Today on the podcast, we’re hearing from Kass Thomas. She’s a communication expert, empowerment coach, and best-selling author. Her most recent book is called Dancing with Riches.

We had so much fun during this interview. Our hearts connected and a true philosophical exploration took place as Kass applied what she teaches and coaches to my questions.

This episode is all about accessing the limitless potential of who you are and the limitless potential of the experiences you can have if you’re open to them and even other people. Doing that is a major contribution to society and the world.

In other words, we talk about what your limitations really are, getting beyond them, how feeling good is a major contribution you make to those around you, and how inclusivity and exclusivity tie in to overcoming limitations so you can feel good.

We then go deep into how the universe works, with personal stories from Kass’s life about when the universe seemed to intervene because she included herself and others.

You’ll come away from this episode with an expanded perspective on:

-Connection

-Why it’s important to let your walls down

-What happens when you do

-And how the very nature of communication at it’s root fits in

At a minimum, this episode will get you thinking. At a maximum, you’ll come away from it encouraged to be more open in your life and start taking steps to reach the next level of your potential.

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Want the world to change? Let’s go back to basics so you can have a strong foundation for being part of the change. To do this, download my free ebook, What It Means to Be Human. Visit humanamplified.com/episodes/097 to claim your copy now. 

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE:

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and it’s safe to do so, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Or you can text START to 88788.

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This week on the show, we’re welcoming guest Shonda Pence. She’s a social worker, educator, devoted human advocate, and founder of the sober living program in Charleston, WV called Mending Fences.

Today though, we’re focusing on her personal experience of surviving and thriving after domestic violence, also known as intimate partner violence and domestic abuse.

I’ve known Shonda and pieces of her story for a while now and asked her to come on the podcast all the way back in season 1. She didn’t feel comfortable then, and that was absolutely okay. I bring this up because here we are in season 4, and Shonda reached out to say she was ready. So, it is an absolute honor to have her on the show and just goes to show that healing can happen after an abusive marriage or any trauma you’ve been through.

There is light at the other end of this tunnel.

Eventually, you’ll be able to talk about it. And when you do, it’ll help other people as it continues to help you.

So, listen on to hear Shonda bravely explain why it used to be hard to tell her story, why it’s important to speak out now, and what her life is like now in a healthy and loving marriage.

We then dive into how she even got into an abusive marriage in the first place and what it was like living in it. Shonda describes actual examples of physical and emotional abuse she endured and the complicated dynamics of trying to get help in a small town, the isolation she experienced, and how she finally got out.

We go into the emotions she experienced once the abusive relationship was over, ranging from peace to grief, which is important to to know is normal. And we explore how long it has taken her to recover.

We wrap up by talking about what we, as a society, should be asking instead of “why didn’t you leave?”

Oftentimes, close friends and family don’t realize what’s going on in these types of intimate partner abuse situations. If you suspect someone you love is going through a similar experience, this episode can help you recognize some of the signs and understand why your loved one may feel unsafe to talk or leave. If you are in the situation yourself, our hope is this will help you safely choose yourself when you can, whether that’s before, during, or after being abused.

TRIGGER WARNING: We discuss intimate partner abuse in detail, including gun violence and other specific instances of domestic violence. Listener discretion is advised.

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Keep going in the direction of lasting, healing practice in your life with my online mini-course Momentum Restored. Enroll now: humanamplified.com/momentumrestoredcourse

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Support the show on Patreon.

Today, we’re talking to Dr. John Demartini. He’s a human behavior expert, educator, international best-selling author, and founder of the Demartini Institute. 

And get this, he’s a man who was born on Thanksgiving day and he works in gratitude to transform lives.

Dr. John Demartini is a returning guest to Human Amplified. He was featured on the blog this past summer. For a more foundational understanding of the gratitude topics discussed in today’s podcast episode, you may find it helpful to read his blog interview titled, “On the Way, Not in the Way.”

Today, however, we get straight to the point in answering the question: how can you love every experience you’ve had in life even when you’ve experienced trauma? 

Dr. Demartini immediately and vividly details examples of how this is possible and what his (unidentified) clients have done to implement his advice in their specific difficult scenarios. 

The answers involve big mindset shifts, understanding how deep gratitude works, and then being able to find gratitude in all of life, regardless of if you deem the experience to be, in Dr. Demartini’s words, terrible or terrific.

Dr. Demartini’s gratitude work seems to be taking people out of a victim mentality.

In this episode, we discuss topics like perception, the impact of becoming aware of the unconscious, why you may not see the benefit of a trauma, the benefits of gratitude, Dr. Demartini’s own personal gratitude journaling practice that he’s had for over 39 years, and cultural feelings around death and grief.

You’ll leave this episode with inspiration and empowerment. Specifically, you’ll get a lot of food for thought, actionable advice to explore your own perceptions around past trauma you’ve experienced, and tips for finding gratitude to help you move forward and rewrite your story.

TRIGGER WARNING: Real stories of healing from violent abductions and rape are discussed in detail. Listener discretion is advised.

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Stay motivated, relax more, and strengthen your spirituality, all to keep going in the direction of authentic, lasting healing practices in your life. Enroll today in my online mini-course momentum restored at humanamplified.com/momentumrestoredcourse.

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Listeners, if you’d like to see excerpts from Dr. John Demartini’s personal gratitude journal, where he scrolls through a volume of pages detailing a couple week’s worth of events and happenings he’s so grateful for, plus see other cuts we made two his interview, subscribe to The Good Seats on Human Amplified’s Patreon. There, you’ll receive a completely ad-free and unedited video of this interview that lasts about an hour and five minutes. Plus, you’ll get behind the scenes commentary for this week and each week of the podcast season when new episodes come out. To get The Good Seats, go to patreon.com/humanamplified.

Happy April listeners! This month on the podcast, we’re shifting from a theme of self care and body to the power of choice. And we have several guests lined up on this topic all month. First of which, I’m incredibly excited to introduce you to, Taylor Rochestie. He’s a professional basketball player, husband, dad, world traveler, best-selling author of the book A New 20/20 Vision, and today he’s talking to us all about choosing happiness and trusting the process of your life.

He appeared on our blog this past summer with some other amazing insight, so if you’re interested in hearing more about authenticity, embracing being the underdog, and gratitude read his blog interview titled, “Reprogramming Adversity.”

In this episode, Taylor really dives deep into how happiness is a choice, what he personally does to choose happiness, and how you can incorporate some of the same type of actions into your own life, from noticing the little details and finding the good to placing bets with your friends and family to add some excitement to a personal growth goal you may have.

We begin the conversation by following up with what Taylor’s been up to since we last spoke, move into a bit about Taylor’s book, and then he really gives you some actionable take aways with tips around gratitude and creating habits to build confidence. We finish up by talking about celebrating wins, the importance of accountability, and the roles of trust and even addiction when choosing a positive life path.

You’ll come away from this episode empowered, inspired, and will have next steps you can take to start choosing happiness more in your own life, even when bad things are happening in the world around you.

Quick note: We recorded this episode before the Winter Olympics took place and before Taylor started his latest basketball season in China. So, this will make sense after you listen, but just know, Taylor did make it to China.

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Become a Human Amplified VIP by subscribing to one of our foundational Patreon tiers: https://www.patreon.com/humanamplified

This week, we’re continuing with our focus on the human body by talking to Nashville singer-songwriter, Reiki master, and hypnotherapist, Hannah Bethel, about her journey with Lyme disease, adventures in nature, and her latest music.

First, we dig deep into Hannah’s adventurous spirit, specifics of solo hikes she took in Alaska and Sedona, AZ, challenging limiting beliefs, and later we circle back around to how that love for adventure carries over into what she loves about touring.

In between, we learn how Lyme disease set the stage for Hannah’s current music career, which was just taking off when she first became unwell. After a couple years of healing, Hannah was able to get back into making music coupled with her passion to help others come into health holistically.

I’ve oftentimes said music has healed me and held me together in some of the hardest times in my life, so it’s really interesting to look at how music and healing have intertwined in Hannah’s life.

Yes, we discuss the specifics of symptoms and getting a Lyme diagnosis to what test to take and what practitioners Hannah went to. She tells us how she learned to listen to her body.

But, the bigger lessons here are all about how every part of being human impacts every other part and that mindset and attitude are (no pun intended) instrumental in making progress.

So relax for the next hour as Hannah makes the connection for us between listening to your own body in healing and in making music — using the subtle queues to navigate decision making and the joys of vulnerability.

At the end of the episode, we also jump in with some details about Hannah’s newly released EP, a particularly vulnerable album, Until the Sun Comes Back Around, which you’ll definitely want to check out.

And guys, Hannah is having a record release show at 3rd & Lindsley in Nashville on Wed. April 6th, 2022. Get your tickets and go listen. It’ll be an amazing night out.

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This episode is brought to you by my free Healing Priorities Workbook. Get it at: https://mailchi.mp/dbbcd037309e/healing-priorities-workbook.

I personally created this workbook to help you intentionally decide on and prioritize which part of your holistic health you need or want to work on first and then I give you tools to take action in the area you choose. 

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Access premium content and support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/humanamplified

This month, we’ve been focusing on themes of listening to your body, taking care of your body, and healing holistically. Several guests so far have even talked about how body dysmorphia, food restriction, and eating disorder fueled by traditional wellness activities have played into their lives.

That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to this week’s guest, Samantha Lander, or Sam for short. Not only does she have similar experiences, but she’s a St. Louis, MO-based single mom, personal trainer, and functional diagnostic nutritionist who DJs on the side. I don’t know if she would say this, but I would definitely say she’s not your traditional nutritionist.

Sam used functional nutrition to heal herself from allergies, food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, and parasites. She’s also founder of See Fit where she coaches people back to optimal health when they just can’t quite put their finger on why they feel bad.

In this episode, we really explore Sam’s life and the events that contributed to her feeling so sick before she got into functional health. We talk about everything from drinking lake water as a kiddo to a meth addiction and doing time in a federal prison.

However, Sam mainly packs in actionable advice for how you can clean up your eating habits, heal your gut, and make healthier choices.

She gets deep into why most people feel bad regularly, what leaky gut is and how it happens, and what it actually feels like to feel good — something you may not even know you’re missing, even if you’re not sick.

You’ll come away from this episode knowing:

-How food sensitivities form

-How people get parasites and some ways to avoid them

-Tips for how to start healing your gut

-Tips for how to start eating clean at home and in restaurants - Sam lists the most common foods to avoid that cause inflammation

-And you’ll even find out how many times a day you should be pooping

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This episode is brought to you by my free Healing Priorities Workbook. Get it at: https://mailchi.mp/dbbcd037309e/healing-priorities-workbook.

I personally created this workbook to help you intentionally decide on and prioritize which part of your holistic health you need or want to work on first and then I give you tools to take action in the area you choose. 

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Access premium content and support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/humanamplified

Today’s guest, Rebbecca Hulse, is a New Zealand-based professional dancer turned author, speaker, and creative business coach.

She’s all about embracing your inner rebel as fuel to move forward in a way that works for you. Once she started doing this in her own life, she says she ended up being 10-years a head of schedule in terms of achieving her dreams and she had to answer the question, “now what?”

Well that’s possible for you too.

I just love how personal Rebecca gets on today’s episode. By the end of the interview, she creates a space for you to truly let go of anything bothering you from the day, and gives you actionable steps for how to move forward after that.

Essentially, from this episode, you’ll be inspired and empowered to live on your own terms, strengthen you peace, listen to your body and own knowing, and to make space in your day for creativity.

How awesome is that!

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Show our sponsor some love by shopping Bed of Nails using this link: https://bedofnails.org/?ref=BRANDIFLECK

Use code BON15BRANDI for 15% off your purchase.

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Visit the show notes at: https://humanamplified.com/episodes/091

A huge part of our human condition is going to work. Let’s face it — for most of us, we spend more time with our colleagues and co-workers than our families. But, what if we imagined a better way?

A non-traditional wellness company based in Nashville, Tenn. called TRILUNA, is doing just that. Co-founders and Co-CEOs Elizabeth Moore and Ashley Brooke James started TRILUNA after hustle culture literally made them sick.

Both Elizabeth and Ashley met while obtaining health coaching and yoga certifications after quitting their corporate jobs.

Now, you can often find them leading workshops, hosting festivals, speaking at conferences, and executing panels about the power of stress management and self-care to prevent burnout.

Typically, Ashley joins Elizabeth in these types of discussions, but we did record this episode during a particularly stressful point during the Omicron surge here in Tennessee. So, today on Human Amplified, you’ll be hearing from a solo Elizabeth Moore.

This episode is for you if hustle culture just isn’t cutting it anymore and you want to educate yourself on how to say no to it. In other words, if you’re going through the motions of the grind day in and day out and it’s detracting from your life — as it is for so many others as evidenced by The Great Resignation — listen in as guest Elizabeth Moore empowers us to renegotiate our relationship to wellness, failure, work, our work environment, and our co-workers.

She explains the impacts of chronic stress and burnout on our bodies and our communities, including our work communities.

From this episode, you’ll learn:

-What an unhealthy or sick environment is

-How to recognize stress in your body

-How to know when stress turns to burnout

-When to set boundaries around your times of diminished capacity to produce

-How to use vulnerability to change culture

-And, what the hard conversations are that need to occur so we can start shifting expectations around stress and burn out at work

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode does come with a trigger warning. To get the full context of why a non-traditional approach to wellness can be needed to foster healthier change, we discuss Elizabeth’s journey with body dysmorphia and an eating disorder in detail.

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Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails. Use a Bed of Nails acupressure mat and pillow to reduce your stress. Shop our affiliate link today and use code BON15BRANDI for 15% off at check out.

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Today we’re talking with hairstylist and aesthetician turned natural soap maker, Coco Kennell. She’s the founder of St. Louis, Missouri-based skincare company, Soap Life 360.

Coco Kennell is a resourceful DIYer who comes from a long line of problem solvers who’ve ingrained resourcefulness as a core value in her life. That resourcefulness led to the creation of her natural skincare products, which she formulates and makes mostly in her home lab.

Soap Life 360 is all about the natural soap, but it’s so much more than that. As Coco puts it, it’s also about starting a conversation around coming home to community violence while still learning how to love your neighbor.

In this episode, Coco details how her reaction to the civil unrest in Ferguson, MO, in 2014 led to soap-making in the first place - as a form of relief. She details the memory of this all too familiar instance of police brutality, and reveals a personal connection to that event that reopened childhood wounds all over again – it was personal pain layered beneath the pain in her community.

But, there was also inspiration when she looked closely - she saw wounded people taking care of one another. So with her ingredients and packaging, she infuses the characteristics of inspiring community personalities into her products. Then, she tops the product off with a fitting name designed to spark a conversation that bridges gaps between predominantly white and Black communities.

The interesting thing about this episode is, yes, we talk a little business, a little chemistry that goes into soap making, and why natural ingredients are so important for your skin. But we also talk about lessons of acceptance and family ties.

What stands out to me the most is when Coco describes how natural skin care allows your skin to be how it’s meant to be. What a beautiful symbol for undoing the societal conditioning around racism.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode does come with a trigger warning due to the detailing of the murder of teen, Michael Brown, as Coco recalls it and she reflects on how this impacted her emotionally. Listener discretion is advised.

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Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails. Visit humanamplified.com/episodes/089 for your 15% discount on Bed of Nails products and link to shop from to enhance your self care practice.

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Brendon is an author, internationally-acclaimed speaker, and relationships expert who says he used to be an outcast always trying to fit in.

In today’s episode, we dig deep into that feeling, that so many of us have, and how Brendon was able to embrace his differences and stop trying to be what everyone else wanted him to be.

He describes his childhood, gets real and transparent about struggling with addiction and the outpouring of support that has comes with being real and raw, and also realizing the power that we all have from surviving traumatic pasts.

We also spend some time thinking about how to deal with the power dynamic and struggles that come with trying to influence or control others into being what you think they should be or vice versa.

The bottom line is, you’ll leave today’s episode with empowerment.

You’ll know that you have the power to:

-Fully embrace who you are, in all your differences that may not be considered “the norm”

-Know your own truth

-Make decisions to change things you don’t like about your life

-Recognize judgement from others for what it is - and you’ll have to listen to find out what it is

-Recognize judgement in yourself and what it feels like to take yourself away from being you, so you can stop doing that and start living more fully

-Embrace vulnerability

-And, you’ll come away from this episode knowing how to apply Brendon’s advice to big issues like coming out as lgbtq+ in complicated family situations and masking versus not masking or vaccinating versus not vaccinating.

As Brendon puts it, the world is changing. The future you want will not be based on the past version of you.

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We did cut about ten minutes of content out of the original interview for our podcast episode. To access the unedited and uncut video with no ads + commentary on the making of this episode, grab The Good Seats tier or higher on the Human Amplified Patreon. Access to The Good Seats also comes with an Aftershow Pass.

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