Mpowered Living with Ann Sheu

How much of your identity is tied to your career, your achievements, or the value you bring to others? And what happens when those things no longer give you the same sense of purpose?

It's easy to become so focused on what we do that we lose sight of who we are outside our responsibilities and accomplishments.

In this episode of Mpowered Living, host Ann Sheu sits down with Dr. Angela Kingdon, founder of the Autistic Culture Institute, to explore the relationship between identity, productivity, and burnout, and what it means to build a life that genuinely reflects who we are.

Their conversation moves beyond the familiar discussion about work-life balance to examine the expectations we place on ourselves, the ways we define our worth, and why conventional approaches to self-care don't always leave us feeling restored.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How our careers, accomplishments, and responsibilities can become central to our sense of identity.
• The relationship between productivity, personal expectations, and burnout.
• How neurodivergence can shape experiences of identity and belonging.
• Why traditional ideas about self-care may not work for everyone.
• The role of joy in building a life that feels personally meaningful.
• What it means to reconnect with yourself beyond the roles you fulfill.

Angela brings a perspective shaped by her work in autism and neurodivergence, opening up questions about how we understand ourselves and the expectations we feel pressured to meet.

This episode is especially relevant for anyone who has spent years building a career, caring for others, or working toward the next achievement, only to wonder where their own identity fits into it all.

If you've ever struggled to separate who you are from what you do, this conversation offers an opportunity to reflect on that distinction.

Connect with Dr. Angela Kingdon

Website: https://angelakingdon.com/

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

Autistic Culture Podcast Network: https://autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com/

AutisticCulture News / Institute: https://www.autisticculturepodcast.com/

Why is it so hard to say no, even when you know you're taking on more than you want to?

People-pleasing often comes from a desire to be helpful, dependable, or avoid disappointing others. But when saying yes becomes automatic, it can lead to overcommitment, frustration, and resentment. And even when we recognize the pattern, setting boundaries can bring up feelings of guilt.

In this episode of Mpowered Living, host Ann Sheu welcomes Cheryl Donaldson, a therapist, executive coach, and leadership development consultant with 30 years of experience.

Ann and Cheryl explore why people-pleasing can be so difficult to change, how expectations and old patterns shape our decisions, and what happens when we lose touch with what we genuinely want.

Their conversation also goes beyond boundaries to examine the difference between acting from fear and acting from clarity, the importance of self-awareness, and how staying true to ourselves can affect our relationships with others.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why saying yes when you want to say no can lead to resentment
• How guilt and the fear of disappointing others make setting boundaries difficult
• Recognizing physical and emotional signals that something doesn't feel right
• Why knowing what you want doesn't always make it easier to act on it
• How personal clarity can become rigidity when we're afraid our perspective won't be valued
• What it means to be authentic while remaining compassionate and connected to others

Cheryl also introduces her Leading from the Soul philosophy, which explores how people can reconnect with their deeper sense of self rather than allowing fear, old messages, and external expectations to direct their choices.

She discusses the importance of slowing down, paying attention to what we're experiencing, and recognizing the patterns that influence our responses. These ideas are especially relevant when we're trying to balance our own needs with the expectations and responsibilities we carry.

Whether you're a leader managing competing demands, someone who struggles to say no without feeling guilty, or simply trying to make decisions that better reflect what matters to you, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation about people-pleasing, boundaries, self-awareness, and relationships.

Connect with Cheryl Donaldson:

Website: https://cheryldonaldson.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-donaldson-ma-lmft-lcpc-3b9254292/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheryl.donaldson_lmft/

As your income and net worth grow, does your financial life actually become simpler—or does it start to feel like another business you have to manage?

In Episode 87 of Mpowered Living, host Ann Sheu sits down with Dave Wolcott, Founder & CEO of Pantheon Investments, creator of Wealth OS™, and author of The Holistic Wealth Strategy, to examine how entrepreneurs and high-income families can think more intentionally about what their money is designed to do.

Dave’s interest in wealth strategy became personal when he and his wife welcomed triplets while already raising a toddler. Faced with the responsibility of providing for four children at age 26, he began questioning the conventional financial advice he had been given. That experience launched a decades-long pursuit of a more contrarian approach to wealth—studying how affluent families think differently about investing, taxes, cash flow, and legacy.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why growing wealth can create what Dave calls a “wealth friction tax” of added complexity

• What it means to treat wealth as a coordinated system rather than a collection of separate investments

• How a family office mindset begins with defining the purpose, values, and vision behind your wealth

• The challenges entrepreneurs face when too much of their net worth remains concentrated in their business

• How Dave thinks about passive income, liquidity, alternative assets, and diversification

• Why preparing the next generation may require passing along values and financial responsibility—not just assets

Dave also explores what a purpose-driven portfolio can look like when investments are selected not simply for accumulation, but for the role they play within a broader wealth strategy.

The conversation is especially relevant for entrepreneurs and high-income families who have accumulated multiple businesses, investments, properties, or financial relationships and are beginning to wonder how—or whether—all of those pieces actually work together.

Connect with Dave Wolcott

Pantheon Investments: https://pantheoninvest.com

Wealth OS™: https://pantheonwealthos.com

Free Book: https://holisticwealthstrategy.com/ebook-download-page-180384

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-wolcott-863306/

Delegation sounds simple until you’re handing something important to another person and trusting them not to do it exactly the way you would.

In Episode 86 of Mpowered Living, host Ann Sheu sits down with Terry Pham, entrepreneur, Founder of Fat Straws Boba & Mochi Donuts Co., and Community Champion & Movement Builder at Superpowers.

Terry has spent years building businesses, supporting entrepreneurs, and learning firsthand what happens when capable people become the person who carries everything. In this conversation, he and Ann look beyond the mechanics of delegation and into the emotional side of letting go—the trust, identity, standards, and habits that can make it surprisingly difficult to hand responsibility to someone else.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why people who are highly capable can have the hardest time delegating

• The beliefs and habits that keep leaders doing work they no longer need to own

• How trust develops when handing responsibilities to a team member or executive assistant

• What leaders should examine when delegated work doesn’t go as expected

• Why frequent feedback can help surface problems before frustration builds

• How boundaries, overcommitment, and the desire to serve others can affect a leader’s capacity

Terry also shares examples from his own life that show how persistent these habits can be—even when you teach delegation professionally. He and Ann unpack what happened when Terry delegated a small task to his executive assistant and then found himself stepping back in almost immediately.

They also explore a feedback approach Terry uses when training team members, along with how leaders can create stronger communication loops instead of allowing small frustrations to quietly accumulate.

This episode is especially relevant for founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders who know they need more support but still find themselves holding onto tasks, decisions, and responsibilities they intended to give away.

Connect with Terry Pham:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-pham-31b73321/

Superpowers: https://superpowershq.com/

Fat Straws Boba & Mochi Donuts Co.: https://fatstraws.com/

Frequency Assessment: takefrequency.com (Discover how you’re wired to work and where support could create the most leverage)

There’s always another financial milestone to reach. But if the goalposts keep moving, how do you know when you actually have enough?

In Episode 85 of Mpowered Living, host Ann Sheu sits down with Bill Hammer, Certified Financial Planner and author of Know Your Number, for a conversation about defining financial freedom around the life you actually want—not simply accumulating more for the sake of more.

Bill works with financially successful individuals and business owners, yet he often sees people who have achieved far more than they once imagined still questioning whether they are financially secure. He and Ann explore why that happens, how lifestyle expectations and comparison can influence our definition of success, and why putting a number around “enough” can change the way we approach work, spending, and the future.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How to begin defining your personal financial freedom number

• The difference between financial freedom and being “fully funded”

• How to identify the expenses and experiences that genuinely matter to your quality of life

• Why having a shared financial target can reduce tension between savers and spenders

• What to consider when choosing a financial advisor who will become a trusted decision-making partner

• Why entrepreneurs need to think about purpose—not only money—before and after selling a business

Bill also shares a simple test for examining lifestyle spending: Would you still want the purchase or experience if nobody else knew about it?

Later, Ann and Bill explore what can happen after a major financial milestone or business exit. Bill explains why having plenty of money and freedom without a meaningful sense of purpose can create an unexpected challenge—and why taking time off after an exit may work better when that season has some structure.

This episode is especially relevant for entrepreneurs, couples, business owners, and high achievers who want their financial decisions to create more freedom rather than simply fuel the next level of achievement.

Connect with Bill Hammer:

Website: https://www.hammerwealthgroup.com

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

Podcast: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b8e5e887-f022-4d3c-bc24-566f48f2f1f6/founder-wealth-decisions

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-hammer-jr-a8b6391b/

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Bill-Hammer-Jr/dp/0692140840

Many founders know they need to let go of control. So why does it become so difficult the moment someone else actually starts making decisions?

In Episode 84 of Mpowered Living, host Ann Sheu sits down with her friend and fellow EOS Implementer Kirsten Smith, visionary of Beacon and Blade and a longtime coach to business owners and leadership teams.

Together, they explore the tension that can arise when a founder or visionary brings in a strong second-in-command but still struggles to step out of the day-to-day. Kirsten explains why that resistance is often more complicated than simply being controlling—and how fear, responsibility, trust, and the weight of building a business can all influence the way a leader responds.

Drawing from years of working with visionary-integrator relationships—and now sitting in the visionary seat herself—Kirsten offers a candid perspective on what both sides of that relationship can misunderstand.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why founders sometimes sabotage the very support they say they want

• How trust and shared values shape a strong visionary-integrator relationship

• How leaders can distinguish between fear of letting go and having the wrong person in the seat

• Why measurable expectations can reduce micromanagement and improve accountability

• What Kirsten learned about leadership after becoming a visionary herself

• How curiosity, self-awareness, and better questions can change difficult conversations

Kirsten also shares why she believes leaders need seasons of rest, what she has learned about balancing ambition with constantly chasing the next level, and how some of the same lessons she applies in business have shaped her 38-year marriage.

This episode is especially relevant for founders, entrepreneurs, executives, and leadership teams trying to grow without making the founder the bottleneck for every decision.

Connect with Kirsten Smith:

Website: ksmithfoundhere.com

Company website: beaconandblade.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-smith-b8b141a/

You may still be performing at a high level, meeting deadlines, caring for your family, and keeping everything moving. But does that mean your brain is actually doing well?

In Episode 83 of Mpowered Living, host Ann Sheu sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq, a brain doctor, researcher, chief wellness officer, and author of The Busy Brain Cure, to examine the less obvious ways chronic stress can show up in high achievers.

Dr. Romie describes what she calls a “busy brain”—a state associated with chronic stress on the path toward burnout—and why symptoms like anxiety, difficulty focusing, disrupted sleep, brain fog, and growing irritability can be easy to normalize when you’re used to pushing through.

Drawing from her research, her work with organizations, and her own experience with severe chronic stress, she and Ann explore what happens when the expectations placed on our brains keep increasing without a corresponding shift in how we care for ourselves.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How Dr. Romie defines a “busy brain” and the warning signs people often overlook

• The difference between acute stress and the chronic stress many professionals live with

• How digital distraction and constant device use can affect attention and sleep

• Why Dr. Romie starts with a “brain score” before introducing new wellness habits

• How leaders can practice empathetic listening without immediately trying to fix someone’s problem

• Why listening to employees can uncover workplace issues that traditional surveys may miss

Dr. Romie also introduces her 3-30-3 Brain Reset, explains why her approach adds habits gradually rather than all at once, and shares the personal health crisis that made this work deeply personal for her.

This conversation is especially relevant for leaders, entrepreneurs, parents, and high performers who are functioning on the outside but finding it increasingly difficult to focus, unplug, sleep, or feel fully present.

Connect with Dr. Romie Mushtaq:

Website: https://drromie.com/

Busy Brain Test / Brain Score Assessment: https://drromie.com/busy-brain-test/

Book: https://drromie.com/book/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DRROMIEMUSHTAQ

TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slKAFdJ8ZHY

What happens when you and your spouse are both growing, but life is pulling each of you in different directions?

In Episode 82 of Mpowered Living, Ann Sheu sits down with Meghan and Wes Hickman, who are coaches, EOS Implementers, facilitators, and partners in both life and work, for a candid conversation about building a marriage with intention.

Over nearly two decades together, Meghan and Wes have experienced different seasons of professional growth, shifting responsibilities, changing priorities, and the inevitable pressure that comes when the people and commitments around you need more from you. Their conversation with Ann explores what it takes to keep coming back to the relationship through those changes rather than simply letting life dictate what happens next.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Navigating personal growth when partners evolve at different speeds

• Creating shared values and goals that help a couple stay aligned

• Recognizing when outside stress is influencing tension inside the relationship

• Handling responsibilities at home without turning every request into a favor

• Creating space for difficult conversations before frustration builds

• Knowing when to engage in conflict, and when a little distance may improve the conversation

The conversation is especially relevant for couples and high performers trying to build meaningful careers without giving the people closest to them whatever energy happens to be left over.

If you’ve ever wondered how two ambitious people can continue becoming more of themselves while still building something together, this episode offers plenty to reflect on.

Connect with Meghan & Wes Hickman

Meghan Hickman: https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/meghan-hickman/

Wes Hickman: https://implementer.eosworldwide.com/wes-hickman/

What if becoming a better leader started with learning how to better manage your own internal state?

In this episode of Mpowered Living, Ann Sheu sits down with breathwork and meditation teacher Shalin Desai to explore how greater awareness and simple breathing practices can help high performers manage stress and stay more present in the moments that matter.

Drawing from his experience teaching leaders and organizations around the country, Shalin shares why calm and resilience can coexist with high performance—and why learning to lead yourself is an important part of effectively leading others.

In this episode, they discuss:

• How breathwork can help interrupt automatic reactions and create space before responding
• Why resilience doesn’t mean continually pushing through until you burn out
• How your internal state affects the way you lead at work and show up at home
• What it actually means to be present with the people around you
• Simple ways to begin building a consistent meditation or breathwork practice

Shalin also guides Ann through a breathwork exercise, giving listeners an opportunity to experience the practice alongside them.

Whether you’re leading a team, raising a family, or simply trying to quiet the constant mental noise, this conversation offers a practical look at how slowing down and reconnecting with your breath can help you become more present in the life you’re already living.

Connect with Shalin Desai

Website: https://www.artofliving.org/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-art-of-living/

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

Download Sattva Meditations and Mantra: https://www.sattva.life/

For high performers, slowing down can feel counterproductive. When your success has been built on drive, stillness may feel like the last thing that will help you perform at your best.

In this episode of Mpowered Living, Ann Sheu sits down with former Navy SEAL Commander and mindfulness teacher Jon Macaskill to explore why the opposite may be true. Jon shares how his own struggles with anxiety, survivor’s guilt, and stress eventually led him to mindfulness, and why he now sees stillness as a tool for greater performance.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why mindfulness actually sharpens your edge
• How small practices like breathwork can help shift you from reacting to intentionally responding
• Why the energy you bring into a room affects your team and family
• How slowing down can improve productivity and decision-making
• Why awareness is the first step toward changing the way you show up at work and at home

If you ever worry that creating more space will make you less productive, this conversation offers a different perspective: sometimes slowing down is exactly what allows you to perform—and live—at your best.

Connect with Jon Macaskill

Website: https://jonmacaskill.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmacaskill/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mentalkingmindfulness