Self Improvement, Mindfulness and Mental Health Tips - The Coached Soul Podcast

What does it take to build a stronger, healthier, and more connected marriage? In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins explores how vulnerability, intentionality, and emotional safety can transform relationships. He challenges the idea that communication alone is the key to resolving marital struggles, revealing how childhood wounds, fear, doubt, and past experiences can influence the way couples connect with one another.

Drawing on his therapeutic experience, Dr. Steve explains why partners sometimes feel unseen or unheard, how unresolved emotional pain can create distance, and why building a thriving marriage requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to be vulnerable. Whether you feel disconnected from your partner, find yourselves repeating the same arguments, or simply want to strengthen your relationship, this conversation offers valuable insights into breaking old patterns and building a deeper, more meaningful connection.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

Key Moments:

00:00 Discussing Identity and Communication

03:02 Personal growth through therapy

08:42 Navigating relationships and submission

10:01 Healthy masculinity in relationships

13:55 Discussing relationship dynamics and roles

19:35 Being intentional in relationships

22:10 Discussing relationship communication skills

23:52 Being kind and patient

A strong marriage doesn't happen by accident. It grows through intentional choices, emotional openness, mutual understanding, and a commitment to keep showing up for one another.

Listen to the full episode of Coached Soul with Dr. Steve Hudgins and discover how vulnerability and intentionality can help you build a stronger marriage.

#CoachedSoul #MarriageAdvice #HealthyMarriage #RelationshipAdvice #EmotionalIntimacy #MarriageGrowth #HealthyRelationships #PersonalGrowth

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this powerful episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with Rich Dunning to explore his deeply personal journey from addiction, emotional pain, and childhood trauma toward sobriety, healing, and hope.

Rich openly shares his struggle with alcoholism and the experiences that shaped his life long before addiction took hold. He discusses the impact of childhood trauma, the importance of breaking the silence surrounding painful experiences, and the role his family played in his journey toward recovery. At one of the most difficult moments of his life, his son became instrumental in saving his life, creating a turning point that would change Rich's path.

The conversation also explores the difficult but transformative process of finding your voice after years of silence. Rich reflects on family, forgiveness, sobriety, resilience, and his growing passion for helping others who may be struggling with addiction or carrying unresolved pain.

Whether you are navigating your own recovery, supporting someone you love, or simply looking for hope after a difficult season, Rich's story is a powerful reminder that you are not alone, and healing and transformation are possible.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

Key Moments: 

00:00 Rich discusses overcoming alcoholism

05:42 Starting sobriety journey

06:57 Reflecting on childhood trauma

11:29 Making amends for past actions

15:49 Facing the reality of addiction

18:52 Addressing abuse and offering support

22:12 Book release and foundation support

23:21 Overcoming life's challenges and realizations

Rich Dunning's journey is a reminder that even after addiction, trauma, and profound emotional pain, a new chapter is possible. Sometimes the first step toward healing is finding the courage to finally speak.

Listen to the full episode of Coached Soul and hear Rich's story of addiction, recovery, healing, and hope.

About the guest : 

Rich Dunning is a senior executive in the medical device industry with more than two decades of experience leading in high-stakes environments. Raised in the Bronx in an environment marked by instability and a lack of protection, Rich developed an early awareness and sense of control that would later influence his approach to leadership, decision-making, and writing.

Rich began writing Silence Was My First Language more than 15 years ago, presenting his experiences as they were lived. He has also completed two novels, The Jaguar and Selling Arteries to the Devil, both grounded in real-world experiences. He is currently working on additional books, including The Executive and the Escort and When in Puglia.

Rich also founded The First Language Foundation, a long-term initiative through which $1 from every copy sold is directed to organizations supporting children facing abuse, hunger, and homelessness.

He maintains residences in Lexington, South Carolina, and Brickell, Florida.

How to connect Rich : 

Website : https://www.richdunningbooks.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-dunning-9a3137360/

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

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

What happens when silence is your only survival mechanism? Rich Dunning shares his path from childhood trauma to healing.

What happens when life changes unexpectedly and you suddenly have to rethink your financial future?

In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with Leah Garcia for an empowering conversation about women, financial independence, wealth building, and taking control of your financial future.

Leah shares her personal journey from being a stay-at-home mom to becoming financially empowered, offering practical insights for women navigating major life transitions such as divorce, blended families, and starting over.

Together, they explore the importance of understanding your finances, overcoming fear around money, creating additional sources of income, and developing a clear spending plan. Leah also explains why financial transparency and having a strategy for your money can be essential when building greater security for yourself and your family.

The conversation goes beyond numbers. Leah and Dr. Steve also discuss the mindset required to face financial uncertainty, challenge limiting beliefs, and recognize opportunities during difficult transitions.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Key Moments:

00:00 Financial differences in marriage

03:41 Discussing Challenges in Marriage

06:59 Single parent empowerment journey

12:09 Handling small things with care

15:30 Financial planning before marriage

19:50 Advice on wedding budgeting

22:19 Importance of life insurance

24:43 Discussing prenups and estate planning

Whether you're going through a major life transition, rebuilding after divorce, managing finances in a blended family, or simply looking to become more financially independent, this conversation offers practical ideas and encouragement for taking greater ownership of your financial future.

Financial empowerment isn't just about having more money. It's about having the knowledge, confidence, and plan to make informed decisions about your future.

Tune in to Coached Soul for Leah Garcia's perspective on money, mindset, independence, and building wealth.

About the guest: 

Leah Garcia is a Wealth and Legacy Strategist with The Miliare Group and the creator of The Dynasty Builder approach to financial planning. With more than two decades of experience in financial services, she works with individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and business owners to bring greater clarity and intention to wealth building, protection, retirement planning, and generational legacy. Her approach emphasizes coordinating financial strategy with the appropriate legal, tax, insurance, and estate-planning professionals so that wealth is not simply accumulated, but thoughtfully protected and transferred to future generations.

How to connect Leah : 

Website : https://leahgarcia.io/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahgarciaceo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leahgarciaceo

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

What happens when you grow up in circumstances that seem to define your future, but you decide to create a different path?

In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with Leah Garcia, a “Dynasty Builder,” to explore her journey from childhood poverty and family adversity to building wealth, resilience, and a new future for her family.

Growing up on the east side of San Jose, Leah experienced poverty, family addiction, abuse, and circumstances that could have shaped the trajectory of her life. Through courage, determination, education, and the influence of important mentors, she began making different choices and breaking patterns that had been passed down through her family.

Leah openly shares the challenges she faced, the lessons she learned through adversity, and how she moved from simply surviving to creating greater financial security and opportunity. Her story highlights the power of recognizing inherited patterns, redefining what is possible, and becoming intentional about the future we create for ourselves and those who come after us.

Key Moments: 

00:00 Childhood questions about wealth disparity

03:21 Feeling out of place growing up

08:16 Childhood experiences with shame

12:13 Supportive teachers during tough times

14:57 Leaving for College at 18

19:20 Taking in sister's children

20:29 Persevering through challenges

25:21 The power of relatable mentorship

27:34 Mental health journey advice

Leah's story is ultimately about more than wealth. It's about choice, resilience, courage, and the decision to become the person who changes the trajectory of a family.

Whether you're overcoming difficult circumstances, working to break generational patterns, or trying to create a better future for your family, this conversation offers a powerful reminder:

Where you start does not have to determine where you end.

Tune in to Coached Soul for an inspiring conversation about moving from survival to wealth, breaking family cycles, and creating a new legacy.

About the guest: 

Leah Garcia is a Wealth and Legacy Strategist with The Miliare Group and the creator of The Dynasty Builder approach to financial planning. With more than two decades of experience in financial services, she works with individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and business owners to bring greater clarity and intention to wealth building, protection, retirement planning, and generational legacy. Her approach emphasizes coordinating financial strategy with the appropriate legal, tax, insurance, and estate-planning professionals so that wealth is not simply accumulated, but thoughtfully protected and transferred to future generations.

How to connect Leah : 

Website : https://leahgarcia.io/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahgarciaceo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leahgarciaceo

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

What if getting older isn't about slowing down, but about becoming more intentional about how you live?

In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins welcomes Dr. Kyle Hulsebus, a third-generation chiropractor, author, speaker, and health and human potential specialist, for a practical conversation about healthy aging, personal growth, mindset, and productivity after 40.

Dr. Kyle shares why lasting change isn't built on short bursts of motivation, but through consistency, intention, and meaningful habits. Together, Dr. Steve and Dr. Kyle explore how our beliefs about aging, success, and health can influence the way we live, and why small actions can create meaningful changes over time.

The conversation also highlights the importance of breathing, with simple practices such as taking three intentional deep breaths as a way to pause, reset, and become more present.

Whether you're over 40 or simply looking to build a healthier and more fulfilling life, this episode offers practical insights for creating sustainable habits, challenging limiting beliefs, and continuing to grow at every stage of life.

Key Learnings: 

Key Moments: 

03:10 Corporate anatomy and functions

08:46 Creating 40 health and productivity tips

10:31 Finding true intention and purpose

14:40 Health and longevity tips

16:10 Taking a calming breath

19:40 Spiritual experiences and deep breathing

24:38 Questioning life's direction

You don't have to change everything at once. Sometimes meaningful transformation begins with one small action, repeated consistently.

Tune in to Coached Soul and discover practical ways to approach health, growth, and life with greater intention after 40.

About the guest : 

Dr. Kyle Hulsebus is a health and human potential specialist, author, speaker, educator, and third-generation chiropractor based in Northern Illinois. His work takes a holistic approach to well-being, helping individuals and organizations create greater balance across the physical, mental, spiritual, and professional aspects of life. Through his speaking, consulting, and chiropractic practice, Dr. Kyle helps people move beyond simply reacting to their environment and develop greater self-awareness, health, productivity, and personal mastery. 

How to connect Dr. Kyle: 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://drkylehulsebus.com/

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

What happens in your mind doesn't always stay in your mind. Our emotions, stress, past experiences, and deeply rooted patterns can influence how we feel, respond, and function physically.

In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins welcomes Dr. Kyle Hulsebus, a third-generation chiropractor and advocate for holistic health, for a powerful conversation about the connection between emotional health and physical well-being.

Dr. Kyle shares insights from his years in chiropractic care and explores how the mind and body work together rather than existing as separate systems. Together, Dr. Steve and Dr. Kyle discuss how unresolved stress, emotional pain, and patterns formed earlier in life can continue to influence our health, relationships, and everyday reactions.

The conversation goes beyond traditional ideas of physical health, examining how greater self-awareness can help us recognize the patterns we carry and make more intentional choices about how we live, work, and connect with others. They also explore the connection between personal well-being and leadership, and why taking care of our whole selves becomes increasingly important as we age.

Key Learning: 

Key Moments: 

04:10 Emotional release through adjustments

07:42 How the brain manages multitasking

12:40 Chiropractic care for families

15:19 Handling traffic stress and reactions

16:57 Impact of chronic pain on life

20:23 Leadership and company vision

25:56 Power of changing perspectives

Whether you're interested in holistic health, emotional wellness, personal growth, leadership, or simply understanding yourself better, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at how our inner world can influence the way we experience our physical lives.

Your mind and body aren't separate parts of your life. They're part of the same story.

Tune in to Coached Soul and explore what it means to become healthier from the inside out.

About the guest : 

Dr. Kyle Hulsebus is a health and human potential specialist, author, speaker, educator, and third-generation chiropractor based in Northern Illinois. His work takes a holistic approach to well-being, helping individuals and organizations create greater balance across the physical, mental, spiritual, and professional aspects of life. Through his speaking, consulting, and chiropractic practice, Dr. Kyle helps people move beyond simply reacting to their environment and develop greater self-awareness, health, productivity, and personal mastery. 

How to connect Dr. Kyle: 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://drkylehulsebus.com/

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

Why do some of life's challenges seem to keep happening over and over again?

In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins and Kenya Evelyn explore the idea of life as a classroom and the possibility that recurring struggles can reveal lessons we haven't fully recognized, accepted, or applied.

From relationships and emotional patterns to pain, disappointment, and personal challenges, they examine why we sometimes find ourselves facing familiar situations again and again. Rather than viewing these experiences simply as failures or setbacks, they invite us to look at them with greater awareness, ownership, curiosity, and self-compassion.

Together, Dr. Steve and Kenya discuss how recognizing recurring patterns can become the first step toward meaningful change. They explore the importance of accepting what we cannot control, taking responsibility for what we can change, and turning difficult experiences into opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Key Moments: 

03:54 Embracing and Letting Go of Emotions

07:24 Empowering Women to Find Their Voice

11:39 Taking responsibility for personal growth

15:41 Fear and faith in God's promises

18:05 Faith through family challenges

21:35 Lessons and Personal Growth

If you feel like you're stuck in the same cycle, facing familiar challenges, or wondering why certain lessons keep showing up in your life, this conversation offers a different way to look at those experiences.

Maybe life isn't punishing you with the same lesson. Maybe it's inviting you to see it differently.

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

What if some of life's hardest experiences are actually part of the curriculum?

In this episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins and Kenya Evelyn explore the idea of the "University of Hard Knocks", the lifelong classroom where our experiences, relationships, disappointments, and challenges become opportunities for growth.

Through candid reflections on family dynamics, faith, personal identity, and difficult experiences within communities, Steve and Kenya examine how the people and situations that challenge us can also teach us valuable lessons about boundaries, courage, authenticity, and self-awareness.

They discuss what it means to speak up when something doesn't feel right, recognize unhealthy patterns, and remain true to yourself even when doing so creates disappointment or discomfort. The conversation also explores how difficult experiences within family or faith communities can affect our sense of identity without having to define our relationship with faith or our larger purpose.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Whether you're navigating family challenges, questioning old beliefs, recovering from disappointment, or simply trying to make sense of life's difficult lessons, this conversation offers a thoughtful reminder that hardship doesn't have to define your story.

Sometimes the lessons we never asked for become the ones that change us the most.

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/

In this heartfelt episode of Coached Soul, Dr. Steve Hudgins sits down with educator, student leadership advisor, and coauthor Yvette Leal to explore family relationships, blended families, heartbreak, healing, and the courage to break generational patterns.

Drawing from her own experiences as a single mother, her journey through higher education, and the challenges of building a blended family, Yvette shares how difficult seasons can become opportunities for growth, self-reflection, and deeper connection.

Together, Dr. Steve and Yvette explore how childhood experiences and family patterns can influence the way we approach relationships as adults, why empathy is essential when bringing families together, and how intentional communication can help create greater unity in diverse households.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Key Moments:

07:47 Misunderstanding conversation about Hill Country

11:39 Shifting Focus to Friendship

14:00 Discussing relationship challenges

19:13 Being inspired by a live stream

21:02 Learning through visualization

24:08 Discussing the new book "The Family Mask"

29:23 Animal bonding and education impact

Whether you're part of a blended family, navigating a major life transition, or working to break patterns from your own childhood, this conversation offers honest stories, practical insight, and hope for creating healthier relationships.

Your past may shape your story, but it doesn't have to determine what comes next.

About the guest : 

Yvette Leal, MS

Coauthor, Educator, and Student Leadership Advisor

Yvette Leal is an educator, student leadership advisor, and coauthor of The Journey Companion Workbook. She holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Sociology, bringing a unique perspective on human development, family dynamics, and resilience. Drawing on her experience working with parents, children, and students, Yvette is passionate about helping people build confidence, navigate life's challenges, and develop meaningful connections. Through her work in education and leadership, she empowers young people to discover their voice, serve others, and create positive change in their communities.

About Coached Soul™: 

Coached Soul™ is an empowering podcast hosted by Dr. Steve Hudgins, a mental health professional and author, and co-hosted by Kenya Whaley, a transformational therapeutic coach. With a focus on self-improvement, Dr. Steve covers many topics, including mental health, relationships, education, and more. He fearlessly tackles sensitive subjects like depression and anxiety, creating a safe space for open conversations. They offer valuable insights and lessons through podcast but a supportive community that inspires personal growth and provides the necessary resources for transformation. Their expertise and genuine approach make Coached Soul a must-listen for anyone seeking to improve their life.

For more details, visit https://coachedsoul.com/