Renowned neuroscientist, sex therapist and relationship specialist, Dr. Nan Wise believes we're in the middle of a pleasure crisis. Whether it's the “sexual recession”, or the rise in anxiety and depression, Dr. Wise says that joy and pleasure are on the decline, and that’s signalling a greater problem. “If we're losing connection with sex, which is one of life's greatest pleasures for most people”, she tells us “ there's something amiss”. 

It's coming up on Valentine's Day, and you knew we wouldn't give up a chance to talk about the love holiday in a way that only we can on The Breakout. So today, Dr. Wise walks us through her work from studying the female orgasm to what's happening in the brain when you fall in love. She tells us about what she calls the brain's crotch and the role of slutty neurotransmitters. But we also find out where sex, joy and connection have gone in 2026, and how to get them back.

Dr. Nan Wise is a licensed psychotherapist, cognitive neuroscientist, certified sex therapist, board certified clinical hypnotherapist, and certified relationship specialist with three decades of experience. Driven by an intense desire to understand how the brain operates to create moods and behaviors, she returned to academia in 2009 to pursue a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience at Rutgers-Newark. Her research has attempted to address gaps in the scientific literature regarding the neural basis of human sexuality, and as a result, has garnered international attention.

Website: https://askdoctornan.com/

Book: Why Good Sex Matters

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 to find the best stories and advice on busting boundaries and making change, and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

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Some people can see things that no one else can. Artist Heather Eck is one of those people. Heather has synesthesia, a fascinating neurological condition where a person experiences sight, touch, taste, or sounds in a second unrelated sense. They might see music or taste words.

For Heather, this extraordinary ability means she can see people's energy and emotions as vibrant colors. When she realized her gift, Heather began to paint what she saw in people, giving them a unique portrait and a new perspective on who they are and what they can be. In this episode, Heather explains her process and she unveils the portraits she did of Kelly and Keri, along with some eerily accurate insights into who we are. It was a mind-blowing experience for them and you don't want to miss it! 

About Heather

Heather is a multimedia abstract artist and writer. An intuitive artist and painter, Heather interprets people, places, and experiences through color, a condition known as synesthesia. Like an enormous box of crayons, her gift operates by categorizing through intricate but specific shades of color. While this condition enables her to experience color, she responds to these encounters with people, things, emotions, and spaces by understanding the particular shade of experience that a person dwells in.

Links

www.instagram.com/heathereckartist

www.heathereck.com

Prints & Products: www.heathereckstudios.com

For a complimentary 30-minute insight session and other resources visit https://heathereck.com/thankyou

Be sure to tell her you heard her on this show! 

About the Show

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Links

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let’s be honest, 2025 has been tough. There’ve been some scary, challenging times both at home and around the world. So, here at The Breakout, we decided that heading into the holidays and the end of this often difficult year, we need some warmth. Right now, we need to hear from strong people who've done amazing things.

That’s why, on this episode we're bringing you some of our most inspirational guests from 2025. These are the people who can launch us into the new year with the tools to go forward. They’re the ones who are all about resilience, and whether they teach it or they demonstrate it, their stories show us how to bounce back and be better.

So, grab some eggnog and settle in because this is The Breakout’s special holiday episode.

Episodes Mentioned in the Show

Game Changer with Jen Mueller

How To Change Your Beliefs with Shelly Lefkoe

The Story That Changes Minds with Trystan Reese

Boiling Point with Justin Maffett

About The Breakout

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 to find the best stories and advice on busting boundaries and making change, and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Keri and Kelly Links:

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I found myself at the kitchen table, with a Glock in my mouth trying to end my life.”

Eric Donoho’s story isn’t easy to hear, but thankfully it does have a great ending.  A highly decorated US Army veteran, he served a grueling 14 months in Iraq, experiencing intense trauma and grief along the way. But when Eric hit rock bottom, and sat down ready to take his own life, something got in the way. Today, he tells that story. 

There’s a troubling epidemic of suicide among members of the US military, and in this episode, we're honoring Veteran's Day with a look at Eric's journey from despair to advocate, and all the ways he’s trying to help.

About Eric

SGT Eric Donoho is a decorated combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient. He’s also a nationally recognized author, keynote speaker, and advocate for military families and veterans. His memoir, Canyon of Hope, offers a raw and powerful account of healing after war. He leads moral injury workshops, collaborates with nonprofits and faith-based communities, and speaks at conferences, churches, and universities across the country. Known for his attention to detail, unwavering work ethic, and powerful storytelling, SGT Donoho continues to inspire transformation through service, truth, and connection.

Links

Website https://ericdonoho.com/

Instagram @ebdonoho

About The Breakout

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 to find the best stories and advice on busting boundaries and making change, and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Keri and Kelly Links:

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years, Dr. Deborah Heiser studied the pathology of aging, immersed in the nitty gritty of everything that can go wrong with your body as you get older. Until one day someone challenged her to find out what on earth we have to look forward to.

And what she found surprised her.

 ”Honestly, there was a huge amount of research that was out there showing what we have to look forward to, but nobody was talking about it.” That’s when she  shifted her research about aging and what it actually offers.

Today, Deborah tells us about the deeply satisfying stages that are ahead and how an aging population benefits everyone.

In a culture that tells us that as we age, we matter less. Deborah wants everyone to know that as we mature, we matter more than ever before.

About Deborah

Dr. Debbie Heiser is an Applied Developmental Psychologist with a specialty in midlife and beyond and is redefining what life after 40 looks and feels like. She has been featured at TEDx, Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, Thinkers 50 Radar List, Psychology Today and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Psychology Department at SUNY Old Westbury.

Links

https://mentorproject.org/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-heiser-phd

About The Breakout

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 to find the best stories and advice on busting boundaries and making change, and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Keri and Kelly Links:

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before sports broadcaster Jen Mueller could break into sideline reporting with the Seattle Seahawks, win her Emmy, and score a Super Bowl ring (yep, she’s got one), she had to bust through some significant gender barriers. 

She pushed past that male-dominated world and into a pretty hostile locker room, and it taught her some things. “You learn how to stand your ground, how to speak up, but more importantly, how to make the most of whatever interaction you actually get with somebody”.

After 17 years with the Seahawks, Jen uses what she's learned in the locker room to help people communicate effectively, when every second counts.

Today we're hearing Jen's lessons on how to use your time to speak up and break out, even if that box seems indestructible.

About Jen

Jen Mueller, founder of Talk Sporty to Me, is a business communication expert with 25 years of experience as a sports broadcaster. An Emmy-award-winning producer, she is currently a sideline radio reporter for the Seattle Seahawks and has worked with the Seattle Mariners. She has also worked for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and WNBA, and was awarded the Keith Jackson Media Excellence Award in 2022.

Links

Website: www.talksportytome.com

Instagram

YouTube

Linkedin

About The Breakout

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 to find the best stories and advice on busting boundaries and making change, and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Keri and Kelly Links:

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes making lasting change means stripping everything back to the core, and Shelly Lefkoe knows all about that.

Shelly’s work at the Lefkoe Institute has helped tens of thousands of clients make profound life changes. Her method is all about identifying and then eliminating the beliefs that hold people back. 

“Beliefs are like a box”, she explains, “They shut out possibilities. When you eliminate that box or that belief, more is possible.” Today, Shelly takes us through the Lefkoe Method, the ways we construct walls around our lives, and her powerful process for pulling them down.

Shelly’s offer: Eliminate a Belief For Free!

Go to @shellylefkoe on Instagram and enter Breakthrough 25. The first 15 people to connect will get a free mindset call with Shelly!

About Shelly

Shelly has helped thousands of clients worldwide recreate their lives by ridding themselves of a wide variety of problems including phobias, relationships that never seem to work, violence, procrastination, unwillingness to confront people, health and wellness issues, and sexual dysfunction. Her clients have eliminated emotional patterns such as fear, hostility, shyness, anxiety, depression, worry about what people think of them, and a negative sense of themselves.

Links

The Lefkoe Institute

@shellylefkoe 

About The Breakout

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 to find the best stories and advice on busting boundaries and making change, and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Keri and Kelly Links:

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we have a bonus episode for you. It's a great big gift from Dr. Keri and Kelly: an audio chapter from their book Whatever the Hell You Want: An Escape Plan to Break Out of Life's Little Boxes and Live Free from Expectations, where they introduce their BREAK model for change. So sit back and enjoy some of this fantastic guide for Breakouts of all kinds!

About The Breakout

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 to find the best stories and advice on busting boundaries and making change, and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Keri and Kelly Links:

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The only one that cares about the extra five pounds you put on is you…Everybody in your life…should want to enjoy your presence and your photos.” For many women, having their picture taken is an excruciating experience; it’s something they’d do anything to avoid. That intense self-criticism is something that  portrait photographer Elizabeth Snyder wanted to address. So, a few years back, she shifted to a unique speciality. Working primarily with women aged 35 years and up she’s developed a thoughtful, step-by-step process that's about learning to see yourself differently and letting go of shame.

The results are extraordinary because the thing that makes Elizabeth, the perfect person to help these women overcome their doubt are the incredible trials and tribulations she's endured on her own path to self-fulfillment. 

About Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a portraiture artist, confidence expert, and workshop leader passionately committed to helping women feel their best. She has helped hundreds of women feel comfortable in front of the camera. Elizabeth has been exploring photography for the last 33 years, starting with working in her family's darkroom at age eight. Since then, she’s won many awards for her artistry, including the Portrait Masters competitions, the Castellani Art Museum's 20/20 vision: Women Artists in Western New York Exhibition, the Wedding Wire Couples Choice award, and the Top 10 Photographers in Buffalo through Expertise. 

Links

Elizabeth Synder Photography

Elizabeth’s book: Unbroken

About The Breakout

The Breakout is the hit podcast hosted by human resources and change experts Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther. The founders of Abbracci Group, a results-driven coaching, HR Management and consulting firm, Keri and Kelly are laser-focused on getting the best out of people. They launched The Breakout in early 2023 to find the best stories and advice on busting boundaries and making change, and since then the show has charted #1 in self-improvement, #1 in education, and #7 in all podcasts. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters. At Abbracci Group, Keri and Kelly offer a four-step coaching process to help you increase your self-awareness, break out of expectations, and live life on your terms.

Keri & Kelly Links:

Whatever the Hell You Want

The Way of the HR Warrior

Instagram - @thebreakoutpod

The Breakout on Facebook

YouTube

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the secret to effective leadership wasn't having all the answers, but rather creating space for genuine human connection? In this enlightening conversation with Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, co-founders of the Abbracci Group, we explore the transformative power of compassion in the workplace.

The dialogue begins with a fundamental truth: people want to feel cared for, regardless of whether they're at home or at work. Despite this simple reality, many managers struggle to show genuine empathy and vulnerability—often because they've been conditioned to maintain professional distance or believe they must always provide immediate solutions to every problem.

As Keri points out, it is hard to fully listen as humans, especially in our hyper-connected, distraction-filled world. Yet this skill becomes increasingly crucial in times of uncertainty. Kelly emphasizes that managers needn't have answers to every question; sometimes their most valuable contribution is simply acknowledging, "I don't know what's going on, but as soon as I have information, I'll share it with you."

The conversation navigates the delicate balance between compassion and boundaries. Contrary to popular belief, these concepts aren't opposites—in fact, clear expectations and boundaries are themselves compassionate acts. Without them, managers risk becoming ineffective "besties" rather than leaders who can guide their teams through challenges.

Perhaps most compelling is the business case for compassion. When employees don't feel cared for, engagement plummets, discretionary effort disappears, and eventually, customer experience suffers. It might not happen right away, Keri warns, but eventually you will lose customers, clients, and revenue.

Through personal stories and practical insights, this episode offers a masterclass in human-centered leadership that acknowledges our shared vulnerability while maintaining the structure necessary for organizational success.

About Keri and Kelly

Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther are the founders of Abbracci Group, co-authors of “Whatever the Hell You Want," and hosts of The Breakout podcast. Dr. Keri Ohlrich has over two decades in HR leadership, and embodies a passion for transforming workplaces into thriving ecosystems. Kelly Guenther brings a holistic approach to people and talent, focusing not only on the organization but also on the individuals who create teams.

Go to https://betterhelp.com/resilience or click Notes on Resilience during sign up for 10% off your first month of therapy with my sponsor BetterHelp.

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