Manders Mindset

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What if the life you want is on the other side of a single question? 

In this revealing and transformative episode of Manders Mindset, I sit down with author, speaker, and international mindset coach Carrie Bradley—a woman whose journey from people-pleasing and perfectionism to deep personal freedom is nothing short of powerful. We dive into how her divorce, financial uncertainty, and emotional burnout cracked open the deeper question: What do I actually want?

Carrie shares how that question became the foundation for a new life rooted in self-trust, desire, and aligned abundance. From overcoming postpartum depression to writing her first book (Dare to Desire), this conversation is packed with vulnerable wisdom on what it really takes to let go of who you think you’re “supposed” to be—and start becoming who you actually are.

Whether you're navigating change, questioning your direction, or finally ready to put yourself first, this episode offers inspiration and practical steps to start living in alignment with your desires.

🎙️ In this episode, listeners will learn:

🧠 How people-pleasing and perfectionism show up as survival strategies—and how to break free
 💬 Why asking “What do I want?” is harder (and more life-changing) than it sounds
 🧘‍♀️ How meditation, movement, and mindset work can transform anxiety into peace
 💸 Why Carrie believes pleasure—not restriction—is the key to true financial freedom
 📚 The real story behind her book Dare to Desire and how it blends self-help with storytelling
💡 What it looks like to build supportive relationships when you're starting over
💥 How shifting your energy can accelerate the results you want in life and business

🕒 Timeline Summary:

[1:09] – Carrie shares her core value: freedom in finances, emotions, and relationships
 [4:56] – Growing up in a religious home, early people-pleasing, and starting investing at 17
 [6:29] – Realizing she didn’t know what she truly wanted—and why that matters
 [9:32] – Battling postpartum depression and the wake-up call that sparked change
 [13:52] – Why meditation, running, and dance became healing tools for mind and body
 [15:18] – Carrie redefines wealth through alignment, pleasure, and a mindset of trust
 [20:01] – How one friend’s support changed everything during her divorce
 [24:44] – Lessons from The Hobbit and walking through your own hero’s journey
[27:28] – Behind her book Dare to Desire and the woman who inspired its creation
[36:17] – Practical steps for women who want more freedom in life and business
[39:08] – Why abundance is more about energy than hustle—and how to tap into it

🎧 If this episode moved you, please take a moment to rate and review the show—it helps more people find these honest conversations. And if someone you know needs to hear this message? Send it their way. We all deserve to ask for more.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
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Can you turn pain into power and confusion into clarity?

In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode of Manders Mindset, I sit down with fibromyalgia coach, author, and podcast host Tami Stackelhouse. As someone who’s lived with fibromyalgia for decades—and transformed her experience into hope for others—Tami shares her remarkable journey from misunderstood symptoms to creating the International Fibromyalgia Coaching Institute. This episode is especially meaningful to me because my own mother lives with fibromyalgia, and Tami's work has opened doors of understanding I didn’t even know existed.

We dive into the reality of living with a chronic illness that most doctors aren’t even trained to recognize, the emotional toll of being dismissed, and how Tami rewrote her life by becoming the coach she wished she'd had. We also discuss the myths around fibromyalgia, brain fog, nervous system dysregulation, and what true healing looks like—not from denial, but from radical self-awareness. Whether you or someone you love lives with fibromyalgia, this is a conversation filled with compassion, clarity, and actual hope.

🎙️ In this episode, listeners will learn:

🧠 Why fibromyalgia is more than "just chronic pain"—and how it's an amplifier for symptoms
 💤 What brain fog really is and how to work with it instead of fighting it
🧘‍♀️ How nervous system regulation can help you manage flares and reclaim energy
📉 Why mindset denial can worsen symptoms—and how acceptance starts the healing
📚 The story behind Tami’s coaching institute and how she's training others to help
🩺 What to do when your doctor says, “I don’t know how to help you”
🧪 How small, mindful experiments can shift your day-to-day experience with chronic illness

🕒 Timeline Summary:

[1:47] – Tami shares how seeing silver linings shaped her identity even during childhood illness
 [6:47] – Her fibromyalgia symptoms started as a child, but diagnoses took decades
 [13:19] – The long road to diagnosis and the limitations of the traditional healthcare system
 [19:46] – Is fibromyalgia mental or physical? Unpacking misinformation and medical bias
 [25:12] – The problem with "support groups" vs. coaching for actual healing
 [30:29] – How she created the first fibromyalgia coaching program in the world
 [39:34] – What to do when your doctor says "I don't know how to help you"
 [45:56] – Why calling fibromyalgia "chronic pain" misses the bigger picture
 [49:00] – Using mindfulness as a science experiment to manage symptoms
 [54:18] – What is a “fibro flare” and how do you know when you’re in one?
 [1:00:24] – Real-life strategies for managing brain fog and reclaiming your clarity
 [1:04:57] – Understanding fibromyalgia as an amplifier—and how to turn the volume down

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
📱 Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

🌐 Tami’s Website & Coaching Institute: fibromyalgiacoachinginstitute.com

🎧 The Fibromyalgia Podcast: fibromyalgiapodcast.com

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Can embracing your confusion lead to the clarity you've been chasing?

In this powerful episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with Giovanna Silvestri, author of Confused Girl: Find Your Peace in the Chaos and founder of the activewear and lifestyle brand Confused Girl in the City. Known for her raw honesty and grounded wisdom, Giovanna shares how embracing confusion became the most important step in discovering who she truly is.

From walking away from a high powered Hollywood career to writing her book while living abroad with just one suitcase, Giovanna opens up about the real work behind healing, self-worth, and starting over. She shares rituals for releasing shame, insights on emotional clutter, and her refreshing take on romantic relationships and modern womanhood. As she puts it:

In this episode, listeners will learn:

🌊 Why confusion isn’t failure — it’s a portal to personal realignment
 🧘‍♀️ How a simple daily ritual helped Giovanna release years of shame
 🧠 The connection between clutter, anxiety, and mindset
 💬 Why emotional intelligence is key to navigating modern relationships
 📖 How she wrote a life-changing book across Bali and Berlin
 💡 The difference between wanting success vs. needing it for self-worth

🕒 Timeline Summary:

[1:27] – Giovanna reflects on her core identity beyond labels
[6:35] – From Hollywood highs to hitting a breaking point
[11:06] – Self-worth, rejection, and doing the real inner work [19:25] Decluttering shame and physical space for clarity
[26:57] The chapters she almost didn’t include and why they mattered
[33:07] Unfiltered insight on dating, emotional gaps, and human connection
[39:42] Why Bali became the backdrop for healing and writing

To Connect with Giovanna:

📘 Confused Girl: Find Your Peace in the Chaos – Available at Amazon, Target & Barnes & Noble
📲 Follow Giovanna on Instagram: @ConfusedGirlLA
🌐 Website & Shop: confusedgirlinthecity.com
🎁 Pre-order Bonus: Win a 2-night Maui stay + $100 gift card to her online store

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
📱 Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

Confusion isn’t the end... it’s the beginning of a deeper alignment.

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In this energizing and eye-opening episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda sits down with the unforgettable Matthew Lesko bestselling author, TV personality, and passionate advocate for helping everyday people access government grants and funding they never knew existed.

Recognized instantly by his iconic question mark suit, Lesko brings more than just flair he brings decades of wisdom, humor, and hard-won experience. In this candid conversation, he shares how embracing failure, showing up authentically, and having fun became the foundation of his success. He also dives deep into the shocking truth about why most people never access the free help available to them —and how Google might be doing more harm than good.

From business flops to New York Times bestseller to building a thriving community that helps thousands, Lesko reveals how living for something bigger than himself changed everything. This episode is filled with practical advice, real talk, and the kind of inspiration that stays with you long after listening.

In this episode, listeners will learn:

💸 Why Google can actually hurt your chances of finding financial assistance
❓ The surprising origin of the question mark suit and what it really represents
📚 How Lesko turned government documents into a multimillion-dollar publishing empire
❤️ Why giving is the most fulfilling (and selfish!) act we can do
🔍 Where to find real, local help for rent, small business, education, and more
🧠 How mindset and authenticity fuel long-term success
👥 Why community based support is more effective than expert advice alone

🕒 Timeline Summary:

[2:10] Lesko on fear, identity, and why fun comes first
 [10:34] Growing up in Pennsylvania and early struggles with school
 [18:01] Military service, MBA life, and lessons from two failed businesses
 [25:25] The story behind the question mark suit and how it nearly cost him everything.
 [35:47] How Google makes it harder to access financial help and where to go instead.
 [53:20] Post-COVID funding: how the pandemic reshaped public perception
 [1:04:00] Practical advice for beginners navigating government resources

🌐 Join Matthew’s community: https://www.leskohelp.com
📍 Find local aid by ZIP code: https://www.findhelp.org
🚀 Free business startup help via the SBA: https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance

To Connect with Amanda:
🔗 linktree.com/thebreathinggoddess
📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
📱 Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to rate, follow, and review Manders Mindset wherever you listen. Sharing the show helps others discover the power of one mindset shift at a time. 🌟

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In this inspiring episode of Manders Mindset, Manders welcomes Jeff Patterson — martial artist, meditation teacher, founder of Northwest Fighting Arts, and creator of The Yielding Warrior. With over 36 years of experience, Jeff shares how ancient meditative and martial arts practices can unlock personal power, emotional balance, and resilience in today’s fast-paced world.

Jeff reveals the profound concept of yielding — a practice rooted in thousands of years of wisdom — and how it transforms physical strength, mental clarity, and emotional intelligence. Through his signature three pillars of yielding and five regulations of meditation, Jeff offers listeners a blueprint for building a focused, centered, and empowered life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🥋 What “yielding” really means — and how it transforms conflict into opportunity

🧘‍♂️ How physical, mental, and emotional yielding work together for personal growth

🛠️ The Five Regulations of Meditation that create lasting mindset shifts

🏆 How meditation improves athletic performance, resilience, and productivity

📚 The story behind The Yielding Warrior and why Jeff believes mindset is everything

🛤️ How to create a consistent meditation practice that sticks — even for beginners

🌟 Why consistency beats talent, and how small daily practices lead to major breakthroughs

Timeline Summary:

[0:30] – Meet Jeff Patterson: Martial artist, father, community builder, and lifelong learner
[5:24] – Building Northwest Fighting Arts Academy and the philosophy behind it
[8:04] – The Three Pillars of Yielding: Physical, Mental, and Emotional strategies
[12:17] – How a boxing coach’s advice to meditate changed everything
[19:29] – Meditation's impact on martial arts, leadership, and daily life
[27:08] – The Five Regulations: Body, Breath, Mind, Energy, and Spirit
[36:52] – The Story of the Stonecutter: Why unseen growth matters most
[42:14] – Where to find Jeff’s free book, training programs, and teacher certification

To Connect with Amanda:
~ Instagram @thebreathinggoddess
~Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

Follow & Support the Podcast:
~ Instagram: @MandersMindset
~ Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Jeff:

Website: The Yielding Warrior

Get Jeff's Book FREE HERE

If you loved this conversation, don't forget to rate, review, and share Manders Mindset! Your support helps others discover the power of one mindset shift at a time. 🌟

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In this powerful episode of Manders Mindset, Manders welcomes Jim Marshall, author, human development engineer, and creator of Septemics, a revolutionary framework that decodes human behavior through 35 unique seven level scales.

After more than 50,000 hours of research, Jim discovered consistent patterns in how people think, act, and evolve. These patterns revealed a mathematical structure to human behavior, leading to the development of Septemics: a system that helps people understand themselves and others with stunning clarity. Whether it’s relationships, leadership, communication, or mindset, this framework acts like a “periodic table” for the human experience.

Jim shares how each scale offers practical tools for real life insight, like knowing whether someone’s motivation is rooted in love or money, or identifying where a student is struggling and how to help. His personal journey from being a high-performing student with polymathic curiosity to pioneering a new model of personal development makes this episode as inspiring as it is enlightening.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🧩 What Septemics is and how it reveals the hidden patterns behind human behavior

📊 How 35 seven-level scales can help decode thoughts, actions, and relationships

🧠 The math behind mindset, and why structure leads to better self-awareness

💬 How to analyze communication, motivation, and conflict in real time

⚖️ The difference between stable and shifting traits, and how that impacts relationships

🔍 Real-life examples of using Septemics in love, education, and personal growth

✨ Why one insight can change everything, and how clarity compounds over time  

Timeline Summary:

[2:00] – What is Septemics? Introducing the system of 35 behavioral scales

[6:15] – Discovering mathematical patterns in human development

[10:22] – Applying Septemics in real-world situations: relationships, school, work

[15:35] – The Scale of Motivation: decoding why people really do what they do

[22:57] – The compounding power of insights from scale to scale

[31:39] – Traits that shift fast vs. traits that stay consistent over a lifetime

[45:07] – The Scale of Evaluation and how quickly opinions form and change

[54:08] – How to use this system daily to improve mindset and relationships

[56:10] – Where to learn more and dive deeper into the Septemics model

To Connect with Amanda:
~ Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
~ Instagram: @MandersMindset
~ Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Jim:

Explore Septemics: www.septemics.com
Read sample chapters, listen to the 15-minute intro audio, and explore how the system works

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In this fascinating and soul-stirring episode of Manders Mindset, Amanda welcomes transformation guide and author Ann Hince, who takes listeners on an extraordinary journey of emotional healing, self-awareness, and physical transformation. From the moment Ann realized that her childhood traumas were still shaping her adult life, to how she learned to release years of stored pain not just emotionally, but physically this episode is a masterclass in deep, somatic healing.

Ann explains how she used Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), intentional awareness, and inner sensing to not only rewire her emotional responses, but literally reshape her body — including the structure of her skull. It’s a conversation that bridges the gap between science and spirituality and offers actionable tools to anyone ready to stop suppressing pain and start feeling their way to freedom.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 🧠 How unprocessed childhood trauma shows up in the adult body
 • ✋ What EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is and how it works
 • 🔍 Why simply “thinking positive” isn’t enough to change your life
 • 🪬 How Ann developed the ability to feel inside her body and release deep-seated tension
• 💥 The connection between physical misalignment, emotional suppression, and trauma
• 🔄 A new take on the Law of Attraction and how stored trauma influences your energy signal
• ✨ Why deep peace and emotional freedom are available to anyone who’s willing to do the work

Timeline Summary:

[2:02] – Ann’s early life, adoption, and a traumatic childhood marked by chaos and loss
[7:13] – A triggering event in adulthood that reawakened past wounds
[8:56] – Discovering EFT and its immediate, life-changing impact
[10:43] – How tapping helped Ann conquer her fear of needles and build emotional resilience
[14:35] – The moment she began sensing emotions and physical tension within her body
[21:29] – Releasing pain inside her skull and the connection to her birth trauma
[25:30] – Rethinking manifestation: how subconscious tension shapes your reality
[28:05] – Practical first steps to begin releasing trauma stored in the body
[29:36] – Real-life benefits: peace, presence, deeper awareness, and even a stronger singing voice
[35:52] – Writing A Pathway to Insight and why she created a workbook to guide real change
[40:45] – What it means to do shadow work and why it’s worth it
[46:45] – The law Ann would create if she could...

To Connect with Ann: 

🌐 Ann’s Website — Download her FREE EFT Summary PDF

📘 A Pathway to Insight & companion workbook by Ann Hince

📅 July Retreat for Women Who’ve Lost a Parent — Details on Ann's website

As Ann shared, the body holds onto what the mind tries to forget. If this brought anything to the surface, give yourself space — feeling is the first step to release.

To Connect with Amanda:
~ Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

~ Instagram @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
~ Instagram: @MandersMindset
~ Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

Ready to shift your mindset and transform your life? Subscribe to Manders Mindset for more inspiring conversations that prove you're only one mindset shift away from changing everything. 💎

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In this powerful episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda welcomes the incredible Nick Prefontaine, a nationally recognized speaker and three-time bestselling author who defied the odds after a life-threatening snowboarding accident at just 14 years old. Told he might never walk or talk again, Nick not only made a full recovery — he ran out of the hospital and eventually stepped into his purpose as a keynote speaker.

Nick shares the exact mindset shifts that helped him heal physically, mentally, and emotionally, including the STEP system he now teaches to trauma survivors and those navigating setbacks. From his early recovery to overcoming a rare voice condition, Nick’s story is a profound reminder that your mindset can either hold you back or launch you forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 💥 How Nick rebuilt his life after a traumatic brain injury
 • 🧠 The STEP system: Support, Trust, Energy, and Persistence
 • 🎤 What it took to reclaim his voice after years of struggle
 • 🛠️ How to develop resilience through daily action and belief
 • 🔁 Why second chances can be more powerful than the first
 • 💡 The importance of following your inner voice — literally and figuratively
 • ❤️ How advocates and community play a key role in recovery and success

Timeline Summary:

[4:41] The snowboarding accident that changed everything
[10:16] The prognosis doctors gave — and the moment his mom stepped in
[12:00] The STEP system that guided his healing and transformation
[18:24] Running out of the hospital and transitioning into real estate
[23:04] Getting his start knocking on pre-foreclosure doors as a teen
[33:51] Developing a voice disorder and the long road to recovery
[44:16] The “aha” moment that led him to his life’s true purpose
[52:19] What Nick wants his legacy to be and why awards aren’t the goal

To Connect with Amanda:
~ linktree.com/thebreathinggoddess
~ Instagram @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
~ Instagram: @MandersMindset
~ Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

 • Learn more about Nick and his work: nickprefontaine.com

Ready to shift your mindset and transform your life? Subscribe to Manders Mindset for more inspiring conversations that prove you're only one mindset shift away from changing everything. 💎

Feedback on the show? Send us a message!

This episode of Manders Mindset dives into a story of resilience, growth, and unapologetic self-expression. Featuring the host of Autism Rocks and Rolls, Sam Mitchell. The conversation explores what it looks like to own your story, push past societal expectations, and build something powerful from a place of personal truth.

From overcoming bullying in school and navigating early diagnoses to launching a podcast and nonprofit as a teenager, Sam Mitchell opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped his path. Hear how a love for media, a refusal to people-please, and a strong sense of purpose turned challenges into motivation. It's a raw and honest look at what happens when someone decides to stop fitting in — and start standing out.

⏳ Episode Timeline & Highlights

[1:25] Early childhood experiences with ADHD, autism, and sensory sensitivities

[4:17] Discovering rock music and changing the relationship with sound

[7:41] Dealing with school bullying and the impact of one true friendship

[10:56] Launching a podcast in high school and learning through experience

[14:38] Avoiding burnout by expanding into speaking, events, and nonprofit work

[18:12] The powerful mindset shift away from people-pleasing

[23:10] Asking boldly, handling rejection, and the value of persistence

[27:20] Editing as a creative outlet and the joy of structured focus

[36:44] Prioritizing experiences over possessions and redefining what matters

[41:01] Legacy, leadership, and the law this guest would create for the world

To Connect with Amanda:
~ linktree.com/thebreathinggoddess
~ Instagram @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
~ Instagram: @MandersMindset
~ Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Sam: 

https://autismrocksandrolls.com/

If this episode moved you, don’t forget to rate, review, follow, and share Manders Mindset. Every listen helps spread the message of growth, authenticity, and shifting mindsets to shift lives.

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In this powerful episode of Manders Mindset, host, Amanda sits down with the remarkable Dorothy Erlanger, an unstoppable force who proves that age is just a number and mindset is everything. At 73, Dorothy completed a triathlon, but her journey began decades earlier with no athletic background, a limb difference, and a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and rising above limitations.

From navigating the corporate world as a trailblazing woman to becoming a nationally ranked triathlete, Dorothy shares the mindset shifts that changed her life and how anyone can do the same, regardless of age or starting point. This episode is packed with wisdom, motivation, and practical tools to help listeners step into their power and pursue bold goals.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• 🧠 How mindset can be your greatest tool for transformation

• 🚫 Why ignoring naysayers can be the key to breakthrough

• ✈️ What it was like to say yes to a major career move in Brazil with no roadmap

• ⚡ The role of calculated risks and how to make tough life decisions

• ‍♀️ How Dorothy went from a “couch potato” to a national triathlete

• ❤️ The healing power of community, accountability, and movement

• ✅ Why it’s never too late to start and how to take the first step

Timeline Summary:

[2:26] Growing up with a limb difference and learning to adapt early on

[6:14] From med school dreams to a bold pivot into the corporate world

[12:05] Saying yes to an unexpected opportunity in Brazil and silencing the naysayers

[23:18] Surviving cancer and finding healing through triathlon training

[27:30] The crushing disappointment of failing her first Ironman and why she came back stronger

[34:05] The power of community, group support, and coaching in personal transformation

[42:30] Why creating connection (even virtually) is vital to personal and professional growth

[48:03] Advice for anyone considering their first triathlon or big life goal

[52:00] The mindset and nutrition secrets behind endurance 

Ready to shift your mindset and transform your life? Subscribe to Manders Mindset for more inspiring conversations that prove you're only one mindset shift away from changing everything.

To Connect with Amanda:
~ linktree.com/thebreathinggoddess
~ Instagram @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:
~ Instagram: @MandersMindset
~ Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!