Season 2 Episode 17 — Life Happens | Rachel Kerr Schneider

Life doesn't always follow the plan. Sometimes it changes slowly, and sometimes everything changes in a single moment.

In this episode, I'm joined by Rachel Kerr Schneider for a conversation that ended up going in a lot of different directions — which honestly feels pretty fitting for an episode called Life Happens.

We talk about Rachel's experience with her husband's battle with ALS, loss and grief, and how differently people can experience and process the same kinds of events.

Recording this episode on September 11 also led us into a conversation about 9/11, where we were when it happened, and how events like that can affect people in completely different ways.

From there, we talk about COVID, some of the topics I've covered in previous episodes of The Bench Session, and plenty of other things that came up along the way.

There are serious moments in this conversation, but there are plenty of laughs too.

Because that's kind of how life works.

Sometimes it's heavy. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it doesn't make any sense.

Life happens.

And we figure it out as we go.

Season 2 — Episode 16I Don't Want to Hustle Anymore

When did doing nothing start feeling like something to feel guilty about?

In this episode, I talk about being tired of the constant pressure to hustle, improve, build, create, and turn every minute of the day into something productive. Not because I've lost my ambition or stopped chasing goals—but because I'm starting to question why everything has to accomplish something.

We talk about hobbies becoming side hustles, feeling like rest has to be earned, staying busy to avoid stillness, and the strange contradiction of understanding that our bodies need recovery while expecting our minds to run nonstop.

I still want more out of life. I still have goals. I still want to build and improve.

I just don't want my entire life to become work while I'm busy trying to build a better one.

Maybe learning how to work hard is only half the lesson.

Maybe we also need to learn how to stop.

Season 2 — Episode 15

We Didn't Know Shit Either... But We Figured It Out

Every generation looks at the one coming up behind them and wonders what the hell happened.

In this episode, I compare what life was like for me in my late teens and early twenties to what I see from young adults today. We talk about money, debt, payment plans, DoorDash, living at home, work ethic, technology, social media, and the struggles that come with learning how to become an adult.

But this isn't just an episode about what's wrong with the younger generation.

Because the truth is... we didn't know shit either.

We wasted money. We made bad decisions. We got into debt. We worked shitty jobs. We screwed up and learned a lot of lessons the hard way.

So maybe the bigger question is whether, in trying to give the next generation a better and easier life, we've accidentally removed some of the struggles that taught us how to handle adulthood in the first place.

We weren't smarter.

We weren't better.

We just had to figure some shit out.

Season 2 – Episode 14What If This Is As Good As It Gets?

What if we've been waiting for a version of life that doesn't actually exist?

In this episode, I talk about the trap of constantly chasing the next milestone—losing the weight, paying off the debt, getting the promotion, buying the house—while convincing ourselves that life will finally begin once we get there.

The truth is, every goal we reach eventually becomes our new normal, and the finish line keeps moving.

This isn't a conversation about giving up on your dreams. It's about learning to appreciate the life you're living while you're still building the one you want.

Because if we're always waiting for "someday," we might miss the ordinary moments that end up meaning the most.

Maybe life isn't waiting to begin.

Maybe you're already living it.

Season 2 – Episode 13What Am I Supposed To Do With The Time I Have Left?

The older I get, the more I realize that time isn't something we can earn back.

In this episode, I reflect on my fitness journey, the reality of living with debt and responsibilities, and the pressure so many of us feel to put life on hold until everything is finally "figured out."

We spend years telling ourselves we'll start living after we lose the weight, pay off the bills, or reach the next milestone. But what if we're wasting the time we have by waiting for a future that never feels complete?

This is a conversation about making the most of today, finding meaning in the middle of life's responsibilities, and remembering that we probably have fewer "somedays" left than we think.

Because life isn't slowing down.

The question is... what are you going to do with the time you have left?

Season 2 — Episode 12

The Older I Get, The More I Understand

When I was younger, I thought being rich meant having a big house, nice cars, and expensive things. But the older I get, the more I realize that appearances can be deceiving. From the outside, someone might look successful, but often it's just a collection of payments, debt, and obligations.

In this episode, I talk about how my definition of wealth has changed over the years. What once looked important has been replaced by something much simpler: peace, presence, meaningful relationships, and the ability to enjoy life as it happens.

I also reflect on the idea of "someday" and how many of us spend years putting off the things we truly want to do, assuming there will always be more time. The truth is, none of us know how many somedays we have left.

And finally, I talk about one of the realities of getting older: watching your circle get smaller. Not because of conflict or drama, but because life changes, priorities shift, and relationships evolve.

Sometimes growing older isn't about learning something new.

Sometimes it's about finally understanding what mattered all along.

Season 2 — Episode 11

I Miss Simpler Times

Born in 1987, I’ve had a front row seat to watching the world completely change.

In this episode, I reflect on growing up before smartphones, social media, and constant notifications took over everyday life. From cassette tapes and portable CD players to AIM, MySpace, and the early internet days, this is a conversation about how much life, technology, and human connection have changed over the years.

We talk about how fast life feels now, how disconnected people have become despite always being online, and why so many of us miss a time when things felt slower, quieter, and more real.

Sometimes it’s not the old technology we miss…
it’s how life felt when we were living through it.

Season 2 — Episode 10

I Hate My Life. Not the People In It.

Sometimes the hardest thing to explain is that you don’t hate the people around you… you’re just exhausted by life itself.

In this episode, I talk about the quiet burnout that comes with adulthood—the pressure, the routines, the mental exhaustion, and the feeling of becoming disconnected from yourself over time.

This is a real conversation about struggling internally while still loving the people in your life, feeling guilty for being unhappy when you “should” be grateful, and learning the difference between wanting to escape your life… and simply wanting peace.

If you’ve been carrying weight silently lately, this session is for you.

Season 2 — Episode 9

I Thought I’d Be Further By Now

At some point, we’ve all had this thought…

“I should be further along by now.”

In this episode, I talk about what it feels like to be putting in the work—showing up, staying consistent, making the right choices—and still feeling like progress is slower than expected.

From the mental battle to the frustration with the scale, this is a real conversation about the part of the journey nobody really talks about.

The phase where you’re doing everything right…
and it still feels like you’re behind.

Sometimes progress doesn’t look the way we expect it to.
That doesn’t mean it’s not happening.

Season 2 — Episode 8

Looking Back: My Life and The Bench Session

In this episode, I take a step back and talk about the journey that led me here.

From life experiences to the lessons that shaped the way I see the world, this is a more personal session about where I’ve been, what I’ve learned.

Sometimes it’s important to pause, look back, and understand the road that brought you here.

This episode is one of those moments.