Brushwood Media Network

Let Go and Trust

Today Eric and Deven discuss important lessons to create time and financial freedom in your life, and in your business.  

Some of these lessons include:

Hire people to work in your business, so you don’t have to work forever. 

Take responsibility for yourself.

Follow through on the promises you make (including contracts). 

Write systems for your contractors/employees to follow. 

They also talk about how our entire monetary system is backed by debt that has to be paid back (with interest). If you want to protect yourself from the constant inflation, buy more hard assets faster

Abolish Property Taxes in Ohio:

www.AxOHTax.com 

Get more information about abolishing all property taxes in Ohio.

https://citizensforpropertytaxreform.org/

Our Links:

www.RealPowerFamily.com

[email protected]

833-Be-Do-Have (833-233-6428

Nothing in this show should be construed as legal, investment or financial advice. It is for entertainment only.

Markets, Mania, and Money

While we were at the New Orleans Investment Conference, we got to watch the market tank right in front of us. We talk about some of the problems with the AI stocks and why that helped to bring down the price of gold and silver. We also talk about some of the other topics and lessons covered by the speakers. What do you do when the price of an investment goes down? Are you investing for the short term or long term? Warren Buffet wasn't a day trader. He was investing for the long term. If you are expecting your retirement to be there when you need it, you will need to watch your account, especially if it is managed by someone else. The system may be rigged, but you still have to work within it as you fight to get it corrected. We need to remember that there are physical limits. If something can't go on forever, it won't. What are you doing today to prepare yourself and your family for what is coming tomorrow?

Abolish Property Taxes in Ohio:

www.AxOHTax.com 

Get more information about abolishing all property taxes in Ohio.

https://citizensforpropertytaxreform.org/

Our Links:

www.RealPowerFamily.com

[email protected]

833-Be-Do-Have (833-233-6428

Nothing in this show should be construed as legal, investment or financial advice. It is for entertainment only.

Michele Blood from Australian rock singer, to global, mystical, transformational leader. Michele has devoted over 40 years to the study of mysticism and spiritual transformation. Following her own profound spiritual awakening, she began guiding people worldwide to experience their own awakening through prayer, meditation, and positive mindfulness. As the creator of more than 80 books, music albums, and transformational programs, and with events held in over 26 countries, Michele’s work has reached millions globally. Her teachings empower individuals to deepen their connection with the Divine, strengthen spiritual authority, and live with greater clarity, joy, and purpose. Her life’s mission is simple: to help others remember who they truly are and walk that path to Enlightenment. 

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Guest: Andrew Thompson 

Episode Overview

What does it take to rebuild your life after a devastating setback—and come back mentally stronger than ever?

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes former professional athlete, CEO, executive coach, and bestselling author Andrew D. Thompson to explore the power of resilience, mental toughness, and personal transformation.

Andrew shares his extraordinary journey from peak physical fitness to a life-threatening medical crisis that left him bedridden for months. Through grieving, acceptance, personal responsibility, and small daily improvements, he gradually rebuilt his strength and rediscovered his purpose.

Drawing from his book A High-Performing Mind, Andrew reveals how elite athletes and successful business leaders overcome limiting beliefs, manage fear, develop confidence, and achieve peak performance.

Whether you're recovering from a health crisis, navigating a divorce, facing career challenges, or striving to become a better leader, this conversation offers practical strategies to overcome adversity, rebuild self-confidence, and unlock your potential.

Key Takeaways

• Allow yourself to grieve before rebuilding. Acknowledge what you've lost rather than forcing yourself to return immediately to your old life.
• Practice "one day, one improvement." Break overwhelming challenges into manageable daily steps that create meaningful progress.
• Challenge limiting beliefs. Negative self-talk and feelings of inadequacy can undermine confidence and prevent personal growth.
• Prepare like a high performer. Exceptional results come from consistent practice, emotional discipline, and focused preparation.
• Develop present-moment awareness. A calm, focused mind helps you manage pressure and perform when it matters most.

Listener Q&A

Q: How do you rebuild your life after a major setback?

Andrew recommends allowing yourself to grieve, accepting your circumstances, taking responsibility for your next steps, and establishing a renewed sense of purpose. Sustainable recovery begins with small, consistent improvements.

Q: What is the biggest obstacle to developing self-confidence?

Limiting beliefs. Andrew explains that negative assumptions such as "I'm not capable" or "I'm not good enough" can become deeply ingrained. Identifying and challenging these thoughts helps restore confidence.

Q: What separates high performers from everyone else?

High performers channel their intensity productively, face fear rather than avoid it, and invest significantly more time in preparation and rehearsal than most people realize.

Q: How can business leaders improve team performance?

By prioritizing their own personal development. Andrew explains that a leader's confidence, communication skills, emotional maturity, and mindset can directly influence the performance and morale of an entire organization.

What You'll Learn From This Episode

• How to navigate grief, acceptance, and personal transformation after adversity.
• How to rebuild confidence by identifying and challenging limiting beliefs.
• Why daily improvements create lasting progress toward meaningful goals.
• How elite athletes develop focus, emotional control, and peak-performance habits.
• Why personal growth and self-awareness are essential for effective leadership.

Connect with Andrew Thompson: 

• Instagram: @andrewthompson9911
• TikTok: @andrew.d.thompson
• X/Twitter: @aandrewthompson
• Facebook: Andrew D. Thompson
• LinkedIn: Andrew D. Thompson
• YouTube: @andrewdthompson
• Website: https://www.andrewdthompson.com/ 

Click here to claim your free gift: The 7-Day Resilience & High-Performance Mindset Reset

TT: Truth vs Fraud

The government's new program were you can report fraud was overwhelmed within a week of it being put into place (Big surprise). Elon investing in CNN's parent company, Ilhan Omar isn’t actually named Ilhan Omar, and much more is talked about in this episode. The future is upon us. From people starting to use human neurons in data centers, to tesla making a flying car, to more genetically modified bugs being released, this world keeps getting crazier. The question is, how are you going to prepare for it?

Abolish Property Taxes in Ohio:

www.AxOHTax.com 

Get more information about abolishing all property taxes in Ohio.

https://citizensforpropertytaxreform.org/

Our Links:

www.RealPowerFamily.com

[email protected]

833-Be-Do-Have (833-233-6428

Nothing in this show should be construed as legal, investment or financial advice. It is for entertainment only.

Michael Ockrim is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, the founder of Mighty Oak Athletic in Westmont, Illinois, and the author of Death Resistant. Here's the rest of the story…

Family

Michael has been married to Carey since 2004. They have four children and live in the western suburbs of Chicago, where he coaches his kids and their friends in a variety of sports. He and his son Nicholas founded Sunday Funday Sports, a nonprofit youth sports league, and the family stays active outdoors year-round.

Author

Michael writes about strength, nutrition and recovery for families. Death Resistant: A Common Sense Guide to Live Long and Drop Dead Healthy has been translated into Spanish; 13 Pounds in 30 Days and Mighty Oak Athletic Nutrition followed. He also writes a free weekly newsletter.

Speaker

Michael is a keynote speaker and regular podcast guest on youth strength training, family health and longevity. Talk topics and past appearances are on the Speaking page. To book him for an event or broadcast, email [email protected]

Website: https://www.michaelockrim.com

Guest: ANNEE Martin

Episode Overview

Can a simple chocolate chip cookie change someone's life? Discover how small acts of kindness can build meaningful human connections, inspire forgiveness, and create a ripple effect of compassion.

In this heartwarming episode, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Annie Martin, professional chef, entrepreneur, author, and founder of the Kindness Cookie Project. Annie shares how a tradition of giving away homemade chocolate chip cookies became a mission to spread love, hospitality, and hope.

Through personal stories of overcoming heartbreak, rebuilding relationships, and finding purpose through adversity, Annie reveals why kindness matters more than ever.

Explore the inspiration behind her book, There's Nothing a Chocolate Chip Cookie Can't Fix: Spreading Love One Cookie at a Time, featuring 118 recipes and stories, and learn practical ways to make someone's day brighter through simple gestures of generosity.

This episode is an inspiring reminder that kindness doesn't have to be complicated to make a lasting difference.

Key Takeaways

• Small acts create powerful ripple effects. A cookie, handwritten note, or thoughtful phone call can help someone feel seen, valued, and connected.
• Kindness begins with self-compassion. Annie transformed a painful friendship and business separation into an opportunity for personal growth and purpose.
• Human connection transcends differences. Kindness can bridge social, cultural, and political divides.
• Hospitality goes beyond material gestures. Making people feel genuinely welcome is what Annie calls "hospitality for the soul."
• Turn compassion into action. Keep cookie dough ready, reach out to someone struggling, or welcome a new neighbor.

Listener Q&A

Q1: How can small acts of kindness make a meaningful difference?

Annie explains that we rarely know what someone else is experiencing. A homemade cookie, encouraging message, or simple acknowledgment can provide comfort during difficult moments and inspire others to extend kindness.

Q2: How did the Kindness Cookie Project begin?

Annie's inspiration grew from serving complimentary cookies at her Vermont inn and later at her boutique in Carmel-by-the-Sea. During the pandemic, she baked cookies and delivered encouraging notes to neighbors, helping create a supportive community.

Q3: How can we practice kindness when experiencing personal hardship?

After losing a treasured friendship and business partnership, Annie chose self-compassion instead of self-blame. Her experience taught her to recognize opportunities for growth even in painful circumstances.

Q4: How can listeners participate without being bakers?

Annie encourages everyone to practice "the art of showing up." Store-bought cookies, chicken soup, a handwritten card, or a thoughtful phone call can communicate the same powerful message: someone cares.

What You'll Learn From This Episode

• How to practice everyday kindness and strengthen human connections.
• Why forgiveness and self-compassion are essential to personal resilience.
• How to create a ripple effect of positivity in your neighborhood.
• Simple ways to support people experiencing loneliness, grief, or uncertainty.
• How one meaningful idea can grow into a community kindness movement.

Connect with ANNEE Martin: 

• Official Website — https://kindnesscookieproject.com/
• Instagram — @kindnesscookieproject
• Facebook — Kindness Cookie Project
• YouTube — @ANNEEMartin
• Substack — @anneemartin

Click here to claim your free gift: The 7-Day Kindness Ripple Challenge

Is "right place, right time" ever really luck? Chris Dillon, aka "The WhatsApp Wizard", WhatsApp Automation expert and author of 'The World Doesn't Give A Sh*t About Your Business', joins me in The Clearing to unpack why it's the customer experience, not the lead, that decides whether people buy from you.

Chris's Founder Story starts with selling doughnuts in the school toilets and runs through nearly 20 years in marketing. He qualified as a football referee at 14, has refereed twice at Wembley, and spent six years DJing in Magaluf after landing with £50 in his pocket, walking into every bar on the strip twice in one day and landing a trial set that same night, within 30 minutes of the resident DJ handing in his notice. 

About 6 years ago he realised generating leads was the easy part, turned to WhatsApp as the place people's attention already lives, and now takes that message to stages from India and Manila to Dallas.

His Clearing or serious happy place is "Mickey's Boat", the Disney cruises his kids can't wait for, and the feeling of giving people moments like that, whether he's teaching or on stage. We unpack desire paths, pattern interrupts, the QR code on the back of his phone, and the question "what's great about that?", learned from sales trainer Matt Elwell.

Along the way there's the 7 questions he asks his 6 year-old son every night, precious QPR games with his dad, and why your favourite restaurant is rarely the one with the best food. A story of true Distinction & Genius for anyone who believes small businesses can out-care the big ones.

If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share the show with a friend who runs a small business and wants their customers to feel looked after, and leave a review. What's the little touch your customers would remember you for?

• Show Website: https://www.thegoodlisteningtoshow.com
• You can email me about the Show: [email protected]
• Twitter thatchrisgrimes
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/
• FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/842056403204860

To record your Life Story or GIFT an episode to someone that you love, with Chris as your host, then do get in touch about how ‘Legacy Life Reflections’ can help:

LEGACY LIFE REFLECTIONS WEBSITE:

https://www.legacylifereflections.com

E MAIL: [email protected]

WHATS APP: +44 7711 644 094

LINKEDIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-grimes-actor-broadcaster-facilitator-coach/

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/chris.grimes.167

Stop the Machine

We are told things throughout life that just aren't true. They may give something a name that is the opposite of what that thing actually is or does. They may ignore things that have changed or concepts that have been disproved. We cover many examples of lies that were believed. It is up to us to question everything and look for the truth, even if it goes against what we believed previously. This is why it is so important to have freedom of speech and why we need to talk to people that think about things differently. Maybe we won't agree with them, but they can make us look at a topic from a different angle and question the information. The machine will always churn out lies that help its agenda. Join us as we question things that many accept as the status quo. It will take a tipping point to stop the machine.

Abolish Property Taxes in Ohio:

www.AxOHTax.com 

Get more information about abolishing all property taxes in Ohio.

https://citizensforpropertytaxreform.org/

Our Links:

www.RealPowerFamily.com

[email protected]

833-Be-Do-Have (833-233-6428

Nothing in this show should be construed as legal, investment or financial advice. It is for entertainment only.

Guest: Nansie Chapman Douglas 

Episode Overview

What happens when caring for someone you love changes your entire life?

In this deeply moving episode, author and caregiver advocate Nansie Chapman Douglas shares her extraordinary journey after her brother suffered a devastating accident in Borneo, leaving him in an 11-week coma and facing years of rehabilitation.

Determined to help him rebuild his life, Nansie became his primary caregiver while managing a business, navigating marriage difficulties, and confronting unresolved childhood trauma.

Through seven demanding years of caregiving, she discovered powerful lessons about caregiver burnout, emotional resilience, self-care, family relationships, and finding purpose after tragedy.

Drawing on her personal experiences, meditation practices, and background in clinical psychology, Nansie explains why caregivers must learn to advocate for themselves, seek emotional support, and recognize that caring for others should never mean abandoning their own well-being.

Her inspiring story, explored in her memoir When the Road Ends, Love Builds a New One, reminds us that even when life takes an unexpected turn, it's possible to rediscover hope, reclaim your identity, and build a meaningful new future.

Key Takeaways

• Prevent caregiver burnout: Prioritize emotional well-being, meaningful relationships, and daily self-care before exhaustion takes over.
• Advocate for loved ones: Learn to speak up, ask questions, and participate actively in important care decisions.
• Build emotional resilience: Use mindfulness and meditation to manage overwhelming thoughts and respond more calmly to challenges.
• Release the need for control: Recognize the difference between circumstances you cannot change and your ability to choose your response.
• Reinvent your life at any age: Discover how personal loss and unexpected setbacks can become opportunities for renewed purpose.

Listener Q&A

Q: How can family caregivers avoid emotional burnout?

Nansie emphasizes getting support early, maintaining friendships, making time for enjoyable activities, and recognizing that caregivers cannot do everything alone.

Q: Why can caregiving bring unresolved childhood trauma to the surface?

Major life crises can reactivate suppressed grief and emotional pain. Nansie describes how her brother's accident brought back feelings surrounding her parents' divorce and her mother's departure.

Q: How can mindfulness help caregivers manage stress?

Nansie credits a 10-day Vipassana meditation course with helping her observe negative thoughts, remain present, and make decisions without becoming overwhelmed by fear.

Q: Is it possible to rebuild your life after major personal and financial setbacks?

Absolutely. After losing much of her business and selling her home, Nansie reinvented her career at age 50 by launching Santa Barbara Family Life magazine, which she published for 20 years.

What You'll Learn From This Episode

• How to recognize emotional overload and establish healthier caregiving habits.
• Why self-love, personal boundaries, and speaking up are essential for caregivers.
• How to manage uncertainty while supporting a loved one's rehabilitation.
• Ways to maintain your identity, relationships, and sense of purpose during caregiving.
• How to transform painful life experiences into personal growth and new beginnings.

Connect with Nansie Chapman Douglas: 

• Official Website - https://care4caregivers.org/
• Email - [email protected]  

Click here to claim your free gift: The Caregiver Resilience Toolkit