Welcome to the Give A Heck Podcast with Dwight Heck—where real conversations challenge how you think, live, and lead.

In this episode, Sira Laurel explains why leadership burnout is rising among high performers and highly sensitive professionals. Drawing from over 15 years in HR and organizational development, she breaks down how traditional leadership systems are misaligned with human biology—and why the people pushing the hardest are often the ones paying the highest cost.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted trying to perform in systems that don’t fit how you think, process, or lead—this conversation will give you clarity and direction.

Expect insight on:
• Leadership burnout and system failure
• Highly sensitive and high-performing individuals
• Why “push harder” culture creates long-term damage
• Nervous system awareness and sustainable performance
• How leadership must evolve in a changing world

This is not theory—this is real-world experience and practical perspective.

🎧 Listen now and rethink what leadership and performance should actually look like.

🤝 CONNECT WITH SIRA LAUREL
Website: https://www.leadnorthofnormal.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SiraLaurel-NorthofNormal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehighlysensitiveleader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siralaurel
Substack: https://substack.com/@thehighlysensitiveleader

🤝 CONNECT WITH DWIGHT HECK
Website: https://giveaheck.com
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📣 If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it.
Subscribe, leave a review, and continue choosing to Give A Heck.

Welcome to the Give A Heck Podcast with Dwight Heck—where real conversations meet real life change.

In Episode 291, Noah May shares his powerful journey through depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation starting at just 13 years old. What began as silent suffering turned into a defining moment when he chose to speak up. This episode dives into the realities of mental health, the impact of isolation, and how finding your voice can create purpose—not just for yourself, but for others who need to hear it.

If you’ve ever struggled in silence, questioned your direction, or felt like no one understands what you’re going through—this conversation will resonate.

Expect honest discussion around:
• Depression and anxiety in youth
• The physical toll of mental health struggles
• Breaking the stigma—especially for men
• Turning pain into purpose
• Why speaking up is the first step toward healing

This is not theory. This is lived experience.

🎧 Listen now and take the first step toward change.

🤝 CONNECT WITH NOAH MAY
Website: https://noahspodcasts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/713902225134300
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenoahshowww
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-c-may
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thenoahshowww
X / Twitter: https://www.x.com/noahspodcasts
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/noahspodcasts

🤝 CONNECT WITH DWIGHT HECK
Website: https://giveaheck.com
Podcast: https://giveaheck.com/podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GiveAHeck
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwight.heck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/give.a.heck/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-heck-65a90150/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giveaheck

📣 If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs it.
Subscribe, leave a review, and continue choosing to Give A Heck.

What does it actually take to create permanent change in your life?

In this powerful episode of the Give A Heck Podcast, Dwight Heck sits down with Stanley Bronstein, a man who transformed his life by losing over 200 pounds naturally without surgery or medication. But this conversation goes far beyond weight loss.

Stanley shares the defining moment that forced him to face the truth about his future and ask a simple but life changing question — are you willing?

Through decades of struggle, emotional eating, and temporary fixes, he discovered that real transformation does not come from motivation or quick solutions. It comes from discipline, consistent action, and a mindset rooted in long term thinking.

You will hear how Stanley rebuilt his life through simple but powerful habits, why most people fail when trying to change, and how his system, The Way of Excellence, can help you simplify the process of creating a life of purpose and intention.

This episode is not just about health. It is about ownership, responsibility, and becoming the person you are capable of becoming.

If you are tired of starting over, this conversation will challenge how you think and how you act.

• Why temporary changes always lead back to old results
• The mindset shift required for lasting transformation
• Why discipline is more important than motivation
• How small daily habits create massive long term outcomes
• The power of asking yourself — are you willing

Explore more of Stanley’s work and teachings

🌐 https://thewayofexcellence.com/
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@thewayofexcellence
💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanleybronstein/
📝 https://healthymindbodyspirit.substack.com/

🌐 https://www.giveaheck.com/
🎙️ https://giveaheck.com/podcast/
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@giveaheck
📘 https://www.facebook.com/dwight.heck/
📸 https://www.instagram.com/give.a.heck/
💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-raymond-heck-65a90150/
🎵 https://www.tiktok.com/@giveaheck

You do not need to hit rock bottom to change your life.

You need to decide you are done tolerating what is no longer serving you.

🔥 What You Will Take Away🤝 Connect with Stanley Bronstein🤝 Connect with Dwight Heck📣 Final Thought

Chris Shurian shares powerful lessons on resilience, adversity, and personal growth shaped through real-life challenges and hard-earned experience.

In this episode of the Give A Heck Podcast, Chris opens up about what it truly means to navigate difficult seasons, take personal responsibility, and continue moving forward when life does not go as planned.

This is not theory.

It is lived experience.

Through what he calls “bootstraps and battle scars,” Chris shares insights into how adversity shapes character, builds resilience, and forces clarity in the decisions we make.

The conversation explores the importance of mindset, leadership, and ownership in building a life that reflects your values and direction.

You will hear how real growth often comes from the situations we would rather avoid, and why embracing those moments can be the difference between staying stuck and moving forward.

This episode is for anyone who is navigating challenges, seeking clarity, or looking to build a stronger, more intentional path in life.

Because growth is not always comfortable, but it is always necessary.

🎙️ Give A Heck Podcast
Real conversations about purpose, personal growth, financial stewardship, mindset, faith, and intentional living.

🤝 Connect with Chris Shuria

Bootstraps and Battle Scars
https://bootstrapsandbattlescars.com

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/shurian.chris.rachel

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@chrisshurian2025

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

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

🤝 Connect with Dwight HeckGive A Heck Website
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Podcast
https://www.giveaheck.com/podcast/

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TikTok
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LinkedIn
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Most people have a moment that quietly shapes the direction of their life.

For Aaron Ryan, that moment happened in second grade.

A simple classroom assignment became the starting point for a lifelong journey that led to writing more than 40 books, building a creative career, and staying committed to a purpose-driven path.

In this episode of the Give A Heck Podcast, Aaron shares what it really takes to turn an early spark into a sustained, meaningful legacy.

This is not just about writing.

It is about
• discovering your calling and acting on it early
• building discipline and consistency over time
• creating something meaningful in a distracted world
• staying aligned with your values and purpose

Aaron also shares insights into storytelling, creativity, and how the landscape is changing with new technologies while still requiring authenticity and commitment.

If you have ever felt called to create something more, to step into your purpose, or to build something that lasts, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

Because the biggest regret is not failure. It is never starting.

🎙️ Give A Heck Podcast
Real conversations about purpose, personal growth, financial stewardship, mindset, faith, and intentional living.

Website
https://authoraaronryan.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/authoraaronryan

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https://x.com/authoraaronryan

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@authoraaronryan

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

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

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

Give A Heck Website
https://www.giveaheck.com/

Podcast
https://www.giveaheck.com/podcast/

YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@giveaheck

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

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

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

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/dwight.heck/

🤝 Connect with Aaron Ryan🤝 Connect with Dwight Heck

What if the things you believed were helping you… were actually leading you away from truth?

In this powerful episode of the Give A Heck Podcast, Dwight Heck sits down with Dr. Laurette Willis to explore a deeply personal journey from addiction, emotional struggle, and New Age practices… to faith in Jesus Christ, healing, and purpose-driven living.

Dr. Laurette shares how early emotional pain led to unhealthy coping patterns, including emotional eating and addiction, and how her search for peace eventually led her into practices that appeared helpful on the surface… until they weren’t.

This is not just a story about recovery.

It’s about truth.
It’s about surrender.
It’s about transformation.

If you’ve ever struggled with identity, searched for peace in the wrong places, or questioned whether what you’re doing is truly helping you move forward… this conversation will challenge your perspective.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• How emotional pain can lead to addiction and control patterns
• Why coping mechanisms can quietly become destructive habits
• The hidden risks behind certain New Age practices
• How faith became the foundation for real healing
• A Christian alternative to yoga and why it matters
• How to shift from searching externally to living with purpose internally

This episode is a reminder that your past does not define your future… but your choices can redefine your path.

🎙️ Connect with Dr. Laurette Willis

🌐 Website
📘 Facebook
🐦 X
▶️ YouTube
📸 Instagram
💼 LinkedIn
🎵 TikTok

🎙️ Connect with Dwight Heck

🌐 Website
🎙️ Podcast
▶️ YouTube
🎵 TikTok
💼 LinkedIn
📸 Instagram
📘 Facebook

🙏 If this episode resonated with you:

• Share it with someone who needs to hear this message
• Follow the Give A Heck Podcast
• Leave a review to help others discover purpose-driven conversations

And remember… it’s never too late to give a heck.

What happens when life changes in a single moment, and everything you thought was possible disappears?

In this powerful episode of the Give A Heck Podcast, Dwight Heck sits down with Ken Kunken, whose life changed forever during a football game at Cornell University when a devastating spinal cord injury left him paralyzed from the neck down as a quadriplegic.

Doctors believed his future would likely involve life in a nursing home. Instead, Ken refused to accept that outcome.

He returned to Cornell, became the first quadriplegic to graduate from the university, earned multiple advanced degrees, and built a remarkable 40-year career as an assistant district attorney in Nassau County, prosecuting more than 50 felony jury trials. Along the way, he became an advocate for disability rights, a husband, a father to triplet sons, a motivational speaker, and the author of I Dream of Things That Never Were: The Ken Kunken Story.

This conversation is about far more than overcoming physical adversity. It is about mindset, purpose, resilience, family support, advocacy, and the ripple effect one determined person can have on the lives of others.

In this episode, Ken shares:
• How his family shaped his resilience and belief in what was possible
• What it was like to navigate depression and uncertainty after his injury
• Why refusing to accept the limitations others place on you matters
• How he built a meaningful legal career despite major physical barriers
• His advocacy work for accessibility before disability legislation changed the landscape
• The joy of marriage, fatherhood, and creating a life beyond what others thought possible
• What writing his memoir taught him about perseverance, gratitude, and impact

Ken’s story is a reminder that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can choose how we respond. If you are facing adversity, feeling stuck, or questioning what is still possible for your life, this episode will challenge and encourage you.

Connect with Ken Kunken:
Website: https://kenkunken.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566473121422
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdUUa2hyQF8ubUmEARY9WKA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ken.kunken/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-j-kunken-b4b0a9a8/

Connect with Dwight Heck:
Website: https://www.giveaheck.com/
Podcast: https://www.giveaheck.com/podcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GiveAHeck
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giveaheck
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwightheck/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giveaheck/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dwight.heck/

If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, share it, and leave a review. It helps more people discover the Give A Heck Podcast and live life on purpose, not by accident.

And remember, it’s never too late to give a heck.

What happens when you finally decide to write your story?

In this episode of the Give A Heck Podcast, Dwight Heck sits down with Michele DeFilippo, a publishing expert with over five decades of experience, to explore why so many people never document their life experiences—and what they lose when they don’t.

Michele shares how writing is more than just putting words on a page. It’s a powerful process that creates clarity, helps people reflect on their journey, and preserves their legacy for future generations. Through decades of working with authors, she has seen firsthand how writing can transform not just the final product, but the person behind it.

This conversation dives into the evolution of publishing, the difference between craftsmanship and convenience, and why books should never be treated as commodities. It also highlights the emotional impact of storytelling, including the regret many people feel when personal stories are lost over time.

If you’ve ever thought about writing a book, journaling your experiences, or simply capturing your story for your family, this episode will challenge you to stop waiting and start documenting what matters most.

Because your story matters more than you think.

• Why most people never start writing their story

• How writing creates clarity and personal growth

• The shift from craftsmanship to speed in publishing

• The emotional cost of not documenting your life

• Why every story has value, even if others have written similar topics

• How writing can become a legacy for future generations

🤝 Connect with Michele DeFilippo

🌐 https://1106design.com
📘 Free Guide: https://1106design.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Publish-Like-the-Pros_Prf15_COLOR_with_covers_PDFx-1a.pdf
📩 [email protected]
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-defilippo-824247/
📘 https://www.facebook.com/1106design
🐦 http://x.com/1106design
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQQSYNLxoSQDokF7cDiJ27Q

🌐 https://giveaheck.com
🎧 https://giveaheck.com/podcast
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwightheck
📸 https://www.instagram.com/giveaheck
🎙️ Connect with Dwight Heck | Give A Heck

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who needs to hear this message.

Follow the Give A Heck Podcast on your favourite platform, leave a review, and help more people start living life on purpose—not by accident.

You don’t need the perfect time to start writing your story.

You just need to start.

Because the greatest loss isn’t writing something imperfect—it’s never writing it at all.

🎙 Give A Heck Podcast with Dwight Heck

What happens when the person teaching financial freedom realizes they are quietly living the opposite?

In this powerful solo episode, Dwight Heck shares a deeply personal reflection from a speech he delivered in November 2021. He explores how easy it is to appear successful on the outside while internally drifting away from purpose, alignment, and financial clarity.

Dwight explains how many people become trapped in the cycle of earning, spending, and surviving, all while believing they are moving forward. The truth is that without intentional direction, life can slowly drift away from the values and goals that truly matter.

Through honest storytelling and practical insight, Dwight breaks down how this silent drift affects finances, relationships, mindset, and personal fulfillment and how anyone can begin reclaiming control.

If you have ever felt like you are working hard but not truly moving toward the life you want, this episode will challenge you to stop drifting and start living intentionally.

• Why many people appear financially successful while quietly struggling
• How life drift slowly pulls people away from purpose
• The dangerous cycle of living paycheque to paycheque
• Why awareness is the first step toward change
• Practical ways to realign your life and financial direction

🌐 Website
https://giveaheck.com

🎙 Podcast
https://giveaheck.com/podcast/

📘 Dwight’s Book
https://giveaheck.com/book/

💼 LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-heck-65a90150/

📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/give.a.heck/

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https://www.facebook.com/dwight.heck

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https://www.tiktok.com/@giveaheck

The Give A Heck Podcast features purpose-driven conversations about mindset, faith, leadership, financial stewardship, and intentional living. Dwight Heck speaks with inspiring guests from around the world and shares real stories of people who have overcome adversity and now help others live life on purpose.

Are you drifting through life without realizing it? In thissolo episode, I, Dwight Heck, break down how life drift quietly steals direction in your finances, career, relationships, health, and purpose, and I share the four-step clarity process to stop drifting and start livingintentionally.

🧭 Episode Overview

Have you ever felt busy but not fulfilled, stable but notaligned, or successful yet unsettled?

After more than 24 years working with individuals andfamilies through financial planning, life transitions, and major personaldecisions, I have observed a troubling pattern. Most people do not destroytheir lives with one catastrophic decision.

They drift.

This episode unfolds across eight focused sections thatexpose how drift operates in your life, including the five core areas where life drift most commonly takes hold.

🔎 What You Will LearnAbout Drifting Through Life

• Why drifting through life feels responsible until optionsquietly disappear
• The five predictable areas where life drift takes hold
• How being busy can mask misalignment
• Why absence of crisis does not equal presence of purpose
• The compounding cost of delayed decisions
• The four-step clarity framework to stop drifting
• Why stewardship requires honest examination

⚠️ The Five Core Areas Where LifeDrift Takes Hold

While this episode unfolds across eight sections, fivespecific areas consistently reveal where life drift quietly steals direction.

💰 Financial Drift

Operating without a written plan. Income grows. Expensesgrow. Direction remains undefined. Compound growth rewards early intentionwhile delay quietly removes options.

🧑‍💼 Career Drift

Choosing security over purpose year after year instead ofbuilding alignment.

❤️ Relationship Drift

Letting connection become assumption. Communication becomes logistical instead of meaningful.

🏥 Health Drift

Postponing self-care until “later.” Later eventually sends abill.

🎯 Purpose Drift

Living reactively instead of intentionally. Avoiding thequestion: Why am I doing this?

⏳ The Real Cost of DriftingThrough Life

The deepest regret is rarely money.

“I wish I had started sooner.”
“I thought I had more time.”

Money can sometimes recover.
Time rarely does.

Small intentional decisions compound. So do smallavoidances.

❓ The Question Most People Avoid

What decision have you been delaying?

Drift survives on delay.

Absence of crisis does not equal alignment.

🙏 Stewardship and Responsibility

We are called to steward our finances, time, health, andrelationships.

Faith requires intentional action.

You cannot steward what you refuse to examine honestly.

🌐 Connect with DwightHeck

Website: https://giveaheck.comYouTube: https://youtube.com/@giveaheckLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dwight-heck-65a90150Instagram: https://instagram.com/give.a.heckFacebook: https://facebook.com/dwight.heckThreads: https://threads.net/@give.a.heckTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@giveaheck