In this episode, I’m joined by Andrea Carter, an organizational scientist and the creator of the Belonging First Methodology — a validated, award-winning framework designed to measure and strengthen belonging in individuals, teams, schools, and organizations.

Andrea breaks down the science of belonging and explains why it’s not a “soft” concept, but a measurable, actionable driver of performance, wellbeing, and human connection.

At the core of the Belonging First Methodology are five key indicators of belonging:

- Comfort
- Connection
- Contribution
- Psychological Safety
- Wellbeing

In this conversation, we explore:
-What belonging actually is (and what it isn’t)
- Where belonging most often breaks down in organizations, teams, and families
- How leaders, coaches, and educators can quickly identify gaps in belonging
- Practical steps to rebuild belonging when it’s missing
- Why belonging directly impacts performance, learning, and long-term success

Andrea’s motivation is simple but powerful: getting the research out into the world so people can clearly see where belonging is breaking down — and know exactly how to fix it.

🎁 Free Resource:
Take Andrea’s Belonging Breakdown and identify where belonging may be missing for you or your team:
👉 https://belongingfirst.com/belongingbreakdown

🔗 Connect with Andrea Carter:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreadcarter/
Substack: https://substack.com/@andreadcarter

If you’re a leader, coach, educator, parent, or anyone responsible for culture and people, this episode will completely change how you think about belonging — and how you build it intentionally. 

Mitch Case shares the real story behind leaving a traditional sales career and betting everything on relationships instead of resumes.

After nearly a decade in commercial HVAC sales, Mitch made the leap into entrepreneurship—without guarantees, without a safety net, and with plenty of fear. In this conversation, he opens up about early failures, financial stress, rebuilding from the ground up, and why relationships—not credentials—became the foundation for everything that followed.

Today, Mitch helps people create generational wealth through commercial real estate and community-building, and he leads The Pickup Project, an early-morning basketball community that has sparked genuine friendships and over $1M in business between players.

In this episode, we discuss:
- What stops people from taking the entrepreneurial leap
- Why betting on relationships creates long-term success
- The reality of failure before momentum
- How community accelerates trust, growth, and opportunity
- Building a life around family, faith, health, and freedom

This episode is for anyone who feels called to something bigger—but is scared to make the jump.

📌 Connect with Mitch Case on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchellcase/ 

In this podcast episode, Karen Canham—founder of Karen Ann Wellness, board-certified wellness coach, and nervous system specialist—shares a step-by-step approach to becoming more successful as a leader and professional by regulating your nervous system.

Rather than relying on motivation or willpower, Karen explains why breathwork and nervous system regulation are the real foundations of sustainable performance, emotional intelligence, and confident leadership. This conversation goes beyond mindset and into the physiology of how we lead, communicate, and make decisions under pressure.

Throughout the episode, we discuss:
- Why stress and reactivity limit leadership performance
- How breathwork directly impacts clarity, confidence, and decision-making
- The neuroscience behind nervous system regulation
- Simple breathwork practices you can use immediately
- How leaders can prevent burnout while still performing at a high level
- What “embodied leadership” really means in day-to-day work
- Moving from reactivity to resilience in your career and life

Karen has helped hundreds of driven professionals and corporate teams move from burnout into calm, connected, and sustainable success—improving communication and emotional intelligence by over 40% in organizational settings.

This episode is ideal for:
✔ Leaders and executives
✔ Coaches and high-performing professionals
✔ Anyone dealing with stress, burnout, or overwhelm
✔ People looking to improve leadership presence and emotional regulation

🔗 Connect with Karen Canham
🌐 Website: www.karenannwellness.com
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karenannwellness
📸 Instagram: @karenannwellness

🎁 Free Resource:
Download Karen’s Nervous System Regulation Toolkit at karenannwellness.com 

In this episode, we sit down with Krystal B. Clark—founder of Moving With Meaning, leadership coach, speaker, and data management professional—to explore a powerful framework for moving from fear and uncertainty into clarity, self-trust, and intentional leadership.

Krystal shares her philosophy of Curiosity-Driven Leadership, a mindset that helps individuals and teams deepen connection, comprehension, and credibility—both professionally and personally. Drawing from her experience in the fast-paced tech world and her work as a life coach, Krystal bridges emotional resilience with real-world leadership demands.

We talk openly about:
- Overcoming anxiety and panic rooted in childhood trauma
- Learning to trust yourself after fear and self-doubt
- Why vulnerability is not weakness—but a leadership skill
- How curiosity can transform how you lead, communicate, and make decisions
- Building emotional resilience while navigating modern corporate culture

Krystal also shares her personal journey as a mother, her path to healing generational patterns, and how creative writing and storytelling play a role in shaping our emotional decisions.

Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or someone searching for clarity in a season of uncertainty, this conversation offers practical insights you can apply immediately.

Connect with Krystal B. Clark:
🌐 Website: https://www.movingwithmeaning.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krystalclark/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/movingwithmeaning82/
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@movingwithmeaning

🎁 Free Resource: Download Krystal’s Branding Bootcamp Cheatsheet on her website
💼 Special Offer: 25% off first-time coaching packages

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Shelton — bestselling author, TEDx speaker, former U.S. Air Force member, and creator of The Reset Button — to talk openly about social anxiety and the practical steps you can take to overcome it.

Nick breaks down around five actionable steps to help you understand where anxiety comes from, why it shows up in social settings, and how to start reclaiming confidence without trying to “be someone you’re not.”

- This conversation goes beyond surface-level tips. We dive into:
- Why anxiety often affects thoughtful, driven, and introverted people
- How identity, purpose, and alignment play a role in social fear
- Practical tools you can start using immediately
- How to rebuild confidence without forcing extroversion

Nick also shares insights from his own journey — from serving in the U.S. Air Force, retiring early from a successful career, and ultimately redefining his purpose after realizing that freedom without direction can feel empty.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed in social situations, or unsure of who you’re becoming, this episode will resonate deeply.

🎁 Free Resource:
Nick offers a Dignity Scan Worksheet you can download for free to help clarify your values and regain internal confidence.

🌐 Learn more about Nick:

Website: https://resettheman.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasleonshelton/

📌 Subscribe for more conversations on mindset, growth, performance, and becoming your best self. 

Money isn’t just about numbers — it’s emotional, personal, and deeply tied to how we were raised.

In this podcast episode, we sit down with Gino Barbaro, certified money coach, entrepreneur, and co-founder of a top multifamily real estate platform, to break down why so many people struggle with money and how to build a healthier relationship with it.

Gino shares:
- The money archetypes that shape how we earn, save, spend, and invest
- Where money issues really come from (hint: it’s usually not income)
- Why money is one of the biggest stressors in relationships and families
- How mindset, identity, and habits impact long-term financial success
- Practical ways to start changing your relationship with money today

With over 1,800 apartment units owned, 27 years of marriage, and six kids, Gino brings real-world perspective on money, family, and mindset — not just theory.

This conversation is for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, stressed, or confused about money and wants a clearer path forward.

Connect with Gino Barbaro:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gino-barbaro-03973b4b/
Website: https://barbaro360.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@barbaro-360

If this episode helped you, consider liking, subscribing, and sharing it with someone who needs it. 

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Kellie Revoir, a highly successful businesswoman and real estate investor who shares her incredible journey—from living on welfare to becoming a millionaire in just 10 years.

Kellie opens up about:
- Building wealth through real estate investing
- The mindset shifts required to break generational limits
- How personal development accelerated her business growth
- Her recent experiences attending Tony Robbins events and how they transformed both her business and personal life
- Lessons learned on discipline, belief, and taking ownership of your future

This conversation is honest, motivating, and packed with real-world insight for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, real estate, or personal growth. Whether you’re just starting out or already building, Kellie’s story proves that your past does not define your potential.

📲 Connect with Kellie Revoir:
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

https://www.instagram.com/kellierevoir/?hl=en

If this episode inspires you, make sure to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs to hear it. 

In this powerful podcast episode, we sit down with Dr. Rita Renee, TEDx speaker, international keynote speaker, and founder of Ultimate PowerHouse Coach, to talk about one of the most important conversations women need today: how to heal from trauma and reclaim your voice.

Dr. Rita Renee shares why trauma should never be worn as shame—but embraced as a testimony of resilience, strength, and grace. With over 34 years of leadership experience in healthcare, business, ministry, and coaching, she helps women come off mute, step into authenticity, and lead with confidence in faith, business, and life.

In this episode, we discuss:

- What “coming off mute” really means and why it’s life-changing
- How women can move through trauma without being defined by it
- Why authenticity is the foundation of powerful leadership
- Overcoming fear, silence, and self-doubt in public speaking
- Using your voice to create impact in business, ministry, and community
- Faith-based leadership and walking boldly in your calling

Whether you’re a woman navigating trauma, a leader looking to grow, or someone searching for purpose and confidence, this conversation will leave you inspired, equipped, and empowered to take action.

🔹 Connect with Dr. Rita Renee
Website: www.ultimatepowerhousecoach.com

Website: www.drritarenee.com

LinkedIn: drritarenee
Instagram: @drritarenee | @drultimatepowerhousecoach
YouTube: @drritarenee

🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, resilience, faith, and personal growth. 

In this podcast episode, we break down how businesses are built to last through strong leadership, effective coaching, and long-term thinking.

Our guest shares real-world lessons from building and leading multiple businesses, developing high-performing teams, and shifting from operator to leader. This conversation focuses on the mindset, systems, and leadership principles that create sustainable success—without burnout.

If you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, coach, or leader looking to build something meaningful and durable, this episode is for you.

🔑 In This Episode:
- How great leaders build businesses that last
- The role of coaching in long-term success
- Leadership skills needed to scale beyond the day-to-day
- Developing people, culture, and systems
- Avoiding burnout while growing sustainably

https://kenwimberly.com/about/ 

What if the future of leadership isn’t about choosing between people or profits—but designing cultures where both thrive together?

In this powerful 50-minute podcast episode of Think Your Way to an Epic Life, Coach Schug and Dr. Ron Stotts unveil The New Leadership Playbook—a proven, neuroscience-backed approach to building high-performing, people-centered organizations that outperform traditional command-and-control models.

This episode is a complete leadership framework for entrepreneurs, executives, founders, and team leaders who want to increase employee engagement, innovation, retention, and long-term profitability—without burnout or toxic culture.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why traditional leadership models are failing in today’s workforce
- The difference between transactional leadership vs developmental leadership
- How conscious leadership drives innovation, trust, and financial performance
- The neuroscience behind collective flow states and high-performing teams
- How fear-based cultures shut down creativity and decision-making
- Why self-awareness and emotional intelligence are leadership multipliers
- A 5-step practical playbook to transform any organization from the inside out
- How to build cultures of psychological safety, growth, and accountability

🧠 Based on Research From:

MIT, Harvard Business School, McKinsey & Company, Gallup, Stanford, Google Project Aristotle, Deloitte, Nielsen, and the Center for Creative Leadership.

🌱 Who This Episode Is For:

✔ Entrepreneurs & founders
✔ CEOs & executives
✔ Business owners & managers
✔ Leadership coaches & consultants
✔ HR professionals & culture builders
✔ Anyone responsible for leading people

🎧 About the Podcast:

Think Your Way to an Epic Life explores the inner game of leadership, performance, and personal growth—bridging neuroscience, consciousness, and real-world business results.

📅 Schedule a complimentary discovery call:
• With Kara: zcal.co/karaschug/discoverycall
• With Ron: ronstottsclientscheduling.as.me