PerfectWhelm with Eric Slivoskey: The Podcast That Helps Enhance Your Life

In this episode, I talk about the power we have to change our zip code and how spending time in places different from where we’re used to can spark creativity, help us move beyond the expectations of others, and plug into a fresh perspective. 

I share 3 short stories about getting chased by different animals while hiking in the countryside. The first story involves my dog and I being pursued by a bull elk in Big Sky Country. 

In the second account, I talk about the time I encountered an angry German shepherd while hiking the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain. 

In the last story, I have to sprint away from an angry ewe who was likely lambing and didn’t appreciate me walking in her corner of the wilds of Iceland. This was the most unusual encounter ever, and the eerie quietness of my final stare down with this beast is best described as the Silence of the Lambs. I like to think that my skilled rock throwing and wild nature vocalizations made this animal come to stop short of attack after her aggressive bluff charge. 

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

 -Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.

 -Email: [email protected]

 -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

In this episode, I talk about my very real fear of flying, and how I literally couldn’t bring myself to travel by plane for a couple of years following the September 11th terrorist attacks. I also talk about the ways I got around air travel and then how Greyhound Bus Lines convinced me to give the skies another try! 

Stepping into my stand-up comedy alter ego, I then pontificate about how personal parachutes would make better seat accessories than personal flotation devices. I also ask the hard question about why we aren’t constructing airplanes out of the same material that black boxes are made from?? After all, we all know these black boxes are designed to survive the worst kinds of mayhem and they seemingly could endure the Apocalypse!

Next, I share a brief story about being on a commercial jet that was struck by lightning and what that felt like.

I close out the episode by talking about the time we flew over Montego Bay on our final approach to Jamaica and one of our two engines caught fire. That ended up being 15-20 minutes of blaring fire alarms and all kinds of anxiety and uncertainty as we watched the flight attendants run about the cabin! 

Wanna Get Away??!! Have no fear. Flying is still statistically the safest form of transportation! 

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

 -Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.

 -Email: [email protected]

 -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

In this episode, I share more about the values and reasons why I explore so often and travel so much. I talk about the resistance, negative feedback, and pushback I have often received from friends, family, teachers, and colleagues regarding my travel habits.

I delve into the idea that travel is not running away from something. In my life, it represents running towards something that is very life giving, liberating, fun, challenging, and joyful.

I briefly discuss why it is so important that we don’t allow others to choose our life scripts for us.

Later in the conversation, I talk about how travel and adventures have often not gone as planned for me and my travel companions. In fact, on several occasions things have completely gone off the rails.

I believe you will enjoy my 3 water- based misadventures.

-            The first one is an Outer banks North Carolina fishing story about the one that nearly got away. I’m not referring to fish, but rather an epic battle between a fishing rod and a pelican.

-            In the second tale, I talk about a near rafting disaster in the Czech Republic with family and friends that ultimately ended well.

 -            The last story is another rafting misadventure (do you see a pattern here?) where I unsuccessfully play rafting guide on the mighty Youghiogheny River in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania. The final score of this story was River 1 and Eric zero.

I close things out with an inspirational travel quote that has inspired my kids to answer their own desires and quests to see this vast and beautiful planet.

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

-            Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.

-            Email: [email protected]

-            I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

In this episode, I kick things off talking about my reasons for loving the open road and how my interest in travel has impacted and improved my life. I share about the goodness that exploring and traveling can offer like fun, adventure, freedom, more empathy and understanding about ourselves and others, and personal growth too…because getting out of our comfort zones is seemingly always a positive thing. 

I discuss my earliest travel experiences and memories and one misadventure at the age of four that turned out to be a bit thorny! 

I also reflect on a profound experience I had sitting in a beautiful hot spring in Yellowstone Park on a random weekday in April at the age of 19, while on a 7 week cross country trip with a close friend. I share how simple moments like this captivated me and made me realize I wanted as much travel and exploration as time and resources would allow. 

Come join us on this travel adventure series. We are only just getting started and you don’t even need your passport! 

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

 -Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.

 -Email: [email protected]

 -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

If there ever was an episode where I put awkward honesty and uncomfortable truths out front, this is it!  In this solo episode, I have a very honest and vulnerable conversation with God as I reflect on some very raw thoughts, feelings, and reflections related to recent tragedies involving young Christ followers. More specifically, this podcast is my personal letter of mourning and lament concerning the kids who died in the central Texas floods and the children who were both injured and killed in the school/church shooting at the Catholic school in Minnesota. 

I explore the ideas of sorrow, mourning, and grief, and I lament the fact that Yahweh is so often invisible when we need God the most. The silence, divine hiddenness, and broken promises of the Christian Biblical God are tough realities to reconcile with a deity who is so often said to be trustworthy, faithful, and deserving of our worship and praise. He is characterized as being “good all the time” by his followers. Is this god always good? Is this god always loving? Is this god always just?

 The evidence and the Biblical texts and the history and clear accounts of what this God repeatedly commands, condones, and commits is most often anything but loving, forgiving, merciful, compassionate, or just. On the contrary, he consistently plays favorites and shows himself to be harsh, cruel, petty, vengeful, jealous, misogynistic, and violent. 

This reflective episode is deeply personal, and I’m sure it will be very upsetting for some listeners. I don’t hold back here. I bring a heavy dose of questions, doubts, scars, anger, curiosity, and sorrow to the table. I am lamenting to a deity who so often seems to be distracted, distant, and indifferent. I decided to ask him why and how he can be so callous, aloof, and asleep at the wheel… especially when his kids are in peril and praying/pleading for his love and protection. 

I don’t want to give too much of this episode away. If you are interested in matters of faith, I encourage you to give it a listen. 

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

 -Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.

 -Email: [email protected]

 -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

Eevi Niemela is an internationally accredited empowerment and mindset coach who helps people build their magnetic selves and an online presence so that they can create real freedom and become the actual owners of their own lives through an online business that they’re building. From rock bottom to red carpets, Eevi has built a life and an online business that is garnering attention around the globe, while also allowing her to be location independent.

In part 2 of our conversation, Eevi talks about the power of developing consistent habits that are in alignment with our values. Eevi is a master at asking powerful questions and helping to impact her clients personal growth by emphasizing the importance of cultivating positive energy and a healthy mindset. 

She emphasizes the idea that messaging matters, and her personal transformation and successful coaching business is a clear example of how to stand out, how to be different, and how to find your unique voice.

Want to Connect with Eevi and learn more about her business and background, her 1:1 coaching offerings or her incredible group coaching program “The Magnetic Method”,  then you can connect with her at the following links.

https://www.instagram.com/eevimaaria

More about “The Magnetic Method” Group Coaching Program:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DK-H36FIETG/?igsh=djV2dngyYzkwZXFx

Find Eevi on other Social Media sites like TikTok, Facebook, & LinkedIn using the name 

 @eevimaaria

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

-          Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services

 -          Email: [email protected]

 -          When you follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it, it really helps me gain more traction and reach more people with this project. Thanks again for listening and all of your support.

Eevi Niemela is an Internationally Accredited Empowerment & Mindset Coach. She specializes in self-empowerment and helping people build a magnetic sense of self and an online presence, so they can create real freedom and become the actual owners of their own life through an online business they’re building. Along with the importance of focusing on a healthy mindset, much of Eevi’s work is centered on managing our energy levels and showing up for ourselves in the best possible ways.

Eevi has 11 years of academic study in Psychology and also a background in adult education.  She has made it from the rock bottom to building a life where she has the perspective of being at peace with who she has become. The rock bottom has evolved into a transformation in her life that now consists of red carpets, opportunities, collaborations, magazine features, and locational freedom in her online business. 

In her business, Eevi provides 1:1 coaching support, and she also offers her clients the opportunity to benefit from group coaching. Her Magnetic Method coaching program is a 12-week transformational program for coaches and personal brand-driven entrepreneurs that focuses on mindset, messaging, and effective tools for driving transformational business growth. This program is also aimed at helping those who desire to learn more in the areas of social media skills and manifestation.

Here are links that offer more information on the work that Eevi does. https://www.instagram.com/p/DLxmPvhMFxz/?igsh=MW5mZjFvNHQzMjUzeA==

https://www.instagram.com/p/DK-H36FIETG/?igsh=djV2dngyYzkwZXFx

You can find out more about Eevi and her work on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn by searching for her under the name of:  @eevimaaria

Today’s Episode:

In this part 1 of my conversation with Eevi, we discuss her early life growing up in Finland and her training in the fields of adult education and Psychology. She shares about the struggles she faced in her teens and early adulthood with self-doubts, low self-esteem, and intense bouts of overwhelm.

Eevi also talks about how she began to become aware of the coaching field and how powerful and transformational it can be to be to receive coaching from a trained and qualified coach. 

We also get into the topics of building a healthy mindset and how this relates to the energy we show up with in our lives. Eevi talks about the idea of manifestation and the importance of studying and better understanding the mind/brain. She elaborates on some personal growth strategies including daily gratitude exercises and writing, which she has used to set the tone for her daily activities and help her develop positive habits that relate to a healthy and supportive mindset.

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

-        Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.

 -        Email: [email protected]

-         I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

Cherith Fluker is an author, freelance writer, and educator based in Alabama. She has a passion for self-care and sightseeing. She is the creator of WhatCherithinks, a lifestyle and travel blog that encourages people to explore boldly, prioritize their well-being, and embrace new experiences. 

Her work has been featured in publications like Food, Wine, & Travel Magazine, Hallmark Mahogany, LakeLife 24/7, and Bham Family Magazine. She has partnered with several tourism boards across the country to help tell their stories.

With a background in education, Cherith currently leads a team supporting teachers and school districts in the southeast and mid-atlantic states. Whether she’s writing, coaching, or sightseeing, Cherith is passionate about helping others live more fully—one story, trip, or moment at a time.

In the early stages of this episode, Cherith talks about her upbringing in Alabama and some of the specific challenges and struggles that she has faced in her adult life. Cherith explores the subject of grief and how she navigated through the difficulties of losing both of her parents. 

She discusses her writing and how picking up the pen offered her a way to turn pain points into something very deep, meaningful, and purpose driven. 

You don’t want to miss the words she shares concerning the advice she would offer her 12 year- old self. Cherith offers wholehearted reflections based on her writing and gives  women some important insights into overcoming fear, anxiety, and those self-doubts  associated with the belief of feeling stuck.

Cherith’s new book ‘Secret Birmingham: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure’ is another important feature of our conversation. This book uncovers the hidden stories and overlooked places that make the city unique. The book was just released earlier this month, and you will want to tune in to find out more about this project and how it came to be an incredible guide and resource for historians, travelers, adventurers, and curiosity seekers alike. 

Connecting with Cherith:

Facebook- WhatCherithinks

Instagram:  @cherithfluker

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

-          Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.

-          Email: [email protected]

-          I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

In this solo episode, I talk about the milestone of now releasing 34 episodes, and how that journey has taken shape for me. I cover the highlights, the challenges, and how being willing to do B minus work and pushing myself to launch this past April has really been such an important piece of this venture. I briefly discuss how perfectionism can often hold us back, and sometimes “done is better than good.”

I also share some updates about what you can expect to hear and experience on PerfectWhelm Podcast over the next few weeks and into the months of autumn. An exciting travel series is right around the corner, so just listen in to find out more details about those particular episodes. The frequency of my weekly podcast releases will also be changing a bit over the next few months, and I will tell you why during the broadcast. It involves college coaching and a long upcoming journey to northern Idaho.

Towards the end of this episode, I talk about a few personal reflections that I’d been thinking about as my time with my family in the Turks and Caicos Islands came to a close this past week. I share specifically about the importance of family, the unpredictability of this life… and just some general existential reflections concerning our time on this planet. And finally, I close the episode with some brief thoughts on what I believe is one of the most inspiring words in the English language. 

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

-          Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.

 -          Email: [email protected]

 -          I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

In Part 2 of our conversation, Carrie continues sharing with us about the impact of our personal narratives and the power of storytelling.

During this second segment, we also discussed the concept of reflecting on the characters in our lives and their relationships to our stories. This is also an important element when it comes changing the plot and rewriting the narratives.

Carrie discusses the importance too of paying attention to themes and motivations in our personal stories. If we are to break the cycles we are in, we must learn to ask questions about the patterned roles that we so often assume and repeat within our family systems.

Carrie speaks to the hope and capabilities that we have within us to rewrite our stories and she remarks that our desired self hinges on one element—the story we tell about ourselves and our potential.

Owning our stories, building healthy support systems, acknowledging our filters, and revising our perspectives are other key factors in changing the narratives in our lives. 

When talking about forgiveness, Carrie shares that if we struggle with blanket forgiveness, then we still begin the forgiving process if we are willing to forgive the reasons behind the harm or negative actions committed against us. 

Towards the end of our conversation, Carrie openly discusses the importance of staying open to the idea that challenges and crises can so often create opportunities for us to grow, learn, and evolve.

In closing, I want to add that I believe that Carrie is doing very impactful and life changing work.  The lessons that she shares in her book and interviews are empowering and transformative. I picked Carrie’s book up one evening a few days before our first interview, and I couldn’t put it down. I read it straight through, in one sitting!! It’s not just great storytelling, personal experiences, and knowledge that she shares.  She also offers a lot of tips, strategies, and real-life actionable steps that all of us can follow if we are serious about rewriting our stories. 

Connecting With Carrie:

To learn more about Carrie’s background, how to purchase her book, and the work and projects that she is involved with, visit her website: carriekcwest.com

Carrie is offering PerfectWhelm Podcast listeners a 10% discount code for those of you interested in obtaining her ‘Money Rewritten TM workshop. Just Use the code NB73KT to receive this offer.

 LI: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-west-46349764/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/story-of-your-life/?viewAsMember=true

FB:

https://www.facebook.com/carriekcwest/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571647474405

IG @storytellers_acad

PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:

- Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services

- Email: [email protected]

- I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone

you think might benefit from it.