Take What Serves. Leave the Rest.

Kindness. It's at the core of the way Katie Steller is showing up in the world. She founded the Steller Kindness Project and the Red Chair Project, where she travels around Minneapolis giving free haircuts to people in need. 

In this week's episode, we talk about the mental health challenges Katie has maneuvered in her life and the ways she has learned to show up. She also shares her experience with ulcerative colitis when she was a teenager, embracing her sexuality over the last few years, and much more.

Katie is the CEO of Steller Hair Company in Northeast Minneapolis. 

As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest. 

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

We're focusing on addiction and recovery in this week's episode. 

Bryan talks to Connor Johnson about his journey with recovery and emerging from the grips of alcohol addiction. Connor is a yoga & meditation instructor, and Lululemon Ambassador. He's also is a housing consultant and the founder of Would Works. 

Connor shares more about his journey in sobriety, how alcohol became a tool to numb what he was experiencing, and what he's learned about connecting to his heart through the process. 

Click here to register for this month's Breathwork/Meditation event in Minneapolis with Connor and Bryan. 

As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

We're keeping things super "chill" on this episode. 

Bryan is joined by Luis Leonardo and Harrison Klein to talk about cold plunges and cold showers. They are both using cold exposure in their daily lives to develop a new relationship with their comfort zones. 

Luis is the Founder of Embrace North, which is a cold plunge & sauna space in Minneapolis. Both Luis and Harrison also have teamed up to create Built to Breathe.

They talk about what drew them both to the cold, how to maneuver your first cold plunge, and much more. 

Click here to learn more about the True North Experiences that they're offering. 

As always - take what serves you, and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this episode, Bryan talks to Dr. Chad Puffer about ways to maneuver the experience of a panic attack.

Dr. Puffer is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, and the Medical Director for Child and Adolescent Services in Southern Minnesota for PrairieCare. 

Dr. Puffer opens up about struggling with panic attacks in medical school, and shares what helped him. He also talks about what's happening in our bodies when we experience a panic attack, the difference between a panic attack & panic disorder, and helping men be vulnerable about their mental health. 

As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest. 

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this episode Bryan talks to KARE 11 News Anchor and Reporter Rena Sarigianopoulos about her journey with social anxiety. 

Rena says she's experienced anxiety in social settings for as long as she can remember. She talks about how social anxiety manifests for her and the importance of showing up for people. "Showing up for people is more important than anything that's going on in my head," Rena says.

You can follow Rena on Instagram: @renakare11

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this episode Bryan talks to mental health advocate Sam Eaton about his journey with depression and suicidal thoughts. 

In 2011 Sam nearly took his own life, but made the decision to stay. He is now a speaker and founder of Recklessly Alive. He also is the author of the book, "Recklessly Alive: What My Suicide Attempt Taught Me About God and Living Life to the Fullest".

Sam shares what helps him maneuver his mental health, how we can best support someone who's struggling, and the incredible experiences he's had in his life since 2011. 

Follow Sam on Instagram: @recklesslyalive

If you, or someone you know, is in need of immediate support you can call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this episode Bryan talks with Dr. Alice Gu about the impact of screen time and kids mental health. 

With technology surrounding us constantly, Dr. Gu gives advice to help parents address the topic with their children. She also discusses some of the negative impacts of excessive screen time, and how a parent can recognize the signs that their child is too attached to their device. 

Dr. Gu is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at PrairieCare in their Rochester, Minnesota location. 

For more information on the recommended guidelines for kids and screens, Dr. Gu encourages parents to check out HealthyChildren.org. 

As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest.

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

To mark OCD Awareness Week, this episode is intended to offer gratitude to the resources and people within the OCD community that have helped light the way for me and so many others. I share some of the things that have been most helpful for me, and hope they can help you too.

I also talk more about the term "Pure O", which is used to describe OCD that presents as intrusive thoughts with mental compulsions. This term was a game changer for me.

Resources mentioned: 

Alison Dotson

Book: Pure O: The Invisible Side of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 

Chrissie Hodges YouTube Page

IntrusiveThoughts.org

"Made of Millions" YouTube Channel - This is the YouTube channel that has interviews with Dr. Steven Phillipson.

The OCD Stories Podcast

International OCD Foundation

NOCD - OCD Therapy Resource 

OCD Advocates on Instagram:

As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest. 

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)

In this episode, Bryan talks to Lindsey Young about her journey with anxiety and depression. Lindsey is a staff writer for the Minnesota Vikings, and recently created the Getting Open Series where people within the organization publicly shared their experience with mental health. 

Lindsey opens up about what has helped her maneuver dark moments in her life, and what helps her reach out to others when things feel hard. She also talks about how health anxiety surfaces for her, and what gives her hope. 

As always, take what serves you - and leave the rest. 

Click here for more information about Bryan's November "Meeting Ourselves Gently" Breathwork event. 

(This podcast is not meant to replace therapy. If you feel you need it, we encourage you to reach out to a licensed mental health professional)