I AM SELF-ISH

Episode 49 – Keep Calm and Parent On – I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, host Will Wright has a heartfelt and grounded conversation with parenting consultant and educator Kelly Burtnick.

Kelly shares her journey from classroom educator to parent coach and opens up about the emotional work behind conscious communication. Together, they explore how understanding child development, managing personal triggers, and practicing empathy can transform the entire parenting experience.

Kelly explains how her Teach Through Love training influences her approach and why self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence in parenting. She talks about the importance of lowering unrealistic expectations of children and how doing so can bring more peace, patience, and connection into the home. Will and Kelly discuss the pressures parents feel, the fear of getting it wrong, and the reality that parents are learning just as much as their kids.

The conversation highlights stress management, community support, and the ongoing practice of self-care as essential tools. Kelly reminds listeners that parenting is not about perfection. It is about consciousness and presence. Will reinforces that every day offers a new opportunity to grow and build confidence as a parent.

This episode encourages parents to slow down, breathe, and embrace the messy parts of parenting with compassion. It is a reminder that calm is possible, connection is teachable, and parents deserve support too.

About Kelly Burtnick
Kelly Burtnick is a parent consultant, certified educator, and Teach Through Love Facilitator who helps parents strengthen their connection with their children and bring more peace into their homes. She created Shore to Thrive as a safe and accessible space where parents can learn practical tools for building calm, connected, and cooperative family relationships. Kelly offers sessions both in person and via Zoom.

Shore to Thrive LLCTeach Through Love Facilitator | Parent Consultant | Certified Educator

Website: www.shoretothrive.com

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 732 440 9312Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoretothrive

Facebook: Shore to Thrive

Favorite quotes from Kelly:"Conscious, not perfect.""Keep calm and parent on."

Produced and Edited by Will Wright
Host | Certified Life Coach and Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method📱 646 645 1509

📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

Be bold. Be SELF-ISH.

Less stress, more choice.

Episode 48 – The Hot Seat – I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, the roles reverse and Alma Vicencio interviews Will Wright. For the first time, Will steps fully into vulnerability and shares the experiences that shaped his identity, his healing, and his work as a coach.

Will opens up about leading a recent workshop for a group of exhausted Verizon workers. The room was tense and resistant, which forced him to reflect on how burnout and emotional overload can make people shut down even when they need support the most.

The conversation moves into Will’s childhood and the impact of growing up in a chaotic home without a consistent father figure. He talks about the instability he lived through and the complicated relationship he had with religion, which gave him community but also created internal conflict.

Will reflects on mentoring troubled youth and the struggle of reconciling his faith with the real challenges the kids were facing. That period sparked his commitment to honesty, empathy, and emotional intelligence. He also shares how the Big Apple Circus opened his world and introduced him to diversity, performance, and the possibility of a different life. Fatherhood, therapy, and the pandemic became turning points that pushed him to confront old pain and rebuild trust in himself.

This conversation is a raw and honest look at the trauma, faith, doubt, and resilience that shaped Will’s journey. Alma guides him through the moments that broke him and the moments that built him. It is a reminder that healing begins with truth and becoming yourself requires courage and self-awareness.

Connect with Alma VicencioInstagram: https://instagram.com/almasaurus_styles

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

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alma-vicencio

Produced and Edited by Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach and Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH Method

📱 646 645 1509

📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

💼 linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

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

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, host Will Wright explores the internal struggle so many face on their journey toward authenticity and personal growth. He speaks to the quiet tension between who we were taught to be and who we truly are, reminding listeners that becoming who you are meant to be often requires letting go of what no longer fits.

Will discusses the fear of not being liked, the pressure to please, and the emotional weight that comes from trying to live up to other people’s expectations. He challenges listeners to consider what parts of themselves they’re still holding onto out of obligation or fear—and what could open up if they finally released them.

This episode is a powerful invitation to stop performing for acceptance and start living from alignment. Because becoming your true self isn’t about adding more—it’s about releasing what’s in the way.

Memorable insights:“You can’t become who you’re meant to be while clinging to who you were.”“The fear of not being liked will always keep you smaller than your purpose.”“Authenticity starts where approval ends.”

Produced and Edited by Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach & Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH™ Method

📱 646-645-1509

📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

Episode 46 – Unscripted Truth – I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, host Will Wright sits down with Tiffany Unruh and Stacey, the creators of Fuck Off Truth Tellers, for a raw and heart-centered conversation about vulnerability, authenticity, and the courage to live and speak your truth.

The three explore how their friendship evolved into a podcast built on honesty, humor, and unapologetic realness. They reflect on the messy middle of personal growth—the fears, societal pressures, and emotional breakthroughs that come with showing up as your full self. Together, they discuss accountability, the fear of rejection, and the freedom that comes when you stop performing for the world and start living for yourself.

Through laughter, storytelling, and even a few fun hypotheticals, Tiffany and Stacey remind listeners that authenticity isn’t about perfection—it’s about permission. Permission to be messy, permission to grow, and permission to own your truth without apology.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever struggled to balance self-expression with self-protection, and for everyone learning that true connection begins where pretending ends.

Memorable insights:“Vulnerability is the doorway to real connection.”“Accountability isn’t punishment, it’s empowerment.”“The truth might scare people, but it will set you free.”

About the Guests

Tiffany Unruh and Stacey are the dynamic duo behind Fuck Off Truth Tellers—two best friends who reject the traditional blueprint for women and proudly own their off-script story. Their long friendship gives their show a natural chemistry, blending humor, storytelling, and catharsis. Instead of polished advice, they offer messy, unapologetic realness. It’s about laughing through the chaos, sharing what shaped them, and reminding listeners that there’s no single way to live a full, satisfying life.

Connect with Fuck Off Truth Tellers

📸 Instagram: @fuckofftruthtellers

📸 Tiffany: @tiffanynicoleunruh

📸 Stacey: @stacious8

🔗 Linktree: @fuckofftruthtellers

Produced and Edited by Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach & Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH™ Method

📱 646-645-1509

📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

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

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, host Will Wright explores the dynamics of compassion, validation, and the importance of setting boundaries in both relationships and personal life.

He examines how the energy we bring into our acts of service often determines whether we feel fulfilled or drained, and how easily empathy can turn into emotional exhaustion when it lacks boundaries.

Will breaks down Level Four Energy as the space where we finally feel like we are making a difference, but also where the need for validation can quietly take over. He explains that sometimes the reason we give so much isn’t just because we care, but because we want to feel seen or valued in return. When love depends on validation, service starts to cost us more than it gives.

The conversation invites listeners to notice the difference between caring and controlling, and how creating boundaries doesn’t push people away—it protects the heart behind your empathy. True compassion inspires, but compassion without boundaries leads to burnout. Love without limits eventually breaks the person who’s always giving it.

This episode is a reminder that self-care is not selfish. It’s how we sustain our ability to love, serve, and connect with others without losing ourselves in the process.

Memorable insights:“Sometimes the reason you give so much isn’t just because you care.”“When your love depends on validation, your service starts to cost you.”“Boundaries that you create aren’t rejections—they are respect.”“You are tired because you haven’t learned where caring ends and control begins.”

Produced and Edited by Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach & Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH™ Method

📱 646-645-1509

📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

Less Stress, More Choice.

Episode 44 – Better After Baby – I Am Self-ish Podcast

Welcome back to the I AM SELF-ISH™ Podcast—your space to explore the connection between mindset, emotion, and personal growth. I’m your host, Will Wright, certified life coach and stress management expert, here to help you redefine what it means to put yourself first.

Each week, I sit down with thought leaders, change-makers, and everyday people doing extraordinary inner work. Together, we explore the real stories, lessons, and energy shifts that move us from fear and obligation to passion and choice.

In this episode, I’m joined by Tori Whitaker, founder of Better After Baby and a motherhood identity coach helping moms rediscover their strength, confidence, and sense of self at every phase postpartum. Together, we explore how motherhood transforms every aspect of life—and how rediscovery doesn’t mean losing yourself, but coming home to who you are now.

Tori shares her journey from collegiate gymnast and top-performing Equinox trainer to single mom and entrepreneur, blending her real-life experience with proven fitness, mindset, and nutrition strategies. The conversation highlights the power of community, the importance of self-care, and how redefining what “better” means after having children opens the door to true empowerment.

Will and Tori also unpack the mindset shifts that help mothers move beyond survival mode, the myth of “balance,” and how boundaries and vulnerability can deepen connection both at home and within ourselves. Together, they reframe motherhood as an evolution—not a limitation—and remind listeners that self-care is not selfish, it’s essential.

Tori shares her philosophy of AND, not OR, teaching moms they don’t have to choose between motherhood and personal fulfillment. Her approach focuses on building customized systems that fit each woman’s unique life and goals—because motherhood isn’t one-size-fits-all. With honesty and heart, she encourages every mother to embrace abundance, authenticity, and the belief that they can truly be better after baby.

Memorable insights:“Failure is not an option—the simple but profound line that got me through the rebuild, one day at a time.”
“Stick to the plan, not your mood. Habit formation is simple, not easy—but your mood will keep you stagnant.”
“You don’t have to choose between being a mom and being yourself. You can be both. Abundance over here.”

Connect with Tori WhitakerFitness, Nutrition & Mindset Coach | CEO, Better After Baby

📧 [email protected]

📲 203-610-7885

🌐 bebetterafterbaby.com

📸 Instagram: @torikwhit

💼 Facebook & LinkedIn: Tori Whitaker

Better After Baby, Not Instead of Being a Mom.”
Produced and Edited by Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach & Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH™ Method

📱 646-645-1509

📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

Less stress, more choice.

Episode 43 – Level Three Energy: The Illusion of Control

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, host Will Wright explores the concept of Level Three Energy—a state where individuals have learned to manage their emotions but haven’t yet fully healed from them. At this level, people often rely on coping mechanisms, rational thinking, and control to maintain balance, but beneath the surface, unprocessed emotions still linger.

Will breaks down how Level Three Energy can create a false sense of peace, where composure replaces connection and understanding replaces true healing. While emotional management is a step forward from chaos, it can easily become a comfort zone that prevents deeper emotional freedom. This episode invites listeners to move beyond coping and into conscious healing, where awareness and vulnerability meet growth.

Through the lens of energy leadership and emotional awareness, Will challenges the idea that maturity means suppression. True resilience, he explains, is not found in bypassing pain but in facing it with compassion and courage. Living SELF-ISH™ at this level means prioritizing your emotional truth over appearances—and choosing authenticity over avoidance.

Will reminds us that you can master emotional management without achieving emotional healing. Rationalizing pain often leads to numbness, and Level Three Energy provides only conditional peace. Healing requires confronting your emotions, not thinking your way around them. As Will puts it, “You can’t outthink grief. Level Three is the bridge.”

Keywords: emotional healing, energy leadership, stress management, coping mechanisms, personal growth, emotional awareness, self-discovery, mental health, resilience, life coaching

Connect with Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach & Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH™ Method

📱 646-645-1509

📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

Episode 42 – When I Cry – I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, host Will Wright explores the significance of crying as a powerful emotional release and a profound form of healing. He reminds listeners that crying is not a sign of weakness but a reflection of strength—an honest connection to our truest selves that allows for emotional clarity and peace.

Will shares personal insights on how tears have helped him process emotions he couldn’t always put into words, revealing how each tear carries a message of relief, truth, and renewal. Crying, he explains, is both spiritual and cleansing—a natural part of being human that restores balance and reconnects us to what matters most.

This episode is an invitation to see crying as a reset button for the soul. It’s emotional hygiene that clears away clutter, teaches compassion, and deepens self-acceptance. Will closes with a powerful reminder that vulnerability is courage, not shame—and that allowing yourself to cry is one of the most authentic expressions of growth and freedom.

Memorable insights:“Crying is not weakness—it’s proof that you still care.”“Every tear carries a message of truth and release.”“Vulnerability isn’t something to hide; it’s how we heal.”

Connect with Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach & Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH™ Method

📱 646-645-1509📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

Episode 41 – Boundaries, Self-Love & Growth – I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, host Will Wright is joined by psychotherapist Kelly Zemer for a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation about the deep connection between self-love, boundaries, and personal growth. Together, they explore Kelly’s journey as a therapist, the importance of understanding emotional landscapes, and how societal expectations—especially those surrounding masculinity—can limit authentic self-expression.

The discussion dives into the healing power of boundaries, the role of self-care in addiction recovery, and how open communication builds stronger, more honest relationships. Kelly and Will also reimagine classic fairy tales, such as Cinderella, to illustrate how stories can evolve to reflect self-empowerment and autonomy rather than dependency and rescue.

This episode is a powerful reminder that boundaries aren’t barriers—they’re bridges to deeper connection. True self-love begins with awareness, honesty, and the willingness to care for yourself first.

Memorable insights:“Boundaries can bring people closer together.”“Self-love is not selfish—it’s necessary for growth.”“Open communication is the foundation of emotional freedom.”

Connect with Kelly ZemerPsychotherapist | Coach | Speaker📧 [email protected]

🌐 kellyzemer.com

📸 Instagram: @kellyzemer

Connect with Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach & Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH™ Method📱 646-645-1509📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

📸 Instagram: @selfish.will

Episode 40 – Level Two Energy: The Conflict Trap – I Am Self-ish Podcast

In this episode of the I Am Self-ish podcast, host Will Wright unpacks the concept of Level Two Energy—an energy state driven by conflict, competition, and a win-lose mindset. He explores how this energy shows up in our everyday lives, from the workplace to our closest relationships, and how it thrives on anger, resentment, and stress overload.

While Level Two Energy can produce short-term results, Will emphasizes the long-term costs: strained relationships, burnout, and a constant cycle of pressure. He explains why recognizing this energy is the first step to change and how shifting away from a win-lose approach opens the door to collaboration, growth, and healthier environments.

Through the lens of the Energy Leadership Index Assessment, listeners are invited to reflect on how much Level Two Energy influences their choices and how they can begin shifting into new possibilities. Will reminds us that while conflict may be common in our culture, it doesn’t have to define us. Living SELF-ISH™ means prioritizing your well-being, managing stress through awareness and choice, and embracing the freedom that comes with alignment.

Memorable insights:
“Level Two Energy fuels conflict but drains connection.”“A win-lose mindset might get results, but it costs you peace.”“Choosing differently creates the space for healthier relationships and growth.”

Connect with Will WrightHost | Certified Life Coach & Stress Management CoachCreator of the I AM SELF-ISH™ Method

646-645-1509📧 [email protected]

🌐 iamself-ish.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/selfish-will

Instagram: @selfish.will