Elsplend Realities

In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the deeper layers of trauma, healing, and self-reclamation with integrative trauma therapist Christina Simmons, founder of Revitalizing Inner Self Essence®️. With over a decade of experience supporting survivors of trauma, domestic violence, and systemic stress, Christina shares how true healing goes far beyond simply coping—it’s about rec...

In this thought-provoking episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the emotional landscape many men quietly navigate but rarely talk about. Our guest, Jason Lange, is a men’s embodiment coach, group facilitator, and certified No More Mr. Nice Guy coach who has spent nearly two decades helping men reconnect with their emotions, their purpose, and their authentic sense of self. Jason shares deep in...

In this open and deeply human episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore one of the most misunderstood areas of emotional life—intimacy. Our guest, Mandy Hart, is a Certified Sexologist, Intimacy Coach, and founder of Hart’s Desire, where she helps individuals and couples untangle shame, reconnect with their bodies, and build healthier relationships with desire, pleasure, and emotional expression....

In this insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the invisible systems that shape the way we communicate, lead, and navigate high-pressure moments in life and work. Leadership is often described as a personality trait or a natural talent, but today’s conversation challenges that idea by revealing the deeper patterns underneath how humans respond, grow, and connect. Our guest, Sandy Que...

Some experiences in life challenge the way we understand reality itself. In this thought-provoking episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the powerful intersection of emotional intelligence, spirituality, and intuition with D. Paul Fleming — a Disabled U.S. Navy Veteran, Native American Holy Man, healer, Heyoka, and seer. D. Paul’s life journey is one that moves between worlds. From serving in...

What does it really mean to come home to yourself after life has pulled you apart? In this deeply heartfelt episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Ashana Kaiulani, trauma support specialist, reclamation coach, and founder of Way Home Wellness. Ashana has devoted her life to helping women rediscover their voice, rebuild self-trust, and reconnect with the parts of themselves that trauma, be...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the hidden exhaustion many high-performing women carry behind competence, responsibility, and outward success. Our guest, Valerie Pedigo, founder of Renewed Spirit Adventures, shares how burnout is often more than fatigue—it’s a signal calling us back to alignment, authenticity, and self-trust. Through a blend of nervous system work, embodiment pra...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the emotional intelligence behind awareness, intuition, and personal safety. Our guest, Dione Chan—a former close-protection officer and Director at ICP Group Australia—shares insights from years spent in high-stakes environments where presence, perception, and emotional control can make the difference in critical moments. Dione’s work goes beyond...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the inner emotional patterns that quietly shape how we think, relate, and move through life. Our guest, Phillip Quinones, a mental health professional with academic training from Georgia State University and Brenau University, joins us to unpack the deeper layers of emotional awareness, relationships, and personal growth. Phillip shares insights fr...

In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we step into a deeply honest conversation about survival, identity, and the long road of rebuilding after life’s hardest seasons. Our guest, Mr. Whiskey, is a U.S. Navy veteran, speaker, preacher, and the host of the Couple O’ Nukes Podcast—a platform where raw conversations about suicide, addiction, faith, and recovery create space for truth and hea...

In this heartfelt episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it truly means to navigate life’s storms with resilience, faith, and emotional clarity. Our guest, Bill Derrick, is a longtime family business leader in the construction industry and the author of Restored by the Storm. After guiding his company through the challenges of the Great Recession, Bill faced a deeply personal battle—being...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we step beyond titles, exits, and surface-level achievement to explore what success truly means. Tech pioneer Frank Gessner joins us to reflect on a journey that spans early online innovation, global company building, and the inner evolution that followed. After helping build one of the world’s first online stores and scaling multiple ventures, Frank began as...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what happens when a life defined by structure, vigilance, and responsibility evolves into one shaped by imagination and meaning. Terrence L. Rotering—a retired United States Air Force officer and former weapon systems officer with fifteen years at NORAD—shares the inner journey that led him from military precision to epic storytelling. Now the auth...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the quiet frustration of wanting change but feeling stuck in cycles of inconsistency, guilt, and self-criticism. Clinical psychologist Dr. Matt Campbell joins us to unpack why motivation fades, why perfectionism backfires, and why structure—not pressure—is the key to lasting well-being. As co-creator of Our Primal 5, Dr. Campbell shares a grounded,...

Many high-achievers carry the weight of responsibility without ever asking if it truly belongs to them. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Stephen McConnell—founder of the Growth Myndset Initiative and personal mastery coach—shares his journey from overcontrol, emotional suppression, and addiction to clarity, alignment, and intentional action. We explore the hidden cost of doing everything “ri...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we welcome Taryn LaRae Gordon — business strategist, speaker, and founder of Taryn LaRae’s Business Hub — for a heartfelt conversation about rebuilding after loss, stepping into alignment, and leading with authenticity. Taryn shares her journey of transforming profound personal loss into a platform for leadership, clarity, and legacy. With over two decades of...

In this inspiring episode of Elsplend Realities, we welcome Dr. Cynthia Rapaido — award-winning educator, principal, university lecturer, leadership coach, and author of Step Up Your School Leadership Game — for a deeply meaningful conversation about what leadership truly requires beneath the surface. With over three decades in education, Dr. Rapaido shares the emotional realities behind school le...

In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Omar Ritter — U.S. Army veteran, West Point graduate, Bronze Star recipient, former Wall Street executive, and author of West Point to Wall Street: My Journey to Mental Wellness — for an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, and mental health. From leading soldiers in combat to managing billion-dollar financial operations...

In this thought-provoking episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the power of perception, intuition, and the inner signals that guide us toward purpose. Motivational speaker and founder of The SeeLink, Caleb Matthews, joins us to discuss how dreams, history, spirituality, and lived experience shape the way we navigate life’s crossroads. Caleb shares insights from over two decades of helping peo...

In this transformative episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what happens when high-achieving women stop chasing validation and start choosing alignment. Dating expert and somatic life coach Lauren Salaun joins us for a deeply grounded conversation about nervous system regulation, feminine embodiment, boundaries, and creating relationships that feel safe, fulfilling, and emotionally mature. La...

In this deeply honest episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means to rediscover yourself after years of shrinking, adapting, or disappearing within relationships and roles. Author and Certified Divorce Coach Kristen Crabtree joins us to talk about identity, psychological abuse, self-trust, and the quiet resilience required to rebuild a life rooted in authenticity. Kristen shares how pe...

In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it truly means to redefine success on your own terms. Personal development coach and speaker Amy Lenius joins us for an honest conversation about alignment, consistency, and the courage to rebuild yourself from the inside out. After navigating chronic illness and a deep personal transformation, Amy now guides women toward sustainable...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the deeper dimensions of self-improvement, emotional intelligence, and sustainable peak performance with entrepreneur and podcast host Alan Lazaros, Founder and CEO of Next Level University—a global Top 100 podcast reaching listeners in over 180 countries. After experiencing profound personal loss at a young age and surviving a near-fatal car accid...

In this profound episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what happens when life as you know it falls apart — and how that unraveling can become the doorway to deeper authenticity. Entrepreneur, mindfulness teacher, and author Ray Martin shares the story behind his fourteen-year journey of self-discovery after the sudden loss of his marriage, business partnership, and father reshaped his world. W...

In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what happens when outward success no longer feels aligned with inner truth. Dr. Crystal T. Harrell — #1 best-selling author, TEDx speaker, public health scholar, and mindfulness educator — joins us for a deeply honest conversation about ambition, trauma, healing, and conscious transformation. From growing up in public housing in Alabama to...