Elsplend Realities

What if the answer isn’t learning how to slow down, but learning how to work with the way your mind and nervous system naturally function? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Janet explores ADHD, neurodivergence, nervous system regulation, energy healing, and the importance of replacing self-judgment with deeper self-understanding.

Drawing from her work with Reiki, mediumship, and Akashic Record reading, Janet offers a perspective that encourages people to stop forcing themselves into approaches that may not fit and instead discover practices that feel more accessible and authentic. Together, we explore why traditional meditation can feel challenging for some people, what regulation can look like beyond stillness, and how shifting our relationship with ourselves can create greater ease. This conversation is an invitation to stop trying to “fix” yourself and begin discovering what it means to truly work with yourself.

What happens when the trust we place in a medical system is challenged by the realization that we may not have fully understood the risks or consequences of our treatment? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Ellen Lubensky explores psychiatric medication, informed consent, patient advocacy, withdrawal, and the deeply personal journey of reclaiming autonomy in healthcare.

A Stanford-educated attorney and former Social Security Disability and medical malpractice lawyer, Ellen brings both professional insight and lived experience to this conversation. After experiencing nearly two decades of disabling tardive dyskinesia associated with psychiatric medication, she began advocating for greater transparency and patient awareness. Together, we explore what meaningful informed consent should look like, why self-advocacy can be difficult during vulnerable moments, the emotional impact of feeling uninformed, and how patients can become more engaged in decisions about their care. This is a conversation about asking better questions, understanding our choices, and creating more thoughtful dialogue around mental health and healing.

What happens when we look beyond the image of a cultural icon and discover the choices, struggles, and convictions of the person behind it? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Scott Reisfield takes us beyond the Hollywood mythology surrounding Greta Garbo and into the story of a woman whose influence helped reshape ideas about independence, identity, autonomy, and womanhood.

As Garbo’s grand-nephew and the author of Greta Garbo: The Rise of the Modern Woman, Scott draws from family resources, private letters, and previously unavailable documents to offer a more nuanced portrait of the legendary actress. Together, we explore Garbo’s determination to control her career and personal life, the boundaries she challenged, the vulnerabilities behind the icon, and why her choices continue to resonate with conversations about self-expression and personal agency today. This conversation is ultimately about legacy—and how one person’s courage to live differently can quietly expand what becomes possible for generations that follow.

What if progress doesn’t mean feeling strong, motivated, or completely ready? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Jack Nolan shares a deeply personal journey through mental health challenges, rebuilding, resilience, and learning to recognize the significance of even the smallest steps forward.

After being sectioned for psychosis and mania twice, Jack found his way back through moments that might seem insignificant from the outside—but became powerful milestones in his recovery, from getting out of bed to buying a simple chocolate bar. Now a motivational speaker and author, he reflects on redefining success, finding strength in vulnerability, and transforming lived experience into a message of hope. This conversation is a reminder that wherever you are today—even if it feels like “10%”—you can still begin again, one honest step at a time.

Have you ever known exactly what you needed to do, yet somehow found yourself repeating the same patterns that keep you from moving forward?

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Dr. Siobhán Ewert takes us beneath the surface of procrastination, self-sabotage, money behavior, visibility, leadership, and decision-making to explore the nervous system patterns that can quietly influence our choices. Drawing from her experience across medicine, neuroscience, entrepreneurship, and humanitarian work, she offers a powerful shift in perspective: what we often label as personal failure may actually be a pattern that makes sense once we understand where it comes from.

This conversation invites us to replace self-judgment with curiosity, understand the hidden forces shaping our behavior, and recognize that meaningful change often begins when we finally see ourselves clearly.

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What if growth isn’t about becoming someone new—but unlearning the patterns that once helped you survive?

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Jodie Charlop explores the internal patterns that shape how high-performing leaders think, communicate, respond to pressure, and experience success. Drawing from more than two decades of experience in high-pressure leadership environments, Jodie shares how capable people can become disconnected from their authentic voice—and what it takes to recognize when you’re operating at the wrong altitude.

This conversation goes beyond achievement and performance to explore alignment, confidence, identity, transitions, and the courage to stop proving and start showing up more honestly. A powerful reminder that sometimes the next stage of growth isn’t about doing more—it’s about becoming more aligned with who you already are.

What happens when we stop running from the truths we’ve been trying to manage quietly?

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Mark Ehrenkranz shares a deeply personal and human perspective on recovery, addiction, trauma, shame, and healing. Drawing from decades of personal recovery and years of supporting people in ERs, ICUs, and detox units, Mark explores what radical honesty really means—and why acknowledging the truth can become the first step toward meaningful change.

This conversation goes beyond the stereotypes surrounding addiction to explore vulnerability, nervous system dysregulation, peer support, and the realities of long-term healing. A powerful reminder that sometimes, facing the truth isn’t the end of the story—it’s where a different story begins.

What happens when you’re capable, experienced, and accomplished—but still find yourself holding back in the moments that matter most?

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Dr. Elizabeth Pritchard explores the hidden patterns behind self-doubt, leadership confidence, psychological capital, and the gap between what we are capable of and what we allow ourselves to express. Drawing from decades of research in neuroscience, leadership, and behaviour, Elizabeth shares practical frameworks for recognizing the patterns that cause us to shrink and learning to show up with greater authenticity and confidence.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the next level of leadership isn’t about becoming more capable—it’s about finally allowing yourself to fully occupy the space you’ve already earned.

In a world where technology evolves faster than we can sometimes process, how do we stay grounded, make better decisions, and remain in control of how we respond? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Chris Farr explores the intersection of technology, leadership, human behavior, and the mindset required to navigate constant change.

Drawing from more than two decades in IT and leadership, Chris shares insights into how businesses and teams respond under pressure, why many technical challenges are ultimately human challenges, and how self-awareness, communication, and discipline influence decision-making. This conversation offers a practical reminder that adapting to change isn’t simply about having the right tools—it’s about developing the clarity to understand what’s happening and the intention to choose how we respond.

What happens when we stop filling our lives with more and start reconnecting with what we’ve slowly drifted away from? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Matthew Gardner shares how frustration, exploration, and time spent in remote natural environments transformed the way he saw his life—and eventually inspired him to build a business with a deeper purpose.

Through his journey from searching for something different to creating a maple-powered kids snack brand designed to help children reconnect with the outdoors, Matthew explores disconnection, presence, entrepreneurship, and the importance of giving children space to experience the world beyond screens and schedules. This conversation is a reminder that sometimes the path forward isn’t about doing more, but about returning to something simple, grounding, and real.