Cognate Soul

Send us Fan Mail

Nate talks with an artist who explains why he joined the session: meeting new people and working in entertainment and music, and he shouts out their mutual friend Z. The guest shares how he went from playing sports (including D3 football at Hammond University) to starting music at 21 after reconnecting with a childhood friend, using the CaseMule karaoke app in his dorm, and getting inspired by Post Malone’s 2016 “White Iverson,” plus artists like Logic and Bryson Tiller. He discusses staying busy rather than “focused,” balancing a 60+ hour/week legal career with music and entrepreneurship, including building Repsetta, a swipe-and-match fitness networking app for trainers, workout partners, and gym venues. He names Elon Musk and Rick Ross as entrepreneurial influences, says time is the biggest sacrifice, and advises his younger self to ignore outside voices and follow his heart. #rapperinterview #musicjourney #entrepreneurship #fitnessapp #lawyerlife

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Host Nate interviews creator Tommy Bui in a last-minute, in-person Vegas episode of the Story of Life podcast about growth, purpose, and staying authentic online. Tommy shares how being bullied pushed him into sports, track, and eventually social media, where he kept creating despite teammates mocking him, shifted away from track after injury, and found his purpose in inspiring others with positivity. He discusses having a new manager focused on brandability and longevity, using creativity and “being different” as AI rises, and embracing hate comments as engagement. Tommy describes hitting rock bottom after chasing crypto, refocusing through meditation, alignment, and “don’t force it,” while Nate relates lessons from divorce and his grandmother’s passing. They close on key takeaways: keep going, find what’s meant for you, and let life flow. #TommyBui #StoryOfLifePodcast #ContentCreation #Motivation #SelfImprovement

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Nate and Michael discuss rebuilding life after hitting rock bottom, finding alignment and purpose, and recognizing that lost skills may still be there. Nate shares past struggles including marriage and divorce, while Michael emphasizes humility, boundaries with past bullies, and staying driven by purpose. They talk about Nate’s goal to make his podcast his main income while still pursuing private practice and equine therapy, and Michael offers practical growth tips: improve editing, sound, trends, post short clips, add the right guests, and monetize through platforms like Spotify. Michael advises centering through meditation, not forcing outcomes, and accepting negative comments as engagement and exposure, while Nate reflects on letting go of control, trusting God’s timing, and stopping the chase for numbers. #ADHD #PodcastGrowth #RockBottomToSuccess #Mindset #Monetization

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Nate (host) and Tommy talk candidly about ADHD, “emotional constipation,” and the importance of letting emotions and life “flow” without forcing or overthinking. Nate shares a gut-wrenching week witnessing his grandma take her last breath while he played guitar and sang, describing it as divine intervention and a reminder to appreciate the time we have. They discuss gratitude, remembering who you are, finding the right environment, and believing in signs. Nate encourages Tommy, saying his story could save lives and suggests public speaking. Tommy reflects on losing himself, getting back into alignment, and seeing major results (six million Instagram views) when doing what he’s meant to do. They reference How to Win Friends and Influence People, limitless potential, and plan future podcast episodes and filming. #ADHD #GriefHealing #LetGoLetGod #SelfImprovement #Podcast

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Host Nate and Tommy discuss forgetfulness and how it could stem from trauma, ADHD, or other causes, emphasizing how hard it is to pinpoint. Nate praises Tommy for putting himself on social media, learning from his own videos, and owning his mistakes, while sharing his struggle to “turn off” his therapist brain and his belief that labels like social anxiety can also be protective. Nate explains his dream of equine therapy, describing how clients can learn social interaction through a horse’s reactions and connection. They reflect on bitterness, dark times, and the importance of lasting friendships, humanity, and “aloha.” Tommy shares three lessons: keep going through pain, find what’s meant for you (alignment), and stay in flow without pushing. #SocialAnxiety #ADHD #TraumaHealing #EquineTherapy #LifeLessons

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

This video is a podcast-style interview between Nate and Tommy, a track athlete turned content creator. Tommy shares his journey from being bullied as a kid, finding purpose through track and social media, dealing with injury and setbacks, and ultimately pivoting to full-time content creation after realizing his calling was to inspire others. The conversation explores themes of authenticity, staying true to oneself on and off camera, key influences (faith, family, and fellow creators), stepping outside comfort zones, and standing out creatively in an AI-driven world. It closes with reflections on personal growth, chasing the wrong goals (like crypto), and finding one's own path rather than following trends.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Nate and Jeff reflect on taking loved ones and dreams for granted, holding grudges, and needing to verbalize problems—often through “rants”—to process emotions and find solutions. Using a Patch Adams analogy, they discuss getting stuck on problems, nostalgia for freer childhoods, and the challenge of helping kids become independent thinkers amid media influence and borrowed dreams. They note that role models like Mr. Beast can inspire giving and work ethic, while emphasizing that helping professionals often absorb clients’ failures and secondary trauma, learning to care without owning outcomes. One shares his son’s nightmare about finding him with a gun, which prompted an honest talk about feeling disconnected, reassurance, and a plan to meet regularly, highlighting mutual fears about losing connection as children grow. #MentalHealth #TherapistLife #Parenting #Resilience #Communication

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Nate and Jeff discuss the rare challenge of maintaining a strong friendship while working together professionally, including keeping clear boundaries when supervisory responsibilities require accountability. They reflect on their two years working closely, Nate’s recent departure from the organization where Jeff was his boss, and the emotional difficulty of leaving a place and relationships behind, comparing it to the closure of TPC. Nate shares that a past podcast episode revealed how much pain he was in during a previous transition, and they note the risk and value of being raw and honest publicly. They describe the podcast as a fun, cathartic “dream” they want to continue, consider inviting guests, and joke about having several unusable “blockbuster” episodes due to bad audio as they close the series.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In a rambling, humorous podcast-style conversation, the speakers discuss feeling sick, ADHD-driven tangents, and viral laughing videos before returning to a core idea from Dan Mayer: “the way you do one thing, you do all things.” One speaker reflects on recent self-assessment, recognizing a pattern of going through motions “head down,” starting but not finishing, and wanting to stop doing things half-assed despite the emotional toll of helping others in dark places. They acknowledge using work to avoid their own issues and how personal “stuff” shapes perceptions, insecurity, and fear of failure. Referencing Carnegie and Napoleon Hill’s “mastermind” concept, they emphasize surrounding themselves with ethical, service-oriented people with integrity, praising their fathers as examples of honest, caring professionals. They also discuss how nonverbal demeanor can be misread and end by teasing a next episode about leaving a job and what the podcast means.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Nate records a short, raw episode of Left Unplugged after feeling “off,” reflecting on what to do when barely hanging on and how his perfectionism and unmet aspirations fuel frustration, especially when alone at night and overthinking others’ intentions. He describes being 45, single, and conflicted about dating, yet learning to be himself and finding relief through laughter and connection, including a recent podcast with Tyler Lovell. He shares concern for people struggling with loneliness and suicide, emphasizing the need for someone to listen rather than fix problems. After 24 years in mental health, he questions staying a therapist, noting burnout, boundaries, and his podcast as both outreach and personal therapy. He discusses fears about providing, regrets as a father, the pain of children moving out, and a moment when his youngest said, “All I need is your love.”

Support the show