Elsplend Realities

What happens when the path that makes perfect sense on paper no longer feels like the right one in real life? Sometimes the clearest sign that it’s time to evolve isn’t failure—it’s noticing which parts of your work bring you energy and which parts quietly drain it. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, George, a designer, tech entrepreneur, and founder of BrandZap, shares his journey from archit...

What if exhaustion isn’t simply something to push through, but a signal worth listening to? When stress, caregiving, responsibilities, and the demands of midlife begin to take their toll, it can be easy to dismiss what the body is communicating as “just stress,” “just age,” or something we simply have to accept. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Dori Martin, a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition...

What if something we’ve learned to call “normal” is simply something we’ve become accustomed to? Sometimes clarity begins with noticing the subtle signals we’re tempted to dismiss—and having the courage to ask better questions. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Dr. James Thomas, a pediatric dentist and author of Why Babies Suck, shares how his work evolved from traditional dental practice int...

What if the answer to feeling creatively stuck isn’t to push harder—but to create enough space to come alive again? Sometimes exhaustion isn’t simply about how much we do; it can come from losing touch with the creativity, energy, and sense of connection that once made life feel meaningful. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Jenny Leigh Hodgins, Creative Empowerment Coach, author, musician, an...

What happens when the life you worked so hard to build no longer feels like it belongs to the person you’re becoming? Sometimes the desire for change isn’t a sign of failure—it’s an invitation to listen more honestly, question inherited definitions of success, and give yourself permission to choose differently. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Sunaina Mehta, founder of Design Your Next, shar...

What if feeling out of alignment isn’t a sign that something is wrong—but an invitation to listen more closely to yourself? Sometimes the path forward isn’t about doing more or becoming someone new; it’s about reconnecting with the parts of ourselves we’ve been too busy, distracted, or disconnected to hear. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Brigitta Dau, Mind, Body, Soul coach, Reiki Master,...

What if the parts of your story you once considered weaknesses could become some of the very experiences that shape how you lead? Leadership doesn’t require a flawless journey—it can emerge through healing, self-awareness, resilience, and the courage to build a life that honors who you truly are. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Raychel Perman, Certified Professional Life Coach, Leadership E...

What if exhaustion isn’t always a reflection of how much you can handle—but a signal that something around you needs to change? We often respond to burnout by asking ourselves to become stronger, more disciplined, or more resilient, without stopping to examine the environments and systems carrying some of the responsibility. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Basia Perez, a healthcare advisor...

What happens when a story we believe we understand invites us to look again? History can feel settled, but the way we interpret the past is shaped by evidence, institutions, narratives, and the questions we choose to ask. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by historian and researcher Robert “Bobby” Doti for a thoughtful exploration of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. an...

What if the reason you keep starting over isn’t a lack of discipline—but an approach that was never designed to last? Sustainable transformation may require more than changing what we do with our bodies; it can begin with changing how we understand ourselves, our habits, and our relationship with progress. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Tash Lankester, body transformation coach and experie...

What happens when the life you knew changes without warning? When stability disappears and you’re left asking not only how to rebuild, but who you will become in the process? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Jon Edlin shares the deeply personal experience of losing his home to a tornado and the journey that followed. His story explores loss, uncertainty, emotional rebuilding, perspective, id...

What happens when you’re carrying more than you’ve had the space to name? Sometimes exhaustion isn’t a sign that we’ve lost our faith or strength—it may be an invitation to slow down, breathe, and become honest about what we’re carrying. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Laura Sharp-Waites, licensed minister and voice behind At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, shares a gentle perspective o...

What happens when a story is too uncomfortable for the spaces that are supposed to hold it? Some stories challenge us not because they seek to shock, but because they refuse to look away from realities we would rather soften, avoid, or explain away. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Mark Charles Powers, a 70-year-old first-time novelist with decades of experience in ministry, music, teaching,...

What happens when the life you spent years building suddenly begins to unravel? In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Dr. Ken Kaufman, speaker, author, and former sports medicine entrepreneur, to explore what happens when success, stability, and identity are stripped away. After decades of building a successful career, Ken experienced a season of profound loss that chall...

What happens when the life you’re building professionally and the world you’re creating internally seem to belong to two different worlds? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Sophia Veritas, a legal assistant working in the structured world of family law, civil litigation, and estate planning—and the author and creator of Invocada, a spiritual fantasy graphic novel series inspi...

What happens when parts of your own story are missing? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Karen Uslin, cultural historian, consultant, and Director of Research for the Defiant Requiem Foundation, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about identity, heritage, cultural memory, adoption, and the stories that shape who we become. Karen brings both professional expertise and person...

What happens when you’re capable, qualified, and successful—but still find yourself wondering, “Do I really belong here?” In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Virginia Hitch, an ICF Associate and Group Academy accredited coach with more than 30 years of experience managing technology change in the corporate world. Virginia shares her personal journey of navigating environments w...

AI is moving faster than ever—but are we actually ready for what it requires of us? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Clive Moore, founder of GPT Studio and Agency in a Box, to explore what really drives successful AI adoption, business growth, and meaningful change. With more than 25 years of experience across graphic design, branding, digital agencies, and technology, Clive...

What happens when you’ve spent too long feeling unheard—and finally decide to reclaim your voice? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with global independent artist, storyteller, and developmental psychology graduate student Kneet for a deeply personal conversation about identity, expression, resilience, and finding the courage to speak from a place of lived truth. Through her music...

What does it take to rebuild when life has already changed everything? In this deeply personal episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with author and speaker Milica Vogt, whose extraordinary journey from war-torn Croatia and years in refugee camps to a new life in the United States offers a profound perspective on resilience, loss, identity, and hope. Drawing from her memoir, Under a Whistling...

What happens when leadership goes beyond strategy, performance, and decision-making? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with executive coach and trusted advisor Eric Nitzberg for a candid conversation about the internal realities of leadership. From navigating uncertainty and pressure to separating identity from professional success, Eric shares insights from more than two decades...

What happens when the version of yourself you present to the world no longer matches what’s happening inside? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Wesley Farnsworth, storyteller, speaker, author, and host of Unmasked with Wesley Farnsworth, for a deeply honest conversation about identity, shame, addiction, faith, failure, and transformation. Wesley shares what it was like to live...

What happens when love begins to look different? Caring for someone with dementia can change the relationship, the roles we carry, and the way we understand both love and loss. It can bring uncertainty, grief, exhaustion, and difficult decisions—often while life continues demanding everything else from us. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Amy Shaw, dementia clinician, educato...

Some experiences are difficult to explain. The memories, losses, emotions, and invisible wounds we carry don’t always arrive with the words needed to describe them. Sometimes, they find another way out—through imagination, creativity, and story. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Justin Anderson, also known as J. Vaelorin, a dark fantasy author and creator of the VaelorinVerse,...

What happens when people begin to feel disconnected from the systems that shape their everyday lives? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Tom Joseph, founder of Bookminders and an innovator interested in rethinking how organizations and civic systems can engage the people they serve. Drawing from his experience building new approaches to work and exploring ideas around civic par...