Ced With Intention

In this episode, I sat down with Pete Souza, the official White House photographer for President Obama's entire eight-year presidency. Pete shares what it actually took to earn that level of access, what it felt like to be in the room during some of the most defining moments in modern history from the Bin Laden raid to Sandy Hook, and what documenting a president every single day taught him ab...

In this episode, Cedric sits down with psychotherapist and author Terri Cole to talk about the emotional patterns we inherited from our parents and how they shape the way we love, parent, and show up in our relationships. They get into what emotional safety looks like in a marriage, how childhood wounds still show up in adulthood, and why asking better questions might be the most powerful thing yo...

In this episode, Cedric sits down with relationship coach Cole Ziegler to get into the conversations most people avoid, how to know if you're actually in love or just afraid to start over, why you keep ending up in the same relationship, and what it really takes to build a life with someone. Follow Cole on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachcolezesiger/Follow Ced on Instagram: https://w...

In this episode, I talk with dating and relationship coach Erika Ettin, founder of A Little Nudge, who has spent over a decade helping people navigate modern dating with clarity and intention. Together we talk about why online dating feels so overwhelming, how to stop confusing oversharing with vulnerability, what red flags actually are versus what we just don't like, and why the relationship...

One year in and I wanted to bring back one of my favorites to celebrate. When I first sat down with Dr. Arthur Brooks, Harvard professor and bestselling author, I had no idea how much this conversation would shape the direction of this podcast. A year later, it's still one of my favorites and I knew I had to bring it back. We get into what happiness actually is versus what we've been told...

Jensen McRae is a singer-songwriter whose music has a way of putting words to feelings you didn't even know you had — and this conversation is no different. We got into everything from why so many of us mistake chaos for love, to what it actually means to feel your feelings versus just think about them, to how being alone can be the most powerful thing you do before falling in love again. Jens...

Get Harmony Coffee Beans here: https://roasterympls.com/collections/frontpage/products/harmony-blendWhat do race, culture, and identity have to do with your relationships? More than you think. Blair Imani Ali is an educator, author, and creator of Smarter in Seconds, known for making complex topics around identity, history, and culture accessible to millions of people worldwide. In this episode, w...

Get Harmony Coffee Beans Most of us want to show up well in our relationships, but being “strong” or “kind” can start to feel heavy when it turns into overgiving. In this episode, Cedric sits down with therapist, Zak Hazlett to break down what emotional strength actually looks like, the boundary shifts that prevent resentment, and the skills that make any relationship feel safer and stronger. Whet...

Why do couples keep having the same argument, even when they both care? In this conversation, Dr. Tracy Dalgleish explains the hidden cycles that keep relationships stuck, how your nervous system shapes your reactions, and what real repair actually looks like after conflict. If you’ve ever wondered why small moments escalate or why it feels so hard to stay calm, this episode will give you language...

In this episode, Cedric sits down with biblical scholar Dan McClellan to unpack some of the biggest questions people carry about faith, the Bible, and power. Together, they talk about what the Bible actually is, why there isn’t just one single “biblical” view on many issues, and how scripture often gets used to shape authority in relationships, churches, and politics. They also explore what it loo...

What if the way you react isn’t your personality… but something you learned in survival mode? In this episode, Cedric sits down with hypnotherapist Jim Curtis to talk about identity, subconscious patterns, anger, and the emotional habits we pick up just trying to get through life. They explore why so many people grow up feeling on edge, why survival strategies start to feel like who we are, and ho...

In this episode, Cedric sits down with relationship expert, Sabrina Zohar to talk about the patterns that quietly shape our relationships...attachment styles. They explore why emotional intensity often gets mistaken for connection, how past experiences influence who we’re drawn to, and what it looks like to slow down and choose healthier relationships with intention. This conversation is for anyon...

Most conversations don’t fall apart because of what’s said, they fall apart because someone doesn’t feel understood. In this episode, Cedric talks with Jefferson Fisher about what’s really happening beneath defensiveness and emotional reactions, and how to respond calmly without giving up your boundaries. They break down how validation works, why slowing down matters, and what confident communicat...

Change is unavoidable, but the way we respond to it often makes it harder than it needs to be. In this episode, Cedric sits down with cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar to explore why change feels so destabilizing, how uncertainty affects our nervous system, and what actually helps when your mind starts to spiral. They talk about identity beyond titles, why fresh starts are usually internal, and...

Survival mode can carry you far—but it can’t carry you forever. In this episode, Cedric and Jessica Long talk about what happens when pushing through stops working. They explore the difference between endurance and healing, how strength and anger can help you survive without becoming your identity, and what it really means to feel “enough” after years of proving yourself. Check out Jessica's B...

In this episode, Kendall Toole talks about self-trust, boundaries, resilience, and what it really means to “fake it till you become it.” We talk about her journey as a former Peloton instructor, how stepping away reshaped her identity, and why learning to keep small promises to yourself can change everything. She also shares what inspired her new wellness app, NKO Club (Never Knocked Out Club), an...

In this episode, Cedric sits down with author and pastor Jon Fogel to question what many of us have always been taught about faith, parenting, happiness, and what it really means to grow. Jon opens with honest perspectives on modern Christianity and why so many pastors may be less educated today than in previous generations, then moves into how neuroscience, psychology, and values-based parenting...

In this conversation, Cedric sits down with writer and mindfulness teacher Cory Allen to unpack the inner work most of us avoid — control, fear, bravery, intuition, and what it really means to feel your feelings. Together they explore how childhood conditioning shapes adulthood, why so many of us mistake control for safety, how “small-t” traumas compound over time, and why looking inward is often...

In this episode, Beth Leipholtz (from beth_and_coop) sits down with Cedric to share the story behind raising her son, Cooper, who experiences the world differently and uses cochlear implants to hear. What began as an unexpected journey became an opportunity to help others understand difference, belonging, and what inclusion can really look like in everyday life. Buy her book here: https://bethandc...

At 16, John Furniss lost his sight after a suicide attempt that changed everything. Today, he’s known as The Blind Woodsman, an artist who creates by feel, sound, and intuition. In this episode, Cedric sits down with John to talk about rebuilding confidence when the world doubts you, finding purpose after pain, and what it really means to see life differently.

Friendship gets tested when silence feels like betrayal or when a joke cuts too deep. Cedric and his friends break down two real moments where things could’ve gone wrong and how they used honesty, vulnerability, and trust to come out stronger. It’s conflict resolution in real time, with lessons anyone can use.

He grew up in Detroit surrounded by violence. Now he climbs volcanoes, surfs 50-foot waves, and teaches others how to seek challenge instead of danger. In this episode, Cedric sits down with explorer, athlete, and speaker Andrew Alexander King to talk about growing up in two different worlds, breaking the cycle of survival, and the mindset it takes to rewrite your story.

Bob Goff doesn’t just believe in love, he lives it, every single day. From putting his phone number in the back of 3 million books to building a school in Uganda, he’s spent his life choosing purpose over performance, presence over plans, and people over everything. This episode is a deep, honest look at what it really means to love others, even when the world feels too heavy to hold.

Devon Levesque has bear crawled a marathon, summited Everest, and built a life around doing the hardest things imaginable. In this episode, he sits down with Cedric to talk about the power of transitions, the importance of values, and how pain can become a doorway to purpose. They dive into what it takes to push past the limits of your mind, how to build a life rooted in community, and how those e...

Most people recognize Michelle Young from The Bachelorette, but what stood out in this conversation was who she was before the show, and who she’s become since. A driven athlete, a passionate teacher, and someone who never lost sight of her values, even when the spotlight tried to reshape her. Check out Michelle's foundation: https://www.themichelleyoungfoundation.org/Follow Michelle on Instagram:...