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What if the key to enjoying life isn’t achieving more, but learning how to get out of your own way?

In this inspiring conversation, Amanda sits down with Ken Reinke, author of *The Road Spoke*, to explore an extraordinary journey of adventure, consciousness, and letting go. A polio survivor who has traveled extensively throughout his life, Ken shares how, at 69 years old, he rode his bicycle roughly 3,700 miles from Florida to Washington and why reaching the destination was never really the point.

From learning to separate himself from the stories created by the mind to embracing uncertainty when things don’t go according to plan, Ken reveals how letting go of expectations has allowed him to experience life with greater freedom, presence, and gratitude. This conversation is filled with thought-provoking perspectives on goals, suffering, identity, resilience, and the simple but powerful practice of paying attention to what your mind is telling you.

💡 In this episode, listeners will discover:

🚲 How Ken completed a 3,700-mile solo bicycle journey at 69 years old
🧠 Why so much of our suffering can come from the stories we create in our minds
✨ The philosophy behind Ken’s powerful reminder to “drop the goal and enjoy the journey”
🌱 How learning to let go of expectations can create greater freedom and presence
💭 Why observing your thoughts without judging them can change your relationship with your mind
❤️ The powerful difference between being alone and feeling lonely
💪 How Ken refused to let living with the effects of polio define what he was capable of
📖 How his cross-country adventure inspired *The Road Spoke* and a message about getting out of your own way
🌎 Why living in the present moment can completely change the way we experience challenges, setbacks, and everyday life

⏰ Timeline Summary:

06:00: Ken reflects on growing up with polio, walking with a limp, and refusing to let physical limitations stop him.
10:00: Discovering the power of living in the moment and why Ken believes we should “drop the goal and enjoy the journey.”
16:00: Setting out on his cross-country cycling adventures with a loaded bicycle, camping gear, and an openness to wherever the road would take him.
22:00: Why unexpected setbacks don’t have to become suffering—and how the stories we tell ourselves can make difficult situations even harder.
29:00: Discovering *Think on These Things* and beginning a lifelong exploration of consciousness, non-duality, and letting go.
47:00: The 3,700-mile journey that inspired *The Road Spoke* and Ken’s message about learning to get out of your own way.
01:07:00: A simple practice for observing your thoughts, becoming more present, and creating everyday reminders to check in with your mind.

To Connect with Ken, email him at: krreinkeauthor@gmail.com

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

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What if the hardest parts of life were actually preparing the way for something greater?

In this inspiring conversation, Amanda sits down with Liz Watt to explore a remarkable journey of healing, resilience, and transformation. Growing up in a polygamist family, Liz shares how years of shame, rejection, and hiding her story shaped her identity and how changing her perspective ultimately changed her life.

From overcoming emotional and physical health challenges to discovering the power of choosing a new story, Liz reveals how life's greatest struggles can become its greatest blessings. This conversation is filled with heartfelt wisdom, practical mindset shifts, and powerful reminders that healing begins within, and every challenge has the potential to lead to purpose.

💡 In this episode, listeners will discover:

✨ How childhood experiences can shape identity and how to rewrite that story
💛 Why healing emotional wounds is just as important as healing physical ones
🧠 The mindset shift that transformed pain into purpose
🌱 How choosing a new perspective can uncover hidden blessings in life's hardest moments
💪 Why personal healing is the foundation for serving and inspiring others
🌍 The story behind Be Healthy Utah and Liz's mission to empower healthier lives
❤️ How embracing vulnerability can unlock confidence, purpose, and lasting resilience

⏰ Timeline Summary:
[2:15] Liz reflects on growing up in a polygamist family and the moment she realized she was different.
[12:48] Hiding her past, navigating rejection, and beginning a journey toward emotional healing.
[24:36] Discovering how unresolved emotions were affecting physical health and learning to heal from within.
[38:11] The mindset shift that transformed painful experiences into life's greatest blessings.
[51:29] Building Be Healthy Utah and creating a mission centered around holistic wellness and service.
[1:04:57] Why choosing a new perspective can change the direction of an entire life.

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What does forgiveness really mean and does it always require forgiving the person?

In this insightful conversation, Amanda Russo sits down with Katharine Giovanni, forgiveness expert, award-winning author, and speaker, to explore the transformative power of forgiveness and what it truly means to let go. Together, they unpack common misconceptions about forgiveness, discuss why it doesn't mean excusing harmful behavior, and examine how unresolved resentment can quietly impact emotional well-being.

Throughout the conversation, Katharine shares practical tools for navigating forgiveness, embracing self-compassion, and releasing the emotional weight of past experiences. She also introduces a powerful perspective on forgiving the energy attached to painful situations, offering listeners a fresh way to think about healing, personal growth, and finding greater peace.

💡 In this episode, listeners will discover:

💜 Why forgiveness doesn't require reconciliation or forgetting what happened
🧠 How resentment can quietly affect emotional and mental well-being
✨ The powerful concept of forgiving the energy instead of the person
🌱 Why healing is a personal journey that doesn't follow a timeline
❤️ How self-compassion plays an essential role in the forgiveness process
🗣️ Practical tools for releasing emotional burdens and moving forward
🌟 How choosing forgiveness can create more peace, freedom, and emotional resilience

⏰ Timeline Summary:

[2:10] Amanda welcomes Katharine Giovanni and introduces a conversation that challenges common beliefs about forgiveness, healing, and emotional freedom.
[9:35] Katharine shares her personal journey and explains how life experiences led her to become a forgiveness expert and advocate for emotional healing.
[18:50] The discussion explores what forgiveness really means, why it doesn't excuse harmful behavior, and the misconceptions that often keep people stuck.
[29:55] Katharine introduces the powerful concept of forgiving the energy rather than focusing solely on forgiving the person.
[43:40] Practical strategies for navigating resentment, embracing self-compassion, and beginning the process of letting go.
[56:20] Amanda and Katharine discuss self-forgiveness, personal growth, and why healing looks different for everyone.
[1:03] Final reflections on choosing peace, releasing emotional burdens, and carrying a new perspective on forgiveness into everyday life.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Katharine:

🌐 Website: http://www.KatharineGiovanni.com

📕 Get Katharine's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Path-Forgiveness-Unlocking-Power/dp/1931109265

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What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want... is the courage to simply begin?

Three years ago, I published the very first episode of Manders Mindset using nothing but my iPhone. I didn't have a microphone, a fancy setup, or a perfect plan. I just had an idea and the willingness to start. Looking back, I'm so grateful I did, because this journey has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined.

In this special three-year anniversary episode, I'm reflecting on the three biggest lessons podcasting has taught me. From learning that confidence is built through action, to discovering that authenticity creates deeper connections than perfection ever could, to realizing that the things we create often end up shaping us in return, I'm sharing the lessons that have stayed with me over the past three years. I'm also taking a moment to thank the incredible people and every one of you, who have made Manders Mindset possible along the way.

💡 In this episode, you'll learn:

💜 Why you don't have to feel ready to take the first step.
🎙️ How confidence is built through action not before it.
🤍 Why authenticity will always connect more deeply than perfection.
🌱 How the things you create often end up transforming you in return.
🙏 The importance of gratitude and celebrating the people who support your journey.
🚀 Why this might be the sign you've been waiting for to finally begin.

⏰ Timeline Summary:

[0:00] Celebrating three years of Manders Mindset and reflecting on how it all began with nothing more than an iPhone.
[1:40] The first lesson I've learned: Confidence
[3:45] Why authenticity, not perfection, is what truly resonates with people.
[5:45] How creating this podcast has changed my life in ways I never expected.
[7:35] Thanking the people who helped make this journey possible and expressing my gratitude to every listener.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

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What if the most important work you'll ever do... is the work no one else can see?

In this inspiring episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo welcomes back former Australian Special Forces commando, speaker, and founder of Breathwork In Bed, Tim Thomas, for a thought-provoking conversation about the invisible habits that shape our lives, the power of taking imperfect action, and why true transformation always begins from within.

Building on themes from Tim's first appearance, Amanda and Tim explore how the challenges you've overcome often become the greatest gift you can offer someone else. Together, they discuss why so many people feel stuck, how isolation quietly impacts mental health, and why reconnecting with yourself is often the first step toward creating meaningful change.

Throughout the conversation, Tim shares lessons from overcoming PTSD, explains the different personality archetypes that influence how we show up in the world, discusses the concept of becoming an "energetic millionaire," and reveals why the habits no one else sees are often the ones that determine every visible result. Amanda also reflects on her experiences traveling to Bali, embracing imperfect action, and learning that growth isn't about having everything figured out...it's about continuing to move forward.

💡 In this episode, listeners will learn:
💜 Why taking imperfect action creates more growth than waiting for the perfect moment.
🧠 How the invisible habits you practice every day shape the life you experience.
🌱 Why connection... to yourself and to others is one of the greatest foundations for healing.
✨ How understanding your natural tendencies can help you break old patterns and grow into the best version of yourself.
🤍 Why your greatest struggles may become the exact thing that helps someone else feel less alone.
🌬️ How breathwork can help create greater clarity, resilience, and inner peace.
🚀 Why investing in yourself first allows you to show up more fully in every area of your life.

⏰ Timeline Summary:
[1:15] Amanda shares why taking imperfect action has become one of the biggest lessons shaping both her life and podcast.
[4:00] Amanda reflects on traveling to Bali, embracing uncertainty, and discovering the value of imperfect action.
[9:00] Tim introduces personality archetypes and explains how understanding them can reveal the patterns that keep us stuck.
[21:00] The conversation explores PTSD, isolation, human connection, and why feeling understood is often where healing begins.
[33:30] Tim shares the life-changing question that transformed his perspective and inspired his life's work.
[44:30] Becoming an "energetic millionaire," investing in yourself daily, and using Breathwork to reconnect with your inner resources.
[56:45] Why performance is a visible result of an invisible process and how unseen habits create the results everyone notices.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

These links are for those people who want immediate and natural sleep improvement; They’re for Tim’s - ‘Breathwork in Bed’ app.

The app will guide you to sleep with peace, and out of bed with power. Enjoy it for 28 days of great sleep for free.

Apple link: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6575362285?pt=127061224&ct=BIB50K&mt=8

Google Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.breathworkinbed.bibsleepapp20&hl=en

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What if the hardest thing you've ever faced became the very thing that revealed how strong you truly are?

In this episode of Manders Mindset, Amanda Russo sits down with author, speaker, coach, and founder of Ubi Global, Laura Bratton, for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, self-compassion, grief, and discovering the courage to move forward after life changes in an instant.

At just nine years old, Laura was diagnosed with a rare eye disease and told she would eventually lose her sight. Over the following years, she navigated the emotional challenges of losing her vision, grieving the life she once knew, and learning to embrace a new reality. Together, Amanda and Laura explore how those experiences shaped Laura's mindset and ultimately led her to dedicate her life to helping others navigate change with grit and gratitude.

The conversation dives into identity, anxiety, healing, mindfulness, self-worth, and the importance of validating your emotions instead of pushing them aside. Laura shares why courage isn't about pretending everything is okay, how gratitude can exist alongside grief, and why every person is capable of finding strength they never knew they had.

💡 In this episode, listeners will learn:
💜 Why true courage begins with acknowledging your pain instead of avoiding it.
🌱 How grief, healing, and gratitude can coexist.
🧠 Why your mindset is one of the few things you can always control.
✨ How practicing self-compassion can transform the way you respond to life's challenges.
🤍 The impact of feeling invisible and how to rebuild your sense of self-worth.
🚀 Why everyone has more resilience than they realize.
💫 Why validating your emotions is often the first step toward lasting growth.

⏰ Timeline Summary:
[2:10] Laura shares her childhood and the early signs that she was beginning to lose her vision.
[8:45] Receiving a life-changing diagnosis and how her family navigated the uncertainty.
[17:30] Growing up with vision loss, adapting to school, and struggling with feeling different.
[27:40] Feeling invisible in high school and rebuilding self-worth through self-compassion.
[38:15] College, mindfulness, and discovering the power of mindset and advocacy.
[49:20] Laura explains the balance between grit and gratitude and why both are essential for healing.
[58:40] Writing her book, helping others navigate change, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Laura:

Website: https://www.laurabratton.com/

Feedback on the show? Send us a message!

What happens when life strips away the identity that once defined everything?

In this powerful conversation, Brian Nugent shares the remarkable journey that took him from professional football to becoming a performance coach after facing life-changing adversity. Along the way, he opens up about the hidden pressures of elite performance, navigating burnout, and rebuilding purpose after major setbacks.

From surviving septic shock and recovering from a devastating stroke to discovering a deeper understanding of resilience, discipline, and healing, Brian offers powerful insights on overcoming life's greatest challenges. This conversation is filled with perspective, practical wisdom, and a reminder that even the hardest seasons can become the foundation for a stronger future.

💡 In this episode, listeners will discover:

🏈 The hidden mental and emotional cost of performing at an elite level
🧠 Why identity can unravel after a major life or career transition
💪 How discipline, not motivation became the foundation for recovery
❤️ Lessons learned from surviving septic shock and a life-altering stroke
🌍 The powerful perspective shift that came from serving in Kenya
🔥 Why burnout often develops long before anyone notices the signs
🌱 How resilience is built through small, consistent actions during life's hardest moments
✨ What it truly means to reclaim purpose, health, and personal power after adversity

⏰ Timeline Summary:

[2:14] Brian reflects on the qualities that define him and how life experiences shaped his mindset.
[6:41] Growing up in a competitive household and the lessons learned from childhood.
[13:48] The reality of becoming a professional football player and learning to manage immense pressure.
[20:23] A life-changing trip to Kenya and the powerful lesson that shifted Brian's perspective forever.
[26:48] Life after football, navigating an identity crisis, and rebuilding confidence after retirement.
[39:17] The journey from personal trainer to performance coach and helping high-achieving women overcome burnout.
[52:04] Surviving septic shock, recovering from a major stroke, and the discipline required to reclaim life one step at a time.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Brian:

http://www.briannugent.ca