Explore every episode of the podcast Pain to Performance

You made the list. You had the plan. You were ready. And then Friday came and almost none of it got done. And instead of asking what went wrong, you just decided something was wrong with you.

That story is one of the most common things Brianna Perry hears when someone walks into her office for the first time. They come in saying they're overwhelmed, they can't focus, they feel like they're failing at everything quietly while the rest of the world thinks they have it all together. And what she finds underneath all of that, almost every single time, is not a lack of discipline. It's shame. And shame, as she explains in this episode, is not just a feeling. It is a neurological event that is actively keeping your brain from doing the thing you desperately want it to do.

In this conversation, Brianna breaks down the real science behind why your productivity crashes, what ADHD and dopamine deficiency actually look like in high achievers, and why the to-do list was never the problem in the first place. She introduces her INCUP motivator framework, a practical tool for understanding why certain tasks feel impossible and how to actually get them done without the shame spiral that follows. And she ends with one of the most grounding takeaways this show has ever delivered: get clear on your why, because without it, no system, no habit stack, and no planner is ever going to stick.

This one is for the person who has tried everything and still feels stuck. The person who is crushing it on the outside and quietly falling apart on the inside. The person who just needs someone to tell them the truth: you are not broken. Your brain just needs a better framework.

About Brianna Perry: Brianna Perry is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder of Rooted Swan Wellness, a practice dedicated to helping high-achieving individuals break through the cycles of burnout, shame, and chronic overwhelm. She specializes in ADHD, trauma-informed care, and identity-based therapeutic work.

RootedSwanWellness.com Instagram: @RootedSwanWellness

Topics covered: ADHD in high achievers, dopamine and motivation, shame and the nervous system, INCUP motivator framework, habit stacking, burnout recovery, productivity and focus, therapy for overwhelm, mental health for high performers, licensed clinical social worker, Rooted Swan Wellness, Brianna Perry, Pain to Performance podcast

What happens when your heart fails you not once, but twice, and you still choose to build?

Lester E. Crowell Jr. was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition at 13. By 40, he was in full congestive heart failure. By 42, he received his first heart transplant after spending just five days on the waiting list. Nine years later, blockages in all three arteries meant he needed a second. He waited a year and a half for that call. It came at dawn on December 3rd, 2010.

Today, Lester is 26 years into life with a transplanted heart. He is the managing partner of 313 Salon Spa and Boutique, a business approaching its 52nd year with 85 employees. He serves on the board of the Georgia Transplant Foundation and founded Angels of Life, an annual charity event now in its 16th year raising awareness and funds for transplant recipients across Georgia.

In this conversation, Lester walks us through every stage of his journey: the terrifying 1 AM phone calls from transplant coordinators, the emotional weight of knowing someone else's loss became his survival, the rejection episodes that tested his mental health, and the moment he decided, while still recovering in his hospital bed, to turn his pain into something that helps others.

This is not just a medical story. This is about what it means to truly value the time you have, how purpose becomes the ultimate performance driver, and why the choice to be an organ donor is one of the most important decisions a person can make.

In this episode, you will learn:
- What it is actually like to receive the call from a transplant coordinator and how the body and mind respond
- The emotional reality of living with someone else's heart, including rejection, grief, and gratitude
- How the recovery process differs between a first and second heart transplant
-The role of the Georgia Transplant Foundation in supporting transplant recipients with financial, emotional, and mentor-based resources
- How Lester created Angels of Life, a charity event running 16 consecutive years supporting organ donation awareness
- Why Lester believes organ donation should be opt-out rather than opt-in

About Our Guest:
Lester E. Crowell Jr. is the managing partner of 313 Salon Spa and Boutique, a business he has led for over five decades in the Atlanta metro area. A two-time heart transplant recipient, Lester serves on the board of the Georgia Transplant Foundation and founded Angels of Life, now in its 16th year supporting transplant recipients throughout Georgia.

Next Angels of Life event: October 25, 2026 at the Marriott Northwest near the Battery in Atlanta.

Connect with Lester: three-13.com (Angels tab for event info)

Connect with Pain to Performance:
Website: paintoperformancepodcast.com
Email: hello@paintoperformancepodcast.com
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pain-to-performance/id1858153077

Unlock the secret to thriving in a world obsessed with AI—without losing your human edge—by focusing on energy, clarity, and sustainable growth. If you're a business owner feeling overwhelmed or stuck in the grind, this episode is your blueprint to transforming your approach with human-first AI that enhances productivity, preserves your well-being, and boosts your business scalability.

Discover how AI is not just about chatbots or automation—it's about empowering your human potential. Tanya Ferguson, founder of Clear Brook AI Solutions, reveals how a human-first strategy keeps you in control, reduces burnout, and turns technology into your top team member. She shares real-world success stories, including a company that added $70K in savings and doubled growth without layoffs, simply by streamlining communication and processes. Learn how to identify bottlenecks and leverage AI to eliminate low-value tasks, freeing up hours and mental space for what truly matters—vision, creativity, and leadership.

In this episode, you’ll uncover:

• Why most business owners are bottlenecked by their own success and how AI can fix that
• Practical steps to implement AI smoothly with minimal disruption
• The foundational importance of human relationships in tech-driven environments
• How to reframe AI as a tool for promotion, not replacement
• Simple, actionable techniques like brain dumps to gain clarity and reduce overwhelm

Whether you're skeptical about AI or curious about its potential, Tanya's approachable, practical insights will shift your perspective. She emphasizes curiosity over chaos—showing how a little understanding and some strategic conversations with your team can unlock exponential growth without sacrificing your purpose.

Don’t let fear of change hold you back—this episode will inspire you to harness AI as an ally for sustainable success. Perfect for entrepreneurs ready to protect their energy, elevate their performance, and future-proof their business. Your most human, energized, and scalable self is just one conversation away.

About Our Guest:

Tanya Ferguson is the visionary founder of Clear Brook AI Solutions, a company dedicated to integrating AI with a human-first approach. With a passion for helping businesses thrive, Tanya offers a complimentary FIT Check—a free 15-minute call to determine if an AI audit is suitable for your company. Connect with Tanya at Clear Brook AI Solutions or reach out via email at tferguson@clearbrookaisolutions.com.

Most people mistake temporary relief for real progress—and end up right back where they started. But what if feeling better was just the beginning, not the finish line? In this eye-opening episode, Bradlee Morgan reveals the crucial difference between symptom relief and systemic change, and why chasing relief alone keeps you stuck in a cycle of recurring pain and setbacks.

Imagine understanding why your body reacts the way it does — like antibiotics not just masking an infection but actually changing your body's response. Bradlee shares compelling stories from his own experience with strep, illustrating how stopping treatment early can worsen the problem, and how the body learns over time to respond faster to stress and pain. You’ll discover how temporary fixes—like distracting yourself or relying on support—only quiet symptoms temporarily, without strengthening the system. Without this insight, most are doomed to repeat the cycle, mistaking relief for resolution.

We break down:

• The difference between symptom relief, distraction, support, and true system change
• Why normal isn’t necessarily healthy, and how returning to old habits can reinforce problems
• Practical strategies to slow down and create lasting change instead of rushing to feel normal
• How pain and discomfort are signals, not enemies, and how to interpret them for growth
• A powerful shift in mindset: from “getting rid of pain” to “building capacity for resilience”
  

If you’re tired of recurring setbacks and ready to unlock a more capable, resilient version of yourself, this episode is for you. It’s perfect for athletes, health enthusiasts, therapists, or anyone tired of short-term fixes and seeking real transformation. Bradlee Morgan, a healthcare expert known for his insights into system-based healing, guides you through why understanding this shift can redefine the way you approach health and performance.

Feeling better is just a moment—it’s the starting point for lasting change.

The real question: how do you build a system that thrives long-term? Press play and learn to stop chasing relief and start directing your future toward lasting resilience.

Unlock the hidden power of your mind-body connection and discover how trauma silently resides in your body, sometimes revealing itself as scars or physical tension during your healing journey. If you're tired of superficial therapy approaches that overlook this deep link, this episode is your essential guide to understanding the subconscious signals your body is constantly sending, and how they can transform your healing process.

Dr. Kyrstin Lokkesmoe, a trauma-informed psychologist, shares eye-opening stories of scars reappearing during therapy sessions and explains scientifically backed concepts about how trauma impacts more than just your mind. You'll discover how emotional trauma is often stored in the hips, shoulders, and other parts of the body—manifesting as knots, tension, or even visible scars—and how processing trauma can physically bring these marks to the surface. We break down the critical difference between intellectual understanding and subconscious awareness, revealing powerful techniques to access and heal the parts of you that are often hidden from conscious thought.

In this episode, you'll learn practical tools for recognizing emotional triggers in your body—such as tense shoulders or restless hips—and how shifting your mindset from resistance to awareness accelerates your healing. Dr. Kyrstin discusses the importance of “backdoor” subconscious work through immediacy and mindfulness, showing you how to bring hidden trauma into conscious awareness through simple yet profound exercises.

We explore the misconceptions surrounding trauma, the role of neuro-linguistic programming, and how to gently challenge the negative beliefs that keep you stuck in cycles of stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. Perfect for anyone feeling overwhelmed by their own mind or body or who yearns for a deeper, more integrated approach to health and wellness, this episode empowers you to listen to your body's silent language and take actionable steps toward holistic healing.

If you're ready to stop fighting your body and start harmonizing your mind and body for lasting change, this conversation with Dr. Kyrstin will not only educate but also inspire you to trust your body's wisdom and begin a more conscious journey to well-being.

Takeaways

• Mind-Body Connection
• Perfectionism and Self-Worth Metacognition
• Challenging negative self-talk

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 08:02 Misconceptions and Psychoeducation
• 14:59 Functioning vs. Alignment
• 21:59 Perfectionism and Self-Worth
• 28:21 Metacognition and Self-Reflection

Summary

In this conversation, Bradlee Morgan discusses the relationship between pain, belief systems, and performance. He emphasizes that pain is not merely a sign of damage but a response from the nervous system. By understanding the underlying mechanisms of pain and the importance of belief in recovery, individuals can transform their experiences from pain to performance. Brad encourages listeners to recognize their adaptive nature and to take proactive steps towards improvement.

Takeaways

• If your body hurts, it doesn't mean something is wrong.
• Pain is an output of your nervous system.
• Sleep deprivation and stress increase pain sensitivity.
• The story you believe determines how you behave.
• High performers read signals differently and adapt accordingly.
• Pain is inevitable, but we can interact with it.
• You can change your internal dialogue to improve your situation.
• Some people are psychologically addicted to their pain.
• Clarity creates relief, which allows for trust and change.
• You are adaptive, not broken.

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding Pain and the Nervous System
• 05:27 High Performers and Pain Signals
• 08:48 The Role of Beliefs in Pain Management
• 11:43 Transforming Pain Into Performance

Pain shows up in more places than we like to admit. In our bodies, in our work, and in the way we push ourselves to perform.

In this teaser episode of Pain to Performance, host Bradlee Morgan introduces the core idea behind the show. Pain is not something to ignore or push through. It is information.

This episode sets the stage for the conversations ahead, bringing together insights from health professionals, performance experts, and business leaders to explore how pain affects the way we move, work, and live. It is an invitation to rethink discomfort, understand the signals your body is sending, and discover how reducing pain creates space for clarity, strength, and sustainable performance.

If you have ever felt stuck, worn down, or disconnected from how your body supports your performance, this is where the conversation begins.