Permission to Evolve

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

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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

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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/

On the Permission to Evolve podcast, performance and life coach Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes discuss “permission to not care” as a way to manage energy in an overstimulated world. They explore how identity and safety needs can lock people into rigid routines and beliefs (“this is just what we do”), and how tools like the Enneagram can illuminate these patterns. Holly shares a pandemic exercise sorting “things I believe” versus beliefs from family or community, prompting a conversation about how inherited beliefs, wounds, and ego battles keep people emotionally hooked, often through conflict with the people who represent those ideas. Brandon emphasizes individuation, detachment, healing reactions, and forgiveness to free energy, build capacity, and focus on what is meaningful now, including grieving and releasing past identities like sports or other life chapters.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

00:13 Why We Overcare

03:33 Identity and Routine

06:55 Personality and Preferences

10:59 Permission to Not Care

15:34 Capacity and Focus

19:16 Beliefs and Conditioning

25:42 Ego and Detachment

29:51 Battles With People

39:09 Outgrowing Old Chapters

47:27 Key Takeaways

50:43 Where to Find Brandon

51:41 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://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

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

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

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On Permission to Evolve, host performance and life coach Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes discuss “permission to stop carrying everybody,” building on last week’s theme of having limits. Holly shares her up-and-down training for an upcoming 200-mile gravel bike ride, including weather challenges, a recent accident, and the emotional swings of preparing for her longest solo event, while Brandon highlights commitment, focus, and detachment after doing the work. Brandon answers why stress feels easier than relaxation, explaining the survival-oriented nervous system, the role of mindset, past experiences, and using conscious awareness to rewire threat-based reactions. They unpack how overhelping can create dependency, resentment, and stunted growth in families, leadership, and relationships, including dynamics like parentification and “old soul” childhoods, and emphasize supporting people without rescuing them so they build competence and resilience. Brandon shares ways to connect with him via brandonthielk.com and social channels.

00:00 Welcome and Setup

00:57 Hollys 200 Mile Training

03:21 Why Say Yes

06:22 Question of the Week

07:18 Nervous System and Stress

11:13 Stop Carrying Everyone

12:36 Helping vs Enabling

15:43 Leadership and Delegation

20:09 Let People Struggle

23:18 Why We Overhelp

26:43 Parentification and Old Souls

33:04 Fame Early Specialization

40:22 Tough Love and Addiction

41:35 Where to Find Brandon

43:06 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 this episode of Permission to Evolve, host performance and life coach Brandon and co-host/producer Holly Dechen discuss “permission to have limits,” focusing on overextending yourself, burnout, and using reality-based self check-ins (stress load, sleep, nervous system state) to understand day-to-day capacity. Holly asks how to balance assuming people are “doing their best” versus recognizing when they’re doing what’s easiest, and Brandon explores low self-standards, learned helplessness, entitlement, accountability, and adjusting expectations to others’ capacity and willingness. They also examine empathy’s limits, arguing that helping requires maintaining clarity, avoiding getting pulled into others’ emotions, and knowing when issues are beyond your scope. Brandon distinguishes limits from boundaries: limits inform boundaries, boundaries may be temporary, and healing can dissolve them as reactions change. Brandon closes with the idea that facing limits expands them, then shares ways to connect, including a 30-minute strategy session at brandonth.com and weekly “Lightning report” prompts.

00:00 Welcome and Hosts

00:11 Why Limits Matter

01:07 Question of the Week

01:43 Best Versus Easiest

04:34 Accountability and Expectations

07:11 Segue to Personal Limits

07:49 Stress Capacity Check In

09:49 Burnout and Recovery Cycles

12:06 Trauma Patterns in Relationships

12:47 Expanding Limits Through Awareness

14:20 Empathy Needs Boundaries

16:56 Helping Without Getting Pulled Under

21:04 Empathy at Scale

23:14 Protect Your Circle

24:19 Context Over Systems

25:04 Holding Space With Care

26:40 Limits Versus Boundaries

27:50 Saying No And Consequences

30:01 Boundaries As Temporary Space

32:11 Healing Dissolves The Boundary

34:39 Karma Judgment And Lessons

37:49 Challenging People As Teachers

40:40 Expanding Limits Takeaways

44:10 How To Connect 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://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/permission-to-evolve/id1792609620

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

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

Brandon ThIelk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes open with reflections on Ironman Texas, noting how fast the sport has become, difficult weather, crashes, and a tragic swim drowning. They then explore “permission to be goalless,” arguing that over-attachment to outcomes can create disappointment, burnout, and tunnel vision, while a process-first approach builds sustainable progress. In the question of the week, Brandon interprets hesitation as either unprocessed sensations from past negative experiences (reducing self-trust) or a natural response to inexperience and uncertainty. They discuss when goals help (especially mid-journey after clarity and momentum) and when looseness matters (beginners, mastery stages, and life domains like relationships and careers where timelines are uncontrollable). Brandon emphasizes energy management, honest self-accountability, adaptive expectations, joy, and preparing so opportunities can meet readiness, and closes with ways to connect via his website, strategy sessions, newsletter, and social channels.

00:00 Welcome and Hosts

00:10 Ironman Texas Recap

02:05 Permission to Be Goalless

02:55 Question of the Week

03:24 Hesitation and Trauma

04:04 Practice vs Inexperience

05:59 Why Outcomes Distract

07:11 Goals by Stage

09:21 New Year Goals Trap

10:50 Mastery and Joy

13:20 Detach From Results

17:01 Type A Flexibility Tips

18:53 Coach Trust and Dialogue

20:35 Stress Load and Burnout

22:00 Consistency and Real Rest

23:04 Rest Without Guilt

24:06 Reinvent Your Approach

24:57 Flexible Goals Mindset

26:17 Deadlines You Cant Control

28:15 Prepare While You Wait

30:15 Calendar Goals Real Life

33:51 Goals Must Be Internal

35:24 Key Takeaways Framework

41:41 Achievement And Healing

43:30 Where To Find Brandon

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/

On Permission to Evolve, host and performance/life coach Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes do an “Ask Me Anything” episode as Brandon shares recent travel (Tucson cycling camp, Las Vegas experiences like the Sphere’s Wizard of Oz and a Vegas show) and his upcoming trip to Ironman Texas to support clients while revisiting Houston. Brandon discusses how he relates to sports now (more appreciation than fandom, mostly playoff viewing), defines the “messy edge” as pushing past limits to reveal deeper beliefs and fears, and explains common high-performer blocks rooted in not feeling good enough and identity-driven striving that can lead to burnout. They cover dreams, superheroes, rapid-fire “this or that” preferences, maintaining adult friendships through low expectations and optional plans, and a deep dive on ego death, including grief, mood swings, and loosening identity to live more aligned, authentic lives. They close with where to follow Brandon and how to book a free strategy session and newsletter.

00:00 Show Intro And Setup

00:24 Travel Updates Vegas

02:28 Ironman Texas Plans

03:48 AMA Begins Favorite Sports

06:22 Messy Edge And Limits

11:11 Common Blocks In High Performers

17:45 Dreams And Subconscious

19:26 Superheroes And Favorites

20:27 This Or That Rapid Fire

23:19 Movies Vs TV Series

24:06 Parasocial Letdown

24:23 Rapid Fire Food Picks

25:14 Water Sun and Weather

26:18 Beach Mountain Coasts

27:56 Wrap This or That

28:43 Unwinding After Long Days

29:20 Adult Friendship Maintenance

33:13 Signs of Ego Death

36:58 Is Ego Death Permanent

40:03 Ego Masks and Belonging

47:26 Coaching Philosophy Recap

49:04 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 recap their Oceanside, California trip and introduce the episode theme, “permission to reflect,” sparked by a viral clip of Mark Andreessen saying he doesn’t self-reflect. Brandon argues reflection is essential for learning, breaking old survival patterns, and reducing negative impact on others, while also warning against getting stuck in overthinking and inaction. They discuss how wounds, guilt, shame, and family dynamics can drive people-pleasing, perfectionism, and fixation on others’ reactions, and how generational value systems (like achievement or career paths) create momentum and backlash when someone chooses a different route. Brandon describes a practical rhythm of action → feedback → reflection, emphasizing nervous-system regulation, depersonalizing experiences, and using reflection as an accelerator. They close with where to find Brandon and upcoming cycling camp plans.

00:00 Welcome Back Recap

01:09 Permission to Reflect

01:35 Reflection vs Overthinking

03:52 Question of the Week

04:36 Doing Something New

06:09 Why Self Reflection Matters

09:41 Survival Patterns and People Pleasing

13:32 Action Reflection Balance

14:58 Judgment and Childhood Conditioning

17:43 Healers Fixing Others

18:53 Reflection Owning Mistakes

19:46 Spot Patterns Not Promises

21:14 Wake Up Calls And Survival Mode

22:05 Detach From Fixing Others

23:07 Generational Achievement Pressure

25:58 Breaking Family Identity Scripts

31:43 Avoidance Greed And Numbing Out

36:38 Action Reflection Rhythm

41:08 Rebuild Strengths And Apply Everywhere

45:14 Key Takeaways On Reflection

48:15 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://www.instagram.com/permissiontoevolvepodcast/

From Oceanside, California ahead of the Oceanside 70.3 Ironman, host performance and life coach Brandon Thielk and co-host/producer Holly Deschenes explore “permission to be weird” as the path to authenticity and standout performance. They discuss how childhood conditioning and fear of judgment keep people conforming, and why growth requires being willing to be misunderstood, overcoming self-consciousness, and shifting from rebellion and external validation to an internal, self-mastery focus. Brandon shares examples from his life—pursuing pro baseball, deep meditation, and early nervous-system work—highlighting the isolating uncertainty before breakthroughs and how healing wounds reduces the need for approval. They also cover creating spaces where others feel safe to be themselves, the ease of authenticity with strangers, and Brandon’s resources: free strategy sessions, the Monday “Lightning Report” newsletter, and social channels.

00:00 Oceanside Race Setup

00:31 Permission To Be Weird

01:40 Why We Conform

04:38 Rediscover The Child

05:41 Breaking The Mold Stories

08:05 Obsessions And Isolation

13:07 Authenticity Defined

20:49 Beyond Rebellion

24:47 Drop the Armor

26:10 Effortless Athlete Mindset

27:03 From Rivalry to Process

28:31 Phases of Self Mastery

30:27 Permission to Be Weird

32:14 Masks and Public Image

35:40 Why Strangers Feel Safer

37:33 Healing Changes Relationships

40:08 Choosing an Authentic Path

43:45 Final Takeaways and Next Steps

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

Newsletter Signup: https://brandonthielk.com/

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

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