Julie Trainer is a TEDx speaker and host of the Hidden Gifts of Loss podcast. She started the podcast a few years ago after the loss of her parents and found sharing her story to be incredibly healing.

She believes there are no coincidences and when someone comes into your life, it's because you can teach each other something.

Hey Dreamers! Gregory here to share with you 9 powerful lessons I learned in 2024. These come from one of my favorite year-end activities where I re-read my journal and distill the insights into lessons and reminders.

Expect to learn:

And much more.

P.S. If you liked these lessons, sign up for my newsletter! https://liveastoryworthtelling.gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/laswt

https://calendly.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt-1/discovery-call⁠

YouTube:

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

In this solo episode of the Dare to Dream podcast, I (Vincent) share my recent experiences in Osaka and Kyoto, reflecting on the value of letting go of expectations and embracing the reality of the situation.

I discuss viewing ourselves and life as a weather system; there’s nothing to change, hold on to, or worry about. Life is weather. Some days are sunny and the next are rainy. I like the beach in the sun and I like to be cozy in the rain. All seasons of life have their pros and cons. To flow with them instead of fighting them is liberation. 

I also touch on the significance of facing life’s challenges with an open heart, emphasizes the beauty of life’s unpredictability and the growth that comes from navigating through both joyful and difficult times.

We appreciate and love you all, and wish you happy holidays!! See you in 2025 for another epic year of Daring to Dream. 

For more Dare to Dream content find us on:

Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dare-to-dream-podcast/id1522983890⁠⁠

Spotify:⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/599zlweDDcmXP5YhOX6TFw⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoimyPFCjO_qrJhH4ALafcA⁠⁠

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

Join Vincent’s Newsletter - Citoyens du Monde:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://vincentvanpatten.ck.page/⁠⁠

For Vincent's writing from Japan, travel photography, and more, check out:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://vincentvanpatten.com/⁠⁠

Join Gregory’s Newsletter - Live a Story Worth Telling:⁠ ⁠⁠https://liveastoryworthtelling.gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/laswt⁠

If you’re feeling empty despite your “success”, book a discovery call with Gregory:⁠ https://calendly.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt-1/discovery-call⁠

Kate Manser is a motivational leader who helps people live more alive. Since leaving her prestigious job at Google she has spent the past decade studying transcendence, meaning, and what makes us live and die happy.

She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Transpersonal Psychology. As an inspirer, Kate's book, You Might Die Tomorrow, has sold thousands of copies, her art has been shown at NY Fashion Week, and she has spoken to audiences at Facebook and Google.

Most of all, Kate revels in the wild and wonderful experience of being alive and invites everyone along with her.

In this episode, expect to learn:

And much more.

This episode was AMAZING and it will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take bold action toward your biggest dreams. Please enjoy this episode with Kate Manser

Shownotes:

Kate's Website

You Might Die Tomorrow Website

Instagram

TikTok: @thealivekate

YouTube

Text messages: Text ALIVE to 512-898-7850

This is a quick solo episode to share a HUGE announcement and life update with y'all. I'm going to be giving a TEDx talk in 2025!

Tune in for some fun reflections on the journey and a major lesson that I'm learning as I begin to cross some serious milestones of my dreams list.

For more Dare to Dream content, find us on:

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dare-to-dream-podcast/id1522983890⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/599zlweDDcmXP5YhOX6TFw⁠

YouTube:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoimyPFCjO_qrJhH4ALafcA⁠

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

Join Vincent’s Newsletter - Citoyens du Monde: ⁠https://vincentvanpatten.ck.page/⁠

Join Gregory’s Newsletter - Live a Story Worth Telling: https://liveastoryworthtelling.gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/laswt

For Vincent's writing from Japan, travel photography, and more, check out: ⁠https://vincentvanpatten.com/⁠

If you’re ready to embark on your hero's journey, book a discovery call with Gregory:

 https://calendly.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt-1/discovery-call

Chronic pain is a topic that’s often been explored on this podcast, as Vinny has been traversing a bout of chronic back pain for the entirety of his twenties.

That makes this episode a special one, as we sat down with Dr. Peter Zafirides, co-founder and president of Central Ohio Behavioral Medicine in Columbus, and key player in the world of mind-body healing.

On this episode of DTD, Dr. Zafirides shares his journey as a psychiatrist, as well as profound insights into depression, chronic pain, and the mind-body connection—areas in which he’s had his own struggles and has since overcome.

He discusses the complexities of mental health, the interplay between emotions, our personalities and physical pain, and the value of understanding and processing emotions like guilt and anger. 

The discussion also touches on the stigma surrounding psychiatry, the importance of self-compassion in healing, the need for a more holistic approach to pain management, and the profound meaning gleaned from challenging life experiences.

Connect with Dr. Peter Zafirides:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterzaf/

https://centralohiobehavioralmedicine.com/

For more Dare to Dream content find us on:

Apple Podcasts:⁠

⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dare-to-dream-podcast/id1522983890⁠⁠

Spotify:⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/599zlweDDcmXP5YhOX6TFw⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoimyPFCjO_qrJhH4ALafcA⁠⁠

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

Join Vincent’s Newsletter - Citoyens du Monde:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://vincentvanpatten.ck.page/⁠⁠

For Vincent's writing from Japan, travel photography, and more, check out:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://vincentvanpatten.com/⁠⁠

Join Gregory’s Newsletter - Live a Story Worth Telling:⁠ ⁠⁠https://liveastoryworthtelling.gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/laswt⁠

If you’re feeling empty despite your “success”, book a discovery call with Gregory:⁠ https://calendly.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt-1/discovery-call⁠

There is nothing to solve right now.

There is nothing to be right now. 

There is nothing to fix, to understand, to discover, to heal. 

There is no finish line that you must reach which will mean you’ve finally made it. 

Tune out the noise on social media and elsewhere that says we must do more and be more now. That’s not reality. 

Achieving our goals takes patience. Patience plus consistently doing the work over a long enough period of time—years, or even decades—will take you further than you can possibly imagine.  

Take the weight off. Take a breath. 

A direction in which to walk is more important than a destination.

It doesn’t all need to happen now.

For more Dare to Dream content find us on: Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dare-to-dream-podcast/id1522983890⁠⁠

Spotify:⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/599zlweDDcmXP5YhOX6TFw⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoimyPFCjO_qrJhH4ALafcA⁠⁠

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

Join Vincent’s Newsletter - Citoyens du Monde:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://vincentvanpatten.ck.page/⁠⁠

For Vincent's writing from Japan, travel photography, and more, check out:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://vincentvanpatten.com/⁠⁠

Join Gregory’s Newsletter - Live a Story Worth Telling:⁠ ⁠⁠https://liveastoryworthtelling.gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/laswt⁠

If you’re feeling empty despite your “success”, book a discovery call with Gregory:⁠ https://calendly.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt-1/discovery-call⁠

John Milikowsky is the coolest attorney you've ever met. He is the founder and principal of Milikowsky Tax Law, based out of Encinitas California. Their mission is to produce extraordinary results by relentlessly analyzing, strategizing, and executing actions to reduce a business tax risk to an insignificant amount.

As sexy as that sounds, we spent today's conversation focused more on our shared love of seeking discomfort and lifelong learning and less on tax.

Expect to learn:

And much more.

Shownotes:

Check out John's website: https://www.caltaxadviser.com/

Connect with John on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmilikowsky/

Learn from John on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MilikowskyTaxLaw

For more Dare to Dream content, find us on:

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dare-to-dream-podcast/id1522983890⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/599zlweDDcmXP5YhOX6TFw⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoimyPFCjO_qrJhH4ALafcA⁠

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

Join Vincent’s Newsletter - Citoyens du Monde: ⁠https://vincentvanpatten.ck.page/⁠

Join Gregory’s Newsletter - Live a Story Worth Telling: https://liveastoryworthtelling.gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/laswt

For Vincent's writing from Japan, travel photography, and more, check out: ⁠https://vincentvanpatten.com/⁠

If you’re feeling empty despite your “success”, book a discovery call with Gregory:

 https://calendly.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt-1/discovery-call

It’s Saturday, and I (Vinny) want to get out of Tokyo and into some nature. It’s a rainy day. I decide to go about two hours north of Tokyo into the hills of Okutama, where there’s a lake, hiking, and a charming town. 

I stand on the platform, waiting for the train. Rain is coming down beyond the roofs of the station. I have coffee warming my hands, and an adventure in store. I feel like me. Happy. I don’t need much else. 

We’re struggling to find meaning in this world. It’s not on social media, or in the separation, the anger, the noise. 

It’s in following this feeling — whatever makes you come alive, whatever reignites the heart of the child that perhaps has lost their way.

Follow that ancient feeling to the ends of the earth.

For more Dare to Dream content find us on:

Apple Podcasts:⁠ ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dare-to-dream-podcast/id1522983890⁠⁠

Spotify:⁠ ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/599zlweDDcmXP5YhOX6TFw⁠⁠

YouTube:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoimyPFCjO_qrJhH4ALafcA⁠⁠

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

Join Vincent’s Newsletter - Citoyens du Monde:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://vincentvanpatten.ck.page/⁠⁠

For Vincent's writing from Japan, travel photography, and more, check out:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://vincentvanpatten.com/⁠⁠

Join Gregory’s Newsletter - Live a Story Worth Telling:⁠ ⁠⁠https://liveastoryworthtelling.gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/laswt⁠

If you’re feeling empty despite your “success”, book a discovery call with Gregory:⁠ https://calendly.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt-1/discovery-call⁠

Lori is the founder of Career Ecology and BuzzLink, two platforms dedicated to fostering authentic connection in the world.

With over 20 years of experience as an executive recruiter, Lori blends ecology and psychology to dismantle barriers to human connection. Her work centers on liberating authenticity at critical touch points in everyday life.

For more Dare to Dream content, find us on:

Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dare-to-dream-podcast/id1522983890⁠

Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/599zlweDDcmXP5YhOX6TFw⁠

YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoimyPFCjO_qrJhH4ALafcA⁠

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

Join Vincent’s Newsletter - Citoyens du Monde: ⁠https://vincentvanpatten.ck.page/⁠

Join Gregory’s Newsletter - Live a Story Worth Telling: https://liveastoryworthtelling.gregoryrussellbenedikt.com/laswt

For Vincent's writing from Japan, travel photography, and more, check out: ⁠https://vincentvanpatten.com/⁠

If you’re feeling empty despite your “success”, book a discovery call with Gregory:

 https://calendly.com/gregoryrussellbenedikt-1/discovery-call