Air-Check Your Life

Blowing Up What You Built & The Social Media Trap: Insights from The Salzburg Executioner

In this episode, you'll hear: 

L.A. Fatzinger is a novelist, essayist, and observer who transitioned from a successful career as a technology investor, entrepreneur, and CEO, having founded over ten software and services companies. After experiencing multiple stress-induced panic attacks, he realized it was time for a major life change. After experiencing multiple stress induced panic attacks L.A. decided it was time to make a big change in his life. He now resides in Salzburg, Austria, where he was inspired to write his latest psychological thriller, "The Salzburg Executioner," which delves into themes of morality, technology's societal impact, and the pursuit of justice in the modern era.

In this episode, Mathew and L.A. Fatzinger dive into the challenges of making bold career moves and navigating the emotional rollercoaster of dismantling what you've built to pursue something new. They encourage listeners to reflect on key questions, such as: Who are you doing this for? Drawing from themes in Fatzinger’s book, they explore what’s healthy about social media, the importance of letting go of what no longer serves us, and how to redefine our relationship with these platforms. They also confront the unsettling reality that both our presence and absence online are being tracked. Mathew and L.A. share practical tools for using social media with intention, helping listeners analyze their own FOMO and take back control.

“You have to have a lot of confidence in yourself when you are at your lowest point.”

“When you have a failure is not an option mentality, you’re going to spend a lot of time grinding your nails down, doing whatever you possibly can to make sure the thing doesn’t fail, without considering that you are failing everyone by taking that path, including your long-term health, your long-term well-being, and who everyone knew you as.”

“The minutes of use spiked [on social media platforms] during the pandemic when everyone was home and using their devices but they haven’t gone up very much since then, but the net income of all these public companies has.”

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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.

Look for a note from Better than Bitter below.

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Tania Leichliter is an Amicable Divorce Success Coach and the host of the podcast Better Than Bitter. She is the founder of a coaching platform dedicated to guiding individuals toward amicable divorce resolutions. Drawing from her personal experience of navigating a positive, amicable divorce, Tania emphasizes the importance of emotional healing before engaging in the legal process. She believes that with mindset management, self-love, and a clear vision of the future, an amicable divorce is attainable.

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank Bevacqua, and Tania discuss the complexities of ending relationships, focusing on divorce but highlighting how the insights and tools shared can apply to all types of relationships.They emphasize that, although divorce may be common, it doesn’t have to be the adversarial battle many envision. They explore how to recognize when it might be time to end a relationship, address how certain emotions and thought patterns can perpetuate harm, and share tools to manage them. Tania also outlines her five-step process for achieving an amicable divorce.

“What if divorce is just another life transition, and we all deserve to have better and brighter futures.”

“If it’s my truth it’s just a thought, if it’s the truth that’s the fact.”

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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.

In this episode, you'll hear:

In this episode, Mathew and Ronnie sit down to discuss a remarkable journey of resilience and growth. Ronnie shares her experience as a Division 1 athlete and the mindset required for success, as well as the profound challenges of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis during the pandemic while living in the Middle East. Together, they explore how she approached cancer with intellect over emotion, embraced simplicity, and prioritized health through research, community support, and balanced habits. Ronnie also reflects on the pivotal role of faith in her recovery and how she now takes care of herself, embodying strength and perseverance.

Ronnie Laughlin is a breast cancer survivor, author, advocate, speaker, speech-language pathologist, and former Division I basketball player. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and faced treatment challenges living in the Middle East, far from her family. Drawing on her athletic determination, faith, and support from her "Tribe" of friends, she authored "An Atypical Journey: Facing Breast Cancer Alone in the Middle East with God and My Tribe," offering inspiration and guidance to others facing similar challenges.

“We’re always reinventing; and we’re not the same person we were yesterday, and we don’t know who we are going to be tomorrow.”

“You have a setback for a comeback.”

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Harness Resilient Thinking and Rewrite Your Story with Hope Kelaher

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Hope Kelaher is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in lower Manhattan, specializing in individual, couple, and family therapy. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Columbia School of Social Work, Hope brings over a decade of experience helping individuals and families navigate challenges like loss, addiction, trauma, and poverty. Her background includes roles at Children’s Aid and the Mental Health Association of New York City, where she worked extensively with children and adults facing serious mental health issues, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship challenges. Hope has advanced training from the Ackerman Institute for the Family, as well as certifications in Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Hope discuss the transformative power of resilience, exploring how to build and resource it in the face of life’s challenges, including relationships, breakups, and career struggles. They discuss the importance of reframing perspectives, letting go without apathy, and gaining personal awareness to navigate adversity with strength. The conversation highlights how the narratives we tell ourselves can either propel us forward or keep us stuck, and introduces a practical framework for setting and achieving meaningful goals. Hope also shares insights from her new book, The Resilience Workbook for Women: A Transformative Guide to Discover Your Inner Strength, Conquer Adversity, and Achieve Your Goals, offering actionable strategies for growth and self-reliance.

“Fear and hope come from the same place, the unknown, and you get to choose.”

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Hey friend! Join me on a deeply personal journey as I explore some fascinating healing modalities. This episode, we're diving into my recent Emotion Code and Reiki session with the wonderful Teresa Porter. She's an expert in this field, and I've trusted her with my healing process for a while now.

Through this session, I tackled some heavy emotions like depression, failure, and pride, all linked subtly to chronic shoulder pain I've been battling. This isn't just about physical relief—it's about letting go of burdens that aren't mine to carry anymore, affecting everything from how I feel inside to how I interact with the world around me.

You'll get a behind-the-scenes listen to the session itself, from the grounding exercises to the nerve-calming Reiki, and how these alternative methods might just be the key to unlocking some emotional weight you didn’t even know you were holding onto. So, if you're curious about how Emotion Code works or just want to explore new ways to heal and grow, come hang out with me in this episode!

Mathew 

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LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

Hey there! Get ready to be inspired by our incredible guest, Monie Wilder, a transformational powerhouse who believes in breaking free from the chains of the past to embrace the future fully.

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In this episode, Mathew, Dr. David Leicken, and Monie examine a transformative journey of self-discovery and resilience. They discuss lessons learned through childhood play, long-distance running, and fitness, highlighting how these experiences shaped a commitment to breaking generational cycles of dysfunction. The conversation explores the profound impact of parental decisions on addressing generational trauma and provides actionable tips for creating an expansive and empowering future for your children. They emphasize the power of voicing your truth, rejecting resentment, and the transformative influence of having a supportive partner who uplifts you.

Monie Wilder's journey is one of resilience, transformation, and determination. Growing up in Phoenix, Arizona, she developed a strong sense of discipline and perseverance through long-distance running, traits that would shape her future. Her path took her through careers in public administration and fitness before she found her true calling in real estate. Along the way, Monie faced challenges that pushed her to grow, ultimately becoming a transitional figure in her own life and lineage. Now a devoted wife, mother, and entrepreneur, Monie’s story is a testament to the power of self-belief, hard work, and the courage to embrace change to build the life she once dreamed of.

“Change can be hard, but it can also be transformative.”

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Abundance is a Frequency with Cortney McDermott

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In this episode, Mathew and Cortney discuss the concept of abundance, focusing not just on its connection to money and wealth but also on how it manifests in other areas of life. They explore the idea of abundance as a frequency and the importance of granting yourself permission to relax. The discussion highlights how a scarcity mindset can make it challenging to embrace abundance and shares practical strategies for shifting into an abundance mindset. Cortney also offers insightful questions to ask yourself and actionable tools to help you align with abundance, enabling it to work for you rather than against you.

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.

“A divided mind is unstable in all its ways.”

“Everyone who leaves you should leave you richer than when they found you.”

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17 Days: A Widower’s Story of Loss, Resilience, and Parenting Through Grief with Shane Musgrove

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Insights into the unique challenges of being a widower, both as a man and a father

• Tips on finding the right support group 

Shane Musgrove is the creator of 17 Days, a public speaking platform dedicated to helping others navigate grief, loss, adversity, addiction, and more. Growing up, Shane experienced a challenging home environment marked by abuse and addiction. His father struggled with alcoholism and addictions to crack cocaine and pills, ultimately passing away from an overdose when Shane was in his early twenties. Later in life, Shane’s mother also overdosed but has since recovered, and his younger brother, a recovering meth addict, recently served six years in prison. At age 42, Shane faced another profound loss when his wife of 22 years, and the mother of their three children, passed away from metastatic breast cancer after a brief 17-day battle. Today, Shane devotes his energy to making a positive impact in the world, guiding others through life's darkest moments.

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Dave, and Shane delve into Shane's journey as a widower, exploring the unique challenges of being a man and a widow and how the demographics of support groups can play a significant role in finding the right fit for healing. Shane reflects on how his difficult past shaped the way he coped with the devastating loss of his wife, including the heartbreaking 17-day period from diagnosis to her passing and the atmosphere at home during that time. He shares what it was like to say goodbye and the emotional shift from fighting her cancer to accepting her impending loss. Shane also discusses the delicate balance he had to find between managing his own grief and being present for his children, offering insight into his approach to helping them process their own loss. He opens up about how his relationship with his children has evolved through this shared experience and the practical and emotional challenges that came with it. Finally, Shane reflects on the profound ways this journey has changed him, sharing the lessons he's learned, and how they've reshaped him as a person.

“There are no bad days, there’s only bad moments."

“There is a brighter tomorrow.”

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• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Resources:

• 17 Days Website

• HealthspanMD

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• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

• LFPWLI is managed by IMS LLC

What To Do When Your Pinterest Board Doesn’t Look Like You Thought It Would with Cortney McDermott and Jill McMahon

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How grief shows up in our everyday life

In this episode, Mathew, Cortney, and Jill discuss the complexities of grief. They explore how grief surfaces in everyday moments and how we can process these experiences. They also discuss the role of expectations in shaping our experience of grief and ways to be more purposeful with our language, helping us sit with our grief and truly learn from it.

Jill McMahon is a returning guest on the show. A licensed professional counselor specializing in grief, trauma, and loss related to suicide, she has spent 20 years working with families and survivors of suicide. Jill owns a private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, and dedicates her time to providing suicide prevention presentations and training within the community, as well as speaking nationally and internationally on survivor experiences and complicated grief.

Cortney McDermott, also a returning guest and a cherished voice on the show, has spent over half her life in Italy and recently returned to the U.S. She reflects on creating space for her daughter to process grief around the move. Cortney also shares her experience with the recent loss of her mother, offering insights into her personal journey with grief.

“Expectation is the fastest road to disappointment.”

Follow the podcast: 

• Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h) 

Resources:

• Courtney McDermott Website

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

Additional Credits:

• LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson