Derek Rydall's journey began not in spirituality, but in technology, as a coder deeply immersed in systems and logic. That curiosity eventually led him from computers to consciousness, through time living in a monastery, a career as a screenwriter, and a near-death experience that cracked him open to something far deeper than achievement or optimization. Today, he's the bestselling author of Emergence, The Abundance Project, and his newest book, A Whole New Human: Ten Ways We Must Evolve to Survive and Thrive in the AI Age, and the host of the Emergence podcast, with millions of downloads worldwide.

In this episode, Derek explains why he believes the greatest danger of AI isn't technological disruption, it's human obsolescence, as we've spent decades outsourcing our intuition, creativity, and meaning. He opens up about the moment his curiosity shifted from how systems work to what's actually driving them beneath the surface, and how the profound loss of his son shaped the way he now teaches people to find meaning through their own hardest moments.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

1. - Derek's journey from coder to consciousness teacher
2. - Why AI's real threat is human obsolescence, not job loss
3. - What we've been quietly outsourcing from ourselves for decades
4. - How personal loss shaped his understanding of transformation
5. - Identifying your "core wound" and turning it into your greatest strength
6. - The first step to take if you feel lost, behind, or afraid of the future

CONNECT WITH DEREK RYDALL:

Claim the Whole New Human Activation Kit: https://derekrydall.com/wholenewhuman/

If today's episode shifted something in you, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who's ready to become a whole new human.

Some of life's most defining moments never make it into the final story, they live in the drafts.

In this episode of Beyond the Draft, Imma sits down with Faye for an honest conversation about resilience, purpose, and the unseen chapters that shaped who she is today. Together, they explore the challenges she faced, the lessons she learned through adversity, and how choosing to keep moving forward transformed her life.

This isn't just a conversation about success, it's about the messy, uncertain, and deeply human journey behind it.

If you've ever questioned your path, struggled to start over, or wondered whether your setbacks could become part of your purpose, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you'll discover:

1. Why our hardest seasons often become our greatest teachers.
2. How resilience is built one decision at a time.
3. The power of embracing your unfinished story.
4. Practical insights for moving forward with courage and purpose.

Your story isn't defined by the first draft. Sometimes, the most beautiful chapters are written after everything falls apart.

Listen now and join the conversation.

At just 19 years old, Michael Carbonneau stepped into entrepreneurship without money, without shortcuts, and without anyone handing him a blueprint. Through years as a general contractor, financial advisor, and now business coach, he discovered that most entrepreneurs don't fail because they lack ambition, they fail because they lack structure. Today, through Coaching by Rosewood, he helps entrepreneurs move beyond hustle, think like CEOs, and build businesses that actually work.

In this episode, Michael shares why hustle alone eventually leads to frustration instead of freedom, what it really takes to become a CEO before the business grows, and why the failures entrepreneurs try to hide are often their greatest teachers. He also opens up about what true entrepreneurial freedom looks like, and what practical steps can help you build a business that serves your life instead of consuming it.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

1. - Why hard work alone isn't enough to build a sustainable business
2. - The internal shift required to think and operate like a CEO
3. - The failure that changed the trajectory of Michael's business
4. - Building a business that's profitable, sustainable, and aligned with your life
5. - What Michael would tell his 19-year-old self before starting the journey

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL CARBONNEAU:

Coachingbyrosewood.netlify.app

If today's episode reminded you that success is about becoming the person capable of building something that lasts, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with an entrepreneur who needs to hear it.

After thirteen years as a working actor in New York City, Amber Petty walked away, went through a major depressive episode, and eventually built a business that's made $900,000 in five years, all by teaching creatives to lean into their weirdness instead of hiding it. She's the founder of the Weirdness Way and the Weird Sisterhood, and she's on a mission to prove that marketing doesn't have to feel gross, and it definitely doesn't have to mean blending in.

In this episode, Amber shares which skill from her acting career turned out to be the most unexpectedly useful tool for building a business, what her battle with perfectionism actually taught her, and why she believes "weird" is the key ingredient to standing out in a market full of people trying to sound like everyone else. She also opens up about why she built her business around email marketing and community instead of chasing social media.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

1. The unexpected business skills Amber learned from thirteen years of acting
2. How perfectionism led to burnout, and what came after
3. Why "weird" is a competitive advantage, not a liability
4. Building a business without relying on social media
5. Amber's Weirdness Way program and the Weird Sisterhood community

Connect with Amber Petty:

Join the Creative Control Club: https://amber-petty.newzenler.com/f/creativecontrol/

If today's episode gave you permission to be a little weirder in your own business, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

What if the most powerful educational tool isn't technology, standardized testing, or even textbooks?

What if it's a story?

In this inspiring episode of Beyond the Draft, Imma sits down with educator, author, poet, and founder of Wisdom Feast Ltd, Wahida Mohamed, to explore how storytelling can transform the way children learn, grow, and understand themselves.

Drawing from more than 30 years of experience in education, Wahida shares why stories are essential for building confidence, curiosity, compassion, and belonging in both classrooms and homes.

TOGETHER, THEY EXPLORE:

• Why storytelling is at the heart of meaningful education

• How stories shape identity and emotional wellbeing

• The importance of educating the whole child, mind, body, and family

• Why creativity and child-led learning matter more than ever

• How parents and teachers can use stories to build stronger connections with children

• The lasting impact one caring adult can have on a child's future

This conversation is a reminder that education isn't simply about preparing children for exams, it's about preparing them for life.

Learn more about Wahida Mohamed and her work at:

www.wahidamohamed.com

#BeyondTheDraft #WahidaMohamed #Storytelling #Education #Teaching #Parenting #ChildDevelopment #Montessori #Learning #Books #Writers #EducationPodcast

Lucinda Sage-Midgorden has been a lover of stories since she was a child, watching movies with her family and learning from her father how to find the deeper layers beneath every story. That love carried her through degrees in Religious Studies, Theatre, and Education, decades as a stage actor, director, and theatre instructor, and now, in retirement, into writing her own novel and hosting the podcast Story-Power.

In this episode, Lucinda opens up about the winding path that led her from the stage to the page, why she finally decided to write her novel The Space Between Time after a lifetime of helping others tell their stories, and how her understanding of spirituality has evolved since her college years as the only woman Religious Studies major in her program. She also shares what her students taught her over the years, and why classic movies still matter in a world full of constant new content.

What We Talked About:

- How Lucinda fell in love with stories as a child

- What finally inspired her to write her own novel after decades in theatre and education

- Her evolving relationship with spirituality

- A surprising lesson she learned from one of her students

- Why classic films still resonate with modern audiences

- Her new YouTube channel, Classic Cinema with the Sage Sisters

CONNECT WITH LUCINDA SAGE-MIDGORDEN:

Website, blog, podcast, and books: https://sagewoman.life

If today's episode reminded you why stories matter, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a fellow story lover.

After surviving a head-on car accident at 18 that left him in a wheelchair, losing 135 pounds in his 30s, and overcoming debilitating back pain at 40, Butch Phelps spent more than two decades studying muscle mechanics to find what actually eliminates chronic pain, when nothing else worked. The result was the Stretch n' Release Technique, a method that connects the brain and muscles to release tension and help adults 45+ move better without medications, injections, or surgery.

In this episode, Butch challenges everything most of us have been taught about stretching and pain, explaining why traditional stretching often makes chronic pain worse, why pain persists long after an "injury" has healed, and how the brain-body connection is the missing link most pain treatments overlook.

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WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT

- Butch's personal journey through trauma, weight loss, and chronic pain

- Why traditional stretching often fails—and sometimes worsens pain

- How the brain, spine, and muscles work together to create (and release) tension

- Common misconceptions about pain, aging, and mobility

- The biggest mistake people make when trying to solve their own pain

- Who the Stretch n' Release Technique is really designed for

- Simple, practical steps listeners can start using today

---

CONNECT WITH BUTCH PHELPS

YouTube (200+ free videos): https://www.youtube.com/themusclerepairshop

Website, Facebook, LinkedIn & Substack: linked on his profile

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If today's episode gave you a new way to think about pain and mobility, subscribe to Butch's YouTube channel for free tutorials, live demos, and weekly Q&As to help you take control of your own body.

And if this episode helped you, share it with someone who's been told their pain is just "part of getting older."

After surviving a head-on car accident at 18 that left him in a wheelchair, losing 135 pounds in his 30s, and overcoming debilitating back pain at 40, Butch Phelps spent more than two decades studying muscle mechanics to find what actually eliminates chronic pain, when nothing else worked. The result was the Stretch n' Release Technique, a method that connects the brain and muscles to release tension and help adults 45+ move better without medications, injections, or surgery.

In this episode, Butch challenges everything most of us have been taught about stretching and pain, explaining why traditional stretching often makes chronic pain worse, why pain persists long after an "injury" has healed, and how the brain-body connection is the missing link most pain treatments overlook.

---

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT

- Butch's personal journey through trauma, weight loss, and chronic pain

- Why traditional stretching often fails—and sometimes worsens pain

- How the brain, spine, and muscles work together to create (and release) tension

- Common misconceptions about pain, aging, and mobility

- The biggest mistake people make when trying to solve their own pain

- Who the Stretch n' Release Technique is really designed for

- Simple, practical steps listeners can start using today

---

CONNECT WITH BUTCH PHELPS

YouTube (200+ free videos): https://www.youtube.com/themusclerepairshop

Website, Facebook, LinkedIn & Substack: linked on his profile

---

If today's episode gave you a new way to think about pain and mobility, subscribe to Butch's YouTube channel for free tutorials, live demos, and weekly Q&As to help you take control of your own body.

And if this episode helped you, share it with someone who's been told their pain is just "part of getting older."

What does it really take for every child to succeed in school, especially those with learning differences?

In this episode of Beyond the Draft, we sit down with Dr. Emily Levy, education expert, founder of EBL Coaching, and author of multiple research-based academic workbook series used in schools across the United States.

Drawing from decades of experience in education, special education, and academic coaching, Dr. Emily shares practical strategies that empower parents, educators, and students to navigate learning challenges with confidence. We explore how individualized support can unlock a child's potential, why advocacy matters, and the simple yet powerful techniques that help students build lasting academic success.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, student, or lifelong learner, this conversation is packed with valuable insights that can transform the way you think about education.

In This Episode

- Why every child learns differently, and why that matters

- How parents can become effective advocates for their children

- Understanding learning disabilities and special education

- What an IEP is and how families can make the most of it

- Practical strategies to improve reading comprehension, executive functioning, and study skills

- Best practices for helping students build confidence and academic independence

- Dr. Emily's vision for creating a more inclusive education system

About Dr. Emily Levy

Dr. Emily Levy is the founder and director of EBL Coaching, a specialized tutoring organization providing individualized instruction using research-based, multi-sensory teaching methods. She holds degrees from Brown University and Nova Southeastern University and has helped thousands of students strengthen their academic skills.

She is also the author of several widely used educational workbook series covering reading, writing, executive functioning, study skills, and multi-sensory mathematics.

Connect with Dr. Emily Levy

🌐 Website: EBLCoaching.com

Connect with Beyond the Draft

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow Beyond the Draft on Spotify, leave a rating, and share this conversation with someone who believes every child deserves the opportunity to thrive.

Because every great story begins long before the final draft.

What if the greatest threat to the future wasn't a weapon... but the past?

After more than 35 years in publishing and helping bring 500+ books into the world, John Bond finally stepped into the spotlight with his own story, a gripping speculative thriller that asks one chilling question:

What happens when history stops being debatable?

In this episode of Beyond the Draft, host Imma explores the journey behind To the End of Reckoning, a novel that blurs the line between fiction and possibility.

Together, they discuss:

🔸Why John waited decades to write his first novel

🔸The hidden truths about publishing that aspiring authors rarely hear

🔸How helping hundreds of writers shaped his own storytelling

🔸Why speculative fiction often reveals more about reality than history books

🔸The courage it takes to stop editing and finally become the storyteller

If you've ever dreamed of writing a book or wondered how stories shape the way we see truth, this conversation will stay with you long after it ends.

📖 John Bond's new novel, To the End of Reckoning, releases August 4.

Learn more:

Books: BooksByJohnBond.com

Leadership & Consulting: RiverwindsConsulting.com

Sometimes the most dangerous stories aren't the ones we imagine.

They're the ones that could actually happen.

#BeyondTheDraft #JohnBond #ToTheEndOfReckoning #SpeculativeFiction #Writing #Publishing #Storytelling #Thriller #Authors #Podcast