Elsplend Realities

Have you ever felt that your life was moving forward, yet something within you was asking for change? Sometimes, the most important transformation begins when we stop living on autopilot and start paying attention to who we are, what we feel, and who we are becoming. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we welcome Stacie Shifflett, bestselling author, entrepreneur, coauthor with Jack Canfield, a...

Can heartbreak become the beginning of something that brings hope to others? Sometimes, the most meaningful legacies emerge from our deepest losses—not because the pain was easy, but because love finds ways to keep making a difference. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we welcome Michael Gomoll, founder of Joey's Song, a nonprofit organization established in honor of his son, Joey, who passed...

Technology is changing how we live, work, communicate, and understand the world. But as innovation accelerates, an important question remains: Are we consciously shaping technology, or is technology quietly shaping us? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we welcome Ken Chester, a nationally syndicated automotive journalist, technology communicator, entrepreneur, and CEO of TechMobility Producti...

What does it take to build something meaningful when the path ahead is uncertain? Sometimes, growth begins not when we have all the answers, but when we find the courage to take the next step. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we welcome Dave Gulas, entrepreneur, podcast host, and co-founder of EZDC 3PL. After more than two decades in corporate leadership within the medical and pharmaceutical...

In a world filled with uncertainty, competing opinions, and predictions about the future, how do we distinguish truth from fear—and how should our beliefs shape the way we live today? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we welcome Branch Isole, an author, poet, storyteller, podcast host, and lifelong student of human choice, responsibility, and consequence. Drawing from his extensive writing an...

What if the pain we experience is only part of a much bigger story? Sometimes, the key to meaningful recovery isn't simply treating where it hurts, but understanding the deeper patterns contributing to the problem. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with David Jeter, a physical therapist with more than two decades of experience and owner of Acceleration Physical Therapy, about pain, m...

Why do the same misunderstandings, conflicts, and emotional patterns keep showing up in our relationships, even when we genuinely want things to change? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with Chris Fields, a relationship coach, NLP Master Practitioner, certified hypnotherapist, Marine Corps veteran, and former private investigator, about the hidden patterns that influence how we thin...

What happens when the responsibility of fatherhood becomes so overwhelming that a man begins to lose connection with himself? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with Tyler McAdams, single father, coach, and founder of Inspiring Father, about the emotional realities of fatherhood, the challenges of rebuilding after divorce, and the importance of becoming emotionally present for yoursel...

Why do some organizations struggle despite having talented people, clear strategies, and ambitious goals? Often, the problem lies beneath the surface—in the behaviors, relationships, and unhealthy patterns that quietly shape the workplace. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with Dr. Bryan Hughes, an author, speaker, and leadership and organizational health consultant with three decade...

What if the clothes we wear, the stories we consume, and the things we buy reveal more about us than we realize? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Courtney Barriger, an award-winning artist, published author, sustainable fashion designer, and storyteller, to explore the deeper connections between fashion, sustainability, psychology, mythology, and human consciousness. Through...

What happens when life challenges everything you thought you knew about yourself—and you must find the courage to rebuild from the inside out? In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, Michael Reschad Yearby, a 24-year Air Force Master Sergeant, author, and creator of The Anime Mindset movement, shares his journey through adversity, heartbreak, identity loss, and personal transformation. Dra...

What does it truly mean to succeed—not just financially, but in leadership, relationships, and the life we build? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Albert Butler, a CPA, MBA, author, and servant leader, shares valuable insights into the connection between financial wisdom, emotional intelligence, faith, and personal growth. Drawing from more than 25 years of professional experience and the pe...

What if the key to understanding ourselves isn't doing more, achieving more, or becoming more—but asking better questions about why we do what we do? In this thoughtful episode of Elsplend Realities, Amy Boyle, multimedia journalist, photographer, educator, and host of Speaking of Phenomenal, explores the deeper meaning behind our choices, identities, and life experiences. Drawing from her decades...

What happens when love takes us down a path we never expected, demanding more strength, patience, and courage than we ever imagined? In this heartfelt episode of Elsplend Realities, Nancy A. Ferraro, author of When the Bough Breaks, shares her deeply personal journey through motherhood, adoption, and the complex realities of raising a child with multiple disabilities while caring for her biologica...

What if the path to greater impact isn’t about doing more—but about knowing what to let go? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Nell Derick Debevoise Dewey, a strategist and leadership thinker who challenges one of the most deeply ingrained ideas of modern success: that more effort always leads to better results. Nell’s work as a Subtraction Strategist helps leaders identify wh...

What if the things we avoid because they seem frightening or complicated are actually invitations to deeper understanding? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Shama Stock, writer, homeschool mom, nutritionist, and founder of Revelation for Kids, for a thoughtful conversation about faith, Scripture, fear, and the search for clarity. Shama shares the unexpected journey that began...

What happens when we stop looking at history as a collection of dates and begin confronting the human stories behind it? In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with award-winning author M. E. Torrey to explore memory, morality, storytelling, and the difficult work of confronting America’s history of slavery. M. E. Torrey’s novel Fox Creek is the result of decades of reflection...

What happens when success arrives earlier than expected—and suddenly, the numbers aren’t the hardest part? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Chris McManus, an entrepreneur who began building his future straight out of high school and grew a landscaping business to multiple seven figures within seven years. Along the way, Chris earned multiple trade licenses, expanded into poo...

What if the biggest barriers to success aren’t technical at all—but hidden in the way people, teams, and organizations work together? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Simon Copsey, a delivery and transformation consultant who began his career as a developer and tech lead before turning his attention to the deeper human and organizational challenges behind successful software...

What if the words that once wounded you became the very reason you found your voice? In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Teresa “Rita” Robinson, a mother, TEDx speaker, author, and passionate advocate against bullying, to explore resilience, grief, identity, faith, and the courage to speak your truth. Teresa shares the deeply personal journey that shaped her—from being...

What happens when you achieve everything you once wanted—but still feel exhausted, disconnected, or unfulfilled? In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Cindy Rand, the “Busy Woman’s Cheerleader,” to explore what it really means to thrive without losing yourself in the process. A former certified Accountant, C-Suite Executive, and Business Finance Coach, Cindy now works as...

How much of what we believe is truly our own thinking—and how much is shaped by the people, systems, and information we trust? In this thought-provoking episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Michelle Stiles, teacher, author, and contrarian thinker, to explore the hidden patterns behind trust, influence, persuasion, and social conditioning. Michelle shares insights from her work in psycho...

What if strength isn’t about how much we can endure, but how honestly we can face what is happening within us? For many men, emotions can become something to suppress, avoid, or outrun—but beneath the performance of strength may be an invitation to heal, reconnect, and live more authentically. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Adam Tomlin, former attorney and host of the ACT OUT podcast, shar...

What happens when the strength that has carried you through years of responsibility begins to leave you feeling depleted? Leadership is often measured by what we accomplish and how much we can carry, but true resilience also requires knowing who we are beyond our roles, responsibilities, and achievements. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Marla Ballard, CEO of YU2SHINE and Director of Unconqu...

What does it take to build something that lasts in a world where growth, competition, and constant change are part of the journey? Sustainable success is about more than strategy and expansion—it begins with understanding people, embracing uncertainty, and leading with clarity, empathy, and intention. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, David Sauers, co-founder and CEO of Royal Restrooms, share...