Air-Check Your Life

LFPWLI: Danielle Knox, Growing up LDS and Discovering Beauty in Imperfection 

TW: Suicidal Ideation

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Danielle discuss judgment, meditation through art, the power of the stories we tell ourselves, and how sometimes what is best for us isn't best for the people around us.

Danielle Knox grew up in the LDS church and carried the feeling of “I'm not good enough” for years. After leaving the church, going through a messy divorce, and feeling like she lost her identity, she found Reiki. Eventually, she learned how to listen to herself and realized there is beauty in inevitable imperfection. 

“Find that peacefulness within yourself. If you work on you, all the other things kind of align.”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Tools to overcome perfectionism 

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• DK2 Design Facebook

Resources: 

• Free coloring book

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

* This podcast is not meant to serve as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, and is not a substitute for therapy

LFPWLI: John Shufeldt, Living Life to the Fullest with Tolerance and Perspective 

In this episode, Mathew and John discuss “fragile perfects”, the challenges of getting out of your current circumstances, and how it’s often the small things that make the biggest impact

John Shufeldt is a practicing physician, author, speaker, business founder, and healthcare consultant to tribal hospitals. Above all, he is a lifelong learner who surrounds himself with the right people and knows how to live his life to the fullest.

“You better enjoy every day, and if you're not enjoying every day you better find a way to get there”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• How to go beyond your self-imposed limits

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• John Shufeldt on LinkedIn

Resources: 

• The Outlier Leadership Series

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

* This podcast is not meant to serve as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, and is not a substitute for therapy.

LFPWLI Shorts: Sammy Simpson, Your Intention is Your Power

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Sammy discuss his journey from a kid raised in dysfunction, to a father repeating his own father's mistakes, to a man on the path to enlightenment.

Sammy Simpson has been on his healing journey for over 8 years now. He candidly shares how he learned about plant medicine and how it helped him take control of his life.

“The power to choose is what brings your life to life.”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Assurance you on not alone in wanting to go deeper into your own self-awareness

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• Sammysimpson.com 

Resources: 

• Sammy's full episode (part 1)

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

LFPWLI: Paul Mecurio, Leaving Your Comfort Zone to Pursue Your Dreams 

In this episode, Mathew and Paul discuss how laughter is a key part of healing, the uncertainty of changing careers later in life, how lost he felt while bouncing between Wall Street and open mic nights, and the success he found after he leaned into comedy.

Paul Mecurio is an  Emmy Winning Comedian on The Colbert Late Show, The Daily Show, and his podcasts called Inside Out. 

“This thing had picked me and I need to listen to that.”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• Why Paul felt he had to live a double life

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• Paul Mecurio on Twitter

Resources: 

• The story of Norman Cousins

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

LFPWLI Shorts: Heather Carnahan, Living a Life of Service after Escaping Domestic Abuse 

In this episode, Mathew, Troy, and Heather discuss perseverance, struggles with addiction, and the generational cycles of domestic abuse. Heather opens up about the realities of missing the drama once she got into a healthy relationship and seeing kindness as manipulation. However, she has escaped those patterns and is now helping the same group of people she used to be a part of.

“What I've been through has made me the woman I am today, and I wouldn't change me now for nothing.”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• How seeing abuse as a child normalized it in Heather’s adult life

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• Troy DeSmet - ​​Spiritquest 

Resources: 

• The Sojourner Center

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

RESERVED FOR VETS - Triggers and Strategies for a Calmer Life

* This podcast is not meant to serve as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, and is not a substitute for therapy.

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Dave, and Chad (aka Mental Joe) discuss triggers and the importance of communication and self-reflection. Triggers can sometimes seem like “little things” but on deployment, little things can be the difference between life and death so letting things go can be hard when you transition to civilian life. The guys talk about why misgivings can feel like personal attacks, the struggles relationships go through when one person in them is healing, how emotions get stored in the muscles, and the role empathy plays in the calming process.

“In a relationship, you both have to commit yourself to try not to deliberately set off each other's triggers because that is an act of war.”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• What a trigger is, where they come from, and what they cause

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• Dr. David Leicken, MD

Resources: 

• STN

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

LFPWLI: Kim Vehon, Creating Foster Arizona and Action Steps for Improving your Community 

In this episode, Mathew, and Kim discuss what led her to create Foster Arizona, the importance of sharing personal stories, and how she is working to destigmatize the foster system and set children up for success. We also hear from Percy and Zach about their experiences in the foster system, what led them to Foster Arizona, and the things they are learning there that are changing their lives.

Kim Vehon is a foster parent herself who Foster Arizona to secure the space and funds needed to keep helping children when her house ran out of space. She is working with kids who are aging out of the system to develop practical skills and create connections in a safe place.

“You just gotta define reality…dream of the preferred future, define reality and design a path”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• How investing in foster children improves the community at large

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• Kim Vehon

Resources: 

• Foster Arizona

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

* This podcast is not meant to serve as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, and is not a substitute for therapy.

LFPWLI Shorts: Ryan Pinney, Redefining Recovery as a Paralympic Medalist 

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Ryan discuss the accident that left Ryan paralyzed, his emotional state throughout his journey of recovery, how experiencing trauma changes the way we see ourselves, and the false assumptions we hold about what the people we love expect of us. 

Ryan Pinney is a Paralympic Medalist in Cyclist who served in the United States Air Force and the Arizona National Guard for 14 years. Ryan opens up about how he overcame the dark days to help others that feel like the future is bleak and need encouragement to get through their tough times.

“Recovery is breaking through the walls of your mental state. It's not being able to do the same things you did before a traumatic experience.”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• How Ryan became paralyzed and how he felt when he realized what happened.

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• Ryan Pinney on Twitter

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

* This podcast is not meant to serve as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, and is not a substitute for therapy.

LFPWLI Shorts: Karie Hicks, Losing a Child and How to Keep Going After

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Karie discuss the night she found out her 19-year-old son, Casey, had passed away from an accidental overdose, the ways she is balancing trying to be happy and moving on with the grief of missing her son, and why expecting the sadness helps her through it.

“There's the before and then there's the after when you're never going to be the same.”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• What Casey taught Karie in life and in death

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• Dr. Frank Bevacqua

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

* This podcast is not meant to serve as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, and is not a substitute for therapy.

Aug.5th - RESERVED FOR VETS - Relationships, Assumptions, and Communication 

In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Dave, and Chad (aka Mental Joe) discuss what to do if you find yourself in a relationship with a person who is a bad influence and what if you find you are a bad influence. It all comes down to communication, managing your expectations for yourself and the people around you, and figuring out where the “hard lines in the sand” are for you. 

“I was the problem but didn't see it until I started seeing it in my kids, my wife, or my coworkers.”

In this episode, you'll hear: 

• If awareness is the first step, what is the second step?

Follow the podcast: 

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

Connect with the guest:

• Dr. David Leicken, MD

Resources: 

• MentalJoe.com

Connect with Mathew Blades: 

• Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades

* This podcast is not meant to serve as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others, and is not a substitute for therapy.