We often think of happiness as something personal—something we create within ourselves. But what if the people around us, our relationships, work, and even our social environment play a much bigger role than we realize?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Brian Jones, professor of sociology at Villanova University and author of The Pursuit of Happiness in America.

Using decades of data from the General Social Survey alongside Americans’ own stories about happiness, Brian explores the social structure behind personal well-being.

We talk about relationships, marriage, friendship, work, money, and what the evidence can tell us about the things that actually contribute to a happier life.

We also explore whether Americans are becoming more or less happy over time and what the COVID-19 pandemic revealed about the connection between our social lives and our well-being.

This is a fascinating conversation about happiness from a perspective that goes beyond psychology and asks a bigger question: How much of our happiness is actually shaped by the world and the people around us?

Learn more about Brian Jones and his work:

Brian Jones – Villanova University

In this deeply personal episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Mark Stackpole, who shares the story of losing his 22-year-old daughter, Corinne, to leukemia after an 11-month battle.

Mark opens up about the shock of her diagnosis, the months his family spent by her side, and the unimaginable experience of losing a child.

But this conversation is also about what comes after loss. Mark shares how he and his family have chosen to find gratitude in the midst of heartbreak, honor Corinne’s life beyond the circumstances of her death, and build a new life without allowing grief to define them.

We talk about grief, family, marriage, finding joy again, supporting people through loss, and what it means to keep someone’s legacy alive.

Corinne’s life may have been shorter than her family hoped, but Mark reminds us that a life can be deeply meaningful regardless of its length.

Every mind has a story—and every story deserves to be heard.

Connect: https://nmdp.org/

What if the season that broke you became the beginning of the work you were meant to create?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Xenia Ioannidis, a Greek-American author, Master Coach, creative director, and founder of Crowned in Faith, a multi-format children’s faith series designed to bring spiritual principles to life through stories, coloring, and music.

Xenia’s journey began from a deeply difficult place. After experiencing homelessness in Miami, she describes realizing that the “desert” she was experiencing wasn’t only around her—it was something happening within her. Through surrender, faith, and a process of rebuilding her life, that difficult chapter eventually became the inspiration for a creative mission.

Today, Xenia is creating a 12-book, 12-coloring-questbook, and 12-song series for children ages 4–10, centered on what she calls the Principles of Christ Consciousness. We talk about why she believes children can learn faith through imagination, stories, music, and practical experiences rather than simply being taught concepts.

Xenia also takes us beyond the books and into the many chapters of her life—from helping more than 2,000 people through HyperTherapy® Center, to developing Real Change Academy®, to spending more than 26 years as a creative director, appearing in media, and entering public life as a political candidate.

At the heart of this conversation is a bigger question: How do we turn a season of uncertainty, collapse, or reinvention into something meaningful?

This is a conversation about faith, resilience, purpose, creativity, reinvention, and finding a way to turn your own “desert” into something that can help someone else.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & Meeting Xenia Ioannidis

04:00 – From Homelessness to a New Beginning

11:30 – When the “Desert” Is Within Us

19:00 – How Faith Became Part of Xenia’s Transformation

27:00 – The Birth of Crowned in Faith

35:00 – Why Stories, Coloring & Music for Children?

43:00 – The 12 Principles of Christ Consciousness

51:00 – Making Faith Practical for Children & Families

58:30 – HyperTherapy® & Helping Others Through Transformation

1:06:00 – Reinvention, Creativity & Finding Purpose

1:13:00 – From Creative Director to Author & Coach

1:20:00 – What to Do When You’re in Your Own “Shelter Season”

Explore Xenia’s Books & Work:

Xenia Ioannidis’ Books on Amazon

Listeners can explore Crowned in Faith, Xenia’s upcoming books, and her other work through the link above.

What happens when life changes in a single day—and the years that follow take you through addiction, grief, mental health struggles, failure, and unexpected second chances?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Troy Haslinger, author of Beautifully Dysfunctional, TEDx speaker, medical sales professional, ultra-marathon runner, and charity founder.

Troy opens up about the cold April day in 2011 that changed his life, when he learned that his career was slipping away while also discovering that his sister Holly had been diagnosed with metastatic cancer.

We talk honestly about addiction and sobriety, mental health, grief, a near-death experience, being fired from his own charity, running 65 miles, relationships, faith, and the many successes and failures that shaped his journey.

At the heart of Troy’s story is a message many people need to hear: you are not alone.

This is a raw and honest conversation about what happens when life doesn’t go according to plan—and how we keep moving forward anyway.

🌐 Learn more about Troy and Beautifully Dysfunctional: Troy Haslinger’s website

📖 Find the book: Beautifully Dysfunctional on Amazon

Every mind has a story, and every story deserves to be heard.

What do handstands on mountain peaks, wrestling alligators, traveling the world, and writing epic fantasy have in common? They’re all part of Tom Cladis’ approach to life: experience it, don’t just manage it.

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Tom Cladis, an award-winning fantasy author, financial planner, adventurer, and former flight attendant who has built a life around curiosity, courage, and saying yes to experiences that push him beyond the ordinary.

Tom shares how his seemingly unexpected paths—from financial planning to writing fantasy and pursuing unforgettable adventures—have come together to shape his perspective on purpose and personal growth.

We talk about why comfort can sometimes keep us from discovering what we’re capable of, how fear can influence the choices we make, and what it means to become the hero of your own story.

Tom also shares the lessons he has learned from traveling, climbing mountains, wrestling alligators, and creating fictional worlds—and why epic fantasy can sometimes teach us surprisingly real lessons about courage, resilience, leadership, and who we want to become.

This is a conversation about stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing curiosity, taking meaningful risks, and creating a life you’ll actually remember.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & Meeting Tom Cladis

03:15 – From Financial Planner to Fantasy Author

10:20 – Why Life Is Meant to Be Experienced

17:00 – The Adventures That Changed Tom’s Perspective

24:15 – Wrestling Alligators & Learning to Embrace Fear

31:30 – What Travel & Adventure Teach Us About Ourselves

38:45 – Why Epic Fantasy Still Speaks to Us

46:00 – The Hero’s Journey in Real Life

53:15 – Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

1:00:20 – Purpose, Curiosity & Living Intentionally

1:07:00 – What’s Still on Tom’s Adventure Bucket List?

1:12:00 – Becoming the Hero of Your Own Story

🌐 Connect with Tom:

Tom Cladis Writes

Visit TomCladisWrites.com to explore his award-winning books, upcoming events, blog, media appearances, and the adventures behind his storytelling.

What happens when you become so good at surviving that you forget how to take care of yourself?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Anjelis Oliveira, PhD, MSN/MHA, RN, founder of Rising Stars Wellness, wellness coach, healthcare leader, speaker, and registered nurse, for a deeply personal conversation about resilience, health, identity, and learning to show up for yourself.

Anjelis spent much of her life being the strong one. After losing her mother at a young age, becoming a teenage mother, experiencing domestic violence, building a successful healthcare career, and navigating major health challenges, she became incredibly skilled at surviving and being there for everyone else.

Her own health journey included lifelong struggles with weight, bariatric surgery, weight regain, a stroke, multiple surgeries, and later GLP-1 support. After her son experienced complications following brain surgery, Anjelis realized she needed to become healthier and stronger—not only so she could be there for him, but so she could finally learn how to be there for herself.

She ultimately lost more than 105 pounds, but she says the biggest transformation wasn’t the number on the scale. It was rebuilding self-trust.

We talk about the small promises we make to ourselves, sustainable habits, identity, boundaries, resilience, and why shame and punishment don’t have to be the price of personal change. We also discuss GLP-1 medications as a tool while looking at the lifestyle habits and structure that still matter alongside them.

Anjelis shares what “Love yourself to health” really means and why lasting change isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning not to abandon yourself when life gets difficult.

This is a powerful conversation for anyone who has ever felt stuck in survival mode, struggled to care for themselves, or wondered how to create change that actually lasts.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & Meeting Anjelis Oliveira

04:00 – Learning to Survive at a Young Age

11:30 – When Being “The Strong One” Comes at a Cost

19:00 – Anjelis’ Health Journey & Major Turning Points

27:30 – The Moment Everything Changed

35:00 – Losing 105+ Pounds & Looking Beyond the Scale

43:00 – Rebuilding Self-Trust Through Small Promises

50:30 – Why Shame Isn’t a Sustainable Strategy

57:00 – GLP-1s: The Tool vs. the Lifestyle

1:04:00 – Identity, Boundaries & Learning to Choose Yourself

1:11:00 – What “Love Yourself to Health” Really Means

1:17:00 – Progress, Not Perfection

Free Resource:

Anjelis’ GLP-1 Quick Start Guide offers practical guidance for building the habits that support sustainable health alongside GLP-1 support, including nutrition, movement, hydration, sleep, mindset, and consistency.

Get the free GLP-1 Quick Start Guide

Connect with Anjelis:

Visit Rising Stars Wellness to learn more about her work and message of sustainable health, resilience, and self-trust.

What does it take to compete at the highest level for decades, travel the world to test yourself against elite athletes, and continue pushing your limits well into your 50s?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Michael Kelly, a world champion grappler, longtime wrestler, coach, and mentor who has built an extraordinary career both on and off the mat.

Michael holds multiple world titles and international medals, has represented Team USA around the world, and has competed in wrestling and grappling across countries including Russia, Japan, Turkey, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Greece, Poland, Serbia, and Azerbaijan.

But his story goes beyond his own competition career. Michael has coached athletes who went on to compete in the UFC, WWE, world wrestling championships, and military special forces. He shares what he has learned about developing high-level athletes, building mental toughness, and training with purpose.

We talk about how he got started in wrestling and No-Gi grappling, what it takes to remain competitive for decades, the mindset behind his training, and some of the unforgettable experiences that came from competing around the world—including his journey to Russia for the Uni-fight World Championships.

Michael also shares lessons from coaching successful athletes and explains how discipline, consistency, adaptability, and the willingness to keep learning can shape performance far beyond the wrestling mat.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & Meeting Michael Kelly

03:30 – How Michael’s Wrestling Journey Began

10:15 – Discovering No-Gi Grappling

17:20 – Competing Around the World

24:30 – The Journey to Becoming a World Champion

32:00 – The Russia Uni-fight Experience

40:00 – Training With the Best

47:15 – How to Stay Competitive Into Your 50s

54:30 – Building Mental Toughness Through Training

1:01:00 – Coaching UFC, WWE & Elite Athletes

1:08:00 – Lessons From Decades of Competition

1:15:00 – Michael’s Advice for the Next Generation

If you’re interested in wrestling, grappling, combat sports, athletic longevity, or simply understanding what it takes to keep pushing yourself long after most people would stop, this conversation is for you.

What does it mean to experience God’s presence in your everyday life—not simply as a belief, but as a relationship that shapes the way you live?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Marcia McFarland, award-winning author of Perfect Glory: 21 Spiritual Insights for the 21st Century, for a heartfelt conversation about faith, purpose, spiritual experiences, and developing a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Marcia shares her personal testimony of extraordinary encounters with the Divine, including a powerful “mountaintop” experience that she describes as a moment when God spoke words of wisdom and encouragement to her.

We talk about discovering God’s purpose for your life, moving beyond religious expectations and dogma, and what it can look like to cultivate a genuine and meaningful walk with Jesus in the modern world.

Marcia also introduces the idea of a “Godwink” and shares how recognizing moments of divine guidance can change the way we see our everyday experiences.

This is a conversation about faith, purpose, passion, spiritual growth, and seeking God’s presence in the ordinary moments of life.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & Meeting Marcia McFarland

03:15 – What Inspired Perfect Glory?

09:20 – Marcia’s Extraordinary Encounters With the Divine

16:30 – What Does God’s Perfect Glory Mean?

23:15 – Understanding God’s Purpose for Your Life

30:10 – Moving Beyond Religious Dogma

37:00 – Developing a Deeper Relationship With Jesus

44:15 – What Is a “Godwink”?

51:00 – Believe, Receive & Achieve

57:30 – Purpose, Passion & Plan

1:04:00 – Marcia’s Message for Those Seeking God

🌐 Learn more about Marcia and Perfect Glory:

Author Marcia McFarland’s Website

Discover Perfect Glory: 21 Spiritual Insights for the 21st Century, available in hardcover, paperback, Kindle, and audiobook.

We spend so much of our lives trying to become more successful, productive, and accomplished—but what if a good life isn’t something we find at the end of all that striving? What if it’s something we build through the choices we make every day?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by Kirana Sidin, author of Cheers for a Good Life and a strategic life coach, to explore one simple but profound question: What does it really mean to live a good life?

Kirana shares the personal experience that pushed her to start living more intentionally, beginning with something as simple as spending an hour each morning reading and reflecting. Those small moments eventually became hundreds of reflections, a book, and a framework for helping people think more clearly about how they want to live.

We talk about intentional living, purpose, relationships, parenting, money, decision-making, and the wisdom we can take from philosophy and apply to ordinary modern life.

Kirana also shares why success doesn’t always equal fulfillment, how we can stay intentional in a world designed to distract us, and why the small choices we make every day may shape our lives more than the big decisions we spend so much time worrying about.

This is a conversation about slowing down, thinking deeply, and asking ourselves whether the life we’re building is actually the life we want.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & Meeting Kirana Sidin

03:10 – The Moment Kirana Realized She Was Drifting

09:00 – What Does It Really Mean to Live a Good Life?

16:20 – Building a Life Intentionally

23:30 – Why Modern Success Doesn’t Always Bring Fulfillment

30:45 – Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life

38:00 – Making Better Decisions in an Uncertain World

45:15 – Relationships, Parenting & Staying Grounded

52:20 – Money, Purpose & Living Well

59:10 – Finding Purpose in Ordinary Life

1:05:00 – The Small Choices That Shape Who We Become

🌐 Continue the conversation with Kirana:

Cheers for a Good Life

Explore Kirana’s writing, resources on intentional living, Cheers for a Good Life, coaching, and future events.

What happens when we stop accepting information simply because it comes from an expert, a popular opinion, or even an AI?

In this episode of Beyond the Mind, I’m joined by author and creator Mohamed Nabil, whose work explores AI, publishing, education, politics, philosophy, truth, and the way we form our beliefs. Mohamed created AIDOP — AI Debates on One’s Publications — where he invites AI tools to critically examine his own books and publishes the unedited conversations, creating a different approach to transparency and intellectual debate.

We talk about the difference between blindly following experts, following popular feelings and trends, and what Mohamed calls “Enlightened Populism” — listening to different perspectives, questioning information, and taking the time to investigate before deciding what to believe.

We also explore the ethical use of AI in education and publishing, whether AI can genuinely help us think more critically, and what happens when technology challenges the ideas we are most confident about.

Mohamed also shares his thoughts on direct democracy, citizen assemblies, global government, basic human rights, and why he believes humanity needs to rethink the way we organize society.

This is a conversation about curiosity, questioning, truth, AI, and the freedom to think for yourself.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction & Meeting Mohamed Nabil

03:10 – What Is AIDOP?

10:25 – Can AI Criticize Our Ideas Objectively?

17:40 – AI, Education & Ethical Questions

25:00 – Blind Elitism vs. Ignorant Populism

32:15 – What Is “Enlightened Populism”?

39:30 – The Psychology of Following the Crowd

46:20 – Direct Democracy & Citizen Assemblies

54:00 – Mohamed’s Vision for a Global Government

1:01:15 – Human Rights in a Changing World

1:08:00 – His Books, Ideas & Publications

1:15:00 – What Does It Really Mean to Think for Yourself?

Explore Mohamed’s work:

Mohamed Nabil’s Website

Explore his books, ideas, AIDOP, and other publications on his website.