Pep Talks with Eric

What happens when a leader dares to start over—not once, but again and again—with clarity, curiosity, and courage?

In this episode of PEP Talks with Eric, we sit down with Amanda Younts, the “Midlife Catalyst” herself, to explore the sacred mess of reinvention. From school leadership and clinical psychology to navigating grief, addiction, and midlife clarity, Amanda offers a roadmap for turning pain into purpose—without bypassing the hard stuff.

We talk recovery and redefinition. Grief and grit. What happens when women stop performing and start becoming. And how silence, when finally broken, can become a revolution.

This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a reclamation.

💥 Expect vulnerability.💥 Expect strength.💥 Expect some truth bombs wrapped in grace.

Whether you’re navigating your own reinvention or supporting someone who is, this one’s for you.

✨ Listen now and join the shift—from breakdowns to breakthroughs, from me to we.

___________________________________________________________

Amanda Younts, MA, MEd, is a dynamic force in personal and organizational transformation. Known as the Midlife Catalyst, Amanda empowers leaders to navigate growth, grief, and change with authenticity and strength. With a background in clinical psychology, public school leadership, and disability advocacy, she brings a holistic, heart-centered approach to leadership development.

Whether she’s hosting powerful conversations on her podcast, leading transformational workshops, or helping individuals move from silence to self-agency, Amanda reminds us that it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

Follow her journey and resources:

🌐 midlifecatalyst.net📸 @lets_breakthesilence📺 YouTube Channel💼 LinkedIn

What if your burnout isn’t your failure — it’s your feedback?

Welcome to Season 2 of PEP Talks with Eric — where self-work becomes system-shifting.

In this kickoff episode, Eric shares 6 powerful sparks that moved him from personal burnout to collective belonging — and how the inner shift becomes the bridge to outer transformation.

You’ll hear real, raw stories of:

✨ Burnout and realignment✨ Legacy systems vs. living systems✨ Co-creation and design with (not for)✨ Healing from the inside out✨ The power of play, curiosity — and your 5-year-old self✨ And Ubuntu mirrored: “I am because we are. We are because I am.”

This isn’t about chasing perfection — it’s about becoming whole.

No permission required.

📌 Plus, tiny tools to take with you: reflective prompts and actions to spark alignment and shift the system you’re in — from the inside out.

🎧 Tune in now. The spark is the shift. And the shift is yours to begin.

✨ Season 1 was just the beginning.

From transformative conversations to mic-drop insights, Season 1 of PEP Talks with Eric brought together powerful voices, real stories, and actionable wisdom. This highlight reel captures the best of it all—pure inspiration, connection, and transformation.

If you’ve been here since the start, consider this a reminder of the journey we’ve taken together. And if you’re new, this is the perfect place to begin.

💡 Ready for more? Season 2 is coming soon. It’s not just a new season—it’s a new movement. Stay tuned.

🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and share with someone who needs a spark.

#PEPTalksPodcast #HumanConnection #SimRx #Season1Highlight

In this episode of PEP Talks with Coach Eric, Coach Eric sits down with award-winning author and keynote speaker Amy Weinland Daughters to explore the power of handwritten letters in forging authentic human connections. Amy shares her remarkable journey of writing 580 handwritten letters to her Facebook friends, a project that transformed her understanding of relationships and human connection.

The conversation delves into themes of vulnerability, resilience, and the impact of personal outreach in a digital world. Amy discusses the inspiration behind her books, Dear Dana and You Cannot Mess This Up, and how embracing imperfection in communication can lead to deeper, more meaningful relationships.

Listeners will walk away with valuable insights on how to reconnect with loved ones, foster genuine bonds, and rediscover the joy of personal storytelling through handwritten letters.

About the Guest: Amy W. Daughters

Amy W. Daughters is a lauded, award-winning author and dynamic keynote speaker who envisions unity in diversity, believing that differences should serve as connections rather than divisions. She is passionate about reviving human connection through the art of handwritten letters, proving that small personal gestures can create profound relationships. Her books, Dear Dana and You Cannot Mess This Up, showcase her humor, wisdom, and deep insights into human nature.

Learn more on her website here

In this episode, Coach Eric sits down with Michelle Barone, an intuitive emotional liberation coach, to explore the powerful ways emotions shape our lives and how we can regain control. Michelle shares her personal journey—growing up in a dysfunctional household, navigating her daughter’s battle with cancer, and enduring the pressures of a high-stakes corporate career. These experiences led her to develop techniques that remove the guesswork from emotional healing.

Throughout the conversation, Michelle discusses practical strategies to help individuals break free from emotional patterns that hold them back. She emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, emotional processing, and guided support in transforming pain into empowerment. With real-life examples and actionable advice, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to cultivate resilience, emotional clarity, and personal growth.

About Michelle Barone

Michelle Barone is an intuitive emotional liberation coach dedicated to helping clients take control of the emotions that influence their lives. After overcoming personal traumas—including a turbulent upbringing, her daughter’s health challenges, and the stress of corporate life—Michelle built a coaching practice to support others in their emotional healing journey. Through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements, she guides people toward a more balanced, empowered life.

Learn more about Michelle and her work at MokshaGrace.com.

In this episode, Coach Eric welcomes Dr. Charles Lee, a renowned plastic surgeon from Malaysia, humanitarian, and the mind behind Mindflow Ergonomics. They dive into deep reflections on personal growth, overcoming negative feedback loops, and the importance of creativity in shaping our lives.

Dr. Charles shares his journey of self-discovery, shaped by a challenging and lonely upbringing. He speaks candidly about his struggles with identity, faith, and personal healing, emphasizing how his path as a doctor led him to realize his own need for inner transformation. His insights on how past experiences shape our cognitive responses form the foundation of Mindflow Ergonomics, a system designed to optimize how individuals respond to stress and challenges.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Charles highlights the power of creativity, tying it to his faith and his belief that living in the presence of God fosters gratitude and well-being. He draws fascinating parallels between medicine, spirituality, and human connection, weaving in anecdotes from his own life and work. His infectious laughter and heartfelt storytelling make this episode both inspiring and deeply thought-provoking.

At its core, this discussion encourages listeners to break free from self-destructive thought patterns, embrace personal growth, and recognize the role of mindfulness in daily life.

About Dr. Charles Lee:

Dr. Charles Lee is a practicing plastic surgeon in Malaysia and the founder of the Asia Pacific Consultation On Discipleship (APCOD) and the Asia Pacific Consultation On Marketplace Mindfulness (APCOMM). His work focuses on integrating faith, mindfulness, and well-being to help individuals lead more fulfilling lives. He is also the creator of Mindflow Ergonomics, a system designed to enhance cognitive responses to stress.

Dr. Charles hosts the podcast HEARTtalk and is currently writing his memoir, I See You. His passion for spiritual and personal transformation continues to impact thousands worldwide.

Follow Dr. Charles Lee:

* Website: Mindflow Ergonomics

* YouTube: HEARTtalk

* LinkedIn: Dr. Charles Lee

* Spotify: HEARTtalk Podcast

In this episode of PEP Talks with Coach Eric, host Eric dives into an inspiring conversation with two-time Olympian and world champion backstroker Josh Watson. Josh shares his journey from competitive swimming to coaching and mentoring young athletes, emphasizing the power of mindset, goal-setting, and neuroscience in achieving peak performance.

The discussion explores the role of lived experiences in personal growth, with reflections on resilience, faith, and the lessons learned through struggle. Josh speaks about his transition into coaching and how his approach goes beyond physical training—helping young athletes tap into their natural intelligence, overcome fear, and develop self-belief.

He also touches on the power of visualization and quantum physics in coaching, explaining how techniques like guided mental imagery can transform performance in the pool and beyond. His unique coaching philosophy is rooted in unlocking hidden potential, and he shares compelling stories that illustrate just how impactful mentorship and encouragement can be.

This episode is packed with wisdom on perseverance, self-awareness, and the unseen connections between sports, life, and personal fulfillment—making it a must-listen for athletes, coaches, and anyone striving for greatness.

About the Guest: Josh Watson

Josh Watson is a two-time Olympian and Sydney 2000 Silver Medalist in swimming. In 1999, he made history as Australia’s first male backstroke World Champion, setting multiple Commonwealth and national records.

After retiring from competitive swimming, Josh turned his focus to high-performance coaching, neuroscience, and goal-setting, developing innovative frameworks to help athletes and professionals unlock their full potential. He currently runs Atomic Athletes, a platform dedicated to transforming mindset and performance through elite coaching.

Beyond his professional work, Josh is a dedicated husband to Tess and father to two children, Everlie and Raif. His journey of faith has deeply influenced his coaching philosophy, allowing him to guide others with wisdom gained from his own life challenges.

📩 Connect with Josh Watson:🌐 www.atomicathletes.org📷 Instagram: @joshuajwatson📘 Facebook: Josh Watson📧 Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Coach Eric welcomes Olympic silver medalist and former world champion swimmer Josh Watson. The conversation dives into Josh’s journey from being a child afraid of the water to becoming Australia’s first male backstroke World Champion. Josh shares pivotal moments from his career, including how his early struggles with physical development almost led him to quit, and how a simple piece of advice from his coach—"No one remembers an age group champion"—became a guiding principle in his journey to international success.

Josh also reflects on the mindset and resilience needed to overcome setbacks, the pressures of high-performance sports, and how he has applied lessons from his athletic career to personal growth and helping others. His insights into goal-setting, patience, and self-perception provide valuable takeaways for athletes, entrepreneurs, and anyone striving for excellence.

About Josh Watson

Josh Watson is a two-time Olympian, winning a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. He became Australia’s first male backstroke World Champion in 1999 and held multiple Commonwealth and National records.

Now based in Atlanta, GA, Josh has spent the past six years building an Australian sports equipment business. Passionate about high-performance and neuroscience, he has developed unique frameworks to help others achieve their goals.

Beyond sports and business, Josh has a rich spiritual life and is now using his past struggles to guide and inspire others. He is married to Tess and has two children, Everlie (4) and Raif (2).

How to Reach Josh:🌐 www.atomicathletes.org📷 Instagram: @joshuajwatson📘 Facebook: Josh Watson📧 Email: [email protected]

Episode 18: From Burnout to Balance – Brandon Drake’s Journey of Reinvention

In this episode of PepTalks with Coach Eric, we sit down with Brandon Drake, a man whose career has been anything but linear. Brandon shares his inspiring story of leaving a draining corporate IT job in 2016 to pursue holistic nutrition and culinary arts. His journey led him to become a therapeutic chef and functional nutritionist, helping people heal through food.

But the story doesn’t end there. Through the power of networking, Brandon found his way back into the tech world—this time in a way that felt truly fulfilling. What started as a small CRM project for a networking contact evolved into a thriving CRM consulting business, allowing him to combine his love for relationship-building with his technical expertise.

Throughout this conversation, Brandon and Coach Eric discuss the importance of trusting your instincts, embracing career pivots, and leveraging community connections to uncover unexpected opportunities. Whether you're feeling stuck in your career or considering a bold change, Brandon’s story offers valuable insights and encouragement to take that leap.

Tune in to hear:✔️ How Brandon navigated a major career shift✔️ The unexpected role networking played in his journey✔️ Why finding work-life balance is crucial for success✔️ Practical advice for anyone looking to reinvent themselves

🔗 Connect with Brandon:WebsiteLinkedIn

Listen now and get inspired to take the next step in your own journey!

In this thought-provoking episode of PEP Talks with Coach Eric, Mads Rossau shares his transformational journey from reckless living to personal and professional growth. Hailing from Denmark, Mads dives into his past struggles, including a life-changing car accident that forced him to re-evaluate his decisions and align himself with a new purpose.

Eric and Mads discuss the power of small, intentional steps in making long-term change, the role of mindset in shaping behavior, and how leadership is ultimately about fostering growth in others. They also explore content creation strategies that allow coaches and entrepreneurs to expand their reach without sacrificing time or authenticity. Mads shares valuable insights on building trust, choosing the right platforms, and optimizing content for human connection rather than algorithms.

Whether you’re looking for a mindset shift, leadership insights, or a better approach to content creation, this episode is packed with wisdom and practical takeaways.

About Mads Rossau:Mads is a young entrepreneur from Denmark with a deep passion for human physiology, psychology, and how the brain shapes behavior. His curiosity led him to content creation, where he discovered the power of content repurposing—turning long-form content into clips to expand reach and engagement. Realizing its potential, he turned it into a service, helping others amplify their message and impact the world.

🔗 Connect with Mads:

* LinkedIn: Mads Rossau

* Instagram: @madsrossau

* YouTube (The Business Library): The Business Library

📅 Book a session or connect with Coach Eric directly:🔗 Zant Profile🔗 Life by Design