I had no idea how much the vestibular system could affect the way we move, think, react, and navigate everyday life until this conversation with master figure skating coach and vestibular training specialist Sheila Thelen. We talk about the connection between balance, brain health, cognitive performance, reaction time, aging, sports performance, and independence and why Sheila believes these abilities can be trained throughout life.

Sheila shares how her work has expanded from elite athletes and figure skating into vestibular training for older adults, people recovering from concussions, children with sensory challenges, and military operators. We also explore neuroplasticity, fall prevention, brain speed, motion sickness, and why simply moving your head and challenging your balance may matter more than most of us realize.

What stuck with me most is the idea that getting older doesn’t automatically mean accepting declining balance, slower reactions, or less confidence in movement. There may be more we can actively train than we think.

What ability do you want to still have when you’re 80?

Communication isn’t something you’re either naturally good or bad at, it’s a skill you can actually train. In this conversation with Jenn Alex, I wanted to understand why communication breaks down so easily, even when everyone involved thinks they’re being clear. We talk about why people say yes when they really mean no, how assumptions create unnecessary mistakes, and why trying to sound smart can actually make your message harder to understand.

Jenn also explains why difficult conversations get worse when we avoid them, why preparation matters when emotions are high, and how one simple habit like pausing can completely change the way we listen and respond. We also get into workplace communication, public speaking, leadership, body language, and why simplifying a complicated idea is often a sign of expertise, not a lack of it.

The biggest takeaway for me is that effective communication isn’t about talking more. It’s about making sure the other person actually understands what you meant.

What’s one communication habit you wish more people would stop doing?

I sat down with Jaclyn Wilson, a fifth-generation cattle rancher from the Sand Hills of Western Nebraska. 

Jaclyn helps run Flying Diamond Beef, a ranch homesteaded back in 1888, and she broke down why the "simple country life" people romanticize is actually one of the most dangerous and misunderstood professions out there. 

We talked about the wild misconceptions people have about American agriculture versus what she's seen traveling the world, the terrifying reality of working with animals that can weigh up to two thousand pounds. 

Did you know where your food actually came from growing up, or were you today years old when you found out how much work goes into it?

In this episode of The Sean Trace Show, I sit down with developmental psychologist Christia Spears Brown to explore how children learn stereotypes, recognize differences, and absorb bias from the world around them. Christia explains that children notice race, gender, skin tone, and appearance much earlier than many parents realize. The real issue is not that kids see differences, but how they begin attaching assumptions and meaning to those differences.

We discuss how children pick up subtle messages through body language, media, toys, friendships, school environments, and adult reactions. Christia also explains why young children sometimes repeat hurtful words without fully understanding them, how stress can expose unconscious bias, and why avoiding conversations about discrimination can leave kids to create their own inaccurate explanations.

Most importantly, we explore practical ways parents can raise kinder, more open-minded children through honest conversations, diverse representation, shared experiences, and meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds.

What is one lesson about differences, kindness, or acceptance that you want every child to learn?

I sat down with strategy and culture expert Jeroen Kraaijenbrink to ask the question that's been on my mind for years: why do so many leaders pretend everything is fine when it's clearly not? 

Jeroen calls it the ostrich effect, and he breaks down why organizations have quietly made dishonesty the rational choice. 

We get into his PACE framework, purpose, awareness, connection, and energy, as the real foundation for honest leadership, and why even CEOs secretly feel like frauds. 

We also talk about why work and personal life were never meant to be separated, and what it really takes to build a culture where people feel safe telling the truth. 

 When was the last time you told someone "I'm fine" when you really weren't? 

Why do so many successful people achieve everything they thought they wanted and still feel dissatisfied? In this episode of The Sean Trace Show, I sit down with Zen teacher, executive coach, author, and mindful leadership expert Marc Lesser to explore the relationship between mindfulness, business leadership, happiness, and the human mind.

Marc shares lessons from spending ten years at the San Francisco Zen Center before earning an MBA, building companies, and bringing mindfulness practices into organizations such as Google. We discuss why human beings are naturally wired to search for danger, why being hard on ourselves does not necessarily make us more productive, and how satisfaction, curiosity, and wonder may actually improve creativity and leadership.

We also explore psychological safety, workplace culture, imposter syndrome, conflict, meditation, and the importance of turning toward difficult emotions instead of avoiding them. This conversation is a reminder that mindfulness is not about escaping work or ambition. It is about becoming more present, compassionate, and fully human while pursuing meaningful goals.

What could change in your life if you started creating from satisfaction instead of fear?

In this episode of The Sean Trace Show, I sit down with speaker and belief disruptor Drenda Thomas Richards to uncover the hidden beliefs and stories that keep us stuck. We explore how subconscious beliefs can influence our confidence, fuel self-sabotage, and make us afraid to pursue change even when we already have the skills to move forward.

Drenda explains why fear of judgment often begins in childhood, how our careers can become tied to our identities, and why uncertainty surrounding AI and the future can trigger a fear of becoming obsolete. We also discuss people-pleasing, burnout, healthy self-care, and the guilt many of us experience when setting boundaries.

One of the biggest lessons from our conversation is that failure does not define who we are. Failure is feedback, and every unexpected result gives us an opportunity to adjust, build resilience, and choose a different direction. Sometimes rebuilding your life begins with taking a breath, questioning the story in your head, and realizing that you are allowed to change your mind.

What belief or story are you ready to stop carrying?

I sat down with Luke Lloyd, founder of Lloyd Financial Group, and this conversation hit way deeper than money. 

We got into why so many people feel lost even with more access and connection than ever, and Luke broke down how studying money is really just studying people.

We talked about the Roman Empire's economic collapse, Napoleon Hill's philosophy on belief and procrastination, and why comfort might be the most dangerous trap of all. 

We also got into anxiety being a natural human trait instead of something to diagnose away, why increasing your income matters as much as saving, and how showing up consistently beats chasing instant results every time. 

If you had to name the one thing that gives your life meaning right now, what would it be?

We often tell ourselves that we have more time. We will take the family photos next year, start the degree tomorrow, try something new later, or wait until life feels less stressful. But while we are busy making plans, our children grow up, our parents get older, and ordinary moments quietly disappear. During a family photo shoot before an upcoming work trip, I was reminded that some experiences cannot be recreated. A baby’s first family photo, a birthday dinner, a childhood memory, or a rare moment when everyone is together may never happen in exactly the same way again. Life is rarely perfect—the house may be messy, the kids may not cooperate, and we may not feel completely ready—but perfection can become the enemy of memories. That is why I am challenging myself to stop postponing the things that matter. Take the picture, record the birthday, book the session, start the course, or try the idea today. Someday, the ordinary moment you almost ignored may become the memory you value most.

What are you postponing because you believe you will always have more time?

In this episode, I sit down with Fred Joyal, longtime entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker, and founder of 1-800-DENTIST, to talk about what it really means to become bold. Fred breaks down why boldness is not the same as confidence, and why waiting to feel ready might be the thing keeping you stuck. 

We talk about taking action when you are uncomfortable, building boldness like a muscle, learning through failure, and why doing hard things early can make life easier later. Fred also shares how one bold decision helped him leave his job, build a business, and grow 1-800-DENTIST into a company generating $45 million a year. 

This conversation is for anyone who feels shy, stuck, afraid of rejection, or tired of watching opportunities pass by. 

The big reminder is simple: you do not become bold by thinking about it. You become bold by acting your way into a new version of yourself.