After the loss of a parent, the world doesn’t stop — but part of you does.

In this episode of Un-Shuck Yourself, we talk about what it really means to step back into life after one of the most profound losses a person can experience. Not the neat stages of grief. Not the inspirational clichés. The actual reality: the disorientation, the emotional ambushes, the identity shift, and the quiet guilt that can come with learning to live again.

This episode is for anyone navigating life after losing a parent — whether the loss is recent or years old — and for those trying to support someone who is.

You don’t “move on.” You move forward carrying them with you.

Inside this episode:
• Why the world can feel unreal after a major loss
• The myth of “back to normal”
• How grief shows up in unexpected waves
• The identity shift that comes with losing a parent
• Permission to laugh, live, and feel okay again
• Practical ways to re-enter everyday life

If you’re walking through grief right now, you’re not broken — you’re adapting to a reality you never asked for.

And you don’t have to do it alone.

On January 28th, my mother, Mary Alice DeLeon, passed away. Her memorial service was on the 13th of February.

I just want to say that this episode isn’t about grief. Sure, there are moments that might make someone sad, at its core, this episode is about gratitude.

It’s about the quiet strength of a woman who never asked for recognition—but shaped lives through consistency, resilience, and unconditional love.

In this deeply personal episode, I share what her life taught me about legacy, presence, and the truth most of us avoid: time is limited, and tomorrow is never guaranteed.

We spend so much of our lives waiting. Waiting to say things. Waiting to show appreciation. Waiting to become the person we know we’re capable of being.

This episode is a reminder not to wait.

Because the people who shape us don’t live on through monuments or memories alone—they live on through how we choose to live.

This isn’t an episode about death.

It’s an episode about living fully, loving openly, and becoming someone worth remembering.

If someone you love came to mind while listening, don’t ignore that.

Reach out.

That’s where legacy begins.

*Music provided by Millennials Melody Originals
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In the last episode, we talked about health — what happens when your body forces you to slow down and why ignoring the signals always comes at a cost.

This episode is about what comes after that wake-up call.

When you start to feel better, it’s tempting to rush back into the same pace, the same expectations, and the same habits that led to burnout or illness in the first place. But bouncing back isn’t the same as building back.

In this episode of Un-Shuck Yourself, we talk about rebuilding capacity without burning yourself out again — redefining productivity, understanding energy as a limited resource, and learning how to return to life with intention instead of urgency.

If you’ve ever told yourself “I’m good now” and then found yourself right back where you started, this episode is for you.

Because sustainability isn’t weakness.

It’s wisdom.

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In this episode of Un-Shuck Yourself, I talk about something I didn’t plan on learning the hard way — the real cost of ignoring your health.

After dealing with a lingering sickness for over a month, I was forced to slow down and confront how physical health, mental health, and overall capacity are deeply connected. When your body isn’t well, it doesn’t just affect you — it ripples into your work, your relationships, and the way you show up in the world.

This episode is a reminder that health isn’t a side priority or something you “get to later.” It’s the foundation everything else is built on. We talk about burnout, pushing through exhaustion, redefining strength, and why listening to your body before it breaks is one of the most important forms of self-respect.

If you’ve been running on empty, ignoring the signals, or telling yourself you’ll slow down “after this season,” this one’s for you.

Because you don’t rise to your ambitions —
you fall to the level of your health.

Un-Shuck Yourself.

December is more than a holiday — it’s a teacher.
In this finale, Ben DeLeon wraps up the December series by breaking down the real lessons of the season: slowing down, appreciating small moments, choosing presence over perfection, and carrying light into the new year.
If you’re ready for a meaningful transition into January, this episode is the perfect finish.

December looks magical on the outside — but for many people, it’s also heavy.
In this episode, Ben DeLeon talks about the pressure, expectations, grief, and emotional weight we quietly carry during the holidays, and how to lighten it without losing the meaning of the season.
If the holidays feel complicated this year, this episode will help you breathe again.

This season, most people are rushing, stressing, and powering through December on autopilot.
But the most meaningful gift you can give right now isn’t something you buy — it’s your presence.
In this episode, Ben DeLeon breaks down why attention is the rarest gift of the holidays, how to show up for people who need it, and why slowing down for ten minutes might matter more than anything under the tree.
If you’re ready to bring more meaning (and less chaos) into this season, this one’s for you.

In this short reflection, Ben shares a small but powerful moment he observed while dining out with his wife— one that reveals how tiny acts of awareness and cooperation can change an entire atmosphere. A simple gesture, a stacked plate, a passed dish… and suddenly, you can see who’s paying attention. This episode explores the quiet empathy that shows up in unexpected places.

If you’re enjoying the Un-Shuck Yourself Podcast, can you please subscribe and share? And if possible, leave a rating or review, it would really help this podcast grow.

Thank you!!!

The holiday season can be bright — and it can be heavy.
In this episode, Ben DeLeon explores how to find small sources of light when life feels dark, slow, or overwhelming. You’ll learn why winter seasons matter, why light doesn’t have to be bright to guide you, and how to anchor yourself with one steady source of hope.
Because sometimes the smallest light shines the strongest in the quietest moments.

Gratitude isn’t just a feeling — it’s a rhythm that shapes how you live.
In this final episode of the November gratitude series, Ben DeLeon brings everything together — from the energy of enough, to what you water grows, to staying grateful when life gets hard.
Discover how gratitude begins with awareness, grows with intention, and gives back through the way you live and lead.
Because gratitude isn’t the end of growth — it’s the cycle that keeps it going.