Schooling Struggle

schoolingstrugglepodcast @gmail.com In this episode Pete chats with Gene Soboleski, aka Big Zig, a hospice nurse, photographer, and passionate member of his community. They dive into the powerful lessons Zig has learned from working with people at the end of their life, exploring themes of self-awareness, living in the moment, and the importance of cherishing relationships. Zig opens up about how...

schoolingstrugglepodcast@gmail.com In this solo episode, Pete reflects on how, like a ship adjusting its sails, we can't control everything in life but can focus on what we can impact. Pete emphasizes the importance of steering away from negative influences, such as social drama, and avoiding failures by making mindful choices. He also discusses how consistency, rather than perfection, is key to p...

schoolingstrugglepodcast@gmail.com As sleep is the magic elixir for health and wellness, Doug and Pete dive into the habits we can instill to "land our plane" prior to bedtime in a way that yields effective and efficient sleep hygiene. They share the science behind these routines as well as their personal pre-bedtime triumphs and failures. Key Takeaways from Episode 120: Pre-Bedtime Micro Habits  ...

Some lessons can only learned by living them. Here, the guys chat about relationships. They each share one lesson they have learned the hard way throughout the course of their personal journeys interacting with spouses, friends, colleagues, teammates, and children. They touch on some practical strategies they now use to better navigate the relationships in their lives while recognizing and accepti...

schoolingstrugglepodcast@gmail.com Why Water Matters: Water fuel's our bodily essential functions and keeps our brains sharp. Here, Pete & Doug dive into the importance of making hydration a "micro habit." What are micro habits? Our podcast defines them as tiny consistent actions that when repeated over time build momentum for longterm impact." In this episode the guys discuss the following: -...

schoolingstrugglepodcast@gmail.com Chris Crawford joins Pete for a discussion on how tunnel vision toward "important" goals in his life has led to unexpected hardship and dependency. Chris talks about how being over-the-top goal oriented has its benefits yet stirs up some unpredictable repercussions down the road. His honesty and willingness to share on this episode is super authentic.

schoolingstrugglepodcast@gmail.com What began as a passion project to share life lessons, mindset, and health insights has evolved into a more structured endeavor that requires increasing time and effort. Despite the challenges, Pete shares with his family of listeners that he has committed to growing the podcast by introducing new formats, such as micro-habits and actionable takeaways, to help li...

What if the key to managing life's challenges was something much smaller than we ever thought? In this episode, Pete brings back Doug Anton and Katie Hluchyj to talk about the little things they do every day to improve their health, mindset, and connections. Doug wrestles with staying present instead of always looking ahead, while Katie shares how learning to ski taught her to loosen her grip...

In this episode Todd shares about the lessons and realizations he has recently learned through digging into multiple zones of mental and physical discomfort. We lead off discussing a recent murder in his neighborhood. Crazy! He then dives into his recent fast that wasn't so "fast," life as a sober human, and how that continues to manifest. Lastly he shares about his willingness to in...

Thomas Payton joins the show to share his story of both physical and mental growth following a catastrophic accident where he was tossed out of the back of a moving truck. Thomas digs into the rehab process following this incident as well as his personal mental journey to become a better citizen to both himself and his community. Throughout this episode, Thomas discusses his striving to "walk the...

As the calendar turns to 2025, Brian and Pete engage in a conversation that put the "FUN" in disfunction. They chat about the most important lessons they have learned in the past 365 days while sharing stories about their growth and shortcomings throughout the year that was 2024.

Todd, Brian, and Pete discuss what they have each learned and how they are applying the content from Michael Singer's, "The Untethered Soul." The guys cover a range of topics with regard to living with an open heart, overcoming the avoidance of pain, and how keeping death in the forefront of our minds can lead to a life of joy and fulfillment. Singer's book profoundly impacted each of the guys on...

Pete & Brian discuss the role that goal implementation plays in their lives. The each dig into how the setting and attainment of goals has both helped and hurt them in the past. The guys finish by sharing how they now use goals to better themselves including some of the specific strategies and tactics that have proven both productive and useful over the course of their lives.

Jalen Labonte joins Pete to chat about his need to make amends with those whom he burned bridges in his past. Jay shares his story through a discussion focusing on troubled times during his youth, navigating school with an autism disorder, and managing his raging anger. He covers getting removed from his home by the government then losing a close friend. As his backstory unfolds in this episode Ja...

The guys take a pragmatic hard look at exactly what kindness really is. Pete, Todd, and Brian each bring a unique perspective to the conversation given their current roles in life and past experiences. Is there actually a difference between being kind and being nice? This is no "Polly Anna" approach toward discussing kindness.

Brian Fortier joins Pete to have a story-laden and light-hearted discussion about managing the small day-to-day frustrations that often consume human thoughts and emotions. The guys share humorous stories throughout the conversation while giving strategies they find helpful when faced with navigating the small, yet frustrating challenges of life.

Dr. Slammon joins the show for another insightful episode. Everyone has actions, reactions, and responses varying in intensity to outside stimuli. These actions are often referred to as "Triggers." This episode focuses on human triggers. How we manage and internalize our triggering thoughts and emotions has a profound impact on how we navigate life's struggles. Dr. Slammon breaks this content down...

schoolingstruggle@gmail.com "I feel like a mosquito in a nudist colony!" - Brian Fortier. Brian joins Pete to discuss the unique ways that humans remain motivated over time. How does this motivation reshape itself as one matures and changes their pursuits in life? The guys go on to each share their life experience in this mindset arena.

schoolingstruggle@gmail.com Pete is joined by Todd and Brian to discuss the power of refraining. Pete shares some recent lifestyle changes he has committed to including his recent quitting his watching of any content on YouTube. He shares how his life has been impacted by this. The guys also cover some other topics including maintaining peace of mind when faced with stress and when to change (or n...

schoolingstruggle@gmail.com Rory joins the show to share perspectives on breaking her preconceived expectations regarding her own life's structure. As she packs her bags to move 1,200 miles south, Rory openly shares about the "identity crises" she currently faces as the current state of her journey does not entirely line up with where she anticipated she would be at this stage of her...

Schoolingstruggle@gmail.com Joey Beggs joins the show to chat about all things life balance. He dives into the stress that accompanies trying to do multiple things at a high level. How do we please all of the most important people in our lives while still being available for ourselves? Joey shares openly about this challenge and the stress that is induced when it comes to the balancing act of life...

schoolingstruggle@gmail.com Harper Robinson joins the show to discuss what she has learned in the past year about making sustainable lifestyle changes in the arenas of mindset and nutrition. In this light-hearted and engaging manner, Harper shares some powerful insights that she has recently learned about herself. These include her habits and the actions she can take that are within her circle of...

schoolingstruggle@gmail.com 52 days ago Todd went alcohol free. In this special "Episode 100" he shares his recent realizations regarding 4 decades of alcohol dependency and the changes that have transpired in his life since putting down the bottles and cans of Bud Light and Crafts Brews. This turned out to be an incredibly enlightening conversation for Pete.

schoolingstruggle@gmail.com Brian Fortier joins the show to share his insights on turning failures into successes throughout the journey of life. He also shares his favorite motivational poem, titled... "DON'T QUIT" When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but yo...

schoolingstruggle@gmail.com "Profe" Katie Hluchyj joins the show to share some great stories from her adventures about how chasing one's heart can lead to purpose & fulfillment. Katie dives into her thought process regarding the value of challenge and the worth of venturing outside of her comfort zone. Katie believes in the importance of human connection while pairing it with a m...