Control or Be Controlled

What makes a marriage proposal truly unforgettable—and what can thousands of proposals teach us about love, commitment, and relationships? Today’s guest is Ash Fox , founder of Ash Fox Proposals, one of the first marriage proposal planning companies in the world. Over the past decade, Ash has helped more than 3,000 couples create meaningful, emotional, and unforgettable proposals. Ash’s journey be...

What if loving God, praying, and knowing Scripture still doesn’t mean you’re emotionally healed? Today, Darlington sits down with Heather O’Brien , a Spirit-led healing coach, Bible teacher, author, and host of the Heal with God Podcast , ranked in the top 2% of podcasts globally. Heather knows what it’s like to love Jesus and faithfully practice her faith while still struggling with anxiety, fear...

In this episode, Darlington sits down with Justin L. Shaw , a mystical comedian, Dr. of Divinity, and author of Sourcery 101: 13 Rungs to a Higher Elevation of Consciousness . After battling substance abuse, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, Justin experienced a profound transformation that changed how he understood healing, spirituality, and human potential. We explore addiction, trauma, self-worth,...

What happens when managers stop managing people and start truly leading them? Today, Darlington sits down with Andy Neillie, business owner, best-selling author, award-winning speaker, leadership coach, and consultant, to explore what separates ordinary managers from high-performing leaders. With more than 20 years of experience speaking, training, managing teams, and running businesses, Andy has...

What happens when the media shaping our children becomes more influential than the parents raising them? Today, Darlington sits down with Rev. Dr. Robin Blair , an award-winning speaker, children's media producer, author, podcaster, clergywoman, and chaplain with more than 40 years of experience in radio, television, public speaking, and ministry. From smartphones and video games to social media,...

In this episode, Darlington sits down with Carolyn Sherrow , author, speaker, survivor, and founder of Cords of Grace, to explore trauma, faith, identity, and the long journey toward healing. A former physician assistant with 23 years of medical experience, Carolyn brings together clinical insight and personal experience as she shares how God's love, counseling, and spiritual guidance helped her m...

What can entrepreneurs learn from the strategies that helped Jeff Bezos transform Amazon from an online bookstore into one of the world's most successful companies? In this episode, Darlington sits down with Steve Anderson , strategic risk expert and author of the international bestseller The Bezos Letters: 14 Principles to Grow Your Business Like Amazon . Drawing on Jeff Bezos' 21 letters to Amaz...

What happens when the life you spent decades building suddenly enters a completely new chapter? Today, Darlington sits down with Timothy Stobbe, a retired pastor, writer, poet, husband, father, and creator of Meet Me in the Word, for a thoughtful conversation about faith, pain, creativity, church hurt, and the uncertainty that comes with major life transitions. After more than two decades in pasto...

What happens when you leave home with a motorcycle, no fixed destination, and a burning desire to discover who you really are? Today, Darlington sits down with Chris Donaldson, author of Going the Wrong Way, for an extraordinary conversation about adventure, self-discovery, courage, and choosing the unknown. In 1979, Chris left Belfast on a café-racing Moto Guzzi with a simple plan: ride 10,000 mi...

What does war teach you about leadership, fear, patriotism, survival, and the strange ways people cope with trauma? Today, Darlington sits down with Ken Dupar , retired soldier, construction professional, author, and self-described “scoundrel,” for a conversation that moves between war, leadership, humor, relationships, and the absurdities of life. Ken draws from his experiences in Iraq and milita...

What happens when you spend decades repeating painful patterns—and finally decide to choose yourself? Today, Darlington sits down with Jo Ann Fawcett , author and storyteller whose extraordinary life journey includes seven marriages, abuse, divorce, loss, narcissistic abuse, and the experience of being a prison wife. After nearly 30 years as an active member of the Mormon Church, Jo Ann eventually...

What if genuine spiritual experience doesn’t require certainty—or even belief? Today, Darlington sits down with Joshua Pritikin, PhD , an Internal Family Systems Certified Practitioner, author of Religion Unburdened by Belief , and counselor who explores the fascinating intersection of psychology, spirituality, trauma, psychedelics, meditation, human potential, and AI. Joshua brings an unusual bac...

What if the key to raising emotionally resilient children isn’t better discipline—but better communication? Today, Darlington sits down with Dr. David S. Marcus, a clinical psychologist with 40 years of experience helping families navigate stress, conflict, divorce, and parent-child relationships. In a world where smartphones, social media, financial pressure, busy schedules, and family changes ar...

What if changing the way you think could change the way you experience your life? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Sophia Torrini , a certified Clinical EFT practitioner, transformation catalyst, and specialist in what she calls Hacking Reality . Sophia’s work is deeply personal. After facing a life-threatening chronic illness, she embarked on a transformatio...

What happens when the law fails to protect the innocent—and someone decides they can no longer stand by? Today, Darlington sits down with David J. Story , author of the Omega series and host of The Secret World of Human Trafficking , for a thought-provoking conversation about justice, morality, crime, and the devastating reality of human trafficking. David’s novels are fiction, but they are ground...

What if parenting didn’t have to feel like an endless cycle of stress, nagging, and getting through the day—and instead became an opportunity for more laughter, creativity, connection, and meaningful memories? In this episode, we’re joined by Craig Parks , a longtime camp director, kids’ musician, family entertainer, proud father, and creator of the Parenting A to E method. After decades of workin...

What happens when the life you built no longer feels like the life you’re meant to live? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Sharon Ann Rose, M.Div., author, ceremonialist, and shamanic priestess, for a deeply reflective conversation about feminine wisdom, spiritual transformation, embodiment, and what happens when women begin listening to the parts of themselve...

What if you could stop being obsessed with food without spending the rest of your life dieting? Today, Darlington sits down with Ronni Robinson , author, Certified Eating Disorder Recovery Coach, three-time Ironman, and someone who spent 30 years trapped in a cycle of binge eating and compulsive overeating. Now 18 years recovered , Ronni understands firsthand the shame, isolation, guilt, and frust...

What if transformation doesn’t require perfect circumstances, but simply the willingness to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with yourself? In this episode, Darlington sits down with Veronique Ory , an Intuitive Movement and Mindful Awareness Guide, international retreat leader, and author of Shine On & Off the Mat . With more than 500 hours of yoga training and years of leading retreats around t...

What if changing the way you think could change the way you experience your life? Today, we’re joined by Sophia Torrini , a transformation catalyst, certified Clinical EFT practitioner, public health professional, and specialist in what she calls “Hacking Reality.” After facing a life-threatening chronic illness of her own, Sophia embarked on a profound journey of healing that completely changed t...

What if living with a mental illness doesn’t mean giving up on the life you want? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Susan Johnson, author of Some Dreams Are Worth Keeping: A Memoir of My Bipolar Journey , to have an honest conversation about bipolar disorder, stigma, resilience, and hope. Diagnosed with Bipolar I in 1995, Susan has dedicated much of her life t...

What if you could train your brain the way you train your body? Today, Ofer A. Lidsky , founder and CEO of Excellent Brain , joins us for a fascinating conversation about neurotechnology, neurofeedback, ADHD, artificial intelligence, mindset, and the future of human performance. With a background in software development, cybersecurity, and system architecture, Ofer eventually turned his attention...

What if law firms don’t actually need more leads—but simply need to do a better job with the leads they already have? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Douglas Vannatta , founder of HD Intake Solutions, to explore the often-overlooked moments between a potential client making that first call and deciding whether to hire an attorney. Doug has spent years helpin...

What was it really like to be a young musician chasing rock and roll dreams in the 1960s? Today, we’re joined by Manny Freiser , author of Tracks In The Sands of Time, Volume I , a memoir chronicling his life, music, relationships, and adventures during one of the most exciting eras in rock history. Manny was a member of The Grodes , a garage rock band that rocked Tucson, Arizona from 1965 to 1968...

What if lasting change doesn't come from trying harder, fixing yourself, or finally finding the perfect self-help method? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled , Darlington sits down with Kerisma Vere , holistic wellness coach and author of The Light Switch Myth , for a powerful conversation about healing, self-trust, trauma-informed change, and why sustainable transformation rarely happens...