Air-Check Your Life

Let’s Air-Check Your Life with Mathew Blades In this solo episode, Mathew Blades invites listeners to “air-check” their lives using a proven framework from his decades in radio. Instead of just making changes at random, Mathew encourages reflection on three core questions: What are you getting right? What’s going okay but could be better with a tweak? And what’s actively holding you back? With rel...

A Permanent Solution to a Temporary Problem with Jill McMahon In this candid and compassionate episode of Learn From People Who Lived It, grief specialist and suicidologist Jill McMahon joins Mathew for an honest conversation about the realities of suicide, its profound ripple effects, and the urgent need for open dialogue. They unpack the latest statistics and reveal that each suicide impacts at...

In this episode, Mathew and Dr. Dave dive into the “Awareness Control Matrix,” a practical framework for personal growth and behavioral change. Building on last week’s discussion of metacognition, Dr. Dave explains why self-awareness often emerges before self-control, and why it’s so easy to get stuck in old patterns despite good intentions. The conversation explores the challenges of breaking aut...

In this episode, Mathew Blades and author/speaker Cortney McDermott explore the Parable of Talents and how it applies to discovering and growing your own unique gifts. Their conversation weaves together the spiritual insight that “faith bridges the gap between hope and trust” and the practical need to cultivate and share your talents with the world. Cortney breaks down the parable’s teachings, rev...

Your Body Is Trying to Warn You with Dr. Anna Marie Frank In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank to unpack the subtle ways our bodies communicate health imbalances, often long before symptoms become serious. Dr. Anna Marie Frank, author, speaker, and Chinese medicine enthusiast, shares how the tongue acts as a window into gut health, adrenal function, and even emotional...

Man, Listen: Mental Health for Black Men with Mark McCray In this episode, you'll hear: - How cultural stigma in the Black community shapes men's experiences with mental health - The impact of vulnerability and honest conversation in breaking cycles of silence - Practical tools to navigate people-pleasing, leadership challenges, and self-esteem - What makes the trauma faced by Black men unique in...

In this episode, you'll hear: How grief shows up in the workplace beyond death, including loss of relationships, health, or missed promotions The importance of shifting bereavement policies to be more supportive and inclusive Practical advice for handling grief at work, both as a grieving employee and as a supportive coworker Strategies for regaining control after loss, including Jill’s “back pock...

Ever wondered why you react the way you do? Or how you could make better choices in the moment?   In this episode, host Mathew Blades and psychiatrist Dr. Dave explore metacognition, the art of thinking about your thinking. Dr. Dave explains how developing awareness of your own thought processes can help you create space between stimulus and response, offering practical strategies to break reactiv...

Do you have the patience to wait for clarity, or are you always chasing what's next? In this episode of Learn From People Who Lived It, Mathew Blades and Cortney McDermott explore the art of patience, presence, and non-doing in the context of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Fire Horse. Drawing inspiration from the Tao Te Ching, they break down the wisdom of waiting for the “mud to settle,” t...

Mine is Better than Yours: The Trap of Comparison with Dr. Anna Marie Frank In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank, author and wellness expert, to unpack the impact of comparison on mental health, self-esteem, and personal growth. Together, they explore how comparison can trigger anxiety and chronic dissatisfaction, yet also offer opportunities for inspiration and learn...

Hope’s Role in Grief with Jill McMahon In this episode, Mathew Blades and grief counselor Jill McMahon explore the complex relationship between hope, trust, and the grieving process. Drawing from Jill McMahon’s expertise in working with those experiencing catastrophic loss and trauma, the conversation unpacks why hope can sometimes feel out of reach or even anxiety-producing in the aftermath of tr...

Hoping Against Hope: Redefining Control, Trust, and Spiritual Alignment with Dr. Dave In this episode, you'll hear: A fresh perspective on hope and its role in mental health How agency, the power to choose, can transform your outlook Tips for navigating anxiety, trust, and spiritual alignment Mathew and Dr. Dave explore the real meaning of hope, inspired by Cortney's decision to remove "hope" from...

One Great Teaching: Overcoming the Divided Mind with Cortney McDermott In this episode of Learn From People Who Lived It, hosts Mathew Blades and Cortney McDermott dive into the power of decision and the exhaustion caused by a divided mind, inspired by the wisdom of James 1:8. Cortney McDermott shares her practical techniques for quieting internal conflict, emphasizing the importance of relaxation...

Why Are You So Stressed? with Dr. Anna Marie Frank In this episode, you'll hear: Why people are feeling more stressed than ever, and the role of alignment in stress How people-pleasing, control issues, and overcommitment feed overwhelm Simple frameworks like "delegate, automate, delete" to reclaim your time and energy The importance of resetting your nervous system with breathwork, meditation, and...

How did our childhood experiences shape our relationship with money? Good question, in this "Money" episode, we discuss: - Practical steps to break free from money controlling your decisions - Tips to create abundance and self-worth, regardless of your bank account Mathew Blades sits down with Scarlett 'The Biz Hippie' to explore the deep roots of our money stories and how they impact our lives. S...

A Tragic Event from the Weekend with Jill McMahon In this deeply personal episode, Mathew Blades opens up about a heartbreaking event he witnessed while supporting a player on his hockey team, and how that evoked memories of his own father's passing. Joined by grief counselor and author of Bulletproof, Jill McMahon, the conversation explores the ways old trauma resurfaces when new losses occur, th...

Understanding Fast and Slow Thinking with Dr. Dave In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Dave to explore the inner workings of the human mind, inspired by Daniel Kahneman’s groundbreaking book, "Thinking, Fast and Slow." They unpack the two key mental systems: System 1, the fast and automatic thinking that governs much of our daily lives, and System 2, the slower, more del...

Perception vs. Reality: Tuesdays with CoCo What if much of what we accept as “reality” is simply shadows on the wall? In this episode, author and speaker Cortney McDermott and Mathew explore Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, using it as a powerful metaphor for how our perceptions, conditioning, and learned helplessness can keep us stuck in limited narratives. They share personal stories of breaking fr...

Finding Friendship and Connection Over 40 with Dr. Anna Marie Frank In this heartfelt episode, Mathew Blades sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank to explore the challenges and opportunities of making new friends after 40. Together they discuss the unique loneliness that often arises after decades spent building careers and raising families, and how quality, depth, and accountability become more imp...

One Phrase That Can Change Your Year with Johanna Laurent In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with author Johanna Laurent to explore the transformative impact of language on mindset, resilience, and personal growth. Inspired by her journey overcoming childhood adversity, she shares how uplifting phrases helped her navigate uncertainty and self-doubt, leading to her pocket-sized book, Everythi...

In this timely episode, Mathew Blades and Jill McMahon confront the emotional toll of gun violence as it saturates our screens and social feeds. Drawing from lived experience and clinical expertise, Jill unpacks the damaging effects of repeated visual trauma and how constant exposure can desensitize us, elevate stress, and keep us in a cycle of hyper-vigilance. Together, they discuss practical too...

How Decision-Making Works with Dr. Dave Ever wondered why you make the choices you do? In this episode, Mathew Blades and Dr. Dave break down the science and psychology behind decision-making, highlighting how much happens before we’re even aware we’ve made a choice. Dr. Dave explains the “spark” that jumpstarts our decision process and reveals how our brains weigh tiny votes for and against, infl...

Using Your Original Equipment with Cortney McDermott In this special episode, hosts Mathew Blades and Cortney McDermott explore the concept of “original equipment." Those innate gifts, talents, and qualities we are born with often get buried under societal expectations and conditioning. Through storytelling, reflection, and a guided meditation, they invite listeners to reconnect with their true se...

How to Talk to Yourself with Dr. Anna Marie Frank In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank, author, speaker, and founder of Happy Whole You, to explore the art and science of self-talk. Drawing from her book, Stop Bullying Yourself, Dr. Frank unpacks why negative self-talk develops, the powerful impact of our upbringing and environment, and how our internal dialogue can s...

On this Feel Good Friday edition of Learn From People Who Lived It, host Mathew Blades welcomes leadership economist, keynote speaker, and former U.S. Navy commander Mary Kelly. Together, they dive into the power of clear communication in work and life, revealing why most misunderstandings stem from assuming others can read our minds. Mary Kelly breaks down practical frameworks for leaders sharing...