Elsplend Realities

In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the deeper systems, emotions, and choices that shape how society responds to sexual violence — and what it would take to transform those responses into something more humane, effective, and survivor-centered. We are joined by Tracy DeTomasi, CEO of Callisto, licensed clinical social worker, and long-time leader in trauma, justice, and syst...

What does it take to lead with clarity when the pressure is high and the stakes are real? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with entrepreneur and global business strategist Rion Westfall to explore the mindset shifts, emotional resilience, and leadership principles that fuel long-term success. From engineering projects tied to the Department of Defense to launching and scaling com...

In this insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, leadership, and emotional intelligence in a rapidly changing world. Bestselling author and Fractional Chief AI Officer John Michael Thomas joins us to unpack how leaders can approach AI with clarity, confidence, and practical strategy — without getting lost in hype or fear. Together, we discus...

In this deeply compassionate episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the emotional realities of loving someone struggling with addiction and the healing journey that families often face in silence. Certified life coach Jennifer Chase joins us to share her personal story as a woman in long-term recovery, the daughter of an alcoholic, and the mother of a recovering addict. Together, we unpack the...

In this deeply honest episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the emotional side of growth, leadership, and personal transformation. Entrepreneur, business leader, gym owner, and storyteller Ken Cox joins us for a raw and insightful conversation about recovery, resilience, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and learning how to show up authentically in every season of life. Together, we unpack the pre...

In this thought-provoking episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the deeper relationship between stress, trauma, resilience, and human potential. Joining us is researcher and innovator Stan Kurtz, whose work examines the hidden biological and neurological patterns that can affect clarity, energy, emotional balance, and overall well-being. Together, we discuss how chronic stress and unresolved e...

What happens when life doesn’t follow the path you imagined? In this heartfelt episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with writer, voice actor, audiobook narrator, and From Foster to Forever podcast host Rachel Fulginiti to explore the emotional journey of infertility, miscarriage, foster care, and adoption. Rachel shares the resilience it took to navigate uncertainty, the lessons she learned...

What happens when a defining chapter of life comes to a close — and a new one begins before you feel ready? In this reflective episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Jay Ramsden, certified personal and executive coach and host of This Empty Nest Life, for a conversation about mid-life transitions, identity shifts, and the emotional complexity of stepping into a new season of life. Jay bri...

Why do so many people achieve success but still feel disconnected from their lives? In this reflective episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Chandra Lynn — Certified Transformation Coach, author of Root-to-Rise: How to Love Life, and founder of Glow Living — for a conversation about emotional awareness, resilience, and the shift from survival mode into intentional living. Drawing from ove...

Why does exhaustion persist even when you’re doing everything “right”? In this grounded episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Dr. Maureen ‘Moe’ Gibbons — emergency medicine physician, entrepreneur, and author of Freedom to SHIFT — for a conversation that reframes burnout not as a failure of discipline, but as a breakdown of capacity. Drawing from her experience working in high-pressure m...

What if the real problem isn’t your strategy — but a lack of clarity underneath it? In this thoughtful episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Dan Crask, founder of Brand Shepherd and creator of the Vibe, Tribe, & Why®️ framework, for a conversation about alignment, intentional growth, and the deeper emotional work behind sustainable success. Dan helps founders and leaders slow down before...

What does strong leadership actually look like when the pressure is constant and the stakes are high? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Clint Rusch — award-winning executive, decorated combat veteran, and experienced business leader — for a conversation about resilience, emotional steadiness, and navigating responsibility with clarity. From military service to executive leade...

What if the body already knows how to heal — even when the mind feels stuck? In this grounding episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Melanie Smithson, licensed somatic psychotherapist and author of Stress Free in 30 Seconds, for a conversation about stress, emotional release, and the powerful wisdom stored within the body. Melanie’s work explores how unresolved emotions, chronic stress, a...

Why do so many people feel disconnected from themselves even when they seem to be doing everything “right”? In this reflective episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Dr. Glenn Berger — psychotherapist, coach, and author of Never Say No to a Rock Star — for a conversation about emotional disconnection, inner fulfillment, and the quiet process of finding your way back to yourself. Drawing fr...

What makes leadership truly effective in high-pressure environments? In this insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Traci Austin, a transformational leadership strategist and workforce development expert helping leaders in construction and skilled trades build stronger teams, healthier workplace cultures, and more confident leadership practices. With more than two decades of ex...

What happens when the life plan you trusted suddenly falls apart? In this deeply reflective episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with David Nassief to explore the emotional and practical realities of starting over later in life. After being fired at 63 from an 18-year corporate career—with almost no retirement savings and no clear next step—David faced a fear many people quietly carry: What...

Can faith and science truly coexist—or have we been taught to see them as opposites? In this thoughtful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Dr. Angela Deulen to explore the profound intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and spiritual formation. Drawing from decades of clinical experience, behavioral neuroscience research, and Biblical scholarship, Angela unpacks how the human brain...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means to build confidence, resilience, and self-trust in environments where you may feel unseen, underestimated, or outnumbered. This is a conversation about identity, leadership, and the quiet but powerful decision to stop shrinking in spaces that were not always designed with you in mind. Our guest, Samantha Kaye Harris, is a Workforce Re...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it truly means to slow down, reconnect with the body, and return to a sense of inner safety. Many people live in cycles of emotional overwhelm, survival mode, and disconnection without realizing how deeply their nervous system is shaping their daily experience. Our guest, Natalie Bedard—also known as NatNat—is an Emotional Healing and Nervous...

In this deeply moving episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means to live with loss, navigate trauma, and slowly rebuild a sense of safety and meaning after profound tragedy. This conversation centers on grief, resilience, faith, and the quiet courage it takes to keep choosing healing when the past refuses to stay silent. Our guest, Allicia Johnson Niles—author, speaker, and educator—s...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the deeply personal and often difficult terrain of trust, betrayal, and emotional safety in relationships. Many people enter love seeking connection, only to find themselves navigating confusion, red flags they didn’t see in time, and the lasting impact of emotional harm. Our guest, Justin Smith—entrepreneur and founder of the dating safety app Cra...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it truly means to move out of survival mode and reconnect with the body’s natural intelligence. So many people are navigating chronic stress, burnout, and emotional disconnection while still appearing “fine” on the outside—often without realizing how deeply their nervous system has adapted to cope. Our guest, Kelly Hale (also known as Kelly Ka...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the foundation of all meaningful relationships: the one you have with yourself. From there, we move into the patterns, triggers, and communication styles that shape how we connect with others—and how those patterns can either create distance or deepen intimacy. We’re joined by Paige Farrington and Ashlyn Farrington, a mother-daughter duo behind Lov...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it truly means to move forward in the face of physical limitation, uncertainty, and fear—and how resilience is often built one careful step at a time. This conversation centers on courage not as a personality trait, but as a practiced way of showing up for life, especially when conditions are far from ideal. We’re joined by Darrow Kirkpatrick,...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore a life shaped by extremes—early adversity, high-stakes leadership in global corporations, pioneering work in early AI, and a parallel career as a novelist, inventor, and adventurer. It’s a conversation about how resilience is built, how judgment is sharpened under pressure, and how curiosity can become a lifelong operating system. We’re joined by G...