This week on the podcast, we’re diving into the topics of obesity and bariatric surgery. These topics are important ones to cover in their own right, but even beyond that, they’re topics that touch on many of the psychological hurdles that all of us face when we have to make a change in our life. This week’s guest is Kayla Landaeta . Growing up, Kayla was overweight and obese. In college, Kayla weighed 343 pounds, and eventually, she realized that she wanted to make a change in her life. She dis...
Sep 18, 2019•57 min•Season 3Ep. 140
Everyone has been given 1 life to live, but sadly, not everyone is an active participant in their own life. One of the key reasons for this is that they are not willing to accept responsibility for that active role. They are not willing to take radical responsibility for their life. This is the focus of today’s podcast episode. Today, we’re talking about the topic of radical responsibility, which means taking 100% responsibility for 100% of the situations you find yourself in. In this episode, I...
Sep 13, 2019•31 min•Season 3Ep. 139
Think back to the last time you had to have a really tough conversation. Maybe it was a difficult conversation with your spouse, a friend, or someone at work. Maybe it was a family member or an employee. No matter what, there’s no denying how terrifying these conversations can be. This week, we’re talking to AmyK Hutchens. She is an internationally-renowned speaker, and an expert who teaches people how to confidently & competently navigate their toughest conversations without saying somethin...
Sep 11, 2019•51 min•Season 3Ep. 138
This episode will change your life. We all have habits that we want to change. Maybe we want to eat healthier, drink less, or exercise more. You’ve likely set a goal to change a particularly difficult habit....and then failed. Likely multiple times. We set New Years’ resolutions, and they fall through. Habit change is hard . Today, we’re featuring Dr. Glenn Livingston, author of the book “Never Binge Again” on the podcast. Not only is he a Ph.D. trained psychologist, but he himself lost 80 pound...
Sep 04, 2019•50 min•Season 3Ep. 137
So many of us operate from the perspective that life is supposed to follow a linear path. So much so that, when we find ourselves at a crossroads or we feel compelled to go in a new direction, it can be incredibly difficult for us! This is why I am so excited for you to meet this week’s guest, Shannon Schottler. Shannon is a certified life/career transitions & leadership coach. Her mission is to empower more individuals to find, know and honor their truth personally and professionally. She b...
Aug 28, 2019•54 min•Season 3Ep. 136
We all want the best for our kids; that goes without saying. But, sometimes, our best intentions actually get in the way of our kids making the mistakes they need to make to grow and develop into educated, high-functioning adults. In today’s episode, we’re talking with Teru Clavel , the author of the brand new book “ World Class .” In her book, Teru compares the educational system we have in the United States with the system she encountered as her family moved from country to country in Asia. Mo...
Aug 21, 2019•42 min•Season 3Ep. 135
Gratitude is something we hear about a lot in the mainstream personal development literature…and it’s also a topic that gets simplified and manipulated in mainstream media. We’ve all seen the pretty social media posts that urge us to think positively, but those simplistic posts ignore the complexity and nuance that occurs within our emotional response. So, in this special episode of the Building Psychological Strength podcast, Ashley and I talk about the complexity surrounding gratitude and the ...
Aug 16, 2019•43 min•Season 3Ep. 134
The notion of being “fearless” is one that is so highly celebrated in our culture. But here’s the thing…there’s no such thing as being fearless. Fear, as a response, is primal and adaptive. It is natural and ingrained in us to fear the unknown, and there’s nothing we can do about the fact that we’ll experience fear anytime we step outside of our comfort zones. However, what we can do something about is how we respond to fear. Today, you’re going to hear from Kate Swoboda, the author of the book ...
Aug 14, 2019•53 min•Season 3Ep. 133
In this interview, you’ll learn how incredibly powerful your subconscious mind is. At Peak Mind, we say that your mind can be your most valuable asset or your biggest liability, and this episode illustrates that. This week you’ll meet Tiffany Toombs. Tiffany runs Blue Lotus Mind, and she works with her clients to help them understand how their subconscious minds are operating, where their self-limiting beliefs might have come from, and how to move forward to achieve exactly what you want to have...
Aug 07, 2019•45 min•Season 3Ep. 132
What do you stand for? What are you willing to show up for in the world? And… What are you NOT willing to show up for? This week’s guest on the podcast had to ask herself that important question as she went through one of the most challenging parts of her life - a health battle with her brand new baby. At the most challenging part of her life, Danielle Jokinen had to decide what she stood for, and more importantly, what she DIDN’T stand for, and that’s an exercise we ALL should go through. Danie...
Jul 31, 2019•58 min•Season 3Ep. 131
What have I learned from interviewing the world’s most inspiring women over the past 3 years? That’s what we’re digging into in this episode. Over the past 3 years, I have had the fortune to be able to chat with some POWERHOUSE women. Women who have faced adversity most of us will never encounter. Women who have built companies, achieved goals, and truly THRIVED in their lives. It’s eery how common the lessons they share are. As I get ready to pivot the Women Inspired podcast and turn the corner...
Jul 29, 2019•29 min•Season 3Ep. 130
This week we’re digging into some of those times in life when our feelings and needs can feel really opaque and complex. Those times when you feel friction, but you’re having a difficult time pointing to exactly why you feel friction. Those times when the friction you feel causes you to feel guilty because you don’t realize that the emotions you’re feeling are totally normal, expected, and common for the situation you’re in. This episode is for you if you’ve ever been in that situation. This wee...
Jul 24, 2019•57 min•Season 3Ep. 129
Think of your biggest dream. Your biggest goal. The one that makes you quiver because you KNOW you don’t completely have what it takes to accomplish it. The one where the path feels completely obscure, and maybe you can only see the first step or two. That’s the size of the goal I want you to have in mind when you listen to today’s episode with Rachel Nearhood. Rachel is the founder of Ellie and Ott , a subscription that gives parents a month-by-month game plan to enhance playtime with their lit...
Jul 17, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 128
Today’s episode is an extremely short episode that hits right in the center of a very important topic: failure. More specifically, I’m talking about failure as something that is: Necessary 100% inevitable A great indication that you’re on the right path Listen to this episode, and ask yourself, “How many times did I fall today?” Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...
Jul 15, 2019•8 min•Season 3Ep. 127
In the field of Positive Psychology, there is a concept called “thriving through adversity” and “post-traumatic resilience.” Imagine that. Experiencing extreme adversity in your life, and instead of having that adversity break you, coming out of it even more resilient than you went in. Amazing huh?! Today’s guest is a beautiful example of just that. Today, you’re going to meet Nancy Solari. Nancy is a Life Coach, a motivational speaker, author, radio show host, and she is legally blind. Nancy an...
Jul 10, 2019•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 126
So many people secretly hold the goal of leaving their 9-5 job to work for themselves, but the leap from traditional employment to an entrepreneurial gig can feel so big and scary! This week’s guest is going to put it into perspective for you in a way that no one else really does. This week, you’re going to meet Michelle Evans! Michelle is an entrepreneur in the online marketing space who helps other companies steadily attract new clients through online marketing funnels. What’s amazing about th...
Jul 03, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 125
Friends, I have an announcement, and because you have been along this journey with me, I want you to hear it first. The podcast is pivoting. As you know, I have been cultivating my work more and more in the direction of psychological strength and life design. Specifically, recently I partnered with Ashley Smith to form Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength . Our goal is to bring rigor and scientific-backing to the personal development space by offering content around the tools, techni...
Jul 01, 2019•17 min•Season 3Ep. 124
All of us are going to experience adversity in our lives, and undoubtedly, it will cause some despair and grief when it happens. Most of the time, we don’t get to choose whether we’re going to experience something difficult. Things simply happen. However, what we do get to choose is whether we stay in that place of despair…..or whether we thrive through it. This week, you’re going to meet Alisa Jones. Alisa had her first seizure and was diagnosed with ecstatic epilepsy when she was 40-years old....
Jun 26, 2019•52 min•Season 3Ep. 123
Have you ever wanted to reinvent yourself? Have you ever felt like the path you’re on used to be what you wanted to do, but it just isn’t anymore? And if so, have you ever felt like you needed permission to make a pivot like that? If any of that resonates, this episode is for YOU! This week, you’re going to meet Melissa McGraw. Melissa created The Creative Potential after being burnt out working for someone else. Through her own struggles, she realized she had something to offer. With passion, s...
Jun 19, 2019•54 min•Ep. 122
“Just think positively!” “Why can’t you look on the bright side?” At one time or another, almost all of us have been going through a tough time and have had someone say something like this to us. It has become so pervasive that a term has been coined to describe it: toxic positivity. This is when encouraging someone to simply “look on the bright side” without taking into account the circumstances they’re in becomes more harmful than helpful. Here’s the thing: a big chunk of psychological strengt...
Jun 17, 2019•25 min•Ep. 121
One of my very favorite quotes is by Henry Ford: Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently. Now, that all sounds nice, right? Sure, April, failure is the opportunity to begin again. That sounds lovely. However, when the rubber hits the road, most of us enjoy failing about as much as we enjoy having dental work done. But here’s the thing, the longer I’ve been an entrepreneur, the more I have come to truly understand how necessary and inevitable failure is in t...
Jun 12, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 120
How well do you know yourself? I mean, truly know yourself? How well do you know the innermost aspects of your true self, including the things that subconsciously influence you? This week, we’re talking all about self-awareness…how to develop it, and what it means to live in a self-aware state. We’re also talking about what that self-awareness allows you to do: LIVE AS YOUR TRUE SELF! This week, I’m chatting with Ginni Saraswati, and if you can find a brighter light in the world, I’ll…I don’t kn...
Jun 05, 2019•45 min•Ep. 119
Fill in the blank: I’m the type of person who __________. Are you the type of person who takes risks? Makes a lot of money? Needs the support of other people? Is brave? The way you instinctively answer these questions can tell you a lot about your self-identity, and this is what we’re zeroing in on for this special mini episode of the podcast. Here’s what we’re digging into: What is our self-identity? From a Cognitive Psych perspective, we’re digging into what our self-identity actually is and h...
Jun 03, 2019•27 min•Ep. 118
This week, I’m covering a topic that I’ve never talked about on the podcast before: divorce. Specifically, I’m chatting with Anna Shpilsher , a woman who focuses on helping people rebuild their lives after divorce. Anna says that her life began after her divorce. Before then, life was pretty awful. She suddenly found herself 30, divorced, and a single mom to 2 small children. She hated her new identity. And, to make matters worse, she was stuck… stuck thinking about what once was and not being a...
May 29, 2019•46 min•Ep. 117
Imagine this: you make a contribution at work, or you score a big win. What do you do next? Do you tell people about what you achieved? Or, do you wait for other people to recognize you and leave your fate in their hands? This week, we’re chatting with Carla Howard. Carla helps women become more Influential and promotable so they can rise with confidence and grace! Carla was catalyzed to do this work after she asked her daughter and granddaughter to draw a picture of a leader. She was shocked to...
May 22, 2019•54 min•Ep. 116
What is your biggest goal? Nope, I mean your BIGGEST GOAL? The one that is so big that it scares you? That’s the one I want you to have in mind as you listen to this week’s episode. This week, I have the incredible honor of chatting with a powerhouse friend of mine, Bri Seeley. Like many of us, Bri once lived in the land of 'should.' After completing two degree’s in fashion design, she built her own fashion label from the ground up and was convinced fashion was her path. Except, it didn't feel r...
May 15, 2019•51 min•Ep. 115
Every once in a while, we get to meet someone so multifaceted and interesting that they shift the way we think about the number of paths we can take during our lifetime. This week’s interview was one of those conversations for me. This week, you’re going to meet Sheira Brayer . Sheira is an empowerment speaker, an award-winning songwriter, the author of the book “Motiv8: 8 Ways to Rock Your Own World,” and a mom. Sheira is on a mission to educate, guide, and inspire mothers and their young daugh...
May 08, 2019•54 min•Ep. 114
Today’s episode could very likely change your financial life. I’m serious. Today, you’re going to hear from Tess Wicks, a financial expert, and the founder of Wander Wealthy. Periodically in past episodes of the podcast, I’ve focused on the important topic of focusing on building wealth to create financial stability, opportunity, flexibility, and options. But, here’s the thing. Many times, talking about, wanting, and trying to create wealth can feel GROSS. It can just feel uncomfortable. Why is ...
May 01, 2019•55 min•Ep. 113
Wow, I actually had a really tough time putting a title on this week’s podcast episode because we discussed so many amazing topics! How do you pick just one to highlight?! This week, I had the chance to sit down with Monica Zimmerman . Monica is a life and success coach who helps people elevate their emotional intelligence at work and in their relationships. She has a special place in her heart for women returning back to work after having a baby, and she draws from her past experience as a midw...
Apr 24, 2019•40 min•Ep. 112
How many times have you felt the urge to try something new, but you stopped short because you felt like you weren’t qualified? For example, maybe you want to write a book, but you didn’t go to school to be a writer. Have you ever considered that the qualification doesn’t precede action? Rather, it is through action that you become qualified. Also, it is through action that we literally become the person we need to be in order to stretch outside of our comfort zone. In this episode, we cover: Tha...
Apr 17, 2019•58 min•Ep. 111
