When Did You Stop Taking Risks? The Hidden Cost of Playing It Safe

Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes introduce Permission to Evolve with a focus on “permission to take risks,” emphasizing that the danger isn’t only failure but also staying stuck in dry, unfulfilling stability. They connect risk-taking to building self-trust by turning attention inward, detaching from shame-based stories, taking small manageable steps, and confronting discomfort to gather data and strengthen decision-making. Brandon explains how people often stop taking risks after struggle leads to security, which can become a prison, and argues for balancing certainty with needed uncertainty, variety, and renewal. Using triathlon and career examples, they discuss how once-exciting challenges can become routine, requiring new variables, neglected skills, fresh mindsets, or even new chapters. They close by encouraging reflection on future regret, choosing the right “dose” of uncertainty, and sharing ways to connect with Brandon’s coaching and content.

00:00 Welcome and Topic

00:15 Why Take Risks

01:46 Question of Week

02:08 Building Self Trust

08:48 When We Stop Risking

10:34 Stability Versus Variety

15:15 Regret and Perspective

16:34 When Risks Get Boring

18:23 Refreshing Motivation

24:32 Specific Ways to Mix It Up

25:21 Reinventing Training and Work

28:00 Identity Shifts and Chapters

33:34 Building a Runway

36:15 Avoiding the Hard Thing

39:41 Final Takeaways

43:41 Where to Find Brandon

44:32 Wrap Up and Goodbye

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://substack.com/@brandonthielk1

The Hidden Prep Behind Peak Performance (Boise 70.3 Lessons)

Host Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes discuss “permission to find your flow,” sparked by Brandon supporting clients at Boise 70.3 where his client Sam won by about five minutes amid uncertainty from rough swim conditions and nearby forest fires. They contrast the practice phase (conscious skill-building and preparation) with the performance phase (getting out of your own way, surrendering overthinking, and executing from alignment). Brandon explains flow as self-alignment built through daily emotional processing, self-trust, and resolving internal conflicts like fear, shame, perfectionism, and coping patterns; he shares tools such as journaling, meditation, nature, music, cold plunges, hard workouts, and flexible routines. They note flow can distort time and emphasize addressing life stress holistically, experimenting to find a personal “recipe,” and tracking what creates peak states. Brandon shares ways to connect via brandonthielk.com, his newsletter, and social channels, and mentions booking his first trip to Kona in October.

00:00 Show Intro

00:09 Boise 70.3 Win Story

00:47 Permission to Find Flow

02:12 Race Chaos and Adaptability

05:17 Personal Flow Routine

07:39 Flow as Self Trust

10:30 Ego Protection and Perfectionism

14:16 Time Distortion in Flow

16:20 Practical Flow Practices

23:02 Work Mode vs Flow Mode

25:32 Repairing Relationship Blocks

26:13 Holistic Stress and Performance

28:06 Playfulness Unlocks Flow

29:18 Inner Confidence Under Pressure

31:07 When to Push or Quit

37:39 Identity Shifts and Alignment

40:31 Key Takeaways on Flow

43:13 Practices and Personal Recipes

48:15 Where to Find Brandon

49:19 Closing and Next Steps

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://substack.com/@brandonthielk1

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

https://open.spotify.com/show/6HMWcqqroohupXCbf3CxOn

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

What Happens When You Stop Judging Your Feelings? (And Why They Keep Coming Back)

In this episode of Permission to Evolve, host Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes explore “permission to own what you feel,” arguing that emotions are temporary unless judged, suppressed, and “hammered” into the nervous system as limiting beliefs that shape identity and behavior. Brandon explains how unprocessed pain gets stored through survival responses, becomes reinforced by repeated stories and judgments, and can drive resentment, rigidity, burnout, and repeated life patterns until it is consciously re-experienced and updated with adult perspective. Holly shares a Lake Placid trip where her husband Aaron couldn’t race after collarbone surgery, highlighting grief over lost potential, and recounts a cold, rainy training ride that triggered fear and overwhelm tied to past and recent accidents. They emphasize short-term discomfort for long-term peace, resilience, and intentional living, and Brandon shares how to book a free strategy session and follow his content.

00:00 Welcome and Hosts

00:09 Why Own Feelings

01:32 Travel and Race Updates

01:57 Lake Placid Emotions

06:57 No Wrong Feelings

09:26 Embodiment and Patterns

12:35 Emotions in Nervous System

17:54 Unwinding Beliefs and Identity

23:59 What Blocks Feelings

30:31 Lake Placid Ride Breakdown

38:14 Safety and Overwhelm

49:02 Resilience Through Feeling

51:01 Coaching and Links

52:20 Closing Goodbye

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://substack.com/@brandonthielk1

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

https://open.spotify.com/show/6HMWcqqroohupXCbf3CxOn

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

Why “Escape” Stops Working (and What Your Pain Might Still Be Teaching You)

Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes return to Permission to Evolve after a week off to explore “permission to be lost” and “permission to stop pretending,” describing the uncomfortable gap that appears when you outgrow old habits, identities, and social expectations but don’t yet know what’s next. Holly shares that their annual Boulder, Colorado trip felt less like an escape, especially after her husband’s bike accident and broken collarbone, and Brandon connects this to nervous-system stability and building a life you don’t need to escape from. They discuss somatic work and recurring pain, emphasizing acceptance, refining beliefs about aging, and continuing to learn from discomfort. Brandon explains how getting lost helps shed a false self, reduce overthinking and validation-seeking, tolerate being misunderstood, and rebuild relationships with clearer boundaries, ultimately supporting more authentic, intentional living.

00:00 Welcome Back Hosts

00:17 Permission To Be Lost

01:02 Colorado Trip Recap

03:15 Life Without Escapes

05:18 Desires And Alignment

06:47 Somatic Pain Question

07:38 Pain Aging Acceptance

11:55 Getting Lost To Find Self

16:04 Stripping Ego In Gap

18:13 Being Misunderstood

20:09 Not Needing Validation

21:10 Self Focus Not Narcissism

23:54 Realign to Serve

24:56 Boundaries and Capacity

26:57 Stop Pretending

28:30 Shame and Vulnerability

31:08 Mentors and Maturity

33:17 Ego and Reality Distortion

36:57 Catalyst to Get Lost

39:19 Authenticity Self Correction

41:55 Recalibrate Relationships

43:22 Key Takeaways

46:24 Where to Find Brandon

47:41 Closing Goodbye

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://substack.com/@brandonthielk1

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

https://open.spotify.com/show/6HMWcqqroohupXCbf3CxOn

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

Independence vs. Hyper-Independence: When Freedom Quietly Becomes a Prison

In this episode of Permission to Evolve, host Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes discuss “permission to be independent” after the Fourth of July, clarifying the difference between healthy independence and hyper-independence. Brandon explains independence as living authentically in alignment with values, while hyper-independence often comes from wounds like betrayal, instability, or feeling misunderstood, leading to control, distrust, loneliness, micromanagement, and limited growth in business and relationships. They explore trade-offs between freedom and responsibility, how group validation can create codependence, and how interdependence—people staying in their strengths—requires humility and inner work. Brandon shares practical steps: identify what isn’t working, reconnect with what excites you, tolerate disappointing others, spend time alone (e.g., meditation), and curate supportive inputs and communities. He closes with ways to connect via his website and social channels.

00:00 Welcome and Theme

00:59 Independence vs Hyper

06:19 Scaling Needs Trust

09:41 Wounds Behind It

13:27 Groupthink and Freedom

18:59 Control and Vulnerability

20:14 Interdependence Explained

27:31 Freedom Means Responsibility

31:36 Redefining Freedom Over Time

36:22 Steps to Healthy Independence

44:00 Internal Freedom and Feelings

47:26 Where to Find Brandon

48:29 Closing Goodbye

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

https://open.spotify.com/show/6HMWcqqroohupXCbf3CxOn

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

In episode 70 of Permission to Evolve, host performance and life coach Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes do an Ask Me Anything where Brandon answers questions on ownership versus other people’s issues, explaining that triggers are “your work” and the goal is returning to neutral detachment, sometimes with space, inner processing, and occasional courageous conversations. He discusses how challenging relationships can reveal unresolved wounds linked to caregivers, how self-abandonment stems from seeking approval and avoiding guilt/shame, and why healthier dynamics require honoring yourself and letting others carry the weight of their expectations. Brandon unpacks the idea that each epiphany creates a new “rut” via expansion–contraction and mental reorganization, then explains non-duality as integrating opposites into heart-centered balance. He also shares travel plans to New York, evolving long-term plans, his favorite Miami restaurant, and how awakening felt like a gradual stripping away into presence and trust.

00:00 Welcome and AMA Setup

00:58 Owning Your Stuff

10:14 Epiphanies and Ruts

12:49 Non Duality Explained

18:57 Travel Plans New York

20:41 Living in New York

22:21 Why We Self Abandon

28:48 First Awakening Moments

41:17 Favorite Restaurant Story

43:24 Where to Find Brandon

45:06 Final Wrap Up

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://substack.com/@brandonthielk1

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

Why the “Other Shoe” Fear Keeps You Stuck (and How to Break It)

In this episode of Permission to Evolve, host performance and life coach Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes explore “permission to be happy now,” especially for driven people who delay happiness until goals are achieved. Brandon explains how gratitude, presence, and process-oriented thinking reduce resistance and help reframe challenges as growth, while automatic protective “programs” and unresolved past wounds fuel negativity, inflated expectations, and the anxiety that “the other shoe will drop.” Holly asks about memento mori, and Brandon says remembering death can broaden perspective, build courage, and counter a “someday” mindset. They discuss emotional maturity as stable emotions (contentment rather than dramatic highs/lows), using setbacks as data, detaching worth from outcomes, and healing past experiences through perspective shifts. Brandon shares how to connect via brandonthielk.com for a free strategy session, his newsletter, and social channels.

00:00 Welcome and Hosts

00:10 Permission to Be Happy

02:24 Memento Mori Mindset

04:51 Gratitude and Alignment

08:34 Best Is Now

10:35 Desires and Wounds

12:29 Challenges as Growth

18:28 Other Shoe Anxiety

29:29 Expectations and Reality

38:49 Stable Happiness Defined

42:50 Healing Past Emotions

47:27 Key Takeaways

50:37 Where to Find Brandon

51:47 Closing Goodbye

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

https://substack.com/@brandonthielk1

Everyone’s Making It Up—So What’s Stopping You?

Permission to Evolve on Creativity, Ego, and Confidence

In this episode of Permission to Evolve, Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes explore “permission to make it up,” arguing that many societal norms and personal habits are inherited programming that can limit creativity and fulfillment. Using the “ham ends” story and examples like Bezos, Musk, and Apple’s “Think Different,” they discuss how innovation comes from seeing beyond the handbook, risking social judgment, and treating life as trial-and-error rather than identity-driven success or failure. Brandon connects creativity to solution-mindedness, mastery, and leadership, emphasizing deprogramming, surrendering ego, and holding space for others in coaching by staying present and adaptable. They highlight reconnecting with childlike play, remodeling values and structures, and pursuing aligned desires for inner peace, then share ways to connect with Brandon via a free strategy session, newsletter, social channels, and Substack.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

00:11 Deprogramming Old Norms

01:50 Courage to Stand Out

05:18 Innovation and Making It Up

11:59 Solution Mindset and Mastery

17:49 Getting Started Beyond the Lines

26:22 Ego Surrender and Presence

33:51 Client Breakthrough Stories

38:29 Key Takeaways and Remodeling Life

44:57 Where to Find Brandon

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://substack.com/@brandonthielk1?r=8jd80n&utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-page

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

https://open.spotify.com/show/6HMWcqqroohupXCbf3CxOn

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

On Permission to Evolve, host performance and life coach Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes discuss “permission to actually try” through Holly’s recap of Unbound Gravel, a premier gravel event in Emporia, Kansas, where she and her husband Aaron completed the signature 200-mile route (about 207 miles, 11,000 feet of climbing) amid repeated severe storms, hail, lightning, heavy “peanut butter” mud conditions, steep technical descents, minimum-maintenance roads, strong headwinds, and a late-night finish just before 2:00 AM under a 3:00 AM finish-line shutdown. Holly describes staying present, doing “race math,” and never considering quitting, contrasting this calm mindset with past fear in races and a post-accident period. Brandon explains how unresolved past stress creates limiting beliefs that surface under pressure, why commitment without forcing builds self-trust, and how to distinguish intuition from escape by seeking a decision that brings peace. He shares examples from coaching a triathlete returning to racing and from his own baseball comeback attempt, and closes with where to find his coaching, newsletter, and social channels.

00:00 Podcast Introductions

00:18 Permission To Try

01:14 Unbound Gravel Overview

04:01 Training And Expectations

05:36 Stormy Start Chaos

08:10 Peanut Butter Mud Crossing

09:23 Aid Station And More Storms

11:10 Tailwind To Headwind Shift

12:40 Muddiest Middle Miles

14:35 Nightfall And Final Push

17:49 Shelter Warning And Open Range

20:12 Lights Crashes And Finish

24:02 Cutoffs and Finish Line

25:18 Staying Present to Finish

28:06 From Fear to Calm

29:14 Shadow Work for Athletes

33:51 Self Trust in Competition

37:16 Baseball Injury Wake Up

43:40 Knowing When to Stop

49:15 Greatness Needs an Event

50:48 Final Takeaways and Next Steps

53:47 Where to Find Brandon

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

https://open.spotify.com/show/6HMWcqqroohupXCbf3CxOn

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

Host Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes explore “permission to stop performing” and how performative identities form around earning love, validation, safety, and belonging through achievement, image, or helping others. Responding to Holly’s question—sparked by Enneagram Type 3s who feel disconnected from their true self—Brandon describes finding the true self through stillness, self-awareness, and following genuine enjoyment, peace, and excitement rather than external approval. He contrasts ego-driven striving, imposter syndrome, and constant busyness with alignment, presence, and a non-resistant state where actions feel natural and flow. They discuss how family and societal expectations reinforce performance, how midlife questioning can prompt reconnection with younger parts of self via self-acceptance and forgiveness, and key takeaways for building an integrated, authentic life. Brandon invites listeners to book a free strategy session at brandonthielk.com and follow his content on social platforms.

00:00 Welcome and Theme

00:09 Why We Perform

02:00 Question of the Week

03:14 Finding True Self Clues

04:13 Performance Mindset Origins

24:00 Alignment and Flow State

26:54 Observer vs Ego

32:13 Inner Child and Midlife Shift

39:57 Quick Recap Takeaways

43:59 Work With Brandon

45:14 Closing Goodbye

🔗 LINKS:

Free Strategy Session: https://brandonthielk.com/

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@bthielk

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

https://open.spotify.com/show/6HMWcqqroohupXCbf3CxOn

https://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/