This time of year is always a tough one for families, as back-to-school bumps in the road collide with a myriad of challenging family dynamics. It's even tougher this year as we hardly know what normal is anymore. This week we are back with a little chat about how we might all support each other. The struggle is real.

Second week in a row for us! We're here talking about the mind-blowing experience we had at the Banksy exhibit and how it reminded John of his brother Tom's artwork, how great art can inspire and move us to emotions, updates on Julie's studio, and more!

It's been a year since we first locked down. Today we are talking about the "wall" we've all hit and Julie shares her wake up call.

Today we are talking about 5 easy steps for a better day, and a better life.

Today we are talking about what we've learned so far on this adventure.

Today we are talking about suicide. John gives us invaluable insight and sheds light on what we can all do to help.

Today we are sitting down with our son George for a college recap, his top tips, and his thoughts on the Cubs so far.

Today we are talking about the holiday weekend, how we relax, and alcohol.

Today we are talking about how the Pear App, Letterboxing, and a Royal Wedding make life a little better.

May is a month of flux. Today we are talking about how to navigate it all.

In the wake of George's graduation, we are talking all things pomp and circumstance.

Today we are talking about our road trip to Cleveland, and how connecting with strangers is better!

Today we are talking about friends and connections.

Today on the podcast we have Sue Borison of Your Teen Media, who is here to talk with John about all things raising teenagers. They discuss how to navigate the biggest problems affecting teenagers today, the importance of open communication, the role fear plays in parenting, and more!

Today we are talking to one of our heroes - Coach Scott Walker. Listen to how he instills and inspires confidence, self-worth, kindness, motivation, and grit in his swimmers and students. An amazing coach and father. This podcast will change you.

On today’s episode, we sit down with our friends Cathy and Todd Adams from Zen Parenting Radio to discuss Tony Robbins, the #MeToo movement, and why listening and continuing the conversation are essential for real change. We talk marriage, communication, family dynamics, and how we can live in joy and still acknowledge the struggles.

On today's episode, we discuss what's missing in the lives of our boys and young men, and some ways we can all do better by them.

When we find ways to 'inhabit' our bodies, we clear our cluttered minds, feel more in control, and think and feel better. Dig it.

Here it is. THE...BIG...ANNOUCEMENT!

A viewing of “I, Tonya” got us talking about Tonya Harding, Monica Lewinsky and the complex, unfair legacies that have been assigned to them.

Hunter Clarke Fields is an accomplished blogger and podcaster over at Mindful Mama Mentor (www.mindfulmamamentor.com). She’s here today to share some of her best insights on how we can all make parenting a little more peaceful.

This week, we're talking about how inspired we were by a recent "celebration of life" party our friend held for her father instead of a typical funeral or wake. Also, more thoughts on the Stoneman Douglas kids as well as a friend's thoughtful approach to his dog's last moments.

This week on the podcast, we're unpacking the 2018 Olympics and our niece's dance competition - and how all the athletes entertain us, give us hope, and inspire us to chase the same kind of "fire" they experience in our everyday lives.

Some important words I think everyone needs needs to hear about the Stoneman Douglas tragedy today... and any other school shooting, for that matter.

We finally took the quiz and today we are discussing what we learned about our "love" priorities. Spoiler alert: don't touch John.

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON. But not today...

This week, we're talking about "currency", and not necessarily the paper green kind.  Identifying your "currency" is gaining clarity on what motivates you, what gets you excited and interested, what brings value to your work and your life. We do better and feel better when we understand and sync our lives to our own specific currency. Enjoy!

 

This week, we’re talking about how indirectly stifling creativity in our kids at a young age can affect their minds, and potentially lay the foundation for depression and anxiety. It's been frying our @$$es quite frankly! But the good news is that creativity can be restored and reclaimed… at any age!

This week’s guest is PBS talk show host Whitney Reynolds. Whitney is by-far one of the most confident and tenacious guests I have had the privilege of speaking to on this podcast thus far, especially since she has know that her life’s path was in having her own television show since she was five years old! Whitney’s story is a prime example of why staying true to your vision is the best path toward success and fulfillment. Some highlights of our conversation: - How she started interviewing her friends at age 5 with a makeshift microphone - How she was able to start her own TV show at just 23 years old - How her hosting has changed over time from the start of her career to the platform she has now - How becoming a mom two years ago has changed her life

Lately in my office, I've seen a lot of people that are obsessive, fixated. Today, Julie and I discuss how we can relate to this type of rumination, how it doesn't serve us, and how to help yourself and maybe someone else move past it. 

On this week's episode, Julie and I talk about inspiration, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and his book that changed my life.

My thoughts post-sh*thole. 

This week on Undue Anxiety, Julie and are talking about how 2018 will be a year of change and transition for our family.  Our son, George, will be graduating from college, and Julie's parents are transitioning into a retirement community. Along with periods of inevitable change can come both excitement as well as some uncertainty, in addition to a number of other complex emotions. So we'll be discussing how we like to believe that the ending of every life chapter has a new beginning built right into it, and that every transition can be a gift in a way. You'll also hear about how a chance encounter with John Cougar Mellencamp may or may not have helped put it all into perspective!  

Happy New Years, everyone!  To kick off 2018, here is quick 10-minute hit with some unconventional wisdom on how to set yourself up for a great year, the theme of which is — forget about your resolutions. Nobody keeps them anyway.  Instead —  Chill out!  Take a breather!  Recover from the stress and business of the holidays. There’s also different promise I want you to make to yourself this year, take a listen to get all the info!

Happy Holidays! Here's a brief, but critical reminder regarding how to talk to, and about, our children and families during this emotionally amped up holiday season. These 8 minutes could spare wildly unnecessary pain and disconnection. Please listen. 

 

 

Overachieving. Numbing Out. Isolating. People Pleasing. These are just some of the habits that we might be employing subconsciously when we’re not quite operating at our best, or as this week’s guest Andrea Owen would put it — when we’re “feeling like sh*t.” Andrea is a life coach specializing in working with women and the author of the forthcoming book, “How To Stop Feeling Like Sh*t.” Andrea has an incredible energy with her words and an enviable vibrance for life, as well as a roller coaster of a backstory that sees her navigate two divorces, love addiction, a drinking problem, and transforming it all into a thriving career as a coach. Check out our conversation, and then check out the rest of her work at www.yourkickasslife.com

Highlights of this episode include:

— What Andrea learned about “False Armor” by training with Brene Brown 

— How she persevered through two divorces and overcame a love addiction and a drinking problem

— How all of her life experience was then channeled into her life coaching career

— What is a “Compassionate Witness” and how can it help you with your life?

This week, John is joined by Dr. Helen Odessky to talk all about her new book, "Stop Fear From Stopping You." They talk about the difference between fear and anxiety, how to tell the difference between good fear and bad fear, and much more!

Let’s face — 2017 was chaos for most of us.  America is entering an age of accountability.  Light is being shed on some unflattering corners of our culture.  Old structures are collapsing, and new ones haven’t exactly been built yet. But as the year is winding down, there’s still an opportunity to have a great December, and set yourself up to have a great 2018 as well.  So my wife, Julie, is joining me today to talk about some of the little things we can do to make the most of our month. 

This week we have our first ever international guest, author Brent Williams from New Zealand.  Brent wrote the graphic novel “Out Of The Woods” which is a stunning visual representation through his unexpected journey with depression and anxiety. While suffering from depression, Brent learned that journaling was one of the most powerful ways to get in touch with what he was feeling, and deconstruct some of his own thought and behavior patterns that were perhaps contributing to his condition. Being that he was unable to read due to exhaustion while he was depressed, he determined that the graphic novel medium would perhaps be the best method to share his story and connect with others who felt similarly. Tune in to hear the entire story from start to finish of how this incredible work came to be!

Highlights of this episode include:

— Why Brent was able to connect with the graphic novel medium versus more traditional self-help vehicles

— How never thought he’d be afflicted with something like depression

— How Brent eventually managed to heal himself

— The power of journaling for Brent during the healing process

— What Brent currently does when he feels anxiety starting to surface

This week’s guest is Dr. Melanie Greenberg, psychologist, speaker, and author of “The Stress-Proof Brain: Master Your Emotional Response to Stress Using Mindfulness & Neuroplasticity.”  She has been a guest on numerous media outlets including CNN, Forbes, BBC Radio, Lifehacker, Huffington Post, and much more.  We had an interesting chat about the events that actually occur in our brains when we experience stress, and how knowledge of this can potentially help to mitigate some of the unwanted symptoms that show up in our daily lives. What you might not know is that modern neuroscience has produced some very interesting research that suggests that we can essentially train our brains, much like muscles, to become more bulletproof to stress via mindfulness training, and you’ll get some great insight from Melanie about how to do so!

Highlights of this episode include:

— What exactly is mindfulness and how can it help us become more resilient to stress?

— What are all the parts of the brain that process stress, anxiety, and emotions?

— How even just a little knowledge of neuroscience can help to ease anxiety

— Melanie’s personal story of how she began studying stress and the brain

“Teach what you need to learn, until you learn it.” — Dr. Wayne Dyer

This week I’m recording out from Bloomington, IN, where I just finished up having an awesome weekend with my son at his college.  My experience this weekend caused me to reflect on a specific aspect of myself I’d like to address today — and that is my tendency to be a “Malcontent.” I’d describe a malcontent as someone who is never quite satisfied with where they are, always in search of the next big thing. While there are times that this can certainly fuel us in our lives — it’s what has allowed me to become a psychologist, author, and a guest in numerous national media outlets — it also makes it very easy to bypass the present moment, and the deep-fulfilling happiness that emanates from a gratitude for the experience in front of us right now.  So take a quick listen, and then I urge you to go out into your life and really try to connect with and appreciate whatever experience happens to be in front of you.  I suspect you won’t regret it!

When sexual assaults are reported, particularly in regards to college campuses, our minds typically gravitate toward two notions:  A) to see that the perpetrator is brought to justice, and B) the victim seeks the appropriate course of treatment.  But how often do we consider the nuts of bolts of the policy and protocols put into place by those colleges?  Are they fair, efficient, and optimally designed? Or are there some gray areas when that can still be discussed and improved upon? That’s what this week’s guest, Carly, is here to talk about. Carly is a writer for the Indiana University student newspaper and has recently published a series on this topic that has raised some very interesting questions. 

This week’s guest is Jeff Wenzler, founder of Pivotal Directions, a non-profit organization whose goal is to transform the lives of youths by teaching them how to be of service to others. Jeff’s story began at age 20, when his older brother tragically died in his arms, and subsequently inspired him to make the most of his moments by moving to Guatemela to teach.  The perspective he learned from the people there lead him to launch Pivotal Directions so that hopefully others could learn the same lessons. Jeff has additionally made a film about his endeavors called “10 Dollar Perspective” as well as a book titled “The Pivotal Life: A Compass For Discovering Purpose, Passion, & Perspective.”

 

Highlights of this episode include:

— The story of how Jeff lost his brother to drugs

— How his brother’s death inspired him to travel To Guatemala to teach

— How his non-profit organization Pivotal Directions got started

Me, Too:  My Thoughts...

This week’s guest is Mary Shores, author of the recently published “Conscious Communications” which focuses on the power that our words have in creating the course of our lives.  Mary’s expertise in this topic was the result of bouncing back from an unfathomable tragedy, to founding a debt collection agency where she discovered the way she chose to communicate with people had a tremendous impact on the success of her business. From there, she managed to become an author despite claiming to never have been a writer, and she’s here to recount the entire story!

This week’s guest is Blake, a college senior at Indiana University.  Blake has a been football player since his youth, and as a big guy, always a fairly dominant one.  But as a college football player, going from the proverbial big fish in the small pond to the opposite proved to be an incredibly challenging transition in many areas. The rigorous time and energy requirements of the game was beginning to interfere with his ability to have a complete college experience, and a sense of loneliness was becoming prevalent.  As the title suggests, Blake made one of the most difficult decisions he’s ever made in deciding to leave football behind, and was ultimately able to improve his grades and social life immensely, as well as discover a passion for broadcasting. Blake shows us how to create a rich, authentic life experience by staying involved, staying positive, and staying connected." 

Oftentimes on the podcast, we talk about the importance of “connection” and how we eradicate a lot of our undue anxiety by simply connecting to something, whether it be a passion or otherwise.  This week’s guest is Colette, who is here to take us on a journey that exemplifies this idea with her incredibly inspirational story of being a professional singer in New York City who suddenly lost her voice one day, and how she ultimately re-connected with it years later through volunteering to sing to Alzheimer’s patients.  Colette’s story is a powerful testament to the healing powers that intent can illicit, how we better treat and serve our elders, and how the fulfillment we receive from any endeavor we choose to pursue in life is ultimately dependent on the energy we choose to bring to it.  PS — Colette is also hilarious. 

 

Highlights of this episode include:

— How Colette lost her singing voice while trying to make it as a singer in NYC

— How she was able to launch a career in comedy afterwards

— How she re-discovered singing many years later through volunteering

— Her grandmothers that inspired her to want to work with the elderly

— The importance of having a purpose, and much more!

Today, we are talking about a little bit of everything - inauguration, insurrection, Bridgerton...but mainly, when you set an intention, the amazing things you can find and learn while out walking in the city.

On Greatness:  My Story Of Leaving Accounting For Psychology

There are a lot of avenues we can take to define anxiety.  So with this episode, I’d like to share my own personal story of how anxiety can bubble to the surface if all the best parts about yourself are being bottled.  For me, this meant leaving behind an accounting career I’d worked very hard to build because my body was continuously letting me every day that I was in the wrong place.  In this sense, anxiety can actually serve as a tremendous gift to us, a kind tap on the shoulder from our nervous system letting us know there’s a much better life for us that’s waiting to be tapped into. 

This week’s guest is Akshay Nanavati, author of the forthcoming book “Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How To Turn Fear Into Health, Wealth, & Happiness.” Akshay struggled with drug addiction as a youth, but his life was changed after the movie “Black Hawk Down” inspired him to join the US Marines.  After serving in Iraq, and struggling with PTSD as a result, Akshay began to educate himself deeply on the neuroscience behind fear, and developed some very interesting ideas on how fear can be used as a catalyst for many areas of personal growth. Akshay’s high-octane demeanor is contagious, and his enthusiasm for life and his work are highly enviable.  I suspect you’ll enjoy this one and learn a lot like I did!

Highlights of this episode include:

—How the movie “Black Hawk Down” inspired Akshay to quit using drugs forever

—His experiences in the US Marines and the PTSD he experienced afterwards

—The differences between post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress disorder

—The concept of “Fearvana” and how we can use it to our advantage

—What we can learn through enduring challenging events, and more!

We live in strange, anxiety-inducing times.  Whether it’s the 24-hour cycle of negative news, political drama, natural disasters, or personal troubles, it’s becoming increasingly easier to feel like we’re losing control of both our circumstances and our lives.  So this week Julie and I would like to take some time to talk about the idea of designing your ideal day, which can be done as a simple exercise when you wake up in the morning.  One of the keys to creating a more meaningful life lie in our daily actions, so we’d like to help you make sure your actions are in tune with the vibe you want to put out into the world.  We think you’ll find this both simple and effective.  Try it out and let us know how it goes!