What if the reason you keep ending up in the same place has nothing to do with willpower, and everything to do with a story you learned before you were old enough to question it?

 

Signature Quote

 

"When we worry, we pray for what we don't want."

 

Rochelle says this about the subconscious mind, which takes our worries as instructions. It reframes anxiety not as a feeling to fight, but as a broadcast we can change.

 

Rochelle Cook has spent more than twenty years as a clinical hypnotherapist, working where real change happens: the subconscious mind. In this conversation she explains why willpower keeps losing, why we keep attracting the same relationships and the same struggles, and why none of it means anything is wrong with us. We simply learned a story as children, and we have been playing it out ever since. She calls it storybook syndrome.

 

She also brings her own story to the table. Childhood abandonment, brain surgery, a lung cancer diagnosis less than a year ago, and the long climb out of depression. She calls herself a wounded healer, and she does not speak from theory. She speaks from the chair on both sides of it.

 

You will hear why hypnotherapy is nothing like the stage show, where the inner critic actually comes from, and the small daily practices that interrupt old patterns: challenging the thought, writing down what disturbs your peace, and the three words she repeats to herself, I don't do that anymore.

 

This episode is for you if...

- You know better but keep doing the same thing anyway

- Your inner critic is loud, convincing, and exhausting

- You keep attracting the same kind of relationship or the same kind of trouble

- You are curious about hypnotherapy but carry the stage-show stereotype

- You want practical ways to challenge the thoughts running your life

 

Rochelle Cook, MA, Cht, is a clinical hypnotherapist with more than twenty years of practice, specializing in trauma. She is the author of The Soul's Coach: Seven Paths to Healing Your Relationship and a co-founder of Joymind.com.

 

Her path into this work runs through her own life. She describes herself as a wounded healer: childhood abandonment, brain surgery twelve years ago with an eight-year recovery, and a lung cancer diagnosis less than a year ago as a non-smoker. She did, in her words, all the therapies in the world, until a friend hypnotized her and her fear of public speaking vanished. She went back to school, and she has been helping people change the perception of the subconscious mind ever since.

 

She joined the podcast to make the case that lasting change does not live in willpower. It lives underneath it.

 

Connect with Rochelle: https://joymind.com

Her book, The Soul's Coach: Seven Paths to Healing Your Relationship, is available on Amazon.

 

Listen on Major Platforms

 

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

 

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

 

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

 

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What if your dream is not stalling for lack of passion, but for lack of a plan?

 

Signature Quote

 

"Audacity without a system is probably just hope. And hope's great, but it's not a strategy and it's not a plan."

 

That line landed like a bell in the middle of this conversation, because it names the gap most of us live in. We have the vision. We have the wanting. What we do not have is the next most important action written down anywhere.

 

Jason Vanderground has spent thirty years closing that gap for brands and movements, including the He Gets Us campaign that reached the Super Bowl. In this conversation he walks through his DREAM framework, Define, Research, Experience, Apply, Measure, the same system he has refined across three decades, and shows why it works just as well on a personal dream as on a national campaign. He also gets honest about the detours: losing his corporate job at forty, missing a live radio interview for his own book launch, and the two words, "only forward," that pulled him out of the spiral.

 

This is a conversation about giving your boldest vision some scaffolding, and about the quiet kind of audacity that does not need a spotlight.

 

This episode is for you if...

- You have a dream you have rehearsed more than you have built

- You want a practical system for turning vision into measurable progress

- You are navigating a detour and need the pivot from "why" to "what's next"

- You believe audacity is quiet courage, not loud performance

 

Jason Vanderground is the president of Brand Haven, a Grand Rapids, Michigan agency, where he has spent thirty years using the principles of marketing and branding to build things that matter. His team was part of the work behind He Gets Us, the faith-based campaign that became a Super Bowl advertiser. His first book, DREAM to Reality, was published this September and lays out the framework he has refined across three decades of practice.

 

What sets Jason apart is where he points all of that expertise. His name means healer, and he describes his life's work as healing and reconciliation, finding where things are broken and helping make them whole. He is a self-described introvert and a father of three boys who still feels the same spark he felt in his first college marketing class.

 

He joined the podcast to share the system behind the dream, and to make the case that audacity without one is probably just hope.

 

DREAM to Reality is available on Amazon.

[ADD GUEST WEBSITE LINK]

 

Listen on Major Platforms

 

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

 

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

 

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

 

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Some books take a weekend to read and twenty years to write. Paul Lapsey knows, because his sat on a shelf for eighteen of them.

 

Signature Quote

 

"Whatever you start, you have to finish it. It may not be the outcome you want, but you have to see it done."

 

Paul dusted off a twenty-year-old manuscript after his daughter was born, determined to show her that finishing matters more than the outcome. That decision became his debut psychological thriller, Violent Disturbance.

 

Paul Lapsey started writing his novel when he was a young man, put it down for eighteen years, then picked it back up two years ago after his daughter was born. He wanted her to see that whatever you start, you finish. The result is Violent Disturbance, a psychological thriller with true crime elements that asks what if, and keeps readers up at night.

 

In this conversation, Paul opens up about the grief that reshaped his writing, the faith that pulled him through it, and the hard question at the center of his book: what does revenge actually cost? He and Audley compare notes as two fairly new authors, including the surreal moment of holding your first finished book in your hands.

 

If you have ever shelved something that mattered to you, this one might be the nudge to dust it off.

 

This Episode Is For You If...

 

- You have a project sitting on a shelf that you keep meaning to finish

- You want to hear how grief and faith can shape a creative life

- You are curious what it really takes to publish your first book

- You love a thriller that leaves you thinking about it for weeks

 

About the Guest

 

Paul Lapsey is a first-time author and the writer of Violent Disturbance, a psychological thriller with true crime elements that explores grief, faith, and the cost of revenge. He started the book twenty years ago, shelved it for eighteen, and finished it after his daughter was born, determined to show her that whatever you start, you finish.

 

By day, Paul works full time as a process improvement manager in manufacturing plants, a career spanning twenty-five years. Writing has always been his true passion. He lives in Perry, Ohio, where his book is already finding its way into local stores.

 

Paul is nearly finished with his second novel and is planning a third, a prequel to Violent Disturbance. He joined the podcast to talk about finishing, faith, and what happens when you finally put your work into the world.

 

Connect with Paul

 

https://paullapsey.com

 

Violent Disturbance is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and anywhere books are sold in the United States.

 

Listen on Major Platforms

 

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

 

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

 

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

 

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You have an idea. Maybe you have had it for years, sketched on a napkin or sitting in a journal. The difference between you and the inventor on QVC is not talent. It is knowing the right way to move.

Signature Quote

"Do not share your information until the ink dries."

Lisa learned the hard way that an unprotected idea is a vulnerable one. This line from her book is the rule she lives by, and the one she wants every new inventor to hear first.

Lisa Ascolese, known as The Inventress, has spent decades turning everyday frustrations into products that sell. Her first invention came from being embarrassed to breastfeed in public, so she created the Bosom Buddy nursing cape. A sock she used to tie her hair into a church-ready bun became the Bun Tie, her first product on QVC. A lost pair of scissors while wrapping gifts became the Wrap and Store organizer, which sold out on QVC.

In this conversation, Lisa shares what inventing the right way actually means. Do your due diligence. Build a working prototype before you ever call a patent attorney. Do not add so much to a simple product that it can never get made. And keep your idea close until it is protected, because the naysayers will talk you out of it before it has a chance.

She also talks about the audacity it took to pick up the phone and call buyers and celebrities, including a 30-year relationship with Dionne Warwick that started with one cold call, and why she founded the Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs to lift other women up. This is a practical, no-fluff conversation for anyone sitting on an idea.

This episode is for you if...

- You have an idea sketched somewhere and no clue what to do next

- You have wondered whether to patent first or prototype first

- You want to get a product onto QVC, HSN, or a store shelf

- You have been burned before and want a trustworthy guide this time

- You believe inventors should lift each other up

Lisa Ascolese is known as The Inventress, a name her publicist coined years ago and one she has since trademarked. Born in London and raised in Brooklyn by West Indian parents, she was inventing as a child, taking things apart around the house and making them work for her. Her first product, the Bosom Buddy breastfeeding cape, sold nationally and internationally, and she went on to sell multiple products on QVC, including the Bun Tie, the Wrap and Store organizer, and the Perfect Pockets organizer, which she later redesigned for HSN.

Today Lisa helps inventors go from a napkin idea all the way to the marketplace, teaching them to do it the right way with due diligence, working prototypes, and protected ideas. She is the founder of the Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs, now celebrating its 13th year, and host of The Inventors Podcast. Her book is "The Inventress Guide to Inventing the Right Way: All or Nothing, Now or Never." Her mission is simple: lifting each other up two hands at a time.

🌐 Website: https://inventingatoz.com/

Her podcast, The Inventors Podcast, and her social channels are all linked from her website.

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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What does it take to choose the fight when every instinct tells you to run? Retired Green Beret Major Ray Dillman spent 23 years in the Army answering that question, rising from enlisted private to senior medic on a Special Forces combat dive team, with time in Ranger battalions, command of the U.S. Army Sniper School, and a professorship at West Point.

Yet for years he kept that Green Beret past quiet, living the creed of the silent professional: when you are good, you do not have to crow about it. In this conversation, Ray opens up about what that creed taught him and what came after. He breaks down his signature challenge, refusing to take a coward's way out, and explains the difference between feeling fear and letting fear decide. He shares why no one survives the battlefield alone, how purpose works as stewardship of everything God puts in our hands, and why childhood wounds must be recognized and overcome rather than carried for life.

Signature Quote

"The coward's way out is to talk yourself out of being audacious."

The coward's way out is not failing. It is letting fear talk you out of trying in the first place. Control the fear, do not let the fear get the best of you, and go forth.

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF...

- You have been talking yourself out of something you know is right

- You want to understand the difference between feeling fear and obeying it

- You are searching for purpose and what it actually looks like in daily life

- You carry old wounds that still shape your decisions

- You believe no one wins alone and want to hear it from a man who lived it

MEET RAY DILLMAN

Ray Dillman is a retired U.S. Army Major and the founder of Discipled Warriors, a men's ministry that builds cohorts of men who disciple one another in churches. Across 23 years of military service, he rose from enlisted private to commissioned officer, serving as a Green Beret senior medic on a special forces combat dive team, in Ranger battalions, as commander of the U.S. Army Sniper School, and as a professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point.

After retiring, Ray spent ten years full-time at Mid-America Christian University and continues there part-time today. In 2024 he launched Discipled Warriors, and he is the author of the Discipled Warriors Handbook, the ministry's core text. He is a husband, a father, and a grandfather of six who goes by Pop-up.

CONNECT WITH RAY

https://discipledwarriors.org/

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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Most of what you believe about hypnosis came from a movie or a cruise ship stage show. Jason Palter has spent more than a decade undoing that damage. A former professional magician turned certified hypnotist, Jason works in a clinical setting helping people quit smoking, lose weight, manage stress, and get past the fears and habits their conscious minds cannot talk them out of.

Signature Quote

"You can't steal second base with your foot still on first."

Jason's favorite line is the episode in miniature. Every meaningful change asks you to lift your foot, to leave the safety of what is familiar. You cannot reach what is next while gripping what is.

In this conversation, Jason pulls back the curtain on what hypnosis actually is: not mind control, not a swinging watch, but a deeply relaxed state where the subconscious becomes open to new suggestions. You will hear why some clients transform in a single session while others stay stuck, why he turns away anyone who does not truly want to change, and how the words after "I am" quietly shape a life. He also shares the audacious pivot behind his practice: starting over as a hypnotist in the middle of a divorce that leveled everything.

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF...

- You have always wondered what hypnosis really is beyond the stage show

- You know a habit is hurting you and still cannot stop

- Your own self-talk is your harshest critic

- You are standing at the edge of a change and afraid to leap

- You want to understand the subconscious patterns running your decisions

MEET JASON PALTER

Jason Palter is a certified hypnotist and the owner of the Greater Toronto Hypnosis Centre in Toronto, Canada. He helps clients quit smoking, lose weight, manage stress, build confidence, and move past fears and performance anxiety, working with people in person and over video anywhere in the world.

Before hypnosis, Jason lived as a performer: a professional magician, corporate speaker, actor, and voiceover artist. In 2012, during a difficult divorce, a friend who worked as a hypnotist offered to train him and help him rebuild his life. He opened his practice in 2013 and never looked back.

Jason practices clinical hypnosis only, never stage hypnosis, and he is direct about what the work can and cannot do. His message is simple: all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, change begins with the person willing to do the work, and it is never too late to build on everything you have already lived through.

CONNECT WITH JASON

https://greatertorontohypnosis.com/

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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What if the reason you have never seen yourself as a leader is not a flaw in you, but a flaw in the picture you were given? Michael Dowling spent years in Hollywood performing a version of himself he thought leadership required, until one conversation with his dad flipped the script.

Signature Quote

"You have a superpower. By being that emotionally aware, you can see things that maybe others don't see. You could see angles, you can see opportunities."

This is what his father told him when Michael confessed he was trying to detach from his emotions to look like a leader. That single reframe became the seed of his book and this conversation: the very things we are told to hide may be our greatest strengths.

Michael Dowling is a former Hollywood talent agent turned CEO and the author of The Unlikely Leader: Breaking the Bias That Keeps Great Leaders Invisible. He calls it the great leadership myth, the belief that leaders must look and act a certain way. Confident. Charismatic. Pedigreed. That myth does not just mislead companies, it convinces countless capable people to screen themselves out of the leadership conversation entirely.

In this episode, Michael introduces his "leadership recognition problem": companies do not have a leadership shortage, they reward the wrong signals. He shares the mindset behavior outcome shift, a practical way to catch the default stories your mind tells under pressure, and the question that unlocks them: what else could be true? You will also hear why every billion-dollar CEO in his networking group suffers from imposter syndrome, and the five-year-old art student who taught him one of his best leadership lessons.

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF...

- You have ever thought "I'm not leadership material" and believed it

- You lead quietly and wonder if that counts (it does)

- You want a practical tool for reframing self-doubt in real time

- You hire or develop leaders and suspect you are rewarding the wrong signals

- You need permission to stop performing and start practicing leadership as yourself

MEET MICHAEL DOWLING

Michael Dowling spent years as a Hollywood talent agent, where he learned to spot potential in others while struggling to see it in himself. Performing the power-player role eroded his joy until he walked away and eventually became a CEO, where he discovered that the traits he had tried to suppress, emotional awareness, humility, thoughtfulness, were the very things that made him effective.

He is the author of The Unlikely Leader: Breaking the Bias That Keeps Great Leaders Invisible (Sutherland House Experts), written for the people who never saw themselves reflected in the leadership stereotype: first-generation professionals, neurodivergent thinkers, quiet contributors, and everyone who was never expected to lead. He works with companies to audit the signals they reward and with individuals to reframe the mindsets holding them back.

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL

https://theunlikelyleader.com/

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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What if the person sitting across from you in the interrogation room is not a monster, but a human being who lost their way? Eric Robinson spent 24 years in the FBI learning to find the human in everyone, and the training started in the pulpit.

Signature Quote

"I am through everything I've experienced undefeated. Everything that's come at me, I have gotten past."

This is the mindset that carried Eric through two extraordinary careers. It is not bravado, it is arithmetic. Whatever has come at you, you got past it. You are here to tell the story.

Eric Robinson traded the pulpit for the FBI and spent 24 years staring into the darkest corners of human nature. Fifteen of those years were on SWAT. He investigated gangs, drug cartels, public corruption, and counter-terrorism threats, earning two Attorney General's Awards along the way.

What he found in those dark corners will change how you see everyone, including yourself. His best interrogation tool was the same as his best pastoral tool: suspend judgment, find something in common, and let curiosity do the work. Compassion, it turns out, disarms.

This conversation travels far beyond the cool FBI stories into identity, purpose, and our shared humanity. Eric also introduces his memoir, Irreverend, and shares the simple mindset that carried him through it all: he is undefeated, and so are you.

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF...

- You are standing at the edge of a bold career pivot and need proof it can work

- You want to understand people better, even the difficult ones

- You are curious how compassion could be a tactical advantage in your own life

- You need a reminder that your track record is stronger than your fear

MEET ERIC ROBINSON

Eric Robinson is a retired FBI Special Agent, former SWAT operator, and former Baptist pastor whose unlikely career pivot took him from the pulpit to Quantico. In 2002 he preached his final sermon on Easter Sunday. The next week he was at the FBI Academy, becoming the first Eric Robinson in Bureau history.

Over 24 years he investigated gangs, drug cartels, public corruption, civil rights cases, organized crime, crimes against children, financial crimes, and counter-terrorism threats, spending 15 years as a SWAT operator. Two of his investigations earned the Attorney General's Award, among the highest honors in the Bureau.

He is the author of the memoir Irreverend: From Saving Souls to Chasing Sinners in the FBI. He speaks on courage, human nature, and the power of curiosity drawn from both of his careers.

CONNECT WITH ERIC

https://preachertobreacher.com/

https://www.instagram.com/_eric_robinson/

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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What happens when the armor that protects you starts keeping out the people you love? Mike Poliwoda knows. He wore it for years.

Signature Quote

"Remove it slowly. Connect slowly."

— Mike Poliwoda

Why This Quote Matters

This is Mike's entire philosophy in five words. No dramatic transformation, no abandoning responsibility. Just a slight shift, enough armor off to be present with the people you love.

Mike Poliwoda started writing in 2022, in his fifties, in the middle of a dark time. He began with stories on Substack. In under four years he published five books across genres, from speculative fiction to poetry to nonfiction. His nonfiction book, The Performed Man, names something most providers feel but rarely say out loud: the quiet cost of always being the strong one.

In this conversation, Mike gets honest about the years he feels he missed with his kids while trying to be the strong provider, how responsibility slowly morphed into his identity, and the moment he realized the armor had become his permanent skin. He shares why real strength, to him now, is responsibility and endurance, plus connection, communication, and presence.

This is not a conversation about abandoning responsibility. It is about a slight shift. As Mike puts it: remove it slowly, connect slowly.

This Episode Is for You If...

- You are the one everyone counts on, and you are tired of carrying it all alone.

- You have ever wondered whether the provider role cost you presence with your family.

- You want to be strong without the emotional armor.

- You love someone who never takes the armor off.

About the Guest

Mike Poliwoda is a Canadian author, originally from Toronto and now based in Western Quebec. He started writing in 2022, in his fifties, during a dark time, beginning with stories on Substack. In under four years he published across genres: speculative fiction, literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. He now has five books out, with three more in the works.

His nonfiction book, The Performed Man: When Financial Responsibility Becomes Identity - A Field Guide, grew out of a lifetime of observations about providers, pressure, and self-worth. It examines how responsibility can slowly morph into identity, and how to reconnect with the people you love without abandoning the strength they count on.

A working man, family guy, and former drummer, Mike writes with kindness and zero judgment. His invitation is simple: take an honest look, make a slight shift, and be better for the people you love.

Connect With Mike

Mike's Substack: https://mikepoliwoda.substack.com

The Performed Man on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0H14PBQ3B/ref=mp_s_a_1_1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-poliwoda-78a9459

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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DJX was handed the number one hip-hop radio show in the country and was too scared to open the microphone. He stayed silent for the first two hours.

Signature Quote

"Having no choice but to walk through the fire. Sometimes that's the only way."

DJX

Why this quote matters: it captures the heartbeat of this conversation. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is movement inside it. DJX built a legendary career not by waiting to feel ready, but by walking through the fire anyway.

Before he was a Toronto hip-hop legend, Adrien King was a shy kid hiding behind the turntables, practicing ten hours a day in the basement. Then one phone call changed everything. Ron Nelson told him, "Forget that guy, man. Come do my show with me." Overnight, DJX went from a good show to the number one show in the country, and straight into the fire.

In this conversation, DJX takes us inside those early CKLN Power Move days: the fear of opening the mic, the weight of deciding which local artists got heard, and the slow realization, years later, of how deeply the show shaped a generation. He also shares why he believes the culture has only gained from how it evolved, and what still pulls him back behind the decks.

At its core, this is a conversation about audacity in its purest form. As DJX puts it, he says yes and figures it out later. If you have been waiting to feel ready, this episode is your permission slip.

This episode is for you if...

• You have been waiting to feel confident before starting something big

• You grew up on Toronto hip-hop and want the inside story of the Power Move era

• You want to understand the difference between preparation and permission

• You are curious how legends handle fear (they feel it too)

• You need a nudge to say yes before you feel ready

About DJX

Adrien King, known to generations of hip-hop fans as DJX, is a Toronto hip-hop legend who hosted the iconic CKLN Power Move show in the late eighties and early nineties. Taking over from Ron Nelson, he turned Saturday afternoons into appointment listening, introducing the city to hip-hop in its infancy and championing local Canadian talent when few others would.

Behind the legend was relentless preparation: ten-hour practice days, DJ battles, and a work ethic he compares to the Karate Kid's training. Today, Adrien still has his foot in the music as a touring DJ, runs a marketing business he started in 2007, day trades, and is a devoted husband and father. He joins the show to talk about courage, culture, and what it means to say yes scared.

Connect with DJX

🌐 Website → https://adrienking.com

📸 Instagram → @adrienking

🎧 Mixcloud → https://www.mixcloud.com/adrienking/

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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What if confidence was never the starting line? Dr. Christiane Schroeter has spent years studying how belief actually gets built, and her answer reverses everything most of us were taught.

Signature Quote

"You just have to be okay with it being very uncomfortable. You know, you have to be okay with it not being okay."

This line carries the episode's central reversal. Courage is not the absence of discomfort. It is the willingness to stand inside discomfort long enough for confidence to grow.

Dr. Schroeter moved from Germany to the United States in 1999 and earned her doctorate while studying in her second language. She knows the locked room of self-doubt from the inside. From that experience she built Petite Practice, a simple framework for turning tiny repeated steps into lasting change: simplify the goal, tell someone, examine what happened, and praise the progress.

In this conversation, she breaks down why imposter syndrome is really an equation between what you know and how much you believe in what you know. She explains why praise is the step almost everyone skips, and why it is the very mechanism that converts action into belief. Audley brings his own stories to the table, including the long bike ride that taught him exhaustion is real but inability is often invented.

This Episode Is for You If...

- You feel like a fraud even though the evidence says otherwise

- You keep waiting to feel ready before you begin

- Your goals feel so big that you stall at the size of them

- You want a practical method, not just motivation

Guest Bio

Dr. Christiane Schroeter is a professor, TEDx speaker, and the author of Petite Practice. In 1999 she moved from Germany to the United States, where she earned her doctorate while studying in her second language, an experience that shaped everything she teaches about courage and confidence.

She created the Petite Practice framework, a trademarked system built on four moves: simplify, tell, examine, and praise. Her work helps people stop waiting for confidence to arrive and start building it instead, one small praised step at a time.

Guest Links

https://doctorchristiane.com

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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What if your life looks successful from the outside, yet something within you knows it no longer fits?

Signature Quote

“The only person I had to ask permission from was myself.”

Why This Quote Matters

Jackie Cote’s journey reveals that freedom is not simply about leaving a job, travelling, or controlling your schedule. It begins when you trust yourself enough to acknowledge what you truly want and give yourself permission to pursue it.

Episode Description

After 30 years in the restaurant industry, Jackie was fired from what would become her final restaurant job. What initially felt like an ending opened the door to coaching, entrepreneurship and a very different understanding of freedom.

In this warm and honest conversation, Jackie joins Audley to explore what happens when the life that once made sense no longer feels right. They discuss identity, emotional healing, self-trust and the courage required to move forward before there is evidence that everything will work out.

Jackie also shares how RV living unexpectedly became part of her freedom journey, why awareness creates choice and what it means to stop building your life around other people’s expectations.

This Episode Is for You If...

• Your life looks good, but something still feels incomplete

• You are questioning an identity built around your career

• You want change but cannot yet see evidence that it will work

• You struggle to receive help or release control

• You are learning to trust what your inner voice has been telling you

Guest Bio

Jackie Cote spent 30 years in the restaurant industry, where she naturally mentored people, developed leaders and helped others recognize possibilities they could not yet see for themselves. After losing her final restaurant job in 2018, she began exploring coaching and ultimately committed to building a business around the work she had been doing throughout her career.

Her journey has included entrepreneurship, emotional healing, RV living and caring for family members while continuing to operate her business. Today, Jackie helps people awaken to what they want, empower themselves to make aligned choices and own the life they are creating.

Guest Links

Jackie Cote Coaching:

https://jackiecotecoaching.com

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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How often do you reach for your phone without deciding to? A few minutes of scrolling can feel harmless until you wonder what else you might have done with that time.

Signature Quote

“Think about what that screen time actually gives you, and what you could do with it instead.”

Why This Quote Matters

Axel Burlin brings the conversation back to choice. The question is not simply how much time we spend online, but what might become possible if we spent some of it differently.

Axel grew up alongside social media, gaming, and the endless feed. In this conversation, he shares the moment he realized his screen habits were shaping his days and why trying harder to resist was not the answer that worked for him.

We talk about the pull of algorithmic entertainment, the value we believe it gives us, and something easily lost when every quiet moment is filled: the space to make plans. What could change if you gave yourself that space again?

This Episode Is For You If...

• You open an app for a minute and stay longer than you intended

• You’ve tried to reduce your screen time without lasting success

• You miss having quiet moments to think or make plans

• You want a more intentional relationship with your phone

Guest Bio

Axel Burlin is the author of Beyond Brain Rot. Having grown up with phones, video games, and social media woven into everyday life, he writes from personal experience about the struggle to spend less time in algorithmic feeds.

His approach asks readers to examine what they believe scrolling gives them. In this conversation, Axel is candid about his own habits and curious about what people can do with the attention they reclaim.

Guest Links

Website: https://beyondbrainrot.com

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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What if the very patterns that helped you feel safe are now the ones quietly keeping you from the life you want?

Sometimes growth isn't about pushing harder, fixing yourself or becoming someone new. It's about understanding what has been operating beneath the surface and learning how to respond differently.

Signature Quote

“Awareness is not enough to create change. Insight alone is not enough to create change.”

Why This Quote Matters

Understanding why you do something can be powerful, but understanding alone doesn't always change the pattern. Real transformation begins when we become willing to work with what is happening beneath our conscious awareness.

In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, Audley Stephenson sits down with subconscious therapist and breakthrough coach Krishna Avalon for a fascinating conversation about the beliefs, protective patterns and automatic responses that can quietly shape our lives.

Krishna explores why high-achieving, self-aware people can still find themselves battling people-pleasing, self-doubt, indecision, inner criticism and the feeling that they should somehow be further ahead. Together, Audley and Krishna examine what happens when patterns that may once have protected us become part of our identity, and why changing them doesn't require rejecting who we've been.

The conversation also challenges the idea that audacity must always look big or dramatic. Sometimes the audacious move is setting a boundary without guilt, questioning a belief you've carried for years, listening to what your body is telling you or simply asking yourself: What do I need right now?

This Episode Is For You If...

• you've done a lot of personal growth work but still feel stuck in familiar patterns

• you're successful on the outside but sense something is still missing internally

• you struggle with people-pleasing, self-doubt, indecision or an unforgiving inner critic

• you're learning to establish boundaries without guilt

• you're ready to understand yourself with greater curiosity, compassion and awareness

Guest Bio

Krishna Avalon is a subconscious therapist, breakthrough coach, PSYCH-K facilitator, Internal Family Systems practitioner and licensed acupuncturist whose work focuses on the subconscious mind and nervous system.

With more than two decades of experience, Krishna has worked with thousands of clients and patients navigating stress, self-doubt, self-sabotage, people-pleasing, inner criticism, indecision and other deeply rooted patterns.

Her approach brings together subconscious work, Internal Family Systems, somatic practices and her background in acupuncture to help people examine the beliefs and patterns influencing how they experience themselves and their lives.

Guest Links

🌐 Website → https://www.krishnaavalon.com

💼 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishnaavalon

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/krishnaavalon/

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

Sometimes the hardest part of moving forward is realizing that you’re not supposed to recreate the life you had before. What if the real opportunity is discovering what can still be built?

SIGNATURE QUOTE

“Don't be afraid to stand out because that's what a leader does.”

WHY THIS QUOTE MATTERS

Scott spent years wrestling with how he believed other people saw him. His story ultimately becomes less about overcoming what happened to him and more about becoming willing to fully own who he is now.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Scott Martin was a teacher and high-level soccer coach when a life-threatening illness changed virtually everything. After contracting group A strep and necrotizing fasciitis, Scott emerged from a month-long coma having lost both hands and parts of both feet.

Yet the most revealing part of Scott's story isn't simply what happened in the hospital. It's what happened afterward.

In this deeply human conversation, Scott opens up about trying to push forward without dealing with what was happening internally, the depression that eventually caught up with him, and an unexpected decision that took him away from soccer for 20 years and into fatherhood. His journey raises a powerful question for anyone navigating permanent change: What becomes possible when you stop trying to recover the life you lost and start building from the life you have?

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF...

• you're navigating a change that can't simply be undone

• you're struggling with an identity that no longer fits your life

• you've been pushing forward without giving yourself space to process what happened

• you're wondering whether an unexpected new direction might hold meaning

• you're learning to stand out rather than shrinking because of how others may see you

ABOUT SCOTT MARTIN

Scott Martin is a teacher, coach, father and author of Play From Your Heart. For years, soccer was a defining part of his identity, taking him into teaching and high-level coaching before a devastating illness in 1993 permanently changed the direction of his life.

Scott's story didn't end with survival. He eventually stepped away from soccer, became a father to five adopted children, returned to teaching and coaching, and began seeing his experiences as something he could use to serve others. Play From Your Heart tells that larger story, including the difficult chapters Scott admits he once tried to simply power through.

CONNECT WITH SCOTT MARTIN

Book: Play From Your Heart

[https://www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Play-From-Your-Heart/Scott-Martin/9798894410395

LISTEN ON MAJOR PLATFORMS

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Enjoying the show?

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What if the problem isn't that you need to learn more, but that you haven't done enough with what you already know?

Sometimes the next breakthrough isn't hiding in another book. It's waiting in the action you haven't taken yet.

SIGNATURE QUOTE

"Action is the real measure of intelligence."

WHY THIS QUOTE MATTERS

Nick's message cuts through the illusion that consuming information automatically creates growth. What changes us isn't simply what we know. It's what we're willing to do with it.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Nick Hutchison has built BookThinkers around a love of books, yet one of his biggest realizations sounds almost contradictory: sometimes you need to read less and apply more.

In this return visit to The Audacious Living Podcast, Nick and Audley explore what happens when personal development moves beyond collecting information and becomes action. They get into patience, delayed gratification, community, the slow growth nobody sees, and a powerful way of making decisions by asking what your future self will appreciate.

The conversation also becomes deeply personal when Nick reflects on fatherhood and the example he wants to set for his son. Because eventually the question isn't how much you've learned. It's whether you had the courage to do something with it.

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF...

• you're consuming plenty of information but struggling to put it into practice

• you're building something slowly and wondering whether the effort will ever pay off

• you're trying to make better decisions for your future self

• you love books but want your reading to produce meaningful change

• you're ready to stop postponing something you already know you need to do

ABOUT NICK HUTCHISON

Nick Hutchison is the founder of BookThinkers, a growing community and company built around helping people get more from the books they read. His work connects readers, authors and ideas with a simple underlying belief: information becomes far more valuable when we actually use it.

Since Nick's previous visit to The Audacious Living Podcast, his life and work have continued to evolve. He's become a father, expanded BookThinkers, hosted live events and launched the BookThinkers Book Club, creating a community where readers can discuss, challenge and, most importantly, apply what they're learning.

CONNECT WITH NICK

BookThinkers:

https://bookthinkers.com/

BookThinkers Book Club:

https://www.skool.com/bookthinkers/about

LISTEN ON MAJOR PLATFORMS

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Enjoying the show?

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You can genuinely want something different and still find yourself returning to the same familiar patterns.

What if that resistance isn't weakness, but your subconscious trying to keep you safe?

──

Signature Quote

“This is true because of my past. Does that need to dictate how you live? No, right?”

Ethan makes this distinction while explaining how past experiences can shape present responses without having to determine what comes next.

───

Why This Quote Matters

It captures the heart of the conversation: your past can explain a pattern without earning the right to control your future. Understanding why something developed can become the beginning of changing your relationship with it.

───

Episode Description

Why do we sometimes keep doing things we know aren't helping us?

In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, hypnotherapist Ethan Reisboard explores the fascinating tension between what we consciously want and what our subconscious has learned to perceive as safe. Ethan explains why repetition and predictability can feel protective, how old coping mechanisms can outlive their usefulness, and why simply knowing what needs to change doesn't necessarily make change easy.

Drawing from his own experiences with nicotine use and a later struggle with chronic pain and depression, Ethan shares how his personal healing journey eventually changed the direction of his life. The conversation challenges us to look at resistance differently: instead of only asking “Why can't I change?”, what might happen if we also asked, “What was this pattern originally trying to do for me?”

───

This Episode Is For You If...

you're frustrated by patterns you understand but still struggle to change

you're wondering why familiar choices can be so difficult to leave behind

you're learning to separate your past from the future you want to create

you're trying to replace an old coping mechanism with something healthier

you're ready to take action even when part of you still feels resistance

───

Guest Bio

Ethan Reisboard, CHt, is a hypnotherapist whose relationship with hypnotherapy began personally. While in college, he sought hypnosis for nicotine use and says he has remained nicotine-free for more than five years.

Years later, after a concussion left him dealing with chronic pain and depression, Ethan returned to hypnotherapy after trying numerous other approaches. That experience eventually led him toward becoming a hypnotherapist himself and helping others explore the relationship between subconscious patterns, emotional responses and the nervous system. His journey also took him to Costa Rica, where he has built a dramatically different life from the one he once expected to.

───

Guest Links

Website: ethanreishypnotherapy.com

───

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

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Life will eventually test your resilience. The question is whether you wait for that moment to discover what you're capable of, or deliberately build that capacity before you need it.

───

Signature Quote

“It just makes everything so much easier when you're intentionally doing hard things, not just waiting for hard things to happen to you.”

Shaun Bemis

───

Why This Quote Matters

This idea sits at the heart of Shaun's story: resilience doesn't have to be something we discover only after adversity arrives. We can train it, strengthen it and prove to ourselves what we're capable of before life demands it.

───

Episode Description

What if doing hard things on purpose could change the way you respond when life gets hard without your permission?

In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, Audley sits down with 20-year Navy veteran, strategic execution coach and ultramarathoner Shaun Bemis for a conversation about resilience, leadership, preparation and what happens when we deliberately step beyond what's comfortable. Shaun's experiences span naval intelligence, deployments supporting Navy SEAL teams, business leadership and endurance races that have pushed him physically and mentally.

Yet this isn't a conversation about becoming tougher for the sake of being tough. It's about building confidence through evidence, mastering the basics, learning from what doesn't work, adapting when the plan changes and discovering that progress can be as simple as continuing to move forward. As Shaun puts it: left foot, right foot.

───

This Episode Is For You If...

• you're facing something that feels bigger than you

• you're ready to deliberately stretch beyond your comfort zone

• you're leading people and want to become a more empathetic, effective leader

• you're learning how to adapt when the original plan stops working

• you want to pursue ambitious goals without sacrificing everything else that matters

───

Guest Bio

Shaun Bemis is a 20-year U.S. Navy veteran whose career included naval intelligence, deployments alongside Army infantry and years supporting Navy SEAL teams. After leaving military service, he carried those lessons in planning, leadership, adaptability and execution into the business world.

Today, Shaun is a strategic execution coach, speaker and founder of Left Foot Right Foot Consulting. He's also an ultramarathoner who deliberately uses endurance challenges as a laboratory for many of the principles he teaches: prepare well, execute the basics, adjust when reality changes and keep moving forward. His approach isn't about relentless hustle. It's about building systems that work in real life while protecting the people and priorities that matter.

───

Guest Links

• Website — Left Foot Right Foot Consulting

• LinkedIn — Shaun Bemis

Shaun also identifies Instagram for his running content and Substack for his deeper writing on choosing hard things, resilience and the emotional side of personal growth.

───

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

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What if the hardest chapter of your life isn't something you need to erase, but something you can use?

Sometimes the experiences we'd most like to leave behind become the very experiences that reveal our purpose, reshape our identity, and allow us to help someone else find their way forward.

───

Signature Quote

«"I needed that experience to become who I am today."»

— Pax Prentiss

───

Why This Quote Matters

Pax doesn't deny the pain of his past or allow it to define his future. His story challenges us to reconsider what becomes possible when we stop viewing our hardest experiences only through regret and begin asking what they can help us become.

───

Episode Description

At 26, Pax Prentiss was emerging from a decade-long addiction to heroin, cocaine, and alcohol. During his first week of sobriety, while withdrawing from heroin in a treatment center, an unexpected idea began taking shape: What if the experience that nearly destroyed his life could become the foundation for helping others reclaim theirs?

That idea eventually became Passages Malibu, the treatment center Pax co-founded with his father. In this deeply reflective conversation, Pax and Audley explore why addressing addiction requires looking beyond the substance itself and asking a much more difficult question: What's underneath it?

They also examine identity, limiting beliefs, purpose, regret, authenticity, and what happens after sobriety. Pax's perspective offers a larger lesson that reaches beyond addiction: your past may be part of your story, but it doesn't have to become the limit you place on your future.

───

This Episode Is For You If...

• you're struggling to separate who you are from something you've experienced

• you're carrying regret about choices or chapters from your past

• you're questioning the beliefs and labels that may be keeping you stuck

• you're rebuilding your life and wondering what comes after simply surviving

• you're ready to explore how pain, properly processed, can become purpose

───

Guest Bio

Pax Prentiss is the co-founder of Passages Malibu, a holistic treatment center he started with his father after his own decade-long struggle with heroin, cocaine, and alcohol addiction.

His approach to recovery grew directly from his personal experience. Traditional treatment methods had not worked for him, so Pax and his father began focusing on the underlying reasons behind substance use, including anxiety, depression, trauma, low self-esteem, and unresolved emotional pain.

More than two decades later, Pax remains deeply involved in the work. He still speaks directly with individuals and families seeking help and continues to advocate for an approach centered on the whole person, individual identity, healing, purpose, and the possibility of building a meaningful life beyond addiction.

───

Guest Links

Passages Malibu

https://passagesmalibu.com

───

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

───

Call To Action

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Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

How do you become bold when you don't feel confident yet? Fred Joyal believes we've been thinking about confidence backwards.

Fred describes himself as a painfully shy introvert who once assumed bold people were simply born differently. Then he began deliberately doing things that made him uncomfortable and discovered that boldness wasn't something he had to wait for. It was something he could practise.

In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, Fred and I get into the hidden cost of playing it safe, why failure may deserve a completely different meaning, and what happens when you start building boldness before you actually need it.

Fred's perspective is wonderfully practical: if you want to become more courageous when the stakes are high, start getting uncomfortable while the stakes are low.

We also get into the unlikely story behind 1-800-DENTIST. Fred wasn't a dentist and admits he didn't know whether the business would even become profitable for roughly two and a half years. It eventually grew to nearly $50 million in annual revenue with 250 employees.

Yet one of my favourite moments comes when Fred describes what all that practice with boldness eventually did for him:

“I didn't become a different person. I became the full "

That's where this conversation gets bigger than entrepreneurship.

What could become possible if you stopped waiting to feel completely ready?

Key Insights

• Why boldness is a skill rather than a personality trait

• Why confidence doesn't necessarily need to come first

• How low-stakes discomfort prepares you for high-stakes decisions

• Why failure can become useful information

• The long-term cost of constantly playing it safe

• How missed opportunities can accumulate into regret

• Why becoming bolder doesn't require becoming someone else

About Fred Joyal

Fred Joyal is a longtime entrepreneur, author and advocate for developing boldness as a practical life skill.

He co-created 1-800-DENTIST and ran the company for 28 years. At its peak, Fred says the company generated nearly $50 million annually and employed approximately 250 people.

What makes Fred's work particularly interesting isn't that boldness always came naturally to him. It's the opposite. He describes his younger self as painfully introverted and eventually became fascinated by figuring out how boldness could be deliberately learned and strengthened. That journey became the foundation for his book Superbold.

Connect With Fred Joyal

🌐 Website: FredJoyal.com

📘 Book: Superbold

Fred identifies his website as the main destination for his book, keynote work and boldness programs.

Read the Audacious Insight

Why Playing It Safe Is the Riskiest Decision You’ll Ever Make

🔗 Blog: https://www.bestaudaciouslife.com/episodes/fred-joyal-build-boldness-confidence

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

Behind the Conversation

There was an immediate connection in this conversation because Fred and I approach audacity from remarkably similar places.

Yet what I particularly enjoyed was his distinction between confidence and boldness. We often think we need the first before attempting the second. Fred makes a compelling argument that we've got the order backwards.

Stay for the Fearless Fast Round too. Fred describing himself as a “ready fire aim guy” tells you quite a bit about how he approaches risk

What if moving forward isn’t about leaving your past behind, but understanding it well enough to know what comes next?

Sometimes the most meaningful new beginning starts by recognizing how far you’ve already come.

“It’s beginning again without starting over because you don’t need to.”

— Jobert E. Abueva

WHY THIS QUOTE MATTERS

Jobert’s words capture the heart of this conversation: growth doesn’t require erasing what came before. Your experiences, setbacks, wins and lessons can become the foundation for what you intentionally choose next.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

We’re often encouraged to look ahead, set new goals and keep moving. But what if one of the most powerful things you can do before deciding where you’re going is understand where you’ve been?

In this conversation, author and global marketer Jobert E. Abueva introduces The Janus Plan, his approach to pausing at life’s thresholds, reflecting honestly on what has shaped us and using those lessons to move forward with greater intention.

From his own experience with corporate burnout to his “Good, Bad and Ugly” reflection exercise, Jobert challenges us to stop treating every new chapter like we’re starting from zero. Sometimes beginning again simply means carrying the right lessons forward and leaving behind what no longer needs to come with us.

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF...

• You’re standing at a threshold or transition in your life

• You’re tired of setting goals without understanding what keeps shaping your choices

• You’ve experienced burnout and want to move forward differently

• You’re carrying parts of your past that may need to be reconsidered or released

• You want to approach your next chapter with greater clarity and intention

GUEST BIO

Jobert E. Abueva is a career-long global marketer, writer and author whose work explores reflection, intentional living and the lessons we carry forward from our experiences.

His latest book, The Janus Plan: A No Resolutions Path to Begin Your Year with Intention, grew in part from his own experience with corporate burnout and his realization that meaningful change requires more than simply deciding what comes next.

Drawing inspiration from Janus, the ancient Roman god associated with beginnings, endings and transitions, Jobert encourages people to pause at life’s thresholds, examine where they’ve been and use that perspective to move forward with greater clarity.

GUEST LINKS

Website:

https://joberteabueva.com

Book:

The Janus Plan: A No Resolutions Path to Begin Your Year with Intention

LISTEN ON MAJOR PLATFORMS

🎧 Spotify →

https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts →

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music →

https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

CALL TO ACTION

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What if some of the financial decisions shaping your life aren't really decisions anymore, but habits you've stopped noticing?

Sometimes creating more freedom begins with making those invisible choices visible again.

SIGNATURE QUOTE

“Money's a tool and so you don't wanna just sit with it, like what do you want to do with it?”

WHY THIS QUOTE MATTERS

This question captures the heart of the conversation because financial freedom isn't simply about accumulating more. It's about becoming intentional about what your money allows you to build, experience and contribute.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Money may look like numbers on a spreadsheet, but our relationship with it is often shaped by something much deeper: our beliefs, experiences, emotions and the stories we've carried with us for years.

Financial coach and author Veronica Deraleau joins Audley Stephenson for a thoughtful conversation about breaking those patterns and becoming more intentional about the trade-offs we make with our money, time and energy. Drawing from her own journey of paying off six figures of debt, Veronica explains how changing the way she thought about money changed what she believed was possible.

This conversation goes beyond budgeting. It's about recognizing the choices happening by default, questioning the beliefs underneath them and deciding what you actually want your resources to make possible.

Because money is a tool. The bigger question is what you want to do with it.

THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU IF...

• You want greater financial freedom but feel stuck in familiar habits

• You're carrying money beliefs shaped by your past

• You want to become more intentional about where your money, time and energy go

• You're navigating a life or career transition and reconsidering what matters

• You're ready to stop letting default choices quietly determine your future

GUEST BIO

Veronica Deraleau is a financial coach and author whose approach to money was shaped by an unconventional journey spanning music, the military, commercial real estate and financial technology.

After graduating with six figures of debt, Veronica began applying lessons she learned from the way high-net-worth individuals approached money and long-term outcomes. She paid off her debt in three years and eventually began helping others rethink their own financial habits, beliefs and possibilities.

Her book, Making Money Is Simple: Stop Going from Paycheck to Paycheck and Start Living Your Dreams, explores many of those lessons through stories from her own life. At the centre of her work is a simple idea: money becomes far more powerful when we intentionally decide what we want it to help us accomplish.

GUEST LINKS

Website:

makingmoneyissimple.com

Book:

Making Money Is Simple: Stop Going from Paycheck to Paycheck and Start Living Your Dreams

Available through Amazon and MakingMoneyIsSimple.com

Social:

@makingmoneyissimple

LISTEN ON MAJOR PLATFORMS

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Enjoying the show?

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What if audacity isn't about making the biggest move in the room? After 700 conversations, a different picture emerges: courage can be quiet, deeply personal, and much closer than we think.

───

“Because something that looks incredibly small to me might require everything that you've got.”

───

Why This Quote Matters

This captures one of the most important lessons from 700 conversations: courage cannot be measured from the outside. What appears small to someone else may represent an extraordinary act of courage for you.

───

Episode Description

Episode 700 is more than a milestone. It's an opportunity to look back across hundreds of conversations and ask one deceptively simple question: What does it really mean to live audaciously?

Drawing from the Audacious Wisdom Library, Audley Stephenson revisits voices and moments from across the podcast's journey to uncover three truths that repeatedly emerge: audacity is intentional courage, audacity lives in the small things, and audacity belongs to everyone.

This special episode challenges the idea that courage must be dramatic to count. Sometimes audacity is getting out of bed. Asking the difficult question. Having the conversation. Taking one uncertain step. Each act gives us new evidence about ourselves, and that evidence can change what we believe we're capable of doing next.

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This Episode Is For You If...

• you've been waiting to feel fearless before taking action

• you sometimes dismiss your progress because it feels too small

• you're navigating uncertainty and wondering what your next step should be

• you want to develop greater trust in yourself

• you're ready to rethink what living audaciously can look like in your own life

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Guest Bio

This milestone episode turns the microphone toward Audley Stephenson, creator and host of The Audacious Living Podcast, as he reflects on what 700 conversations have taught him about courage, growth and the human capacity to move forward.

Rather than celebrating the milestone simply by looking backward, Audley draws upon voices from throughout the podcast's journey to explore the many ways audacity shows up in ordinary lives. The result is both a celebration of 700 episodes and a reminder that living audaciously isn't reserved for extraordinary people. It belongs to all of us.

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

What if creating a more inclusive world begins with something much simpler than having all the answers?

Sometimes it starts with being willing to ask, listen, speak up and recognize that everyone deserves to have their needs seen and respected.

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Signature Quote

“We know better, so now we need to do better.”

───

Why This Quote Matters

Jenna's words capture the heart of this conversation: awareness is only the beginning. Real inclusion requires us to turn what we know into action and have the courage to challenge systems that can do better.

───

Episode Description

What does it really mean to build a world where people's needs aren't treated as "special," but simply human?

Jenna Udenberg has been a manual wheelchair user since childhood, and her experiences with disability, accessibility and advocacy have shaped how she thinks about resilience, relationships and the responsibility we have to one another. Rather than simply accepting inaccessible systems, Jenna has learned to ask better questions, speak up and challenge people with the power to create change.

In this conversation, Jenna and Audley explore the courage required to ask for help, the difference between happiness and hard-fought joy, the importance of community, and why inclusion begins with authentic communication. Jenna reminds us that progress doesn't happen simply because we recognize what's wrong. It happens when we decide to do something about it.

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This Episode Is For You If...

• you want to better understand accessibility and inclusion

• you're learning how to advocate for yourself or others

• you've struggled with asking for help

• you're navigating adversity while trying to hold onto joy

• you believe awareness should lead to meaningful action

───

Guest Bio

Jenna Udenberg is the founder of Above and Beyond With U, a Minnesota-based nonprofit focused on increasing accessibility and inclusion, both physically and attitudinally. Diagnosed with juvenile arthritis at age seven and a manual wheelchair user since age eight, Jenna brings lived experience to conversations about disability, access and belonging.

Before moving more deeply into accessibility education and advocacy, Jenna spent 19 years as a music educator. Her journey eventually led her into community leadership, where she discovered the power of using her experiences not simply to tell her own story, but to challenge assumptions and help create better systems for others.

At the centre of Jenna's work is a deeply human idea: leave spaces and people better than you found them. Her approach to advocacy is rooted in relationships, honest conversations and the belief that creating a more inclusive world is something we have to do together.

───

Guest Links

🌐 Above and Beyond With U → https://aboveandbeyondwithu.org

📖 Memoir: Within My Spokes → Available on Amazon and wherever books are sold

Jenna also shares her work through Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

───

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

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The moment you feel pressured to make a decision may be the exact moment you need to make none at all. What if learning to recognize what you’re feeling could protect your money, your trust, and your judgment?

───

Signature Quote

“The moment you feel that emotional reluctance is the moment that you've got to find a way to buy some time.”

— Dale Cardwell

───

4. Why This Quote Matters

Scammers don’t simply target your money. They target the emotional space between pressure and decision. Dale’s message is that creating even a little distance can give clear thinking a chance to catch up.

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5. Episode Description

You probably think you’d recognize a scam when you see one. That belief, according to former investigative reporter Dale Cardwell, may be one of the very things that makes people vulnerable. As Dale explains, the biggest hurdle is believing it could never happen to you.

In this conversation, Dale reveals why today’s most effective scams aren’t necessarily built around obvious deception. They’re built around emotion, urgency and trust. Instead of trying to memorize an ever-changing list of scams, he teaches people to recognize the emotional triggers that signal when something may be wrong.

Perhaps most powerfully, Dale admits that even after decades of investigative work, he was scammed himself. His experience is a reminder that intelligence and experience don’t make us invulnerable. Awareness, verification and the willingness to slow down just might.

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This Episode Is For You If...

You’ve ever thought, “I would never fall for a scam.”

You want to recognize manipulation before emotion takes over.

You tend to trust people and don’t want fear to turn that strength into cynicism.

You make significant purchasing, hiring or financial decisions and want a smarter way to evaluate them.

You want practical tools to protect yourself and the people you care about.

───

Guest Bio

Dale Cardwell spent 25 years as an investigative television reporter, telling the stories of people who had been deceived, financially harmed or taken advantage of. After seeing the same patterns repeatedly, he realized he could do more than report what happened after the fact. He could help people prevent it from happening in the first place.

That realization led him to create TrustDALE, a consumer-protection platform designed to vet businesses and give consumers greater confidence in the companies they hire. Dale describes this work as his life’s work, rooted in a desire he has carried since childhood to stand up to bullies and help turn bad situations into something better.

He is also the author of Don’t Get Scammed, Get Smart, which shares practical steps for becoming a savvier consumer and recognizing modern scams before they succeed.

───

Guest Links

Website: TrustDALE.com

Book: Don’t Get Scammed, Get Smart: Seven Steps to Outsmart Today’s Most Dangerous Post-COVID Scams

───

9Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

Opening Hook

How often do we wait to have everything figured out before we're willing to begin?

Sometimes the path doesn't become clear until we have the courage to take the first step.

Signature Quote

"You're essentially borrowing confidence from other people, and at some point, it reverses. Other people borrow confidence from you."

Why This Quote Matters

Confidence doesn't always arrive before action. Sometimes we find it through the people around us, keep moving long enough to build our own, and eventually become that source of belief for someone else.

Episode Description

When Elina Panteleyeva was laid off from her job in tech, she didn't have an e-commerce background, manufacturing experience or even a clear business idea. What she had was an unexpected opportunity to ask a different question: What if I just try?

That decision eventually led her to build an e-commerce brand generating more than $600,000 in its first year. Yet this conversation isn't really about the number. It's about what happens before the success, when you're staring at uncertainty, questioning yourself and trying to move forward without knowing exactly where you're going.

Elina and Audley explore why thinking 10,000 steps ahead can make the journey feel impossible, the power of building an audience before building a product, what it means to "borrow confidence," and why taking a risk doesn't have to mean being reckless. It's a refreshing reminder that you don't need the whole staircase. You just need enough courage to take the next step.

This Episode Is For You If...you're waiting until you have everything figured out before starting you're navigating an unexpected career or life transition you're considering building something of your own you're struggling with overwhelm or uncertainty you're ready to stop thinking 10,000 steps ahead and focus on what's next Guest Bio

Elina Panteleyeva is an entrepreneur who turned an unexpected layoff into an opportunity to build something entirely new.

With no previous experience in e-commerce or manufacturing, she started by choosing an audience she understood: doodle owners. Instead of guessing what they needed, she listened to their challenges, identified a problem worth solving and began building a product and community around it.

That experiment grew into an e-commerce business generating more than $600,000 in its first year and an audience of approximately 60,000 across its channels and email list. Today, Elina continues building her business while sharing what she's learning with other entrepreneurs who are figuring things out one step at a time.

Guest Links

Instagram: @ECOMMWithElina

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

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What if the life you’ve become good at living isn’t the life you truly want? Sometimes the hardest change isn’t starting over. It’s giving yourself permission to become who you’ve always been underneath the expectations.

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Signature Quote

“At 42 years old, I gave myself permission to be who I wanted to be on the inside.”

Todd Malloy

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Why This Quote Matters

Todd’s words capture the heart of this conversation: the freedom that comes when we stop living according to inherited expectations and start making intentional choices about who we want to become.

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Episode Description

How much of the life you’re living today was actually chosen by you?

In this deeply reflective conversation, psychotherapist Todd Malloy joins Audley Stephenson to explore intentional living, self-awareness, identity, emotional neglect, the stories we inherit and the courage required to let go of what no longer serves us. Todd challenges us to examine the narratives underneath our choices and recognize that being successful on the outside doesn’t necessarily mean we’re fulfilled on the inside.

Drawing from his own journey from engineering to ministry to psychotherapy, Todd shares how he eventually gave himself permission to pursue the life he had wanted all along. Together, Todd and Audley unpack what it means to choose yourself, redefine success on your own terms and trust the next step even when you can’t yet see the entire bridge ahead.

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This Episode Is For You If...

You’ve built a life that looks successful but doesn’t completely feel like yours

You’re questioning old beliefs, expectations or stories that no longer serve you

You’re standing at a crossroads and struggling to trust your next move

You’re learning to choose yourself without guilt

You’re ready to define success on your own terms

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Guest Bio

Todd Malloy is a psychotherapist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified sex therapist and certified sexuality educator whose work centers on helping people become more fully who they are. At the heart of his approach is intentionality: understanding yourself, examining the narratives shaping your life and making conscious choices about where you want to go.

Todd’s perspective is deeply personal. Raised in a single-parent household, he took on adult responsibilities at a young age before eventually building a successful career in engineering. Yet professional achievement couldn’t silence the realization that he wanted his work to directly impact people’s lives. His path eventually took him through seminary, seven years as a senior pastor and, at age 42, back to the calling he had felt years earlier: becoming a therapist.

Today, Todd brings those experiences together to help people better understand themselves, communicate more honestly and build lives and relationships rooted in authenticity, intention and self-awareness.

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Guest Links

ToddMalloy.com

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

You can be great at what you do and still reach a point where the very things that made you successful no longer seem to work.

What if becoming a better leader isn't about becoming someone else, but understanding more deeply who you already are?

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Signature Quote

“Audacity is having the courage to do something big and not play small.” — Anne Candido

Anne's definition comes directly from the Fearless Fast Round.

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Why This Quote Matters

This captures the heart of the conversation because authentic leadership requires the courage to stop measuring yourself against somebody else's version of success. Growth isn't about playing a role. It's about becoming more intentional with what is already within you.

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Episode Description

What happens when you're a high performer, you've done everything that got you this far, and suddenly it isn't enough?

Anne Candido and April Martini join me for a candid conversation about authentic leadership, personal branding, self-awareness and the uncomfortable transition from being great at doing the work to becoming responsible for leading others. Their approach starts from the inside out: understand yourself first, then consider how that clarity affects your team and ultimately the business.

We get into the temptation to copy other successful leaders, the hard work of examining your own patterns, and why consistency matters so much when you're trying to build trust. Anne and April also share some leadership lessons they had to learn themselves, including relinquishing control, bringing people along and recognizing that healthy conflict and boundaries can actually make you a stronger leader.

Maybe the next version of your leadership doesn't require you to become someone different. Maybe it starts with discovering what's already there.

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This Episode Is For You If...

you're a high performer discovering that leadership requires a different set of muscles

you've caught yourself comparing your leadership style to someone else's

you're questioning whether you have what it takes to reach the next level

you want to build greater trust and alignment with your team

you're ready to do the sometimes uncomfortable work of understanding yourself better

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Guest Bio

Anne Candido and April Martini are the co-founders of Forthright People, a leadership performance company that helps develop leaders from the inside out. Their work connects three important pieces: the individual leader, the team around them and the business they're trying to grow.

Together, Anne and April bring more than 45 years of experience. Anne spent 20 years at Procter & Gamble, while April built her career on the agency side working with major brands and Fortune 100 companies. Eventually, both reached a point where they wanted their next chapter to be less about bringing products to market and more about helping people become better leaders.

They're also authors and hosts of the Strategic Counsel podcast, where they continue exploring leadership, business and personal development.

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Guest Links

🌐 Forthright People

forthright-people.com⁠

📘 Book: The Power of Your Personal Brand: A Playbook for Struggling Middle Managers Who Want to Do Big Things

🎙️ Podcast: Strategic Counsel

Anne notes that their website provides access to the book, downloadable workbook and podcast.

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

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Sometimes the life keeping you stuck isn't one you consciously chose. What happens when you finally question the expectations, beliefs and invisible rules you've been carrying for years?

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Signature Quote

“You are keeping yourself in this box that doesn't exist.”

Jake makes this observation while explaining that people often see themselves as trapped without recognizing the mental barriers contributing to that feeling.

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Why This Quote Matters

Because Jake's story isn't simply about leaving a farm or moving to Costa Rica. It's about recognizing that some of the boundaries defining our lives may be beliefs we've never stopped long enough to question.

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Episode Description

Jake Rieke was part of a fifth-generation Minnesota farming family, carrying roughly 150 years of history, expectations and beliefs. Yet beneath the responsibility of continuing that legacy, Jake and his wife were confronting declining health, depression and a growing realization that the life they were living no longer felt aligned with who they wanted to become.

Their decision to change wasn't quick or clean. Jake describes reinvention as a process of examining inherited beliefs, letting go of parts of an old identity, changing relationships and learning to take action without knowing exactly where that action will lead. Eventually, that journey took their family all the way to Costa Rica.

In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to reinvent your life, why the habits you build can matter more than the goals you chase, and what can happen when you finally challenge the box you've been living inside. Because as Jake reminds us, reinvention is messy, and it rarely unfolds exactly the way we expect.

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This Episode Is For You If...

you're feeling stuck in a life that no longer feels like yours

you're wrestling with family expectations or inherited beliefs

you're considering a major personal reinvention

you're waiting for certainty before making your next move

you're ready to question what's actually holding you back

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Guest Bio

Jake Rieke is a coach and co-author whose work grew from a very personal experience of reinvention. After years working within his family's fifth-generation Minnesota farm, Jake and his wife began questioning whether the beliefs and expectations shaping their lives were still serving them.

That process eventually led their family away from the farm and to Costa Rica. Today, Jake helps others think more intentionally about their own lives and navigate personal transformation through the principles behind the Brilliant Life Journey. His perspective isn't built simply on theory. It comes from experiencing how complicated, uncomfortable and ultimately freeing it can be to choose a different path.

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Guest Links

Website / Brilliant Life Journey:

BrilliantLifeJourney⁠.com

Jake identifies Brilliant Life Journey as the central website where listeners can find his work and related resources.

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

What if the differences that frustrate you most in a relationship aren't problems to eliminate, but differences you need to understand?

Andre Paradis believes stronger relationships begin when we stop trying to make the other person operate exactly like us.

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Signature Quote

“How do we come and dance together? That's my work.”

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Why This Quote Matters

That question captures the heart of this conversation. Relationships aren't necessarily about becoming more alike. They're about understanding how two different people can communicate, connect and move through life together.

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Episode Description

Why can two people care deeply about each other and still completely misunderstand one another?

Relationship dynamics coach Andre Paradis joins Audley Stephenson for a lively and thought-provoking conversation about attraction, communication, connection and the differences he believes often exist between masculine and feminine approaches to relationships.

Drawing from his background as a professional dancer, Andre offers a memorable metaphor: relationships are a dance. In ballroom dancing, partners aren't doing exactly the same thing. They have to understand each other, respond to each other and learn how to move together without constantly colliding.

Whether or not you agree with every perspective Andre brings to the conversation, this episode invites you to examine your assumptions about relationships and consider an important question: Are you trying to change the person beside you, or are you learning how to dance with who they actually are?

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This Episode Is For You If...

you're trying to communicate better with your partner

you've wondered why the same relationship conflicts keep repeating

you're curious about masculine and feminine relationship dynamics

you're learning to separate past experiences from your present relationship

you want to understand your partner rather than simply change them

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Guest Bio

Andre Paradis is a relationship dynamics coach and the founder of Project Equinox, where he helps men and women better understand themselves, each other and the patterns that shape their relationships. He has spent approximately 18 years doing this work, drawing from his study of human behaviour, psychology and relationship dynamics.

But Andre's perspective comes from an unexpected place as well: dance. His background includes commercial jazz and ballroom dancing, and he uses the partnership between dancers as a metaphor for relationships. Two people bring different movements and responsibilities to the floor, but the goal isn't competition. It's learning how to move together.

His approach is direct, sometimes provocative and designed to challenge conventional assumptions about relationships while helping people think differently about communication, attraction and connection.

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Guest Links

Website:

Project Equinox⁠

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

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Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

What if becoming a better leader isn't about commanding more attention—but creating more space for other people to discover what they're capable of?

Sometimes the most powerful way to lead is simply to show up fully as yourself.

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Signature Quote

Signature Quote

"You are enough as you exist today for anything that's about to come your way."

— Stephen Minix

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Why This Quote Matters

This idea sits at the heart of Stephen's message: you don't need another title, credential or version of yourself before you can contribute. Believe in what you already carry—and then be willing to act on it.

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Episode Description

What changes when you stop trying to look like a leader and start leading as yourself?

In this energizing conversation, Stephen Minix joins The Audacious Living Podcast to explore authenticity, courage, relationships and a different way of thinking about leadership. A former high school PE teacher and basketball coach who helped build a technology company connecting nonprofits, funders and impact investors, Stephen brings a point guard's mentality to leadership: create opportunities, connect people and help others recognize the greatness already within them.

Stephen also challenges the idea that leadership belongs to the person with the biggest title or loudest voice. Sometimes courage means speaking up. Sometimes it means stepping aside so someone else can step forward. And sometimes it means walking into the room without putting on an "avatar mask" and trusting that who you genuinely are is enough.

This conversation is an invitation to rethink success, influence and impact—and to consider how much more powerful leadership becomes when it stops being about me and starts becoming about we.

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This Episode Is For You If...you're learning to trust who you are instead of performing who you think you should be you're trying to lead without needing the title or spotlight you want to empower other people to recognize their own potential you're navigating fear, uncertainty or a new opportunity you believe relationships and collaboration can create greater impact

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Guest Bio

Stephen Minix's path doesn't follow the conventional leadership playbook—and that's precisely what makes his perspective so compelling.

A high school PE teacher and basketball coach by trade, Stephen eventually helped build UpMetrics, a technology company working with nonprofits, funders and impact investors to use data, information and storytelling to work more effectively together. He still sees much of his work through the eyes of a point guard: understand the floor, connect the right people and put others in position to succeed.

At the centre of Stephen's approach is a belief that leadership isn't reserved for the person at the front. Everyone carries leadership potential, and great leaders learn how to help people express that potential in a way that is authentic to them.

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Guest Links

UpMetrics

https://upmetrics.com

LinkedIn — Stephen Minix

Stephen identifies LinkedIn as the best place to connect with him.

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

What if becoming a better version of yourself didn't require becoming a perfect one?

Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is give yourself permission to be a work in progress—and keep moving anyway.

───

Signature Quote

Signature Quote

“Being flawsome is to know that you have flaws, but you're awesome just the same.”

— Lorie Kleiner Eckert

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Why This Quote Matters

This is the heart of the conversation: growth doesn't require perfection. You can recognize what still needs work without allowing those imperfections to diminish your worth.

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Episode Description

What happens when the pursuit of perfection starts getting in the way of actually living?

In this warm, funny and deeply human conversation, Audley sits down with motivational speaker, author and storyteller Lorie Kleiner Eckert to explore reinvention, self-acceptance and the freedom that comes from realizing that sometimes good enough really is good enough.

Lorie shares how divorce forced her to reinvent herself after 21 years of marriage, eventually transforming her love of quilt-making into a decades-long career built around storytelling and life lessons. Along the way, she and Audley explore perfectionism, taking tiny steps, celebrating life's small victories, gratitude, self-care and Lorie's wonderfully simple idea of being “flawsome”—knowing you have flaws while recognizing that you're still pretty awesome.

It's a reminder that your life doesn't have to be perfectly stitched together to be meaningful. Sometimes the imperfect pieces are exactly what make the whole thing beautiful.

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This Episode Is For You If...

you're exhausted from chasing perfection

you're navigating reinvention or an unexpected new chapter

you're learning to accept yourself without giving up on growth

you need permission to celebrate the small wins

you're ready to embrace your flaws and keep moving forward

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Guest Bio

Lorie Kleiner Eckert has spent more than 30 years helping people find encouragement and wisdom in the ordinary experiences of life. She's a motivational speaker, award-winning journalist, author of five books and a natural storyteller who describes herself, fittingly, as a cheerleader for others.

Her career grew out of a major reinvention. Following a divorce after 21 years of marriage, Lorie turned her passion for quilt-making into motivational programs built around self-acceptance and self-love. Those quilts eventually led to writing, books and nearly 200 blog posts exploring subjects including reinvention, gratitude and personal growth.

Her latest book, High on Life, brings together 36 slice-of-life stories filled with humour, reflection and practical reminders about appreciating life as it is—not merely as we think it should be.

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Guest Links

🌐 Website → LorieKleinerEckert.com

📖 Book — Chai on Life → Available through Amazon and other booksellers

Lorie confirms her website, book availability and that she can be found online under Lorie Kleiner Eckert.

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

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What if the first step toward freedom isn’t having everything figured out, but finally acknowledging what you’ve been carrying?

Sometimes moving forward begins when we stop pretending we’re fine and give ourselves permission to face what needs to heal.

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Quote:

“You may not be responsible for your injury, but you are responsible for your

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Why This Quote Matters

This is the heart of Zion’s message. We cannot always control what happens to us, but acknowledging what happened can become the moment we begin reclaiming our power and deciding what happens next.

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Episode Description

What happens when the things you’ve survived begin defining the person you believe you are?

Ronald “Zion” Roseboro knows what it means to rebuild. His journey took him through questions of identity, incarceration, emotional pain, and the difficult work of moving beyond a past that could easily have determined his future. Along the way, he discovered that freedom is about more than circumstances. It is also about what we continue carrying within us.

In this deeply reflective conversation, Zion and Audley explore why so many men have learned to remain silent, why vulnerability is a form of strength, and why healing rarely happens alone. Zion introduces his powerful idea of the “emotional Miranda law,” describing how men can unknowingly choose silence around the very things keeping them stuck.

This episode ultimately becomes a conversation about possibility: acknowledging where you are, releasing what no longer needs to control you, accepting support, rediscovering your identity, and rebuilding your life one brick at a time.

What if the first step toward freedom isn’t having everything figured out, but finally acknowledging what you’ve been carrying?

Sometimes moving forward begins when we stop pretending we’re fine and give ourselves permission to face what needs to heal.

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This Episode Is For You If...

you’ve been carrying something you rarely talk about

you’re trying to separate your identity from your past

you’ve mistaken vulnerability for weakness

you know something needs to change but aren’t sure where to begin

you’re ready to stop trying to heal entirely on your own

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Guest Bio

Ronald “Zion” Roseboro is a coach, author, spoken-word artist, and advocate whose work focuses on helping men confront what they have been carrying and rebuild their lives with greater freedom, identity, and purpose.

His work is deeply connected to his own journey. After incarceration, Zion continued his education, earning a bachelor’s degree followed by a master’s degree in Human Services, Counseling, Crisis Response and Trauma, while pursuing additional training related to coaching, trauma, and recovery.

Today, he brings those experiences into his BRICK methodology — Breakthrough, Resilience, Identity, Clarity and Kickstart — and the Samson Restored community, creating spaces where men can speak openly, find support, and begin rebuilding “one brick at a time.”

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Guest Links

Website, Coaching, Samson Restored & Books

TheShameFreeLife.com⁠

Zion identifies The Shame Free Life as his central destination for one-on-one coaching, group coaching, Samson Restored, his books, and discovery calls.

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

───

Sometimes the next level of your life doesn’t require a more complicated strategy. It requires a new perspective, stronger accountability, and a willingness to get better at the fundamentals you already know.

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Signature Quote

“You take the fundamentals and you master the fundamentals. That’s the advanced playbook: master the fundamentals.” — Mark Bruce

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Why This Quote Matters

Growth doesn’t always come from finding something new. Sometimes the breakthrough comes from returning to what works, practising it consistently, and refusing to mistake simplicity for insignificance.

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Episode Description

What happens when you’ve already achieved success—but still feel like there’s another level waiting for you?

In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, Mark Bruce and Duane Gibbs of Huddle for Success explore why even accomplished people can become stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain about what comes next. They unpack the power of mindset, coaching, accountability, failure, and having people around you who can see possibilities you may not be able to see for yourself.

The conversation also challenges our tendency to search for increasingly complicated answers. From journaling and writing down goals to measuring progress and learning from setbacks, Mark and Duane make the case that meaningful transformation often begins with simple practices repeated consistently.

Sometimes you don’t need an entirely new playbook. You need to master the one already in your hands.

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This Episode Is For You If...

• you’ve achieved success but still feel stuck or unfulfilled

• you’re entering a new chapter and questioning what comes next

• fear or uncertainty is keeping you inside your comfort zone

• you want greater accountability around your goals

• you’re ready to stop searching for shortcuts and master the fundamentals

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Guest Bio

Mark Bruce and Duane Gibbs bring decades of combined experience in entrepreneurship, real estate, coaching, professional development, and helping people create meaningful change.

Mark’s entrepreneurial journey includes building and selling a multi-location business before moving into real estate, note investing, and personal-development coaching. His approach was shaped early by his father, a longtime coach, and later by success principles centred on mindset and personal growth.

Duane spent decades educating people across the United States about real estate investing and building wealth. After reaching a point where he needed to reinvent his own life, his conversations with Mark helped spark what became Huddle for Success—bringing their different experiences together around a shared belief that success is stronger when you don’t pursue it alone.

Together, they help people examine where they are, identify what may be holding them back, and create greater clarity, accountability, and direction for what comes next.

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Guest Links

Huddle for Success

Website → HuddleforSuccess.com

Playbook for Life

Available through Huddle for Success and Amazon. The guests explain that listeners can also access the book through their website.

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Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=w3y4uE0TTGad8cBy2Ol4vg&utm_source=copy-link&sci=spotify%3Acard-config%3A5p8uCEb1FqvCZWltZthWv6

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → Check out The Audacious Living Podcast on Amazon Music.

https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_zEd12m5q57BtR7qx21tjcT0f6

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 Rate The Audacious Living Podcast

Life doesn't always unfold the way we imagined it would. The real question isn't what happened—it's who we choose to become because of it.

Signature Quote

"It's not about your reality. It's about your response."

Why This Quote Matters

This simple but powerful perspective becomes the foundation of the entire conversation. Rather than focusing on circumstances we can't control, Kwesi reminds us that our greatest influence lies in how we choose to respond.

Episode Description

What do you do when the life you've carefully planned suddenly disappears?

In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, Audley Stephenson sits down with professional speaker Kwesi Millington for an honest conversation about emotional fitness, resilience, and rebuilding after adversity. Together, they explore why the strongest people aren't those who avoid hardship—but those who prepare themselves to meet it with courage, perspective, and intention.

From learning to release expectations to developing daily habits that strengthen emotional resilience, this conversation offers practical wisdom for anyone facing uncertainty. If you've ever wondered how to move forward without letting your past define your future, this episode will leave you with a renewed sense of hope—and a different way of looking at your own story.

This Episode Is For You If...

You're navigating a major life change.

You're rebuilding after disappointment or failure.

You're looking for practical ways to strengthen your emotional resilience.

You're learning to let go of the life you expected.

You're ready to move forward with greater purpose and perspective.

Guest Bio

Kwesi Millington is a professional speaker who helps individuals and organizations build resilience through the practice of emotional fitness. Drawing from one of the most challenging chapters of his own life, he now shares practical strategies that help people navigate adversity with courage, perspective, and hope.

Whether he's speaking to students, first responders, corporate teams, or community organizations, Kwesi's message is rooted in a simple belief: difficult circumstances don't have to define your future. His authentic storytelling and practical approach continue to inspire audiences across North America to respond to life's challenges with greater resilience and purpose.

Guest Links

Website: https://kwesimillington.com⁠

Speaking: https://kwesispeaks.com⁠

Listen on Major Platforms

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

What happens when you stop waiting for a master plan and start responding to the opportunities directly in front of you?

Sometimes, an extraordinary life is built by having the courage to ride the next wave.

Signature Quote

“Living audaciously always means living authentically.”

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Why This Quote Matters

Mark’s story is ultimately about trusting who you are, following unexpected opportunities and accepting that an authentic life will not always earn everyone’s approval.

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Episode Description

Mark Breslin did not grow up dreaming of building a comedy empire. He had no carefully developed business strategy, no grand vision and, during the earliest days of Yuk Yuk’s, not even a business bank account. He simply kept responding when opportunity appeared.

In this lively and reflective conversation, Mark shares how a childhood love of Mad Magazine, a last-minute job at Toronto’s Harbourfront and a $38 community-centre rental helped create one of Canada’s most influential comedy institutions.

Mark also explores what separates good comedians from unforgettable ones, why experience remains the greatest teacher and how taking chances helped him build a career spanning five decades. This is a conversation about creativity, resilience, authenticity and learning to surf the waves of life even when you cannot see where they are taking you.

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This Episode Is For You If...

• you are waiting for the perfect plan before getting started

• you are learning to recognize and act on unexpected opportunities

• you want to build something meaningful that creates pathways for others

• you are developing a creative craft and learning to handle failure

• you are ready to live more authentically, even when others do not understand your choices

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Guest Bio

Mark Breslin is the founder and CEO of Yuk Yuk’s, the comedy-club organization that has helped shape Canadian stand-up comedy for five decades. What began as a weekly comedy night in the basement of a Toronto community centre grew into a nationally recognized platform for developing performers.

Throughout his career, Mark has worked with and helped develop generations of comedians, including Jim Carrey, Howie Mandel, Norm Macdonald and Russell Peters. He is also a comedian, author and television producer whose work has included producing The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers.

Beyond the impressive résumé is someone who remains deeply interested in the craft of comedy and the people courageous enough to pursue it. Mark’s legacy is not only the institution he built, but also the opportunities he created for others to discover and develop their own voices.

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Guest Links

Yuk Yuk’s Website

https://www.yukyuks.com/

Mark Breslin’s Yuk Yuk’s Profile

https://www.yukyuks.com/about-us/executive-bios

LinkedIn

https://ca.linkedin.com/in/mark-breslin-704795166

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Listen on Major Platforms

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

───

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

What if the question that's been holding you back isn't "What if I fail?"—but "What if it works?"

In this conversation, Doug Fleener shares how one simple shift in perspective can change the direction of your life.

"You don't think your way into a new way of acting. You act your way into a new way of thinking."

This quote captures the heart of the conversation because it reminds us that transformation doesn't begin with perfect confidence—it begins with taking action. Growth isn't something we wait for; it's something we create.

How do you move beyond fear, regret, and self-doubt to create a life filled with purpose?

In this inspiring conversation, Audley Stephenson sits down with leadership expert and author Doug Fleener to explore how one powerful question—"What if?"—can interrupt limiting beliefs and open the door to new possibilities. Doug shares his deeply personal journey from addiction and rock bottom to becoming a respected leadership coach, revealing why courage, intentional action, and resilience matter far more than perfection.

Together, Audley and Doug unpack the connection between confidence and action, why failure is one of life's greatest teachers, and how authentic leadership begins with the example we set every day. If you're ready to stop overthinking and start moving forward, this conversation will leave you asking better questions—and seeing yourself differently.

This Episode Is For You If...• you're navigating a season of change • you're rebuilding after failure or disappointment • you're trying to become a more intentional leader • you're struggling with confidence or self-doubt • you're ready to stop waiting and start taking action Guest Bio

Doug Fleener is a leadership expert, keynote speaker, author, and founder of Start With What If, where he helps individuals and organizations unlock growth through intentional action and better questions. His practical approach to leadership has influenced teams across multiple industries.

What makes Doug's story especially compelling is the path that brought him here. After overcoming addiction and rebuilding his life from the ground up, he transformed personal adversity into a mission of helping others lead with courage, confidence, and purpose. His message is simple, authentic, and deeply relatable: meaningful change begins one small step at a time.

Guest Links

🌐 Website: https://startwithwhatif.com

📖 Book: Start With What If

Listen on Major Platforms

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

We live closer to more people than ever before, yet many of us have never felt more disconnected. What if the first step toward building a stronger community isn't changing neighborhoods, but changing how we show up in the one we're already in?

Signature Quote"We're more connected to more people than we've ever been... and yet we have less and less meaningful connections."Why This Quote Matters

This quote captures the central tension of the entire conversation. It challenges our modern definition of connection and invites us to consider whether meaningful relationships begin with intentional presence rather than digital proximity.

Episode Description

What does it really mean to know your neighbors?

In this conversation, Audley Stephenson sits down with Ty Dannenbring and Jeff Dillon, co-authors of Party in the Front, to explore why meaningful community has become increasingly difficult to find and why the answer may be much closer than we think. Together, they discuss hospitality, vulnerability, intentional living, and the surprising impact that small acts of kindness can have on the people around us.

Whether you're naturally outgoing or more reserved, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on building authentic relationships in a world that often feels disconnected. It's an invitation to rethink what community looks like and discover how one simple conversation can create a ripple effect that extends far beyond your front yard.

This Episode Is For You If...You're longing for deeper, more meaningful relationships. You want to feel more connected to the community around you. You're looking for simple ways to make a positive impact where you live. You're navigating loneliness or feeling disconnected despite being surrounded by people. You believe small acts of kindness can create lasting change. Guest Bio

Ty Dannenbring and Jeff Dillon are the co-authors of Party in the Front, a book inspired by a simple but powerful belief: strong communities are built through intentional relationships. Drawing from their experiences as neighbors, fathers, and people passionate about serving others, they've developed practical ways to help people reconnect with those living closest to them.

Their message goes beyond neighborhood gatherings. Through stories, faith, hospitality, and everyday acts of kindness, they encourage people to rediscover the value of genuine human connection and create communities where people truly know, support, and care for one another.

Guest Links

Website: https://partyinthefrontbook.com

Book: Party in the Front

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/partyinthefrontbook

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

Real healing isn't about fixing what's visible. It's about finding the deeper story that's been quietly shaping your life all along.

Signature Quote

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure that you seek."

Why This Quote Matters

Growth rarely happens by avoiding discomfort. This conversation reminds us that the greatest breakthroughs often begin where we're most afraid to look.

Episode Description

Healing isn't about finding a quick fix. It's about understanding the deeper experiences, beliefs, and wounds that quietly influence the way we think, feel, and show up in our relationships.

In this conversation, Tyler and Brannon Patrick—the Therapy Brothers—explore why shame, trauma, courage, authenticity, and emotional healing are all connected. They challenge the idea that lasting change comes from simply learning better coping skills, revealing instead how genuine transformation begins when we're willing to face ourselves with honesty and compassion.

If you've ever wondered why lasting change feels so difficult—or why some people seem to grow stronger through life's hardest moments—this conversation offers a perspective that may change how you view your own journey.

This Episode Is For You If...

You're healing from trauma or emotional pain.

You're rebuilding trust in yourself or someone else.

You're tired of temporary fixes and want lasting change.

You're learning to replace shame with courage.

You're ready to grow from the inside out.

Guest Bio

Tyler and Brannon Patrick, better known as The Therapy Brothers, are licensed therapists who have dedicated their careers to helping individuals and couples heal from trauma, betrayal, addiction, and relationship challenges. Their work combines clinical expertise with a deeply human approach that emphasizes authenticity, emotional connection, and lasting transformation.

As brothers, they bring a unique dynamic to every conversation, blending professional insight with genuine compassion and real-life perspective. Rather than offering quick fixes, they encourage people to uncover the deeper beliefs and experiences that shape their lives, helping them build healthier relationships and a stronger sense of self.

Guest Links

Website: https://therapybrothers.com⁠

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@therapybrothers⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapybrothers⁠

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

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What if the biggest breakthrough in your life doesn't come from learning something new—but from seeing yourself more clearly?

In this conversation, Ahmet Bozer invites us to look inward and challenges the belief that real growth begins with external success.

Ahmet_Bozer_and_Audley_Stephenson__20260402_1433.pdf

Signature Quote

"For me to lead others well, I first have to lead myself well."

Episode Description

Leadership often gets measured by titles, accomplishments, and influence. But Ahmet Bozer believes the most important leadership journey begins long before any of that—it begins with learning to lead yourself.

In this thoughtful conversation, Ahmet reflects on the lessons that shaped him during his career leading Coca-Cola International and the personal journey that inspired his book, Soulgery. Together, we explore why self-awareness isn't always comfortable, why fulfillment is different from achievement, and how life's most difficult moments can become opportunities to grow rather than reasons to retreat.

There are moments of quiet reflection, genuine curiosity, and a few perspective shifts that may have you thinking differently about your own journey long after the episode ends. If you've ever felt like you've been focused on doing more instead of becoming more, this conversation is well worth your time.

This Episode Is For You If...

You're trying to become a more intentional leader.

You're navigating a season of change or personal growth.

You've achieved success but still feel something is missing.

You want to build greater resilience from the inside out.

You're ready to understand yourself on a deeper level.

Guest Bio

Ahmet Bozer is the former President of Coca-Cola International, where he spent more than two decades leading teams and businesses across the globe. Following his corporate career, he shifted his focus toward helping others develop the inner qualities that shape meaningful leadership and lasting personal growth.

He is the author of Soulgery, a book that explores self-awareness, self-reflection, emotional resilience, and the lifelong practice of leading yourself before leading others. Through his writing and speaking, Ahmet encourages people to cultivate a stronger inner life so they can make a greater impact in every area of life.

Guest Links

Website: https://www.soulgery.com⁠

Book: Soulgery

LinkedIn: Ahmet Bozer

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

Call To Action

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Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

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What if the biggest changes in your life don't begin with a bold leap—but with a small decision you make before the day is over?

In this conversation, Dr. Len Lopez reminds us that the future we're hoping for is often built quietly, one intentional habit at a time.

Signature Quote

"You don't have to know exactly where you want to go, but you can still ready the ship to sail."

Why This Quote Matters

So many of us wait until we have perfect clarity before taking action. Dr. Len offers a gentler, more empowering perspective: prepare yourself now, and you'll be ready when your direction becomes clear.

Episode Description

Most of us know we should eat better, think more positively, or take better care of ourselves. The challenge isn't knowing what to do—it's making those choices part of everyday life.

That's exactly where this conversation with Dr. Len Lopez begins.

Drawing on decades of experience helping people improve their health and well-being, Dr. Len shares a refreshingly practical philosophy built around strengthening your body, your mind, and your spirit together. Along the way, we explore why our daily thoughts matter, how small wins quietly reshape our confidence, and why preparing yourself for opportunity may be just as important as recognizing it when it arrives.

There's plenty of thoughtful insight here, a few laughs along the way, and one simple idea that just might change how you think about personal growth long after the episode ends.

This Episode Is For You If...

You're trying to build healthier habits that actually last.

You feel stuck and aren't sure where to begin.

You're looking for more balance in your personal or professional life.

You believe small changes can lead to meaningful transformation.

You're ready to invest in who you're becoming—not just what you're accomplishing.

You'll Walk Away Thinking...

Maybe the life you've been hoping for isn't waiting for one big breakthrough—maybe it's quietly being built by the choices you make today.

In This Episode You'll Hear About

Why body, mind, and spirit work best when they grow together.

A surprisingly simple framework for building better daily habits.

The role visualization can play in shaping tomorrow.

Why celebrating small wins matters more than most people realize.

How preparing yourself today creates opportunities tomorrow.

Guest Bio

Dr. Len Lopez has spent more than 25 years helping people improve their health through practical fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching. Over time, his work expanded beyond physical wellness as he recognized the importance of developing the body, mind, and spirit together.

He's the creator of the Five Steps a Day framework, a simple daily practice designed to help people build healthier habits, strengthen their mindset, and create lasting personal growth through consistent action.

Guest Links

🌐 Website: https://drlenlopez.com⁠

📱 Five Steps a Day App

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

Call To Action

Enjoying the show?

Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

What if the uncertainty you're feeling isn't a sign to stop—but an invitation to grow?

Some of the most meaningful chapters in life begin long before we feel completely ready. This conversation explores what happens when you choose courage over certainty.

Signature Quote

"You cannot be intentional if you're not self-aware."

Everything in this conversation circles back to this simple truth. Before we can lead others, make bold decisions, or pursue meaningful work, we have to understand ourselves first.

Career paths rarely unfold exactly as we imagine. Sometimes the opportunities that shape us most are the ones we never planned to pursue.

In this episode, I sit down with executive coach, leadership expert, author, and entrepreneur Anju Jain for a conversation about embracing uncertainty, making courageous career pivots, and discovering that growth often begins long before confidence catches up. What I appreciated most was how honest she was about fear—not as something to conquer, but as something that can actually help us make wiser decisions.

Along the way, we explore leadership, self-awareness, purpose, and the people who quietly shape our journeys in ways we often don't recognize until much later. It's thoughtful, reflective, and filled with those moments that make you pause and reconsider the stories you've been telling yourself about what's possible.

If you're standing at a crossroads—or simply wondering what your next chapter could look like—this conversation might arrive at exactly the right time.

This episode is for you if...

- You're considering a career change or major life transition.

- You're trying to become a more intentional leader.

- You're learning to trust yourself through uncertainty.

- You're searching for greater purpose in your work.

- You're ready to stop waiting until you feel "ready."

Perhaps confidence isn't what comes before the leap.

Maybe it's what grows because you were willing to take it.

Why fear can become one of your greatest decision-making tools.

The surprising connection between self-awareness and leadership.

How embracing career pivots creates unexpected opportunities

What purpose really looks like in everyday life.

Why your journey doesn't have to be linear to be meaningful.

The quiet influence other people have on the lives we build.

Bio

Anju Jain is an executive coach, leadership advisor, entrepreneur, and author whose career has crossed industries, continents, and disciplines. With a doctorate in psychology and decades of executive leadership experience, she has held senior leadership positions in global organizations while helping individuals and teams navigate growth, change, and leadership with greater intention.

She is the author of multiple leadership books, including works focused on women in leadership, burnout, and well-being, and now serves as an executive coach and adjunct faculty member at Loyola University. Most recently, she co-founded Embellish, a luxury handcrafted women's sneaker company that reflects her belief that it's never too late to pursue a completely new idea.

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

The performances we remember most aren't always the technically perfect ones. They're the ones that leave us feeling something long after the final note.

Signature Quote

"People don't remember every note you sing. They remember how you made them feel."

Why This Quote Matters

Whether you're a musician, leader, entrepreneur, or parent, the greatest impact you can have isn't measured by perfection—it's measured by connection. Sean reminds us that what lasts isn't flawless execution; it's the feeling we leave behind.

Episode Description

What does it really mean to move people?

In this conversation, acclaimed vocalist Sean Jones joins Audley for an honest, engaging discussion about music, purpose, authenticity, and the responsibility that comes with using your gifts to connect with others. Along the way, they share stories, laugh together, and explore why the best performances—on stage and in life—are about far more than technical excellence.

From performing in iconic venues like Casa Loma to reflecting on the moments that have shaped his career, Sean offers thoughtful insights into creativity, presence, and the courage to stay true to yourself. It's the kind of conversation that reminds you that success may earn applause, but genuine connection earns something much more meaningful.

If you've ever wondered how to make a lasting impact—not just as an artist, but as a human being—this episode is one you won't want to miss.

Who Should Listen?

This episode is for you if...

you're a creative who wants your work to have a deeper impact you're learning that connection matters more than perfection you're looking for renewed purpose in your work you're passionate about music, storytelling, or authentic leadership you believe meaningful relationships are built through genuine presence

You'll Walk Away Thinking...

Maybe the most memorable thing you'll ever create isn't something people hear—it's something they feel.

In This Episode You'll Hear About

Why emotional connection is more important than technical perfection

Sean's reflections on performing at Casa Loma and creating unforgettable experiences

The role purpose plays in sustaining a creative career

How authenticity shapes both artists and leaders

Why curiosity and human connection open the door to meaningful conversations

Practical lessons that extend far beyond music

Audacious Moment

Sean shares why audiences rarely remember every note of a performance—but they'll always remember how that performance made them feel.

Guest Bio

Sean Jones is an acclaimed Canadian vocalist celebrated for his soulful performances, rich storytelling, and ability to connect deeply with audiences. With a career spanning jazz, soul, gospel, and contemporary music, he has performed on some of Canada's most respected stages while using music to inspire, uplift, and bring people together.

Guest Links

Website: https://www.seanjonesmusic.com⁠

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanjonesmusic⁠

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanjonesmusic⁠

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

Call To Action

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

Sometimes reinvention isn’t about becoming somebody new. It’s about finally giving the fullest, loudest and most authentic version of yourself permission to step forward.

Signature Quote

“Every master at one point was a beginner. If you never begin, you never excel.”

Why This Quote Matters

Starting again can feel uncomfortable—especially when you’ve already built success somewhere else. Chloe Madison reminds us that becoming a beginner isn’t a step backward. It may be the first step toward discovering what else is possible.

Episode Description

Chloe Madison has spent years bringing other people’s stories to life as an actress. Now, she’s stepping into a bigger creative space and telling her own story through music.

In this refreshingly honest and playfully unfiltered conversation, Chloe opens up about trusting her timing, becoming more comfortable in her own skin and reconnecting with the confident, outspoken dreamer she once was. She also shares why one seemingly ordinary dance class helped set an entirely new chapter in motion. Apparently, sometimes saying yes really does come with a soundtrack.

This conversation is about more than an actress becoming a recording artist. It’s about shedding old masks, making peace with your past and refusing to let other people decide how brightly you’re allowed to shine.

In This Episode, You’ll Hear About:

Why Chloe finally felt ready to express herself through music

What it means to become a beginner after already achieving success

How small decisions can unexpectedly redirect your life

Why your past experiences can become tools rather than limitations

The difference between appearing confident and feeling genuinely secure

How to follow your joy without letting outside opinions silence you

Guest Bio

Chloe Madison is an actress, producer, entrepreneur and emerging recording artist who describes herself, quite simply, as a storyteller. Known for projects including Amish Grace, Rogue Operations and Castlevania: Hymn of Blood, she is now expanding her creative world through The Chloe Madison Experience—a bold, stylish and more personal expression of who she is.

Guest Links

The Chloe Madison Experience:

https://www.instagram.com/thechloemadisonexperience/

Chloe Madison on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3682076/

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

Pressure has a way of revealing our instincts—but it doesn't have to define our decisions.

What if your greatest leadership advantage isn't moving faster... but learning when to pause?

Signature Quote

"If you can just stay calm, then the clarity comes."

Why This Quote Matters

It's a simple idea, but one that can change the way we approach leadership, relationships, and everyday challenges. When we create space to breathe, we give ourselves the opportunity to respond with intention instead of reacting out of fear.

Episode Description

In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, Audley sits down with leadership strategist and storyteller Dominic Forth for a thoughtful conversation about what it really means to lead when life feels uncertain.

Drawing from a life-changing near-death experience on the Zambezi River, Dominic shares how that moment became the foundation for a leadership philosophy built on calm, clarity, and courage. Together, he and Audley explore why fear isn't always something to avoid, how our stories can become powerful tools for serving others, and why some of our greatest breakthroughs begin the moment we stop trying to control everything.

There are practical insights throughout this conversation, but there are also moments that simply make you pause and reflect. Audley and Dominic share ideas, challenge assumptions, exchange a few smiles along the way, and remind us that sometimes the strongest move we can make is taking one intentional breath before the next step.

If you've been navigating pressure, uncertainty, or simply trying to become a more grounded leader in your own life, this conversation is an invitation to slow down—and discover what becomes possible when clarity leads the way.

15. In This Episode You'll Hear About

Why calm is the first step toward better decision-making.

How fear can become a signal that growth is just ahead.

The surprising leadership lessons born from a near-death experience.

Why your personal story may have more impact than you realize.

Practical ways to regulate your emotions during high-pressure moments.

How curiosity can strengthen leadership, communication, and connection.

Guest Bio

Dominic Forth is the CEO of Thought Leaders America, where he helps entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals discover and share the stories that elevate their influence. Combining his background in media with powerful lessons learned through adversity, Dominic equips leaders with practical tools to communicate with greater clarity, courage, and authenticity.

🌐 Thought Leaders America

https://thoughtleadersamerica.com⁠

💼 LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominicforth⁠

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

Call To Action

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

Sometimes the life-changing door is not locked. We just never ask to open it.

Signature Quote

"What if I believe this, instead of that, what might be possible?"

Why This Quote Matters

That one question captures the heart of this conversation: bold asking is not just about getting a yes. It is about challenging the quiet rules, fears, and assumptions that keep us playing small.

Episode Description

In this episode of The Audacious Living Podcast, Audley sits down with Paul Quinn, author of The Big Ask, for a conversation about courage, rejection, worthiness, and the surprising power of simply asking.

Paul shares why so many people talk themselves out of opportunities before anyone else gets the chance to say no. And let’s be honest, most of us have held a whole committee meeting in our heads, rejected ourselves, adjourned the meeting, and never said a word.

This conversation is a reminder that asking is not weakness. It is self-respect in motion. Whether it is asking for feedback, support, truth, forgiveness, opportunity, or one more chance, the ask can change the outcome — and sometimes, it changes you first.

In This Episode You'll Hear About

Why not asking can quietly cheat us out of possibility

How rejection and regret shape the choices we make

The difference between a desperate ask and a confident ask

Why vulnerability is part of every meaningful request

How asking for feedback can accelerate personal and professional growth

Why “no” does not always mean never

Guest Bio

Paul Quinn is the author of The Big Ask: Unlock the Possibilities in Your Work, Life and Dreams with Courageous Requests. His work explores the courage, vulnerability, and transformation that happen when people stop assuming the answer and start asking the question.

Through stories from more than 80 people, Paul helps readers and listeners rethink what is possible when they are willing to ask boldly.

Guest Links

Website / Book: https://bigaskbook.com

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn

Platform Links

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Call To Action

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

Sometimes the hardest part of healing isn't what happened to us—it's believing we can still become someone new because of it.

What if moving forward doesn't require leaving your past behind?

Signature Quote

"Healing isn't something you finish. It's something you continue."

Why This Quote Matters

This idea sits at the heart of the conversation. Rather than treating healing as a finish line, Logan reminds us that it's an ongoing practice—one that invites resilience, self-awareness, and hope, even when life takes unexpected turns.

Episode Description

Some conversations stay with you long after they're over. This was one of those conversations for me.

Logan shares an extraordinary journey—from growing up in a restrictive environment and serving two tours in Iraq to navigating PTSD, divorce, and rebuilding his life with renewed purpose. What struck me most wasn't simply what he survived—it was the perspective he gained along the way.

Together, we explore what it really means to heal, how our identity can evolve through adversity, and why some of life's greatest breakthroughs begin the moment we stop believing we're permanently defined by our hardest seasons. If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to begin again, I think you'll find something in this conversation that speaks directly to you.

In This Episode, You'll Hear About

Why healing is an ongoing practice—not a destination.

How adversity can become the foundation for a renewed sense of purpose.

The importance of finding your personal "North Star" during life's most difficult seasons.

Practical ways to build resilience without pretending life is easy.

Why your past doesn't have to determine your future.

Guest Bio

D. Logan Unlimited is a U.S. Air Force veteran, live television director, speaker, and resilience advocate. Drawing from his experiences with military service, PTSD, and personal reinvention, he helps others build resilience, embrace growth, and live with greater purpose and intention.

Guest Links

Website: https://theloganunlimited.com⁠

Connect with Logan:

LinkedIn

Instagram

TikTok (@TheLoganUnlimited)

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

Call to Action

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

What if the life you've worked so hard to build no longer feels like it fits?

Sometimes success isn't the destination—it’s the invitation to ask better questions.

Signature Quote

"Success without alignment eventually feels empty."

Why This Quote Matters

Adrian's story isn't ultimately about surviving two widowmaker heart attacks. It's about discovering that the greatest measure of success isn't what you've achieved—it's whether your life reflects what matters most. That realization sits at the heart of this conversation.

Episode Description

From the outside, Adrian Jones had built what many people would call a successful life. But after surviving two widowmaker heart attacks, he found himself asking a different question: Was he living a life that truly aligned with his values?

In this honest and deeply reflective conversation, Adrian shares how one of life's biggest wake-up calls became the catalyst for redefining success, purpose, and fulfillment. Together, we explore why alignment matters more than appearances, why small decisions often shape our biggest transformations, and why you don't have to wait for a crisis before choosing a different path.

If you've ever wondered whether there's more to life than checking boxes and chasing the next achievement, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder that your greatest success may come from becoming more fully yourself.

In This Conversation

Why outward success can still leave you feeling disconnected.

How radical honesty becomes the starting point for meaningful change.

The power of taking one small step instead of waiting for certainty.

What a near-death experience revealed about purpose and fulfillment.

How alignment creates a more meaningful definition of success.

Why it's never too late to choose a life that reflects your values.

Guest Bio

Adrian Jones is a speaker, author, podcast host, and two-time widowmaker heart attack survivor. Through his work with More, he helps individuals and organizations pursue lives of greater alignment, purpose, and fulfillment by redefining what success truly means.

Guest Links

🌐 https://bemorealigned.com⁠

🎙️ Code Three: Life Reinvented Podcast

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ⁠

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345⁠

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt⁠

Call to Action

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious⁠

What if the confidence you've been waiting for isn't something you earn someday—but something you choose today?

Sometimes the biggest breakthrough isn't changing who you are. It's finally believing you're already enough.

Signature Quote

"You are good enough now. Not good enough when you're sixty... good enough now."

Why This Quote Matters

It's a simple statement, but it challenges one of the biggest lies many of us believe—that confidence comes after achievement. Newton reminds us that confidence is the starting point, not the finish line.

Episode Description

Award-winning children's author, speaker, and fundraising leader Newton Vanriel has spent his career helping people believe in something bigger than themselves. Whether he's inspiring generosity, writing stories that help children see themselves, or encouraging others to take a chance on their dreams, one message keeps showing up: confidence changes everything.

In this conversation, we explore why the stories we tell ourselves matter, how failure can become one of our greatest teachers, and why living with purpose often begins by helping someone else discover theirs.

If you've ever questioned whether you're ready, wondered if your voice matters, or needed a reminder that growth starts before success arrives, this conversation is for you.

In This Episode, You'll Hear AboutWhy confidence is the foundation of achievement—not the reward. How storytelling can inspire change in individuals, families, and communities. Why failure is an essential part of building resilience and self-belief. The inspiration behind Newton's award-winning Soul Sisters book series. How purpose becomes more meaningful when it creates opportunities for others. Guest Bio

Newton Vanriel is an award-winning children's author, speaker, and fundraising leader with more than two decades of experience helping organizations and communities create meaningful impact. Through his Soul Sisters book series, he is inspiring children to embrace confidence, resilience, diversity, and belonging while encouraging readers of all ages to recognize their own potential.

Guest Links

🌐 Soul Sisters: https://www.soulsistersbook.ca

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/newtonvanriel

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

Call To Action

Enjoying the show? Share this episode with someone who needs to hear this.

⭐ Leave a review:

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/audacious

What if the thing you've been putting off isn't behind you... but still waiting for you?

Some dreams don't expire with age—they simply wait for the moment you're ready to say yes.

"I still have something to say. I am still relevant. I am still here."Why This Quote Matters

In one sentence, Lisa-Gay Tremblay reminds us that purpose isn't determined by age. It's determined by the courage to keep showing up and sharing what only you can.

Episode Description

When comedian Lisa-Gay Tremblay decided to return to the stage at 67, she wasn't trying to prove anyone wrong—she was simply answering a calling she knew wasn't finished. Her new comedy album, Unretired, is more than a title; it's a declaration that reinvention is always possible.

In this conversation, Lisa-Gay shares the lessons she's learned over four decades in comedy, the reality of navigating ageism, and why comparing yourself to others is one of the quickest ways to lose your joy. Along the way, we laugh about husbands, social media, Canadian stereotypes, and even the occasional goldfish mishap, proving that some of life's deepest lessons arrive with a smile.

If you've ever wondered whether you've missed your moment, this conversation is a reminder that your next chapter doesn't need permission—it just needs your commitment.

In This Episode You'll Hear About:Why confidence often follows action—not the other way around. How Lisa-Gay planned her comeback before doubt could talk her out of it. The freedom that comes from no longer comparing yourself to others. What four decades in comedy taught her about authenticity and resilience. Why living your life makes you better at your craft. The powerful mindset behind the words: "I'm still here." Guest Bio

Lisa-Gay Tremblay is an award-winning Canadian comedian, writer, and performer with more than 40 years in stand-up comedy. A trailblazer for women in Canadian comedy, she was one of the country's first female headliners and continues to inspire audiences through humor, authenticity, and her fearless approach to reinvention. Her latest comedy album, Unretired, celebrates the idea that it's never too late to begin again.

Guest Links

🌐 Website: https://lisagaytremblay.com

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1funmum

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaGayTremblay

Listen on Major Platforms

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/2jVR6V7X2kRiCCDXE0FTyl?si=IR3TsfEWR3WA6BzfBRnVXQ

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-audacious-living-podcast/id1547447345

📦 Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/9f7902bb-dec8-4bd9-918d-d1fef21b7c67/the-audacious-living-podcast?ref=dm_sh_pGv57yQvAmAQVp2IIaXoDwtFt

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