Personally, 2023 has been all about connecting better with myself, connecting better with others, and building connections among people in my network that I think would be of value to one another. One of the most important things that I've learned in life, both personally and professionally, is that our connections begin with ourselves. When you have a good connection with yourself, you can show up in the world authentically and attract the right people, connect, and build relationships.

If you don't have a strong sense of self, you have the potential to go out and build the wrong kind of connections, damage the ones that should be healthy, and have distant relationships with people you're supposed to be close with. You may not be living the experiences that you want or having the conversations that you want.

And that's what brought me to today's guest, Susan McPherson. Susan is the author of "The Lost Art of Connecting," which came out in 2021. Her whole goal with this book is to build a much-needed practical guide to building human connection. Her book came out after the pandemic, but she actually began writing it before the pandemic. Because of this, all of this time that Susan had to spend remotely helped her develop ways of connecting with people that start digitally and build in real life. Her book is especially helpful in the post-pandemic world, as many people once in isolation have had to readjust to the new social climate.

Susan considers herself a serial connector, which is also a goal of mine. I'm interested to learn a lot of her tactics, her strategies, and the way that she approaches building human connections. As you listen to this, think to yourself, "Who am I as a person? What's my relationship with myself?" Also, think about what you need to work on. There will be opportunities to learn and apply some of Susan's tools into your everyday life.

Find Susan here:

"The Lost Art of Connecting" book: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Art-Connecting-Meaningful-Relationships/dp/1260469883/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3PCMOBH770KCG&keywords=the+lost+art+of+connecting+susan+mcpherson&qid=1678476187&sprefix=the+lost+art+of+con%2Caps%2C281&sr=8-1

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Today's guest, Samantha Joy, is a writing coach and the bestselling author of "The Less Effect: Design Your Life for Happiness & Purpose.

I recently connected with Samantha and bonded over our shared interest in authenticity and vulnerability on social media. At the time we met, we were both going through a similar situation, and we decided to hop on a call together to talk through it. I enjoy her approach to social media, as well as her approach to life.

Samantha shared with me how writing a book changed her life, bringing her from her darkest place to her most vibrant and empowered phase in life. I wanted to bring her on the show to talk about things like understanding how to be comfortable with discomfort, what a mindset shift means, and how to take care of yourself so that you can shed the things that hold you back and show up in the world as your authentic self.

Samantha is able to share how she came out of her darkest times in a very comfortable and understandable way. How she rose from the ashes to become her best self, which I think is an incredibly powerful story.

Find Samantha here:

The Less Effect book: https://www.amazon.com/less-effect-Design-Happiness-Purpose/dp/1985672545/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MC3MMMXLW56B&keywords=the+less+effect&qid=1677879389&sprefix=the+less+ef%2Caps%2C626&sr=8-1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsamanthajoy/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Today's episode features Tj Power, a neuroscientist whose work focuses on mental health.

I wanted to have Tj on because the way that he speaks about mental health come from a scientific perspective. He shares a lot about the neurochemical reactions that happen in our bodies that result in changes in our mental health, such as dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and more. He shares how each one of these chemicals affects our moods and habits, both individually and in harmony.

He also shares healthy ways that we can stimulate these neurochemicals. Our brains are frequently stimulated by technology and social media, but this connection isn't necessarily healthy and can cause other internal turmoil. Dopamine is meant to be released as a reward for achieving something or doing something good, but when it's so attached to instant-gratifiers like TikTok or Instagram that motivation can dry up and our neurochemicals can go out of balance.

We're going to learn a lot through Tj today, and I'll also be sharing some of the routines that I use to try and stimulate my brain.

Find Tj. Here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjpowerneuroscience/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tjpower/

Neurify Website: https://www.neurify.io/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Today's guest is Kyle Stanger, who is the founder of the brand Boys Get Sad Too. I first learned about Boys Get Sad Too in the summer of 2022 when I was trying to hone in on what my podcast was going to be. As I was going through subject matter, format, and themes I wanted to cover my show, I was inspired by what Kyle had done with his brand. The purpose of Boys Get Sad Too is to raise mental health awareness among men and boys. As someone who lives with depression and spent a very large part of my life silent about it, I believe it is incredibly important to support brands and advocates raising awareness around mental health. However, I think due to societal expectations around masculinity and beliefs like "boys don't cry," many men struggle to talk about their own mental health out of the fear that they'll appear weak. I personally struggle with this, but have been on a journey to be more open around it. If we can educate one another in a positive way, we'll grow together to normalize mental health conversations.

It's very important to me to have Kyle on, and I'm excited to learn more about his story and give him an opportunity to share it.

Find Kyle Stanger here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylestanger_/

Website: https://boysgetsadtoo.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Our guest today is Dr. Rachel Green (and for you "Friends" fans out there, it is in fact her real name).

Dr. Green is a chiropractor and wellness coach, who we are having on to talk about wellness, holistic health, and the vagus nerve. If you're wondering what the vagus nerve is, you're in for a treat. When Dr. Green and I first connected on Instagram, I had never heard of the vagus nerve. I did a bit of research before deciding I'd prefer to learn about it in real time on the podcast with you.

You know how I feel about holistic health and wellness. I think it's very important to have broader conversations with experts and pioneers about taking a more holistic approach to health in order to heal sources, not address symptoms. There's always room for science and medication, but I think it's important to figure out how to better our livelihood and daily health so that we hopefully don't get to the point where it is necessary to call in the doctors.

One of the reasons we're going to have Dr. Green on today is because she is a great social media follow who shares lots of helpful and informative information about the vagus nerve and living a more holistic lifestyle.

Please welcome Dr. Rachel Green to the show!

Find Dr. Green here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblondechiro/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Today we have an amazing guest, Leeor Gal, better known as "The Therapy Gal." I've recently become acquainted with Leeor through social media and listening to her podcast "Therapists Out of Office." They had a conversation recently called "Therapy 101," which I related to heavily.

I've been open about my mental health journey, and I've really had to get back to a lot of the foundational work. Listening to their podcast caused me to reflect on my journey, how it started, and how far I have come. A lot of what I'm working on is rooted in starting over again and examining where I misstepped and where I need to improve for the future.

Another inspiration came in the form of someone reaching out to me after meeting in person to discuss how difficult it is for them to talk to others about their mental health challenges. They wanted to be able to have more conversations about the challenges they're working through, including how to approach starting therapy. To me, this was the universe saying "your on a similar path, you should discuss this with Leeor."

Leeor is a marriage and family therapist, and I brought her on to discuss where and how to start your own mental health journey. I also appreciate that Leeor is great at making therapy humorous and bringing her comedic personality into her therapy and mental health-related content. There are a few videos of hers that I have actually laughed out loud at, which I think is a great way to destigmatize this difficult topic. Making mental health relatable and funny helps open up conversations that might not happen otherwise.

Please welcome Leeor Gal to the show!Find Leeor Gal here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_therapy_gal/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetherapygal?lang=en

Website: https://thetherapygal.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

I've been thinking about mental health a lot recently. Especially around the holidays, I found myself thinking about my own personal experiences. I've been really trying to understand the stigma around mental health and wellness as I dive into my own mental health journey, but I've also been thinking about the larger impacts that mental health has on our society. Being in the public eye and having a large social media following, there are a lot of challenges I've faced emotionally and adjustments I've had to make to my way of living. People who are safe behind a keyboard can be cruel, and I didn't truly realize how bad they can get until gaining that following.

Recently on the podcast, I've been talking to some mental health professionals on the different types of challenges people are facing, as well as the stigmas that are rooted deeper than just the top-level feelings. I've been a proponent that we should share more about mental health so that we can normalize it, but as I've been talking with more experts through this podcast, I've learned that this is only one of many things we need to be doing to destigmatize mental health conversations.

Dr. Han Ren came to the United States as a child and faced a lot of the normal mental health challenges that kids do growing up. However, she also had to deal with challenges that were specific to her being an immigrant. As she got older, Dr. Han realized that there are different types of mental health challenges that people of different identities face. She's dedicated her career to helping people understand the feelings that they have toward their identity aren't always going to be the same. She helps people transfer their feelings of shame into positive action toward racial justice. Dr. Han is an expert on integrating anti-racism and self-care into mental health by helping others understand the role identity plays in mental health.

We're going to talk about her views, her personal experiences as an immigrant, the impacts of identity and race have on mental health, and the ways that we can support one another. With her lived experiences and medical background, listening to Dr. Han is a great starting point to understanding this often difficult topic.

Find Dr. Han Ren here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.han.ren/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drhanren

Website: https://www.drhanren.com/

Pivot Psychology: https://www.pivotpsychologyatx.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

I've been thinking a lot about the world, as well as the simplicity of how I live my life and spend my money. At the time of this recording, we are right in the middle of the holidays, and I feel like this is the pivotal moment in the world for consumerism. Everywhere you look, we see advertising, excessive amounts of consumerism, and more products than you ever see at any other time of the year, all attached to the idea of spending time with loved ones and forging deeper connections.

One of the things that it got me thinking about was our personal attachment to material objects and what I am hanging onto. How much stuff do I really need?

As I've gotten to know Kristy the past few months, I've been intrigued by the way that she approaches life minimally and helps her clients do the same. Kristy has a business called Neatly Balanced, which coaches people how to declutter their life - not just from a physical object standpoint, but also by being able to focus on what is important to them.

In this episode Kristy shares how a trip to Honduras helped her understand how a minimalist way of living can help you live a more fulfilling life, along with her passion for giving back to the community and helping those in need. We dive into her personal journey, and how she managed to step outside of the consumerist capitalist model to focus on things that really matter to her.

Let's dive right in and learn more about Minimalism.

Find Kristy here:

Website: https://neatly-balanced.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Over the past few months, I have gone through a lot of life-changing events. To help find my path forward, I've been relying a lot on my intuition and listening to the universe. I feel like I'm open to the universe speaking to me more than I ever have before. I'm really listening to it.

Today's guest, Ariana Vargas, is the founder of the mental health app STIGMA. This app is designed to help people who are struggling connect with one another and give each other support. Given that caveat, how did I get in contact with Ariana? This is where I think the universe is speaking to me.

A couple of weeks ago, I was trying to find any excuse not to go to the gym, but forced myself to go anyway. When I arrived, I didn't feel like working out and began to wander. As I finally got in a groove, I noticed a former co-worker and felt the social pressure to say hi. I wasn't in a mood to talk, so I began avoiding him. This led to me ending up in one of the gym's studios, where somebody approached me and asked if I was "the marketing executive from 'Love is Blind.' I got into a conversation with him about how he quit his well-paying tech job to begin his startup journey.

As we conversed about marketing and business, he asked me what I was doing right now, and I talked a little about my advocacy for authenticity and mental health. He mentioned that his friend Ariana had recently won an award for her mental health app STIGMA, and I immediately said I'd love to meet her. A little bit later, she DM's me, and we set up a time to grab a coffee. An hour of discussion turned into many hours of sharing stories and learning about STIGMA. When I heard her passion and found out about the vision, I immediately wanted to get her on the podcast.

I love hearing people talk about their passions, and as I go through my own journey, Ariana is someone who I think can help guide me as she's guided so many others. The STIGMA app is free, and gives you the opportunity to ask someone for hope or share hope through video, text, voice memos and a variety of ways.

Find Ariana here:

STIGMA App: https://thestigma.app/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Today's guest, Seth David Radwell, is the author of the book "American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing Our Nation." Not too long ago, we came out of the midterms, and I've been thinking a lot about what the results mean for the years ahead. Every election feels like a game of monkey in the middle between the two parties, with the citizens in the middle. It often feels like nothing changes, we're just passing the ball back and forth.

One of the interesting things about Seth is that he is not looking at politics from a left or right perspective - he looks at it in terms of the fracturing we are experiencing. Seth's ultimate message is that if we don't make structural changes to the way we conduct politics, we won't have a democracy for very long.

It often feels like our democracy is hanging on by a thread between the pressure of big business interests and corruption within the system. Our political system is set up in a way that doesn't allow us to make progress, and we all suffer for it. At the same time, we as citizens are too busy arguing with one another to actually hold our elected officials accountable for the promises that they make us and to solve the issues.

Seth uses history as a tool to examine what is going on in the modern world, drawing heavily from the Enlightenment as well as important turning points in American history. Seth looks at the points where we were most divided and focuses on the areas where we were able to come together. Seth also draws on his business background to find problem-solving methodologies that can be deployed to help bridge the divide between Americans on either side of the political aisle.

Let's dive right in.

Find Seth David Radwell here:

American Schism Book: https://www.amazon.com/American-Schism-Enlightenments-Secret-Healing/dp/1626348618/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3M7RZ677MPO08&keywords=american+schism&qid=1673041498&sprefix=american+sc%2Caps%2C412&sr=8-1

Website: https://sethdavidradwell.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg