Real Things Living

Wall Street Journal columnist and author, Meghan Cox Gurdon, joins Brigitte Cutshall on Real Things Living to talk about her new memoir, "Free Range Girl." The true story of the year she spent as a 12-year-old living off-grid on a homestead her father built with his own hands in rural Maine.

They talk overparenting vs. freedom, the "anti-fragile" child, why reading aloud is one of the most powerful things a parent can do, and what got lost when childhood moved indoors. Her previous bestseller, "The Enchanted Hour," is also referenced.

"Free Range Girl" releases October 20th — pre-order now wherever books are sold. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTTQTD77

Connect with Meghan Cox Gurdon:Website: https://www.meghancoxgurdon.com

👉 Subscribe to the Real Things Living channel for more inspiring discussions on resilience, healthy living, and personal growth!

How do you build a vibrant, purposeful life through every chapter?

Brigitte Cutshall sits down with Dr. Sieglinde Othmer, author of the award-winning book Joyous Longevity: An A to Z Fuel Guide.

From her childhood escape as an East German refugee to her extensive career in psychiatry research, Sieglinde shares how curiosity, flexibility, and proactive habits keep her thriving at age 85.

Takeaways:

• The 3 Free "S" Supplements: Boost health and balance circadian rhythms using natural morning Sun, spending time in Soil (gardening/nature), and prioritizing Socialization to combat isolation.

• The MAGIC Formula for Vitality: Cultivate everyday joy through Movement, staying Awake with morning gratitude, Gardening, maintaining Independence, and nurturing Curiosity.

• Shift Focus in Tough Moments: When feeling stuck or facing adversity, focus on helping others or engaging with those around you to immediately break negative thought cycles.

Ready to redefine what it means to age with joy?

Visit https://www.joyouslongevity.com - check out Sieglinde's award-winning book, listen to her custom song, and start building your personalized A-to-Z longevity habits today!

Subscribe to Real Things Living for more inspiring conversations on health, mindset, and intentional living!

In this episode of Real Things Living, host Brigitte Cutshall sits down with natural pet health advocate and podcaster, Angela Ardolino.

Angela shares her personal journey from losing her first dog to toxic standard treatments to helping her second dog live to 17 using holistic care.

Together, they dive into the master system regulating pet wellness—the endocannabinoid system—and discuss how feeding real food, removing hidden toxins, and utilizing adaptogens and mushrooms can prevent chronic disease and bring pets back to natural balance.

Key Takeaways

• The Endocannabinoid System is Key. Supporting this system naturally helps manage inflammation and chronic disease.
• Beware of Filler Ingredients. Over 85% of commercial pet supplements contain useless isolates, synthetic vitamins, and harmful fillers.
• Nature Provides Root-Cause Healing: Standard treatments often focus on suppressing symptoms rather than finding the root cause.

Know it, live it, love it — go rescue a pet, and start reading your pet's supplement labels tonight. Follow Angela's work at https://AngelaArdolino.com and https://SeniorDogStudy.com, and check out her podcast, Your Natural Dog.

Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Share this episode with a fellow pet parent!

A 40-year ICU nurse says your response to a diagnosis matters more than the diagnosis itself, and he's built a whole theory of care around it.

Winston Meikle — nurse educator, author of "The Power of Love: A Nursing Theory", and founder of Loving Care Partners — joins Brigitte Cutshall to explore how quantum physics, ancient wisdom, and a love-based mindset can transform patient outcomes.

They dig into patient advocacy, why nurses may know patients better than doctors do, and the real risks of staying passive in your own healthcare journey.

3 Takeaways

(1) Recovery is active, not passive.

(2) The Four A's for shifting perspective: Acknowledge, Accept, Adopt, Actualize.

(3) Authenticity beats love alone. Love paired with genuine authenticity becomes the real driver of better outcomes.

Visit Winston Meikle’s work at https://poweroflovetheory.com and explore his patient advocacy platform at https://lovingcarepartners.org

Subscribe to Real Things Living for more uplifting conversations on health, self-advocacy, and resilience!

Youth mental health advocate, Lawrence Harris, breaks down why we need to stop trying to fit the mold when it comes to autism, mental health, and choosing our own path.

Brigitte Cutshall speaks with 20-year-old Lawrence to explore neurodiversity, self-advocacy, and bridging generational divides. He shares his journey from childhood adversity to inspiring young people nationwide, offering practical ways parents and teens can build trust and mental well-being.

Key Takeaways

(1) Question Your Beliefs: Self-discovery begins when you pause, ask why you hold certain beliefs, and separate your identity from social pressure.

(2) Listen and Validate: Parents can best support their teens by listening without judgment and protecting their privacy with tools like private journaling.

(3) Labels Are Just Context: Conditions like autism or ADHD aren't limits—they are simple frameworks that help us understand unique mindsets.

Learn more about Lawrence Harris at https://lawrencecharris.com.

Also check out his YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UC9iiryh1sa5QylGuPrjGUzQ

Subscribe to Real Things Living for more conversations on resilience and self-advocacy!

16 moves before he turned 18. Another 16 in the Army. Here's what it built.

Devin Fish grew up in poverty, moving constantly and eventually joining the Army at 18 to escape instability at home. After a decade of service — including a mental health crisis that landed him in the hospital — he channeled his lowest point into his memoir, "Answering the Hard Questions."

Devin talks with Brigitte Cutshall about resilience, faith, and why telling the truth about your story might be the thing someone else needs to survive theirs.

3 Takeaways

(1) Instability builds capacity, not just damage.

(2) The hardest chapter became the whole point.

(3) Authenticity is the antidote to a fake world.

Grab a copy of "Answering the Hard Questions" on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or as an ebook.

Follow Devin's new YouTube channel, Answering the Hard Questions, for his daily reflections. https://www.youtube.com/@9d7fish

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/devin.fish.79/

Dr. Eugene Antenucci — dentist, LSU dental school instructor, and author of "A Journey of a Thousand Smiles" — joins Brigitte Cutshall on Real Things Living to break down the mouth-body connection most people never learn about.

We cover gum disease and chronic inflammation, the blue zones' link between longevity, family, and movement, why sugar is a bigger threat than most realize, and how to find a doctor who actually listens.

Key Takeaways:

(1) Your mouth mirrors your whole-body health: Gum disease sends bacteria and inflammation straight into your bloodstream, quietly affecting your heart, immune system, and long-term vitality.

(2) Longevity is built, not inherited: Blue zone research ties long life to daily nutrition, movement, and family/community connection.

(3) Advocate for yourself: Persistence in finding a provider who truly listens, and getting second opinions, can change the trajectory of your health.

Connect with Dr. Antenucci:

Website - https://drgene.health/

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

Check out his book, "A Journey of a Thousand Smiles" - https://tinyurl.com/5j5jrduh

Can you actually rewire your nervous system to get unstuck?

In this episode of Real Things Living, Brigitte Cutshall speaks with transformation coach Thayne Martin to discuss trauma recovery, emotional intelligence, and how experiential neuroscience can reset your life.

After surviving severe childhood trauma, over-medication, and a near-death drowning accident, Thayne experienced a total "control-alt-delete" reset. He discovered why traditional talk therapy alone wasn't keeping him from feeling stuck—and how simple, physical action retrains the brain far faster than reading or talking ever could.

Key Topics Covered:

• Dealing with constant life changes and stepping out of fear

• The near-death experience that acted as a life reset button

• Experiential neuroscience: How doing physically rewires your brain

• Practical tools for managing anger, amygdala triggers, and emotional intelligence

• Metacognition: Moving from default mode to becoming the observer of your mind

Connect with Thayne Martin and learn more about his work at https://itspurelove.com

Denny LaVe joins Brigitte to talk about a life defined by pivots — from a broken childhood in Montana, to a near-fatal heat stroke that ended his Marine Corps dream, to nearly taking vows as a monk, to marriage, fatherhood, and building a construction company from the ground up.

He opens up about the "shame culture" he grew up in, the years of stoicism that quietly strained his marriage, and the therapy-fueled journey that led to his bestselling book, "Blue Collar Blessed."

The conversation also digs into his run for U.S. Senate in Idaho, the state of the trades, and why he believes learning to love yourself is the real starting point for everything else.

Key Takeaways

(1) Self-Compassion Drives Healing.

(2) Embrace the Power of Pivoting.

(3) There is Dignity and Success in the Trades.

Ready to rewrite your story? Pick up a copy of Denny LaVe's international bestseller, "Blue Collar Blessed", on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, and visit https://NewLionofIdaho.com to learn more.

A biochemist accidentally became a pioneer in trauma-clearing therapy—and it all started when she couldn't figure out her own dating life.

Dr. Judith Swack was told repeatedly by mentors that she had a "research mind" and belonged in a lab, leading her to earn a PhD in biochemistry and neurochemistry. However, personal struggles in her dating life introduced her to Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and the power of the unconscious mind.

After an insistent social worker pushed her to expand her focus beyond simple phobias, Dr. Judith mapped the biological structure of trauma, identifying it as the hidden root of most physical and emotional struggles.

Key Takeaways:

(1) Trauma is a physical reflex, not just a mental state.

(2) Tapping activates the body's natural "off switch".

(3) True healing addresses root causes rather than identities.

Pick up a copy of Dr. Judith Swack's book, "Clear Trauma Now" (available in paperback and eBook on Amazon) and visit https://hblu.org to claim a free consultation or register for her upcoming live trauma-healing webinar series!