The Mirror Isn’t the Enemy with Karianne Munstedt

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Karianne Munstedt is a Phoenix-based portrait photographer specializing in empowering corporate headshots, branding photography, boudoir photography, and family portraits. Her mission was sparked by a personal realization: she didn’t have any photos of herself for her website or social media. When she finally booked a photo session, she was confronted by the harsh, critical stories she had been telling herself about her body. But that session became a turning point. Her work emphasizes body positivity and self-acceptance, aiming to help women embrace their authentic selves through photography. By capturing genuine images, Karianne facilitates a mindset shift in her clients, fostering newfound confidence and self-love.

In this episode, Mathew and Karianne Munstedt dive deep into the emotional power of photography as a tool for transforming the stories we carry about our bodies. Designed for anyone who looks in the mirror with criticism or discomfort, this conversation explores how negative body image can impact not just your self-esteem but also how you show up in your personal and professional life. They unpack the role of societal messages, family influences, and social media in shaping how we see ourselves, and how we can begin rewriting that narrative. Kari shares actionable strategies to start working towards self-acceptance in order to break free from generational body shame and build a more compassionate view of your body. You’ll learn why working with a photographer can accelerate the journey to self-love and how headshots can transform your business presence. This episode is both practical and empowering, reminding you that the story in your head isn’t always yours, and it’s never too late to change it.

“I didn’t look at my body at all, I saw my soul…I saw not only who I was but who I was becoming.”

“It started... with a story that wasn’t even her own.”

“It’s going to feel awkward…untrue at first because we’ve been talking so negatively to our bodies and ourselves for so long…give it a week, give it two weeks, give it three weeks it’s going to start reprogramming your body and you're going to start showing up in different ways in this world.”

“It starts with us looking in the mirror and being kinder to ourselves.”

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A note from our partner, Better Than Bitter:

Divorce isn’t just a life transition - it’s a full-blown identity shift. One day you’re a partner, a parent, and a planner for the future. The next? You’re staring at paperwork, lawyer fees, and the overwhelming question: ‘What now?’

I know it’s hard. That’s why we’ve created these courses - to give you courage, clarity, communication tools, and the support you need to move forward with confidence

(and maybe even a little hope)!

Reality check! Divorce is expensive - but battling in court is even more costly. For less than the price of an hour of an attorney’s time, you’ll gain the tools, support, and strategies to create a peaceful path forward. This program will pay for itself by helping you save thousands in legal fees and emotional stress! Hit these links to sign up today.

“I'm not here to save the world. I'm here to help people remember that they can save themselves.” 

Here is the link to our FULLY ALIVE Retreat

In this episode, Mathew and Jeanette discuss the work she is doing at the Radiant Soul Center in Tempe, Arizona, and Jeanette takes one of her clients, Kate, through a healing session. We get to hear how they tap into and explore core false beliefs that are blocking the flow of energy, and how they are able to call in a source frequency to hold space for Kate’s inner child to step forward. 

Jeanette St.Germain has been a healer her whole life and has been working in the space professionally for over 14 years. She helps her clients unravel things deep in their DNA, access the wisdom of their ancestors, and she teaches us there is no healing without relationships. 

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Turning Struggles into Songs: Music and Resilience with Gene Moran

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In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Dave Leicken, and Gene Moran dive into the creative process behind Gene’s songwriting and the deeper themes that shape his music. Born with cerebral palsy, Gene reflects on how his father instilled in him the belief that he was capable of doing hard things. Gene shares how he overcame his fear of looking foolish on stage and the transformative power of having someone believe in you. The conversation also highlights the role of humor in overcoming hardships and the importance of letting go of expectations to embrace personal growth.

Gene Moran is a singer-songwriter and musician based in Mesa, Arizona, born with cerebral palsy, which affects his fine and gross motor skills, Gene has developed a distinctive playing style that sets him apart. Before fully immersing himself in music, he dedicated 21 years to teaching 5th and 6th grade in public schools. Transitioning from the classroom to the stage, Gene has been involved in various musical projects, including Mean Gene and the Soul Scorchers, Rockin' Chair, The Blinding Suns, and Mean Gene and the Green Sardines. His songwriting resonates with everyday issues of poverty, addiction, despair, and love, delivered with an authenticity that reflects his personal experiences and resilience.

“You give off good energy, you get back good energy.” - Gene Moran

“There is a split where you could on the one hand embrace the disability and say well I can’t do this I can’t do that…then you end up limiting yourself but I think the right way to do it is the way your dad encouraged you is, how can we…you have to do things a little differently then other people but the hard ‘no’ isn’t there, you just have to find a way to make it work.” - Dr. Dave Leicken

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A note from our partner, Better Than Bitter:

Divorce isn’t just a life transition - it’s a full-blown identity shift. One day you’re a partner, a parent, and a planner for the future. The next? You’re staring at paperwork, lawyer fees, and the overwhelming question: ‘What now?’

I know it’s hard. That’s why we’ve created these courses - to give you courage, clarity, communication tools, and the support you need to move forward with confidence

(and maybe even a little hope)!

Reality check! Divorce is expensive - but battling in court is even more costly. For less than the price of an hour of an attorney’s time, you’ll gain the tools, support, and strategies to create a peaceful path forward. This program will pay for itself by helping you save thousands in legal fees and emotional stress! Hit these links to sign up today.

Humor, Healing, and Resilience with Elaine Lindsay

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In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Dave Leicken, and Elaine Lindsay explore the power of humor as a therapeutic tool, highlighting its ability to bring lightness to even the heaviest of struggles. They discuss the importance of beginning the healing process while emphasizing that it doesn’t have to follow a specific timeline. The conversation also delves into the realities of living with suicidal ideation, offering insights into navigating these challenges with compassion, resilience, and support.

Elaine Lindsay is a Canadian speaker, podcaster, and digital integration specialist dedicated to mental health advocacy, particularly suicide prevention and awareness. As the host of the Suicide Zen Forgiveness podcast, she fosters open and honest conversations to break the silence, stigma, and shame surrounding suicide loss, ideation, and mental health. Her personal journey is one of profound resilience—having lost a friend to suicide at 16, turned to substance use, and endured a life-altering car crash in her 20s that resulted in the loss of a pregnancy. Despite facing multiple personal losses and numerous surgeries, Elaine has found strength in community support, storytelling, and even humor. Writing for Medium and performing stand-up, she uses laughter as a healing tool, bringing a unique perspective to discussions on grief, trauma, and recovery.

“Don’t keep everything inside. You are not a one person army.” - Elaine Lindsay

“When you realize that some of these things are temporary, and the fact is, I lived through all that pain, I can go through one more thing.” -Elaine Lindsay

“If you can just keep moving forward and keep plowing through, things eventually settle down. And when you get on the other side of it, there is gold. There are lessons to be learned, and there are things you can draw out of the pain that make you stronger, wiser, better equipped to help other people going through it.” - Dr. Dave Leicken

Follow the podcast: 

Resources:

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

Additional Credits:

A note from our partner, Better Than Bitter:

Divorce isn’t just a life transition - it’s a full-blown identity shift. One day you’re a partner, a parent, and a planner for the future. The next? You’re staring at paperwork, lawyer fees, and the overwhelming question: ‘What now?’

I know it’s hard. That’s why we’ve created these courses - to give you courage, clarity, communication tools, and the support you need to move forward with confidence

(and maybe even a little hope)!

Reality check! Divorce is expensive - but battling in court is even more costly. For less than the price of an hour of an attorney’s time, you’ll gain the tools, support, and strategies to create a peaceful path forward. This program will pay for itself by helping you save thousands in legal fees and emotional stress! Hit these links to sign up today.

In our final episode in this series, we focused on two main topics: understanding money as a frequency and flow, emphasizing the importance of money movement.

Money is not the ultimate supply; it's a frequency and a flow of energy.

Currency comes from 'corrente', meaning flow, emphasizing the importance of money movement.

Stagnant money doesn't build or serve its purpose; it needs to flow like energy.

Cortney McDermott, a returning guest and a beloved voice on the show, is an international speaker and TED Talk presenter, Cortney is also a bestselling author. Her latest book, Give Yourself Permission: Be Confident. Be Happy. Be You., is out now.

This episode explores success as a subjective, evolving concept influenced by life stages (20s, 30s, 40s), emphasizing internal fulfillment through relationships, self-awareness, and alignment with personal purpose over external validation like wealth or career status.

Success is framed as a subjective, evolving concept that shifts across life stages (20s, 30s, 40s, etc.), emphasizing relationships, self-awareness, and internal fulfillment over external validation.

Personal definitions of success include emotional connections (e.g., family, friends), self-alignment with "intelligence" (inner purpose), and daily effort toward doing one’s best.

Societal pressures and external markers (career status, wealth) are contrasted with internal metrics of success, such as self-worth and freedom from societal expectations.

Cortney McDermott, a returning guest and a beloved voice on the show, is an international speaker and TED Talk presenter, Cortney is also a bestselling author. Her latest book, Give Yourself Permission: Be Confident. Be Happy. Be You., is out now.

The session focuses on overcoming 'playing small' in careers through boldness and imagination, using examples like Sarah Blakely's cliff-jumping analogy and Jim Carrey's mindset. It emphasized mindset shifts (e.g., 'act as if' principles) over technical skills, with practical applications in leadership, relationships, and health.

The idea that individuals are not defined by their job, relationships, or careers—allowing them to creatively explore their potential as a 'game' rather than a fixed identity.

Mathew's mentor advised him to act 'as if' he were already in a larger market (Washington, D.C.), leading to tangible career advancement—emphasizing mindset shifts over technical skills.

Extending the 'act as if' principle to relationships, health, and leadership (e.g., 'Dress for the job you want') to embody desired outcomes proactively.

Cortney McDermott, a returning guest and a beloved voice on the show, is an international speaker and TED Talk presenter, Cortney is also a bestselling author. Her latest book, Give Yourself Permission: Be Confident. Be Happy. Be You., is out now.

Today we focus on enhancing personal growth through three pillars:

1) Developing self-awareness by managing reactions to stimuli and evaluating self-talk using Stephen Covey/Viktor Frankl principles

2) Releasing negative patterns through physical movement and micro-dosed wellness practices

3) Implementing accessible self-care actions tied to neurotransmitter release and stress reduction.

Start by focusing on your relationship with yourself. Responsibility is framed as the 'ability to respond,' emphasizing personal agency in managing reactions to external stimuli.

Create space between stimulus and response to evaluate internal reactions and shift beliefs or focus. Inspired by Stephen Covey and Viktor Frankl's work.

Evaluate self-talk using a three-step framework: identify what works, what needs improvement, and what harmful patterns to eliminate (analogous to radio 'air checking').

Cortney McDermott, a returning guest and a beloved voice on the show, is an international speaker and TED Talk presenter, Cortney is also a bestselling author. Her latest book, Give Yourself Permission: Be Confident. Be Happy. Be You., is out now.

The session emphasizes health as the foundation for ending generational dysfunction, highlighting mindset shifts (e.g., epigenetics, bodily perfection affirmations), actionable steps (diet, sleep, community), and the role of being a 'transitional character' to positively impact future generations. 

Health is foundational to ending generational dysfunction and requires proactive care.

Mindset shifts (e.g., affirming bodily perfection, epigenetics) can influence physical health, supported by examples like meditation curing ailments.

Professional guidance (e.g., Dr. Robert Todd Hurst) and actionable steps (diet, sleep, community) are critical for health improvement.

Cortney McDermott, a returning guest and a beloved voice on the show, is an international speaker and TED Talk presenter, Cortney is also a bestselling author. Her latest book, Give Yourself Permission: Be Confident. Be Happy. Be You., is out now.

In this episode we explore spirituality as innate intelligence governing biological processes and universal order. Demonstrated inner voice awareness through 'silent happiness' exercises. 

Spirituality is framed as an innate intelligence governing biological processes and universal order, emphasizing its non-religious, non-dogmatic nature.

Demonstration of inner voice awareness through the 'silent happiness' exercise highlights the distinction between conscious thought and pure awareness.

Emphasis on being the observer of mental chatter rather than identifying with it, aligning with core principles of major spiritual traditions.

Discussion of quantum potentiality and attention's role in manifesting realities through reticular activation system principles.

Cortney McDermott, a returning guest and a beloved voice on the show, is an international speaker and TED Talk presenter, Cortney is also a bestselling author. Her latest book, Give Yourself Permission: Be Confident. Be Happy. Be You., is out now.