Off-Balance Podcast | Business Leadership, HR Strategy, and Entrepreneur Growth

The loudest voices told Michelle Steiner that college wasn’t an option and meaningful work wouldn’t be in reach. She proved them wrong, and then turned that hard-won confidence into a career helping students with disabilities claim their voice, their tools, and their future. We sit down with Michelle, writer, photographer, and paraeducator, to unpack how perseverance, accommodations, and everyday advocacy can transform doubt into durable progress.

We explore the practical side of equity: using Vocational Rehabilitation to graduate debt-free, requesting extended time and note takers, and replacing shame with strategy. Michelle breaks down the myths around accommodations (“cheating” vs. leveling the playing field) and offers clear, repeatable scripts for disclosing needs at school and work without oversharing. For parents and caregivers, we map how to partner with teachers, IEP teams, and pediatricians, and why a strengths-first mindset builds accountability without crushing a child’s spirit.

Michelle also shares how her hidden disability reshaped her creativity. Walking instead of driving became a pathway to photography; journaling became a way to process stigma and educate others. Inside the classroom, she teaches seventh graders the advocacy habits that fuel independence: ask early, be specific, and celebrate what you do well. If you’re navigating learning differences, supporting a neurodivergent student, or rethinking your own path, this conversation offers tools, hope, and a fresh definition of success that fits real life.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway, what support has made the greatest difference for you?

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Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

What if the detour is the exact road to your destiny? That’s the question we wrestle with as minister and coach Lisa Shaull shares how infertility, fostering, and adopting three special needs children shaped a resilient, surrendered faith—and a calling to help women live anchored in truth. We explore the raw middle of waiting: the grief, the therapy, the church hurt, and the decision to keep showing up with Scripture on your tongue and hope in your hands. Lisa breaks down her anchored abiding and soul recalibration practices, showing how to catch lies, speak truth out loud, and journal until the Holy Spirit’s voice meets you on the page.

You’ll hear how a “temporary” placement became a forever family, how radical obedience works when God’s instructions don’t make sense, and how to build resilience without pretending life isn’t messy. We dig into David’s prayers, Abraham’s long wait, and Paul’s battle plan in Ephesians as a framework for real-world spiritual warfare. If your faith feels tired, Lisa offers simple steps: choose a verse for your season, declare it daily, and embrace small, courageous acts of obedience that move you forward even when clarity lags behind.

For those new to faith or ready to return, Lisa shares the ABCs of salvation and practical starting points in John and Ephesians. For parents, caregivers, and leaders, she casts a vision of legacy—doing your work as unto the Lord, modeling prayer in the “yucky,” and letting children see your faith hold when life shakes. Come for the story of adoption and resilience; stay for the tools that will reset your mind, strengthen your spirit, and reawaken your purpose. If this conversation encouraged you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs courage for their next yes.

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Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

What if the question that keeps you stuck is the very thing you need to surrender? This conversation with Debbie Simmons travels from the heartbreak of losing quadruplets to the hard-won hope of adopting nine children, welcoming 15 grandkids, and building a nonprofit that strengthens families at scale. Along the way, we explore identity beyond performance, the faith to move when the fog is thick, and the practical tools that make healing possible in real homes with real stress.

We dig into the shift from “why” to “what’s my next best step” and how that simple practice fuels resilience for parents, founders, and leaders. Debbie shares the chaos and comedy of becoming a mom to five overnight, the systems that kept dinner and laundry from breaking the house, and the moment TBRI reframed meltdowns as signals instead of battles. If you’re raising kids from hard places, or leading people who carry invisible wounds, you’ll learn how high structure and high nurture work together to rewire the brain, replace maladaptive behaviors with language, and build a family culture where safety and accountability can coexist.

We also unpack the origin of Anchor Point, complete with resistance, obedience, and doors opening at the last possible minute. From a medical clinic for pregnancy decisions to abortion recovery, trauma reboot groups, therapeutic family camps, and community parenting initiatives, Debbie shows what comprehensive family support looks like when compassion and competence meet. For entrepreneurs, there’s a throughline: systems that scale care, decisions under uncertainty, and the relentless courage to take the next best step until clarity returns.

If you need a story that restores perspective and offers tools you can use tonight, this one’s for you. Listen, share it with someone who needs hope, and leave a review so more people can find conversations like this. Then tell us: what next best step are you taking today?

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Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

Start with a neighbor’s knock and a teenage girl who says yes to helping, then fast‑forward to a woman who has turned that yes into a life shaped by care. We sit down with Khristina, a certified clinical medical assistant and devoted foster mom, to trace her path from bedside empathy to courtroom endurance, and why she chose “fostering to keep” even when the process became invasive, expensive, and emotionally heavy.

Khristina opens up about welcoming a newborn whose cries signaled unmet needs long before the medical chart did. She walks us through the years of seeking answers, the shift from a suspected Duchenne muscular dystrophy diagnosis to Becker, and the daily work of protecting mobility and dignity: transfers, stretching, cardiology check‑ins, and a home adapted for independence. Along the way, she unpacks what most people never see, referee rulings that can be appealed, an appeal window that resets everything, and more than $35,000 in legal fees to secure stability for three boys who call her mom. We talk about behavior triggers after mandated visits, the weekly “reset” back to baseline, and how school counselors, behavioral specialists, and the church keep the family grounded.

If you’ve wondered what it truly takes to foster, this conversation is your field guide, covering documentation, boundaries, patience, and a community that shows up. Khristina’s hard-won advice is practical and human: pace your expectations, guard your “me time,” seek outside counsel early, and prepare to learn more about the law and disability care than you ever expected. The payoff is measured in ordinary moments that once felt impossible: a high school graduation for a son who wasn’t expected to live past five, a house full of laughter, and a parent who still chooses love on the hardest days.

If this story moved you, follow the show, share it with someone considering foster care, and leave a review to help others find these conversations. Your support helps more families hear the truth and the hope behind fostering.

gofundme: https://gofund.me/b2f325724

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

Ever feel like you’re checking every box and still missing the point? We sit down with performance and mindset engineer Morgan Gutierrez to rebuild success from the inside out, starting with the thoughts that quietly script your days. Instead of running your life on default settings, Morgan shows how to design a blueprint that aligns with what you actually want across four core areas: health, relationships, vocation, and time and money. The shift begins with a deceptively simple question, what would you love? And expands into practical tools that change your energy, your actions, and your results.

Morgan shares her reluctant pivot from real estate to purpose-driven work, revealing how resistance shows up as clever self-talk and how to tell the truth faster. We dig into her results formula, thoughts create feelings, feelings drive actions, actions produce results, and explore how high achievers can replace chronic grind with two powerful levers: breath and fun. We also challenge the myth that success is only a number, reframing it as a felt sense of integrity, impact, and joy. From cold-calling with service-led energy to scheduling five minutes of joy that rewires your nervous system, the conversation is packed with tools you can use today.

If you’re curious where to start, Morgan lays out accessible first steps and explains the role of structure, accountability, and discipline when motivation fades. Expect a warm, candid dive into designing work that supports life, not the other way around, and a reminder that you’re worthy of loving your life right now, not someday. If this resonates, tap 'follow,' share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review to share your new definition of success.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

Drowning in the relentless demands of working from home while raising a family? Time management coach Alyssa Wolff shatters conventional productivity myths and offers a revolutionary approach to creating balance for overwhelmed mothers.

As a homeschooling mother of five running a thriving coaching business, Alyssa speaks from experience when she challenges the "just be more disciplined" mentality that leaves so many women feeling inadequate. Her refreshing philosophy? The problem isn't you, it's your system.

Through this illuminating conversation with host Brooks Demming, Alyssa reveals her three-pillar approach to time freedom: strategic scheduling, mindset transformation, and fearless delegation. Rather than teaching you to cram more tasks into each day, she'll show you how to ruthlessly prune your to-do list from 20 items to just 7 (or fewer!), giving you permission to honor your energy levels and capacity.

You'll discover how compartmentalizing your day eliminates the guilt-inducing tug-of-war between work and family, why true self-care must be more than squeezing in a podcast while folding laundry, and how examining your childhood programming might be the key to finally accepting help. For mothers of children with special needs, Alyssa offers personalized strategies drawn from her own experience raising autistic children.

Ready to transform frustration into freedom? Download Alyssa's exclusive audio feed "Time Back Seekers for Work-at-Home Moms" at yornbusylife.com and take the first step toward a life where you can thrive professionally while being fully present for your family, all without burning yourself out in the process.

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-unbusy-mom-time-management-for-work-at-home-moms/id1601873433

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

A single accident stole her shield but revealed her purpose. Former firefighter and peer support advocate Natalie Nugent sits down with us to unpack the hidden cost of serving on the front lines, and the surprising, practical steps that helped her rebuild after PTSD, depression, and identity loss. From a heartbreaking moment with her daughter to a life-saving knock at the door, Natalie traces the path from isolation to treatment to a thriving support network designed for first responders, trauma survivors, and caregivers.

We go deep on what PTSD actually looks like off duty, sleeplessness, hypervigilance, anger spikes, and the instinct to withdraw, and why saying “I’m not okay” can be the bravest, most productive move. Natalie shares the exact tools that steadied her nervous system: a simple WRAP plan to guide daily choices, yoga for mind–body balance, cold exposure to interrupt spirals, and five-minute meditations to build tolerance for stillness. We break down the “window of tolerance” so you can map your personal baseline, notice when you’re tipping into fight/flight or shutdown, and use small interventions to come back online faster.

Out of treatment, Natalie founded Rekindled Retreats, a peer community that flips “retreat” into “retrieve”—a space to retrieve the parts of you that feel lost. She details what happens inside their workshops, why follow-up support matters for eight full weeks, and how a quiet text thread becomes a lifeline on hard days. We also explore Internal Family Systems, rethinking success after trauma, and how compassion, for yourself and others, reduces the urge to fix and makes connection possible again.

If you’ve ever felt overactivated, exhausted, or alone in your struggle, this conversation offers a clear, human roadmap back to stability and community. Listen now, share it with someone who serves, and if it resonates, leave a rating and a quick review so more people can find their way to these tools.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

Ever feel trapped by that relentless, judgmental voice in your head? In this transformative conversation, Richard Waldman, retired Army veteran, author, and clinical pastor, unveils his revolutionary "Order to Life Circle" framework that's changing how people manage their inner critics and reclaim their mental freedom.

Richard's journey from accountant to spiritual teacher reveals how discovering your true calling can transform not just your life, but the lives of everyone around you. "If you bring out what is within you, what you bring out will save you. If you do not bring out what is within you, what you do not bring out will destroy you," he shares, drawing from ancient wisdom that resonates powerfully today.

At the heart of Richard's teaching lies a profound truth: we cannot experience negative emotions without first judging something or someone. This judgmental mindset, what he calls the "serpent" in our psyche, keeps us bouncing between anxiety about the future and regrets about the past, preventing us from experiencing the only moment that truly exists: the present.

Through vivid stories and practical insights, Richard explains how awareness, presence, conscious choice, and connection form the foundation of mental resilience. He challenges us to recognize that "if you're doing what you love, there's no such thing as failure" only opportunities to realign with our true purpose. His approach bridges spiritual teachings with practical psychology, offering tools that work regardless of your faith background.

Ready to silence your inner critic and rediscover joy? Download Richard's resources from his website, grab his book on Amazon, and start implementing his simple yet profound practices today. Your mind, and everyone around you, will thank you for it.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

Success that sparkles on paper can feel empty in real life, and that tension is exactly where our conversation with AJ Bishop Andrews begins. AJ is an internationally recognized speaker and wealth strategist who spent 20 years at major financial institutions, then chose legacy over ladder. She brings a candid origin story, a practical playbook for confidence, and a bold vision for how women will shape the next decade of wealth, power, and impact.

We dig into the messy middle of career pivots, from golden handcuffs to bolt cutters: detaching identity from income, replacing comparison with conviction, and learning to define success by alignment with values like family, faith, and service. AJ shares how confidence is built through daily promises kept and sharpened by reflection, try, fail, learn, adjust. We also get tactical about money and work: how to rewrite limiting money scripts with a “money mind map,” how to negotiate using facts and outcomes (not your worth), and how to design a portfolio career that leverages your three Ts, time, talent, and treasure, so you’re never dependent on one gatekeeper.

There’s a bigger horizon here too. With a historic wealth transfer moving toward women, AJ’s Feroz movement aims to equip one million women to make values‑led financial decisions. We talk collaboration over competition, healing old wounds from scarcity rooms, and building circles that amplify genius instead of draining it. AJ also opens up about her mother’s dementia diagnosis and the urgency it brought to creating a legacy her mom can witness, a powerful reminder that time is our rarest asset, and alignment is how we honor it.

If you’re ready to trade performative success for a life that fits, press play. Then share this episode with a woman who needs permission to ask for more. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: What belief about money or success are you rewriting this week?

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.

Sebastian Uzcategui's journey from immigrant poverty to financial freedom wasn't just about building wealth; it was about discovering purpose. Growing up watching his parents work grueling 12-hour shifts with little to show for it, Sebastian realized early that traditional paths weren't designed to create true prosperity.

"The house was nicer, but the time was less. The quality of life was less," Sebastian explains, describing his family's disappointing discovery of the American dream. This revelation set him on a mission to find financial solutions that would break this cycle—not just for himself, but for the faith community that often struggles with the same challenges.

What makes Sebastian's approach unique is his biblical perspective on wealth. Drawing from Proverbs 10:22, he emphasizes that God promises wealth "without painful toil," suggesting that true prosperity isn't about endless hustle but about multiplying resources wisely. This faith-driven approach has helped him mentor over 1,200 people, many of whom come from communities traditionally excluded from financial conversations.

Perhaps most surprising is Sebastian's revelation about the stock market's origins. "When the stock market was initially created in the 1920s, it was designed for the average working man and woman to beat inflation," he shares. However, big investors deliberately complicated the terminology to scare away ordinary people, a gatekeeping practice Sebastian is determined to dismantle through accessible education.

Unlike typical financial educators who charge thousands upfront, Sebastian's Fox University allows people to learn, practice, and see results before paying anything. "I don't want people to trust me just to trust me. I want them to see authentic results," he explains. This service-first mentality has taken him from struggling entrepreneur to speaking at the United Nations about financial empowerment.

Ready to break free from financial limitation? Sebastian's message is clear: "Nothing changes if nothing changes, and there's nothing riskier than staying where you're at." Start your journey toward faith-aligned financial freedom today.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Disclaimer:
The Off-Balance podcast, including all audio, video, and written content, is produced and hosted by Dr. Brooks Demming. The views, opinions, and statements expressed by podcast guests are solely those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, or official positions of Dr. Brooks Demming, the Off-Balance brand, its affiliates, or partners.

All content provided on this podcast is for informational and inspirational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Listeners are encouraged to seek appropriate professional guidance or spiritual counsel before making decisions based on the information presented.

By accessing or listening to this podcast, you agree that Dr. Brooks Demming and the Off-Balance brand are not liable for any loss, harm, or damages resulting from the use of or reliance on information shared by guests or third parties.