What happens when you take a chance on something completely unfamiliar, and it changes everything? 

In this special season finale, Rodney Campbell shares how saying yes to one game of Dungeons & Dragons unlocked a global stage, creative purpose, and an unexpected path to healing. We talk about performance, identity, community, creative risk, and why play isn’t just for kids. 

This isn’t just a love letter to D&D. It’s a reminder of what becomes possible when you lean into joy and put yourself out there.

If you’ve ever wondered what might happen if you just tried the thing, this one’s for you.

Bardic Inspiration - Words so wise they’re memorialized

• Don’t let people tell you what you can’t do.
• We humans love and need story.

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Music Credit:

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/fernweh-goldfish/peruvian-highlands

At the end of 2023, Hilary Gale found herself pregnant with her second child. A moment of joy shared with family days before Christmas. But the joy was short-lived as she experienced a miscarriage.

What followed was a grief that few talk about and even fewer are supported through. In our candid conversation, Hillary opens up about the emotional weight of early pregnancy loss, the mixed responses from loved ones, and the complex duality of grieving one child while soon expecting another.

Allies & Artifacts - Honoring the people and tools that aid our quests

2. Hillary’s Mother-in-Law
4. The friends who held space while withholding the advice and platitudes
5. The unspoken club of women who silently understand the pain and grief of miscarriage and support each other through it.

The Guest’s Guild - Your portal to their world and works

2. LinkedIn
4. Website
6. Moneta Copy Email Growth Sprint

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Music Credit:

Upon the Waves by Aeris | https://freetouse.com/music/aeris

Free To Use | ⁠⁠https://freetouse.com/music

Dat Tran grew up in the shadow of generational trauma. As a Vietnamese immigrant, he was raised in poverty by a father focused on survival. Cultural narratives steeped in comparison fueled feelings of inferiority, imposter syndrome, and a lifelong question of belonging.

But through leaps of faith and working through his lived experiences, he learned to rewrite his story. Today, Dat’s a stress resiliency coach helping clients learn how to feel extraordinary and overcome stress to attract more success and opportunities.

Bardic Inspiration - Words so wise they’re memorialized

• I needed healing, but I never needed fixing.
• Stress is not about our health, but our future. The greater stress resiliency we have, the greater ability we have to face the future waiting for us.  

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Music Credit:

Upon the Waves by Aeris | https://freetouse.com/music/aeris

Free To Use | ⁠⁠https://freetouse.com/music

In the chaos of California’s deadliest wildfire, Scott Mayfield grabbed his gas mask, knocked on doors, and evacuated neighbors single-handedly until smoke blinded him and fear finally won.

What followed was years of self-punishment, survival guilt, and a slow, hard-fought climb back to joy.

Now a multi-business owner with a life steeped in fantasy cartography and real estate deals, Scott shares the quiet war that followed the flames.

Bardic Inspiration - Words so wise they’re memorialized

• For a long time, I was just like, you have to go through more bad to prove that you are worth it when you are good.
• I did anything to get a sense of community, to feel like somebody loved me, because I could not for myself.
• Your grief is a ball in a box. It’s always moving, and every time it touches the side, you feel the grief and pain. In the beginning, the ball moves very fast, but as time goes by, the ball slows down.
• The story I told about myself, I said I deserve this.
• I felt this duty of trying to live for the 86 people that died, but I was trying to live for them in the agony they felt on their last day, not living to the best of what I could.

Allies & Artifacts - Honoring the people and tools that aid our quests

• BetterHelp

The Guest’s Guild - Your portal to their world and works

• Scott’s Instagram - check out his art!

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Music Credit:

Upon the Waves by Aeris | https://freetouse.com/music/aeris

Free To Use | ⁠⁠https://freetouse.com/music

At 26, Sonja Ecklund left an emotionally abusive relationship, moved into her mom’s basement, and started her life over from scratch. She thought she’d failed, but she was really set free.

That experience reshaped her and became the foundation for how she now helps others do the same.

Today, Sonja is a behavior change expert, financial social work coach, and board-certified health and wellness coach with 13+ years of experience guiding people through major transitions. Her work is rooted in clarity, compassion, and the belief that it’s never too late to choose yourself.

Bardic Inspiration - Words so wise they’re memorialized

• “Abuse never starts with the extreme. It’s a subtle erosion.”
• “Don’t stay in a relationship with someone who makes you feel small”.
• “My dog advocated for me in a way I had never been able to advocate for myself.”
• “Curiosity is what really helped me find the courage to move forward.”
• “I wish I realized sooner that money isn’t everything and my wellbeing was worth so much more than any number of thousands of dollars I lost by walking away from that relationship.”

Allies & Artifacts - Honoring the people and tools that aid our quests

1. Power And Control Wheel by Domestic Abuse Intervention Project
2. Our family and friends who’ve come alongside us to help us heal.

The Guest’s Guild - Your portal to their world and works

1. Sonja’s LinkedIn
2. Sonja’s coaching and resource website: https://www.sonjaecklund.com/
3. Sonja’s Planning for Meaningful Change Worksheet: https://www.sonjaecklund.com/planning-for-meaningful-change

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Music Credit:

Upon the Waves by Aeris | ⁠https://freetouse.com/music/aeris⁠

Free To Use |⁠ ⁠⁠https://freetouse.com/music

Josh Selesnick is a visionary facilitator who transformed a bold idea—using Dungeons & Dragons for corporate team-building—into a full-time role as an L&D specialist at a global consultancy of 700+ consultants. Through storytelling, strategy, and unwavering belief in the power of play, he’s reshaping how remote teams connect, collaborate, and grow.

But his journey from start-up to living the dream wasn’t as magical as it sounds. In this episode, Josh shares the winding road from living off savings and sheer belief to grinding for years in his startup…until one “yes” landed his biggest contract and set him on the path to his dream job.  

If you’ve ever wondered whether your weird idea could work or questioned whether creativity has a place in corporate spaces, this episode is for you!

Bardic Inspiration - Words so wise they’re memorialized

• “No amount of enthusiasm can make a corporation make its decisions.”
• “I didn’t dream this would be where I ended, but I’m still getting what I dreamed about.”
• “The more fun you make using a tool, the more people are gonna learn everything it can do more deeply than they would if they went to a bootcamp or dry discussion.”

Allies & Artifacts - Honoring the people and tools that aid our quests

• Self-development program: https://landmarkworldwide.com/
• Dvorah—Josh’s fiancé and shieldmate in this quest of life.
• Harlan—the benefactor who made this journey financially viable.
• Elizabeth—who turned my quest into a career.

*And countless others who have supported Josh along the way!*

The Guest’s Guild - Your portal to their world and works

• Joshua’s LinkedIn
• Josh’s Podcast Critical Role Models—Learn how to be a better storyteller, role-player, and GM by reflecting on the players/characters of Critical Role.

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Music Credit:

Upon the Waves by Aeris | https://freetouse.com/music/aeris

Free To Use | ⁠⁠https://freetouse.com/music

Mishkin Cyr is a recovered addict turned executive leader who empowers others to overcome challenges and achieve extraordinary growth. He inspires those who seek to make a real difference in the world, drawing on his unconventional journey and practical strategies for building resilience, fostering collaboration, and leading with integrity.

In this episode, Mishkin shares how early trauma, isolation, and untreated dyslexia shaped his struggle with substance abuse (and the messy years-long climb out of it). From selling farm kittens for cash to sitting on the edge of Lake Ontario ready to end it all, his journey is brutally honest, unexpectedly funny, and deeply human.

If you’ve ever questioned your worth, your path, or whether it’s too late to change, this one’s for you.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions on substance abuse, addiction, and suicidal ideation. Please listen with care. 

• If you’re in immediate danger or need urgent help, dial 911 (US or Canada)
• For suicide or a mental health crisis, dial 988 (US or Canada)

Bardic Inspiration - Words so wise they’re memorialized

• “Somebody once told me: I’m not an alcoholic when I drink, I’m an alcoholic between drinking ‘cause that’s when I can't live with myself.’ For me, that was the truth.”
• “My integrity was so out of line that there was no self-worth within me.”
• “All the choices I had made in my life led me to this…Maybe I need to try somebody else’s path.”
• Karen said something in treatment that stuck. “If you could see yourself the way I do, you’d love yourself.”

Allies & Artifacts - Honoring the people and tools that aid our quests

• USA: SAMHSA’s National Helpline (800) 622-4357
• Canada: Free treatment through the provincial healthcare program. Find resources across Canada here.

The Guest’s Guild - Your portal to their world and works

• Mishkin’s LinkedIn
• The Cyr Method: Negotiation Coach for Leaders

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Music Credit:

Upon the Waves by Aeris | https://freetouse.com/music/aeris
Free To Use | ⁠⁠https://freetouse.com/music

Michael Pyle thought he had time to build his dream…until he was suddenly fired. With a pregnant wife and three young kids at home, he was forced to rebuild his income, identity, and confidence from the ground up.

In this episode, Michael shares the hidden costs of launching a business mid-crisis, what it’s really like to market yourself on LinkedIn, and why conviction (and support) can be the difference between folding and forging forward.

If you’ve wondered what it takes to go all-in on yourself (even when you’re scared out of your mind), this episode is for you.

Bardic Inspiration - Words so wise they’re memorialized

• “Any bad moment can be a good moment, but sometimes you gotta dig a little deeper to find ‘em”.
• “I am not just the paycheck.”
• “You can’t listen to those numb nuts on social media who follow the bumper sticker lifestyle that most people are living in.”

Allies & Artifacts - Honoring the people and tools that aid our quests

• Meal Train
• American Chimney
• YNAB
• Monarch

The Guest’s Guild - Your portal to their world and works

• Michael’s LinkedIn
• Michael’s website: challengeeverythingfinancial.com
• Michael’s DIY financial community: ⁠skool.com/moneycoaching⁠

DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this episode is for informational and entertainment purposes only. None of the statements made constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.

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Music Credit:

Upon the Waves by Aeris | https://freetouse.com/music/aeris

Free To Use | ⁠https://freetouse.com/music

A place to pause.

A space to reflect.

A moment to breathe.

The Short Rest Podcast is coming soon.

Listen to the teaser to hear what it’s all about.

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Music Credit:

Upon the Waves by Aeris | https://freetouse.com/music/aeris

Free To Use | https://freetouse.com/music