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In this episode of "When I Stop Fighting the Podcast," host Daryl Dittmer speaks with Felicity Ashley, a mother of three, accomplished marketer, and one of fewer than 250 women to row an ocean—a feat made even more remarkable as she did so while unknowingly battling bowel cancer. Felicity’s story is one of resilience and transformation, as she moved from a high-powered business career to becoming a motivational speaker and best-selling author. The conversation opens with reflections on life’s storms, both external and internal, and the mindset required to overcome them. Felicity emphasizes the value of reframing adversity as a stepping stone and seizing opportunities to live fully and without regret.

Both Daryl and Felicity share how life-threatening health challenges forced them to reevaluate their priorities and routines. For Felicity, her cancer diagnosis was a catalyst for a profound shift in perspective. She felt compelled to share her story, raising awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and inspiring others to be proactive about their health. The discussion highlights the critical role of mindset, self-care, and the formation of habits to support well-being and resilience. Felicity describes the unexpected joy and simplicity she experienced during her forty days at sea, which allowed her to reconnect with herself away from the noise of everyday life.

Throughout the episode, Felicity advocates for an action-oriented approach to life—encouraging listeners to try, take risks, and view challenges as opportunities for growth. She and Daryl discuss the importance of discipline in maintaining a balanced life and preventing burnout, especially as responsibilities increase with age. Felicity shares how her daily routines, like morning exercise and cold plunges, have become essential for her mental and physical health, enabling her to remain resilient and focus on helping others.

The conversation concludes with Felicity’s reflections on her speaking career and her memoir, "Stronger Than the Storm." She describes writing as a therapeutic process that allowed her to process her experiences and share them with authenticity. Felicity and Daryl agree that everyone possesses untapped strength, and that sharing personal stories can inspire and create positive change. Felicity’s journey stands as a testament to the power of mindset, resilience, and the ripple effect of courageously helping others by sharing one’s own story.

Please find Felicity here:

https://www.felicityashley.com/
https://www.instagram.com/felicityashleyspeaker/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicityashley/

This episode of "When I Stop Fighting the Podcast" features a heartfelt conversation between host Daryl Dittmer and guest Shannan Kym, an international award-winning author, TEDx speaker, and transformational mentor. Shannan shares her journey from a childhood marked by abuse, addiction, and trauma, to a life of self-discovery and empowerment. The discussion begins with reflections on the importance of connection and the serendipity of relationships formed through podcasting, emphasizing that people come into our lives for a reason—either to teach us or for us to learn from them.

Shannan bravely recounts her upbringing in a family plagued by generational addiction, mental illness, and violence. As the youngest of eight children, she endured emotional and physical abuse, which deeply affected her sense of self-worth and identity. Despite attempts to escape through athletics and later battling her own addiction, Shannan describes hitting rock bottom before experiencing a powerful spiritual awakening. This turning point led her to prioritize her sobriety, self-love, and the well-being of her children, ultimately inspiring her to leave toxic relationships and environments.

The conversation delves into the concept of "messes" in life, with both Daryl and Shannan agreeing that challenges and hardships are necessary for personal growth. Shannon emphasizes that taking responsibility and setting healthy boundaries are crucial steps toward healing. She explains how learning to love herself from within transformed her external world, attracting healthier relationships and opening new opportunities. Her journey illustrates how self-acceptance and the willingness to let go of the past can lead to profound change and happiness.

As the episode concludes, Shannan offers insights into her upcoming book, "Finding the Answers Within You: Ten Pathways Toward Self-Discovery." She outlines the core themes, including awareness, clarity of desires, and the necessity of leaving unhealthy environments. Shannan’s message is one of hope, resilience, and the importance of gratitude—even for painful experiences—as they shape our paths and lead us to our true purpose. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own journeys and to recognize the power of taking charge of their lives, just as Shannan has done.

Find Shannan here:

https://www.shannankym.com

https://www.selfdiscoverypathways.com

This podcast episode of "When I Stop Fighting" features a conversation between host Daryl Dittmer and Jeannie Comeau, a metaphysician, evolutionary astrologer, and life purpose coach. Jeannie shares her unique background, having transitioned from a long career as a Fortune 500 executive in information technology to guiding individuals toward personal authenticity and purpose. Her story blends practical leadership with deep spiritual insight, emphasizing how everything in existence is energy and vibration, and how metaphysics seeks to answer questions about the nature of reality and our purpose in life.

Jeannie recounts her upbringing as the fourth of nine children in a challenging environment, shaped by her mother's resilience after separating from an alcoholic father. She describes early responsibilities that developed her caretaker instincts and a sense of self-reliance. Overcoming financial hardship, she pursued education and a career in business and technology, eventually rising to senior leadership roles. Throughout her corporate journey, Jeannie was always drawn to metaphysical concepts and astrology, feeling a calling to help others understand themselves and their life lessons.

The conversation delves into evolutionary astrology, which Jeannie describes as a tool for personal transformation rooted in the belief in reincarnation. According to Jeannie, each soul enters a lifetime to learn specific lessons, and evolutionary astrology helps illuminate the patterns, wounds, and growth opportunities present in an individual’s birth chart. She explains how understanding these cosmic energies can empower people to move toward their "North Star" or life purpose, letting go of limiting beliefs and societal expectations.

Jeannie outlines her holistic coaching program, which combines evolutionary astrology, strength-based assessments, and practical planning to support clients on their journeys to self-discovery and fulfillment. She emphasizes the importance of serving others, the power of affirmations, and the need to go within for answers. The episode concludes with Jeannie inviting listeners to connect with her for readings, coaching, and her newsletter, highlighting that transformation is a lifelong process available to all who are ready to embrace it.

This episode of "When I Stop Fighting" features a deep and heartfelt conversation between the host, Daryl Dittmer, and Phyllis Leavitt, a psychotherapist and author with decades of experience in healing trauma and exploring the intersection of psychology and spirituality. Phyllis shares her personal journey, marked by early childhood trauma and moments of profound divine connection, which inspired her writing and therapeutic practice. Her story highlights the importance of both psychological healing and spiritual awakening as intertwined paths toward wholeness, emphasizing that her darkest times were often illuminated by unexpected experiences of love and guidance from a higher source.

A central theme of the discussion is the transformative power of surrender. Both Phyllis and the Daryl reflect on their own moments of "giving up"—not as defeat, but as a necessary release that opened them to deeper healing and spiritual insight. Phyllis recounts how, during her lowest points, surrendering led to receiving direct, compassionate guidance that became the basis for her first two books. This act of letting go is presented as essential for personal transformation, allowing individuals to move beyond the cycle of internal and external conflict and to access inner peace.

The conversation expands to examine how individual healing can contribute to collective well-being. Drawing from her latest book, "America in Therapy," Phyllis advocates for bringing psychological and emotional health into national and societal conversations. She argues that much of societal dysfunction stems from unaddressed trauma and a cultural paradigm that prizes fighting and winning over vulnerability and connection. Both speakers stress the importance of creating safe spaces for vulnerability, embracing humility, and breaking cycles of victimization to foster compassion, cooperation, and lasting peace.

Finally, the dialogue explores the relationship between religion, spirituality, and psychotherapy. Both participants discuss how spiritual growth often requires moving beyond rigid religious dogma to discover a personal, experiential connection with the divine. They note that faith is not static but develops through lived experience, healing, and openness to guidance. The episode concludes with an invitation to embrace vulnerability, seek help when needed, and plant seeds of compassion and understanding, both within ourselves and in the wider world, as the foundation for true healing and collective evolution.

Find Phyllis at:

https://www.facebook.com/phyllis.leavitt

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOdxqvDK9N421AZ5TTxqUgQ

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllis-leavitt-630179255/

https://www.instagram.com/phyllis_e_leavitt/

https://twitter.com/PhyllisLeavitt2

 https://substack.com/@phyllisleavitt1

In this insightful podcast episode, host Daryl Dittmer speaks with leadership coach Rayna Schroeder about the journey from dissatisfaction to purposeful living. Rayna shares her unique upbringing as the child of deaf parents and her early immersion in responsibility, which shaped her initial understanding of leadership. She describes her evolution from a command-and-control approach to a more collaborative and empowering leadership style, a change sparked by training and her own experiences coaching a high school dance team. This shift in perspective laid the groundwork for her future as a leadership coach, focused on helping others find joy and meaning in their work.

Rayna recounts a pivotal period in her career marked by unhappiness and disconnection, which ultimately led her to reevaluate her path and embrace positive psychology. She emphasizes that leadership is about influence, not titles, and that anyone can choose to lead by creating environments where people feel valued and engaged. Through her coaching, Rayna helps clients move away from a victim mentality and take ownership of their responses, encouraging small, intentional actions that foster lasting change and fulfillment.

The conversation explores the challenges of breaking out of comfort zones and the importance of embracing incremental progress toward big goals. Both Daryl and Rayna reflect on the common tendency to expect rapid transformation, highlighting the value of small, consistent steps and self-compassion along the journey. They discuss the role of gratitude, self-care, and mindfulness in building resilience and maintaining a positive outlook, even in the face of adversity.

Finally, the episode delves into the difference between genuine positivity and toxic positivity, advocating for authenticity and constructive venting when times are tough. Rayna underscores the importance of aligning actions with core values and purpose, and both speakers affirm that true leadership is grounded in service, empathy, and the desire to uplift others. The conversation concludes with practical advice for cultivating a meaningful life and workplace, as well as ways to connect with Rayna for further guidance on the leadership journey.

Find Rayna here:

https://positiveimpactleaders.com/meet-rayna/

This episode of "When I Stop Fighting" features a heartfelt conversation between host Daryl Dittmer and his daughter-in-law, Margaret Landini, a transformational coach dedicated to helping women overcome food addiction and embrace self-trust. The discussion opens with reflections on the unique dynamic of their family relationship and the importance of sharing personal stories openly. Both Daryl and Margaret acknowledge the value of vulnerability and honesty—not only as a means of healing themselves but also as a way to encourage others to do the same.

Margaret shares her journey of growing up in a tumultuous family environment, shaped by her parents' struggles with addiction and the resulting emotional chaos. She discusses how these early experiences led to emotional eating and a long battle with self-identity and self-worth. The turning point came during her college years, when an epiphany prompted her to reclaim agency over her life. Margaret emphasizes that true transformation began when she stopped blaming others and took full responsibility for her healing, a process that required confronting uncomfortable truths and embracing ongoing personal growth.

The conversation delves into the parallels between Daryl and Margaret’s paths, exploring the universal challenge of overcoming internal battles and the importance of relinquishing blame. Both agree that lasting change depends on radical self-responsibility, an approach that demands continuous self-reflection, humility, and the courage to admit what one doesn’t know. Margaret describes her coaching philosophy as one rooted in curiosity, deep listening, and empowering clients to discover their own answers, rather than prescribing solutions.

As the episode concludes, Margaret reflects on the evolution of her approach to life and coaching, recognizing the ongoing nature of self-discovery and the necessity of balancing spiritual insight with grounded action. She and Daryl highlight the importance of daily choices in maintaining growth and sobriety, and they celebrate the freedom that comes from facing one’s own limitations. The episode ends with gratitude for the opportunity to support others on their journeys, affirming that the process of helping and healing is mutually transformative for coach and client alike.

 Find Margaret here:

https://www.instagram.com/truly__margaret/

A heartfelt conversation with L. Michael Burt, an entrepreneur, actor, and the voice behind the ThriveWell Journey podcast. L Michael shares his story of resilience, having overcome significant health challenges such as a kidney transplant and cancer, as well as the instability of a nomadic childhood. These experiences ultimately shaped his belief in the importance of moving beyond mere survival to truly thriving in all aspects of life—physically, mentally, spiritually, and financially.

L Michael and Daryl reflect on the power of choice in shaping one’s life, particularly when facing crossroads after adversity or loss. L Michael recounts the profound impact of his mother’s death, which led him to periods of self-destructive behavior, followed by a conscious decision to pursue self-development and purposeful living. Both men agree that transformation requires not just a change in mindset, but also in actions and environment, highlighting the necessity of surrounding oneself with supportive people and situations that align with one’s aspirations.

Central to the discussion is the concept of “being thriving”—not just thinking about or wishing for a better life but embodying it through daily choices. L Michael emphasizes that true change is gradual and demands consistent alignment between one’s goals and behaviors. This holistic approach to well-being includes not only personal achievements but also embracing vulnerability, gratitude, and the simple joys of life, such as the companionship of pets or moments of quiet reflection.

The episode concludes with both men expressing gratitude for their journeys and the growth that has come from challenges. They underscore the value of stillness, meditation, and appreciating life’s small pleasures as sources of strength and fulfillment. L Michael encourages listeners to follow the Thrive Well Journey podcast and reminds everyone that thriving is a conscious, ongoing process rooted in self-awareness and intentional living.

In this BONUS Episode, we welcome back our Recovering guests from the first half of Season 2, with short clips of their most helpful insights on how we can all find meaningful recovery, and live the life we've been dreaming about, inside and out!

These will be short journeys, so please enjoy! Please take whatever helps you out on your journey!

Wishing everyone healing, health, peace, and contentment.

www.daryldittmer.com

Midwest | Working Class | Trauma | Mental Illness | Addiction | Coping | Evolution | Transformation | Honesty | Self-Discovery | Change

In the latest episode of "When I Stop Fighting the Podcast," host Daryl Dittmer is joined by Rodd Duff, creator of the "Insights and Straight Talk" podcast. Their prior conversation had left Dittmer enthralled, and he was eager to explore Rodd's story and insights. Both share a connection to the American working and middle class, reflecting their Midwest roots—Dittmer from Detroit and Duff from the Chicago area.

Rodd opens up about his own journey, which encompasses struggles with addiction and personal dysfunction, leading to a life of dishonesty and crime. His path ultimately shifted toward sobriety, honesty, and the importance of self-awareness—fittingly aligned with the themes of Dittmer’s podcast. Dittmer and Duff find common ground in their shared experiences, signaling a deep understanding of each other's battles.

As Rodd recounts his past, he talks about high school life in Huntington Beach, the transition to adulthood, and his journey into mental health and addiction. He reveals experiences that include substance use stemming from childhood trauma, highlighting the connection between mental illness and addiction. Duff discusses how he masked his insecurities, adopting the nickname JR, and explains that while he engaged in various drug use, he viewed it not solely as addiction but as a coping mechanism.

The conversation ultimately proves to be stimulating and informative, as both men dive deep into their histories, acknowledging how they’ve evolved into their current selves, emphasizing the transformative power of honesty, relationships, and self-discovery.

Find Rodd here:

https://roddduff.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@roddduff1939

In this BONUS Episode, we welcome back our guests (and me :)) from the first half of Season 2, with short clips of their most helpful insights on how we can all live the life we've been dreaming about, inside and out!

My intent is to pay forward the wisdom that has been imparted to me over the years, in the hope that you can find some of it useful for your life.

These will be short journeys, so please enjoy! Please take whatever helps you out on your journey!

Wishing everyone healing, health, contentment, and peace.

www.daryldittmer.com