Positive Impact with Andrew Schultz: Recent Episodes
Andrew Schultz
Welcome to Positive Impact with Andrew Schultz, where each week we bring you messages or people contributing a positive impact in the community and amplifying the message of inspiration, hope, and courage. People from all walks of life doing meaningful work that matters, living into their purpose, and making a difference in the lives of others.
In this episode of Positive Impact, Andrew Schultz welcomes Allison Beninato, a pioneering force in healthcare, to the podcast. Allison's remarkable career spans over 30 years, during which she has seamlessly integrated traditional medicine with holistic practices. Hear how her personal health battles pushed her towards alternative solutions, eventually leading to the creation of the Inspire Collaborative Health Association. With candid discussions on the importance of a multi-dimensional approach to health, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to explore new horizons in wellness. Get ready for a conversation that's as enlightening as it is inspiring.
In Episode 170, we are thrilled to host Ocean Eagle, a visionary behind activation breathwork and a profound spiritual guide. Ocean's journey from a traumatic childhood and a successful real estate career to a life of spiritual awakening and healing is nothing short of extraordinary. Learn how mastering breathwork can help you let go of anxiety, ditch medications, and live a more balanced, fulfilling life. Ocean shares his unique insights and powerful techniques that will inspire you to take control of your health and well-being. Don't miss this engaging and transformative episode.
Join us in Episode 169 of Positive Impact as we explore the journey of Bill Esch, the Kettlebell Warrior. Bill, a Master of Sport International Class, delves into the challenges and rewards of embracing change and resilience in fitness. From his early days as a collegiate athlete to becoming a kettlebell champion, Bill discusses how evolving workouts and focusing on mental presence can lead to a fulfilling and healthy life. This episode is packed with actionable advice, heartfelt stories, and powerful insights that will motivate you to embrace your own fitness journey with confidence and determination.
What does it take to win on and off the basketball court at a high level?
In this episode of Positive Impact, host Andrew Schultz sits down with Kurt Joseph, the Director of Men’s Basketball Strength and Conditioning at the University of Nebraska. Kurt, a former player turned strength coach with experience in top NBA teams, shares his journey and the challenges he's faced, including the recent loss of close family members. He opens up about how these experiences have shaped his approach to life and coaching.
Kurt and Andrew dive deep into the importance of vulnerability, mental resilience, and the holistic development of athletes. They discuss the transformative power of mindfulness practices in sports and life, revealing how these methods have contributed to Nebraska basketball's most successful season in 30 years.
Kurt emphasizes the significance of aligning values and culture within a team, serving athletes beyond just physical training, and preparing them for long-term success.
Tune in to hear how Kurt's innovative approach and dedication to personal growth are making a profound impact on and off the court.
Title: "Redefining Sobriety: The Pink 7 Official Revolution"
Summary:
In the heart of the sober movement, Pink 7 Official emerges as a trailblazing lifestyle brand, championing a culture where sobriety isn't just accepted—it's celebrated.
Founders Madison and Brandon take us behind the scenes of their personal journey and the genesis of Pink 7 Official, a brand that’s more than its products—it's a community.
They share insights into the brand's mission to destigmatize sobriety and transform it into a lifestyle choice that's not only respected but regarded as cool.
Through their events, Madison and Brandon have created a sanctuary for those curious about sobriety and those who have embraced a sober life, fostering connections, support, and shared experiences.
The podcast delves deep into the transformative impact of Pink 7 Official's events and the ethos of the brand. It's a candid look at how a community can uplift individuals, providing a space for personal growth, self-acceptance, and a fulfilling life free from the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Madison and Brandon's stories are not just narratives of personal triumph but a call to action for anyone on the fence about sobriety, offering a fresh perspective on what it means to live sober.
Key Takeaways:
- 🌟 Leading the Sober Movement: Pink 7 Official is pioneering a lifestyle brand that's changing how society views sobriety.
- 💖 Community & Connection: At the core of sobriety is the power of community—Pink 7 Official's events are where connections are made and stories are shared.
- 🚀 Making Sobriety Cool: It's not just about being sober; it's about being proud of it. Pink 7 Official is on a mission to shift the stigma and make sobriety the new cool.
- ✨ Personal Growth & Fulfillment: Sobriety is a path to self-discovery, acceptance, and living a life rich with possibilities—sans alcohol and drugs.
- 📢 Join the Movement: Whether you're sober curious or have been sober for years, Pink 7 Official welcomes you to be a part of their inclusive community.
Dive into the podcast to hear the inspiring journey of Pink 7 Official and how it’s creating waves in the sober community. Join the movement and be part of the change!
https://pink7.com Discount: ANDREWSCHULTZ for 10% discount.
You can also follow @pink7offical on IG.
Are you one of the millions of people who struggle with the "winter blues?"
Do you want to better understand the physiological symptoms of SAD?
Most importantly, do you want to learn tools, practices, and habits to empower you to take responsibility for your health, wellness, and happiness during these winter months?
Then buckle up and listen in my friends!
Vitamin D Supplement referenced: Quicksilver Scientific D3K2
If we don't take time and create a compelling vision of the future, we're like bobble-heads at the mercy of the ocean...barely surviving. If we keep doing what we've always done, we'll keep getting what we've always gotten. Nothing changes if nothing changes.In this episode, Andrew empowers you with self-reflection journaling prompts and deep questions to ask to help you create a compelling vision for 2024 and a life of maximum success, significance, and fulfillment. I truly believe 2024 will be the best year ever!I believe in you.And I'm rooting for you!To listen to full episode, or to schedule a 30-minute connection call with Andrew, click the link in bio or link below. https://linktr.ee/PositiveImpactAndrew#PositiveImpact #PositiveImpactPodcast #Vision2024 #Transformation #BeTheChange #SelfDiscovery
First and foremost, I'm sorry. I made a promise and commitment at the beginning of the year to record and publish new podcast episodes every week for 2023. And I fell short.I haven't recorded a new episode in four months. And I take ownership and accountability for not following through. The past four months have been very difficult. But not an excuse. And here we are. 30 days left in 2023. And I have an awesome exercise to create positive momentum ending this year and into 2024. Changing the conversation. Flipping the switch.No more boring surface-level conversations during the holidays which lack depth. Listen to the full episode to find out exactly how we're going to do it!
Sometimes in life we do what we need to do, not what we want to do.
And recently, I made the decision to move back to Omaha, Nebraska and help my brother run the family business - Host Coffee Service.
When I graduated from college, we had 10 employees and doing around $2 million in annual revenue.
Today, we have 50 employees and doing around $16 million to put it in context.
So I recently made the decision to move from Bend, Oregon to Omaha, Nebraska - A very hard decision.
And the opportunity to work in the family business, it's something I never thought I would do.
And needless to say, we are a rapidly growing company and myself - an owner of the company - with a responsibility to do everything possible to create a sustainable, profitable, empowering, and supportive business model. and a culture for our customers, employees, and our family.
This is not a decision that I wanted to make.
I'm gonna be really honest with everybody listening.
All of you, my audience over the last five years, I've always shared authentically, honestly, with vulnerability. and sharing with you this decision.
It's not a decision I wanted to make.
But it's a decision I needed to make.
You see, it would be much easier and less stressful to stay on the West Coast and continue teaching yoga and breath work and being a full-time transformational coach.
Running away from all the traumas and shadow part of my family dynamic - the generational trauma, addiction, shame, the unhealthy patterns, the resentments, the grief, the sadness.
My brother has never asked for my help until a few weeks ago.....
And I said yes.
And here's the best part, I still have the flexibility to continue my transformational coaching with all my clients.
My brother and I worked out an agreement where I'm going to be working Monday through Thursday for the family business, focusing on company culture, employee support and morale, strategy, sales and marketing.
And Fridays and Saturdays are allocated for my podcast, my retreats, my transformational coaching and clients that I work with one-on-one.
And to have that flexibility and support and being able to come back and do both was the reason I said yes.
Because without having two days dedicated to my passion and of helping support others and creating content to inspire hope and bring on guests for my podcasts to share their stories of the positive impacts they're having in the community.
The opportunity to serve my coaching clients one-on-one.
To empower others to create a life of maximum success, significance, and fulfillment.
If you want support and accountability, I'm here to serve you. Together, locking arms together, one day at a time!
Men, do you want to spend four days off the grid, out of the matrix, disconnecting from the rat race and daily stresses of go, go, go, and do, do, do?
Do you want to reconnect to yourself, your highest good, nature and other like-minded heart-centered men?
Do you want to create lifelong memories, experiences, adventures, and friendships?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, I'm calling you forward for our Brotherhood and Bend Men's Retreat, September 21st through the 24th.
We still have a few spots left.
Of all the things that I do, this is my absolute favorite, to be a retreat facilitator and guide.
Bend, Oregon in September is amazing. The weather's gonna be perfect. We have an Airbnb outside of town, a private chef, whitewater rafting, epic hikes in nature. Sitting around the fire at night, telling stories, sharing meals together, doing deep self-development.
Creating deep, meaningful relationships. Men who have come to retreats of mine in the past have said, these retreats are some of the most life-changing experiences of their lives.
Friendships formed in these retreats are some of the most deep and meaningful friendships possible. These shared experiences that wouldn't be possible because it's so easy to get caught up in the obligations and responsibilities that we men have. And we've never had more responsibility as men in today's society
Being leaders of ourselves, our families, our communities, our companies, physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, financial responsibilities.
It's never been greater. And it's so easy to be burdened and weighed down by these responsibilities as men. And that's why I facilitate and host these retreats.
So if this is you, I'm calling you forward. This is your invitation to join us, Brotherhood and Bend, Thursday, September 21st through Sunday, September 24th.
The investment is $1,625. Covers everything except for your flight into and out of Redmond, Oregon, which is right outside Bend. Everything else is covered.
I wanna see you there. I wanna share this experience with you. Together, empowering you, supporting you, serving you to be the most effective and best leader for yourself, your family, your loved ones, your community, and your company.
If you have any questions, reach out to me. You can contact me at the link below.
I look forward to talking soon.
In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of self-transformation with our special guest, NOA/AON.
In this insightful discussion, we explore one of NOA's most notable experiences, spending 10 days in darkness with no food living with breatharians in Thailand. From this experience, NOA|AON has brought back some of the most effective teachings and created a movement with #noamovement, which aims to bring people back to unity, love, and joy.
Discover the importance of his teachings which integrate ancient wisdom with modern science and technology to provide simple daily routines that can help you achieve unity, love, and joy in your life.
Learn valuable insights and practical tips from NOA's 15 years of experience traveling the world and immersing himself in some of the most rigorous teachings helping him become an expert in transformation, self-realization and harmonious living.
Whether you're struggling with personal challenges or seeking to unlock your full potential in relationships, career, or just questioning that there must be "more," this conversation will provide you with the inspiration, insight, and practical tools you need to navigate your own journey, "From Darkness to Light."
As an international conscious DJ/producer, serial impact 7 figure entrepreneur and investor, certified Ambassador of Peace, and Wim Hof instructor, NOA has a unique and diverse set of skills that he brings to his workshops, immersive experiences, retreats, and lectures.
You can follow him:
www.noaaon.com
https://www.instagram.com/noaaonofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/noaaonofficial
If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share with your community.
P.S. Don't forget to book your free 30-minute connection call with me today. As a transformational coach, I've helped hundreds of clients from all walks of life create maximum success, significance, and fulfillment. Click on link calendly.com/andrew-1592
Welcome back to Positive Impact! In this episode, join us as we dive into the fascinating world of healthy loving relationships with our special guest, Kimberly Hill. Kimberly is a certified dating and relationship coach and master neuro-linguistic practitioner, dedicated to helping men attract and maintain fulfilling relationships.
In this insightful discussion, we explore the misconceptions around traditional relationship dynamics and how they have evolved in today's society. Discover the importance of open communication, emotional intelligence, and vulnerability in building successful long-term partnerships.
Learn valuable insights and practical tips from Kimberly's vast experience as she shares her expertise on cultivating joy, love, and happiness within yourself and bringing it to your relationships. Discover why the notion of "happy wife, happy life" may not hold true and why a more balanced approach is essential for both partners' fulfillment.
Join us in celebrating Men's Health Awareness month and understand why Kimberly's work is crucial in supporting men's intimacy and relationship journeys. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation that will empower you to create healthier, more meaningful connections.
Like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for more impactful discussions and expert advice on personal growth, relationships, and self-discovery.
You can follow Kimberly at: www.kimberlyninahill.com @kimberlyninahill
If you found this episode helpful or informative please leave a review and share.
Don't forget to schedule your free connection call with me. I've helped hundreds of clients from all walks of life create maximum success, significance, and fulfillment. And I want to help you. Click on this link: calendly.com/andrew-1592
"Being able to work out in the gym and express myself to my fullest means that outside the gym I get to play and explore a little more." -Phil Levasseur
Water, Sleep, Sunlight, Food, Movement, Bloodwork, and Ice baths....There are many different ways to biohack your life.
In today's episode, Phil & I dissect a few practical ways you can start improving your life.
Phil Levasseur is the founder of Biohacking Bend & Pronoia Wellness Studio. He is an expert on all things biohacking. He is a trusted friend and my go-to person for making incremental positive changes in my life. And in lives of so many others. He is a community activator creating positive impact ripples in the community.
The products we reference in this episode:
https://ouraring.com/
https://www.quicksilverscientific.com/
https://dminder.ontometrics.com/
https://www.ewg.org/
https://aquatruwater.com/
To follow Phil, go to @biohackingbend & livepronoia.com
To schedule a free 30-minute connection call with me, please go to IG @Positive_Impact_Andrew or calendly.com/andrew-1592
This is not hyperbole when I say this - I don't know if I would be here today if it wasn't for plant medicine. Listen to the full episode to hear why.
How many people who have died could have been saved if they had awareness and access to healing properties of plant medicine?
How can I look myself in the mirror and sleep at night knowing I had information, knowledge, and 1st-hand experience of plant medicine that has helped transform my own life?
How can I sit on the sidelines of life and not share my truth?
I strongly recommend you also listen to Andrew Huberman's podcast on how psilocybin can rewire our brain. Link is below.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huberman-lab/id1545953110?i=1000612139039
If you have questions, comments, or want to hear more about my plant medicine journey, please reach out.
"Life is a gift. Love is the point." -Ryan Meeks
Ryan Meeks is the real deal! His commitment to truth is inspiring. His story of overcoming great adversity is admirable.
His journey of running a megachurch, falling out of christianity, getting cancer, to serving others through plant medicine is one you don't want to miss.
This was top 3 most powerful episodes I've ever recorded with a guest! Once you listen, you will see why!
Ryan is a relationship mentor, holistic coach focusing on spiritual direction, plant medicine integration guide, and helps others make meaning in the mystery.
You can find Ryan at loveisthepoint.com & @RyanTMeeks
If you want to schedule a coaching call with me, please click on link below. Together we will create maximum success, significance, and IMPACT!
calendly.com/andrew-1592
May is "Mental Health Awareness" month.
And one of the best ways to improve our mental health is through meditation. And this meditation from Dr. Joe Dispenza is one of my favorites. I share this with all my coaching clients. And my invitation is for you to use this mediation for the next weeks first thing every morning. Then afterwards take five minutes to reflect on what came up during the meditation. An opportunity to transmute the energy into creativity, inspiration, and alignment.
If you want more support and accountability, please click on link below, to schedule a free 30-minute connection call today. I have helped hundreds of clients from all walks of life create maximum success, significance, and fulfillment through my 90-day Positive Impact Transformational coaching program.
calendly.com/andrew-1592
You can also find my daily inspiration on Instagram: @Positive_Impact_Andrew
My mission is to empower, support, serve, and inspire so others know they're not alone!
This episode is a replay of me being a guest on Weston's podcast, "This Life Without Limits."
In this episode, we get into the power of a good walk-up song, the turbulence being experienced in some areas of the "manosphere" right now, and most importantly, we discuss some strategies for turning your mess into your message.
You can find Weston at: westonmcwhorter.com and @westonmcwhorter
To schedule a 30-minute coaching call with me, please use the link below, and let's get your Positive Impact Transformation journey started today!
calendly.com/andrew-1592
"What do I want? Why can't I have it? Is it true?" -Eleni Mitas
Eleni Mitas is an Author, International Speaker, Founder of Hypnofit® – the world’s only global hypnotherapy clinic, Award Winning Hypnotherapist, Certified Speaking Professional, & Heart Leader. She has an unwavering determination to help you drop your limits and powerfully embrace your mission during this magical time of our evolution.
In this episode we discussed how plant medicine can help us unleash our potential, limiting beliefs which keep us playing small and how to self identify, completely letting go of old identities which no longer serve us, and how to lead from the heart vs. ego.
You can find Eleni at:
https://elenimitas.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@EleniMitas
https://www.youtube.com/c/HelenMitas
https://www.youtube.com/@soulsisters.getreal
Also, if you want to schedule a free 30-minute connection call with me, please click on link below. As a transformational life coach, I've helped hundreds of clients from all walks of life create a life of maximum success, significance, and fulfillment. My mission is to empower, support, serve, and inspire so others know they're not alone.
calendly.com/andrew-1592
The truth will set you free.
Disclaimer: David and I are not medical doctors. We are not giving medical advice. Psychedelics are a schedule one illegal drug. I recommend doing your own research and consult your primary care physician with questions.
In this episode, David & I debunk the myths of psychedelics. We shine the light of awareness on the healing properties and medical therepeutic benefits of psychedelics to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, end of life distress, and alcoholism. Both David & I share our first-hand experience using psychedelics to create transformation in our own lives. In fact, my psychedelic journey was one the top three most transformational life experiences I've ever had.
To schedule a 30-minute connection call, please click on the link below:
calendly.com/andrew-1592
You can also follow me on Instagram: @Positive_Impact_Andrew
FEAR - False Evidence Appearing Real!
I want you to meet Ted, my Coaching Client, a real hero, a loving father, hard-working, real estate agent, servant leader, in the community, who came to this country as a young boy from Russia, and has literally worked his way up in life to create the American dream.
When Ted came to me to start working together, he told me about his fear of driving on the freeways. And living in San Diego as a real estate agent, one of the largest counties in the country, I realized the amount of precious time he was losing every day, literally, by driving on back roads getting from appointment to appointment, from one side of town to the other, taking two hours in transit, for what? Otherwise would have been a 20 minute commute. All day. Every day. He was literally letting fear ruin his life and get in the way of what he loved - spending time with his daughter and friends. Ted was stuck in his car, wasting time, money, energy, and resources. I fear that was keeping him playing small, stuck, overwhelmed, without agency or freedom in his life.
Ted and I started to work through, not around, his fear of driving on freeways. We faced it head on. We uncovered the false evidence appearing real. I would literally be in the car with him, every week, as we broke through this limiting belief that was ruining his life, family, job, and everything he had worked so hard to build. He’s slowly gained more confidence, self-esteem, and empowerment which translated into every other area of his life. Together we created a plan that allowed Ted to be the hero of his own story and overcame his biggest fear. Gradually the fear lost its power, and Ted was able to create a new story around, driving on the freeways. A new truth that aligned with his values and highest good. A story in truth that serves, supports, and empowers his goals and vision of the future to be his best self.
Ted now enjoys a new freedom, a new happiness, a new life perspective, a new possibility for what Ted can create in his life – one of maximum success, significance, and fulfillment. Maximizing his true and full potential. Saving tons of money in gas, saving tons of time he now uses with family, friends, new work, projects, and travel.
In fact, Ted started taking road trips up and down the coast of California with his daughter visiting places that before were not accessible. He also started flying on airplanes around the world. This is relevant, because Ted also had a fear of flying before we started working together. In fact, he hadn’t been on an airplane in many many years. And because of his work, overcoming his fear of driving on freeways, Ted had the courage and confidence and empowerment to overcome his fear of flying. It’s all connected. Ted’s love of world travel has taken him to countries he thought wasn’t possible because of his fear. not anymore. Ted got his life back. His freedom. Because he had the courage to face is fear head on and ask for help.
My question to you, what is your greatest fear, and how is it holding you back from living the life you were meant to live. A life of abundance, health, prosperity, wealth, freedom, and wholeness. You were meant to not just survive, but thrive!
You get to create your own story as the hero just like Ted.
If you want more support in overcoming your fear, click on link below, to schedule a free 30-minute connection call today.
calendly.com/andrew-1592
You can also follow me on Instagram to get daily support and inspiration: @Positive_Impact_Andrew
"One of the things most relationships struggle with is the inability to allow their partner to witness them in a safe container. And creating a safe space to share what they want and need on a consistent basis." -Melissa BlynnLast week's episode I talked about the five top ways to improve intimacy. This week we cover in more detail one of the five ways - Relationship Check-Ins. An integral part of any relationship goal. And who better to have this conversation with than my girlfriend of 18 months. Melissa is a Feminine Embodiment Coach, NLP Master Coach, Somatic Breathwork Facilitator, & Awakening the Feminine Podcast Host. She is the most emotionally intelligent person I know. In this episode we discuss, sexual intimacy, how to communicate effectively, honestly, and respectfully, relationship advice which has transformed our relationship over the past two months, and how to take the first step in creating successful relationship check-ins with your loved ones. You can reach Melissa on IG: @my_epicluv or www.epicluv.com If you want more support and accountability to level-up your intimacy and relationships, click on link below, to schedule a 30-minute connection call with me today. calendly.com/andrew-1592As a transformational life coach, I specialize in behavior change, and I've helped hundreds of clients achieve maximum success, significance, and fulfillment. You can also follow me on IG: @Positive_Impact_Andrew for daily inspiration.
Are you feeling disconnected or unfulfilled in your intimacy with your partner?
Are you giving up hope the relationship will work out?
If so, try these “Top 5 Ways to Improve Intimacy With Your Partner.”
Trust me, they work.
I only ask of others what I first ask of myself!
These 5 things have been game-changers in my own life and taken my intimate relationship over the past 18 months to a whole new level.
If you want more support and accountability in leveling up your intimate relationships, click on link below, to schedule a 30-minute connection call today.
calendly.com/andrew-1592
We all deserve to deepen our capacity to love and be loved.
And our intimate relationships are the fertile ground we get to create new ways of being.
You can also follow me on Instagram for daily inspiration @Positive_Impact_Andrew
"The first thing we do when we come into the world as newborns is inhale - our first breath. The last thing we do before we die is exhale - our last breath. Yet some many of us don't have a relationship with the one thing that gives us and sustains our life. The breath!"
In this episode, Andrew tells a story of working in the corporate world 10 years ago and numbing out trying to deal with the high-stresses of his job. And hitting rock-bottom and finding his way into a drug and alcohol detox center. And on day #1 of his new sobriety feeling so overwhelmed, anxious, and not having alcohol or drugs to turn to like he had done every day to help cope with life. And forcing him to focus instead of his breath. "Fucking breath Andrew" he had to tell himself.
Andrew walks you through and demonstrates three different types of breathwork, along with the physiological benefits of each, including box-breathing, physiological sighing, and holotropic (Wim Hof). Andrew shares the positive impact breathwork has has on his own life and how Andrew empowers all his coaching clients with the same tools to create breakthroughs and transformation.
You will walk away from this episode with tools to help you consciously respond to life's events vs. unconsciously react. Tools which create emotional resilience, mental strength, and nervous system regulation. Tools which help you live longer, sleep better, and live with more fulfillment and significance.
To schedule a free 30-minute connection call with Andrew click on link below.
calendly.com/andrew-1592
"So I had to learn how to invest in myself. Is it scary, yeah. And is it worth it, absolutely. Because I get to live my dreams." -Lisa Chastain
This podcast epsidose was absolute fire! A conversation I've been looking forward to ever since Lisa & I started working together.
Lisa is a professional money coach dedicated to empowering professionals to improve their finances and live their best life. She is the author of "Girl, Get Your $hit Together", and podcast host of Real Money.
In this episode, Lisa & I discuss: the different money personality types and why it's important to know, how to create a new perspective and relationship with money, importance of community and mentors, rites of passage for young men and why finances should be included, and the Positive Impact Lisa has had on my personal life and professional career.
You can follow Lisa at lisachastain.com
You can also follow me on IG: @Positive_Impact_Andrew - As a Transformational Life Coach, I specialize in behavior change, and have personally helped hundreds of clients from all walks of life overcome stress, anxiety, fear, and resentments to create maximum success, significance, and fulfillment.
To schedule a free 30-minute connection and get your Positive Impact transformation started today, click on the link below
https://calendly.com/andrew-1592/30min
"You hear of all these stories of guys taking on their life in a new way, really confronting their ego, confronting their shadow, talking about them openly. What a super power that is. To make an impact with other men." - Q Williams
This was a conversation I've been looking forward to since I met him a few months ago. And it did NOT disappoint! We talked about the critical nature of mens work, transitional trauma for athletes and ways to support them, importance of mentors, and cool story of Q literally growing up and being in Mr. Roger's neighborhood.
The enthusiasm and zest for life this man has is infectious!
Shoutout to Dan Doty and his "Ring of Fire" Mastermind where I met Q. An amazing group of servant leaders and men's coaches doing remarkable work in transformational coaching space.
You can find Q at: mensmeetup.com & qwilliams__ on IG
His walkup song he references: Kirk Franklin "If you've been delivered."
"We tie different responses to stimulus with stoicism and grace." -Jason Stauffer
Jason Stauffer is President & CEO of Morozko Forge, a leader in the ice bath manufacturing space.
In this episode, Jason & I discuss his new sobriety and relationship with alcohol, the amazing story of how Morozko Forge was created and meaning behind the name, importance of hormetic stress and why we need it to evolve and adapt, and the books that have inspired Jason on his journey.
Books Jason referenced: Antifragile, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, The Comfort Crisis
For more information on Morozko Forge: morozkoforge.com
Warren Buffet is one of the most successful investors in the history of the world. And of all the investments he’s ever made, he credits the investment he made in himself - a personal development course in communications - that was the foundational principle in amassing his $110 Billion net worth.
New research from Andrew Huberman (@HubermanLab) shows the dynamic benefits of physiological sighing - More effective than box-breathing and mediation!
This form go physiological sighing improved mood and autonomic regulation and lowers stress. It assists in better sleep, improves heart rate variability, and various aspects of physiological arousal around the clock.
The technique: two inhales through the nose to lungs full, followed by a full exhale out through the mouth to lungs empty.
Try this practice for five minutes/day as part of your morning routine for the next two weeks.
Win the morning, Win the day!
Also, if you want more support, let's schedule a free 30-minute connection call to get your Positive Impact Transformation journey started today. As a certified Transformational Life Coach, I've helped hundreds of clients from all walks of life create more progress, confidence, productivity and success.
My mission is to help as many people as possible create maximum success, significance, and fulfillment!
You can reach me on IG @Positive_Impact_Andrew or TheAndrewSchultz.com
In this episode, I walk you through, step-by-step, how to set goals and desired outcomes for 2023 for inevitable success. This is the same exact formula I use for all my private 1-on-1 coaching clients in my 12-week Positive Impact Transformational coaching program.
I empower you to create specific, measurable, and achievable 90-day outcomes to transform your life and create breakthroughs in most important areas of your life.
This is your opportunity to take off the limits, take responsibility, and create new possibilities to become your best self and highest good.
Because you're worth it. And you deserve it!
As a certified transformational life coach, I've helped hundreds of clients from all walks of life create maximum success, fulfillment, and significance. If you want more support and accountability, click on the link below to schedule a free 30-minute connection call to get your Positive Impact transformation journey started today,
https://linktr.ee/PositiveImpactAndrew
"I would love for people to recognize their own empowerment around being creative. And how creativity can be an awesome way to live." -DTO
In this episode, we discuss DTO hitting two million streams for his hit song, "Breath", his psychedelic journey which inspired the name DTO, his creative process and ways to get into flow-state, and his journey growing up in the midwest to living in Costa Rica.
DTO is an award-winning music producer, designing inspirational music that raises the vibrations of the planet. DTO kicked off his career with a spark with his remix of “Love Me” by Grammy-nominated producer, StoneBridge. DTO followed up with Nameless Energy, a yoga soundtrack recognized by Deepak Chopra for the kirtan project “Jai Ram” ft. Tara Devi. Nameless Energy is a music playlist guiding yoga instructors and students through a 60-minute yoga class. This album has integrated into the yoga world as an inspiring, healing, and transformational musical journey.
Find, play, and share DTO’s breathtaking and awe-inspiring music on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp. Fans may follow DTO on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
For more information, visit DTOmusic.com or EmbodyCostaRica.com
"I want everyone to know it's okay to not be okay. But you've got to raise your hand and ask for help." -Randy Grimes
WOW! An epic interview with Randy Grimes talking about his journey from NFL "Man of the Year" to living in an abandoned house with no utilities. We discuss his intention for writing his book. As well as importance of a supportive family and friends to help addicts overcome the disease of addiction and mental illness. And how to facilitate, prepare, and lay the groundwork for a successful intervention.
Randy is a ten-year veteran of the NFL, an addiction interventionist, and founder of Professional Athletes in Recovery. He is the author of the book, "Off Center - A Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, and Redemption in Professional Football."
You can follow Randy at: ProAthletesInRecovery.org OffCenterTheBook.com @SoberCenter60
"Who do I need to be to effect the adaptive changes I want to see." -Dr. Seefeld Dr. Seefeld is the Medical Director, Emergency, Department, at Speare Memorial Hospital in New Hampshire. He is uniquely qualified as leader in the addiction field considering his own personal experience battling addiction. WOW! One of the most powerful and value-added podcast episodes we've ever done. Whether you're sober-curios, struggling with addiction. thriving in recovery, or a parent of a child with an unhealthy relationship with social media and their cell phone, this episode is for you. We break-down the difference between thought addictions, emotional addictions, and behavior addictions. And the impact ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) has on our addictive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors - more so than genetics, brain circuitry, and environment. We are not our thoughts and emotions. And we always have control over our behaviors. So instead of focusing on the symptoms of alcohol, drugs, gaming, sex, eating/not eating, we can instead focus on changing our behaviors, which alter our neural pathways and neuroplasticity, by practicing new ways of being. Then through more repetition and practice we strengthen and create new habits to replace the unhealthy habits with negative consequences. If you want more help and support creating new habits, behaviors, and ways of being, please send me a message to schedule a 30-minute connection call. Together, we uncover the behaviors which are blocking you from becoming your best self, discover the negative consequences those behaviors are having in your life, as well as lives of those around you, and discarding the old ways of being to create new and healthy behaviors. As a certified transformational life coach, I specialize in behavior change. And I look forward to the opportunity to support, serve, and empower you. Reach me at: Positive_Impact_Andrew at IG. TheAndrewSchultz.comAlso, you can follow Dr. Seefeld at Twitter @Globaldoc77
Some simple questions to ask when reflecting and choosing your "Word of the Year":
- This word is meant to make you take action in the direction of the person you deserve and want to be
- This word gives you a feeling that you love and inspires you to be a better version of yourself
- This word should trigger a positive and enthusiastic response in your entire body, viscerally
- This word should be an activation word that inspires decisive action towards the best version of yourself
- This word should align w/your intentions, values, thoughts, words, and actions and the highest good
- What emotions do you connect with this word?
- How do you feel when you think about this word?
AND, it's important we release and let go of 2022 before we create our word, intentions, and goals for 2023.
In this episode, I lead you through a powerful visualization to, both literally and figuratively, let go and release the constraints of the past year and everything that you associate with it.
If you want more tools, support, and accountability - a proven system that has helped hundreds of people from all walks of life - to transform your habits, rituals, and behaviors, please send me a message to schedule a 30-minute connection call. As a certified transformational life coach, I would love to be your coach for 2023 and create a Positive Impact Transformation together!
@Positive_Impact_Andrew
TheAndrewSchultz.com
Sending you Big Love my friends!
One of the most common symptoms of both pain and anxiety is shortness of breath, or hyperventilation. On the other hand, slow, deep breathing can reduce pain and distress.
In this episode, I'll guide you through a deliberate and intentional breathing practice to help you not just survive, but thrive, during this holiday season. This breathing pattern will help you:
- Increase focus
- Decrease negative effects of stress, anxiety, and inflammation
- Improve quality of sleep
- Live longer and healthier life
- Get grounded and centered
- Decrease blood pressure
- Slow your heart rate
- Strengthen connection of mind, body, and spirit
- Create perfect coherence of internal systems including nervous system, immune system, heart, brain, and body
This is the way of the warrior. So you can show up as your best self during the holidays and stand grounded and centered in your truth. If you want more empowering tools and support to up-level your life, send me a DM to schedule a 30-minute connection call.
It's my mission and purpose to empower, support, serve, and have a Positive Impact on as many people as possible.
Big Love,
Andrew
"We want to be this macho man and suppress our feelings and we don't want to cry, that's where society is all wrong. It's ok to cry. It's ok to get in touch with your inner self, your heart, your feminine energy, it's part of the healing process." -Eric Bettencourt
Mentor, reiki master, bodyworker, energy healer, and trusted friend....Stoked to share this podcast episode with my guy, Eric Bettencourt! If you're in southern CA, you need to book an appointment with Eric.
In the episode, we discuss the Positive Impact Eric has had on my life since we started working together 9 months ago. We also discuss what healthy and conscious masculinity looks like in today's society obsessed with financial wealth. Even though it's at the expense of our physical health.
And listen to what Eric's definition of success is.
You can find him on IG: @casadewarrior
Finally, if you need a mentor in your life, or the life of a loved one, please send me a message to schedule a 30-minute connection call. TheAndrewSchultz.com or @Positive_Impact_Andrew on IG. Together, We will uncover the things getting in the way of becoming your highest good, discover the negative consequences those actions are having on your life, and the lives of those around you, and discarding the old ways of being to create new, healthy, and positive ways of being to experience Positive Impact Transformation.
Inspired by John Maxwell's book, "The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth."
- Guard Your Self-Talk
- Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
- Move Beyond Your Limiting Beliefs
- Add Value to Others
- Do the Right Thing, Even if it's the Hard Thing
- Practice a Small Discipline Daily in a Specific Area of Your Life
- Celebrate Small Victories
- Embrace a Positive Vision for Your Life Based on What You Value
- Practice the One-Word Strategy
- Take Responsibility For Your Life
"I wish I could sit down with you, hear your story, and encourage you specifically in your journey. If you've had a difficult time and you don't feel good about yourself, I want to tell you that you do have value. You matter. Your life can change, and you can make a difference-no matter what kind of background you have or where you came from. No matter what traumas or mistakes you've made, you can learn and grow. You can become the person you have the potential to be. You just need to believe in yourself to get started. And every time you take a step, think a positive thought, make a good choice, practice a small discipline, you're moving one step closer. Just keep moving forward, and keep believing."
"How can you die well?" -Steve Safranek
That was the question Steve posed to our audience in today's podcast episode.
Most of us think of death as negative and too morbid. On the contrary! Steve and I discuss how this question is critical to living a deep, meaningful, and fulfilling life.
Did we live? Did we love? Did we matter?
From Frito-Lay, to full wheel pose, Steve takes us on a ride of how his book came to fruition - including the journey from football field, to the corporate world, to personal training and the yoga mat. Steve is embodying the mature masculinity and giving us other men permission to forego the 9-5, cush corporate job, salary, benefits, 401(k), bonus, ultra-competitive, zero-sum "I win-you lose", and keeping up with the Jones's mentality into something much greater....
In this episode, we also discuss the importance of therapy, mental wellness, and different ways to investing in our health - our greatest wealth.
We chat about nutrition, movement, meditation, breath work, and other self care modalities to help level-up.
We also cover the benefits of being well-read and how much we can learn simply by reading.
Highly recommend you buying Steve's book, ""The Sh!t No One Wants To Hear", on amazon today.
And if you want to connect directly with me, send me a DM, @The.Andrew.Schultz on IG.
This is a replay of a recent episode I did as a guest on the University of Adversity podcast with my buddy, Lance Essihos. I highly recommend you follow and subscribe to his podcast (as well as mine). He has amazing guests and conversations with thought leaders who I greatly admire and respect. I hope you enjoy this episode.
Andrew Schultz is an international speaker, facilitator, coach, podcaster, and mentor. His teachings and vulnerable online offerings are enjoyed daily by 23,000+ readers on Instagram and his weekly podcast is downloaded in over 85 countries worldwide. Andrew's favorite coaching mantra, "Be the change you want to see in the world" is a foundation of all his offerings.
On today's episode, Andrew shares his journey from addiction and rock bottom in 2015 and losing the will to love, to thriving in recovery celebrating over seven years of sobriety today. He now leads with an open heart and vulnerability that has become his Super-Power. Andrew opened up about how his past unresolved issues affected his relationships and how he overcame them. He also shared some valuable tips on how to incorporate healthy habits into our daily lives and ways to heal from our traumas.
What advice do you have for someone who is struggling with adversity right now?
"We must understand that trauma is not our responsibility, but our healing is. We need to have the willingness to seek help and surround ourselves with people who can help us."
I was recently a guest on "Inside the Mastermind" and got the opportunity to share the story of why I started this podcast. This episode is the audio version of that interview. Short and sweet.
Reminder: If you, or someone you know, is struggling, wants to level-up their life, and become the healthiest, highest, and best version of themselves, I would LOVE to work with you! My Positive Impact Transformation 90-day coaching program is how I serve, support, and empower people to create new possibilities in their life.
Please send me a message on IG @The.Andrew.Schultz to schedule a free 30-minute connection call to get started.
Big Love,
Andrew
Celebrating my one year relationship with Melissa!
What did I do different in this relationship than other relationships…Everything!
➡️Picking up the phone and talking versus hiding behind text messages.
➡️Making the effort to drive to see her versus expecting her to come to me.
➡️FaceTime every night before bed.
➡️Text messages in the morning letting her know I’m thinking about her.
➡️Investing in a money coach to talk openly about our finances and feel safe to have honest conversations about our expectations about $ and who pays for what.
➡️Investing in a therapist to better understand our attachment styles and learning language and tools to work through conflict while feeling safe.
➡️Investing in my own healing journey with plant medicine to heal unresolved trauma from the past which blocked me from intimacy.
➡️Invest in vacations every three months and making adventure an integral part of our relationship with Epic trips to Bend, Yosemite, and Big Sur.
➡️Leaning in, having difficult conversations, and working through conflict with language to repair and overcome versus avoiding which I did in the last.
Nothing changes if nothing changes.
I’m committed to continue taking new actions to create new experiences and possibilities in my most important relationship.
And I truly believe the best is yet to come!
Men, this is what’s possible when we do the work. To go from selfishness, fear, and immature boy psychology to stepping into our King, Warrior Spirit and power - our healthy masculinity - to make sure she feels safe knowing we got her!
I am truly grateful for the deep level of love, connection, and intimacy with Melissa that I didn’t think was possible because I seriously thought I was broken.
I’m not broken.
And neither are you!
How do you identify the difference between our Strategic Self and True Self?
By speaking up, telling the truth, and embracing conflict!
In his book, "Getting To Zero", Jayson Gaddis gives us a playbook on how to start embodying our True Self and resolving our inner conflict that affects each and every one of us.
For example, my Strategic Self might value what you, and others, think of me. And my True Self values me being true to myself, even if it means you reject me. If you're a conflict avoider, you probably value keeping the peace and not expressing yourself in certain scenarios. But this strategy keeps you disconnected from your True Self and over time affects what you value; surprisingly, it impacts the direction you go in life as well as how you show up in your high-stakes relationships.
This episode will help you get started on embodying more of your True Self.
And if you want more support, coaching, or mentorship, please send me a message to schedule a free 30-minute discovery call together.
I empower others to take responsibility and create new possibilities in their life with vulnerability and connection. I help people step into their power, maximize their human potential, and optimize their health and wellness.
If you're ready to become your True Self, I'm ready to be your coach!
@The.Andrew.Schultz
www.TheAndrewSchultz.com
Did you know, in a single breath, more molecules pass through your nose than all the grains of sand on all the world's beaches!
25 sextillion molecules! That's 250 with 20 zeros after it.
The first thing we do when we enter the world as newborns is inhale with our 1st breath, and the last thing we do before we die is exhale with our last breath, yet so many of us don't have a relationship with the one thing that gives us and sustains our life, our breath!
In this episode, learn why nose breathing will help you live a longer and healthier life. Learn about the health ramifications of mouth breathing. Hear why lung capacity is the greatest indicator of life span. Learn the optimal breathing rhythm and positive impact it will have in you life. Understand why breath work is so important, and respective physiological benefits impacting the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
If you want to schedule a private breath work session with me, either in-person, or virtual, please contact me www.TheAndrewSchultz.com
And if you're interested in my 90-day 1-on-1 Positive Impact coaching program, please contact me to schedule a free 30-minute discovery call.
The quality of our life is directionally proportional to the quality of our breath!
42% of U.S adults are considered obese, per the CDC!
Are you kidding me! That’s almost 1 out of every 2 adults!
Obesity kills around 500,000 people every year in the U.S and kills more Americans than smoking.
Obesity isn’t just killing millions of people. It’s also giving lots of them Alzheimer’s first.
Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
Meaning some of the leading causes of preventable and premature death are all caused by obesity.
Obesity wipes 15 years off your life.
And it’s all preventable!
So, naturally, I ask myself, what am I doing about? How am I being being the change I want to see in the world?
I am now providing a customized nutritional program for all my “Positive Impact” 1-on-1 private coaching clients that included daily recipes, shopping guides, and how to’s for the entire 90 days of our working together.
3 meals every day. Done for you!
Including all the macronutrients and nutritional info for each meal including calories, fat, carbs, protein, fiber, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, vitamin a/b12/c/d, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium….all done for you!
This nutritional program will help empower you to make healthy food choices which align with your core values and highest good.
When we know better, we do better. And I’m more committed than ever to help support you in becoming your healthiest and best version of yourself possible.
You’re worth it. And you deserve!
If you’re ready to go “All In”, take radical responsibility for your life, and create new possibilities through disciplined action, Send me a DM and let’s get started working together.
A healthier, stronger, confident, and more courageous you is on the other side waiting to be unleashed!
I recently had the honor of being a guest on my buddy Eric Leider's podcast, The Human Potential.
I hope you enjoy.
I don't get interviewed very often. But when I do, it's a great opportunity to share my journey and inspire hope for others.
If you're struggling, please listen. If you know someone else who is struggling, please share this episode with them.
My mess is now my Message. Our greatest life challenges become our greatest asset and Super Power to help others.
Thanks to the good folks at Canvas Rebel for the interview and article.
Enjoy!
My invitation is to listen to this meditation every day for the next 21 days. After each day's meditation, grab a pen and journal, and write down 10 new possibilities you want to create in your life.
I've been doing this for the last 21 days and I'm blown away by all the new connections, opportunities, and possibilities that are flowing into my life.
Which is why I wanted to share this meditation and mindfulness journaling prompt with all of you.
Please let me know your results after the 21 days.
I'm rooting for you!
@The.Andrew.Schultz
www.TheAndrewSchultz.com
andrew@theandrewschultz.com
“I haven’t been able to look at myself in the mirror for the last five years, and today I like what I see.”
Most of my clients are at war with themselves. This is how I help them.
This was an actual quote from one of my coaching clients. The majority of my clients have one thing in common: They are at war with themselves. They’re dominated by negative self-talk, limiting beliefs, stress, and fear.
So the first thing I do with all my coaching clients is uncover what is getting in the way of them becoming their highest selves and maximizing their potential: those limiting beliefs, the old stories we bring to the present, the unhealthy patterns, and overwhelming stress, fear, and anxiety.
“Uncover, discover, and discard.”
The second thing we do is discover the negative impact that these things are causing on my clients’ lives and the lives around them.
Finally, we discard. We let go of the past, the negative beliefs, and the worn-out stories. After that, we create new ways of being, positive habits to replace the old ones.
Uncover, discover, and discard.
With that framework, I empower my clients to find new possibilities in their lives. You can get what Paul got, a loving and compassionate relationship with yourself. You deserve it.
Click on the link below to schedule a 30-minute discovery call, so we can talk about your possibilities and how I can help you reach them.
https://www.theandrewschultz.com/contact/
What is the difference between guilt and shame?
Guilt - "I did something bad."
Shame - "I am bad."
Shame is a feeling that many of us deal with. It can be paralyzing because it’s not something we talk about openly and it has the power to cause deep shame in those that experience it. The cycle of shame can be a vicious one, where feelings that stem from shame lead to more shame until the victim becomes isolated and starts believing they’re unworthy.
The shame cycle might look like this:
- Engage in destructive behavior
- Feel shame, guilt, and deep regret
- Ruminate on the destructive behavior which deepens the feeling of shame even more
- Try to comfort yourself by give into same bad habits, addiction, and destructive behavior
Three things that shame needs to grow:
- secrecy
- silence
- judgement
Three steps to break the cycle of shame:
- Talk to yourself like you talk to someone you love
- Reach out to someone you trust
- Tell your story. Shame cannot survive being spoken
Shame can be a paralyzing feeling because it’s not something we talk about openly and it has the power to cause deep shame in those that experience it. The cycle of shame can be a vicious one, where feelings that stem from shame lead to more shame until the victim becomes isolated and starts believing they’re unworthy.
The good news is that we can break the cycle of shame and start to feel better about ourselves again. It takes time, patience, and effort, but it’s definitely possible. Remember that you’re not alone in this and there are people who care about you and want to help.
If you’re feeling lost or don’t know where to start, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You’re worth it.
@TheAndrewSchultz
www.TheAndrewSchultz.com
Andrew@TheAndrewSchultz.com
Happy Father's Day to all the Father's out there!
I highly recommend googling, "Brendon Burchard 30 questions." These questions inspired to ask our parents before they die. An opportunity to create deep connection and conversation with our loved ones about things we may have never known.
Getting the chance to talk with my Dad, via facetime, and ask him these same 30 questions was awesome! I learned about the time in 7th grade when my Dad got slapped by a nun for sharpening his pencil in middle of class. Which in turn, he grabbed the nuns arm, put it behind her back, and pinned her up against the wall. Fortunately the bishop didn't kick him out. But it was the 1st time I heard that story and we had a great laugh together. These are the moments that matter most!
Even if you don't have parents who are alive, or kids, I still encourage you to share your 30 questions with a trusted friend or partner. I promise you it will bring you closer together and you'll learn something new about someone you love.
Acknowledging and celebrating all the Father's out there today. Many of my coaching clients are father's, and there is more societal pressure on us men than ever before. Financial responsibility to support families, overwhelm of stress, anxiety, and fear. Not having the tools to deal with unresolved trauma and unhealthy coping mechanisms we've used to numb out - like alcohol, drugs, porn, work, exercise, gambling - make it even more difficult in today's culture of toxic masculinity.
I know because I was there....And there is a better way!
ON THE OTHER SIDE IS FREEDOM.
This has been my way to healing, living a connected life in recovery, and working toward healthy habits, deep and meaningful relationships, honesty, truth, authenticity, purpose, passion, intimate connection with others….and true love (the real thing!) - all the things I really wanted in the first place!
I learned how to thrive - and not just SURVIVE - in my life. And I want that for you!
Brother, there is a new path, and here’s what that looks like:
Vulnerability
Asking for Help
Not pretending that everything is ok
Getting really honest about your own bag of emotional shit
Letting go of the fear, resentment, shame and guilt - instead of numbing out - working through, not around, that emotional bag of shit with someone who is trained to support and empower you.
THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH.
You can’t just numb out the rest of your life, and if you aren’t ready to throw in the towel now, I promise you that day is coming if you don’t find another way!
If this is you, and you are ready for a new life - you want out - you want to be FREE and on the other side of numbing out, addiction, pain, anxiety and stress….whatever it is you’re going through - I want to talk to you - I want to support you, I want to empower you, and I want show you a new way.
Let’s talk,
Andrew
"Comparison is the death of joy." - Mark Twain
As creators, artists, leaders, healers, connectors, and influencers there is one thing that kills our creativity and joy more than anything....comparison! Comparing ourselves to others and thinking, "Why them? Why not me?"
This zero-sum "I win you lose, you win I lose" mentality kills more dreams and desires than anything else. Comparison makes us feel inadequate, deflated, and leads to low self-esteem.
I know because I'm in it, and have been in it! And there is a better way.
By shifting our perspective to, "If they can do it, why can't I?"
In fact, other people give us permission and show us what's possible, which we can use for inspiration. This win-win mentality and abundance mindset is so much healthier and more productive.
I think of Roger Bannister running the 1st sub-4-minute mile in 1954 when experts said it couldn't be done. Since that feat, 1,497 others have also run a mile in under 4 minutes. Roger gave all these people permission, showed them what's possible, and inspired each one to accomplish their own dreams and desires.
We get to make the choice every day. "Why them? Why not me?"
OR
"If they can do it, why can't I?"
One attitude will propel you onward and upward.
The other will drive you to bitterness and despair.
What is it?
In-person even we created last month for me to come together to support, empower, and acknowledge one another. A sacred space to take off the mask of masculinity and remove the armor which blocks us from the one thing we want most in life -- Deep and intimate connection! A safe container for men to share what's most alive and permission to share their truth.
Why now?
Us men are literally killing ourselves and those we love most. We don't ask for help. We try and do everything on our own. We say we're doing "fine," when in fact, we're struggling and suffering.
We turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, gambling, and food to "numb out" as a coping mechanism to try and deal overwhelm of stress and anxiety, unresolved traumas, and unprocessed emotions.
And the question I asked myself was, "What am I doing about it? How am I being the change I want to see in the world?"
Who is it for?
Any man who desires more connection with other men and community of like-minded people coming together to support, empower, and acknowledge one another.
Men who want more...vulnerability
Men who want more...truth
Men who want more...open hearts
Men who want more...intimate connection
Men who want more...healthy, mature, and conscious masculinity
Men who want to become better leaders for their family and community.
Men who want more effective tools to create emotional resilience and mental health strength.
When?
Every month in-person in San Diego with a vision of larger men's virtual groups and retreats.
If this is you or someone you know, please reach out to me:
Instagram: @TheAndrewSchultz
Email: Andrew@TheAndrewSchultz.com
Website: www.TheAndrewSchultz.com
It’s okay to not be okay. May is mental health awareness month, so I want to shine some light on mental health and the stigma that surrounds it.
I create a morning routine with all my clients so they can start each day with structure and discipline. Our body loves routine. I’ve created a spiritual seven that I include in my and my clients’ morning routines to help with mental health. It’s really simple:
1. Pray. The first thing I do is say a simple prayer: “God, Higher Power, Universe, Spirit, help me be in the right place at the right time, doing the right things with the right people for the right reasons.”
2. Meditate. The simplest form of meditation is conscious breathing. Inhale through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for a second, and exhale through your nose for four seconds. Repeat this for two to five minutes.
3. Read daily devotions. I read two daily devotions to get my mind in the right place. These are positive, uplifting devotionals. Two of my favorite books filled with these devotions are “The Daily Stoic” by Ryan Holiday and “A Year of Miracles” by Marianne Williamson.
4. Make a gratitude list. Where our attention goes, our energy flows. What we focus on gets stronger. When I look for things to be grateful for, I draw more gratitude into my life. Starting my day with this practice creates positive momentum and helps me see more things to be grateful for throughout the day.
5. Make my bed. Having less physical clutter creates less spiritual and emotional clutter in your head. It also fosters self-esteem and self-confidence
6. Have a mirror moment. I look at myself in the mirror, say, “I love you,” and give myself a high five. It changes the feel-good part of our brain; you can’t be pissed off and give yourself a high five in the mirror.
7. Do mindful movement. This is some kind of physical exercise. That includes yoga, stretching, breath work, or even walking outside.
All seven parts of this routine form a mind, body, and spirit transformation. Over time, these activities create a positive snowball of momentum. Small habits repeated over and over create big transformations.
I never ask others to do what I’m not comfortable doing myself. I’ve been doing these seven things for years, and I know they work. Try it yourself, and know that I am here as a resource if you need it. You have trusted coaches, mentors, and friends to lean on for your mental health.
I’m rooting for you, and if you need any support, feel free to call or email me. I would love to help.
Seven years ago, I was at rock bottom. Now it’s my turn to help others.
Today I want to share my journey with you. Now I am happy, healthy, and looking forward to my future. However, this wasn’t always the case.
Seven years ago, I was in so much pain and suffering that I would take too many sleeping pills, hoping I wouldn’t wake up. Alcohol and drugs brought me to rock bottom, and I was struggling to find the will to live. I don’t wish the amount of pain I was in on anybody.
Fortunately, by the grace of God and the love of my family, I had an intervention and was checked into a treatment facility. I remember on day one someone asked me, “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” Of course, I wanted the good. They told me I only needed to change one thing to fix my life; the bad news is that it was everything.
"I want to use my experiences and what I’ve learned to help you."
One breath at a time, I achieved seven years of sobriety on April 30, 2022. The token I received to commemorate the date is a representation of all the work I put in and all the people who helped me along the way.
My intention over the next several weeks and months is to empower you with the same tools used to change my life. Being of service is one of my core values, and I want to use my experiences and what I’ve learned to help you. Maybe your struggle isn’t related to drugs or alcohol. Instead, you could be having trouble with relationships, spirituality, work, finances, purpose, health, or anything else. Whatever it may be, I want to use what I’ve learned to help you create new possibilities in your life.
I got a second chance, and I’m taking advantage of it. You deserve to overcome your struggles, but it won’t happen by itself. I see you, I acknowledge you, and I want to help you.
If you are ready to overcome whatever challenges you face, please call or email me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Acknowledging and celebrating all the Mom's out there on this special weekend. You are the real Super Heroes! Especially My Mom - The absolute best mom in the world!
My Mom has been there for me since I can remember. Driving me to all my football, baseball, and basketball practices and games. Driving me and my friends to school every morning. Making my lunch every day from K-12! Yep, PB&J, Doritos, and Sliced Apples. The hand-written note she put in my lunch my senior year telling me how proud she was to be my Mom. Supporting my decision to move to San Diego after graduating college. And doing the intervention that saved my life in 2015 from my downward-spiral of addiction and rock-bottom where I lost the will to live.
Through it all, she has been there EVERY STEP OF THE WAY! Showing me unconditional love.
Thank you, Mom, for everything. I'm truly grateful for you. And I love you with all my heart!
And to all the Mom's out there, Happy Mother's Day! I see you. I acknowledge you. I celebrate you!
Trafficking is an $810 Million industry affecting up to 8,000 women in San Diego alone every year.
Mary Petteway is a victim of trafficking who courageously shares her story. Through her healing journey and recovery she met Elona Gaball, who helped restore her smile and volunteered her amazing dentistry skills to ensure Mary's beautiful smile matched her loving heart.
Two beautiful souls coming together on Good Friday to celebrate God's love, grace, and glory.
A story of resurrection, compassion, and healing on this Easter weekend.
To help support and contribute to victims of trafficking, please go to www.alabasterjarproject.org
From front-desk receptionist to trainer, to Assistant GM, to GM & Owner of Fitness Quest 10. Jeff Bristol optimizes hard work, commitment, dedication, and resiliency. If you want to be inspired, give this a listen. If you have a loved one battling addiction, give this a listen. If you simply want more positivity in your life, give this a listen.
In this episode, hear the heart-warming story of how Jeff turned his life around from addiction and rock-bottom. to leading one of the top fitness studios in the country. His leadership and positive impact of his family and community is exactly why I started this podcast three years ago.
And if you live locally in San Diego, you HAVE to go visit Jeff and his team at Fitness Quest 10 in Scripps Ranch! It's a sanctuary unlike anything else I've ever experienced! And I've been to lots of fitness studios!
You can follow Jeff @bristolfit & @fitnessquest10
Addiction is a progressive disease, meaning it gets worse over time, resulting in a general decline in health or function. Addiction is a disease of faulty thinking and perception. Also called substance use disorder, it affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of drugs, alcohol, or anything else that causes negative consequences without the ability to stop. Addiction is a chronic brain disease that's more about the neurology of the brain than the outward manifestations of behavioral problems and poor choices. Addiction doesn't discriminate and doesn't care about your fame, fortune, socioeconomic background, and material wealth. It impacts us all! And it's killing more and more people than ever before.
The urine toxicology report found 10 different substances in Hawkin's body - including THC, Tricyclic Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Opiods, and Alcohol.
An autopsy also found Hawkin's heart was about double the size of a normal healthy heart. Illicit drugs and some prescription drugs carry a significant cardiac risk like the ones found. The more substances a person uses, the greater the risk.
If you, or someone you know, is struggling please reach out for help. You can send me a DM on Instagram @The.Andrew.Schultz and I can point you in the right direction.
Having been through my own addiction, and having similar amount of substances in my own body during my rock-bottom in 2014, this is the most important work I can do. To help inspire hope for others. And turn my mess into my Message that our greatest challenge can become our greatest asset.
As coaches, mentors, teachers, therapists, and healers, it's easy to take on other people's energy. It's more important than ever to make sure we're putting up strong and healthy boundaries with those we work with. To make a clear distinction on what is ours, what is being created jointly, and what is theirs.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
Please make sure to subscribe, 5-star rate and review, and share this podcast so we can have a positive impact on more people in more communities.
Here is to leading with truth, vulnerability, and open hearts!
Much love!
The drug dealer, the ducking and diving political leader, the wife beater, the chronically "crabby" boss, the "hot shot" junior executive, the unfaithful husband, the company "yes man", the "holier than thou" minister, the gang member, the father who can never find the time to attend his daughter's school programs, the coach who ridicules his star athletes, the therapist who unconsciously attacks his clients "shining" and seeks a kind of gray normalcy for them, the yuppie....all these men have something in common. They are all boys pretending to be men!
They got that way honestly, because nobody showed them what a mature man is like. Their kind of "manhood" is a pretense to manhood that goes largely undetected as such by most of us. We are continually mistaking this mans controlling, threatening, and hostile behaviors for strength. In reality, he is showing an underlying extreme weakness, the weakness of the wounded boy.
These boys disguised as men are running families, companies, communities, and countries and completely unequipped.
The crisis in mature masculinity is very much upon us. Lacking adequate models of mature men, and lacking the societal cohesion and institutional structures for actualizing ritual process, it's "every man for himself." We just know we are anxious, on the verge of feeling impotent, helpless, frustrated, put down, unloved and unappreciated, often ashamed of being masculine. We just know that our creativity was attacked, that our initiative was met with hostility, that we were ignored, belittled, and left holding the empty bag of our lost self-esteem.
In this episode, I break-down all four archetypes acknowledging why each is important for us men to step into our healthy and mature masculinity.
This book is a must-have. I highly recommend for all the men out there. A cliff-notes for how to take radical responsibility and create new possibilities in all areas of life.
"I take slabs of my heart and share them with this world for a living." -Janne Robinson
Janne Robinson is a 21st-century feminist beat poet. Her voice haunts with the legacy of early feminists and poets such as Gloria Steinem, Charles Bukowski, and Jack Kerouac. Her no sugar shit prose cuts with the honesty and simplicity of Bukowski and the romantic reliability of Kerouac. Her poetry leads like a woman, walking with fire in the footprints of Steinem—breathing sexual liberation, choice, and overall championing women to their birthright of not only equality but leadership.
Janne is the Author of - This Is For The Women Who Don't Give A Fuck - a poetry collection of Robinson’s heart. Her work is a diverse assortment of gut-wrenching stories, powerful anecdotes, whimsical observations, and overall joyful expressions. She relinquishes social constructs with command and grace. Her rare eloquence is mesmerizing and inclusive to all readers. This collection takes you to extraordinary places and doesn’t return you quite the same.
In this episode, Janne & I discuss:
- Feminism & Toxic Masculinity
- Why Integrity Matters
- Radical Vulnerability
- Her Brand New Poem She Shares For 1st Time
A hell-yes episode that will leave you inspired to take action and find your 2-4 people to build community with.
You can find Janne www.jannerobinson.com & @jannerobinson
Using pornography is a way to numb!
Numbing is the nervous system's way of coping. We numb not because we are empty, but because we are too full.....Full of shit we haven't dealt with, emotions we don't know how to face, and stress we haven't developed the healthy skillset to release. Numbing also loves company - alcohol, weed, social media, news, and girl scout cookies.
In this episode, I share about my unhealthy relationship with pornography, the negative impact it's had on my life and those around me, and provide tools and resources to help you move away from pornography.
Eliminating pornography from my life two years ago has literally changed my life. I now have a partnership where we both feel safe to ask for what we want and need. Our conscious communication and conversations have opened up new possibilities I never knew were possible. A level of intimacy and deep connection I've never experienced!
All of which made possible after I made the conscious decision to eliminate pornography from my life.
I was sick and tired of the selfishness, shame, darkness, resentment, and vicious cycle I kept repeating. Pushing people away. Isolating. Not having healthier tools and skillset to work through my unresolved emotions, trauma, and stress.
The same tools and resources which helped transform this area of my life, I now get to share with and empower others. It requires courage and willingness to take radical responsibility for showing up in relationship with yourself and those around you. To create new possibilities in your life. And deeper levels of intimacy and connection with yourself and partner.
Most importantly, if you have an unhealthy relationship with pornography, you're not broken. There's nothing wrong with you. And there is a better way!
You deserve it. Your partner deserves it. Your family deserves it.
If you're like me, you might feel burned out and bored of the same morning journaling prompts every single day. That's why I outlined 7 new journaling intentions to spark creativity - one for each day - for the next 7 days.
This is something I did recently, inspired by Brendon Burchard's "High Performance Journal."
Give it a shot and let me know how it goes. Small hinges swing big doors. And taking action every morning putting pen to paper has become a transformational mindfulness practice I do every day. And require all of my coaching clients to do as well. That's how much it's helped me!
Day 1 - The 5 most important events that happened in my life that I am profoundly grateful for include....
Day 2 - If I could describe my ideal future in 2-4 paragraphs, this is how I would describe it....
Day 3 - If I could describe the kind of person I want to be in 3 words, those words would be....
Day 4 - If my future self showed up on my doorstep today and looked at my current circumstances, these are the actions my future self would tell me to take right away to change my life for the better....
Day 5 - One person whom I need to reach out to, lead, care for, or word hard for on this day is....And what they need from me, and how I can show up well for them is....
Day 6 - A surprise git, note, or sign of appreciation I could give to someone I love or care for is....
Day 7 - The 3 people I am most grateful for in my life are...
To take off the mask of masculinity and show men what's possible when we lead with vulnerability and an open heart - That was our intention for today's episode.
And Derek Dawson was the perfect guest to help bring this intention to life!
Eight concussions. Mental Health challenges. Brain injury. All excuses to live a life just surviving. And blaming. And playing the victim. NOT Derek!
This dude is thriving in recovery. A zest for life. Passionate. Out in the community leading by example and Being the Change He Wants to See in the World!
Winning $22K on Wheel of Fortune and living out a life-long dream. Marrying his best friend. Raising two beautiful kids. Racing in Iron Mans! Going all-in on his physical health including HIIT training, yoga, meditation, breathwork, and mindfulness - All to support his mental health!
And leading with vulnerability and open heart. And taking off the mask of masculinity that is literally killing so many other men struggling with shame, trauma, PTSD, and vicious cycle of addiction. And the importance of asking for help and surrounding yourself with community of like-minded people.
My life is better with Derek in it! We all need people like Derek in our life. To lean on. To love. To support. To hold space. And to acknowledge one another as men.
You can find my boy on Instagram @doubled05
And special shoutout to Love Your Brain - On a mission to improve the quality of life of people affected by TBI through programs that build community and foster resilience. On Instagram @LoveYourBrain and www.loveyourbrain.com
"How I find North County surfers who had an alcohol problem and a prescription opioid problem but are also fathers and coaches who have anxiety disorders? How do I find those folks in my zip code that are there? That's why I started MyLifeLink." - Matt Seefeld
MyLifeLink is a free and locally-created sober community app that allows folks to engage in virtual connections, meetings, and other tools for those suffering from substance use disorder or behavioral addiction.
Thousands of San Diegans have joined the app to find human connection during the pandemic over the past two years. The app's users also range from over 70 different countries throughout the world.
All helping people stay more connected, in community with other like-minded people, with structure, support, and accountability. Something we all need now more than ever.
You can download the MyLifeLink app for free. And follow on IG: @mylifelink
"Lack of boundaries are a breeding ground for resentments."
"I believe 80% of mental health issues are a result of unresolved trauma trapped in the body. I believe that everyone has the potential to heal."
-Ilene Smith
Ilene was the perfect guest to help us kickoff Season #4 of the Positive Impact Podcast!
She is the author of Moving Beyond Trauma: The Roadmap to Healing from Your Past and Living with Ease and Vitality, an Amazon Bestseller. And her book, work, and teachings could not be more timely and appropriate considering the times we live in. The truth is, we all have experienced trauma. More importantly, what are we doing about it. The trauma is not our responsibility, but our healing is!
In this episode, Ilene talk about:
- Ilene having the courage to call off her wedding the day of at 24 years old
- Boundaries, why they're important, and how to set them
- Why Somatic Experiencing (SE) is critical in healing unresolved trauma
- How SE heals addiction and how it differentiates from 12-step recovery programs
Ilene's work as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) helps clients resolve trauma and develop a deeper sense of personal safety and capacity for resilience and joy. Her writing on psychology and wellness has appeared on Spirituality and Health, PsychCentral, and Brooke Burke’s ModernMom. Ilene holds master’s degrees in Mental Health Counseling and Exercise Physiology and completed the three-year training program at the Somatic Experiencing Institute. She offers workshops on trauma healing online and worldwide. Ilene makes her home in Arizona and loves to travel, collect art, cycle, and practice yoga in her spare time.
You can find her website www.ilenesmith.com or IG: @IleneSmithHealing
"Connection is the opposite of addiction. Opening myself up to real connection with men, because as men, we're supposed to appear strong. The strength is in the vulnerability. The most courageous thing we can do is be vulnerable because we don't know what the outcome is going to be."
"If you can get help and not go through it alone, and you find some level of connection in that, it can be such a beautiful thing. I had to peel away the layers of the onion and look at all that pain."
"Every career has a sunset. I was desperate for that acknowledgement grasping at straws trying to feel worthy. It wasn't until most of my inter-personal relationships began failing that I had to take a look in the mirror. If you meet 3 a-holes in a day, chances are you're the a-hole. I had to look at myself in the mirror and say, 'hey buddy you're the a-hole.'" -Jamie Thomas
One of my favorite podcasts to record. Jamie's vulnerability, authenticity, honesty, and willingness to share about his journey from skateboarding icon to the rooms of recovery will no doubt inspire hope for others from all walks of life. Regardless what personal challenge you're going through, Jamie's story gives all of us permission to ask for help and create connection with others.
You can follow Jamie on IG: @JamieThomas
"If you build people up, not only does the community around you get stronger, you're more likely to get something back." - Damien Evans
The U.S. adult obesity rate stands at 42% and the 1st time the national rate has passed the 40% mark. In fact, the obesity rate has increased by 26% since 2008! And 74% of adults in the U.S. are considered overweight. This is the real epidemic we should be worried about!
In today's episode, Damien and I breakdown the 4 pillars of fat loss:
- Nutrition
- Movement
- Sleep
- Stress Management
Actionable and practical ways for people from all walks of life to improve their overall health and wellness. Damien's expertise and knowledge being a student of life is having a Positive Impact on thousands of people in our San Diego community.
You can follow Damien on IG: @coachdamien_sd @livinthedream_podcast
His podcast link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/livin-the-dream/id1546290282
Oura Ring
Organifi
Brain.fm app
Eat Smarter book @Shawnmodel
"The story we tell ourselves is going to end up being whatever happens to us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. So if your story is not getting you what you want, you've got to change it. Because your success is going to be dependent on your story." -Stacy McCarthy
Stacy McCarthy has been at the forefront of the yoga, fitness and health industries for more than 30 years. Through her business, Yoga Namastacy, she’s developed a collection of best-selling online videos, books, and trainings, and has contributed her expertise on yoga and health to countless media outlets and conferences.
An award-winning health & fitness leader, accomplished businesswomen, captivating speaker and respected educator, she was recognized for her contributions to the field of health and wellness as a seasoned mindful movement educator and integrative wellness thought leader, as the 2021 IDEA World Fitness Instructor of the Year, a prestigious award recognizing superior instructional abilities and positive influence within the global health and fitness industry.
In this episode, Stacy & I discuss:
- Her traumatic bike incident in 2020 which changed her perspective on appearance
- Getting fired from her 1st group exercise job after college
- Her mantra "Don't compete" and power of daily rituals
- Keys to a happy and successful marriage of 30 years
You can find Stacy at www.yoganamastacy.com and Yoga_Namastacy at Instragram
"I feel like I'm a student of life. If I wasn't given any other gifts, the one gift that I think I have is an appreciation for how finite this life is." -Joe Kudla
Starting as a pop-up trailer by the beach in 2015, to numerous retail stores scattered throughout the U.S. in 2021, Vuori is an active lifestyle brand that draws inspiration from the aspirational coastal California lifestyle - an integration of yoga, surf, sport, art, and strong visionary spirit.
In this episode, Joe shares the self-care and mindfulness practices he uses to maximize creativity, optimize productivity, and get into a flow state - including breath work, meditation, yoga, surfing, mountain biking, and journaling. Joe talks about the importance of community - and being in service to the community of Encinitas and all communities Vuori has a retail presence. And how the overlap of what made Joe successful as an athlete growing up has helped him become successful as an entrepreneur.
Joe shares his journey from college graduate, to a modeling career that took him to Europe for two years, to accountant, to finally founding Vuori, and lessons and learnings along the way. This is an episode you don't want to miss.
Full disclosure - I'm part of the Vuori Influencer program which includes discounts on all Vuori product. MY go-to items are the Kore short and tuvalu tee. I absolutely love the product
"You can still be hard, and be sober, and be a sweetheart, and super masculine." -Casey Jennings
WOW! This is episode with Casey will tug on your heart strings and inspire hope for people from all walks of life.
A beach volleyball legend. A husband to another beach volleyball legend, Kerri Walsh. A Dad. A man in sobriety. Casey opens up about how he and Kerri saved their marriage at the height of Kerri's volleyball career. And Casey's life-changing experience going to rehab and getting sober.
Casey talks about the importance of fundamentals in al areas of life. His mentors who helped him get to where he is today. And his journey from an undersized athlete in Las Vegas to becoming one of the best beach volleyball players of his generation.
And how the title of dad and husband are most important.
This is one episode you do not want to miss.
Follow Casey on IG @caseytjennings
Tens of thousands of downloads in over 63 countries throughout the world!
Today marks a very special day as we celebrate 100 episodes of the Positive Impact podcast. And who better to celebrate with than my dear friend, and spiritual sober brother, Ryan Lipsey. Ryan and I chat about the journey over the past three years - starting with episode #1 on September 29, 2018 - and the why behind the podcast.
In this episode Ryan & I also discuss:
- Biggest challenges for creating podcast content
- Most impactful guests including Pastor Miles McPherson, Lexi Sun, Melissa Busby, and Darren Waller
- Celebrating testimonials which inspire hope and ripple effects of the podcast
It's episodes like this that make me LOVE doing the podcast. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for the love and support over the past 100 episodes!!
Let's keep it going baby!
"It's OK to not be OK." -Michael Phelps
These were the exact words Michael Phelps used when commenting on fellow Olympian athlete Simone Biles after she withdrew from team and individual Olympic events citing mental health.
This same Michael Phelps who is the most decorated Olympic athlete in history - winning 23 gold medals - and who is very open about his own struggles with mental health. In fact, before the 2016 Rio Olympics, Phelps talked in particular about his struggle with depression, which was so debilitating he didn't even want to get out of bed or leave his rooms for days on end...."I didn't want to be alive anymore."
I can relate! In fact, I was in the same place in my own life 7 years ago - losing the will to live. My rock-bottom!
Mental health is something that affects all of us. And in this episode, I talk about my own journey battling mental health and outline specific ways to help others who are going through similar challenges.
The most important thing to remember; You're not alone, and it's OK to not be OK.
This RAIN meditation is one of my favorite meditations that I learned from my spiritual teacher, Tara Brach. Simple, practical, and very effective to help overcome anxiety, overwhelm, and stress.
R—Recognize What Is Happening A—Allow Life to Be Just as It Is I—Investigate with a Gentle, Curious Attention N—Nurture with Loving Presence I hope you enjoy.
"This is the challenge for our modern world. How can we create community when we are so mobile, so screened up, so disconnected? It's a major challenge for creating a healthy future. How can we ensure connectedness, and a sense of safety and belonging for everyone?" -Oprah & Dr. Perry in their new book What Happened To You.
Community and connection could literally be the difference between life and death. Earlier this week, we lost another dear friend to the disease of addiction. It's more important than ever before to be connected with intimate connections and meaningful relationships that allow for vulnerability, honesty, and ability to hold sacred space for each other to talk about our trauma and pain.
We are all struggling. And the only way to get through it is to go through it.
If you or someone you know is struggling, PLEASE reach out to me or someone else. We are all in this together.
Mason Schultz & Carl Brodersen Memorial Stadium tribute - check.
Making amends to one of my dearest and oldest friends - check.
Getting PRK surgery and restoring my vision without having to wear contacts and glasses - check.
Seeing another of Gods miracles and bringing joy, healing, and love to my family - priceless.
Phil Mickelson became the oldest major golf champion by winning the PGA Championship last weekend at 50 years young. He beat the best players in the world - many who were 25 years younger and more physically talented - by outworking them and transforming his mind, body, and spirit.
I truly believe we can all have similar success regardless of our age. In fact, I've seen it first-hand with a number of my coaching clients who turned 50 this year. They have lost tons of weight, have a stronger and more positive mindset, healthier relationships (especially with self), more confidence, passion, peace, and serenity.
Its time to let go of the "I'm too old" BS story and replace it with hard-work, commitment, surrounding yourself with winners and people who are having massive success, and unwavering belief the best is yet to come. You can make history and achieve transformation just like Phil Mickelson and so many others who make the decision to go "All in!"
"Happiness is a result while positivity is a choice. While it is not really possible to just be happier, it is always possible to choose positivity over negativity." -Karson McGinley
Evidence shows that positivity increases life span by up to 10 years!!
If you want to learn practical ways to become more positive, listen up my beautiful friends.
"How free do you want to be?"
That is a question I ask myself every day?
Freedom. Alignment. Authenticity. Courage - Four of my most important values.
So when I ask my coaching clients to walk through their fears, how dare I not do the same?
After 3 months the timing felt right to honor, share, and celebrate Ralphy’s life with all of you.
I share the letter I wrote to him after he passed and talk about the unconditional love we had, and the positive impact he had on so many, especially during our online yoga classes during covid.
“I feel like my life has more meaning and purpose in it when I show people my past, and own it, instead of shoving it under the rug. Giving thanks and gratitude, that’s what it’s all about, that’s what I appreciate most today. It’s not money, it’s not a job title, or possessions, or anything like that.” –Darren Waller
Amazing new podcast episode today with All-Pro tight end for the Las Vegas Raiders and one of the best football players in the NFL, Darren Waller.
I had the pleasure of spending 5 days with Darren last week and so impressed with the man he has become. His actions match his words. He is being the change he wants to see in the world. He has turned his mess into his Message, his test has become his Testimony. He is using his platform for so much good in the world inspiring others, giving permission for us to be vulnerable, and creating conversations that are deep and meaningful and critical in today’s society.
Great football player. Even better human being. My Spiritual & Sober brother!
In this episode, we also discuss:
- Darren’s rock-bottom in August 2017 when he overdosed on prescription pills laced with fentanyl
- Darren’s recovery, faith in God, and spiritual awakening through the 12-step program
- Making $11/hr stocking shelves at Sprout’s and lessons he learned
- Impact of having a coach to level-up spiritually and mentally and how those skills separate him from other players
You can follow Darren at: www.darrenwaller.org www.comebackstories.com @rackkwall
I hope you enjoy this episode as much I did recording it.
"No feeling is final. No feeling is fact." -Lauren Osborn
Whether you're sober-curios, currently in active recovery, or simply seeking a more spiritual way of life, you definitely do not want to miss this interview with Lauren. In my six years of sobriety, never have I met someone who has so thoroughly broken down and articulated the 12 steps as beautifully as Lauren did in this episode. Lauren & I also discuss:
- Trauma "shrapnel"
- Unclogging, then repairing, the channel to her Higher Power
- Awareness, Acceptance, and Action
- People-pleasing being a low-grade form of dishonesty
I promise Lauren's message will inspire your spiritual journey in one way or another.
You can follow Lauren on IG: @whyhelloitslo
A few nuggets of wisdom from Jay Nixon:
"Your Word of the Year is meant to make you take action in the direction of the person you deserve and desire to be."
"It's our responsibility as humans, who love other humans, to help other humans."
"It's my responsibility to transmit my knowledge to you, and for you to transmit to others, so we can all evolve and grow together."
"When you why for overcoming is greater than the obstacle, the obstacle ceases to exist."
Learn why 92% of New Year's resolutions fail....And why focusing on solutions vs. resolutions are the key to success.
You can find Jay and more inspiration at thriveforeverfit.com
"Win the Morning, Win the Day!"
My "Spiritual 7" are seven spiritual practices and mindfulness techniques I've been cultivating and practicing over the past few years.
- Prayer
- Meditation
- Gratitude
- Reading
- Make the bed
- I Love You
- Connection
Small actions, done consistently over and over, create huge shifts in our mindset. Plus they create new neural pathways in the brain confirming our brains are malleable and change based on our daily habits we practice.
What we focus on strengthens and gest stronger.
Take a listen and I invite you to apply a few of these practices in your own life over the next few weeks.
"Everything is figureoutable." -Bronwyn Ison
An entrepreneur, woman of faith, mom, and my beautiful friend and spiritual sister.....Bronwyn is hands-down one of the strongest people I know. Her story will hit your heart-strings and inspire you to step up and into your power.
In this episode we discuss:
- Her upcoming CW3 virtual summit where I get to speak on the topic of FAITH
- Turning her test into her TESTimony
- Yoga retreats and healing with our moms
- The impact of faith in her life and seeing opportunity where others see fear
You can find Bronwyn at www.evolveyogaonline.com
Tickets for CW3 virtual summit cw3confidencesummit.com
"The 5 most important events that happened in my life that I am profoundly grateful for include......."
This was the journaling prompt I used this morning instead of my normal gratitude list. In this episode, I share my 5 events that I wrote down..
What a great way to stir up beautiful emotions, memories, and experiences of the past which helped shape me into the person I am today....Tears of joy and reflection on profound events that I truly cherish. Events which I hadn't thought about in quite some time.
I invite you to use this same journaling prompt in your daily writing and see what bubbles up.
I would love to hear your answers. Please post on my IG: @awschultz14
Andrew lightens the mood and talks about the importance of laughter in today's episode.
"When Andrew became my coach, all I wanted to do was lose 15 lbs....little did I know that working with him for a year would have changed me mentally, physically, and spiritually in the best way possible." -Olga Finch
Olga has been my coaching client for 13 months now and in this episode we discuss:
- The power of visualization to manifest our goals and walk through the fears
- The magic of daily gratitude lists
- Why it's so important to changing our mindset first - 80% mindset, 20% mechanics
- The positive impact of going "All In" and investing in ourselves
Olga is a perfect example of what happens with commitment, consistency, and saying "yes" to becoming the best version of who we are - Complete transformation of mind, body, and spirit - And finding purpose to inspire hope and possibility for others.
One of my favorite, and go-to, mindfulness visualizations I do with all of my coaching clients.
It's hard to build a better future if you don't know your strengths. Knowing your strengths will allow you to use them to build good things and plow your way through those difficult challenges and roadblocks ahead of you.
Knowing your weaknesses is important, too. You may not think of weaknesses as the "best parts of you" but a weakness is really a potential in disguise. It represents an area of your life that you can continue to develop - something you can grow. As it grows, it becomes something bigger, better, and more fulfilling. In a way, a weakness is like a seed - it has the potential to be a big, strong tree, as long as you give it the nutrients it needs. Proper self-care and a growth mindset can help you turn your weaknesses into strengths.
Some of our other great parts of ourselves are ones we don't necessarily realize or acknowledge as much as we should.
With all this in mind, let's take a quick journey just to relax. Then you will have a chance to answer the self-exploration questions below.
Journal Reflection
1 - What sorts of memories did you come across on your photo wall?
2 - What kinds of positive qualities did you find in yourself?
3 - Describe a time when you showed compassion in your life and the positive effect it had on another person.
4 - Describe a time when you exhibited emotional strength.
5 - Describe a time when your humor had a positive impact on the people around you.
6 - What did it feel like to complete this exercise? How did you feel during your journey? How did you feel answering these questions?
7 - What has this exercise taught you about yourself and/or your life?
Yoga Nidra is form of guided meditation - also known as “yogic sleep” or “effortless relaxation”. It’s usually practiced lying down with a teacher guiding the session. The practice draws our attention inwards, and we learn to surf between the states of wakefulness and sleep, where our body finds its natural state of equilibrium (homeostasis) – the breath balances and becomes quiet, unconscious and conscious aspects of the mind reveal themselves, and we fall into an innate state of deep, blissful awareness.
In this episode, Andrew guides you through a 30-minute Yoga Nidra practice where you just lie back and rest! We start by setting an intention (why are we doing this) and enquiring into our deeper intentions for life (where are we going and are we on track?). Then explore a playlist of feelings and associations that make you feel safe and well. By connecting with a multi-sensory reflection bought about through memory, imagery and a felt sense, we are given back our birthright of well-being, belonging, security and ease.
Yoga Nidra takes us effortlessly into a state of harmonious, restful being. From here, we can be healed, restored and awakened to our deepest, all-knowing, all-welcoming self. It’s a sublime practice, gaining popularity the world over, and ongoing research continues to prove its effectiveness.
Absolutely anyone can practice Yoga Nidra, but it has immense appeal for those who struggle to let go (I think many of us have ‘battled’ through meditation at times!). It also has immense value for those suffering from sleep deprivation, trauma, anxiety or depression (to any degree). It’s also perfect for those who have always been curious about the deep states of meditation they have perhaps read about or stumbled across themselves but have never been able to recreate.
"Our greatest challenge and darkest time is now our greatest asset and light to inspire hope for others." -Andrew Schultz
Disclaimer: 100% of the conversation was unrehearsed, I wasn't aware of any potential questions, and (as always) there was no editing.
In honor of National Recovery Month - My beautiful friend and spiritual sister in recovery, Devon Craig, interviews me on today's episode. Devon asks me questions such as:
- What is something most people don't know about you
- What is something you currently struggle with - and what tools do you employ to help relieve that anxiety and pain
- Describe the healing within your family considering the recovery of you and your father
We also discuss how we both put our spirituality into practice every day and offer practical tools to apply in your own life - meditation, breathing to reduce stress, mindful movement, journaling, and auditing the people you're spending the most time with.
We talk about making a list of values that are most important to you to ensure congruency on things that fulfill your spirit and nourish your soul.
You can follow Devon on IG: @devonnicolecraig or email devon.craig1@gmail.com
"The food we eat can either heal you or kill you."
"Think of your gut as the engine that powers your brain and powers your soul."
-Zuliya Khawaja
Now, more than ever, it's critical we take care of our bodies physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. And people are starting to understand it starts with a healthy immune system, 70% of which exists in the gut...That's right, 70% of our immune system is in the gut!
Who better to help us understand what this means, and more importantly, provide us practical tools to start transforming our mind, body, and spirit than the beautiful, talented, and amazing vegan chef, plant-based coach, blogger, and dance instructor, Zuliya Khawaja.
Zuliya is a certified plant-based nutrition coach from Cornell University. Her social media following of 120K followers gives you an idea of her awesomeness, including vegan recipes she shares daily on IG - @Naturallyzuzu
In this episode we discuss:
- Zuliya's jourey into becoming vegan five years ago
- Importance of the gut-brain connection and how we can transform mind, body, and spirit simply by food we eat
- How we can improve our gut biome and optimize our immune system
- Difference between whole food plant-based nutrition and vegan
- Zuliya's guilty pleasure :)
I absolutely LOVED chatting it up with Zuliya. Her glow and positive energy is infectious. She vibrates high and shines bright. My life is better with her in it and I bet yours will be too after listening to her share her love and passion for life.
Now go eat some plants my beautiful friends!
Cheers,
Andrew
From suicide to spiritual and radical enlightenment. Designer and first-time author Kevin Russell is an energetic intuitive who helps people optimize their lives from their energetic core. His new book, "Radical Enlightenment, My Guy on the 9th Floor" is a handbook for leveling-up your consciousness, fulfillment, and connection to your higher self.
In this episode, Kevin & I discuss:
- Parallels of 12-step programs and spiritual principles in the book
- The power of our subconscious minds
- Impact of emotional resistance manifesting itself as (dis)ease and physical ailment
https://www.radicalenlightenment.com
IG: @myguyonthe9thfloor
After a profound encounter of connecting to his energetic higher-self, he realized that by coupling the skills he had honed in his career as a designer with what he had learned on his own journey of self-discovery, he had the keys to guide others at lightning-fast speed through a step-by-step process to experience the self-awareness, self-expansion, and healing that is so deeply needed today for each of us as individuals, and collectively as stewards of our planet.
So many people are feeling stuck and overwhelmed lately.....Myself included. Yet I've found that my taking taking and moving my body, I literally and energetically, change my thoughts and feelings.
A few ways that I've found useful - doing pushups, calling a friend, and walking outside.
More is always revealed after I take that 1st step. And we energetically raise our vibration to feelings of love, joy, peace, kindness, and gratitude when we take action....Versus sitting still and stuck in low-vibration feelings of fear, resentment, comparison, anxiety, and negativity.
I don't know of anyone who has been "fueled into action" more over the past few months than my spiritual and sober brother, Donny Starkins. Donny is a mindfulness coach, speaker, and teacher. This was his 2nd time on the podcast - A distinct honor only shared by one other person. Call him my bestie or bromance, regardless, you'll understand why after you listen to this inspiring episode where Donny shares mindfulness and self-care tools and practices to help level-up your life.
In this episode, Donny & I also discuss:
- Getting acknowledged in the recent Sports Illustrated for his work with All-Pro Safety and Super Bowl Champion, Tyrann Mattieu
- Power of visualization
- Why connection is the opposite of addiction
- His new online store selling inspiring shirts with 15% of proceeds benefiting families impacted by addiction
Please be sure to follow Donny at www.donnystarkins.com and @donny_starkins
Stephen Covey calls it 'Begin With the End in Mind' in his best-selling book, "7 Habits of Highly Effective People."
This is a mindfulness practice that I do with all of my coaching clients - A visualization to help them unlock and see the life they truly want - Which gives them permission to step up and into their power. An opportunity to peel back all the layers of past conditioning, limiting belief patterns, worn out stories that no longer serve us, and armor that we put on to protect ourselves but keep us stuck.
This exercise is a chance to let it all go and see with your heart and soul the life you were meant to live. Only then can we start to work towards that vision and begin taking steps today to ensure we are living as our best and highest self.
From a cold February night in 1989 wanting to commit suicide, to a best-selling author and entrepreneurial yogi whose teachings have inspired many thousands of people throughout the world, Darren Main is the real-deal!
In this episode, Darren & I discuss:
- His book - Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic - and why it's more relevant 20 years later and the positive impact it's had on my own life
- Energetic explanation of why we feel better after doing yoga
- Practical tools and habits to build a morning routine to get into the flow
Darren was one of the people I put at top of my list when visualizing the guests I wanted to bring on when creating the podcast three years ago. And what a gift to be able to share his experience, strength, and hope with the Positive Impact community!
Darren Main is a yoga and meditation instructor and author. He facilitates workshops and gives talks on yoga and modern spirituality throughout the United States and abroad and teaches Yoga on the Labyrinth inside San Francisco’s iconic Grace Cathedral. He currently resides in Northern California with his son Jaden.
Please go to www.darrenmain.com to find all of Darren's resources, books, and teachings.
"I can only help people if they know what I do, how I do it, and (most importantly) why I do it." -Andrew Schultz
In this episode, I offer my Positive Impact 90-Day Transformation coaching program as a resource for you, or someone you know, who needs help or wants to level-up any area of their life.
People are struggling more now than ever before - dubbed "deaths of despair" - including loneliness, isolation, despair, suicide, overdose, anxiety, and depression - and why it's so important to offer the same tools and resources which helped me transform my own life over five years ago. I never ask client to do something I haven't personally done myself, and the same tools I share with my clients which took me from despair to Hope, calamity to Serenity, fear to Faith, darkness to Light, and stress to Freedom.
As a Mindfulness/High-Performance/Life/Sober/Health/Wellness/Transformation/Positive Habit Change/Spiritual/Lifestyle Coach I focus on the following with my clients:
- Conscious Breathing
- Mindful Movement
- Meditation & Visualization
- Goal-Setting
- Mindfulness (Positive Affirmations & Gratitude List)
- Identifying Most Important Values
- Optimal Nutrition
- Optimal Sleep
- Optimal Hydration
- High Quality Supplements
- Creating New Positive Habits & Behaviors
This program is perfect for people wanting to:
- Achieve certain goals in areas of Relationships, Spirituality, Health/Fitness, & Work/Career/$
- Develop more loving and kind relationship with themselves
- Level-up their sobriety
- Reduce stress, which is #1 leading cause of all physical ailments and myriad of health-related issues
To schedule a complimentary 45-minute discovery call together, please send me a message on IG or FB @awschultz14, or my website www.AndrewSchultzYoga.com.
"Be patient. God is working differently in each of our lives. in the mean time, don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone's story is unique & beautiful in their own way." -Lexi Sun
Exceptional athlete. Extraordinary person. Family, Faith, & Humility are the top 3 values I took away after chatting w/Lexi in this episode.
One of the top college volleyball players in the country, Lexi is a senior outside hitter at University of Nebraska. In this episode we discuss:
- Expectations for Nebraska volleyball in 2020 and playing in National Championship in Omaha, NE
- How focusing on teamwork and relationships has improved success on and off the court
- Impact of mindfulness and meditation for high performance
- Importance of faith during Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty of day-to-day
You can follow Lexi on IG: @lexiisun
REMINDER, I AM NOT A DOCTOR! Please consult your physician. I highly recommend getting your blood work done to better understand your baseline for all important markers before implementing an optimal supplement strategy that best supports your diet and lifestyle.
Here are my supplements that I take every day:
Elite Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, & Soy-Free Whey Protein Concentrate With 2 Grams of Added Fiber - One of the highest-quality whey proteins on the market and included for all my coaching clients when they sign up for my 90-day coaching program. I've been taking this for 4 years and convenient way to make sure I'm getting sufficient amounts of protein every day. I take 1 serving/day. Please contact me to order directly.
Elite Gut Health Probiotics With Digestive Enzymes - Another supplement I included for all my coaching clients and non-negotiable part of my daily supplement routine. If I had to only pick one supplement, this would be it. 80% of our immune system is tied-up to our gut and this product promotes optimal cleansing and flushing of our digestive system. I take 3 chewable tablets/day. Please contact me to order directly.
Fish Oil - Contains Omega-3 fatty acids that are essential nutrients that are important in preventing and managing heart disease. Findings show omega-3 fatty acids helps to lowers inflammation and improves inflammatory conditions in the body. Lowers BP, Reduces triglycerides, Slows the development of plaque in the arteries, and Reduces the chance of abnormal heart rhythm. I take 2 x 1200 mg = 2,400 mg/day. Nature Made @CVS.
Turmeric - The swiss army knife of supplements. Reduces inflammation, protects against heart disease, and helps treating depression. I take 500mg capsule/day. Nature Made @CVS. I also put turmeric powder in my protein shake every day.
Vitamin D - Promotes healthy bones, prevents osteoporosis and type 1 diabetes, lowers BP, and regulates your immune system. I take 2 x 2,000IU capsules = 4,000 IU/day. Nature's Bounty @CVS.
Magnesium - An important mineral playing a role in over 300 enzyme reactions in the human body. Its many functions include helping with muscle and nerve function, regulating blood pressure, and supporting the immune system. Magnesium supplements may improve a number of health markers, such as blood pressure and blood sugar control. It may also reduce your risk of health conditions such as heart disease, migraine, and depression. Also promotes better sleep. Insomnia is a common symptom of magnesium deficiency. Magnesium plays a role in supporting deep, restorative sleep by maintaining healthy levels of GABA, a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep. Research indicates supplemental magnesium can improve sleep quality, especially in people with poor sleep. I take 500mg every night before bed. Nature's Bounty @CVS.
Epsom Salt - Pharmacy grade magnesium sulfate for whole body relief and wellness. Used to revitalize tired, achy muscles, reduce stress, minimize swelling, and refresh appearance of skin. I add 4 cups into my hot bath every night. Dr. Teal's Pure Epsom Salt Therapeutic Soak @CVS.
Water - Divide your weight by 2 and drink that many ounces of water/day. I weight 180lbs. and try to drink 90 ounces of water/day. Staying hydrated flushes out toxins and waste, decreases food cravings, increases energy levels, supports healthy kidneys, lubricates and cushions joints, prevents muscle cramps, regulates body temp, reduces inflammation, and slows aging. You should be peeing every few hours with clear urine color.
"I don't get older, I level up. This is absolutely my plan. It's a long term lifestyle mindset that starts from the time I wake up to when my head hits the pillow. Am I eating healthy foods? Am I exercising and moving my body? Do I take quality supplements? Can I manage stress? Do I get quality sleep? Am I spiritually fit? I'm not perfect and there are days I'm only getting 3 out of 6, but that's better than the alternative. " -Melissa Busby
Hands-down one of the most inspiring episodes I've ever done! In this episode, Melissa & I discuss:
- Which foods help Melissa function most optimally and at highest level
- Mindfulness practices including positive affirmations, gratitude, and meditation which get Melissa in the flow
- Celebrating 4.5 years of sober recovery and impact it's had on her life
- Importance of mindful movement to activate feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine
PLEASE make sure and follow Melissa on IG: @MelissaBusby - Inspiring workouts, nutritional tips, and positive mindset tools.
"What is a Dad? A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again. A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead lets you find your own way, even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt. A dad is someone who holds you when you cry, scolds you when you break the rules, shines with pride when you succeed, and has faith in you even when you fail. " –unknown
Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there....especially mine!
I acknowledge you, honor you, and celebrate you.
"I'm in alignment with my soul assignment." -Lauren Jamison
Lauren Jamison is definitely in alignment with her soul assignment and her positive impact is being felt by people and communities everywhere....Inspired by the legendary rock-star, Joe Walsh, of The Eagles, Lauren got sober on July 16, 2019 and is turning her mess into her message, and her test into her testimony.
In this episode we discuss:
- How Lauren uses comedy for healing
- Her journey from transaction to transformation
- Importance of laughter and comedy in today's culture
You can find Lauren at IG: @Kosherbarbiecomedy and vimeo.com/394595025
The quality of our life is directly proportional to the quality of our breath....Meaning how we breathe is literally how live.
Grab your pen and get ready to take lots of notes. So much knowledge and wisdom! In this episode, Tyler & I discuss:
- How changing the way we breathe physiologically changes how we feel
- Dichotomy of cold water exposure and warm therapy
- How to activate both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems - and why they're both important
- Emerging science showing "WHY" the breathe is so critical in living longer and healthier
Tyler also guides us through a round of breath-work at the end which is a great tool, easy and practical, to implement into your daily mindfulness routine.
In honor of Global Meditation Day, we bring you the eloquent and loving words of one of the world's leading spiritual teachers. I was so inspired and moved by Dr. Beckwith's meditation he led yesterday for global meditation day, I decided to share it with all of you.
If you don't't already have a consistent daily mediation practice this is the perfect time to start. The scientific benefits of meditation are:
- Reduces stress, anxiety, and fear
- Creates a greater sense of self awareness and emotional intelligence
- Improves mental clarity and focus
- Lowers blood pressure and improves overall physical health
- Reduces negative emotions and generates kindness
I invite you to sit back and feel the love from Dr. Michael Beckwith.
"Meditation is like a gym in which you develop the powerful mental muscles of calm and insight." -Ajahn Brahm
The easiest way to calm your nervous system is through conscious breathing. We inhale what we want more of - Love, Compassion, Joy, and Peace. We exhale what we want to let go of - stress, fear, negativity, and despair.
I know what you're going to say, "Andrew, I can't meditate, I have too many thoughts, you don't understand".....Which is exactly why I've done all the work for you and you just have to "BE."
This is a great tool to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and go for fight, flight, and freeze to calm, rest, and relax.
The quality of our life is directly proportional to the quality of our breathe.
Most people spend the majority of their time and energy worrying, filled with fear and anxiety, and stressed out over things out of their control....Yet there are so many things we can celebrate every day and this episode is an opportunity to shift the focus....Small hinges swing bog doors.
Two intentions with this episode;
- Show people in early recovery what's possible when doing the work
- Shine light of awareness on impact of taking time to celebrate things in our life
After listening, I invite you to write down a list of 3 things you can celebrate in your own life today....And make this a daily mindfulness practice where you do this every day....Where our attention goes, energy flows - what we focus on strengthens and gets stronger.
This is an opportunity to create new neural pathways in your brain to replace fear with Faith, despair with Hope, hate with Love, darkness with Light, chaos with Calm, and calamity with Serenity.
Sing it with me friends, "Celebrate Good Times - Come on."
I ask myself this question all day, every day.
True freedom is contingent upon me taking contrary action - and doing things I don't want to do - including having uncomfortable conversations...So you can imagine my response when she asks, "So, do you want to talk." Instead of answering, "I'd rather stick a fork in my eye," deep down I actually did want to talk....And four hours later we knew each other's love language and exactly what the other wanted and needed in the relationship.....Fascinating and mind-blowing stuff!
You see, my default mode is avoidance, procrastination, and self-sabotage. Yet the question remains - How free do I want to be.
"Since it is true that God comes to me through people, I can see that by keeping people at a distance I also keep God at a distance. God is nearer to me than I think and I can experience Him by loving people and allowing people to love me. But I can neither love nor be loved if I allow my secrets to get in the way. I must be willing to look at the dark side in order to heal my mind and heart because that is the road to freedom. I must walk into the darkness to find the light and walk into fear to find peace. By revealing my secrets - and thereby ridding myself of guilt - I can actually change my thinking; by altering my thinking , I can change myself. My thoughts create my future. What I will be tomorrow is determined by what I think today." -Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
In this episode, Andrew cries and laughs, as he takes more of your amazing questions including:
- What has been your toughest life challenge?
- What is the happiest day of your life?
- How are you handling covid-19?
- What is your favorite netflix binge?
- If you could have dinner with 4 friends from anytime in the history of the world, who and why?
- How many times/wk should I practice yoga to obtain benefits but having a tight schedule?
Thanks again to everyone who submitted such awesome and thought-provoking questions. I bet you'll be surprised by a few of my answers :)
Big hugs and lots of love!
In this episode, Andrew opens up and answers your questions including:
- How do you stay positive and productive every day?
- Where do you travel to most often?
- Do you have a girlfriend?
- What do you do?
- What is one thing people don't know about you?
- What are you most proud of?
- What brings you the most joy?
Thank you to everyone who took the time and submitted questions. Due to the high amount of questions we received, we will have a 2nd episode to ensure Andrew can answer more of your awesome questions.
Now, more than ever, we need a morning routine that creates positive momentum and sets us up for success the rest of the day....A daily spiritual practice and mindfulness tools which help us vibrate high and shine bright.
In this episode, Andrew shares his morning routine which includes;
1. Meditation - part of the 2-way conversation with God, listening, and tapping into the voice of intuition and discernment. An easy way to disconnect from the 70,000 thoughts we have every day.
2. Prayer - part of the 2-way conversation with God, talking, and asking to have knowledge of His will and the power to carry it out.
3. Making the bed - it's the little things in life that matter....small hinges swing big doors. And this helps bring a sense of accomplishment and builds positive momentum into the rest of the day
4. Gratitude List - A "Game-Changer." The most important, and impactful, of all the mindfulness tools. A non-negotiable for all my coaching clients. Studies show people who practice gratitude are 25% happier and feel more optimistic about their future. Many other benefits referenced as you listen.
5. Daily Devotionals - Reading inspiring, uplifting, and encouraging literature helps build a positive mindset for the day. A few favorites include "The Language of Letting Go" by Melody Beattie, "Daily Reflections on Addiction, Yoga, and Getting Well" by Rolf Gates, and "A Year of Miracles" by Marianne Williamson.
6. Connection - By reaching out to 5 people every day via phone call, text or audio message, facetime, or zoom is great way to overcome selfishness and being self-centered. It makes me feel good to help others and be of service....To let others know how much I appreciate them, to acknowledge them, and send them positive vibes and love. Technology allows us to stay even more connected despite spending more time at home and away from one another physically.
7. Mindful Movement - Yoga is my go-to. Yet can also include walking, hiking, cycling, circuit training, etc. Vital to maintaining optimal health, reducing stress, and protecting our immune system. They say our "issues are in our tissues" so it's imperative we move our bodies to increase circulation, decrease inflammation, and remove stuck energy that manifests itself in unhealthy ways.
Win the Morning, Win the Day my friends!
That Was Hell For Me - This is Nothing!
Five years ago, I was hole-up in my apartment taking sleeping pills for days at a time - Not wanting to kill myself - Yet not wanting to feel the way I was feeling. The drugs and alcohol stopped working. I lost hope, faith, self worth, the will to live, every important relationship, and all my money and material possessions. It was the worst feeling, my rock-bottom, and I don't wish that on anyone......not even my worst enemy!
That was hell for me, this is nothing - And it happened FOR me, not too me!
I would bet to guess the corona virus pales in comparison to the greatest challenge you've overcome in your own life....Especially for my brothers and sisters in sobriety. And we are now uniquely qualified to help others.
My mess is now my message. My test is now my testimony. I get the opportunity to share my experience, strength, and hope to show others it's possible to go from:
- darkness to Light
- despair to Hope
- chaos to Calm
- fear to Faith
- hate to Love
- resentment to Forgiveness
- calamity to Serenity
We get the opportunity to share the tools including prayer, meditation, mindful movement, gratitude list, positive affirmations, journaling, connection, community, service, self-care, compassion, and spirituality which helped transform my own life.....And tools I continue using every single day.
I see you. I acknowledge you. You got this. I got you!
"They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." -Viktor Frankl
During World War 2, over 60 million people died worldwide. Our grandparents and great-grandparents were called away to serve our country and risk their lives fighting in a war against the most evil enemies our world has ever seen. This included concentration camps and the worst human atrocities known to man. Viktor Frankl was one of the survivors after spending over 3 years in four different camps.
Today, we are simply being called home indoors to serve our country, for a short period of time, and not congregate in crowds of 10 people or more.
My intention with this episode is to create some context and provide a unique perspective - considering our current state of affairs battling the corona virus pandemic - and using Viktor Frankl's book, 'Man's Search For Meaning' as the vehicle to do it.
Arguably the most important, and impactful, podcast episode I've recorded over the past few years. An opportunity to meet calamity with serenity, to choose calm over chaos, hope over despair, and faith over fear. I understand and acknowledge the anxiety many people are going through right now. However, I truly believe this is a great opportunity to pivot, refocus, and reset.
The stressors of day-to-day living can be brutally overwhelming. Left unmanaged, stress will slowly build upon itself until we find ourselves spiraling out of control: back-to-back meetings, deadlines, difficult coworkers, irrational bosses, arguments with spouses or loved ones, crying babies, colds, flus, and now the corona virus. We wake up, churn and burn through the day, pass out, and repeat. Sadly, it's become our "norm".
Fortunately there are solutions and tools to help us not just to survive, but THRIVE!
In this episode, Andrew shepherd's you through a guided visualization will help you to create your own positive emotional anchor to a powerfully calm and peaceful emotional state.
An anchor serves a reminder or a trigger that puts you into a certain state of being. Athletes use anchors to get into 'the zone" so they can perform at peak performance and highest levels. A professional speaker will have a certain routine they do before going on stage to remind them of the positive states they want to be in while presenting. You can use this same concept at any time to help you go from chaos to calm.
Remember that life is what we make of it. How we perceive our environment is what creates and shapes our reality. If we look at life through the lens of negativity, fear, and chaos - then that is all that we will see. If we choose to look at life through the lens of positivity, faith, and calm - then we will be able to live in gratitude. It's a choice and, when we have the right tools and perspective, we can more easily and effortlessly navigate life's most challenging moments. This is where you begin to realize the power of the mind.
And remember - Life happens FOR us, not too us.
Everyone operates with some kind of understanding of what's right or wrong, good or bad, scary or safe. But not many people ask themselves why they think this way or do what they do.
In this episode, Andrew shares one of his "Go-To" personal development exercises that he does with all of his coaching clients.
What are values?
Your values are an internal representation (a picture, feeling, or sound) of what is encoded in your unconscious mind as being the most important things to you in an area of your life - the 6 main areas of life include - Career, Relationships, Health/Fitness, Family, Personal Growth, and Spirituality.
In cognitive psychology, core values are considered to be deeper than beliefs. They hover at the deepest level of your unconscious (subconscious) mind. Values are actually imprinted in you long before your beliefs and programmed as images in your unconscious mind as a young child. It's said that this occurs between the ages of 0 and 3 and by the time you are 3 years old, your core values have already been programmed.
Importance of knowing your values
Knowing your values is key to determining what you do with your time and how you evaluate the time that you spend. At the deepest level of your programming, your core values drive you to spend time in ways that support what us most important to you. Until you know what your values are, this is happening at the unconscious level.
Your top 5 values are the most influential in how you live your life. While others exist and are important, they do not have as much influence on your behaviors or help you prioritize your time.
By becoming aware of your values, you can use them to make more informed decisions and set goals.
Values should support goals and vice versa
It's important that your goals be in alignment with your values and vice versa. If they do not directly support one another, you will encounter a values conflict.
For example, if you want financial abundance in business, and you take a salaries position that does not support the lifestyle you want, there will be conflict. Or, if you value open communication in a relationship, and the person you're dating does not openly communicate, there will be conflict.
Coordinating your decisions to support both your values and your goals will help you achieve the things you want in your life.
Another form of values conflict is when you have two values that are both positive but are competing with one another. For example, if you value money and freedom in your career, here's how it could play out:
In order to make more money, you work more and more, but your freedom begins to feel neglected and starts shouting "Hey? What about me?!?!" Realizing the imbalance, you start doing things to create more freedom, like taking down time and vacations, at the expense of working less. When your value for money isn't being met, it suddenly begins shouting "Hey? What about me?!?!" This back and forth then becomes a cycle.
This type of conflict requires you to harmonize your life by balancing various values. You will need to make compromises and accept that there may be an adjustment period before you find your happy medium.
Rest assured this exercise will help you live a more balanced life and bring more joy and peace.
Life can be difficult to maneuver at times with its ups and downs, twists and turns. Learning how to be the calm in the center of the storm will help you to navigate these turbulent periods.
Stress can be defined as how we respond when our needs are not being met. And, if you're like me, you likely find yourself swept away by your emotions when there is an accumulation of stress. Hovering just below the surface of your stressors is where you will find your unmet needs - the place from which emotional distress arises. It's these unfulfilled fundamental needs that creates discomfort and allows emotional turbulence to take over.
In today's episode, Andrew shares a mindfulness meditation that has helped him work through his emotions and valuable resource to implement to calm down or settle into your emotions.
- Sit comfortably and close your eyes and begin to take slow deep breaths in and out of your nose. Feel yourself softening and settling into the place where you are sitting.
- Next, bring your awareness to whatever emotions you are feeling in this moment. Are you angry, sad, fearful, hurt, confused, or ashamed? Become aware of what comes up.
- See if you can watch your primary emotional state as if you are an observer, doing your best to not identify with the emotion. Stay right there with it even if it is unpleasant. Don't repress it or try to move away from it. Allow yourself to accept this aspect of yourself without any judgement as you simply observe the emotion.
- Now, notice where in your body you are feeling your anger, sadness, fear, or whatever emotion you're experiencing. Are there any images? Dig into your emotions and really see how it is they affect you.
- Remind yourself that you are not your emotions; that they are simply energy in motion. They are transitory.
- When you feel some calming as you settle into your emotions, shift your awareness back to your breathing.
- Breathe normally in and out through your nose and use your breath to relax any part of your body that feels tension or pockets of resistance.
- As you inhale, silently say "just." As you exhale, silently say "one." Again, inhale and silently say "just," then exhale and silently say "two." Do this until you've completed 10 breaths.
- Do another round, this time as you inhale, silently say "this." As you exhale, silently say "one." Again, inhale and silently say "this," then exhale and silently say "two." Do this until you've completed 10 breaths.
- Next, do another round. On the inhale, silently say "just." On the exhale, silently say "this." Do this until you've completed 10 breaths, or for as long as you like.
- Notice if you find yourself being distracted by any thoughts, sensations, or emotions in your meditation. Label the thought or the emotion and then simply return to focusing on your breath.
Notice how using the mantra "Just This" to anchor you back in the present moment enables you to return to a calm, centered place in your mind where you can once again ground yourself in the here and now. With practice, you learn to calm your emotions and focus your mind regardless of what is going on around you.
In today’s episode I talked with spiritual badass, Tris Thorp, who is a powerhouse speaker, best-selling author and incredibly successful coach.
Loneliness and depression has become an everyday epidemic with the current suicide rate being at a 30-year high. The average human life span has decreased dramatically in 2 of the last 4 years, which is the lowest downward spiral since World War 1.
In today’s episode, Tris shared her #1 go-to for navigating loneliness, heartache and loss during her divorce, and helped to shed light on how we can all attempt to traverse loss, grief and hopelessness during difficult times. Her mantra “Be with what is” is how she anchors into present moment awareness, allowing herself to feel into and process heightened negative emotions in the moment - which ultimately leads to the healing of one’s heart.
The topic of spiritual bypassing came up and we delved into conversation about how that presents; what it looks, sounds and feels like. There’s a time and place for positive reframes and affirmations, and before we can arrive at that place we need to do the dirty work of getting really honest with what is. Calling a spade a spade and allowing oneself to move through the reality of what we’r experiencing is the first step in avoiding this slippery slope.
Who’s in your front row? They say we adopt the qualities, traits and “isms” of the 3-5 people we spend the most time with. Tris has a way of reminding us to take inventory of who we are choosing to spend our time with, where we’re placing our attention, and to what, whom or where we are giving our energy. I like to think of this as doing an audit on who you’re inviting to be in your front row, as well as whose front row you’re choosing to sit in.
Energy clearing.Every day, we come into contact with people, experiences, places and events, and each of those have their own energetic vibration. Everyone you think about, talk to, come into contact with or pass by blends their energy with yours - and vice versa. The same is true for certain locations, places, experiences and things. As someone who works with energy regularly, Tris shared her mindfulness practice of energetically showering off the day’s grit.
She shared her top 3 (ok 4 if you count the coffee ritual) daily spiritual practices of writing in her morning pages, meditation and recapitulation - and also why she wrote her International bestseller Healing Your Heart: Rewrite Your Story with Awareness and Intention (endorsed by Deepak Chopra).
Get in on this jam-packed episode with tangible tips, practices and real life conversation with Tris and me.
Get her book Healing Your Heart: Rewrite Your Story with Awareness and Intention, along with the accompanying journal workbook on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Healing-Your-Heart-Awareness-Intention/dp/1944177965
www.tristhorp.com
Instagram: @tristhorp
Facebook: TrisThorpLifestyleDesign
"These open, clear connections equate to active energy flow through all the layers of our being, which creates a spiritually connected, mentally stimulated, emotionally centered, vibrant life." -Tris Thorp
Inspired by the article from my dear friend and spiritual bad-ass, Tris Thorp, this episode highlights the importance of integrating all 4 bodies: Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical.
The highs and positive momentum created at my "Disconnect to Reconnect" workshop, to the lows of grieving my nephew and godson's would-be 18th birthday celebration, Andrew shares important lessons he learned through it all.
Life is always in session and none of us are immune to challenges.
Yet it's important to say "Ouch, I hurt" when we are struggling and reach out to others.....Versus stuff, repress, and avoid.
In this episode, Andrew shares his WOY for 2020 and teaches you how to choose your own WOY for 2020.
Too often we focus on things we don't do well - areas of our life we think we fall short - rather than focusing on things we did do well and celebrating all our "wins" in life. Even areas we fall short, as long as we learned a lesson and grew from the experience, that's a celebration!
In this episode, Andrew shares his biggest celebrations for 2019.
My invitation to you - After listening - Please write down your own celebrations for 2019. And take a step further by incorporating this new mindfulness exercise into your daily routine and taking time to celebrating things in your life EVERY DAY.
It's something I personally do, as well as have each of my coaching clients, and it's been a GAME CHANGER.
Dr. Hadar Sophia (socaldetoxdoc.com @dr.hadarsophia) is an absolute BADASS! She finished the Ironman in October 2019 (Ironman is 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, AND a full 26.2 mile marathon all within 17 hours to complete), which is arguably one of the most grueling sporting events in the world.
As you might guess, a lot of energy and mental and physical strength are needed. She was able to utilize the magic healing effects of acupuncture and chiropractic treatments, plenty of sleep (8-10 hours a night!) as well as by sticking to mostly a plant-based diet that is rich in super-foods, green leafy veggies, plant proteins and some wild caught fish, as well as high quality supplements that help sustain healthy mitochondria production, muscle repair, and other powerful antioxidants to help counteract any oxidative stress and cell damage.
She also participated in the Jewish Olympic Games in Mexico City in July 2019 , competing in MaccabiMan (which were four events: Cycling, Triathlon, Swimming, and a Half Marathon) and has been able to persevere heat, high altitude and some tough conditions and bring home DOUBLE BRONZE MEDALS!! This just 3 months prior to competing at Ironman.
In this episode, we discuss some of the supplements she uses such as:
- CoQ10 for mitochondrion energy, heart health and ATP production:
- Nitric Oxide for better blood flow, energy and heart health:
- Liposomal glutathione as a powerful antioxidant and increased energy and detoxification:
- Liposomal vitamin C for adrenal support, energy, immune system and skin tone
- https://detoxifybydrhadar.ehealthpro.com/products
Dr. Hadar also recommends practical nutrient dense foods which you can incorporate into your diet immediately such as:
- Walnuts, Cashews, Pecans
- Celery, Seaweed, Collared Greens, and Beans
This is the story of my Dad getting sober on Christmas morning, 2009, and all events that transpired to make it happen.....Divine Intervention!
If you or someone you know is struggling, please share with them.
This is a story of hope, faith, courage, and love of family and friends.
Inspired by Tamara Lechner's article "How to reduce stress through positive thinking: 5 methods", I wanted to share some practical tools to help you thrive, not just survive, especially during the holiday season.
First off, let's talk about what positive thinking is and is NOT:
- NOT about being happy all the time
- NOT about avoiding negative emotions
- NOT about ensuring nothing bad ever happens
- NOT about pretending your life is perfect
- IS acknowledging when things go wrong
- IS adopting a growth mindset
- IS confidence in your ability to remain calm amid chaos
The 5 methods include:
- Reframe
- Posting
- Mindfulness
- Growth or Benefit Mindset
- Self-Compassion
I've personally applied all 5 methods (and continued to do so) in my own life and can assure you they will help transform your own life as well......To help you thrive, not just survive, and roll into 2020 with positive momentum.
In this episode, the script gets flipped and Andrew is interviewed by his spiritual and sober buddy, Ryan Lipsey (@rlipsey, www.ryanlipsey.com), and we discuss:
- Vicious cycle of addiction
- How to implement daily spiritual practices and positive healthy habits
- The power of meditation and practical ways to start your own mindfulness meditation practice
- Inverse relationship between expectations and serenity
Such a fun conversation with Andrew getting the opportunity to share the tools that has helped transform his life over the past 4 years, and tools that has helped transform the life of his coaching clients, which are practical and easy-to-implement for all listeners to apply into their own lives.
What do Gandhi, Mother Teresa, MLK Jr., the Dalai Lama, Leonardo Da Vinci, Shakespeare, Lincoln, Newton, & Einstein all have in common.......They all practiced GRATITUDE!
The major religions of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism all have gratitude at their core.
- Muhammad said that gratitude for the abundance you've received is the best insurance that the abundance will continue.
- Buddha said that you have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.
- Lao Tzu said that if you rejoice in the way things are, the whole world will belong to you.
- Krishna said that whatever he is offered he accepts with joy.
- King David spoke of giving thanks to the whole world, for everything between the heavens and the Earth.
- And Jesus said thank you before he performed each miracle.
Many scientific studies have found that people who consciously focus on gratitude experience greater emotional well-being and physical health including:
- Feeling better about their lives as a whole
- Experiencing greater levels of joy and happiness
- Feeling optimistic about the future
- Exercised more regularly
- Had more energy, enthusiasm, determination, and focus
- Made greater progress toward achieving important personal goals
- Slept better and awoke feeling refreshed
- Experienced fewer symptoms of stress
I encourage everyone to start a daily gratitude practice writing down 3 things you're grateful for every day. Nothing has helped me cultivate a positive attitude, peace, and ability to vibrate high and shine bright than starting my own gratitude practice a few years ago....And something I do every single day.
Community - A feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
Community is also my word of the year for 2019....And a critical component helping me live a meaningful and purpose-driven life.
My 3 Communities - Sobriety, Yoga, & Bay Club.
- Sobriety - 12 step mtgs, men's small group, and being a sponsor/sponsee.
- Yoga - A student and teacher surrounded with other spiritually-inspired friends on similar path.
- Bay Club - Perfect place for intimate conversations and self care.
For me:
- Disconnection = Addiction
- Connection = Recovery
- Community = Connection
We cannot do life alone. Community allows us to give space for others to be seen and heard, to give permission for others to share their expeirnce and truth.
"Fertilizer is shit that you put in your garden to make things grow.....So I've been sitting in fertilizer for last 2 years."
"Yoga is kind of like dating. If you go on that 1st date and think this isn't for me, don't blame the yoga. The yoga works. We know this to be true."
-Katie Brauer
Katie was one of the first people I envisioned having on the podcast when I started planning 2 years ago. The impact she's had on my life, personally and professionally, has been transformational. How I teach yoga and connect with my students, being vulnerable and sharing my truth, and simply owning my shit and sitting in when challenges arise.....All things I have learned from this powerhouse yogi, spiritual badass, true friend, and mentor......Someone I admire and respect a great deal. Listen all you'll understand why.
In this episode, Katie Brauer (@katiebrauertransform, www.theyogaprofessional.com) & I discuss:
- Ringing up the Oakley corporate bar tab - A story Katie's never before shared
- Being a recovering "perfectionist"
- Physiological benefits and "why" of doing yoga - especially for those battling addiction and trauma
- Katie's Yoga Professional Incubator helping entrepreneurial yoga teachers
- The biggest lessons Katie has learned and personal growth of past 18 months
- What's next for 2020
Called a “powerhouse yogi and rising leader” by Forbes, Katie Brauer is an international yoga educator, high-performance coach, personal transformation expert, and mentor at the intersection of yoga and entrepreneurship. Her signature program, The Yoga Professional Incubator, is an online business and leadership immersion for yoga teachers determined to make a difference without falling into the burned out ’n broke trap.
An Aussie native and former professional snowboarder, Katie’s been featured in TEDx, Wanderlust, Entrepreneur, Gaiam TV, and more. She was the creative force behind the fastest growing boutique yoga studio and created 5-star ranked 200-hr and 500-hr Yoga Teacher Training Certifications that have graduated over 900 leaders.
She’s happiest mentoring people ready to get shit done, make a real impact, and create their own destinies.
Whether we realize it or not, we are planting seeds of intention with every thought, word, and action. In this episode, Andrew shares a story of a seed that was planted 6 months ago and began bearing fruit earlier this week.
Be mindful of what seeds of intention you want to be planting. The choice is yours.
Dr. Harry Haroutunian is a leading expert in the field of addiction and recovery. More importantly, he is the man who helped change the trajectory of my family helping both my father and I get sober at Betty Ford Center. He is a dear friend, mentor, confidante, and amazing person.
In my interview w/Dr. Harry we discuss:
- Disease of addiction, genetic disposition, and symptoms to look for
- Impact of the families and practical ways to be part of the solution
- Current opiate crisis and impact it's having on our society
- Potential psychedelic treatment options including psilocybin
Dr. Harry has helped individuals and families suffering from the disease of addiction for nearly 40 years via his role as doctor, author, lecturer, sponsor and friend. Dr. Harry is an internationally-known speaker and authority on topics of addiction and recovery from the disease of addiction, and has been featured in the New York Times, Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post and appeared on the Dr. Oz Show, Dr. Drew on Call and The Dr. Phil Show.
Following a 30-year history of family and sports medicine in southern Vermont, Dr. Harry spent the next thirteen years as Physician Director of Professional and Residential Programs at the world-famous Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California. Board-certified in both addiction and family medicine, Dr. Haroutunian worked with thousands of patients in treatment, ranging from high-profile celebrities and CEOs to stay-at-home moms and older adults. Over the years, Dr. Harry served as a consultant to major treatment centers, professional sports teams and Fortune 500 companies. As a recovering physician himself, he has great passion for helping other doctors and professionals, including entertainers, business leaders, members of congress, professional athletes and their families.
Dr. Harry is the author of Not as Prescribed: Recognizing and Facing Alcohol and Drug Misuse in Older Adults (Hazelden Publishing, 2016) and Being Sober: Getting to, Getting through, and Staying in Recovery (Rodale, 2013). He is co-author of Hijacking the Brain. He also created Recovery 101, a series of taped lectures on the topics of addiction medicine, recovery issues, communication skills, spirituality and relapse prevention. This DVD series is used throughout the country by treatment facilities, family-care programs, and medical schools to educate new doctors. Dr. Harry can be reached at (www.drharybeingsober.com), info@drharrymd.net, and (760) 674-0005.
In this episode of Pawsitive Impact (Get it?), Andrew shares about his 8-year old english bulldog, Ralphy, teaching him 3 very valuable lessons:
- Playful - Not worried about the stock market, job security, dating status, or keeping up w/the Jones's, err, Bubba.
- Purposeful - to give unconditional love. Period.
- Present - 1 breath, 1 thing, 1 day at a time.
Andrew also shares about his darkest day - when he lost Ralphy - the day he was admitted to Betty Ford Center for drugs and alcohol. Yet also the happiest day - when he got Ralphy back - after he got clean and sober.
There is absolutely NOTHING more important in Andrew's life than his best-friend and dog, Ralphy.
John Vargo is the founder of Turn In (www.turnin.life), a non-profit organization that brings meditation and mindfulness practices to active duty and retired first responders. Day after day, year after year, the toll of responding to traumatic medical, fire, and police calls, combined with lack of sleep, leads many first responders into a prolonged state of depression and anxiety. To suppress the stream of mental anguish, first responders often turn to substance abuse, explosive and angry responses toward loved ones, nightmares and recounting traumatic calls which include: child fatalities, gruesome suicides and grieving families. Sadly, many nationwide studies have concluded that we lose more fire fighters annually to suicide than line of duty deaths. This is post-traumatic stress.
John offers free meditation to all first responders, military, and veterans every Wednesday at 12pm @Yoga Six/Solana Beach.
In this episode, John also shares:
- The impact of meditation and mindfulness over the past 2 years and improved relationship with his family
- His celebrating 6 months of sobriety
- Ways to get involved and help support Turn In
To get in touch with John & Turn In, please email John@turnin.life, or call (858)-369-0344.
Also follow on facebook & instagram @Turnin.life
Earlier this week I caught myself thinking, "I should be back in the corporate world. I should be multi-tasking. I should working 9 to 5. I should be wearing a suit and tie to work." WOW!?!?!? REALLY!?!?!?
Fortunately my threshold for pain is very small these days and I was able to course-correct and change my thinking. In fact, the corporate world and job almost killed me. I always wanted more, more, more.....Which, in turn, required more alcohol, more adderall, and more of everything not healthy.
Wanting the past and present to be different than it is = suffering. Instead we can focus on ACCEPTANCE!
Andrew discusses volunteering at First Step House of North County, (www.fshnc.org). FSHNC is a 10-day non-medical social model detox that is 100% privately funded for low income alcoholics trying to get sober.
If you or someone you know needs help, their phone # is (760) 230-9353.
Your financial contribution or material donations are always welcome. It's a tax deduction.
Andrew leads the listener through a guided meditation directing "Loving KIndness" to themselves, then aim the phrases of goodwill toward a mentor or benefactor, then someone they feel neutral about, then finally someone whom they have difficult feelings.
The good intentions cultivated by loving-kindness meditation lead to more supportive self-talk and better moods. Research shows that loving-kindness meditation is "dose dependent" - the more you do, the more powerful the effects. One of the key benefits of loving-kindness meditation is reduced negative emotions like anxiety and depression and increased positive emotions like happiness and joy.
"I thanked the young man for coming forward, which was a huge step toward healing his heart and mine. We experienced mutual honor and respect. This didn't mean the larger societal problem was fixed, but before society can be healed, the individual conflict within our hearts must be healed." -Miles McPherson
With recent shootings in both El Paso & Dayton over the past few weeks, there's no denying that we live in turbulent and divided times. Yet it's imperative, more than ever, to focus on what unites us vs. what separates us.
Pastor Miles McPherson (@MilesMcPherson) is a former NFL football player, motivational speaker, and the senior pastor of the Rock Church and Academy (www.sdrock.com), which he founded in 2000, and grown to become one of the largest churches in America, with more than 20,000 weekly attendees in person and online. His new book The Third Option, Hope For A Racially Divided Nation brings a unique perspective to the discussion around race and race relations.
In this episode, Pastor Miles & I discuss:
- His new book - The Third Option, Hope For A Racially Divided Nation.
- Honoring ourselves and each other
- Overcoming FEAR - Face the facts, get Educated about the other, be Accountable to affirm one another, and build Relationships recognizing the image of God in everyone
- Blind spots
With everything going on in the world, and all the noise on social media, a few questions to think about:
- Are you spreading love, kindness, and joy - Or are you badmouthing, gossiping, blaming, and cursing others
- Are you aware of the power of your "Ripple"?
- Are you reacting to things outside of your control, or responding with mindfulness and intention to situations you can
- What are you giving your attention to
- Are you giving your power away
In this episode, Andrew talks about his opportunity to make amends with his old boss - The guy who hired Andrew in 2004 and gave him his start into the corporate world - And fired him in 2011 thanks to adderall-induced and disruptive behavior.
Eight years had passed since they last spoke. A story of healing and closure. And making right the wrongs of the past.
This week saw a huge wave of emotions as I prepare to launch my new website - I judged myself, applied "labels", thought I was playing small and riddled with fear - Yet now I see everything worked out exactly as it's supposed to. Call it Divine Intervention, Universe having my back, God's Perfect Timing.
The lessons I learned: Be Patient, Have Faith, and Trust.
In this episode, I share a story I've never told before - being filled with so much fear during my 1st interview - and what happened.
I talk about the true value of community. The beauty of connection. The magic of vulnerability and holding space for others to be seen and heard. The transformation that happens when we give others permission to share their truth.
So many beautiful memories, amazing people, and personal development growth. Friendships for life.
Over the past 4 years, I've become a yoga and mediation teacher, started a podcast, created my own mindfulness and transformation coaching program, hosted an international yoga retreat, and celebrated 4 years of sobriety......All thanks to the love and support of so many amazing people within the company.
From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU, to everyone who helped me get to where I am today.
Jay Nixon - My Mentor, Coach, Confidant, and Brother. In this episode, Jay and I dig deep into his new book.
New Book Details:
Learn How to Turn Tragedy and Pain into a Catalyst for Growth and Success!
It's been said that pain is a fundamental part of life—a darkness that acts as a contrast to the light.
Most, if not all of us experience pain at some point in our lives, particularly the emotional pain of loss. While it may be true that pain is unavoidable, it doesn't have to lead to meaningless suffering.
Pain can serve a far greater purpose in your life than something to be feared.
Jay Nixon, the bestselling author of The Overweight Mind: The Undeniable Truth Behind Why You're Not Losing Weight is back with a groundbreaking new book, The Purpose of Pain: How to Turn Tragedy into Triumph, Because Life’s Not Supposed to Suck!
The Purpose of Pain is a transformational guide that shows you how to turn pain into a catalyst for change—how you can turn your story of tragedy into a life of triumph. In the book, Nixon chronicles his personal struggle with the pain of losing his father at age five in a devastating head-on car crash – an event that cast a two decade-long shadow over his life.
Using a combination of direct truths and a touch of humor, Nixon walks you step by step through the process he used to overcome the tragedy that had dominated his life, and turn it into a life of triumph and success. The result is a compassionate guide that anyone can use to conquer emotional pain in all of its many forms.
In this book, you’ll learn:
- How honoring your pain helps jumpstart the healing process
- Tools and tactics to avoid tragedy that dictate your future
- How to shift your mindset from victim to warrior
- How to use your pain for purpose instead of sadness
- Why rituals are powerful and how to use them to heal
- Permission to stop feeling guilty about claiming the happiness you deserve
- What the Personal Development Vortex is—and how to avoid it.
- ...and much more!
Most of all, you’ll pinpoint the habits and thinking patterns you’ve been unconsciously using to sabotage your own progress, so you can overcome your pain and turn it into a catalyst for progress.
You can also find Jay at:
website: www.ThriveForeverFit.com
Podcast: Thrive Forever Fit Show with Jay Nixon https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thrive-forever-fit-with-jay-nixon/id1383255056
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaynixon.thrivefitness/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jay.nixon.7
New Book Website: http://www.thepurposeofpain.com
My Spiritual & Sober Sister, Jennifer Juckett, interviewed me in this episode.....Disclaimer: I had NO IDEA what the questions were ahead of time and everything was authentic and vulnerable in-the-moment.
We talk about mysterious missing content on my LinkedIN profile, importance of finding your tribe and building community and connection, and designing daily spiritual practices to build new and healthy habits.
And huge acknowledgement to Jenn for being prepared and asking questions that were very intentional and allowing for rich and meaningful conversation. She did an amazing job and I trust you will love this episode as much as I did in recording it.
"Resentment can be helpful on the football field." - Bob Newton
Bob Newton was an All-American football player at University of Nebraska in 1970 and helped the school win their 1st national championship under coach Bob Devaney. Bob was instrumental in building the "Husker Power" national brand which led to bigger, faster, and stronger players under Boyd Epley's strength and conditioning program. Bob's story of being recruited by Tom Osborne from junior college in California, and respective recruiting trip to Lincoln on a cold January night in 1969, is classic.
Bob played in the NFL for 11 seasons after being drafted in the 3rd round by Chicago Bears - 5 seasons with the Bears, and 6 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks - Playing alongside (and against) some of the greatest players including Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, John Riggins, Dan Dierdorf, Jack Youngblood, Joe Green, Gale Sayers, and Steve Largent.
His playing career was cut short due to active addiction/alcoholism and Bob's life changed forever on July 12, 1983 when he checked into Valley General hospital for help. Beginning a life of recovery, Bob became a certified alcohol and drug counselor in 1986 and has been helping others in recovery ever since touching the lives of thousands of people.....Including me and my family!
On Christmas morning 2009 we did an intervention for my Father's drinking, and by the Grace of God and Divine Intervention, my family met Bob for 1st time. A Christmas Miracle. An amazing story. Lifelong friendships. Recovery. Healing. Sobriety. Hope. Gratitude. A new legacy.
Bob is now Director of Clinical Services for Dr. Harry Haroutunian who specializes in concierge alcohol and drug recovery services. Their phone # is (760) 674-0005. Bob & Dr. Harry are two of the best in the business. If you, or someone you know, needs help please contact them.
Inspired by the positive response from my corporate client last night, Andrew gives a quick introduction to the chakras and then a guided chakra meditation. Please skip to 8:52 for the guided chakra meditation only. .
Special thanks to @davidji and his book Sacred Powers for the inspiration and content. A great read and even greater mentor and spiritual teacher.
Dr. Allen Berger defines 'Emotional Sobriety' as, "From simply abstaining from an addictive behavior to creating a lifestyle that reaches deeper emotional balance. The missing link in achieving optimal recovery. Helps us reach a place in our lives where we truly feel emotionally whole."
In this episode, Andrew talks about:
- His work, and in practice of, improving intimacy in his personal relationships
- Impact of playing small, self-sabotage, and rejection in his dating life and friendships
- Letter from Bill Wilson, co-founder of alcoholics anonymous, in 1958 http://silkworth.net/pdfBillW/The-Next-Frontier-Emotional-Sobriety-Jan-1958.pdf
- The problem is not the problem, the problem is how we cope with the problem
"A problem isn't a problem - It's actually something that is elevating our soul." -Dana Damara
Dana Damara (@danadamaraevolution www.danadamara.com) is an author, mystic, healer, trainer, teacher, coach, and mom. In this episode, Dana & I talk about:
- How a Pink Floyd Song in the Middle of the Ocean Inspired Dana's passion and life work
- Dana's daily spiritual practices which include meditation, breathe work, essential oils, asana, and gratitude
- Growing up in the midwest and traveling the world
- The pixar movie "When Horton Hears a Who" and analogy for astrology
- How to understand your sun, moon, and ascendant signs and impact of astrology
- Pattern interruption and how to get unstuck from destructive pattern loops
Dana is a bright light and definitely having a positive impact in the community touching the lives of thousands of people through her books, teacher trainings, coaching programs, and workshops and retreats.
Kevin Zurek (IG: @RecoveryRockstars FB: @RecoveryRockstars www.recoveryrockstars.com) started Recovery Rockstars after the loss of 3 loved ones - His best friend, Doug, his brother-in-law, Noah, and his sister, Holly - All to suicide, mental health, and addiction.
A self-proclaimed "Corporate Crusader by day and Recover Superhero by night," in this episode Kevin opens up about the impact addiction has had on his life and family, why he launched Recovery Rockstars, and the impact he's had sharing personal stories of transformation from people throughout the world overcoming addiction. Sharing stories, saving lives, and delivering a message of hope.
Kevin's passion and purpose is to create a community and connect other recovery rockstars to share their stories and end the stigma of addiction and mental health.
Please share this with anyone who needs help and let people know they're never alone.
Andrew shares his positive affirmations as part of his daily mindfulness and spiritual practice. Considering we have 70,000 thoughts/day, and 90% of which are the exact same thoughts as the day before, positive affirmations are a great tool to "reprogram" our subconscious mind and act as a "pattern disrupt" for all the negative and limiting beliefs we have.
Positive words carry a high-vibrational frequency vs. negative words which carry a low-vibrational frequency. For example:
- Love vs. fear
- Forgiveness vs. resentment
- Abundance vs. scarcity
- Light vs. darkness
- Community & Connection vs. disconnection & isolation
- Faith vs. fear
The essence of the law of attraction is we get back what we put out. So if we put out more positivity, we draw in more positive people and more positive circumstances. We can use our words for healing and to uplift ourselves and others. Or we can use our words to hurt and tear-down ourselves and others......We get the opportunity to choose every day.
The choice is yours.
Andrew's greatest struggle is now his greatest asset. In this episode, he shares:
- How we turned tragedy into triumph
- Gratitude for all the people who helped on the journey
- Going from the darkness into the light
If you, or anyone you know, is struggling and needs help - PLEASE reach out to Andrew for help.
"Health is the true wealth." - Dr. Peter Mackay
Dr. Peter Mackay (@drpetermackaysepi, @sandiegogolfdoctor, www.episandiego.com) runs the Elite Performance Institute in San Diego and for over 35 years has helped thousand of patients ranging from infants to senior citizens, as well as hundreds of professional athletes from PGA, LPGA, NFL, NHL, and MLB.
In this episode Dr. Mackay & I talk about topics such as:
- His recent introduction into the TPI Hall of Fame
- The new frontier of brain training for athletes
- His "Yin-Yang" partnership with his wife Linda
Self-Compassion is a practice in which we learn to be a good friend to ourselves when we need it most - to become an inner ally rather than an inner enemy. But typically we don't treat ourselves as well as we treat our friends. In this episode, Andrew talks about:
- The golden rule has it wrong
- The 3 elements of Self-Compassion; Self-Kindness, Common Humanity, & Mindfulness
- Two exercises to help you gauge your own Self-Compassion
Cultivating a state of loving, connected presence can change our relationship with ourselves and the world around us.
Andrew breaks down Mark Manson's best-selling book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck.* A few key concepts included:
- Beginning with the end in mind
- The "Do Something" principle. Actions leads to motivation and inspiration
- Dave Mustaine & Pete Best, similar life experiences, yet completely different perspectives and examples of self awareness
Andrew includes this book in his top-5 all time favorites.
Andrew reflects on 3 recent interactions - Where past conditioning and life experiences contributed to his passing judgement onto others - and tracing back to the root cause to fully understand the lens he used for perspective, which included:
- The driver wearing a dress shirt and tie
- The snail walking across the sidewalk
- The car on the freeway with AZ plates
In this episode, Andrew breaks down the 4 main parts of the recent 'Super Worm Equinox Moon', including:
- Why it's called a 'worm' moon
- What is a 'supermoon'
- Why it's so important
- Shining our light of awareness on anything hiding in shadows or darkness
In this episode, Andrew sits down with the creatives behind the Meditative Vibes (www.meditativevibes.net, info@meditativevibes.net) brand - Joe Costa & Marni Wolf. A few highlights include:
- How Meditative Vibes came to fruition
- Secrets of Joe & Marni's dynamic relationship
- Joe's vulnerability and pulling back the mask of masculinity
- Community events, Connection, & Giving Back
In this episode, Andrew shares 45 different ways to be the change you want to see in the world. A few examples:
- Pickup trash off the ground
- Pay for the coffee or groceries of the person behind you in line
- Give someone a hug
- Text a friend with love, light, positive vibes, and big hugs
- Look in the mirror and say "I love you"
Andrew shares his thoughts and takeaways on the importance of sleep, gleaned from the book "Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams," by Matthew Walker. In particular Andrew discusses:
- Link between sleep deprivation, cancer, and Alzheimer's Disease
- Impact of alcohol on REM sleep
- Effects of less than 7 hours sleep/night on cardiovascular, wellness, and muscle strength
- 3 ways to help people sleep beter
- Impact of daylight savings and heart attacks
Donnie Edwards (@d1944, bestdefensefoundation.org) and his beautiful wife, Kathryn (@katedwards8), open up their home as we discuss topics including: -Donnie's 14 year career in the NFL, starting every game for 11 straight seasons from 1997 through 2007 and registering over 100 tackles/year, earning All-Pro honors in 2002 & 2004 -Impact of Donnie's grandfather, Maximino Razo, "If you work hard you can achieve anything you want in life here in America because of what we did for you guys in World War II." And influence he had on Donnie's service work with our military and starting the Best Defense Foundation. -Kathryn introducing Donnie to yoga as he transitioned out of the NFL and his "unorthodox" experience into yoga teacher training (My absolute favorite part of the interview!!) -The special bond Donnie & Kathryn share together I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did. Two amazing people doing extraordinary things. Having a positive impact on the community here in San Diego, as well as communities throughout the world.
Andrew turns 40 and shares his perspective - Despite the day starting out with comparison to others and judging where his life "should be" - Andrew catches himself and accepts the gifts of compassionate-love and support from friends and family. The phone calls, texts, and messages on fb were overwhelmingly awesome and appreciated.
Andrew's gift: Feeling more loved than ever before.
Kim Bauman is the founder of One Love Movement (@onelovemovementorg, onelovemovement.org), podcast host "One Love Heroes," yoga teacher at Broadway Athletic Club & CorePower Yoga, and ambassador for @lululemon in San Diego.
In this episode, KIm & I talk about:
- Jason Mraz smoking pot with Willie Nelson
- Kim's recent trip to South Korea looking for answers
- One Love Movement's big plans for 2019
- Does Kim ever get pissed off
- Kim's positive impact and "ripple effects" in the community being the change she wants to see
Andrew shares his excitement with the stars being aligned, literally, to manifest our dreams and desires for 2019. The earth, moon, sun, and all the planets are direct, not in retrograde (Andrew explains what this all means and helps break-down a misunderstood topic), and the Universe in conspiring in our favor. The convergence of astrology and astronomy, science, physics, and spirituality. And a horoscope reading for each zodiac sign to help manifest your ripple effect and create a positive impact for 2019.
Call it God, Higher Power, Universe, Spirit, Divine Intervention, etc. - something much bigger than ourselves - orchestrating a beautiful week of synchronicity, interconnection, and people and events coming together for the highest good. An opportunity to be a conduit of love and get people the help they needed, at exactly the right time, and have a positive impact on countless others throughout the community.
Our "word of the year" is our anchor and filter we use in everything we do - Every thought, word, action, and interaction with others - And it's the thing that brings us back to our center when we veer off track. Everything we do together in 2019 is predicated off our word of the year. In this episode, Andrew shares his "word of the year" and talks about the impact it's had on his life and different ways to help flush out your own word for 2019.
Regardless of how bad you think 2018 might have been for you, I bet you can still muster up 50 things to celebrate if you put pen-to-paper. Too often we focus on the things that didn't meet our expectations or the negative crap. However, it's imperative we take the time to write out and celebrate the things we did well....Small "wins" to big achievements. There are 31 Million seconds (Or 525K minutes) in a calendar year, and I would be hard-pressed to think that every second in 2018 was as bad as you say it was.
In this episode, Andrew outlines his 50 "celebrations", or "wins", for 2018.....For example:
- davidji's meditation immersion in Las Vegas (@davidjimeditation),
- Donny Starkin's yoga retreat in Whistler (@donny_starkins),
- The book - "Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" (@MarkMansonnet),
- 3 Years Sobriety,
- All you listeners who inspire me with your continued love and support
Please take 45 minutes to write out your own celebrations for 2018. And let me know how I can support you, and together, we can create a positive impact on as many people as possible with positive momentum heading into 2019.
Much Love & Big Hugs!
Donny Starkins (IG: @donny_starkins, donnystarkins.com) is an ambassador for top brands such as @lululemon & @SpiritualGangster, an international yoga teacher, speaker, and personal development and life coach. Donny also hosts yoga and wellness retreats and workshops throughout North America.
In this episode, Donny & I talk about: -Yoga retreat in Sedona, AZ two weeks ago -Addiction & sobriety -Mentors & people who inspire us -Impact of yoga, mindfulness, and the breathe -2019 preview -Positive impact Donny is having on countless others throughout the community.
Chris does it all - An executive at Made By Grizzly, lululemon ambassador, teacher at SDSU, husband, father, and founder of Shaper Studios. Unscripted, Chris & I go deep in the streets and see quickly the huge positive impact Chris is creating in communities all over the world.
We can't get somewhere we don't know we want to go - Having a vision of our success is the first step in achieving our dreams and desires if we want to truly have a positive impact in the world. In this episode, Andrew shares a guided visioning meditation that he uses as part of his daily spiritual practice, and a priceless tool used by world-class athletes and top-performing executives.
Andrew guides you through a simple and easy-to-use breathing meditation that you can practice at anytime during the day.
My Man, Jay Nixon - Author, Speaker, Coach, Mentor, & Disruptor - and I discuss spiritual practices and tools which will help you become the best version of yourself.
Andrew opens up about his past and living in the darkness, his "Why" for starting the podcast, and turning tragedy into triumph.