The Uncommon Minds Experience

This conversation is for anyone who has ever believed it's too late to start something new—or wondered if faith and action-packed fiction can coexist.

Drew McHolm knows this terrain intimately. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he was adopted by parents who instilled in him the values of hard work, finishing what you start, and pushing through difficulties . Early on, he became the youth minister and worship leader at his church, and his love for music and desire to keep getting better at it continues to this day . Through the years, he's been an entrepreneur, a business leader, a working musician and singer—and now, at 70, he's an author .

His first book, Minister of Justice, publishes in the summer of 2026 . It's an espionage thriller that follows Peter Kennedy, an assassin for a quasi-governmental terrorist organization who experiences a spiritual change that transforms everything . In every endeavor throughout his remarkable life, he has had a single goal in mind: "I have always strived to make sure that the work I do will somehow change the hearts of people" .

In this episode, we explore:

📝 Why He Waited to Write His First Novel – Drew shares why he started writing his first novel in his late 60s and what finally pushed him to put pen to paper after a lifetime of other pursuits .

🕵️ The Unlikely Spy Novelist – He discusses why a pastor of 40 years chose to write an espionage/terrorist novel where the main character experiences a spiritual change . He addresses the question: don't you think it's unusual for a pastor to write a book like this?

💔 Mercy and Forgiveness in a Spy Novel – Drew explores what mercy and forgiveness are doing in a thriller and why he believes these themes belong in action-packed fiction .

✍️ The Writing Process – He shares where he writes to get maximum inspiration, what surroundings he responds to, and his favorite authors who have influenced his work .

📖 The Legacy and What's Next – Drew discusses what he hopes readers take away from Minister of Justice and whether there will be a sequel—and if so, when it's likely to come out .

What Listeners Gain:

· Inspiration that it's never too late to pursue a creative dream

· A new perspective on how faith and action-packed fiction can coexist

· Behind-the-scenes insight into writing a spy novel with spiritual themes

· The reminder that the work we do can change hearts—no matter what form it takes

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Drew McHolm

🌐 Website: drewmcholm.com

📖 Book: Minister of Justice (Publishing Summer 2026)

🏛️ The Little Brown Church: Nashua, Iowa

🎵 Music: Working musician and singer

🌍 Born: Glasgow, Scotland

This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered what history books left out—and whether the ancient world was more accepting than we've been told.

Neil Laird knows this terrain intimately. He's a multiple Emmy and BAFTA-nominated executive producer who has developed, overseen, and produced over 1,000 hours of factual programs for Discovery, BBC, PBS, History Channel, and National Geographic . He's traveled to over 70 countries, filming crumbling Egyptian tombs, lost Mayan cities, and mysterious shipwrecks at the bottom of the sea .

But after 25 years of making "non-fiction" films about the ancient world, he grew disillusioned. He saw firsthand how modern books and TV got things wrong—especially about same-sex love . So he did what any good storyteller would do: he started writing novels that set the record straight, with a healthy dose of comedy and time travel.

In this episode, we explore:

📺 The Reality Behind TV Documentaries – Neil pulls back the curtain on what it's really like to make historical documentaries for major networks. He discusses how streaming has all but destroyed the classic historical documentary genre and what the rise of AI means for the future of TV production .

🏳️‍🌈 Ancient History Was More Accepting—and Gay—Than You Think – Neil shares his insights into how same-sex life in Egypt, Rome, and other ancient cultures was far more accepted than history books would have you believe . He discusses why representation matters and how he's bringing these stories to light through his fiction .

⏳ From TV Producer to Novelist – He shares his journey of reinventing himself at 50, transitioning from a career in television to becoming an author of LGBTQ+ adventure fiction . He discusses the challenges of self-publishing vs. traditional publishing and the critical role of marketing for authors .

📖 Prime Time Travelers and Prime Time Pompeii – Neil introduces his debut novel, Prime Time Travelers, which sends a hapless TV director through a rainbow-colored time machine into ancient Egypt . Its follow-up, Prime Time Pompeii, hurls the crew into the tragic eruption of Mount Vesuvius, where they uncover an epic, forbidden love frozen beneath the ash .

🌍 Being a Gay Producer Around the World – He reflects on what it's like to be an out LGBTQ+ producer filming in difficult and sometimes dangerous locations around the globe .

What Listeners Gain:

· An eye-opening look at how ancient history was far more accepting than we've been told

· Behind-the-scenes stories from a 25-year TV career making historical documentaries

· Inspiration for creative reinvention at any age

· Insight into the state of TV production, publishing, and storytelling today

· The reminder that history doesn't always march forward—and that queer joy has always existed

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Neil Laird

🌐 Website: neillaird.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @primetimeauthor

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/neil.laird.75

📱 TikTok: @gay_history

🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/neillaird

📖 Books: Prime Time Travelers and Prime Time Pompeii (Available on Amazon)

🎬 IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm0481987

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like an outcast, struggled with their mental health, or wondered if their voice matters.

Noah May knows this terrain intimately. He has dealt with mental health struggles since he was 13, battling depression and anxiety that at times made him contemplate taking his own life . He was seen as an outcast by his peers and always thought he wasn't good enough . Yet today, he is the host of three podcasts and an Auburn University graduate with a bachelor's degree in journalism—a living testament that your past does not define your future .

His podcast, lethal venom, focuses on various topics where Noah and his guests speak nothing but the truth . His other two shows, Southern Reads and Music Talks, focus solely on books and music respectively . Through his own journey of overcoming adversity, Noah has become an open voice for people dealing with similar situations.

In this episode, we explore:

💔 A Childhood of Silence and Struggle – Noah shares what it was like growing up with untreated mental health issues and how being labeled an outcast shaped his early years.

🆘 The Breaking Point – He opens up about the moment he contemplated suicide at 13 and what kept him from going through with it. He discusses how COVID affected him mentally and physically.

📚 Finding Purpose Through Journalism – Noah explains why he went into journalism and how telling stories—including his own—became a lifeline and a calling.

🎙️ Turning Pain Into a Platform – He shares why he is so vocal about his mental health journey and how hosting three podcasts has given him a voice he never had before.

💪 Life After the Struggle – Noah reflects on how his mental health is today, what advice he has for people who deal with similar struggles, and how he continues to manage his mental health.

What Listeners Gain:

· The reminder that mental health struggles don't have to define your future

· Practical advice for anyone dealing with depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts

· Hope that your voice matters, even if you've been silenced before

· Inspiration from someone who turned pain into purpose

· Permission to speak your truth and share your story

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Noah May

🌐 Website: noahspodcasts.com

🎙️ Podcasts: lethal venom, Southern Reads, Music Talks

📱 Social: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok

📧 Blog: Available through website

This conversation is for anyone who has tried everything and still feels stuck—and suspects there's a deeper layer to their health that hasn't been addressed.

Andrew Scheim knows this terrain intimately. He is a wellness practitioner, educator, and researcher specializing in PEMF therapy, hydrogen therapy, nervous system regulation, trauma recovery, and integrative wellness technologies . With more than thirty years of experience integrating bodywork, movement, and mind-body approaches, he views health as an ongoing conversation between body, mind, and daily choices .

His philosophy is built on a simple but profound insight: "Microbes are working 24/7—you need a 24/7 approach" . This reflects his systems-based philosophy that meaningful recovery requires consistent support across multiple aspects of health and lifestyle.

In this episode, we explore:

🧬 The Mountain Stream and the Swamp – Andrew uses the analogy, "What is the difference between a mountain stream and a swamp? They're both water," to illustrate the foundational concepts of Chinese medicine and the importance of energy flow (chi) within the body . He explains why flow matters for health and why stagnation leads to disease.

🧠 Trauma Lives in the Body – He explains how unresolved emotional trauma can influence physical health and why the body holds onto stress and old patterns. He shares why trauma isn't just in the mind—it's held in the tissues, the nervous system, and the patterns we carry, and true healing requires helping the body feel safe enough to finally let go .

💨 Molecular Hydrogen Therapy – Andrew breaks down what molecular hydrogen therapy is, why it's generating so much interest, and what separates a clinic-grade hydrogen system from a consumer device . He explains why therapeutic dose matters and why continuous 24/7 operation is important for some users.

🔄 PEMF, Biofilms, and Chronic Illness – He discusses how parasites, biofilms, and mold contribute to chronic illness, and why a terrain-based approach to healing matters more than simply killing germs .

🌿 Becoming a Discerning Consumer – Andrew emphasizes the importance of understanding why a wellness tool helps before you spend money on it, and why prevention and working with your body tend to matter more than chasing the next quick fix .

What Listeners Gain:

· An understanding of why chronic illness requires a systems-based, 24/7 recovery strategy

· Practical tools for working with the body's natural capacity to heal

· Insight into trauma's role in physical health and nervous system regulation

· A framework for becoming a more discerning consumer of wellness technologies

· The reminder that healing is less a destination and more an ongoing conversation

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Andrew Scheim

🌐 Websites: andrewscheim.com | bluezwater.com

📺 YouTube: Bluezwater YouTube Channel

📱 Instagram: @bluezwater

📧 Wellness Strategy Consultation: Available through websites (complimentary 60-minute consultation)

📄 Educational Resources: Articles, philosophy, wellness insights, educational videos, demonstrations, and interviews

This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered why they feel worse on certain days—and suspected the air they breathe might be the reason.

Eric Klos knows this terrain intimately. After watching his sister struggle with a condition that the weather itself kept setting off, he was driven to build a solution that would help people understand the link between their environment and their health . As the Founder and CEO of DailyBreath, LLC, he has created a cloud-based SaaS company delivering personalized environmental insights for better health outcomes .

The World Health Organization estimates that 7.3 billion people globally face air pollution levels considered unsafe . Yet for too long, environmental determinants of health have been neglected by the medical community. Just as great advances have been made through the Human Genome Project in relation to genetics, environmental exposures are on the edge of being fully integrated into our healthcare model through the Human Exposome Project . With the advent of advanced sensors and wearables, people now have the ability to understand the personal exposures that impact their physiological health and take preventative action.

In this episode, we explore:

📱 The DailyBreath App – Eric walks listeners through how the mobile app helps people track symptoms, pinpoint THEIR personal triggers, and reduce potential health impacts . He explains the groundbreaking DailyBreath Forecast and the Perry™ Score (PEHRI)—a Personalized Environmental Health Risk Index that considers individual health and environmental factors .

🌍 Environmental Determinants of Health – He explains why environmental health has been long neglected and how climate change is driving increased attention to the link between air quality and human health . He shares how Aristotle himself observed that particles in the air we breathe impact our health.

🔄 The Human Exposome Project – Eric discusses the emerging field of exposomics and how understanding the totality of environmental exposures—not just genetics—will transform healthcare. He compares this shift to the Human Genome Project and explains what it means for everyday people .

🔍 Personalized Environmental Health Risk – He explains how DailyBreath helps users understand the when, where, and what of trigger experience in relation to symptoms. He discusses how the app tracks where in the community users are experiencing symptoms so they understand clearly where allergen and pollutant triggers are impacting them .

👨‍👧 The Personal Motivation – Eric shares how his sister's experience inspired him to build DailyBreath and what he's learned about the link between weather, allergens, and pollutants on specific health conditions .

What Listeners Gain:

· An understanding of how environmental factors impact personal health

· Practical tools for tracking symptoms and identifying triggers

· Insight into the emerging field of exposomics and personalized environmental health

· The ability to take preventative action to reduce or avoid acute symptoms

· The reminder that you can't manage what you don't measure

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Eric Klos

🌐 Website: dailybreath.com

📱 iOS App: "DailyBreath-The Air U Breathe!" on Apple App Store

📱 Android App: Available on Google Play

🔗 Linktree: urlgeni.us/dailybreathapp

📺 YouTube: DailyBreath channel

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ericklos

This conversation is for anyone who has ever been told they wouldn't make it—and wondered if God had a different plan.

David Ebel knows this terrain intimately. Dying at birth, he was exposed to a medical experiment that kept him alive but came with devastating side effects: birth defects, sterility, and 100% mortality by age 20 . The experiment was so dangerous it became illegal to perform on humans just months after it was done to him . He was in chronic pain from his earliest years, and by age 20, things were so bad that he was trying to end his life .

Then he went to church—and found hope.

David is the only person in the experiment to live past 20 and the only one to then have three children naturally . He felt called to love people with God's love and share that love, which he believes is the beginning of hope . He has traveled internationally sharing that hope and seeing lives changed for over 50 years . Today, he is an award-winning photographer, author, podcast host, and certified disaster responder and instructor, helping people through grief, trauma, and loss.

In this episode, we explore:

💀 Dying at Birth and a Controversial Experiment – David shares the shocking story of the medical experiment that saved his life but came with devastating side effects. He reveals what it was like growing up as a disabled schoolboy and the social challenges he faced.

🔥 The Defining Moment – He takes us to the moment when, at age 20, he was ready to end his life—and how going to church changed everything. He explains how that decision launched the victorious perspective he has today.

🛠️ How to Build Resiliency – David shares how he developed resilience and how we can all encourage others to move past a crisis-centered mindset to live healthy, balanced lives. He offers practical advice on transforming a previously formed identity.

🙏 Faith and Daily Life – He explains how his daily life of faith defines him now and what he does differently in responding to situations that are still challenging . He shares how his faith helps him hope when life deals a crisis situation.

📖 The Book: When the Doctors Say NO! God Says YES!!! – David discusses his memoir and how anyone can find hope in Christ and experience their life improved as a result. He shares the message that if he can do it, so can you.

What Listeners Gain:

· The reminder that no situation is beyond God's ability to redeem

· Practical tools for developing resiliency in the face of overwhelming odds

· Permission to hope even when circumstances seem hopeless

· The understanding that identity can be transformed

· Inspiration from someone who was told he wouldn't live past 20—and is still making a difference today

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with David Ebel

🌐 Website: [Available through social links]

📖 Book: When the Doctors Say NO! God Says YES!!! (Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble)

🎙️ Podcast: God Says YES! With David W. Ebel

📱 Social: Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack

🩺 Certifications: Disaster responder and instructor, critical incident stress management

📸 Award-winning photographer

This conversation is for anyone who has ever achieved success on paper—and still felt like something essential was missing.

Paul Comfort knows this terrain intimately. He has reached the top of three different careers, spanning executive leadership in government and transportation, elected public office, and national media. Through decades of leadership and hundreds of conversations with high performers, he has seen a common reality: many people are working primarily for a paycheck, not from personal alignment. They may be good at what they do, but they don't feel energized by it. Monday dread is real. And quietly, they worry they're wasting their lives.

His upcoming book, Find Your X Factor: Follow Your Personal Treasure Map to Purpose, offers a practical alternative. Rather than chasing passion alone, Paul helps people align what energizes them with what they're built to do well—a powerful intersection he calls your "X Factor."

In this episode, we explore:

🔍 The X Factor Framework – Paul explains what the "X Factor" is and how the intersection of interests and abilities determines whether work feels fulfilling or draining. He breaks down why "follow your passion" fails and what actually leads to fulfillment.

📉 The Hidden Cost of Success – He reveals why many people feel stuck in careers they're good at but don't feel alive doing, even when those careers are stable, prestigious, or financially rewarding. He explains why being good at your job isn't the same as being aligned with it.

🧭 The Personal Treasure Map – Paul introduces the concept of a "personal treasure map" for finding purpose. He explains how to identify the hidden patterns in your life that reveal clues about purpose that most people overlook.

🔄 Pivoting Without Starting Over – He offers practical guidance for how to pivot toward purpose without blowing up your life or walking away from everything you've built. He shares how to realign your career without starting over from scratch.

💡 The Path to Self-Actualization – Paul explains what self-actualization really looks like in everyday work—not in theory, but in real careers. He helps listeners understand the difference between chasing passion and finding true alignment.

What Listeners Gain:

· A new understanding of why passion alone isn't enough for career fulfillment

· Practical tools for identifying their unique "X Factor"

· The ability to distinguish between being good at a job and being aligned with it

· A roadmap for pivoting toward purpose without destroying what they've built

· Permission to question a draining path and take practical steps toward a more meaningful career

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Paul Comfort

🌐 Website: findyourxfactor.ai

📖 Book: Find Your X Factor: Follow Your Personal Treasure Map to Purpose (Available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble)

📝 Newsletter: Sign up at findyourxfactor.ai for free sample chapter and exclusive insights

📱 Social: YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn

🎙️ Podcast: The Paul Comfort Show

This conversation is for anyone who has ever wondered what true inclusion actually looks like—and why it matters more than compliance.

Jenna Udenberg knows this terrain intimately. Diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at just seven years old, she has used a manual wheelchair since the age of eight . What followed wasn't a story defined by limitation, but one shaped by resilience, advocacy, and the people who chose to see possibility instead of barriers .

A former music educator of 19 years, Jenna is now a 2020 Bush Fellow, disability advocate, accessibility educator, and author of the memoir Within My Spokes: A Tapestry of Pain, Growth & Freedom . She is also the founder of Above & Beyond With U, a nonprofit dedicated to creating more inclusive and accessible communities . Her column, Local View from 4' 2", appears in the Lake County Press, where she shares raw, insightful reflections on life from a seated perspective .

In this episode, we explore:

🛑 Disability Is Not a Bad Word – Jenna explains why disability is a natural part of the human experience and why we need to stop whispering about it. She challenges the stigma and invites a more honest conversation about what disability really means.

📋 Beyond the ADA Checklist – She shares why simply meeting minimum ADA requirements is not the same as creating genuine inclusion. She makes the case for going "above and beyond" because people are not a checklist .

♿ The Seated Perspective – Jenna offers a unique view of the world from her manual wheelchair, sharing what it's like to navigate physical and societal barriers—and how those experiences shaped her mission .

📖 Writing Within My Spokes – She opens up about the emotional and healing process of writing her memoir, which explores perseverance, healing, and discovering purpose through life's challenges .

🌍 The Power of Interdependence – Jenna shares a surprising lesson she learned as an adult: how interdependent we all are. She challenges the myth of doing it alone and celebrates the beauty of community and connection .

🎵 From Music Educator to Advocate – She shares how playing trumpet became her entry point into belonging, and how her 19-year career as a music educator shaped her understanding of leadership and inclusion .

What Listeners Gain:

· A new understanding of disability as a natural part of the human experience

· The difference between compliance and genuine inclusion

· Insight into what the world looks like from a seated perspective

· The reminder that accessibility benefits everyone—not just a few

· Permission to ask for help and embrace interdependence

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Jenna Udenberg

🌐 Website: aboveandbeyondwithu.org

📖 Book: Within My Spokes: A Tapestry of Pain, Growth & Freedom (Available as audiobook on Everand and Libro.fm)

📱 Instagram: @aboveandbeyondwithu

📘 Facebook: Above & Beyond With U

🔗 LinkedIn: Above & Beyond With U

📰 Column: Local View from 4' 2" (Lake County Press)

📧 Nonprofit: Above & Beyond With U (aboveandbeyondwithu.org

This conversation is for anyone who has achieved success on paper—and still feels restless, misaligned, or like something is missing.

Dean Taylor knows this terrain intimately. For as long as he can remember, he felt called to do something meaningful with his life . But like so many people, responsibilities grew, setbacks came, and doubt crept in. The dreams he carried as a young boy were buried beneath the pressure of real life .

Eventually, he came to a powerful realization: the pain of regret would be far greater than the pain of trying and failing. That realization led him to begin taking action, even before he had all the answers . Today, he's a speaker, trainer, and coach helping high-performing people who have achieved success and lost alignment to reconnect to faith, rebuild self-trust, clarify their vision, and confidently make their next move .

In this episode, we explore:

💎 The DIAMOND Pivot Framework – Dean introduces his signature framework for helping people move from feeling stuck and misaligned to living with greater clarity and confidence . He explains how to make meaningful pivots when success no longer feels aligned .

🔄 The Hidden Cost of Success – He reveals why so many successful people reach a point where their life looks good on the outside yet feels unfulfilling on the inside . He explores what causes high-performing professionals to feel stuck or restless even after achieving success .

🙏 The Role of Gratitude – Dean shares how gratitude plays a crucial role in shifting from pressure, scarcity, and burnout to clarity, peace, and abundance .

🔍 How to Know When It's Time to Pivot – He explains how to tell when it's time to make a meaningful pivot in life or career instead of just pushing harder .

🌟 Reconnecting with Purpose and Vision – He offers practical guidance for anyone who feels called to more and is afraid it may be too late to change . He shares his message: your dreams matter, your setbacks are not the end of your story, and it is never too late to become who you were created to be .

What Listeners Gain:

· A framework for making meaningful pivots in life and career

· The understanding that success without alignment is not enough

· Practical tools for reconnecting with purpose and vision

· Permission to pursue the life they were meant to live

· The reminder that it's never too late to become who you were created to be

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Dean Taylor

🌐 Website: deantaylorofficial.com

🆓 Free Resource: Community Resource Access (deantaylorofficial.com/communityresourcesaccess)

📱 Facebook: Dean Taylor Official

📸 Instagram: @deantaylorofficial

📧 Email: [email protected]

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like they're surviving instead of thriving—and knows there's more to life than what they're currently living.

Sue Paulson knows this terrain intimately. Two divorces, two bankruptcies, a near-death experience in 2007, and two bouts with cancer in 2011 and 2012 . Rather than being defeated by these challenges, she emerged with a mission: to help others awaken to and embrace their own magnificence .

Her journey began early—at age 10, she recited poetry at church despite her knocking knees, discovering a love for the front of the room that would define her life . She spent 15 years as an instructor at MacEwan University, teaching business writing and public speaking, and authored best-selling books including her memoir Magnificent Misery (2015) and The Healing Call of Cancer (2024) .

In this episode, we explore:

🧠 The Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything – Sue shares what she learned when she "died" in 2007 and what that experience taught her about love, life, and worthiness . She explains how it shifted her understanding of what truly matters.

💪 Cancer as a Healing Call, Not a Battle – She explains why she calls cancer a "healing call" rather than just a battle, and shares her philosophy that "fear is the enemy, not cancer" . She discusses how cancer came for a reason—as a "wake-up call to propel you out of previous misery and into the life you deserve" .

🔮 The Difference Between Self-Improvement and Awakening – Sue distinguishes between the endless cycle of self-improvement and the deeper work of awakening to your innate magnificence . She explains why she believes "you came in magnificent" and "the work is not to become worthy, but to remember the magnificence that has always been within you" .

🛠️ Practical Tools for Awakening – As a Magnificence Mentor, Sue shares practical tools and approaches for moving from self-doubt to self-love, from fear to inner peace, and from old patterns to a more open way of living .

🌟 What It Means to Live Magnificently – She explores what a life of magnificence actually looks like in practice and how anyone can begin the journey of embracing their own magnificence .

What Listeners Gain:

· A new perspective on adversity as a teacher rather than a punishment

· Practical tools for moving from survival to "thrival"

· The understanding that you are not broken—you are already magnificent

· Permission to stop searching outside yourself and reconnect with your inner wisdom

· The reminder that "everything great is right inside you"

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Sue Paulson

🌐 Website: suepaulson.com

📱 YouTube: @suepaulson (229+ videos on magnificence and personal growth)

🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sue-paulson-48405411

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/speakersuepaulson

📖 Books: Magnificent Misery (2015), The Healing Call of Cancer (2024), Tips & Tools for Student Success (1999), Tips & Tools to Speak with Confidence (2003)

📱 App: The Magnificence Mentor (Free download)

🎙️ Podcast: Magnify Your Magnificence

🌐 Community: Magnificence Lab (magnificencelab.org)

📧 Newsletter: magnifywithsue.com