What happens when creativity and mental health collide? How do we continue creating when the very mind that fuels our imagination is also carrying anxiety, depression, self-doubt, or emotional exhaustion?

In this deeply honest episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Rich Wright—artist, designer, creative director, coach, and host of the Artist Recovery Podcast. With more than three decades in the creative industries, Rich has built a remarkable career spanning fashion, jewelry design, branding, film, television, and music. Yet behind the achievements was a personal battle with depression, anxiety, and a profound mental health crisis that ultimately reshaped his life.

Together, we explore the emotional realities of creative work, the pressures of performance and perfectionism, the importance of intuition, and the often-overlooked connection between creativity, identity, and well-being. Rich shares how alternative healing, spirituality, and self-awareness helped him move from survival toward recovery, and how those experiences now inform his mission to support other creatives.

This conversation offers a compassionate look at what it means to heal while continuing to create, how to recognize the signs of emotional struggle before they become overwhelming, and why self-kindness is not a luxury but a necessity.

Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, professional, or anyone navigating life's challenges while trying to stay connected to your purpose, this episode is a reminder that your worth is not measured by your productivity—and that healing and creativity can grow together.

Join us for a powerful conversation about resilience, self-trust, mental health, and the courage to keep showing up for your life and your art.

Some stories are not just about surviving hardship—they are about discovering the strength to rebuild when everything familiar has been shaken. In this deeply moving episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Julie Barth, writer, advocate, nonprofit founder, and author of Notes from a Blackberry.

Julie shares her extraordinary journey through grief, caregiving, motherhood, trauma, and recovery. From raising a child with a rare genetic condition to losing her first husband to cancer while caring for four young children, and later finding the courage to leave an emotionally and financially abusive marriage, her story is one of profound resilience and hope.

Together, we explore the realities of caregiving, the complexities of grief, the hidden signs of unhealthy relationships, and the difficult process of reclaiming safety, stability, and self-worth after trauma. Julie also offers insights from her work supporting women-led households through the Colin James Barth Outreach, providing practical encouragement for those facing overwhelming circumstances.

This conversation is for anyone carrying unseen burdens, navigating loss, rebuilding after hardship, or seeking reassurance that healing is possible—even when the road feels long.

Join us for an honest discussion about resilience, recovery, and the courage to believe that survival is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new chapter.

What happens when the role that defined you no longer fits? How do we lead, grow, and stay emotionally alive through career shifts, workplace challenges, and the transitions that inevitably reshape our lives?

In this insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Kevin Lewis—Organization Development Consultant, executive coach, speaker, and bestselling author of Teams, Tools & Trials. Drawing on more than three decades of experience helping leaders and teams navigate complexity, Kevin shares practical wisdom on leadership, career fulfillment, team dynamics, and personal reinvention.

Together, we explore why truly high-performing teams are rare, how to recognize when you're in the wrong role, the leadership qualities that matter most in today’s workplace, and what it takes to remain resilient during uncertainty and organizational change.

We also venture into a deeper conversation about identity, retirement, and purpose. Inspired by the work of gerontologist Dr. Lydia Brontë, Kevin reflects on why many people—particularly men—struggle when their careers end, and how cultivating meaning beyond work can support both emotional well-being and longevity.

Whether you're leading a team, considering a career change, approaching retirement, or simply questioning what success means in this season of life, this episode offers valuable insights on staying engaged, purposeful, and fully alive.

Join us for a conversation about leadership, reinvention, and the lifelong pursuit of becoming whole.

https://www.kevinjlewisphd.com/align

On this episode of Elsplend Realities, we open a doorway into a wider way of seeing—one that moves beyond familiar narratives of identity, purpose, and human centrality. Joined by author, priest, and public theologian Kawuki Mukasa, we explore the deep questions that sit at the edge of science, spirituality, and imagination.

Drawing from his book Cosmic Disposition: Reclaiming the Mystery of Being in the World, Kawuki invites us into a reflective journey through cosmic meaning, evolutionary thinking, artificial intelligence, and the expanding contours of human consciousness. Together, we examine what it means to be human in a universe that is far larger, stranger, and more interconnected than we often allow ourselves to imagine.

This conversation gently challenges our assumptions about significance, control, and certainty—while opening space for humility, wonder, and responsibility in the face of an unfolding cosmic story.

Whether you are drawn to spirituality, philosophy, science, or simply the deeper questions of existence, this episode offers a contemplative space to rethink who we are, where we are, and what we might be becoming.

What does it truly mean to be a strong man in today’s world? Is it about carrying every burden alone, staying in control, and never showing weakness—or is there a healthier path?

In this insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with men’s coach Alexandru Vincze to explore the emotional realities many husbands and fathers silently navigate. From burnout and emotional shutdown to nervous system regulation, marriage, fatherhood, and authentic leadership, Alexandru shares practical wisdom for men who want more than external success—they want deeper connection.

Together, we unpack how high-performing men can move from control to presence, overcome shame, communicate more openly, and build stronger relationships at home. This conversation challenges outdated beliefs about masculinity and offers a refreshing perspective on what it means to lead with courage, vulnerability, and intention.

Whether you're a husband, father, leader, or someone seeking to better understand the men in your life, this episode provides meaningful insights into emotional resilience, healthy relationships, and the power of showing up fully.

Join us for a conversation about strength, connection, and the kind of leadership that begins from within.

In this deeply insightful episode of Elsplend Realties, we explore the power of self-awareness, personality understanding, and emotional intelligence in shaping healthier relationships and a more authentic life.

Our guest, Marita Littauer Tedder—bestselling author of Wired That Way, speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of “Living Your Best Life 60 Plus”—has spent over 30 years helping people understand how they are uniquely wired and how that awareness transforms communication, connection, and self-acceptance.

From her influential work on personality types to her decades of empowering women through reinvention and life transitions, Marita shares profound insights on embracing who you are, navigating differences in relationships, and finding purpose through every stage of life. She also opens up about the courage it takes to reinvent oneself repeatedly and how emotional awareness can turn conflict into connection.

This conversation is a reminder that clarity about who you are is not just self-knowledge—it’s the foundation for deeper relationships, greater confidence, and a more aligned life.

https://thepersonalities.com/

In this episode of Elsplend Realties, we dive into the deeper side of transformation—beyond diets, discipline, and short-term fixes—into the mindset shifts that create lasting change.

Our guest, Richard Trillion Mantey, author of You Will Keep Struggling to Lose Weight Until You Try This Four-Step Method of Losing Weight, shares his personal journey of losing over 60 pounds and rebuilding his confidence from the inside out. As a transformation coach and wellness advocate with more than 125 published works on health, mindset, and personal growth, Richard brings a powerful perspective on how inner beliefs, subconscious patterns, and emotional awareness shape physical outcomes.

This conversation explores why weight loss is often a reflection of deeper internal struggles, how self-talk and mindset influence long-term success, and what it really takes to break free from cycles of frustration and self-sabotage. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your health journey, this episode offers a grounded and compassionate path toward understanding yourself—and creating sustainable change from within.

In this uplifting episode of Elsplend Realties, we explore what it truly means to live boldly, stay present, and embrace life with curiosity instead of hesitation. Our guest, Jim Hauck of JPHauck Adventures and host of Life in the Baggage Claim, shares his journey from IT into a life built around travel, storytelling, and intentional living.

Jim opens up about the mindset shifts that helped him step into uncertainty, the power of saying “yes” to life-changing opportunities, and how travel can become more than movement — it can become a mirror for personal transformation. Through his experiences as a travel curator, consultant, and podcast host, he reveals how adventure, reflection, and consequence all shape the way we grow.

This conversation is an invitation to reimagine your everyday choices, reconnect with your sense of possibility, and start living with more courage, presence, and intention.

https://www.jphauckadventures.com/

In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realties, we step into the deeper layers of emotional healing — the kind that goes beyond surface-level coping and into the roots of anxiety, suppression, and self-understanding.

Our guest, The Autistic Hypnotist (Lawrence Bartley), shares his personal journey through anxiety, his experience with traditional therapy, and how hypnosis became a transformative tool for healing when other approaches fell short. He also opens up about his work supporting autistic individuals, helping them navigate anxiety, emotional overwhelm, screen addiction, and the hidden weight of unprocessed experiences.

This conversation challenges conventional ideas about healing and invites listeners to consider new pathways toward confidence, emotional freedom, and self-trust. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about alternative approaches to mental wellness, this episode offers a thoughtful and eye-opening perspective on what healing can truly look like.

https://lawrencebartley.com/

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we step into the world of peak performance and operational excellence to explore what it truly takes to build success that lasts. Beyond motivation and short-term productivity, this conversation focuses on the systems, clarity, and emotional intelligence required to sustain high performance in individuals, teams, and organizations.

Our guest, George Pesansky—author of Superperformance and founder of Capacity2Care—brings over 30 years of global experience working with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and professionals across six continents. Known for his practical frameworks and systems-thinking approach, George helps leaders transform isolated moments of excellence into repeatable, scalable results.

In this conversation, we unpack how leaders can distinguish real performance from surface-level productivity, eliminate ambiguity in decision-making, and turn individual talent into consistent team-wide results. We also explore the role of emotional intelligence in leadership, the patterns that lead to burnout versus sustained momentum, and how small shifts in approach can create outsized impact.

At its core, this episode is about redefining performance—not as pressure or perfection, but as clarity in action, consistency in execution, and alignment between people and purpose.

https://georgepesansky.com/