"She’s not giving me a hard time; she’s having a hard time."
We often think of leadership and parenting as acts of control. But the greatest tool you have isn’t your ability to "fix" a situation—it’s your ability to stay steady within it.

In this deeply soulful episode, Talmadge Lowe and I sit down to explore the life-changing shift from living in a "bracing" stance—that exhausting, automatic state of being "on guard"—to becoming an anchor for every room you enter. This is more than a conversation about behavior; it is a roadmap for reparenting yourself through the high-stakes act of raising others.

Together, we explore:

• The Superpower of Regulation: How to move from a defensive stance to an open, receptive state that steadies your children, your marriage, and your team.
• Healing the Inner Child: Practical ways to acknowledge the younger, scared parts of yourself so they no longer drive your adult decisions.
• The Future-Self Filter: Why self-love is an action, not a feeling. We discuss making bold decisions today based on the person you are becoming.

This episode is an invitation to choose a more compassionate path toward your own development. It’s a reminder that your worth isn’t tied to perfection: you can make mistakes and still be "good." You can be "grouchy" and still be deeply of service. The work isn't about being flawless; it’s about the bravery of staying present.

"Our secrets keep us sick, but our truth sets us free."

There is a specific kind of exhaustion that comes from keeping our own secrets. We think we’re being strong by staying silent, but that 'safety' is what keeps us stuck. Today’s guest, Alan Horsnell, lived behind that wall of silence for over two decades before realizing that raw honesty is the prerequisite for healing. Now 13 years into his recovery, Alan opens up about breaking his own stigma, shedding the fear of being a burden, and leaning into the profound power of being uncomfortable.

In This Episode:

• The Vocabulary of Truth: We explore how gaining the right words for our mental health—like distinguishing between intrusive thoughts and active intent—removes the power of shame and stops the cycle of isolation.
• Dual Diagnosis & The Mountain Metaphor: A deep dive into the "chicken and egg" relationship between addiction and mental health. Alan explains why we eventually have to shed our "safety furs" and walk into the uncomfortable unknown to find real freedom.
• The Vulnerability Muscle: Why healing isn't a "one-and-done" event but a practice. We discuss the act of vibe-checking your support system and how "going first” with your truth gives everyone else permission to do the same.

If you’ve been waiting for permission to be real, to be seen, and to be different—this conversation is for you.

Have you ever realized that the 'bag of rocks' you’ve been carrying doesn't even belong to you?

In this reunion, Leah and I reflect on the two years since we met in Bali, diving into the raw and often difficult work of true personal healing. We pull back the curtain on how suppressed anger can hide behind sadness, sharing our own stories of walking away from careers in education and surviving marriages marked by trauma. It is a conversation about the moment you decide to stop betraying yourself and finally look at the emotional burdens you’ve been carrying for a lifetime.

In this episode, we dig into:

• The Anger Trap: Why we often mistake rage for sadness and how to finally name what you’re feeling.
• Breaking Generational Patterns: How Leah used Family Constellation Therapy to uncover hidden family history and heal ancestral wounds.
• The Fear Compass: A simple framework to help you distinguish between a fear that suffocates your spirit and a fear that is actually inviting you to expand.

We get specific about the tools that gave us our lives back, from the Hawaiian forgiveness practice of Ho'oponopono to the ancient Indian self-reflection game of Leela. I also get vulnerable about my own struggle with self-worth and the exhausting fear of being either "too much" or "never enough." From the physical release of water therapy to the quiet power of honoring your own "no," this episode is about the courage it takes to reclaim your voice and find the freedom that only comes through radical self-forgiveness.

Because the hardest part of healing isn't just facing your past—it’s deciding to stop betraying yourself in the present.