Control or Be Controlled

What if the way we understand respect, curiosity, success, and inclusion is holding us back? In this episode, we’re joined by Julie Pham, PhD , a Vietnamese-born, American-raised refugee, Cambridge-trained social scientist, award-winning community organizer, Amazon bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and founder of CuriosityBased. Julie brings a fascinating combination of academic research, entrepre...

What does it really mean to become an upgraded man? Today, Chris Anderson , host of The Upgraded Man , founder of Elevate Media Group, husband, and father, joins us for an honest conversation about growth, masculinity, relationships, business, and the daily choices that shape who we become. Chris believes complacency is one of the biggest obstacles men face. His approach to personal growth centers...

What if the life you want isn’t something you simply find—but something you intentionally design? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Paul Padgett , President and CEO of Blueprints To Success™ and the visionary behind the Blueprints To Success™ framework, for a powerful conversation about escaping survival mode, taking ownership, and intentionally creating a lif...

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t a lack of opportunity—but waiting for someone else to give you permission to act? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Corey Gladwell , four-time bestselling author, entrepreneur, speaker, and co-founder of Authrs.io and Speakrs.io, to explore the philosophy of High Agency and what it really takes to take ownership...

What does it take to walk into Ground Zero after one of the darkest days in American history—and stay for four months? Today, Darlington sits down with Solange Schwalbe , an Emmy Award–winning Motion Picture Sound Editor and author whose Hollywood career spans more than three decades and more than 175 film credits. After working on iconic productions including The Goonies, Gremlins, Die Hard, Pira...

What if investing in your people could be one of the smartest investments your business makes? In this episode, Darlington sits down with Sandra Coker , founder and CEO of Human Power Solutions and international best-selling author of People Profit . Sandy shares how organizations can create people-first cultures that improve productivity, reduce workplace drama, and drive real business results. W...

What do mountain-top handstands, alligator wrestling, epic fantasy, and a life without limits have in common? Tom Cladis. Tom Cladis is an award-winning fantasy author, financial planner, adventurer, and former flight attendant who believes life is meant to be experienced, not simply managed. From performing handstands at the Eiffel Tower and atop mountain summits to wrestling alligators and trave...

What happens when a family goes from simply being busy to suddenly living in survival mode? Today, Darlington sits down with Paul Voss , father of eight and author of Autism Sucks: Finding Hope in the Chaos , for an honest conversation about autism, ADHD, fatherhood, burnout, and the unexpected ways difficult seasons can transform a family. After his youngest child was diagnosed with autism, Paul...

What if the problem isn’t that desire disappears with time but that we stop making space for it? Today, Darlington sits down with Caroline Hood , certified sex therapist, licensed clinical social worker, writer, and author of the forthcoming book Sex Begets Sex: Reclaiming Desire as an Act of Female Empowerment . With more than 25 years of experience working across relationships, trauma, mental he...

What happens when a stroke takes away your eyesight, mobility, and independence—but not your determination to recover? In this episode, we’re joined by Dennis Henson , a longtime entrepreneur, author, and health researcher whose life changed dramatically after a devastating stroke. After spending five decades building a business empire, Dennis suddenly found himself facing temporary blindness, los...

What happens when life gives you every reason to lose faith, yet you choose to believe that God is still there? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Christian author Sharon Williams , author of Because He Loved Us and God’s Whisper: Be Still and Know , for a deeply personal conversation about faith, perseverance, suffering, and the enduring love of Jesus Christ....

What happens when men stop trying to do everything alone? In this episode, Darlington sits down with Jason Lange , men’s embodiment coach, group facilitator, and evolutionary guide, to explore the challenges men face today and why genuine growth often requires connection, vulnerability, and a willingness to look within. Jason believes every man should experience the power of a men’s group—a space...

What if chronic pain isn’t something you simply have to learn to live with? Today, we’re joined by Frank Titus , founder of Titus Motion Therapy , who has spent more than three decades helping people understand and address the underlying movement patterns that may contribute to chronic pain. With an MS in Exercise Physiology from Indiana State University and experience as Assistant Director at The...

What happens when life gives you every reason to lose hope? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Cathy Colver Garland, author, consultant, mentor, and co-author of Revelationship: Transformative Intimacy With Christ , for a deeply personal conversation about faith, surrender, doubt, loss, and finding freedom through difficult seasons. Cathy has experienced divorc...

What if the advice you give your young adult is actually keeping them stuck? Today, Evan Sanchez , founder of New Grad Launchpad , joins us to explore the often-overlooked challenge of parenting young adults. Evan helps parents move away from constant advice, pressure, and problem-solving and toward communication that builds trust, psychological safety, and personal ownership . Evan shares his own...

What if the pain you’ve been through isn’t the end of your story—but the beginning of your transformation? Today, Darlington sits down with Alex Duenas , entrepreneur, fitness leader, mindset coach, and advocate for self-mastery. After experiencing bullying, difficult family circumstances, and struggles with his own identity growing up, Alex discovered something that would change the direction of...

In this powerful episode, author Angel Willard shares her deeply personal journey through trauma, survival, motherhood, chronic pain, incarceration, loss, and healing. Angel opens up about what it means to rebuild your life after devastating experiences, take accountability for your past, break painful cycles, and keep fighting for the people and future that matter most. Her memoir, Fighting to Co...

The construction industry is facing a massive problem—and one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle is the part of a building most people rarely think about: the wall. In this episode, Darlington sits down with Dustin Jensen , Chief Growth Officer at Monolith, a construction-technology manufacturer working to transform how buildings are constructed. Monolith’s integrated wall system is designed to r...

What if your expertise isn't the problem—but the world simply doesn't know you have it? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Carl Richards , a 3x bestselling author, TEDx speaker, emcee, podcast host, and founder of Podcast Solutions Made Simple , to explore how experts can use podcasting to build authority, credibility, and influence. With more than 25 years beh...

What happens when life doesn’t go according to plan and you decide to laugh, grow, and keep moving anyway? Today, Darlington sits down with Jessica Danel , author, mom of three, wife of 25 years, entrepreneur, and host of Jess Saying . Jessica built a million-dollar preschool business from the ground up before stepping away to focus on her daughter’s special needs. She later earned her Master’s de...

What does it take to build a 30-year career in writing while constantly adapting to a changing media landscape? Today, Louise Harris , journalist, author, editor, ghostwriter, and founder of LAST Research and Editing , joins us for a conversation about the power of words, storytelling, and building a career around creativity. From graduating from the University of Maryland College of Journalism to...

What if the biggest obstacle standing between you and the life you want isn’t your circumstances, but the blocks you’ve carried within you? In this episode, Darlington sits down with Brigitta Dau , a Mind, Body, Soul Coach, Reiki Master, author, speaker, facilitator, and creative synergist who helps people reconnect with their inner wisdom, overcome internal blocks, and create lives rooted in purp...

Can Your Mind Influence Your Body? The Science, Controversy & Healing | Dr. Katherine Willow Can the mind and body influence each other in ways we don’t fully understand? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Dr. Katherine Willow, a fourth generation naturopathic doctor with more than 40 years of clinical experience, for a thought provoking conversation about inte...

What if the biggest problem with investing isn't a lack of information, but the fact that most people don't know how to use it? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Chris Ighodaro , a financial coach and former investment specialist with 20 years of experience, to explore financial confidence, investing, wealth building, and why financial knowledge needs to becom...

What if some of the biggest questions about faith become easier to understand when you stop being afraid to ask them? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Dr. Gerald “Dr. G” Robison, pastor, author, Bible teacher, and speaker who has spent decades helping people understand Christianity, Scripture, and difficult questions about faith through humor, stories, and si...