Outdated scripts of toughness, silence, and self-reliance no longer fit the world our boys are growing up in.  One of the last places boys consistently find mentors outside the home is in sports.  And that's where both the crisis–and the solution–show up.

In this episode, Chrissie sits down with Coach Jeff Noviello, who has been shaping young athletes for over 26 years with the Junior Ducks youth program.  From his beginnings coaching a girls' hockey team in 1999 to guiding boys across multiple generations, Jeff shares how coaching goes far beyond the scoreboard.  Drawing from personal experiences, including his son's leukemia diagnosis, Jeff opens up about resilience, presence, and the kind of mentorship boys need to grow into men.

Whether you're a parent, coach, or simply care about the next generation, this conversation sheds light on the challenges boys face today and how we can create a culture of accountability, vulnerability, and heart.

You'll Learn:

• Why outdated definitions of toughness and self-reliance no longer work for boys today
• How sports coaching can shape life skills beyond the game
• The role of presence, time management, and accountability in mentoring
• Why parent-coach collaboration matters for raising resilient kids
• How resilience, gratitude, and listening form the foundation of Jeff's philosophy

Key Takeaways:

• Mentorship in sports is about shaping people, not just players
• Presence and listening are the most powerful tools a coach can offer
• Time management and accountability teach boys life skills beyond athletics
• Parents and coaches must collaborate to support boys' growth
• Strength today includes vulnerability, resilience, and heart

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction to the quiet crisis in young men

00:35 - Meet Coach Jeff Noviello

02:33 - Challenges facing today's young athletes

04:39 - Building a team: philosophy and strategy

09:11 - Multi-sport participation and injury prevention

15:58 - Mentorship that extends beyond sports

25:12 - Creating a culture of accountability and buy-in

35:54 - Legacy, impact, and alumni connections

41:27 - Communication and delivering value to families

47:46 - Coaching while parenting: the balance

52:21 - The role of mentors in shaping young men

01:03:21 - Parents and coaches working together

01:14:05 - The purpose of coaching beyond sports

01:16:12 - Closing thoughts on mentorship and legacy

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Instagram:  @whoareyounowpodcast

Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

Hosted by Chrissie Morgan – Physical Therapist, Master Life Coach, and creator of the Body Awareness Method, a framework for reconnecting with your four bodies: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual

Young men are struggling in silence – and it's costing them their future.  Depression, disconnection, and outdated masculinity norms are fueling a quiet crisis.

In this episode, Chrissie sits down with Dr. Nate Balfanz, a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 20 years of experience working with teens, young adults, and families.  Together they explore what's driving the crisis, how generational shifts in masculinity play a role, and what parents, communities, and young men themselves can do to turn the tide.

You'll Learn:

• Why today's young men are more disconnected despite being "more connected" online
• How generational shifts are reshaping masculinity and leaving boys without a clear roadmap
• Why vulnerability is not weakness but a key to resilience and identity
• What parents often miss when supporting their sons – and what to do instead
• How modeling, presence, and repair build long-term emotional strength

Key Takeaways:

• Masculinity without vulnerability leaves boys disconnected and isolated
• Social media magnifies feelings of "not belonging" in critical identity years
• Academic and career paralysis is often fear-based, not ability-based
• Parenting is less about correction and more about modeling resilience and repair
• The most powerful message: It's okay to not be okay

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: The Quiet Crisis of Young Men

03:58 – What's Driving the Crisis? Identity, Belonging, and Social Media

06:50 – Vulnerability, Masculinity, and Emotional Bottling

07:28 – Generational Shifts in Masculinity

16:24 – Education, Work, and the Gender Gap

18:57 – Dating, Relationships, and the Fear of Falling Behind

27:00 – Online Worlds vs. Real Connection

40:41 – Dr. Nate's Journey: From Athlete to Psychologist

47:37 – Sports, Identity, and Parenting as Mirrors

52:47 – Vulnerability as Strength & Reframing Struggles

58:52 – Effective Parenting: Presence, Listening, and Repair

1:08:15 – Mistakes Parents Make & Building Resilience

1:16:47 – Co-Regulation and Modeling for the Next Generation

1:23:19 – Final Message to Young Men & Closing Shift

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Instagram: @whoareyounowpodcast

Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

About Dr. Nate Balfanz

Dr. Nate Balfanz is a licensed clinical psychologist dedicated to supporting adult individuals, teens, and families through compassionate, evidence-based care.  His practice, Dr. Nate Psych (DNP), offers individual therapy, family counseling, and specialized services for stress, anxiety, depression, and personal growth.  With both in-person and virtual sessions, DNP makes high-quality mental health care accessible and personalized.

Dr. Nate Psych, 101 S El Camino Real, Suite 201, San Clemente, CA 92672

www.drnatepsych.com

[email protected] | [email protected]

949-880-7997

Hosted by Chrissie Morgan – physical therapist, master life coach, and creator of the Body Awareness Method, a framework for reconnecting with your four bodies: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual

Young men are struggling in silence – and it's costing them their future.  Depression, disconnection, and a quiet sense of not belonging are rising, while academic performance is dropping and many are retreating from community instead of moving toward it.

This episode isn't about blame.  It's about understanding what's happening, why it matters, and how we as parents–and especially as mothers–can help our sons navigate a shifting definition of masculinity.  Drawing from personal stories, generational perspectives, and parenting experiences, Chrissie explores how to create space for boys to grow into men with presence, confidence, and resilience.

You'll Learn:

• Why boys are caught between outdated and emerging definitions of masculinity
• How generational shifts reveal new layers of strength, presence, and authenticity
• Why failure is not weakness but the foundation of resilience and growth
• How sports, physical strength, and responsibility build confidence without aggression
• The role parents–especially mothers–play in modeling peace, self-trust, and accountability

Key Takeaways:

• Masculinity without vulnerability leaves boys disconnected
• Failure reframed as "what did you learn?" creates resilience
• Physical strength supports emotional and mental strength
• Parenting is less about correction and more about holding space
• The most powerful lesson: our sons don't need rescuing–they need belief and presence

Timestamps:

00:00 - The Quiet Crisis of Young Men

01:28 - Generational shifts in masculinity

06:04 - Reframing failure as resilience

07:17 - Hockey story – growth through setbacks

08:47 - Social media and impossible standards

10:31 - Parenting with presence and trust

14:21 - Physical strength, confidence, and responsibility

17:17 - Redefining happiness as peace and resilience

21:13 - Parenting tools – listening without fixing

25:52 - Signs of transformation in boys

Subscribe for exclusive reflections and early access:

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Instagram: @whoareyounowpodcast

Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

Hosted by Chrissie Morgan – Physical Therapist, Master Life Coach, and creator of the Body Awareness Method, a framework for reconnecting with your four bodies: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

What happens when the rules, roles, and survival tools that once carried you stop working?

In this first WTF? Midlife episode of Season 2, Chrissie Morgan and her longtime best friend and co-host, Marva Silva, get real about the identities that no longer fit.  From people pleasing to over-functioning, from co-dependency to toxic productivity, they explore the grief of letting go, the discomfort of sitting in truth, and the freedom that rises when you finally stop surviving and start living.

You'll be invited into a raw, funny, and deeply honest conversation about the in-between space– where the old no longer works, the new hasn't arrived yet, and the work is simply pausing long enough to ask: What's true for me now?

"Just because it worked before doesn't mean it still serves you.  Midlife isn't a crisis – it's clarity trying to emerge."

You'll Learn:

• Why survival patterns eventually break down and stop serving you
• How codependency hides in the desire to be liked or needed
• Why letting go feels like loss before it feels like freedom
• How to tell the difference between a tweakable habit and one that must go
• The role of pause and stillness in rebuilding truthfully

Key Takeaways:

• Just because it worked before doesn't mean it still serves you
• People pleasing often hides a deeper need to be needed
• Letting go feels like loss before it feels like freedom
• Boundaries only hold when rooted in truth, not survival
• Midlife isn't a crisis – it's clarity trying to emerge

Timestamps:

00:00 – What Used to Work: Survival Roles and Old Identities

01:39 – People Pleasing vs. The Need to Be Needed

06:55 – Choosing vs. Pleasing: Why the Pause Matters

11:45 – The Hidden Face of Codependency

17:19 – Childhood Survival Patterns in Adulthood

20:16 – Not Unhappy vs. Happy

23:11 – Grief, Regret, and the "Snack Incident" Aha Moment

29:23 – Redefining Abundance and Toxic Productivity

34:19 – Freedom, Faith, and Breaking Old Chains

41:34 – Awareness, Practice, and Rebuilding Truth

53:33 – Final Reflection: What No Longer Serves You?

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Instagram: @whoareyounowpodcast

Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

From addiction and incarceration to redemption, Alex Pellegrini shares his powerful recovery story.

In this powerful episode of Who Are You Now?, Chrissie sits down with Alex Pellegrini, a 26-year-old business owner who overcame a decade of addiction, violence, and incarceration to rebuild his life from the inside out.  Arrested 13 times before 21, Alex faced trauma, loss, and a numbing cycle of addiction.  But through surrender, faith, and relentless work, he created a new foundation - choosing sobriety, fatherhood, and purpose.

This is a raw, real conversation about trauma, identity, breaking generational cycles, and the courage it takes to rise when life has knocked you down.  Whether you're in the middle of your own struggle or walking alongside someone else's, Alex's story is proof that transformation is possible - even from the darkest places.

"You don't attract what you want - you attract what you are."

You'll Learn:

• How generational patterns can fuel addiction - and how to break free
• What it feels like to live in survival mode and constant fight-or-flight
• The role of grief, loss, and trauma in pushing addictive cycles deeper
• Why surrender (not willpower) became the turning point
• How Alex rebuilt his life through faith, fatherhood, and hard work

Key Takeaways:

• Rock bottom can be the foundation to rebuild your life
• Breaking cycles requires both awareness and surrender
• Grief and trauma are often hidden drivers of addiction
• Faith, fatherhood, and purpose created sustainable change for Alex
• Transformation is possible even from the darkest places

Timestamps:

00:00 - What if rock bottom is the ground you rise from?

02:09 - Childhood, family, and the cracks of instability

06:00 - Mom's sobriety and the power of generational healing

10:35 - Anxiety, fight-flight-freeze, and survival mode

17:37 - First exposure to alcohol and early addiction patterns

18:24 - Searching for identity - sports, friends, and fitting in

24:34 - Grief, loss, and the cousin who shaped his path

29:53 - Faith, anger, and spiraling self-destruction

41:50 - Hospitalizations, arrests, and the wake-up calls

50:47 - Rehab, relapse, and the fight to get sober

58:29 - California, community, and a new way forward

1:05:22 - Fatherhood, faith, and building ANP Auto Detailing

1:13:57 - Reflections on truth, resilience, and living aligned

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Instagram: @whoareyounowpodcast

Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

Hosted by Chrissie Morgan - physical therapist, master life coach, and creator of the Body Awareness Method, a framework for reconnecting with your four bodies: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Stillness isn't failure - it's space for truth to rise.

In this Season 2 premiere of Who Are You Now?, Chrissie explores the power of stillness and surrender, and how clarity often emerges not through constant action, but by allowing what's real to come forward.  Through storytelling, reflection, and grounded wisdom, you'll discover why your beliefs shape your reality, how aligned boundaries hold without force, and why surrender is not collapse - but full-body consent.

You'll be invited to pause, witness what's no longer working, and trust that readiness follows truth.  Whether you're navigating a major life shift or simply seeking more peace in your daily life, this episode offers validation, space, and a grounded path toward alignment and authenticity.

"You don't attract what you want - you attract what you are. Stillness is where that alignment begins."

You'll Learn:

• Why stillness feels uncomfortable (and why that's a good sign)
• The difference between a pause and stillness - and why it matters
• How beliefs set the boundaries for what shows up in your life
• Why surrender is different from collapse - and why it's essential
• How alignment shifts the doors that open for you without more effort

Key Takeaways:

• You don't attract what you want - you attract what you are
• Stillness isn't failure - it's space for truth to rise
• Boundaries only hold when belief beneath them is solid
• Surrender is full-body consent, not giving up
• Alignment changes what you say yes to - and what says yes to you

Timestamps:

00:00 - What If It's Not Fear? Sitting with Truth Before Clarity

01:39 - Pause vs. Stillness: Why They're Not the Same

07:52 - Surrender as the Turning Point to Alignment

10:33 - Belief Systems That Shape Your Reality

12:52 - Old vs. New Beliefs: Rewriting the Blueprint

13:39 - Boundaries Rooted in Truth (and Why They Hold)

20:14 - Life After Belief Shifts: From Forcing to Flow

22:10 - Letting Truth Rise in the Present Moment

Subscribe for exclusive reflections and early access:

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Instagram: @whoareyounowpodcast

Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast Hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

Hosted by Chrissie Morgan - physical therapist, master life coach, and creator of the Body Awareness Method, a framework for reconnecting with your four bodies: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Spiritual awakening doesn't always come as a lightning bolt – it often arrives as a quiet remembering.

In this Season 1 finale of Who Are You Now?, Chrissie explores the fourth layer of the Body Awareness Method:  the Spiritual Body.  Through storytelling, reflection, and grounded wisdom, you'll discover how awakening happens not through performance or perfection – but through presence, integration, and trust.

You'll be guided through the common myths, subtle signs, and somatic connection points that signal your soul is speaking.  Whether you're just beginning your journey or deep in the unraveling, this episode offers validation, space, and a path back to your own knowing.

"You're not separate.  You're not behind.  The soul speaks in a whisper – and you're already listening."

You'll Learn:

• What spiritual awakening actually feels like (vs. common myths)
• How to recognize the voice of the soul in everyday life
• Why emotional and mental clearing often precedes awakening
• The role of the spiritual body in the Body Awareness Method
• How to live in a way that serves the whole – not just the self

Key Takeaways:

• Spirituality isn't an aesthetic – it's a way of being.
• You don't have to be calm to be spiritually awake.
• Awakening happens in waves, not all at once.
• Presence – not perfection – is the practice.
• You are not separate from life – you are life.

Timestamps:

00:00 – When the Soul Speaks: Awakening to Nature's Wisdom

02:34 – Purpose Isn't a Job – It's How You Show Up

04:15 – What Is the Spiritual Body? A Guide Through the Four Bodies

09:58 – Myths About Being Spiritual (That Keep You Disconnected)

16:39 – Are You Awakening? Signs You Might Be and Don't Know It

18:22 – Guided Reflection: Reconnect to Your Body and the Whole

22:40 – Season 1 Finale: Your Spiritual Journey Is Just Beginning

Subscribe for exclusive reflections and early access:

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Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast Hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

Hosted by Chrissie Morgan – physical therapist, master life coach, and creator of the Body Awareness Method, a framework for reconnecting with your four bodies: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual

In this bold and validating episode of WTF? Midlife, Chrissie Morgan and Marva Silva explore what happens when women finally stop trying to be liked – and start reclaiming their power.

From the roots of people-pleasing to the emotional, physical, and spiritual toll of self-abandonment, this conversation dives deep into why midlife often becomes the breaking point and the breakthrough.

If you've ever felt drained by toxic dynamics, afraid to set boundaries, or pressured to shrink your truth to keep the peace, this one's for you.

You'll Learn:

• The hidden cost of people-pleasing
• Where approval-seeking patterns originate
• How boundaries protect your mental and emotional health
• Why reclaiming your power is a spiritual act
• Tools to choose authenticity over acceptance

Key Takeaways:

• People-pleasing is a learned survival strategy – not your identity
• Boundaries are how you protect your energy
• Speaking your truth is an act of self-respect
• Midlife is your moment to stop abandoning yourself
• You're allowed to change – even if it makes others uncomfortable

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to Midlife Empowerment

02:22 – Understanding People Pleasing

05:44 – The Impact of People Pleasing on Relationships

08:18 – The Roots of People Pleasing

11:09 – Reclaiming Personal Power

13:57 – The Journey to Self-Acceptance

16:42 – Finding Authenticity in Relationships

19:27 – Health Crisis and Personal Growth

22:20 – Lessons from Adversity

25:29 – Embracing Personal Power

27:43 – Letting Go of Approval

30:26 – Connecting with Spirituality

33:53 – The Cost of People-Pleasing

38:35 – Healing the Inner Child

41:37 – Finding Peace and Acceptance

Jewelry:

Website: www.touchofwonderdesigns.com

Instagram: @touchofwonderdesigns

Subscribe for exclusive reflections and early access:

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Instagram: @whoareyounowpodcast

Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast Hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

What if the foundation of your life wasn't built on fear, control, or external achievement – but on daily inner awareness?

In this episode, Chrissie sits down with master yoga teacher and author, Diana Christinson to explore the power of living from the inside out.  Diana shares the personal journey behind her book, Your Golden Journey, a 45-day pilgrimage designed to guide you back to vibrant health, inner alignment, and presence.

From her early career in psychology and domestic abuse advocacy to building Pacific Asthanga Yoga Shala into a community of conscious growth, Diana's story is one of grounded wisdom, daily ritual, and courageous gratitude.

She also opens up about her father's diagnosis with Huntington's disease – and how she transformed her energy around grief and loss into a daily practice of gratitude that changed them both.

Whether you're moving through grief, searching for deeper purpose, or ready to reconnect with yourself, this conversation is a call to return inward.

You'll Learn:

• How Diana's 45-day pilgrimage supports daily transformation
• What it really means to "live from the inside out"
• How gratitude can shift not only your energy, but the energy around you
• The role of community and practice in long term growth
• How to begin your own journey of self-awareness – starting today

Key Takeaways:

• Gratitude can be a daily practice, not just a feeling
• You don't have to be healed to begin – just willing to show up
• Rituals and reflection create space for inner transformation
• The body holds grief – but also holds resilience
• You are never too late or too far gone to return to yourself

Timestamps:

0:00 Welcome & Introduction

0:01 The Birth of Your Golden Journey

0:07 The Power of Daily Ritual & Gratitude

0:23 Grief, Loss, and Letting Go

0:34 How to Practice Living from the Inside Out

0:40 Creating the Shala & Teaching Through Action

0:45 Self-Reflection, Spiritual Practice & Inner Voice

0:56 Gratitude in Real Life: Diana's Story of Her Father

1:14 Closing Reflections & Guided Invitation

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Behind the scenes: @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast Hub: https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

What if your emotions don't just pass through you – but actually stay stored in your body?

In this episode, Chrissie dives into Emotional Body Awareness – the somatic and energetic layer of your being where unprocessed emotions live.  You'll learn why suppressing feelings often leads to physical symptoms, how to begin naming what you feel without fear, and why awareness is the first step in healing.

Whether you're carrying grief, anxiety, or a constant hum of emotional tension, this episode will help you begin listening to what your body has been trying to tell you.

You'll Learn:

• What the Emotional Body actually is – and how emotions are stored physically
• Why the body expresses emotional pain as tension, fatigue, or illness
• How cultural conditioning leads us to suppress what we feel
• The "pendulum theory" of emotion – and why numbing pain also numbs joy
• 3 simple awareness tools to begin reconnecting with your body today

Key Takeaways:

• Unfelt emotions don't disappear – they live in the body
• Emotional awareness doesn't mean you're broken – it means you're present
• You don't need to fix what you feel.  You just need to feel it
• Healing begins not with doing – but with noticing

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why You Can't Heal What You Won't Feel

00:45 – The Myths We're Taught About Emotion

04:48 – The Moment I Finally Felt

07:10 – What is the Emotional Body?

11:36 – How We Learn to Suppress Emotion

15:07 – Where Emotion Lives in the Body

20:31 – 3 Tools for Emotional Awareness

22:15 – Final Reflection: Listening Without Fear

Subscribe for exclusive reflections and early access:

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Instagram:  @whoareyounowpodcast

Behind the scenes:  @chrissiecorner

Follow on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@WhoAreYouNowPodcast

Podcast Hub:  https://whoareyounowpodcast.com

Hosted By Chrissie Morgan – physical therapist, master life coach, and creator of the Body Awareness Method, a framework for reconnecting with your four bodies: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual