Elsplend Realities

What does it take to start again—not at the beginning of life, but in the middle of it? In this inspiring episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Joni Marie Iraci — award-winning author of Vatican Daughter, former registered nurse, and Columbia University MFA graduate who earned her degree at 65 — for a conversation about reinvention, creative courage, and the power of claiming your voice...

What happens when fear, vulnerability, and trust intersect inside the healthcare system? In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Julie Siemers — patient safety consultant, nurse leader, educator, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author of Surviving Your Hospital Stay — for an eye-opening conversation about how patients and families can navigate hospitals with clarity, confide...

What if the version of you you’re trying to escape is not permanent—but learned? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Alex Duenas — mindset trainer, fitness entrepreneur, and personal development coach — for a grounded conversation about discipline, identity, and what it really takes to change the direction of your life. Alex’s journey began in an environment shaped by bullying,...

Midlife is often described as a transition—but for many women, it’s also a turning point. In this empowering episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Cheryl Fischer — certified life and mindset coach, former corporate consultant, and host of the Mind Your Midlife podcast — for a grounded and insightful conversation about reinvention, confidence, and emotional resilience in midlife. Cheryl w...

Some stories change you quietly. They don’t always arrive with visible signs or easy language. Instead, they settle into the rhythms of everyday life—shaping how you love, parent, grieve, and continue moving forward while carrying experiences few people fully understand. In this deeply honest episode of Elsplend Realities, we’re joined by Val Kleppen — writer, speaker, podcast host, homeschooling...

What happens when the systems we depend on no longer feel stable, sustainable, or aligned with the way we truly want to live? In this thought-provoking episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Nick Rosen — author, documentary maker, journalist, and pioneer in the off-grid living movement — for a conversation about resilience, modern dependence, and what it means to reclaim agency in an incr...

What happens when you stop blaming your past and start taking ownership of your future? In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Branden Lanette — best-selling author, mindset coach, and host of the Listen Bitch Podcast — for an honest conversation about emotional discipline, self-sabotage, faith, and personal responsibility. From being emancipated as a teenager to building...

What happens when life gives you a second chance? In this deeply reflective episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Sig Muller — leadership expert, resilience advocate, and founder of Be the World’s Best — whose life changed forever after surviving a sudden cardiac arrest that left him clinically dead for more than eight minutes. Rather than returning to life with fear, Sig emerged with a...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores how curiosity can transform leadership, communication, and the way we navigate uncertainty in business and life. We are joined by Tyler Chisholm, CEO, author of Curious as Hell: Leading and Growing with Curiosity, and co-founder of clearmotive Marketing Group. Having grown his company from a two-person startup into a national firm—and...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores what it means to live and work across cultures, identities, and disciplines—without losing connection to yourself along the way. We are joined by Kate Padget-Koh, a global fashion and sportswear professional, artist, and creative thinker whose 30+ year career spans Europe and Asia. Alongside her extensive work in building brands, supp...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores what it truly means to start over—not from failure, but from the realization that something in your life no longer fits who you are becoming. We are joined by Tiffanie Janowitz, whose lived experience spans personal reinvention, entrepreneurship, and a life-altering moment of self-advocacy during a critical health challenge. Through e...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores how technology can either distance us—or bring us closer together—depending on how intentionally it is designed. We are joined by Matt Smith, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Speak2 Family, a platform built to simplify communication between aging adults, their families, and caregivers through intuitive, accessible digital and voice t...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores a quieter revolution in leadership—one that prioritizes mental wellness, capacity, and inner regulation over constant pressure and overperformance. We are joined by LaKisha Mosley, mental wellness-led leadership strategist and founder of Soft Simple CEO, whose work challenges the belief that success must come at the cost of exhaustion...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores a quieter, more intentional form of leadership—one rooted not in dominance or control, but in accountability, self-awareness, and care for the people around us. We are joined by Trevor Stevenson, co-founder of ConsciousLead and creator of FUNdaMENtal and Adventure Coaching Experiences, whose work helps leaders and men reconnect with t...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores what it truly means to lead effectively in high-pressure environments without sacrificing humanity, trust, or well-being along the way. We are joined by Kathy Eastwood, CEO and creator of the E3 Leadership Code, whose decades of experience across global corporations, startups, and private equity-backed companies have shaped a deeply p...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores the emotional realities beneath binge-eating, cravings, and the silent struggles many women carry around food and self-worth. We are joined by Nadège “Nan” Saysana, certified Life and Weight Loss Coach and Havening Techniques practitioner, whose personal journey through decades of emotional eating, restrictive dieting, and shame cycle...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores what it truly means to build a successful life—not just externally through work and achievement, but internally through resilience, purpose, and self-awareness. We are joined by Jay Meacham, executive coach, business strategist, and advocate for residential homebuilders and skilled trades professionals. Drawing from a life shaped by p...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores the hidden emotional cost of high achievement—and the deeper inner work required to lead without losing yourself. We are joined by Nicole Anderson, leadership partner at The Kaler Group and co-creator of The Inner Work of Leaders, whose work challenges one of modern leadership’s most accepted myths: that burnout is simply the price of...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores the hidden emotional patterns that quietly shape how we relate, react, and move through life. Joined by Dr. Rebecca Payne, licensed psychologist and relationship expert, we unpack the psychology behind attachment styles, anxiety, boundaries, trauma responses, and recurring relationship dynamics. With a grounded and relatable approach,...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores the hidden emotional cost of high achievement—and what it means to reconnect with yourself beyond performance and external success. We are joined by Cassandra Crawley Mayo, author, speaker, mentor, and former Fortune 500 executive, whose leadership journey spans more than 25 years in corporate America. As one of the first and only Afr...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores the emotional side of money—the hidden beliefs, fears, and internal patterns that quietly shape financial decisions and self-worth. We are joined by Monica Kaufman, Certified Financial Planner™️ and founder of Harmony Wealth Academy, whose work bridges financial strategy with deep behavioral insight. Rather than focusing solely on num...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores the deeper meaning of leadership—beyond titles, ambition, or authority—and into the human realities of courage, service, and responsibility. We are joined by Christopher Rivers, former Army officer, combat veteran, strategist, and author of You Shouldn’t Have to Kill to Get Ahead. From serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to working in dip...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores the often-overlooked emotional side of planning—how the process of organizing experiences can reveal deeper truths about communication, expectations, and human connection. We are joined by DeeJay Laughbon, founder of Map2Moments, a platform reimagining travel planning through hospitality, emotional ease, and intentional collaboration....

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores what it means to lead, parent, and live with calm intention in a world that often pulls us into stress and reactivity. We are joined by Pennie Wilson, Mental Fitness coach and certified hypnotherapist, who helps parents, teachers, and leaders develop emotional regulation, nervous system awareness, and conscious control over their inne...

In collaboration with Elsplend Realities, this episode explores what it truly takes to build lasting leadership—from within. We are joined by Rich Ashton, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 45 years of experience acquiring, operating, and transitioning small businesses. Faced with the common leadership dilemma of choosing between external hires and internal growth, Rich chose a different path: deve...