I AM SELF-ISH

Episode 79 – Stop the Stigma

A Mental Health Conversation
I Am Self-ish Podcast

Mental health affects how we think, connect, make decisions, and move through the world, yet too many people still feel pressured to hide when they are struggling.

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright speaks openly about his experiences with depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. He reflects on the opportunities, joy, and connection that can be lost when mental health concerns are ignored, minimized, or treated as something to be ashamed of.

Will also challenges the idea that good mental health means feeling happy all the time. Good mental health can look like allowing yourself to experience difficult emotions without being completely overtaken by them. It can mean maintaining honest relationships, asking for support, and showing up as yourself instead of constantly pretending to be okay.

The conversation explores what can happen when mental health struggles remain unaddressed. Isolation, emotional overwhelm, harmful coping patterns, and staying in unhealthy environments can begin to feel normal. Over time, shame and silence can affect relationships, opportunities, and the way we see ourselves.

Will examines how mental health stigma is often inherited through family, culture, and community. In many cases, silence began as a survival strategy. People were taught to remain strong, keep personal matters private, or depend on faith alone. While faith can be a powerful source of comfort and strength, Will emphasizes that faith, therapy, coaching, and medication do not have to exist in conflict with one another.

Doing the inner work is not a sign that something is wrong with you. It is a commitment to understanding yourself, healing what has been carried, and creating more space to show up authentically for the people you love.

Mental health care is also part of the legacy we leave behind. Material success matters, but so does teaching future generations that they are allowed to feel, speak honestly, ask for help, and receive support without shame.

Stopping the stigma begins with the conversations we are willing to have. It begins by recognizing mental health as an essential part of caring for ourselves and choosing to live fully.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also speak with a licensed mental health professional or search for a provider through Psychology Today.

Produced and Edited by Will Wright

William Wright
Certified Master Practitioner
Career & Leadership Coach
📧 [email protected]
📞 646-645-1509
🌐 www.iamself-ish.com

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.
Less stress, more choice.

Episode 78 – I'm Still Here.
The Story Behind My Purpose

I Am Self-ish Podcast

This is one of the most personal episodes Will Wright has ever recorded.

For years, listeners have heard Will talk about stress, self-trust, boundaries, and living intentionally. In this episode, he shares the experiences that shaped those conversations and the pain that nearly kept him from ever having them.

Will opens up about his lifelong battle with depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts. He talks honestly about what it has been like to carry emotional pain while still trying to show up for other people, and why he believes vulnerability is one of the greatest acts of courage we can offer.

He also reflects on rejection from the very communities he hoped to serve, the loneliness that followed, and the difficult process of finding purpose when it feels like no one is listening. Rather than allowing those experiences to define him, Will explains how they became the reason he continues coaching, speaking, and creating this podcast.

This conversation is not about having all the answers or pretending that healing is a straight line. It is about choosing to keep going, even when life feels impossibly heavy. It is about recognizing that strength is often quiet, that asking for help is never weakness, and that surviving can become the beginning of something meaningful.

If you've ever questioned your worth, wondered whether anyone would miss you, or felt exhausted from carrying emotional pain in silence, this episode is for you.

Will closes with a reminder he believes everyone deserves to hear:

You deserve to still be here.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please don't carry it alone. Reach out to someone you trust, a licensed mental health professional, or your local crisis resources. Asking for help is a sign of courage, and support is available.

Produced and Edited by Will Wright

William Wright
Certified Master Practitioner
Career &Leadership Coach

📧 [email protected]
📞 646-645-1509
🌐 www.iamself-ish.com

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.
Less stress, more choice.

Episode 77 – The Way I See It: You Woke Me Up!
I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of The Way I See It, Will Wright explores the moral questions at the heart of the movie Passengers. What begins as a science fiction love story quickly becomes a deeper conversation about loneliness, consent, choice, and the stories we tell ourselves to justify our actions.

Will examines Jim's decision to wake Aurora from hibernation without her knowledge or permission, ultimately taking away the future she had chosen for herself. While the film presents the relationship as a love story, Will asks listeners to look beyond the romance and consider the ethical cost of that decision.

The conversation explores how loneliness can influence judgment and how desperation can blur the line between what we need and what we have the right to take from someone else. Will reflects on the difference between loving someone and believing they owe us something simply because of our circumstances.

Rather than portraying Jim as a villain, Will encourages listeners to recognize the complexity of being human. Good intentions do not erase harmful choices, and emotional pain does not justify removing another person's ability to choose. The discussion challenges us to think about how often we create stories that make our decisions easier to live with while overlooking their impact on others.

At its core, this episode is about respecting autonomy. Love is not proven by possession or sacrifice. It is demonstrated by honoring another person's freedom, even when doing so is painful.

This episode is an invitation to think differently about one of the most talked-about moments in modern science fiction and to ask a simple but powerful question:

When does love stop being love and start becoming entitlement?

Produced and Edited by Will Wright

William Wright
Certified Master Practitioner
Career & Leadership Coach
📧 [email protected]
📞 646-645-1509
🌐 www.iamself-ish.com

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.
Less stress, more choice.

Episode 76 – Inside the Session: The Power of Honoring Your Needs I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright takes listeners behind the scenes of a real coaching session to explore what can happen when we begin paying attention to our needs instead of automatically pushing them aside.

The session focuses on a client named Mike, who had been practicing a simple exercise: after honoring a personal need, he would pause and notice what happened next. What he discovered was powerful. He could feel himself breathing differently. He noticed a release of stress and tension and began to recognize what his body had been trying to communicate all along.

Will explores how these quiet moments of awareness can become the foundation for greater self-trust. Each time we recognize a need and respond to it intentionally, we make another deposit into our relationship with ourselves. Over time, those choices can influence how we set boundaries, make decisions, and show up in our relationships.

The conversation also examines the difference between reacting to stress and becoming curious about what the stress may be telling us. Instead of immediately trying to fix or escape the feeling, we can begin asking what we actually need in that moment.

At the heart of this session is a simple but important truth: honoring your needs is not about ignoring other people or making everything about yourself. It is about developing enough honesty and self-awareness to make choices that are healthier, clearer, and more intentional.

Will leaves listeners with a question to reflect on:

“What did this moment show me about my ability to respond to myself?

Sometimes growth does not arrive through a dramatic breakthrough. Sometimes it begins with noticing that you can breathe a little easier because, this time, you listened to yourself.

Produced and Edited by Will Wright

William Wright
Certified Master Practitioner
Career & Leadership Coach

📧 [email protected]
📞 646-645-1509
🌐 www.iamself-ish.com

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.
Less stress, more choice.

Episode 75 – Why Do We Do This?
I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright explores one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves: Why do we continue doing things that once hurt us?

The conversation examines how beliefs, traditions, and emotional patterns are often passed from one generation to the next without ever being questioned. Many of the rules we live by were inherited long before we had the opportunity to decide whether they truly reflected who we are. Over time, those beliefs become so familiar that they feel like truth, even when they create shame, guilt, fear, or control.

Will reflects on how unhealed experiences can quietly shape the way we parent, communicate, and build relationships. He challenges listeners to consider whether they are passing down wisdom or simply repeating patterns that were handed to them. Children, he explains, are quick to recognize the difference between authenticity and contradiction, making it even more important to model the values we hope to teach.

The episode also explores the grief that often comes with breaking generational cycles. Letting go of inherited beliefs is not about rejecting your family or your past. It is about creating enough awareness to choose what you want to carry forward and what no longer belongs in your life.

At its core, this conversation is an invitation to pause before passing something on. Every belief, tradition, and expectation deserves to be examined. When we choose intentionally instead of automatically, we create the opportunity to leave our children something greater than inherited pain. We leave them the freedom to become themselves.

Produced and Edited by Will Wright

William Wright
Certified Master Practitioner
Career & Leadership Coach
📧 [email protected]
📞 646-645-1509
🌐 www.iamself-ish.com

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.
Less stress, more choice.

Episode 74 –Letting Your Guard Down
I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright opens the door to a real coaching conversation as part of the Inside the Session series. Through the story of one client, Will demonstrates how coaching often goes far beyond the problem someone brings into the room.

What began as a conversation about stress quickly revealed something deeper. As Will listened beneath the words, a pattern emerged. The client had spent years protecting himself behind emotional armor, believing that staying guarded was the safest way to move through life. The stress he was experiencing was not the root issue. It was a symptom of something much deeper.

Throughout the session, Will explores the connection between safety, vulnerability, and authenticity. He highlights how many people spend their lives trying to manage stress without ever addressing the fear that sits underneath it. By naming the client's "guard," Will helps make the invisible visible, creating awareness around a pattern that had quietly shaped relationships, emotions, and self-expression for years.

The conversation shifts away from fixing stress and toward a more meaningful question: What do I want, need, and deserve? That simple question becomes an invitation to move beyond survival and toward emotional honesty.

This episode is a powerful reminder that vulnerability is not weakness. It is courage. Real change begins when we stop hiding behind the versions of ourselves we created for protection and allow ourselves to be seen for who we truly are.

At its core, this session is about letting your guard down long enough to discover that what you have been protecting may be the very thing keeping you stuck.

Produced and Edited by Will Wright
Creator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method

📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.
Less stress, more choice.

Episode 73 – Why the Bear Wins: Understanding Safety and Uncertainty for Women
I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright explores the viral question that sparked countless conversations: Would you rather encounter a bear or a man while alone in the woods?

At first glance, the question seems simple. The reactions it generated reveal something much deeper.

Will unpacks why so many women chose the bear and what that response says about safety, trust, and the realities women navigate every day. The conversation is not about labeling all men as dangerous. It is about understanding the mental calculations, precautions, and awareness many women carry with them whenever they move through the world.

The episode explores the difference between predictable danger and uncertainty. A bear behaves like a bear. Human behavior, on the other hand, can be far less predictable. That uncertainty shapes decisions, routines, and the level of vigilance many women feel they must maintain simply to stay safe.

Will also examines the cultural factors that contribute to this reality, including the ways silence, dismissal, and inaction can unintentionally reinforce environments where women feel unheard or unsupported. He challenges listeners, especially men, to move beyond defensiveness and toward curiosity, empathy, and understanding.

This conversation is not about blame. It is about awareness.

By listening without immediately trying to explain, defend, or debate, we create space for a deeper understanding of experiences that may be very different from our own. Real change begins when people feel seen, heard, and believed.

At its core, this episode is an invitation to reflect on safety, accountability, and the role each of us plays in creating a world where more people feel free to move through it without fear.

Produced and Edited by Will Wright
Creator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method

📧 [email protected]
🌐 iamself-ish.com
📸 Instagram: @selfish.will
💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.
Less stress, more choice.

Episode 72 – Re-released: Lonely Was the Cost
I Am Self-ish Podcast

Some conversations deserve a second listen.

In this re-release, Will Wright revisits a deeply personal reflection on healing, truth, and the loneliness that can come with both. As themes of self-trust, boundaries, and personal growth continue to show up in coaching conversations, this episode felt important to bring back into the spotlight.

Will speaks openly about the emotional cost of growth and how standing firmly in your truth can shift relationships in ways you may not expect. Healing is not always celebrated. Sometimes it creates distance. Sometimes it changes dynamics you once relied on. And sometimes the very growth you prayed for requires you to let go of people who only knew the version of you that no longer exists.

Drawing from his own experiences with trauma, faith, and personal transformation, Will explores the difference between inherited beliefs and lived truth. He reflects on the tension between seeking external validation and learning to trust yourself, while emphasizing the role personal responsibility plays in lasting change.

This episode is not about blaming the past. It is about owning the present. It is about recognizing that self-acceptance is not selfish and that choosing peace may require disappointing people who preferred the old version of you.

Lonely was the cost. Freedom was the reward.

If you are navigating a season of change, questioning old beliefs, or learning how to choose yourself without guilt, this conversation is for you.

Produced and Edited by Will Wright
Host | Certified Life Coach and Stress Management Coach
Creator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method

📧 [email protected]
🌐 iamself-ish.com
📸 Instagram: @selfish.will
💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.
Less stress, more choice.

Episode 71 – When the Unexpected Shows Up

I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright sits down with certified financial planner Ross Levine for an important conversation about financial security, preparation, and what it means to protect yourself when life takes an unexpected turn.

Ross shares practical insights into why financial planning is about more than investing. It is about creating a strategy that supports your life through uncertainty.

Whether it is job loss, illness, disability, or unexpected life changes, Ross explains why having a plan in place before something happens can make all the difference.

Will and Ross explore the difference between investment advisors and comprehensive financial planners, highlighting why a written financial plan matters more than simply watching numbers in an account.

The conversation also breaks down common misconceptions around insurance and why protecting your income through disability and life insurance is often overlooked until it becomes urgent.

The discussion touches on how financial priorities shift during different stages of life, from young couples and growing families to retirement planning and divorce. Ross also shares insights into his work as a financial planner and the importance of helping clients make decisions rooted in clarity rather than fear.

What stands out throughout the conversation is a simple but powerful idea: preparation creates peace of mind. Financial planning is not about predicting every outcome. It is about building enough protection and flexibility so the unexpected does not completely derail your future.

At its core, this episode is a reminder that financial confidence begins with awareness, education, and taking action before you think you need to.

About Ross Levine

Ross Levine is a Financial Advisor and Certified Financial Planner® professional with Northwestern Mutual. His mission is to build lasting relationships by helping clients create a path toward financial security and long-term independence. Inspired by watching his father help families prepare for the unexpected,

Ross combines practical planning with education to support clients through every stage of life.

His specialties include retirement planning, insurance analysis, education planning, divorce planning, and helping young couples and families build strong financial foundations.

Connect with Ross Levine

Website: https://www.insightfinancial.nm.com

Email: [email protected] Planning Resource: https://www.letsmakeaplan.org

Financial Planning Specialties Include:

✔️ Retirement Planning

✔️ Insurance Analysis & Planning

✔️ IRA / 401(k) Rollovers

✔️ Advisory Services through Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company

✔️ Young Couples & Families

✔️ Education Planning

✔️ Divorce Planning

✔️ Long-Term Care Planning

Connect with Ross Levine https://tinyurl.com/RossPlanningCall

🌐 Website:

https://www.insightfinancial.nm.com

📧 Email:

[email protected]

📚 CFP Resource Website:

https://www.letsmakeaplan.org

A great resource for financial planning topics and education.

Produced and Edited by Will WrightCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method📧 [email protected]🌐 iamself-ish.com📸 Instagram: @selfish.will💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.Less stress. More choice.

Episode 70 – Stop Guessing. Start Dressing.
I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, Will Wright sits down with wardrobe therapist and stylist Alma Vicencio for a conversation about confidence, identity, and the impact of dressing in a way that truly reflects who you are.

Alma shares how style goes far beyond clothes and explains why the right wardrobe can reduce decision fatigue, increase confidence, and support both personal and professional growth. Through her Wardrobe Workshop Framework, she helps clients move away from guesswork and toward intentional choices that align with their lifestyle, personality, and goals.

Will and Alma explore how color analysis, body type understanding, and personalized style statements can help people feel more confident in what they wear. They also discuss why so many people feel stuck in front of their closets and how shopping without strategy often creates more frustration instead of clarity.

The conversation touches on the emotional side of style, including the attachment we have to clothing, the pressure to dress for who we think we should be, and the importance of honoring who we are right now. Alma explains how wardrobe confidence influences visibility, self-expression, and even the way people show up in important moments of life and work.

Alma also shares details about her upcoming group program, Co-Heart, a community-centered experience designed to help participants build confidence and transform the way they approach style.

At its core, this episode is about using fashion as support rather than pressure. Your wardrobe should work for your life, reflect your personality, and help you feel more like yourself, not less.

About Alma Vicencio
Alma Vicencio has spent more than 20 years in the fashion industry, building a career rooted in helping people feel confident in their personal style. After graduating from FIDM in 2003, she began as a fashion designer in Los Angeles before moving into personal shopping for luxury brands including Neiman Marcus, John Varvatos, and Prada. In 2020, she founded Alma Styles, combining her expertise with a passion for helping people feel confident and aligned in how they show up. Based in Brooklyn with her family, Alma works with clients internationally through personalized styling services.

Connect with Alma VicencioWebsite: https://almastyles.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/almasaurus_stylesWardrobe Workshop Framework: https://www.almastyles.com/wwframework

Produced and Edited by Will WrightCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method📧 [email protected]🌐 iamself-ish.com📸 Instagram: @selfish.will💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.Less stress. More choice.