Raising Teen Warriors Podcast: Recent Episodes
Suzi Freeman
Welcome to Raising Teen Warriors Podcast, formerly known as The Elite Minds podcast. This is a place where we will talk about the good, bad, and ugly of parenting teens and teen life right now! Our goal is to give you parents who are in the trenches with your teen amazing confidence and clarity on how to ask the hard questions. We also give you sound advice on how to have hard conversations around mental and emotional wellness, sex, drugs, and suicide with your teen!
I want you to know that I am right here in the trenches with you as we grow together. I have raised three adult kids, and I have twin 12-year-olds here at home in Junior High, so I completely get it, and I understand the struggles you currently have and will have!!
Sit back and get ready for the journey of a lifetime; it goes quickly!
In this episode, Suzi Freeman, NLP Master Practitioner, Teen Mentor, and Parenting Coach explains how NLP works, what it is, and how it can help you and your teens. Suzi walks us through a story with one of her mentees, a 16-year-old girl named Emma, and how Suzi worked with Emma to help her recognize her fear and anger through the subconscious. We also touch on how Emma was able to reframe this thinking and change those memories to a more positive, helpful status. Suzi also covers her "Murder in the House" story (this is true) and how it took over 40 years for that story to be brought forward through NLP work when she was releasing fear. This is a must listen. Please reach out to Suzi if you want to talk and explore this further. Suzi is based in Gilbert, AZ. www.suzifreeman.com / www.teenwarrioracademy.com / suzi@suzifreeman.com
Get Social With Suzi:
Suzi's LinkedIN Profile
Courtney is a fierce Momma and a great businesswoman.
Courtney does not believe in work-life balance...Listen to why!
Here is a snippet of what Courtney had to say about her life: "NONE of the trauma in my past defines me, nor do I focus on it or really even think about it. It was part of my journey....good, bad, or indifferent. I INTENTIONALLY raised my kids to be strong and independent and how to fight their own battles. Our motto in our family is, 'You have 24 hours (which means you have 24 hours to have a pity party, then suck it up, face the issue and get to work).
My youngest (19) has had four heart surgeries - I mean big doozy heart surgeries at LA Children's Hospital. And we had the same mentality - 24 hours!
Our oldest was a big sports guy; he had some health issues, etc. - but we never let him skip a practice or go in late, etc. (once you decide it's ok to miss one, then it becomes a lot easier to miss more) I could go on and on about that! LOL.
I believe "work-life balance' is a myth. You can't have it all.......but you can live intentionally. As business owners, my husband and I intentionally focused on our kids and home life at the expense of growing our business to what it could be.
As the kids got older and were out of the house more and more, we could slowly 'intentionally' turn more focus to building our business. Now they are both gone, and we are like, 'All in, baby'! Our business is growing wildly fast....but that is by intention."
Get social with Courtney: Instagram: @courtney_bourland, Facebook: CourtneyCaseBourland.
Get social with Suzi on Instagram: @suzifreeman, and visit my website, www.suzifreeman.com, to learn more about The Teen Warrior Box and me.
Today Suzi is talking with Dallas, a dad to three boys, 13, 10 & 6.
Dallas reveals to us his struggle mentally at one point with balancing work/entrepreneurial endeavors and family time.
"I went through a mental health battle, and for a long time, I felt like I was "losing at life." I'm a competitive, sports-minded guy, and I wanted to "win" again. So, I created "points" for myself. I started winning and feeling some positive momentum. Still, at the dinner table one night, a moment with my boys made me realize I was only winning in certain areas, but I was losing in the most important area -- with my family. I needed more than "points"...I needed the right game plan."
Dallas also talks freely about an episode with his oldest son and how they worked through it. Dallas stated, "Not long ago, with my oldest son, we hit an impasse on a behavioral situation with him. In this moment of clarity, I realized, "He's never been this age before. He's learning." And at that moment, I realized, too, "I've never had a kid this age before. I'm learning too." Once we shared that moment, there became a lot more grace around the impasse because we realized we've never passed this way before."
Dallas is a super fun guy to chat with and is very down-to-earth. Having him on the pod was a pleasure, especially as my first Dad guest!
Watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Gogd1_GiQec
Connect with Dallas on Social under the handle @DallasAmsden
Visit his website: www.communicate2succeed.com
Get social with me on IG: @suzifreeman
Visit www.suzifreeman.com to learn more about the Teen Warrior Box and me.
Suzi and Mandy talk about parenting, trauma, insane relationships, and more in this fantastic second episode of the Elite Minds Podcast. Mandy reveals how her daughter, six at the time, saved her life from being choked to death by her husband (her daughter's Dad).
We talk about how to raise your kids the way society is today, social media an all the other distractions, as well as how to raise them to not be in a vulnerable situation.
Get social with Mandy: www.instagram.com/mandyshulis
www.facebook.com/mandyshuliscoaching
Get social with suzi at www.instagram.com/suzifreeman
and watch the Youtube of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/kFv21oAJZJU
www.suzifreeman.com
Suzi talks with Clarite Escalante about our thoughts on our adult children entering entrepreneurship.
Some of the mistakes we have made, as well as diving into what it means to hold space for our friends and family members.
Clarita talks a bit about her journey after being diagnosed with cancer (cancer free now) and how that has been a blessing to her.
We also touch on our women's retreat we are co-hosting in October 2023!
You can watch the video podcast on YouTube by clicking here: Elite Minds Podcast with Clarita Escalante
Get to know Clarita more and check out her products: www.theclaritaescalante.com
The Clarita Escalante Podcast
Check out our retreat here: Soul Alchemy Retreat
Get to know Suzi and order your 988 Warrior Box Today: Suzi Freeman
It's hard to believe this, but today is the final episode of The Elite Minds Podcast, Season 1. And I'm just so completely thrilled! A huge thanks to everyone who has been listening, and to all the guests who have been game to come on the show and chat with me. This has been a passion project for me, and I have loved every second of it. I'm already super excited for Season 2, which will launch next Spring!
And for our final episode today, it's a really special one for me as I have my three oldest kids with me, Mercedes, Ryan, and Kobi. We cover a wide-range of topics including their daily routines and nonnegotiables, goal-planning, what success looks like for them, the impact of social media, and the dreaded millennial label. More significantly for me as a mom, we also dive into what it means to be a blended family and for them, it really means no labels, it's just family.
We've cut out the family commercial breaks we had to take, but we hope you enjoy this conversation filled with hilarity, a conversation stop in MySpace, and so much more, where we took the time to connect in conversation with each other.
Thanks for listening and we'll see you for Season 2!
You can find Mercedes below:
IG: @reallifewithmercedes
"Calling all momma's! Today's episode of the The Elite Minds Podcast is for you -- and I only have one more episode before I wrap up my first podcast season and I'm still blown away by this project. I have loved every moment of it and I'm excited to bring you the conversation I had with today's guest, Meghan O'Brien.
Meghan is an entrepreneur and coach, specifically helping mothers to find their identity, and their harmony, in motherhood. After having her second child, Meghan really struggled with her sense of self and purpose, sacrificing everything for her family and children, a common theme for many of us. She had to recalibrate on almost every level and in every way, to come back to herself and realize that taking care of herself, prioritizing her needs and desires, and pursuing her dreams, didn't make her a bad mom or partner.
Meghan is now on a mission to help other moms realize their dreams, and living in harmony (she likes to throw the word balance out the window), and never having to ask the question ""what if"" at the end of the road. While so much of the information and resources available are geared towards the physical aspects of birth and motherhood, there isn't nearly enough about mindset and awareness and staying true to yourself. Meghan is here to change that narrative so tune in now!
You can find Meghan here:
IG: @meghanlobrien
Website: https://www.thereconnectedmomma.com/
FB: thereconnectedmomma"
CONTENT WARNING: In this episode, we talk about Meghan's journey as a domestic violence survivor. Please listen with care.
In a real and raw conversation today, I'm speaking with integrative health coach RN, Meghan Hanson, who shows up in vulnerability and authenticity as she shares her story of living in a relationship of abuse, and surviving domestic violence. We discuss her lightbulb moment of when she realized she wanted and needed to get out, and the steps (and her family) that helped her to do just that. Working now to help other women "find their happy", Meghan's journey is an inspiring one as she found her way out of an abusive relationship and cycle, to finding her feet underneath her, changing her mindset, implementing healthy habits, and believing anything is possible.
As a coach, she works with women to achieve their dreams regarding their physical fitness, as well as their emotional wellbeing and self-development. Truly holistic in her approach, Meghan has forged a new path in coaching, motherhood (mom of triplets!), and finding the faith she needs to create the life she desires.
You can find Meghan here:
IG: @best_life_health365
Website: https://thebesthealthcoaching.com/
CONTENT WARNING: In this episode, we discuss suicide, suicide ideation, and the struggles of mental health. Please listen with care.
Well, if this episode 12 isn't a doozy! In my longest episode yet, I have the pleasure of chatting with my good friend (and fellow entrepreneur), Krista Lane. Krista is the Co-Founder of Noel Estelle Creative Designs, a Yoga Instructor, and Reiki Practitioner and today, no topic is off limits. We discuss her struggles with mental health as a young child, which followed her all the way to graduate school, where she considered suicide while facing severe depression and anxiety, and was physically at her worst. And then, we talk about her road since and how she lives a high-functioning, but highly feeling, life. Krista speaks to how she realizes now that she spent a lot of her life out of alignment, but in the last number of years, has worked to tap back into her intuition and gut, carving out space for herself and who she truly wants to be in the world.
From the delight of being called a pagan and witch (her greatest compliment to date), to acknowledging the seasons of life as your soul is on a constant evolution, to the various healing modalities that are out there to help people, and being in the flow and living in alignment, it's not an episode to miss!
You can find Krista below:
IG: @kristalane66
Website: https://noelestelle.com/
Email: noelestellecreatives@gmail.com
CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses domestic violence and abuse and strategies for people in an abusive relationship. Please read with care.
In a different type of conversation, today I'm chatting with Adam Boyd, a veteran and retired police officer and domestic violence detective, who after 11 years on the force and time served in the military, decided he needed a change during the pandemic. Adam is now a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (NSCA), an Arizona POST certified physical fitness instructor, FBI National Academy Associate (FBINAA) Resilience Instructor, XPT Performance Breathing Instructor, and an instructor for O2X Human Performance.
Today we cover a wide variety of topics including the story of his journey of service, both through the military and the police force, and then making a massive lifestyle change to run his own business for his own quality of life, and his desire to help others. We also dive deep into domestic violence, escape plan ideas for people, the need for documentation, and the importance of body language. And how following your intuition is one of the best things you can do if you find yourself in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation or relationship.
Now coaching and working with individuals and groups, Adam hopes to bring a holistic wellness view for both civilians and first responders through physical fitness, breath-work, meditation, cold plunges, moon-bathing, and more!
Listen in and you can find Adam below:
Email: solefultraining@gmail.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/soleful_wellness_/
Website: http://www.solefultraining.com/
This week we dive back into the power our mindset can have in our lives, and how to begin building a healthy mindset. I am joined by brand strategist, best-selling author, and podcaster Monica Kline, as she shares her own journey of healing through building a healthy mindset.
Monica shares her story of how she has navigated several family challenges and grown a successful business, thanks to her daily habits to build and maintain a healthy mindset. We talk about her business, Identity Brand by Monica Kline, and how she helps others to grow their own businesses and mindset, which is her passion. As she puts it, "mindset is a daily habit like brushing your teeth." Through our conversation, we discuss the importance of self awareness and meditation, and Monica shares some tips to start building a healthy mindset.
Whether you are a business owner needing to find balance, an individual dealing with a personal struggle, or simply navigating life, Monica's tips can be inspiring for us all. Tune in for a thought-provoking and insightful conversation.
You can check out Identity Minds By Monica Kline below:
Website: https://identitybrandbymonicakline.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/identitybrandbymonicakline
IG: @identity.brand.by.monica.kline
Podcast: https://identitybrandbymonicakline.com/podcast
In this week's episode of the Elite Minds Podcast I am pleased to be joined by Inbal Claudio, who is a mom, a small business owner, an ex-military wife, and an all around amazing human. This conversation follows Inbal's story of successfully running two different businesses while raising two (soon to be three) children. She opens up about trying to market her Goldwick Candles, but struggling to find an online platform where she wasn't overlooked. This led to her creating Like Minded Collective, a free social media platform for female founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, and influencers to build genuine personal relationships and grow their business.
Balancing a business and being a mother is no easy task, and our discussion dives into the ways to juggle the two, while also taking care of yourself. Inbal shares my favorite bit of advice to all the women who want a family and a business: surround yourself with people who support you.
In addition to having supportive people in your life, it is essential to get past the guilt, take time for yourself, and say what you're feeling. There are amazing services out there, such as HOLD (Hearing Out Life Drama), a listening service Inbal shares in our conversation, that can help you go from hysterically crying to smiling. As Inbal says, "It's more than a friend, less than a therapist, you can book right away, at a fraction of the cost."
Tune in for a validating and insightful conversation about what women can accomplish as both mothers and business owners.
You can check out Like Minded Collective here: https://likemindedcollective.com/
HOLD (Hearing Out Life Drama): https://www.hearingoutlifedrama.com/
Last week we dove into life as a military mom and previous service member, and this week we are taking a closer look into what it's like to be a newly minted police officer. Joining me today is Koby, who gives a very real look into the various choices he made that led him to the police academy and starting his career in service to others, in a field that is seeing challenging moments right now.
Koby gives a raw and unfiltered peek into the transition from graduating from college with a degree right into the academy, and the various skill sets he has learned along the way. He also stresses the importance of doing multiple things before diving into the academy (also - major hint: do LOTS of cardio!) and getting to know yourself as best you can before making that decision. In my favorite part of the conversation, we tap into the fact that police officers are humans, just like all of us, and the work they are doing is human-to-human. Interestingly enough, 90% of the job is talking to people.
Being a police officer actually comes with not only a lot of choices for a career path within the force, but with a lot of humanity and recognizing yourself and how you want to serve. Tune in for an informative and authentic conversation and let us know what you think!
In today's episode of The Elite Minds Podcast, I'm chatting with a good friend, and fellow military mom (and previous member herself!), Stacy Jarvis. This conversation is one of my favorites as we both dive a little bit into Stacy's story of how and why she joined the armed services (she was only 17 and her first deployment overseas was to South Korea!) and we also talk authentically about what is means to be a military momma and how best to support your kiddos as they serve.
The conversation spans talking about the difference in the military now versus when Stacy first joined, back in 1997, and the treatment of women, and how she not only survived all of her training and deployments, but also thrived. She has key words of wisdom for both parents and their kids who are thinking about enlisting. Her most powerful advice to parents? You aren't "allowing" your child to join the armed services, they are choosing this path for themselves and your support in that decision is critical. She also discusses the importance of not dumping your emotional state onto your kids (because of where they may be deployed, the stress of their jobs, etc.), and how having open and honest conversations for the duration of their time in the service will be beneficial to you both.
Listen in for insight into the life of a military mom and former service member, and how to have a lot of humor and understanding along the way.
You can find Stacy here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacyjarvis1979
In honor of the upcoming 21st anniversary of 9/11, on today's episode I'm chatting with Chris Yeager, @jagermiester71, a retired member of both the Coast Guard and Navy, who also happens to be a significant part of my personal story, having been married to Chris and sharing 3 kids. I wanted to chat with Chris to honor the journey he was part of in 2011 when 9/11 occurred, and the sacrifices he has given, like all of our members of the military, as well as their families.
Today we hear about what it was like flying into NYC after the Twin Towers had collapsed and the incredibly surreal period of time after. And how everyone simply showed up to do whatever it was that was needed to be done, to help and provide support. Chris also speaks about the changes over the years since 9/11 in the military, what it's like to have his (our) kids in both the military and police, and shares advice for anyone thinking about joining, and how to maintain the fortitude and strength to continue on, if this might be your chosen career path.
It's an honest, insightful, and raw look into 9/11, and the reality of what military living is, and isn't.
Please rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast and let us know what you think!
We all know the power of mindset can create the reality you wish to live, and impacts everything we do in our lives! Today's guest, Lauren Masidonski, Podcast Host and Certified Life Coach, is proof of just that. Lauren shares her story of going through a painful divorce, after realizing that the relationship was no longer serving her, and utilizing that time to propel her forward to what would actually be best for her, and her life - pouring into herself so she could then pour into the lives of her daughters and others.
Through modalities such as journaling, podcasts, personal development, and fitness, Lauren began to find her way back to herself, and now works with women to transform their own mindsets, overcome adversity, and gain confidence. Through her own journey, Lauren realized that she needed to embody who she wanted to be, both for herself, and her girls, and that no one else should be able to dictate her choices in life. By changing her mindset, which is really changing the course and direction of your thoughts and feelings as those create results, Lauren was able to forge an entirely new narrative and path for herself.
Listen in for additional nuggets of wisdom and you can find Lauren here:
Website: https://www.laurenmasidonski.com/
IG: @laurenmasidonski
Cheeky Vibe and Peaceful Life Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cheeky-vibe-peaceful-life/id1490151723
Episode 4 of the Elite Minds Podcast is out now! Today's conversation is a deep dive into boundaries, self-care, getting in alignment, soul-healing, and more, with Megan Moser, the founder of Visionary Experiences. A mind and soul alignment mentor, Megan offers Somatic Breath-work, Sound Meditations, & Retreats, working with and coaching people to reconnect with themselves, by setting boundaries, healing wounds, and doing soul work to live their most aligned and purpose-filled life.
Megan speaks candidly about her childhood and struggling to find her purpose and way, unable to live her soul-aligned life due to family expectations, challenges, and constraints. She discusses a pivotal moment as an adult when she finally realized she had to be the one to set boundaries and make changes for the betterment of herself and her own family unit. Megan shares with us her top tips for setting boundaries while also recognizing this can be very challenging, and showing yourself grace while doing this is critical. While we can set boundaries and work to heal ourselves, which can provide generational healing, we can't heal others, or hold that responsibility. We can only work towards our own healing, pursuing multiple modalities, finding what works for us, which can center and ground us into our own truth and purpose. Listen in for an amazing and raw conversation and if you want to learn more, work 1:1, or join a retreat, you can find Megan below:
IG: @_honestlymegan_
IG: v@isionaryexperiences
Email: megan@visionaryexperience.com
I'm delighted to share that in today's episode, I'm chatting with a good friend, Clarita Escalante, who is a certified transformational nutrition health coach, on a mission to help women live their best, and most healthy, lives! Clarita's path as a coach, author, speaker, and podcast host started over 5 years ago, when she received a cancer diagnosis which shifted her entire world. After spending almost a year in "victim mode" wondering how this could possibly be happening to her, Clarita realized she had to make some changes, and not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. She realized that she wanted to take ownership of her own life and the diagnosis, and to do so, she had to look at her entire mind-body-soul connection and what was in alignment, and what wasn't.
Clarita realized she wanted to go back to school and get certified in nutrition, so she could live her most optimal life, and be prepared if a second diagnosis were to show up down the road. But along the way, she also realized that if her mindset and perspective (conscious and subconscious) were remaining toxic, it wouldn't matter how well she was eating, or how often she was exercising, true change couldn't occur!
Join us for a fascinating conversation about living in 360° health, which means incorporating all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit in your wellness journey, the power of journaling and self-compassion, and honoring your emotions without letting them derail you from your dreams and goals! And Clarita's number one tip for creating a healthy lifestyle? You'll have to listen in!
You can find Clarita here:
www.theclaritaescalante.com
@the_clarita_escalante
The Wellness Journal: https://www.amazon.com/Wellness-Journal-Clarita-Escalante/dp/B09MBQQYQ6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2V1BL0LGVTK2L&keywords=the+wellness+journal+clarita&qid=1660592752&sprefix=the+wellness+journal+clarita%2Caps%2C399&sr=8-1
In this episode, I'm chatting solo in a follow-up to episode 1, where we discussed suicidal ideation and how my own personal struggles have led me to the work I'm doing now. Today I'm sharing some of the strategies and resources that really helped me to reshape my mindset around suicide as an option while reframing the stories and beliefs I was telling myself.
Stress and overwhelm were two of the biggest factors during that time in my life, and are still challenges that I face. That said, however, I now have a variety of processes and resources that help me to manage and work through my emotional responses and triggers, and I hope they are helpful for you as well. The first resource came in the form of NLP or Neuro-Linguistic Programming. You don't have to be certified in NLP to have it be a helpful option, and I will go over in more depth this 5-step process you can start to utilize while navigating your emotions. These steps include the following: 1. Releasing negative emotions. 2. Identifying your triggers. 3. Living "at cause." 4. Setting goals. 5. Recognizing and removing limiting beliefs.
Additionally, I also speak today about SMART outcomes (which you may know as SMART goals, but with a bit of a twist). Both of these processes have helped me immensely over the past year, and I'm passionate in the belief that by becoming more self-aware, it means you can begin to self-direct. Which then means you can begin to choose your thoughts, you can choose your dreams, you can choose your purpose. You can decide your own path, you just have to be willing to take action and choose for yourself. These resources can help you start down a path of healing and choosing differently.
Listen in to hear the details about NLP and SMART outcomes, and please reach out if you have any questions or want to chat further!
Community #: 480-530-7059
IG: @suzifreeman
CONTENT WARNING: This podcast discusses a wide range of topics from depression, anxiety, and mental-health challenges to suicide and suicide ideation. Please listen with care.
Welcome to the very first episode of the Elite Minds Podcast! I am so honored you are here and can't wait to chat with you each week about a huge variety of topics, including, but not limited to: parenting, healing modalities, depression, suicide ideation, self-care, and more. We definitely dive deep into some very important, yet challenging, conversations and I will always provide a content warning for specific episodes. These are hard topics to discuss, but they very much need to be part of our mainstream thinking and awareness.
If you don't know me, I'm Suzi Freeman and I'm a suicide prevention specialist, helping moms and families (both in the military and outside of it) to identify warning signs in their loved ones suggesting depression or suicidal ideation. I'm also a Neuro-Linguistics Programming Master Practitioner, TIME Techniques Master Practitioner, a Master of Hypnotherapy, an Emotional Freedom Techniques Practitioner, a Master Success Coach and certified as a Suicide Recognition and Prevention (QPR) Instructor from the QPR Institute. I'm on a passionate mission to provide help, resources, knowledge, support, and mindset shifts to those believing suicide is an option, and those wanting to embark on a healing journey.
In this first episode, I'm sharing the story of how I arrived here, in this moment in time with the work I'm doing, and my ties to the military and police. It started with what I was seeing in the Facebook groups I joined for military moms. Almost immediately, I realized there was so much concern about depression, anxiety, and suicide for their loved ones in the military, and quickly knew I had to do something. Through learning more, and becoming trained in a variety of ways to help others, I realized that I myself, had been living a life of suicide ideation, always thinking of suicide as an option, whether due to overwhelm, or believing that was how I was "preparing" my kids for their future, or for a whole host of reasons. My breakthrough moment came lying on the floor in my closet in my home and realizing I had to remove myself from that ideation phase, and that there were so many other modalities for awareness and healing.
I'm here to tell you that there are so many choices, and suicide isn't one of them. Join in for a listen, and let's take this healing journey together over the course of this first podcast season.
Welcome to The Elite Minds Podcast, where we will discuss how to help you and your family combat stress, worry, and fear.