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In Part Two of this deeply personal conversation, Michael and Shannon pick up exactly where they left off: Can we put something painful away and simply leave it there forever?

Michael shares another piece of his own story—the father who left when he was two years old and waited until the end of his life to try to reconnect. Shannon reflects on his work with Vietnam veterans who carried experiences for decades that they simply refused to revisit. Together, they explore what can happen when pain is buried, avoided, or locked away.

The conversation then turns toward another possibility: facing what we carry.

Drawing from his Buddhist practice and nearly twelve years of personal work, Michael discusses the idea of "feeding your demons"—turning toward difficult emotions rather than continually running from them—and what it means to sit with grief, pain, and discomfort without expecting healing to happen overnight.

Michael and Shannon also pull back the curtain on therapy itself: finding the right counselor, what happens when the fit isn't right, why asking for help can be intimidating, and why the journey doesn't have to stop when one approach no longer works.

Therapy. Meditation. Journaling. Discipline. Movement. Spiritual practice.

The tools may change.

The people walking beside us may change.

But ultimately, the journey belongs to us.

Keep moving forward.

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In this deeply personal episode of UNLOADED, Michael and Shannon step into a conversation neither of them planned.

After the first birthday since the loss of his mother, Michael talks openly about what it feels like when grief unexpectedly finds its way back into everyday life—a Facebook reminder, a family post, a quiet moment staring at a screen, and the realization that someone you love simply isn't there anymore.

The conversation explores grief, compartmentalization, discipline, and the ways we continue showing up for work, family, and life while carrying something incredibly heavy beneath the surface.

Michael reflects on nearly twelve years of working on his own emotional and mental well-being, and how those practices have helped him continue moving forward without pretending the grief isn't there. Sometimes the weight gets unpacked. Sometimes it gets placed back on the shelf until there's enough capacity to sit with it.

But how long can something stay on that shelf?

There isn't an easy answer—and that's where this conversation ends.

Part One of a deeply personal conversation about grief, loss, discipline, and learning when we're finally ready to sit with the weight we carry.

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This episode is dedicated to the memory of Chase—a husband, father, veteran, and friend whose life continues to remind us why reaching out matters.

What does it really mean to have someone's six?

In this deeply personal episode of UNLOADED, Michael and Shannon explore the hidden weight so many people carry—the need for approval, the fear of rejection, and the belief that our worth must be earned.

The conversation moves from psychology and emotional resilience into one of the most personal stories Michael has shared on the podcast. When Shannon asks about the "Got Your 6" tattoo on Michael's arm, listeners learn the heartbreaking reason behind it and how the loss of a close friend became a lifelong commitment to showing up for others who may be struggling in silence.

This episode is a reminder that strength isn't found in carrying everything alone. Sometimes strength is simply reaching out—and knowing someone is willing to stand beside you.

If you've ever questioned your worth, carried more than you could bear, or wondered if anyone truly has your back, this conversation is for you.

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Sometimes the heaviest weight we carry isn't our own.

Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling emotionally exhausted—even though the problem wasn't yours?

In this episode of UNLOADED, Michael and Shannon explore how emotions and energy move between people. They discuss the challenge of carrying other people's burdens, recognizing when emotions become contagious, and learning how to stay grounded during conflict.

Michael shares the personal practices that have transformed the way he responds to emotionally charged situations, while Shannon offers insight into the balance between empathy and healthy emotional boundaries. Together, they explore how slowing down, listening more, and creating space between reaction and response can lead to greater clarity, stronger relationships, and a lighter emotional load.

Whether you're a leader, a parent, a spouse, or simply someone trying to navigate difficult conversations, this episode offers practical perspectives on protecting your peace without losing your compassion.

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Sometimes healing doesn't come from finding the perfect answer.

Sometimes it comes from learning that you don't have to carry every burden that crosses your path.

In this deeply personal continuation of their previous conversation, Michael and Shannon reflect on what it means to stay present through life's most difficult moments without allowing those moments to consume every part of your life. They explore journaling, meditation, therapy, leadership, and the quiet discipline of processing emotions before allowing them to spill into the people you care about most.

The conversation also turns toward the importance of presence—not just for ourselves, but for our spouses, families, coworkers, and everyone we encounter each day. Because while we can't always control what happens to us, we can choose the energy we bring into the lives of others.

This episode is a reminder that growth isn't about becoming emotionless. It's about becoming intentional.

In this episode:

• Why journaling creates clarity during difficult seasons
• Processing emotions instead of projecting them
• The power of being fully present
• How therapy differs from advice
• Leadership through listening
• Protecting your family from the weight you carry at work
• Creating a sanctuary at home
• Choosing which burdens truly belong to you

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give another person isn't fixing their problem.

It's simply being fully present.

The weight we carry. The truth we speak.

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What if the weight you're carrying was never yours to begin with?

In one of the most personal episodes of UNLOADED, Michael opens up about a difficult leadership decision that consumed him for days. Faced with competing responsibilities, loyalty, accountability, and the desire to do the right thing, he wrestles with a question many of us eventually face:

When does helping others become carrying burdens that were never ours to carry?

Without focusing on the details of the situation itself, Michael and Shannon explore the emotional toll of leadership, the responsibility we feel toward the people we care about, and the quiet realization that compassion doesn't always mean taking someone else's weight onto our own shoulders.

Sometimes the strongest thing we can do isn't fixing the problem—it's recognizing where our responsibility ends.

In this episode:

• The emotional weight of difficult leadership decisions
• Why accountability matters—even when it's painful
• Processing decisions before reacting emotionally
• Journaling as a tool for clarity
• The hidden cost of trying to carry everyone else's burdens
• Learning the difference between listening and rescuing
• Choosing what weight is truly yours to carry

Growth doesn't always come from finding the perfect answer. Sometimes it comes from realizing that not every burden belongs to you.

The weight we carry. The truth we speak.

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In this episode of UNLOADED, Michael and Shannon dive into the lifelong process of growth, learning, and becoming comfortable with failure.

What starts as a conversation about building a custom timekeeping app quickly turns into a deeper discussion about self-development, overcoming limitations, and the courage it takes to keep learning new things—even when you're not sure you'll succeed.

Michael shares his journey from struggling academically as a young man to discovering a passion for learning, leadership, and problem-solving. Together, they explore the difference between healthy fear and limiting fear, why failure is often the greatest teacher, and how personal growth can sometimes make other people uncomfortable.

Whether you're starting a new career, learning a new skill, rebuilding your life, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, this conversation is a reminder that growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.

In this episode:

• Learning new skills later in life
• Building confidence through failure
• Why growth attracts resistance
• The difference between fear and caution
• Trusting your instincts
• Becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable
• Taking the next step, one step at a time

"The mountain doesn't get smaller. You just become stronger climbing it."

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What happens when therapy works?

In this candid and deeply personal episode of UNLOADED, Michael and Shannon pull back the curtain on their unique relationship as a former therapist and client-turned podcast co-hosts. What begins as a conversation about rest and burnout quickly evolves into a discussion about healing, growth, and what happens when years of therapy begin to transform into something more.

Shannon shares the therapist's perspective on helping clients build independence, while Michael reflects on his 11-year journey of personal growth, the challenges of continuing without regular therapy, and the importance of finding trusted people who help us carry life's weight.

Together, they explore the value of self-awareness, the power of vulnerability, the difficulty of starting over, and why personal growth is a lifelong commitment rather than a destination.

Whether you're currently in therapy, considering it for the first time, or simply working to become a better version of yourself, this conversation offers an honest look at the healing process and the relationships that help shape who we become.

In this episode:

• The evolution of the therapist-client relationship
• Why growth often comes through discomfort
• The importance of finding the right therapist
• Building independence and self-reliance
• Trust, vulnerability, and human connection
• Continuing the journey of personal development

The weight we carry. The truth we speak.