If depression has been making you disappear from people you care about, I want you to hear this clearly: you’re not broken, and you’re not alone.

In this episode, I talk about how depression can shrink your world—how it affects your relationships, your energy, your work, and your sense of self. Not with shame. Not with “just be positive.” With honesty, compassion, and a reminder that needing help doesn’t make you weak…it makes you human.

If you’ve been isolating, canceling plans, going quiet, or feeling like you’re carrying everything by yourself, I hope this video feels like someone sitting beside you saying: “I’m here. You don’t have to do this alone.”

You deserve support. You deserve softness. You deserve a life that feels livable again.

If you’re struggling right now, please reach out to someone you trust today—one text, one call, one step. And if it feels like too much, let this video be your first step back toward people who care about you.

You’re loved. You matter. And you can come back.

If you’re in the U.S. and you’re in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline). If you’re outside the U.S., contact your local emergency number or a crisis hotline in your country.

If this helped you, consider subscribing to A New Lens and sharing this with someone who might need it.

Sometimes the story hurting you is the one you repeat in your own mind.

In this episode, we talk about the power of self-talk and the ways our internal narratives can shape the life we live. The beliefs you carry about yourself, your past, your worth, and your future can either free you or quietly keep you stuck.

This is a conversation about limiting beliefs, identity, emotional healing, and learning how to question the stories that no longer serve you.

If this message speaks to you, comment below with the story you are trying to rewrite.

Subscribe for more honest conversations about mindset, healing, growth, and perspective.

#SelfTalk #MindsetShift #Healing #PersonalDevelopment #Growth

happy new year!

In this episode of A New Lens, we sit down with Sam, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran who spent seven years serving at sea — from international patrols to disaster response, and ultimately supporting presidential security for both Barack Obama and Donald Trump along the East Coast.

Most people think of presidential protection as something that happens on land. This conversation explores the unseen perimeter — the maritime security operations, long patrols, and quiet responsibility that keep leaders and the public safe from the water.

Sam shares what life was like before joining the Coast Guard, the realities of patrols in South America and Canada, responding to Hurricane Sandy, and what it meant to stand watch during some of the most visible and invisible moments of American leadership.

We also talk about identity, service, pressure, and what it’s like transitioning out of the military after years of responsibility that never fully leaves you.

This episode isn’t about politics — it’s about duty, continuity, and service beyond the spotlight.

🎙️ Listen or watch now

📍 Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms

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🔎 Topics Covered

• Life in the U.S. Coast Guard

• Maritime presidential security

• Hurricane Sandy response

• Patrols and international operations

• Service before, during, and after the uniform

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🔔 Subscribe for more conversations through A New Lens — where we explore the stories, systems, and perspectives that shape how we see the world.

In this episode of A New Lens, we sit down with Brendan to go deep on Magic, Swords, and Suns, an indie trading card game built with intention, creativity, and a lot of heart.

We talk through the entire journey of the game — from first impressions and early development, to Structure Deck design, launch challenges, playtesting stories, and what’s coming next. Whether you’re a longtime TCG player or someone who’s never touched a card game before, this episode pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to bring a new game into the world.

You’ll hear about:

• How Brendan first got involved with Magic, Swords, and Suns

• What makes this game different from other TCGs

• Why the designer’s vision and passion matter so much

• How the Structure Decks work and why they’re built the way they are

• Favorite cards, mechanics, and surprising synergies

• The realities of launching and promoting an indie card game

• Feedback from early players and testers

• Misconceptions about game development

• What’s next for Magic, Swords, and Suns — and what players should be excited about

We also get hands-on with the product itself, breaking down what’s included, what stands out when you open it for the first time, and how close it is to the original vision that started the project years ago.

If you love card games, worldbuilding, creative projects, or just seeing how passion turns into something real — this conversation is for you.

🔗 Learn more about the game: https://www.swordsandsuns.com/
📲 Follow A New Lens: @xwildwillx

#ANewLens #MagicSwordsAndSuns #TCG #IndieGame #TradingCardGame #GameDesign #Worldbuilding #CardGames #IndieCreator #Podcast #TabletopGames #DeckBuilding

In this episode of A New Lens, we dive deep into Aldous Huxley’s mind-bending classic, The Doors of Perception — a book that challenges everything you think you know about reality, perception, and consciousness.

Huxley believed that the world we see is only a tiny slice of what exists. So today, we explore:
✨ Why your brain filters out most of reality
🧠 How perception shapes identity
🌈 Huxley’s mescaline experiment and what it revealed
🔍 What “cleaning the doors of perception” really means
💭 How to see your world differently, without psychedelics
📚 And the hidden message behind the book that most people miss

Whether you’ve read the book or not, this conversation will change how you look at your own mind — and maybe even the world around you.

If you’re on a journey to expand your awareness, understand yourself more deeply, or simply think differently… this episode is for you.

What if real strength isn’t about force… but presence?

In this episode of A New Lens, Wild Will breaks down Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman — a story about discipline, awareness, ego, and finding peace in the middle of struggle.

We explore what it means to live like everything is practice, how to let go of fear and overthinking, and why mastering your mind is the foundation for mastering your life. This episode blends philosophy, storytelling, and real-life application for anyone trying to grow stronger — mentally, spiritually, and physically.

If you’ve ever felt lost, restless, or stuck in your own head… this one’s for you.

In this episode:
• Why presence beats perfection
• The difference between knowledge and wisdom
• How ego blocks growth
• What it really means to live like a warrior

watch now!

Through The Firefighter And The Flames

Behind the uniform is a person carrying pressure, purpose, and a willingness to step into danger for others.

In this episode, we have a real conversation with a firefighter about the realities of the job, the mindset required in high-stakes moments, and the deeper lessons that come from a life of service. This is a conversation about courage, sacrifice, brotherhood, and what it means to stay calm when everything around you is burning.

Whether you are interested in firefighting, leadership, service, or simply hearing a powerful human story, this episode is for you.

Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway, and subscribe for more conversations that explore perspective, purpose, and the people behind the roles.

#Firefighter #FireService #FirstResponder #Service #Podcast

Four men. One boat. 3,000 miles of open ocean.

In this episode of A New Lens, Will sits down with Greg Collins, a member of an incredible four-man team preparing to row across the Atlantic Ocean in the World’s Toughest Row — a grueling test of endurance, teamwork, and mental strength.

We talk about what drives someone to take on a challenge of this scale — from the months of training and logistics to the fear, excitement, and purpose behind it all. Greg shares what it really takes to face the unknown, stay disciplined, and keep rowing when the world feels like it’s against you.

If you’ve ever wondered how far human grit can go — this one’s for you.