Real Things Living

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 17 and told he’d be lucky to reach 50, Jim Stavis went on to receive a first-of-its-kind triple organ transplant (heart, kidney, pancreas). Now 71, he’s an author, speaker, and CEO sharing his story of hope, gratitude, and resilience. On this episode of Real Things Living, Jim talks with Brigitte Cutshall about the transplant, the bond with his donor’s family, gri...

Lifelong learning isn't just a career tool; it's the ultimate survival guide for an unpredictable world. Hussein Rifai has lived in a dozen places, visited 85 countries, and reinvented himself more times than he can count. Born in the West Bank and now based in Australia, he is an entrepreneur, investment banker, and author of "The Chaos Theorem." He joins Brigitte Cutshall to ta...

One breath can change how you handle stress, conflict, and your whole day. Breathwork teacher Anthony Abbagnano, founder of Alchemy of Breath and the ASHA retreat center in Italy, shares simple breathing practices for nervous system regulation, stress relief, and calmer relationships. Host, Brigitte Cutshall, and Anthony talk about the 10-breath reset, the 5-in/5-out coherence breath, listening to...

Texas singer-songwriter, Ezra Vancil, joins Brigitte Cutshall to talk about music as “another language.” Ezra shares how he rebuilt his life after a collapse in his 30s, why he walked away from chasing fame, and how writing and touring with his daughter became the best part of his career. It’s a warm, funny conversation about resilience, small moments, and making memories that last. 3 Takeaways: (...

Wesley Warshawer went from studying abroad in India and Korea to a career in tech. When COVID made his job remote, he left his comfort zone and moved to a new U.S. city every four to six weeks, meeting his neighbors one conversation at a time. He joins Brigitte Cutshall to share how stepping outside our bubbles reveals shared values, why ignorance isn’t the same as malice, and how small, uncomfort...

Dr. Olaf Kroneman trained at Mayo Clinic, the University of Virginia, and Mass General before bringing his medicine home to Detroit. He treats patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue condition that can bring POTS, mast cell reactions, and pain that is too often dismissed, especially in women. Brigitte Cutshall and Dr. Kroneman also talk about his novel "Detroit Heroic&...

Does a "high-risk pregnancy" mean something will go wrong? Fetal medicine specialist Panicos Shangaris of King's College Hospital speaks with Brigitte Cutshall; he explains how the label works, why preconception counseling matters, and how AI is changing prenatal care. 3 Takeaways (1) "High risk" means more support, not bad news. It brings in the right specialists and a pla...

Wall Street Journal columnist and author, Meghan Cox Gurdon, joins Brigitte Cutshall on Real Things Living to talk about her new memoir, "Free Range Girl." The true story of the year she spent as a 12-year-old living off-grid on a homestead her father built with his own hands in rural Maine. They talk overparenting vs. freedom, the "anti-fragile" child, why reading aloud is one of the most powerfu...

How do you build a vibrant, purposeful life through every chapter? Brigitte Cutshall sits down with Dr. Sieglinde Othmer, author of the award-winning book Joyous Longevity: An A to Z Fuel Guide . From her childhood escape as an East German refugee to her extensive career in psychiatry research, Sieglinde shares how curiosity, flexibility, and proactive habits keep her thriving at age 85. Takeaways...

In this episode of Real Things Living , host Brigitte Cutshall sits down with natural pet health advocate and podcaster, Angela Ardolino. Angela shares her personal journey from losing her first dog to toxic standard treatments to helping her second dog live to 17 using holistic care. Together, they dive into the master system regulating pet wellness—the endocannabinoid system—and discuss how feed...

A 40-year ICU nurse says your response to a diagnosis matters more than the diagnosis itself, and he's built a whole theory of care around it. Winston Meikle — nurse educator, author of "The Power of Love: A Nursing Theory", and founder of Loving Care Partners — joins Brigitte Cutshall to explore how quantum physics, ancient wisdom, and a love-based mindset can transform patient outc...

Youth mental health advocate, Lawrence Harris, breaks down why we need to stop trying to fit the mold when it comes to autism, mental health, and choosing our own path. Brigitte Cutshall speaks with 20-year-old Lawrence to explore neurodiversity, self-advocacy, and bridging generational divides. He shares his journey from childhood adversity to inspiring young people nationwide, offering practical...

16 moves before he turned 18. Another 16 in the Army. Here's what it built. Devin Fish grew up in poverty, moving constantly and eventually joining the Army at 18 to escape instability at home. After a decade of service — including a mental health crisis that landed him in the hospital — he channeled his lowest point into his memoir, "Answering the Hard Questions." Devin talks with B...

Dr. Eugene Antenucci — dentist, LSU dental school instructor, and author of "A Journey of a Thousand Smiles" — joins Brigitte Cutshall on Real Things Living to break down the mouth-body connection most people never learn about. We cover gum disease and chronic inflammation, the blue zones' link between longevity, family, and movement, why sugar is a bigger threat than most realize, and how to find...

Can you actually rewire your nervous system to get unstuck? In this episode of Real Things Living , Brigitte Cutshall speaks with transformation coach Thayne Martin to discuss trauma recovery , emotional intelligence , and how experiential neuroscience can reset your life. After surviving severe childhood trauma, over-medication, and a near-death drowning accident, Thayne experienced a total &quot...

Denny LaVe joins Brigitte to talk about a life defined by pivots — from a broken childhood in Montana, to a near-fatal heat stroke that ended his Marine Corps dream, to nearly taking vows as a monk, to marriage, fatherhood, and building a construction company from the ground up. He opens up about the "shame culture" he grew up in, the years of stoicism that quietly strained his marriage,...

A biochemist accidentally became a pioneer in trauma-clearing therapy—and it all started when she couldn't figure out her own dating life. Dr. Judith Swack was told repeatedly by mentors that she had a "research mind" and belonged in a lab, leading her to earn a PhD in biochemistry and neurochemistry. However, personal struggles in her dating life introduced her to Neurolinguistic Pr...

College sports used to be about the love of the game. Now the money, the betting, and the pressure are rewriting what it means to be a young athlete. Brigitte Cutshall sits down with author, coach, and commentator - Jay Paterno - for an eye-opening conversation on the shifting landscape of college athletics. From the financial pressures of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and rampant sports g...

Less than 1% of breast cancer diagnoses belong to men—leaving Jake Messier on a mission to demand representation in a system that often forgets they exist. Jake Messier, a former Marine and marketer turned patient advocate living with stage IV male breast cancer, joins Brigitte Cutshall to talk about finding a lump while putting on deodorant, navigating the isolated reality of a traditionally fema...

He was given six months to live. Twenty-five months later, he's training for the Ironman World Championship. James Logan was 59, in the best shape of his life, and training for triathlons when a stage four cancer diagnosis gave him six months to two years to live. In this episode of Real Things Living, James opens up about the six-month mental shift from "worrying about dying to worrying...

A cemetery at the end of a one-road village in Trinidad, a grandmother who couldn't read without help. This is where author, speaker, and musician Antonio Michael Downing learned that creativity isn't a talent, it's a survival tool. Antonio joins Real Things Living to share how his grandmother in Trinidad taught him to read and sing, not as hobbies, but as ways to cope with a hard life...

Six years of uncertainty, navigating a high-stakes third-party journey, and finding the courage to redefine motherhood on her own terms. In this episode of Real Things Living, Brigitte Cutshall speaks with Leslie Lopez, founder and host of the Mothers in Arms podcast. Leslie opens up about her personal six-year journey navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, and the decision to leave her marriage...

Surviving mortar rounds in Vietnam was only half the battle. The deepest healing began when a Marine veteran finally confronted the invisible weight of lifelong trauma. Keith Cole, a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran wounded three times in combat, joins Brigitte to talk about the invisible wounds that outlast the battlefield. Keith shares his journey from enlisting after his father's sudden passing...

He wasn't a doctor, but he talked his way past the barricades on 9/11 anyway — and spent the next 24 hours saving strangers' eyes. Author, Neil Adams, joins Brigitte Cutshall to talk about his book "From the Pile", written to honor his late best friend Michael Dorian — a veterinary technician who posed as medical personnel to help injured firefighters at Ground Zero on 9/11. Neil...

A standard check-in call, an ambulance, and a mother's quick instincts changed everything for Drew Norton's family in a matter of minutes. That terrifying crisis became the ultimate wake-up call, completely reshaping how he leads, loves, and shows up for the people who matter most. In this episode of Real Things Living, Brigitte Cutshall speaks with sales leader and founder of the Abundant...