The Other Side of Potential

Early grief is visible.
The long after is quieter.

There’s a kind of listening that isn’t about gathering information…
but about allowing something to meet you, at your own pace.

This opening episode of Beyond the Loss creates space for that kind of listening—
for what unfolds over time, often outside language, outside expectation.

This is a space for parents living in the long after,
 for those who walk alongside them,
 and for anyone beginning to sense that grief reshapes more than emotion—it reshapes the architecture of a life.

A gentle note: this is not a space for acute grief or crisis support.
 If your loss is very recent, you deserve care that is closer, more immediate.
 This will still be here when you’re ready.

As you listen, notice what happens when there’s no pressure to keep up,
 no need to agree,
 no expectation to take anything in that doesn’t belong to you.

You’re not here to do this “well.”
 You’re here to be with what meets you.

And if you find yourself wanting a slightly different experience of this conversation—
 you’re invited to watch the full video version on YouTube:
 👉 https://youtu.be/HyUUoGeHEYQ

Sometimes, seeing and hearing together reveals something that words alone don’t.

You don’t need the right words to be here.
 Just begin where you are.

While rebuilding his life, award-winning entrepreneur, keynote speaker, podcast host, and bestselling author of Executive Loneliness, Nick Jonsson, began to realize how many business leaders and entrepreneurs need peers who relate to their unique challenges and can play a supportive role, both socially and professionally.

Nick has experienced both the highs and lows of the business world. As the co-founder and managing director of Executives Global Network (EGN), which you’ll gain some insight into in this episode, he now provides a haven for members to share their work-related challenges, receive support, and learn from one another. To learn why prioritizing mental health and wellbeing is crucial for high achievers to perform at their best, be sure to tune in today!

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The hidden epidemic of executive loneliness and isolation in modern business
• How physical health directly impacts mental health and leadership performance
• The connection between high achievement and anxiety disorders
• Practical strategies for building both personal and professional support networks
• How to "take stock" of your life and identify areas needing attention
• The importance of vulnerability in leadership and peer relationships
• Cultural differences in leadership styles between Asia, Europe, and the United States
• How to find the right coach or mentor for your specific challenges
• The role of spirituality and ego management in effective leadership
• Why executives need both personal and professional "safe spaces"

Transcript: Here

Additional Resources: 

Website: nickjonsson.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nick-jonsson 

YouTube: youtube.com/@NickJonsson

Facebook: facebook.com/jonsson.nick

Instagram: instagram.com/jonssonnick

Executive Loneliness: https://www.nickjonsson.com/executive-loneliness-book

Links Mentioned:

Executives Global Network (EGN): egnpeernetwork.com 

EGN Leadership Conversations Podcast: egnpeernetwork.com/podcast

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/

Book: thetimemoneybook.com

Contact: [email protected]

Substack: substack.com/@drsharon

The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/

In this powerful "best of" episode, Dr. Sharon Spano sits down with Maira Holzmann to explore the growing mental health crisis and innovative approaches to healing trauma through the body. Maira specializes in helping adults heal from childhood trauma using somatic therapy and co-regulating touch, offering insights into why traditional talk therapy alone often falls short in addressing deep-seated trauma patterns.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why anxiety and depression are symptoms of deeper unprocessed trauma, not just mental health conditions
• How trauma lives in the nervous system and affects our physical health, including immune and digestive systems
• The difference between "big T" and "little t" trauma, and why emotional neglect is more common than we realize
• What co-regulating touch is and how this therapeutic modality can rewire patterns of disconnection
• The critical importance of attunement in childhood and how lack of it creates lifelong patterns
• How disembodiment and isolation are fueling the mental health crisis, especially among younger generations
• The difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (rev vs. restore)
• Why meaningful touch and connectedness are essential for nervous system regulation
• Practical self-regulation techniques you can use at home
• How to recognize emotional neglect and its long-term impacts on development

Transcript: Here

Additional Resources:

Website: https://somatictherapypartners.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maira-holzmann-2a2b4b1b6/

Links Mentioned:

Scattered Minds: https://www.amazon.com/Scattered-Origins-Healing-Attention-Disorder/dp/0676971458/

The Polyvagal Theory: https://www.amazon.com/Polyvagal-Theory-Neurophysiological- Communication-Self-regulation/dp/0393707008

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/

Book: thetimemoneybook.com

Contact: [email protected]

Substack: substack.com/@drsharon

The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/

When you’re in the midst of burnout, it can be difficult to recognize the signs and take action. Things may feel the same, but with a depleted amount of overall energy to take on what you normally would. So how can we learn to recognize the signs of burnout? And how can we build resilience in the process?

Joining us today to discuss this complex topic is Dr. Gary Simonds, who, for the past 14 years, has immersed himself in the study of burnout and building resilience. He’s the author of three books on the subject, namely, Building Resilience in Neurosurgical Residents, The Thriving Physician, and Thriving in Healthcare.

Having spent the bulk of his career as a neurosurgeon, Dr. Simonds is no stranger to the toll that this type of work can take on healthcare workers. Tuning in you’ll hear him expand on the nature of burnout, why it can be so difficult to recognize, and what we can do to build resilience. To hear his insights on this complicated subject, and his advice on how to address it, be sure to tune in today!

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• Why Dr. Simonds chose neurosurgery after an unexpected "epiphany" in his final month of medical school
• How burnout manifests in high-pressure environments and why it often goes unrecognized
• The spectrum nature of burnout and how professionals cycle in and out of its worst components
• Practical strategies for building resilience, including the powerful "harvesting uplifts" technique
• How COVID and cultural shifts have impacted healthcare professional wellbeing
• The importance of finding meaning in difficult circumstances as an antidote to burnout
• Why role-playing and communication training are essential for healthcare providers
• How patients and families can better navigate healthcare interactions
• The courage and grace Dr. Simonds witnessed in patients and families facing life's most difficult moments
• How creative expression, including storytelling, plays a vital role in personal renewal

Transcript: Here

Additional Resources:

Website: https://garyrsimonds.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-simonds-5b0225a/

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

X: https://twitter.com/garyrsimonds

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garyrsimonds

Links Mentioned:

Building Resilience in Neurosurgical Residents: A Primer

The Thriving Physician: How to Avoid Burnout by Choosing Resilience Throughout Your

Medical Career

In this moving episode, Dr. Sharon Spano sits down with Phyllis Leavitt, a psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and families heal from trauma. Phyllis shares her personal journey of navigating childhood trauma and how it led her to a lifelong mission of guiding others toward healing and wholeness.

She also discusses her book America in Therapy, where she explores how the dynamics of family trauma reflect the larger dysfunctions we see in society today. Phyllis makes the case that by addressing and healing trauma at the individual and family level, we can also begin to heal our communities and nation.

This episode is both deeply personal and profoundly practical, offering insights for anyone interested in healing, leadership, and the future of human connection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Phyllis’s personal story of growing up with trauma and finding healing through therapy
  
  
• How childhood trauma impacts adult relationships and well-being
  
  
• Why unhealed family trauma often mirrors dysfunction in society
  
  
• Practical tools for beginning the journey of trauma recovery
  
  
• Why self-awareness and compassion are essential for healing
  
  
• Insights from Phyllis’s book America in Therapy
  
  
• How leaders can recognize and address trauma in their organizations
  
  
• The link between personal healing and creating healthier communities
  
  
• Why talking about trauma is the first step toward transformation
  
  
• How therapy offers both personal and societal hope for the future

Transcript: Here

Additional Resources:

Website: https://phyllisleavitt.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhyllisLeavitt2

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phyllisleavittbooks/

America In Therapy: https://www.amazon.com/America-Therapy-Approach-Healing-Nation/dp/1636983367

A Light In The Darkness: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Darkness-Phyllis-Leavitt-MA-ebook/dp/B013RTEEHU/

Into The Fire: https://www.amazon.com/Into-Fire-Road-Home-2/dp/0998800007

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/

Book: thetimemoneybook.com

Contact: [email protected]

Substack: substack.com/@drsharon

The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/

In this Best Of conversation, Dr. Sharon Spano revisits her powerful discussion with Linn Rivers, a holistic healthcare practitioner who has dedicated her life to helping people reclaim their health—especially those with “last resort” cases.

After growing up with chronic illness, overmedication, and losing loved ones far too early, Linn discovered a different path to healing—one that integrates functional medicine, the microbiome, and holistic practices. She also incorporates tools like NLP and human design to address not just physical health, but emotional and spiritual well-being.

In our conversation, we discuss the pivotal role the microbiome plays in our overall health and why traditional, mainstream healthcare can sometimes do more harm than good. Linn breaks down how she tests and treats her patients’ microbiomes, the incredible results she has seen, and why our guts are so quick to react to the food we eat. She also explains why the microbiome is all about balance, the trillions of bacteria that populate our gut, and why prioritizing your health is of the utmost importance.

If you’re curious about the mind-gut connection, how food can impact our overall health, or the microbiome in general, you’ll definitely want to tune in for today’s fascinating conversation!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Linn’s personal journey through chronic illness and healing
• Why gut health and the microbiome are foundational to long-term wellness
• The limitations of conventional medicine and where holistic care can fill the gap
• The role of functional medicine, NLP, and human design in integrative healing
• Why health is more than physical—it’s also emotional and spiritual
• How to take ownership of your health journey in a way that empowers lasting change
• A rundown of leaky gut and the impact it has on your system.
• The importance of taking a probiotic when you need to take antibiotics.
• Why Linn believes everyone should be taking probiotics.
• How our diets can affect the microbiome.
• Learning how to nourish your microbiome with a wide variety of healthy foods.
• How the microbiome impacts our hormones and why that is especially true for women.
• A breakdown of how the microbiome breaks down food and supports other organs.
• Some of the diseases that can be caused by a microbiome that is out of balance.
• The relationships between food, the microbiome, and our emotions.
• How treating the microbiome can help you uncover the root cause of your symptoms.
• The importance of prioritizing your health and why it’s worth financially investing in.

Transcript: Here

Additional Resources:

Linn Rivers:

Photography and Video Website: https://linnrivers.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linnrivers/

Links Mentioned:

Pacific College of Health and Science: https://www.pacificcollege.edu/

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/

Book: thetimemoneybook.com

Contact: [email protected]

Substack: substack.com/@drsharon

The Other Side of Potential Podcast:

To become a Navy SEAL you need to endure years of grueling training, and it is only a very small portion of those who start the process end up completing it. In this powerful “Best Of” episode, Dr. Sharon Spano revisits her conversation with Stephen Drum, a retired Navy SEAL Master Chief who served in combat zones around the world and now helps organizations build high-performance cultures.

Stephen shares battle-tested lessons on courage, accountability, and resilience—and how the same principles that guide elite military teams can transform leadership in business and life. He discusses why preparation, trust, and communication are non-negotiables for success, and how leaders can create environments where people are inspired to give their best under pressure.

 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why elite military principles apply directly to business leadership
  
  
• The importance of training for critical moments before they arrive
  
  
• How to build trust and accountability within your team
  
  
• Why clear communication under pressure saves lives—and improves results in business
  
  
• How leaders can foster resilience and adaptability in times of uncertainty
  
  
• The role of courage in both combat and the workplace
  
  
• Practical steps to prepare yourself and your team for high-stakes situations
  
  
• Why failure is part of growth and how to recover quickly when mistakes happen
  
  
• How Stephen transitioned from Navy SEAL leadership to coaching corporate teams
  
  
• Lessons every leader can use to stay calm, focused, and mission-driven

Additional Resources:

Website: https://stephendrum.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-drum-643695135/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephen.drum.967

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephen.drum/?hl=en

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Meeting-Challenge-Confidence-Readiness/dp/B0BTGXNWNY

Transcript: Here

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/

Book: thetimemoneybook.com

Contact: [email protected]

Substack: substack.com/@drsharon

The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/

The stress of modern life can often bring on symptoms like depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. And while it can be tempting to seek out a quick fix, more often than not, these symptoms are our body’s way of asking for help. So how do we learn to listen to our bodies and embark on a healing journey amidst the demands of contemporary life?

Joining us today is special guest Sunitha Sandeep, a TEDx speaker, trauma-informed transformative coach, and certified meditation and mindfulness teacher. In her work, Sunitha helps high-achieving women break free from their inner struggles of anxiety, overwhelm, burnout, and fears that they might have related to their professional success.Sunitha has a profound understanding of what it means to process trauma and has a special talent for communicating spiritual and psychological concepts in an accessible way that will leave you feeling inspired to undertake your own healing journey. Join us for a deep dive into the power of somatic healing, cultivating a spiritual practice, and learning how to listen to your body.

What you’ll learn about in this episode:

• Get to know Sunitha Sandeep, her journey, and how it informs the work she does today.
• The concept of embodiment and elevating your consciousness to operate at multiple levels.
• An overview of somatic work, mindset, and letting go of belief systems.
• Your body’s coping mechanisms and how somatic healing helps you address them.
• Sunitha’s CURED technique for bringing up and healing suppressed emotions.
• How to bring spiritual practices into our contemporary lifestyles.
• Crisis points in our lives and how they can present an opportunity for growth and healing.
• Why symptoms like anxiety and depression are often your body’s way of asking for help.
• A breakdown of how Sunitha treats anxiety in herself and her clients.
• Choosing the right type of meditation practice and incorporating it into your daily life.
• Sunitha’s 90-day program, A.W.A.K.E, and how to access her work.

Transcript: Here

Additional Resources:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sunithasandeep/

Facebook: facebook.com/SunithaKSandeep/

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

In this powerful “Best Of” episode, Dr. Sharon Spano connects with Steve Feldman—CEO of Feinberg Consulting, interventionist, and person in long-term recovery—on the vital importance of family support during addiction, mental health, and complex medical crises.

Steve shares his personal and professional journey from entrepreneurship to recovery advocate, and how he and his team are revolutionizing care navigation by treating not only the individual but the entire family system. His multidisciplinary team offers customized assessments, interventions, coaching, and ongoing support to help families recover—together.

“Healing is possible, even in the most complex situations. The family isn’t a bystander—it’s the soil for transformation.” — Steve Feldman

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why family support is essential, not optional, in the healing process
  
  
• The difference between behavioral change and generational healing
  
  
• A behind-the-scenes look at how Feinberg Consulting creates individualized care pathways
  
  
• The role of trauma in addiction and mental health—and how it can be healed
  
  
• Why many systems fail families—and how a private, compassionate model can step in
  
  
• The power of educating families to become allies in recovery
  
  
• How The Feinberg Hope Foundation supports underserved communities
  
  

Transcript: Here

Resources & Contact:

• Website: www.feinbergcare.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-feldman-1a501825/
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (248) 538-5425

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/

Book: thetimemoneybook.com

Contact: [email protected]

Substack: substack.com/@drsharon

The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/

In this powerful and inspiring "best of" episode, Dr. Sharon Spano talks with Dan MacQueen, a former tech implementation specialist whose life was turned upside down by a sudden, life-threatening brain hemorrhage. What followed was not only a fight for survival but a journey of radical transformation.

Dan shares how he rebuilt his body, mind, and career—one step at a time—and how mindset played a key role in his recovery. Through discipline, gratitude, and goal-setting, Dan created a new life rooted in purpose, coaching others to rise from their own setbacks.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How a sudden brain hemorrhage led to Dan’s near-death experience
  
  
• Why small, consistent goals were the foundation of his physical and mental recovery
  
  
• How mindset and accountability fuel resilience
  
  
• The key role of gratitude in maintaining a healthy outlook during dark times
  
  
• Why Dan calls his health scare the “best thing that ever happened” to him
  
  
• The connection between movement, momentum, and meaning
  
  
• How Dan transitioned from marketing to public speaking and coaching
  
  
• Strategies for rebuilding confidence after trauma or life interruption
  
  
• What it really means to “own your comeback”
  
  
• How you can transform personal setbacks into platforms for service
  
  
  

Transcript: Here

Additional Resources:

Website: macqueendan.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/macqueendan

Twitter: @macqueendan

Instagram: instagram.com/macqueendan

Sharon Spano:

Website: sharonspano.com

Facebook: facebook.com/SharonSpanoPHD

Instagram: instagram.com/drsharonspano/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharonspano/

Book: thetimemoneybook.com

Contact: [email protected]

Substack: substack.com/@drsharon

The Other Side of Potential Podcast: sharonspano.com/podcast/