Mike was boarding a plane to head back from a family event this past summer. When he plopped down, little did he know that he was sitting next to an accomplished doctor with more letters after her name than you can shake a stick at.

Dr. Adrienne Adler-Neal MD PhD MPH isn't your typical psychiatrist. She studied the neuroscience of mindfulness meditation now runs a private practice that treats the whole person. Psychological. Biological. Spiritual. She says medications can help, but they are never the full answer.

In this episode she explains why so many people keep looking outside themselves for the fix and why that approach keeps them stuck. She walks through how she helps patients build an internal place they can return to when life gets hard. She shares the exact practice she uses before hard days. She talks about becoming a mother while holding other people’s pain. And she gives the simple daily steps that actually move people toward a life that feels like theirs.

If you've been vibrating at the wrong frequency or needed a nudge to spend a few minutes in meditation, this episode is for you.

Topics Covered

• How a chance plane ticket turned into this conversation
• Why 17-plus years of schooling forced her to find meaning inside herself
• The difference between treating symptoms and creating a life of real alignment
• What most people get wrong about psychiatric medication
• The heart-centered practice that works when traditional meditation feels impossible
• How she protects herself from absorbing patient pain after becoming a parent
• Telehealth versus in-person and how she decides
• Addiction, the 12 steps, and why peer support matters
• The advice she gives clients that she still struggles to take herself
• Three practical things anyone can start doing today

Chapters

• 00:00 Crisis resources and intro
• 02:08 Welcome and how Mike met Dr. Adler-Neal on a plane
• 03:56 What’s your story? Ballet dancer or doctor?
• 05:30 Building an internal locus of meaning during the PhD years
• 07:06 17 and a half years of advanced schooling
• 08:35 Why psychiatry and the gift of having a place to return to
• 09:49 Growth potential instead of “everyone is broken”
• 11:34 Blending Eastern and Western approaches without fighting
• 12:28 Heart-centered compassion when the mind won’t quiet
• 14:14 Isolation, connection, and what people struggle with most
• 15:20 “Invite it in for tea”
• 16:28 Holding patient pain without carrying it home
• 18:20 The mentor and the book that redirected her entire path
• 20:20 Motherhood and switching from doctor to mom
• 21:40 Telehealth effectiveness and when in-person is needed
• 23:24 Addiction work and the power of the 12 steps
• 24:29 The advice she gives that she doesn’t always take
• 25:00 What pop culture gets wrong about psychiatric medication
• 26:32 Medications are not a quick fix and nothing external is the answer
• 27:14 Stabilization first. Getting people to zero so real work can begin
• 29:29 Three everyday practices for staying grounded
• 30:50 Purpose, social media comparison, and protecting kids’ brains
• 33:40 Adrienneisms and “invite it in for tea”
• 34:20 Herbalism potions and learning to play bad golf
• 35:28 Closing and thank you

Episode Links

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/@dradlerneal
• Dr. Adler-Neal's website: https://www.adlerneal.com
• US Crisis Hotline: https://988lifeline.org

If you or someone you know needs support, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

Former Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone lost once to Sheriff Joe Arpaio after getting outspent 13 to 1. His wife heard him complaining at the TV, took his man card, and told him to step up again.

He did. Then he won by 13 points.

Paul tells Mike Lindstrom and Scott Leese the part most people never hear. He was a volunteer bailiff in high school. He spent 21 years at Phoenix PD. He ran as a Democrat after Republican strategists told him he had no shot. He refused to endorse anybody, including two presidential candidates, because he did not want the badge used as a political weapon.

His first week on the job, a naked woman stole a patrol car in Casa Grande. A deputy grabbed a blanket to cover her. She jumped in the car and took off. That is the job.

Paul also gets into the hard stuff. Culture over entertainment. Why he closed the circus around Tent City and pink jumpsuits. Why deadly force is not a choice, it is the lack of a choice. Why cameras and tools can steal the skill of talking someone into handcuffs. And what it costs a family when you have to knock on a door and tell a wife she is a widow.

If you have ever been told you cannot win, this one will sit with you.

Topics Covered

• Paul’s path from Trenton, New Jersey to Cortez High School and Phoenix PD
• The courtroom summers that taught him to seek the truth and speak the truth
• Why he will not let a bully have the last word
• The living room fight with his wife that launched the race against Joe Arpaio
• Losing in 2012 by four points, then getting a birthday job rejection that sent him back
• Election night 2016 with no TVs, no radios, and 35 people in a sandwich shop
• Joe Arpaio’s concession call after 24 years in office
• The first change he made as sheriff: culture
• Why law enforcement should work like a good referee, not a reality show
• Cameras, Big Brother, and what happens when discretion disappears
• How body cams and 2020 changed an officer’s instincts on a stop
• Tasers versus talking, and why he never once maced anyone
• “The use of deadly force is not a choice. It is the lack of a choice.”
• Leaving the badge without letting the title eat your identity
• Praying the rosary, Sundays with no detail, and four line-of-duty death notifications
• The bathroom stall at D-backs stadium and what it costs to be “on” everywhere
• The mantra: do not live for the approval of people

Chapters

• 00:00 First week as sheriff, a naked lady steals a patrol car
• 01:27 Welcome to What’s Your Story with Mike and Scott
• 02:25 Paul’s story, from Trenton to Phoenix PD
• 04:22 Volunteer bailiff and seeking the truth
• 06:31 Why he never backed down from bullies
• 08:38 Taking on Sheriff Joe Arpaio
• 13:08 Losing in 2012, then running again
• 16:12 Election night 2016 with no TVs
• 18:42 Joe Arpaio’s concession call
• 19:40 Culture over entertainment
• 22:46 Cameras, Big Brother, and discretion
• 24:42 How body cams changed everyday stops
• 28:49 Deadly force is the lack of a choice
• 29:22 Leaving the badge without losing yourself
• 31:48 Family, faith, and knocking on a widow’s door
• 35:15 The bathroom stall and being “on” as sheriff
• 37:17 The mantra he lives by
• 38:32 Outro

If this one hit, subscribe and send it to somebody who still thinks one person cannot move a machine that big. Then tell us in the comments. When did somebody tell you that you had no shot, and what did you do with that?

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

Susan McGalla walked away from the presidency of American Eagle Outfitters at its peak. She helped grow the brand from $300 million to $3 billion. The company was her baby. Those people were her family. Leaving to raise her kids was gut-wrenching.

She never looked back. That choice opened every door after. Including the one her son helped open at Brophy Prep. She now serves as Vice President for Advancement and Strategic Communications. Her office sits on the same campus where her son goes to school. He stops by for snacks. Friends leave sticky notes on her computer. She is exactly where she wants to be.

In this episode of What’s Your Story? with Mike & Scott, Susan shares the full arc. Ohio sports family roots. Early retail days that left her sure she would get fired. The leap to American Eagle in her late twenties. The three principles behind the explosive growth. Hard truths about career and family choices women still face. Building Steelers Nation Unite. And the Brophy classroom moment that pulled her out of retirement.

She talks about mentors who saw more in her than she saw in herself. The family motto she repeated every morning dropping the kids at school. And why the most meaningful success is still the life you touch.

This one is full of heart, hard-earned wisdom, and full-circle moments that stick.

Topics Covered:

• The gut-wrenching decision to leave American Eagle Outfitters at the height of its success
• Growing a single brand from $300 million to $3 billion while staying profitable
• The three principles behind that growth: daring to dream, fiscal responsibility, and staying small as you scale
• Hard choices women still face between career and family
• How her son brought her out of retirement and into the Brophy Prep role
• What “advancement” really means at a high school and why the work matters
• Building the Steelers Nation Unite loyalty program and combining sports with business
• Mentors who believed in her before she fully believed in herself
• Family values, a daily motto, and the quiet power of picking up trash

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Cold Open
• 1:31 Meet Susan McGalla
• 2:18 Ohio roots, sports family, and the start in retail
• 4:29 Joseph Horne training and the American Eagle knock
• 7:26 From $300 million to $3 billion
• 8:18 How they actually grew it: dream, fiscal responsibility, stay small
• 11:05 Leaving for family and the hard choices women face
• 12:23 Life at Brophy with her kids on campus
• 14:09 How her son brought her out of retirement
• 17:14 What makes Brophy special (financial aid, diversity, brotherhood)
• 18:13 What “advancement” really means
• 20:28 The Pittsburgh Steelers chapter and Steelers Nation Unite
• 23:06 Goals at this stage and the common thread of young people
• 24:50 Nonprofit work that still means the most
• 25:52 Mentors who believed first
• 27:54 Rapid fire: books, travel, family motto
• 31:31 Trash on the ground is your trash

If this conversation hit you the way it hit us, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe so you never miss the next story.

What’s the hardest career or family decision you’ve ever made, and how did it turn out? Drop it in the comments. We read every one.

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

Dan Lier walked into the Mayo Clinic thinking he might die that night. Doctors told him he had cardiac amyloidosis — a rare blood disease that kills 40% of patients in the first 12 months and only 10% make it past 10 years. He’s in year 9.

In this powerful episode of What’s Your Story? with Mike & Scott, Dan goes deep on the mindset that refused to accept the statistics. From growing up on welfare and food stamps, to winning two national basketball championships as the 9th or 10th most athletic player on the roster, to becoming Tony Robbins’ top field leader after an integrity moment that could have ended his career… this is the unfiltered story of a 6’8” mindset architect who turned every setback into fuel.

Dan shares the moments of real fear, the nightly affirmation audio he created while going through two years of chemo, how he became one of the top amyloidosis influencers in the country (and worked with Pfizer), and why he still believes every obstacle is preparing you for something bigger.

If you’ve ever faced a diagnosis, a career crossroads, or a moment that felt like the end — this conversation will reframe everything.

Topics Covered

• Growing up on public assistance and the mindset shift that started everything
• Two national championships at Fort Hays State and the psychology of hustle over talent
• The wacky coach who hung upside down like a bat and rewired Dan’s brain
• Selling insurance, reading Tony Robbins, and becoming the #1 producer at 23
• The integrity moment that got him promoted to Tony Robbins’ leadership team
• Leaving Robbins, starting his own seminars in LA, and building a keynote empire in Vegas
• The cardiac amyloidosis diagnosis, Mayo Clinic, chemo, and the stats that should have broken him
• Becoming an amyloidosis influencer and advocate almost by accident
• How the disease made him more patient, present, and selective with his time
• The power of nightly affirmations and programming the mind for healing
• Why 90% of success is psychology — and how to actually change behavior
• Current work with Janek Performance Group and ongoing rare disease advocacy

Chapters

• 00:00 – Cold Open: "40% Die in Year One — I'll Take the Other 60%"
• 01:38 – Welcome: Mike's Most Personal Episode Yet
• 02:04 – Meet Dan Lier — Champion, Tony Robbins Leader, Rare Disease Survivor
• 02:31 – How Dan Single-Handedly Destroyed Mike's Legal Career
• 02:48 – Small-Town Michigan to Two-Time National Champion
• 04:11 – From Basketball to Insurance: The Accidental Salesman
• 04:33 – Welfare, Food Stamps & a Dad Who Hated Salespeople
• 06:28 – Finding Tony Robbins at 23 — Tripled His Income, Became #1
• 06:46 – The Championship Secret: Hustle Over Talent
• 08:43 – The Coach Who Hung Upside Down Like a Bat
• 11:00 – "I'm a Mindset Architect, Not a Motivational Speaker"
• 13:57 – The $400 Theft That Almost Ended Everything… Then Got Him Promoted
• 16:19 – The Baby Monitor Betrayal — Hearing a Friend Trash Him
• 19:50 – Turning Down Tony Robbins & Starting Over in Hermosa Beach
• 21:00 – "I Think I'm Gonna Die Tonight" — The Red-Eye Flight to Mayo Clinic
• 24:42 – The Diagnosis: 40% Die in 12 Months, Only 10% Survive 10 Years
• 26:15 – How Chemo Videos Accidentally Made Him an Amyloidosis Influencer
• 28:00 – Why a Near-Death Diagnosis Made Him a Better Man
• 31:16 – The Nightly Affirmation Audio That Kept Him Alive
• 35:40 – What's Next: Keynotes, Janek & Rare Disease Advocacy
• 37:17 – Dan's Closing Lesson: Everything Happens FOR You
• 38:41 – "I'm 63 and Just Opening the Biggest Chapter of My Life"
• 40:27 – Sign-Off & Outro

Connect with Dan Lier

• Website: https://danlier.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/danlier
• X: https://x.com/DanLierMindset
• YouTube: Search “Dan Lier” or “Dan Lier Amyloidosis”

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

Alexy Posner built AP Brand Group from absolute zero after her identity as a professional equestrian was ripped away at 21. What followed was deep depression, a string of low-paying sports jobs, a four-word text that changed everything on her 26th birthday, and a decision to bet on herself even when her parents basically called her a failure.

Today she manages NFL players like Mack Hollins, works with Jaleel White, and is producing a major movie on Ric Flair with Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions. She also turned her love of Taylor Swift into Swiftie Liftie Club, a fitness movement that has exploded across the globe with one simple rule: if you know the words, you sing.

In this episode of What’s Your Story with Mike & Scott, Alexy gets real about authenticity over easy money, why most athletes destroy their brand by saying yes too fast, the spiderweb exercise she uses with every client, and the non-negotiables that keep her sharp while scaling.

Topics Covered

• Losing your identity when the sport ends and the depression that follows
• Why she walked away from a Lee Steinberg opportunity and started over
• Building AP Brand Group completely through word of mouth
• Meeting Ric Flair at a cannabis convention with Mike Tyson and Jaleel White
• How Swiftie Liftie Club went viral and the community ethos behind it
• Mack Hollins and the power of saying no to protect authenticity
• Long-game branding versus chasing the next check
• The exact process she uses to help athletes define their brand
• Why most podcasts fail and what actually moves the needle on social
• Her non-negotiables: 4:44 a.m. wake-ups, making the bed, and staying sober
• The upcoming Ric Flair movie with The Rock’s company

Chapters

• 00:00 Ric Flair teaser
• 00:46 Intro
• 01:41 Welcome and introducing Alexy Posner
• 02:48 What’s Your Story? From Philly and horses to the unknown
• 05:46 Getting fired, the Lee Steinberg text, and betting on herself
• 09:18 Creating Swiftie Liftie Club and the Taylor Swift effect
• 12:28 Mack Hollins, authenticity, and the art of saying no
• 15:01 How she met Ric Flair (and why he called her Young Brooke Shields)
• 16:33 Long game versus short money in athlete branding
• 19:17 Family influences, her mom the neuroradiologist, and her brother
• 21:30 When should athletes actually start building their brand?
• 25:40 Podcast strategy, social clips, and why most shows fail
• 29:17 Growing up on horses and living on airplanes
• 31:00 Non-negotiables, scaling herself, and making the bed
• 33:03 Next chapter: the Ric Flair movie with Seven Bucks and finding balance
• 35:55 Favorite books (Harry Potter 22 times, The Alchemist, The Four Agreements)
• 36:49 Wrap and where to follow Alexy

Follow Alexy

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/AlexyPosner
• Swifty Lifty Club: https://instagram.com/SwiftieLiftieClub
• AP Brand Group: https://apbrandgroup.com

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

Today we have not one, but two special guests! You're in for a treat.

What happens when families in crisis hand their kids over to a loosely regulated $23 billion industry promising to "fix" them? Professor Jon McQueen, a survivor of the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI), pulls back the curtain on wilderness programs, residential boarding schools, and the devastating human cost—450+ deaths and 220,000 kids sent yearly, often starting with a middle-of-the-night "transport."

Jon shares his raw journey from Chicago kid to sales leader (realtor.com and more) to full-time ASU sociology professor teaching 1,900 students. He breaks down AI cheating dilemmas in education, why students feel unseen, and his groundbreaking Men & Masculinity class that challenges toxic narratives with multiple masculinities.

Later, NFL legend and returning guest Nick Lowery joins for the final stretch—talking his new book Naked and Alone with 80,000 People (now on Audible!), leadership lessons from the Chiefs, factory keynotes, mental health, and his free Companion app helping first responders and beyond.

This episode is packed with real talk on resilience, education's evolution, fatherhood, team chemistry, and creating connection in a disconnected world.

Topics Covered

• Troubled Teen Industry (TTI) survivor story & exposé
• Sales-to-academia career pivot and "hacking" the system
• Teaching massive classes and making students feel seen
• AI cheating crisis, detectors, and mental atrophy in education
• Multiple masculinities vs toxic masculinity debates
• Public speaking fears and using sales skills in academia
• Worst-to-first leadership and team chemistry (Chiefs stories)
• Mental health companion app for first responders & veterans
• Fan connection, social capital, and performing under pressure
• RateMyProfessor feedback and evolving with student needs

Chapters

• 0:00 Cold Open: The Troubled Teen Industry
• 0:40 Intro Band & Theme Song
• 1:35 Scott & Mike Welcome – First Professor Guest
• 2:25 Jon McQueen's Story – Son of a Marketer to Sales Life
• 3:50 Pivot During COVID – Master's Degree & ASU Opportunity
• 5:55 From Adjunct to Full Faculty – Teaching 443, Then 1,400 Students
• 7:55 The Troubled Teen Industry – $23B Empire, 450 Deaths, Paris Hilton & Stanford Research
• 12:13 Student Connection Story – The 7-Year ASU Senior Who Finally Felt Seen
• 13:51 AI in Education – Cheating Detection, Syllabus Policies & The Prisoner's Dilemma
• 19:28 Students Can't Read Analog Clocks Anymore
• 21:07 Should Business Leaders Enter Academia?
• 24:35 RateMyProfessor, Pre-Framing Classes & The Zocdoc Sales Lesson
• 28:03 Men & Masculinity – Pitching the Class Nobody Takes, Toxic Masculinity & Helping Young Men
• 32:30 Nick Lowery Returns – Trifecta Appearance
• 32:45 Book Update – Naked and Alone with 80,000 People, Audible & P&G Keynote
• 34:21 Chiefs Turnaround, Eric Bieniemy & Locker Room Chemistry
• 37:16 World Cup, Messi, Fan Energy & Arrowhead Stories
• 38:29 Roger Clemens & Locker Room Chemistry
• 38:41 Getting Recognized at the Royals Game
• 40:22 The Roast, Neil Smith & Kansas City Social Capital
• 42:37 Mental Health Companion App – RFK Jr., BlueCloudX, Clinical Research & Veteran Support
• 46:32 Final Thoughts, Gratitude & Outro

Watch the full conversation and let us know in the comments: What’s one system or industry that needs more transparency and reform?

Full episode also available on your favorite podcast app. Subscribe, like, and share if this hit home. New episodes drop weekly!

Links & Socials

• Unsilenced (TTI Advocacy): unsilenced.org
• Naked and Alone with 80,000 People: nicklowerybook.com (Hardcover, Paperback, Audible)
• Mental Health Companion App: Search “Nick Lowery Companion” or BlueCloudX

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

Former D1 college soccer player McKenna Doe joins hosts Mike Lindstrom and Scott Leese for a raw and inspiring conversation. McKenna shares her journey from Huntington Beach to the University of San Diego, where she played alongside her identical twin sister Mikayla. She opens up about training with future national team players, the unique bond and challenges of competing as twins, and how comparison almost derailed their relationship.

The conversation explores what it was really like growing up in a sports-obsessed family, getting recruited into club soccer, and navigating the identity crisis that hit after college athletics ended. McKenna gets honest about a painful breakup, moving home to Huntington Beach for a season of self-work and renewed faith, and the leap of faith that led her to Scottsdale where she finally figured out who she truly is.

She also shares her current career reflections after years of remote work and her growing excitement about transitioning into residential real estate, where she can help people with one of life's biggest decisions while staying true to her natural self. The episode closes with a fun rapid-fire round that reveals her favorite movie, current book, biggest influence, and the mom-ism she will never forget.

Whether you are a former athlete searching for what comes next, someone in the middle of a personal reinvention, or simply love authentic stories of resilience, this episode delivers.

Topics Covered:

• Former D1 soccer player McKenna Doe story
• Identical twin sister dynamics in competitive sports
• Life after college athletics and identity crisis
• Personal growth, faith, and major life transitions
• Moving to Scottsdale and starting fresh
• Future career aspirations in residential real estate
• Fun rapid-fire questions

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro Music
• 00:01:44 Welcome and the wild connection story
• 00:02:36 McKenna joins and shares how she and Scott connected through USD soccer
• 00:03:43 McKenna tells her story: Huntington Beach roots and a sports family
• 00:05:48 What it was like playing D1 soccer with her identical twin sister
• 00:07:39 How close she and her sister are today plus exciting family news
• 00:08:11 The tougher side of twin life: comparison, envy, and identity struggles
• 00:09:07 Moving home after heartbreak and rediscovering herself through faith
• 00:10:07 Why Scottsdale over Nashville and building a brand new life from scratch
• 00:13:31 Soccer influences and why local role models meant more than famous names
• 00:21:17 Career reflections, remote work challenges, and craving real connection
• 00:24:00 Her dream of residential real estate and helping people achieve big moments
• 00:29:00 Rapid fire: favorite beach, book, movie, biggest influence, and more
• 00:31:50 Hosts wrap up the episode

Share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that it is never too late to figure out who you really are

Like this video, drop your biggest takeaway or your own story in the comments below, subscribe, and share with a friend who needs this message today.

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

In this raw and powerful episode of What's Your Story? with Mike Lindstrom & Scott Leese, we sit down with Chris Powell — the fitness transformation expert and former host of ABC’s Extreme Weight Loss. Chris opens up about the darkest chapter of his life: herniating a disc, getting hooked on painkillers, losing everything, and living out of his car.

He reveals the powerful epiphany that led him to tattoo “1 through a million” down his side and commit to changing that many lives. Chris also shares the incredible true story of walking into a stranger’s home to help a 630-pound man named David lose 400 pounds — a friendship that went viral on MySpace, landed them on Oprah and 20/20, and ultimately helped Chris land his own national TV show.

But the journey wasn’t one-sided. When Chris hit rock bottom, the man he saved was there to save him right back. Chris also breaks down why “hope” is the real missing ingredient in weight loss, how “Power Promises” build unstoppable momentum, his honest take on GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, etc.), and why the body positivity movement can sometimes do more harm than good.

If you’ve ever struggled with weight, battled addiction, lost hope, or are searching for sustainable transformation, this conversation will hit hard and give you practical tools you can use today.

Topics Covered:

• Chris Powell’s early TV breakthrough and bold networking story
• The unforgettable story of helping David lose 400 pounds
• Chris’s personal battle with painkiller addiction and rock bottom
• The tattoo mission that saved his life (1 through a million)
• How David saved Chris right back
• Landing the ABC Extreme Weight Loss show deal
• David’s later struggles and heartbreaking passing
• The #1 misconception holding people back in health & fitness
• Why hope beats quick fixes + the “Power Promise” method
• Transitioning from network TV to social media success
• Handling haters and the body positivity debate
• Chris’s new role as Chief Transformation Officer at Thrive Lab

Chapters:

• 00:00 - Podcast Intro & Theme
• 01:46 - Meet Chris Powell
• 02:39 - Chris’s Abbreviated Life Story & Early Struggles
• 03:23 - His First Big Break: Walking Into KTVK News
• 05:30 - The 630-Pound Man Named David Who Changed Everything
• 07:01 - Chris’s Own Dark Chapter: Painkiller Addiction & Living in His Car
• 08:04 - The Epiphany & The “1 Through a Million” Tattoo
• 08:35 - How the Man He Saved Saved Him Back
• 09:50 - Viral on MySpace, Oprah, 20/20 & Japanese Game Show
• 10:40 - “You’re the Host!” — The Shocking ABC Phone Call
• 12:27 - David’s Rollercoaster Life & Heartbreaking Passing
• 13:49 - The Biggest Misconception in Health & Fitness Today
• 16:34 - “Hope” Is the Real Game Changer + Power Promises
• 18:25 - From Traditional TV Star to Social Media Reality
• 20:30 - Multi-Platform Content Strategy That Actually Works
• 24:30 - Handling Haters & The Body Positivity Conversation
• 29:24 - The Full Medical & Psychology Team Behind the Show
• 30:46 - Chris’s New Mission at Thrive Lab
• 31:48 - Final Thoughts & Where to Find Chris

Links:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/realchrispowell
• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@realchrispowell
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@realchrispowell
• X: https://x.com/RealChrisPowel
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/realchrispowell
• Thrive Lab (Chris’s new role as Chief Transformation Officer): https://thrivelab.com

If Chris’s story gave you hope or a new perspective, drop a comment below with your biggest takeaway or the one “Power Promise” you’re making this week. Your story matters. Hit like if this resonated and share it with someone who needs to hear it today.

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

What happens when a former walk-on quarterback who built and sold multiple private-equity-backed companies gets fed up with Arizona’s broken political system and decides to run for governor as a true independent?

Hugh Lytle isn’t your typical politician. He’s a healthcare rebel who transformed entire segments of the industry by fixing what was broken. Now he’s bringing that same “get it done” mindset to Arizona politics — and he’s not asking for permission from either party.

In this episode, Hugh opens up about the brutal legal battles he’s already fought just to stay on the ballot, the realistic math for an independent to actually win in Arizona, and why he believes this is the moment for a real third voice. He also reveals Hugh AI — a digital twin of himself that voters can talk to 24/7.

This is raw, honest, and very different from the usual political interview.

Topics Covered:

• The “walk-on mentality” that shaped his entire career and approach to business
• How he built and scaled major healthcare companies through private equity
• Why he shifted from center-right to center-left after seeing healthcare disparities up close
• The insane legal obstacles independents face in Arizona (and how he’s beating them)
• The realistic path and math for an independent to win the governorship
• His vision to turn Arizona into a global knowledge economy leader
• Launching Hugh AI — a 24/7 digital version of himself for direct voter access

Chapters:

00:00 – Cold open: Hugh’s frustration with two-tier healthcare

01:50 – Welcome Hugh Lytle (our first politician on the show)

03:05 – Is he still the same guy he was growing up?

04:04 – Midwest values, walk-on QB at ASU, and the rebel mindset

07:30 – Why he became a “healthcare rebel” and built massive companies

13:00 – The moment he realized healthcare was broken for entire communities

17:00 – How building companies prepared him for politics

20:00 – Why he’s running as an independent + the brutal legal fights

27:00 – The math for an independent to actually win in Arizona

33:00 – Hugh AI: His 24/7 digital twin for voters

35:00 – Final thoughts + where to follow the campaign

What’s one thing you wish government would actually fix instead of just arguing about? Drop it in the comments 👇

Links:

• Campaign Website: https://hughlytle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hughforgovernor
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/hughforgovernor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hughforgovernor
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hughforgovernor
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hughforgovernor

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com

Julie Xander returns for her second appearance on What’s Your Story? with Mike & Scott! Fresh off the launch of her chapter in the Six Figure Chicks anthology (Scottsdale Volume 2), Julie shares the raw, authentic stories behind 18 successful women who’ve hit six figures — including the real struggles, pivots, and mindset shifts that got them there.

She opens up about writing her chapter (an emotional process for a self-described “talker, not a writer”), the power of vulnerability as an influencer, her entrepreneurial family background, and why she still posts the men she dates publicly. Julie also dives deep into modern dating over 50: control issues, perfectionism vs. relaxed living, alcohol and moderation, health/longevity concerns, and why chemistry can’t be manufactured by matchmakers or algorithms.

Plus: her pay-it-forward story helping a family with a child battling brain cancer, scaling challenges as a personal brand, real estate insights (including a hilarious hater story about closet space), and her packed weekly content lineup.

If you’re an entrepreneur, influencer, single woman navigating dating later in life, or just love real, no-BS conversations — this one’s for you.

Chapters / Timestamps:

• 00:00 — Pre-roll: Julie shares a powerful line from her recent relationship
• 01:22 — Welcome back Julie Xander (second appearance!)
• 02:01 — Six Figure Chicks book launch update (Kindle out, Audible & paperback coming)
• 02:39 — What the book is really about + the 18 women’s stories
• 03:57 — Professions represented & the common hurdles women face
• 05:08 — In-person gathering of the women & the “business sorority” vibe
• 05:40 — Global expansion plans & future events
• 05:41 — Book signing & fundraiser at Alice + Olivia (May 21)
• 06:01 — Julie’s favorite part of contributing her chapter
• 07:44 — Influencer journey, authenticity & vulnerability online
• 09:00 — Feedback from first episode + “crazy cool” label
• 10:25 — Entrepreneurial family background & dad’s reaction to her world
• 12:00 — Scaling challenges when you are the brand
• 14:20 — Pay-it-forward story: donating her condo to a family with a sick child
• 17:27 — Dating update: recent relationship & breakup
• 18:04 — Control issues, perfectionism & learning to let go
• 20:00 — Alcohol, moderation & dating in your 50s
• 21:00 — Health, longevity & “living life to the fullest” vs. reality
• 24:20 — Why she still posts the men she dates publicly
• 26:00 — Matchmaking experiences & why chemistry can’t be bought
• 30:00 — Julie’s weekly content (workout, dating show, Car Talk real estate & more)
• 31:00 — Real estate hater story (the closet debate)
• 33:00 — Where to find Julie + book links
• 33:40 — Closing thoughts & thank you

Topics Covered:

• Six Figure Chicks book launch & collaborative storytelling
• Authenticity, vulnerability & influencer life
• Scaling a personal brand business
• Pay-it-forward / generosity mindset
• Dating over 50: control, alcohol, health & longevity
• Why posting partners publicly works for her audience
• Matchmaking realities vs. organic chemistry
• Real estate insights & handling online criticism
• Weekly content creation routine
• Entrepreneurial family dynamics

Socials & Website:

Instagram / YouTube / TikTok / Facebook / LinkedIn: @LifestyleJules

Website: lifestylejules.com

Thanks for watching! If this episode moved you, hit LIKE, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and SUBSCRIBE for more raw stories, mindset shifts, and real conversations.

New episodes drop every Tuesday morning!

• TikTok: tiktok.com/@whatsyourstorypod_com
• Instagram: instagram.com/whatsyourstorypod_com
• X: x.com/WYSPodcast_com
• Facebook: facebook.com/WhatsYourStoryPod
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/whatsyourstorypod

This episode is sponsored by e3 wealth & NectarFlow. They are absolutely amazing, so please support them by checking them out today and tell them Mike & Scott sent you.

Websites

• New Show Website: whatsyourstorypod.com
• Mike's Website: mikelindstrom.com
• Scott's Website: scottleeseconsulting.com