Andrew Petty is Dying

This episode is a first for this podcast--a "part two" continuation of a previous episode. It features a fellow coach and my good friend, Chad James , and together we unpack the 5 ingredients in the recipe for using stuckness to our benefit that I shared in Ep. 027, Breaking the Stuckness Stalemate: A Path to Transformation .  When I released that episode, I was vaguely aware that it felt unfinish...

Have you ever felt stuck? Maddeningly and totally stuck?  If you're human, then the answer is 100% "yes."  In this episode, we tackle stuckness--what it is and what to do about it. Plus, the surprising up-side of stuckness. Stories make it easier to "see" what someone is saying, so I share a snapshot from my own story to illustrate the point--a recent episode of stuckness that I'm just now emergin...

For a few promising years, 3-time Olympian Caroline Lalive was among the top female ski racers in the world. Slowly but surely, though, plagued by injuries and struggling with her mental game, the gap between Caroline's raw potential and her real-world race results got wider and wider. Eventually, in 2009, after a tumultuous13-year career characterized by grit, determination, courage, some notable...

How content are you? A little? A lot? Sometimes you are and sometimes you aren't?  The fact that we all have different answers to that question just shows how elusive the answer to the Contentment Conundrum remains for we humans. I've never met someone who said that being more Content didn't appeal to them at all. And if Contentment was easy, we would have nailed it by now.  In this episode, we un...

This podcast has changed my life.  I didn't really expect that when I set out to produce it. I hoped it would change YOUR life--but changing mine came as a surprise. A most welcome surprise.  As 2020 drew to a close, I reflected on some of the lessons that have stuck with me the most from the many enlightening conversations I've had with my guests. That reflection revealed 5 big takeaways for me p...

When harrowing encounters with Death are a routine part of your job, how does it change the way you live? On today's episode, my friend Tony Gonzalez helps us answer that question based on his 25 years of service as a firefighter and put the lessons he's learned to work in OUR lives right now.   Meet Tony Gonzalez At the peak of his career as a big city firefighter, in 2017 Tony traded in his badg...

Your inner voice speaks the truth of who you are and the life you were made to live. But many of us treat it like a suspicious stranger instead of a trustworthy friend. What gives?  In this episode, I'll reveal some of the most common reasons we fail to hear and heed our inner voice and the surprisingly harmful consequences of ignoring it, and how to tune OUT the noise around you so you can tune I...

"The grass is always greener on the other side." So, don't fool yourself into thinking there's anything better out there for you. Right? Welllll… A lot of conventional wisdom--for all of its potential value--has very real limits and misuses. Are you falling prey to the limits and misuses of this particular bit of conventional wisdom? And paying a high price in fulfillment, purpose, and impact as a...

What does seven years of suffering reveal to a man about life and what matters most?  This episode is a firsthand report from the front lines of intense suffering. My guest, Matt Wilks, invites us into some of the darkest moments--including his own dark night of the soul--the triumphant moments, and much more in between.  Matt's story is, of course, uniquely his. In a way, though, his story is als...

On the flight path of your life, what keeps you from reaching your desired destination most often? There's one culprit that all of us can relate to in one way or another at one time or another. And it's time to deal with it.   A Story to Set the Stage I plopped down in my aisle seat and breathed a sigh of relief. It was a tight connection between flights, and the sweat beading on my brow was evide...

What does a coroner know about life and death that we don't?  For starters, my guest today, Rob Ryg, says that his 17 years as coroner have shown him that death never comes when you expect it to. Which begs the question, "so if I don't know when I'll die, how do I live today?" Rob digs into that question from the perspectives of his own recent encounter with Mortality, his faith, and his experienc...

If you're looking for more "balance" in your life, then I'm sorry to say that you've come to the wrong place. I'm not your guy. I think our modern pursuit of "balance" is for the birds, and I think there's a much better way.    What We Really Want If you're anything like me--like most humans, in fact--you'd like a little more balance in your life. My coaching clients frequently want more balance i...

What if one question could revolutionize your life right now?  You might be thinking, "whatever, Petty--you and all the other schmucks out there pitching silver bullets and fool-proof lifehacks." I get it; that's my response, too, to promises of instantaneous life change. But--and again, I realize this is what they all say--this is different. Stay tuned to see if I'm full of it or if there's reall...

Many of us are living life in the shadows--reluctant to step into the bright light of life lived in pursuit of our unique purpose. By staying in the shadows, we lead mediocre lives and deprive the world of our best contributions.  Jono Belz lived in the shadows for a while, too. But not anymore. And his story will inspire you to step out of the shadows, too.  In addition to the fact that I just fi...

On this podcast, we confront our Mortality head-on so we're motivated to live NOW. Maybe you've listened to some or even all of the episodes, and you're getting more and more pumped to get after it. But maybe you're also not sure where to start. On this episode, you'll learn how to recapture your dreams to discover your very own, unique starting point.   46? Huh. Not Quite What I Expected. I'm 46,...

After receiving two medical death sentences, separated by 30 years, my guest on this episode is still surfing.  Rick Kahn helps us learn how to let go and live now, reveals the sneaky downside of hope, and shows us how to embrace life's necessary "little deaths."  His road from dyslexic middle child, high school drop-out, globetrotting spiritual seeker, and high-end custom home builder to the life...

What do you do when life gets uncomfortable? Discomfort's not going away this side of the grave. So we'd better get used to it.  Even better, on today's episode, you'll learn how to USE discomfort to become the person you were MADE to be and live the life you were MADE to live.   It Was a Tough Week I was uncomfortable a LOT this past week. My last episode featured Joe Harsel , a friend and mentor...

Imagine that you died and came back to life. How would it change the way you lived?  My guest for this episode doesn't have to imagine it. This is the first time that Joe Harsel has shared his story publicly, and if you let it, his story has the power to radically transform how you live. You'll learn what Joe sees differently, does differently, how he thinks differently, and how he uses gift cards...

If the Life Inspector (I'm sure it's a thing!) stopped by unannounced today, would the house you're building with your life pass inspection? I had a completely different episode in mind up until about an hour before I recorded it. But a phone call with an old friend and some kite flying with my family changed all of that.     What Changed?  I got off the phone a little while ago with a friend I ha...

Do you remember what life was like when you were 10?  It can be hard to recall how we felt, what we thought, what concerned us, what excited us, what we dreamed about, and what confused us at 10 years old. But make no mistake, there was plenty going on in our heads and hearts back then.  So what, you might ask? How does that possibly matter to me today? Here's at least one big reason: Our hopes an...

In the prime of his life, Phil Kohn was suddenly forced to wrestle with issues of physical pain, emotional anguish, and the reality of his Mortality. Today-- because of his trial--he is more alive than ever.  How do you relate to discomfort, challenges, and suffering? Our relationship to those things determines what we will produce in our lives. In Phil's case, courageous vulnerability has allowed...

Allyson Cheney had it all under control...until she didn't.  When she faced a parent's worst fear, she found herself at the intersection of grief and joy, and found freedom in letting go. Allyson's story will move you, inspire you, and challenge you to remember what matters most right now.   Meet Allyson I met Allyson Cheney a couple months ago when we were both part of the speaker lineup for an e...

How does a daily duel with Death change the way you live? My guest on this episode, Lise Leroux, is an author, skydiver, globetrotter, and life cycle celebrant. More than three decades ago, she received a terminal diagnosis. Then just five years ago, her story took a mind-blowing turn.  Lise's story will strengthen your resolve to live with even more guts and gusto and abandon right now . Listen f...

What if you could become the boss of your fear? What difference would that make?  All of us experience fear. It's part of life. But not all of us know how to master our fear so that it doesn't get the best of us. In this episode, you'll learn how to put fear in its place so you can live with more guts and gusto. And you'll learn how your Mortality can become a powerful ally in the ever-present bat...

Everything's fine--until it isn't. And then it's too late to go back.  That's the terrible truth that my guest on this episode is confronting as he stares death in the face.  In this raw, unfiltered conversation, you get to walk a mile in my guest's shoes and see life through his eyes as he confronts his own Mortality. You'll learn how he wishes he'd spent his time differently in the past and what...