The Breakout – Unleashing Personal Growth - podcast cover

The Breakout – Unleashing Personal Growth

Dr. Keri & Kelly – Personal Growth Essentialsabbraccigroup.com
A #1 Self-Improvement podcast, The Breakout tells incredible stories of personal growth with the smart, hilarious thought leaders from Abbracci Group.Every day, in big and small ways, we put ourselves in boxes. From jobs to relationships, to entire belief systems, many of us are living by rules that someone else wrote for us. On The Breakout, talent specialists and the founders of Abbracci Group, Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, dive into the extraordinary stories of people overcoming self-doubt, pushing boundaries, and finding the courage and confidence to get what they want and achieve the success they were destined for. Every two weeks, our hosts sit down with inspiring change makers and experts who share ways that you can break through boundaries and shift your life into bold new territory, fostering personal development and a growth mindset. With a ton of humor and lots of care, Keri and Kelly also bring their own insights as change experts to every conversation. Their number one desire is that you do whatever the hell you want, and on The Breakout, Kelly and Keri prove you can escape expectations; best of all, they show you how.Each episode is a lesson in living courageously. The show covers topics on self help, leadership, personal development, building success, setting boundaries, growing confidence, mindset change, overcoming self doubt, and knowing your worth. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters.The Breakout has charted #1 in ‘Self-Improvement’, #1 in ‘Education’, and #7 in ‘All Podcasts’ for good reason. It’s chock full of impactful guests. From awe-inspiring change-makers and innovative leaders to renegade rule-breakers, Celeste Headlee, Robin Landa, Erica Rooney, Tyler Nehila, Maximina Juson, Liz Alterman, Danielle Cobo, Clint Hatton, , Rob Cross, Jennifer Pestikas, Dr. Brian Davidson have all graced the mic.Our Hosts:Meet Dr. Keri Ohlrich. With 20+ years on the front lines of the HR field, it’s safe to say that Keri is considered an expert. As co-founder of Abbracci Group and the co-author of ‘The Way of the HR Warrior’, she continues her mission to share insights from these experiences with others whose passion is to be the best in the HR arena. Keri’s professional roles have led to deep insight and expertise in: leadership and organization development, strategic talent planning and programs, defining and developing culture, change management, team building, employee development, engagement and retention and HR department diagnostics.And, meet Kelly Guenther. Co-founder of Abbracci Group, Kelly brings a holistic approach to the table when it comes to HR, focusing not only on the organization but on the individuals who create the team. Her unique leadership style allows for opportunities to diagnose needs and offer solutions through a deep understanding of the people, processes, and practices involved. So, who is Abbracci Group? Abbracci Group is a boutique, results-driven, unconventional coaching, HR management and consulting firm focused on getting the best out of people. The company is on a mission to improve the environment of organizations which in turn improves the lives of employees.​ We help leaders and teams develop increased self-awareness, strong leadership and team-building skills. We transform HR professionals into HR warriors who thrive on creating happier, healthier organizations. We apply a holistic approach when developing sustainable practices and nurturing organization culture. Connect with Abbracci Group at https://abbraccigroup.com/Keri and Kelly’s new book, Whatever the Hell You Want – An Escape Plan to Break Out of Life’s Little Boxes and Live Free From Expectations, is out now! Find it on Amazon by copying and pasting this link: https://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Hell-You-Want-Expectations/dp/1637560400Dr. Keri Ohlrich’s book, The Way of the HR Warrior is available now.Do you have a story our listeners will love? Apply to be a guest on The Breakout at: https://abbraccigroup.com/podcast/

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Episodes

Ep48: Andrew Davie reCHARGED

Imagine just turning 40 and having a ruptured brain aneurism. As you are recovering, COVID hits and you move back home with your parents. This was Andrew Davie’s life and his story of recovery, re-examining his life and starting a new chapter is one you don’t want to miss (it will warm your heart during this holiday season!). Before the aneurysm, Andrew was focused on teaching and writing. However, with the brain trauma and later, COVID, he had time to reflect and discover what would motivate hi...

Dec 22, 202140 minEp. 50

Ep47: Sam Thiara reCHARGED

Listening to Sam Thiara is just what you need as we wrap up 2021. Sam asks the tough “why” questions of himself and others. He asks these questions in a caring and empathic manner because he wants everyone to understand themselves and realize their dreams. Sam tells us about his decision to change up his career when he knew he was wearing a suit (aka career) that didn’t fit. He wanted to understand who he was and what would make him truly happy in his career. Not only has he helped himself but a...

Dec 08, 202139 minEp. 49

Ep46: Tom Nehila reCHARGED

Celebrate National Gratitude Month and Thanksgiving with Tom Nehila. Tom shares his deeply personal story about his divorce and how it changed his life. Tom grew up on the East Coast with a focus on sports, competition and business. His mind was the most important, not his heart. He had the successful career, a wife and three sons, his life seemed “perfect”, but then he and his wife divorced. During this tumultuous time, Tom learned to listen to his heart. He asked himself how he wanted to show ...

Nov 24, 202139 minEp. 48

Ep45: Eileen Tarjan reCHARGED

Eileen Tarjan starts off explaining the need to tend to our inner child and why it is difficult for people to bring their whole selves to work. This premise propels her to help people be seen and heard. Why is that her work? Eileen tells us the decision that changed her life. First, the decision was made for her: she was laid off from her corporate HR position. That night, she had the best night’s sleep! She woke up and realized that she needed do her own thing. She needed to be herself! But rea...

Nov 10, 202145 minEp. 47

Ep44: Gavin Doyle reCHARGED

Gavin Doyle started his own business at 13 years old. Yep, you read that right! He fell in love with Disney at 4 years old (when it wasn’t crowded BTW). He decided to take his passion and create a website which turned into a business and a book. This entrepreneurial spirit started at a young age with lemonade stands and selling wrapping paper. Following his passion at 13 changed his life and propelled him into the media and the best-seller’s list. Gavin’s advice for others is to create those mea...

Oct 27, 202138 minEp. 46

Ep43: Tricia Manning reCHARGED

Tricia Manning had us at “I love the CHARGE model”. But back to Tricia! After 25 years in corporate she had the hallmarks of success: office, promotion, salary. One day she scheduled appointments for her husband to go for a health screen and she thought, “I might as well do it too.” While she was at the health screen, they told her she needed open heart surgery. What the heck? She talks about her health crisis and how that was her wake-up call. It pushed her to review her career and make the dec...

Oct 13, 202139 minEp. 45

Ep42: Phil Strazzulla reCHARGED

Phil Strazzulla starts off providing a few great ideas to help us focus on self care and make time for creativity. He continues to tell us the decision he made that changed the trajectory of his life: Middle school wrestling. Yep, you read that right! Trying out for a sport that he wasn’t good at and failing at it for a couple years changed his life. Phil tells us that he was a shy, skinny kid and he knew he wanted to boost his confidence and thought wrestling could help him. He wasn’t good at w...

Sep 29, 202138 minEp. 44

Ep41: Stephanie Hutchins, PhD reCHARGED

Stephanie M. Hutchins, PhD starts off our chat with one of her favorite mantras: “30 years of adventure rather than 100 years in the corner”. 100% yes! Stephanie shares her intensely personal story about her trauma and how it has shaped her life. She experienced trauma early on in her childhood and then, in her 20’s, she slipped into a dark hole after she found her significant other dead. She could barely get out of bed or shower. Through her mother's coaching and support Stephanie started to se...

Sep 15, 202143 minEp. 43

Ep40 - Part Two: Raymond Kemp, Sr. reCHARGED

Part Two: All about advice! Raymond Kemp Sr. gives us his top tips: 1) Bias towards action 2) Embrace who you are, and 3) Enjoy the journey. He also suggests finding a mentor who believes in you, helps you gain momentum to help you reach your goals and tells you the truth! And, you will want to hear about the US President he has met who surprised him the most. He ends his interview with us with a discussion on the continued discrimination in the military. Raymond’s service is not over, as he now...

Sep 01, 202116 minEp. 41

Ep40 - Part One: Raymond Kemp, Sr. reCHARGED

Part One: You don’t want to miss this two-part episode with Raymond Kemp, Sr.! Why is it two parts? Well, at the 24:55 min mark, Raymond’s audio went out. Part 2 is filled with advice and insights into the current state of the Navy. Be sure to listen. In Part One, Raymond shares his story of walking into a Naval office to get his new assignment in the IT/technology department and the leader told him that he wouldn’t have “his type/n-word” working in computers. The leader placed all the Black sai...

Sep 01, 202127 minEp. 42

Ep39: Jeff Breskin reCHARGED

We start with a scary stat: Jeff Breskin has seen more employee lawsuits in the past 36 months as compared to his 35 years in the industry in regards to workers’ compensation. He is the most passionate safety and workers’ compensation professional we have ever met. Period. He has had the passion all his life for working hard and helping people. It was a strong thread throughout his life and was instilled by him from his parents who immigrated to the US and met while they were in beauty school. J...

Aug 18, 202135 minEp. 40

Ep38: Allen Esrock reCHARGED

Looking for that perfect blend of humor, wit and reflection? Allen Esrock delivers! We talk about TikTok, cat videos and not looking at Allen Esrock’s internet history when he was running a tween girls’ networking site! Allen shares with us the moment he realized that running the family retail business was not for him. He had other dreams! Allen drove from St. Louis, MO to Los Angeles, CA to realize his goal of becoming a TV comedy writer--only to discover that he hated being in the writer’s roo...

Aug 04, 202135 minEp. 39

Ep37: Maggie Malone reCHARGED

Yep, we have an Olympian on our podcast! What timing! We could not be more thrilled to have Maggie Malone as our guest. She holds the American record in women’s javelin and will be heading to Tokyo representing the US in the 2021 Olympics! Just having her talk about how she trains and focuses would be enough, but we do more at reCHARGE Your Life:) Maggie shares her incredibly personal story on her struggles with mental health and the Olympic hangover that she managed after the 2016 Olympics. She...

Jul 21, 202141 minEp. 38

Ep36: Haven Cockerham reCHARGED

Haven Cockerham already failed at retirement once. He lives on a golf course though he doesn't play golf! Why did he fail? He doesn’t have time. Haven is continuously pushing himself to learn new things, be surrounded by new thinking, soak up ideas from younger generations and living in a community that challenges his mind and provides beautiful mountain and ocean landscapes. Haven is a true change agent and a great storyteller. Haven tells us how he started in HR working with amazing mentors an...

Jul 07, 202147 minEp. 37

Ep35: Desmond Jefferson reCHARGED

How do we push ourselves out of our comfort zone? What does it mean to "pimp the system"? Desmond Jefferson explains all of this and tells us about the moment that changed his life. Desmond did the typical thing in college. He partied, he hung out too late...in short, he didn’t take it seriously. One day after being placed on academic probation (which he never failed a class before), he had to make a crucial decision: is it me or is it them? He had to choose himself and put himself above his fri...

Jun 23, 202132 minEp. 36

Ep34: Dominic Toscanelli reCHARGED

A special Father’s Day podcast (and, nope, we didn’t plan it that way, but we are lucky that the stars aligned). We begin with Dominic Toscanelli sharing his love of data and spreadsheets. Don’t worry, there is more to the interview and a great book recommendation for new dads. When asked what changed his life, Dominic speaks from the heart on the sudden death of his father and how he had to reframe his life at just 19 years old. He shares his journey toward managing his grief, preserving his me...

Jun 09, 202141 minEp. 35

Ep33: Lyndal Larkin reCHARGED

Collecting experiences and living life. Lyndal Larkin is passionate about being true to these beliefs. She has a background in travel and hospitality, aviation, operations and learning and development. She was working in operations and participated in a training for managers and fell in love with learning and development and that changed her life. Throughout these changes, Lyndal has exposed herself to learning new experiences, utilizing her skills and knowledge and making an impact. She has an ...

May 26, 202138 minEp. 34

Ep32: Tonya McKenzie reCHARGED

You don’t want to miss Tonya McKenzie’s interview. Tonya has lived enough life for several books and hours of podcast content. Through it all, she has relied on her love of learning and laughter. Tonya talks about her passion around teaching others and leaving the world in a better place than she found it. She put her money where her mouth is and gave up her dream to take care of her sisters after their mom died. Throughout the trauma, she has learned to be more vulnerable, find common ground wi...

May 19, 202140 minEp. 33

Ep31: Sammy Wegent reCHARGED

How are comedians and leaders similar? More than you might think! You need to be in tune with the audience (employees), you need to listen and adjust (flexibility) and you want the audience (employees) to have an engaging time. Hone your comedic skills and you are honing your leadership skills. Sammy Wegent started in the arts and on stage and now helps others in business. He understands that leadership is similar to being a presenter. It is always a show. He tells us about when he went to a car...

May 12, 202140 minEp. 32

Ep30: Dan Flynn reCHARGED

We kick off talking with Dan Flynn about fate of the Edsel and move to the necessity of the grind for whatever you want in life! There are no short cuts. No matter what job or chapter of life you are in…you must put in the hard work. Dan tells us the two great decisions that changed his life. He discusses his move from corporate to going out on his own. He comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and regretted not taking that leap and having confidence in himself. He did some soul searching and l...

May 05, 202137 minEp. 31

Ep29: Kathy Dawson reCHARGED

Incredible levels of energy and a positive outlook. That describes our guest, Kathy Dawson, perfectly. She has been focused on her goals since she sat with her typewriter at age 12. She learned when she was 16 that you could not control other people and instead you need to focus on what you can control. She personifies courage, goal-orientation and resilience. She shares why she started her staffing business during the 2008 recession (yes, we talk about how crazy you need to be to do this!). Kat...

Apr 28, 202140 minEp. 30

Ep28: Nadine Chapman reCHARGED

"When you want something, the universe conspires to helping you achieve it." "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." These are some of Nadine Chapman’s favorite quotes and they have changed her life. Oh, and we talk about how your "dinosaur tail" gets in your way. It is the start of a great conversation! Nadine started her career in the Federal Government as an attorney and rose up the ranks quickly. When she was 30 years old and had her “good government job” (per her mother), she ...

Apr 21, 202141 minEp. 29

Ep27: Valerie Paris reCHARGED

Ideas. Ideas. Ideas. Valerie Paris shares with us her favorite book on ideas. How they move through the universe, how they visit you and how they leave you. Profound words on the concept of ideas. And that is just the beginning of our conversation with Valerie. Valerie discusses her decision to transition two years ago. Her transition began when she asked herself the question: If you could live your life how you want to, and you could do anything, what would that look like? And she realized that...

Apr 14, 202141 minEp. 28

Ep26: Jacquelyn Adams reCHARGED

We kick off our conversation with guest Jacquelyn Adams by talking about solving problems. It is so simple: take a break from the problem, take a walk and clear your head! You will be amazed at the ideas that come to you. And that is just the beginning with Jacquelyn. Listen to her story about leaving Hicksville, OH (not a typo) and her computer programming job to join the Peace Corps. Why the change? She wasn’t happy with her job and wanted to change her life. She gave up the “good” job and mov...

Apr 07, 202138 minEp. 27

Ep25: Julie Neumark reCHARGED

It is going to be a good episode when we kick off with an infinite mindset discussion. Julie Neumark chats with us about trying to live a long-term mindset and how humility is a key to her success. And, she needed to tap into her humility as she left her music career. Julie started off as a singer/song writer and after years, she was signed! But that lasted for only 18 months and it was over. Now what? Music was her identity and her dream. Julie had to ask herself, who am I? While she knew that ...

Mar 31, 202135 minEp. 26

Ep24: Nandini Basu reCHARGED

Do you know what a movement educator is? Neither did we. Luckily, Nandini Basu explains it to us! Nandini also talks about her journey from working in corporate to becoming a Master Pilates instructor. She recalls a time when a student told her that “You are a blessing in my life” and how that feeling didn’t match the feelings she was receiving in the corporate world. The question was then…what do I do about this misalignment? Nandini found a grounding in Pilates that she didn’t have before. She...

Mar 24, 202136 minEp. 25

Ep23: Ray Culver reCHARGED

You may think we have switched it up to a food/travel podcast since this is how we spend the first 10 minutes chatting with Ray Culver! Nah, we are still a life changing decision podcast, but we couldn’t help ourselves and kicked it off talking about how Ray expands his brain with food and travel. After discussing international vending machines, we get to a deep discussion about the decision Ray made that changed the trajectory of his life. Ray shared his intensely personal story about coming ou...

Mar 17, 202131 minEp. 24

Ep22: Amy Evans reCHARGED

Progress not perfection! You are often courageous in hindsight, but that “courageous” moment is often fraught with fear and questioning. These are life lessons that Amy Evans lives by. Listen to Amy talk about the importance of freedom, listening to your intuition and getting clear on your values. Your personal values are what guides you and can serve you well when making decisions in your career and personal life. Throughout her life, Amy faced her challenges with resiliency and knew early on t...

Mar 10, 202136 minEp. 23

Ep21: Andy Lee reCHARGED

Have you ever wanted to call your manager and say “I cannot take this job one day longer”? Well, Andy Lee did just that and changed his life. What happened to him after he made that call? Take a listen, as Andy shares his very personal and vulnerable story with us. He tells us that he was in denial and pretending everything was fine, when it wasn’t. He took time off after that phone call and took a journey which included a month-long stay at a Buddhist Monastery. After his leaving his job, he ma...

Mar 03, 202131 minEp. 22

Ep20: Florence Navarro reCHARGED

A true global citizen and lifelong learner, Florence Navarro provides us an amazing list of podcasts that she listens to in order to push her thinking. We could have ended the interview with all that great information! Luckily, Florence tells us about her decision to leave the United Nations and how her life changed after that. She believed that she could learn more if she stepped away from the UN. And she did! She obtained her Master’s at Stanford and had one of the best years of her life! Thro...

Feb 24, 202134 minEp. 21
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