subscribe If this episode sparked something in you — a whisper, a nudge, a little "Oof… that's for me" — please rate, review, and subscribe. It helps the show grow and helps conversations like this reach people who need them. Connect with Danielle Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0VFZulonTvaa2HIPyJa4Tq Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-cut-your-own-bangs/id1427579922 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DontCutYourOwnBangs Community: Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontcutyourownbangs/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dontcutyourownbangspod Books & Journals: Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal Wrestling a Walrus (Children's Book): https://danielleireland.com/wrestling-a-walrus Website: https://danielleireland.com/  

Hey, Heal Squad! Today we're diving into something that shapes everything… your energy. In this powerful throwback, Maria sits down with energy practitioner and founder of the Energy Flow Formula, John Amaral, to break down what energy really is, how disconnection shows up in the body, and why stress, trauma, and burnout all live in your nervous system. Together, Maria and John talk about intuition, trust, and why your body is always sending you signals… even when you're too busy to notice. John shares how to reconnect to your body, trust your intuition, and release stored tension so you can feel more present, grounded, and alive again. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or “off,” this is exactly what you need to step into the new year fully aligned.  -- HEAL SQUAD SOCIALS IG: https://www.instagram.com/healsquad/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@healsquadxmaria HEAL SQUAD RESOURCES: Heal Squad Website:https://www.healsquad.com/ Heal Squad x Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HealSquad/membership Maria Menounos Website: https://www.mariamenounos.com My Curated Macy's Page: Shop My Macy's Storefront EMR-Tek Red Light: https://emr-tek.com/discount/Maria30 for 30% off Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/maria  Thrive Causemetics: https://thrivecausemetics.com/healsquad Get 20% OFF with this link!  Briotech: https://shopbriotech.com/ Use Code: HEALSQUAD for 20% off  GUEST RESOURCES: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnamaral/  Website: ​​https://johnamaral.com/  ABOUT MARIA MENOUNOS: Emmy Award-winning journalist, TV personality, actress, 2x NYT best-selling author, former pro-wrestler and brain tumor survivor, Maria Menounos' passion is to see others heal and to get better in all areas of life. ABOUT HEAL SQUAD x MARIA MENOUNOS: A daily digital talk-show that brings you the world's leading healers, experts, and celebrities to share groundbreaking secrets and tips to getting better in all areas of life. DISCLAIMER: This Podcast and all related content (published or distributed by or on behalf of Maria Menounos or http://Mariamenounos.com and http://healsquad.com) is for informational purposes only and may include information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. Any information or opinions provided by guest experts or hosts featured within website or on Company's Podcast are their own; not those of Maria Menounos or the Company. Accordingly, Maria Menounos and the Company cannot be responsible for any results or consequences or actions you may take based on such information or opinions. This podcast is presented for exploratory purposes only. Published content is not intended to be used for preventing, diagnosing, or treating a specific illness. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health-care emergency, please contact a qualified health care professional for treatment.

Rita Malvone did — but only after it nearly burned her out as a leader, a human, and as someone trying to make sense of a career that never quite felt like hers.In this episode, Rita and I unpack the quiet misery of high-performing corporate people: the ones who smile on Zoom, hit the metrics, answer Slacks at 11 p.m.… and privately wonder why they feel so damn empty.Rita's story starts in China, leading a young team while simultaneously building an entire Asia-Pacific presence from scratch. On paper? Impressive.In reality? A slow emotional suffocation disguised as “success.”She talks openly about being a bad leader — not out of incompetence, but because she was deeply unhappy. The FaceTime culture, the politicking, the performative grind, the “be grateful you even have this job” mindset… all of it slowly turned her into someone she didn't like.When the company finally told her she was 47th in line for a promotion, she snapped the trap in half.Leaving wasn't graceful. It wasn't strategic.It was survival.And looking back, Rita realized something hard but beautiful:You can't become the leader you want to be inside a system that requires you to betray yourself.We dig into the aftermath of walking away, the shock of rediscovering joy, the messy years of rebuilding, and how real leadership is less “motivational poster” and more “doing the hard, human, unglamorous work.”We talk about why suffering gives leaders their edge, why authenticity can't be faked, and why corporate life fails people who don't fit the mold — no matter how capable they are.This isn't a rage story.It's a liberation story.No villains. No corporate-hate screeds. Just an honest look at the moment you realize your career is using you more than you're using it — and what happens when you finally walk out.TL;DR* The trap: A prestigious career that looks like success and feels like misery.* The break point: Being told she was “#47 in line for a promotion.”* The turn: Leaving corporate, owning how unhappy she truly was, and rebuilding a life that isn't powered by performance, FaceTime, or pretending.* The lesson: You can't lead well while losing yourself.Memorable Lines* “I wasn't a bad leader. I was an unhappy human pretending to be a leader.”* “We were building the seats as we were sitting in them.”* “You can't sugarcoat how miserable you are and still expect to lead well.”* “Once I stepped out, I finally saw the cage I had been sitting in.”GuestRita Malvone — Leadership coach, former corporate executive in China, and someone who rebuilt her life after discovering her ‘career' was a beautifully decorated cage.