Elsplend Realities

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...

What happens when the life you've worked so hard to build no longer feels true to who you are? Sometimes, the greatest turning point isn't achieving more, but finding the courage to question what success means and choosing a path rooted in purpose, values, and inner fulfillment. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Ken Davenport, entrepreneur, author, coach, and speaker, shares his journey from...

Have you ever been so busy keeping everything together that you slowly lost connection with yourself? Behind the responsibilities, expectations, and constant demands of life, exhaustion can become a quiet signal that something needs to change. What if true resilience begins not with pushing harder, but with listening to your body, honoring your emotions, and choosing to live with greater intention...

What does it mean to keep living fully when someone you love is dying—and how do you find your way forward when they're gone? Grief can reshape everything we know about love, faith, and identity, yet even in the deepest sorrow, there can still be room for courage, laughter, purpose, and new beginnings. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Rachel Kerr Schneider, author and speaker, shares her jou...

When loss turns life upside down, families are often left navigating difficult decisions, unfamiliar systems, and overwhelming emotions all at once. In those moments, what people need most isn't just information or professional guidance—it’s someone who can bring clarity, compassion, and steadiness when everything feels uncertain. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Stephie Prestridge, an attor...

Not every meaningful experience comes with a clear explanation. Sometimes the moments that stay with us are the ones that leave us curious—inviting us to slow down, pay attention, and remain open to what we may not yet understand. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Robert O. Bowers, storyteller, outdoorsman, and self-published author, shares how decades of adventures, nature, and real-life exp...

There are seasons when love means standing beside someone without being able to change their choices or control the outcome. In those moments, faith can become less about having answers and more about learning to remain present, prayerful, compassionate, and hopeful through the uncertainty. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Debra McNinch, speaker, author, and founder of the BATTLECRY Prayer M...

What if some of the tension we experience in relationships isn’t simply about two people failing to connect, but about deeper patterns of fear, shame, protection, and misunderstanding shaping how they show up? Marriage can become more than a relationship to maintain—it can become a partnership rooted in unity, grace, responsibility, and intentional connection. In this episode of Elsplend Realities...

Grief doesn’t always arrive as one overwhelming moment. Sometimes it unfolds quietly, changing the way we think, feel, and experience ourselves while teaching us how to carry what remains. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Katie Rizzo shares her deeply personal journey of losing her firstborn son to addiction and discovering an unexpected way to understand grief through the metaphor of pregna...

You can build something real, develop deep expertise, and still struggle to make people see the value you bring. The challenge isn’t always knowing more—it’s learning how to translate what you know into a voice, message, and presence that others can recognize and connect with. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Ben Pines, marketer and strategist and former first marketer at Elementor, shares i...

What happens when you’ve achieved what you once wanted, yet still find yourself asking, “What do I actually want next?” Sometimes uncertainty isn’t a sign that something has gone wrong—it can be a natural part of outgrowing a path that once fit who you were. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Julian Lighton, strategy practitioner, executive coach, and author of Navigating Your Next, explores c...

How often do we leave the moment we’re actually living? Our minds can pull us backward into what has already happened or forward into what hasn’t happened yet, leaving us overlooking the only place where life is truly unfolding—the present. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Billy Mandarino, author, speaker, and self-described “Now-ist,” explores the power of presence, awareness, and learning...

Sometimes the problem isn’t a lack of effort—it’s a lack of clarity. You can be working harder, putting in the hours, and building something that looks successful from the outside while still feeling uncertain about what’s really happening underneath. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Dan Bamper, Profit Coach and fractional CFO, shares his journey from teaching chemistry and navigating a stru...

Relationships aren’t always changed by the big moments. Sometimes, it’s the small things we say, the way we listen, how we respond under pressure, and the patterns we repeat that quietly shape whether we feel connected or disconnected. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Rebecca Mullen, author of 6 Steps to Better Marriage Communication and host of Habits for Your Happily Ever After, explores t...

Mental health conversations are becoming more common in workplaces and everyday life, but awareness is only the beginning. What might be possible when modern psychological science meets the wisdom of ancient contemplative traditions? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Bill Belanger, founder and CEO of Healbright, explores the intersection of psychotherapy, Buddhist psychology, meditation, and...

What happens when your life looks successful from the outside, but something inside you feels misaligned? Sometimes the challenge isn’t that anything is obviously wrong—it’s the quiet realization that the life you’ve built may no longer reflect what you truly want. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Carla Coates, a leadership coach, explores the space between achievement and fulfillment, shari...