Elsplend Realities

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Ilene Marcus — leadership expert, author of Managing Annoying People, and inventor of the iLean-Pan — to explore the real foundation of influence: self-mastery. With over 25 years of leadership experience across government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, Ilene shares practical insights on how people react under pressure, why emotional regu...

Financial anxiety rarely begins at retirement — it builds quietly over time, shaped by uncertainty, avoidance, and the pressure of not knowing whether we’re truly prepared for the future. In this grounded and insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Lance A. Mays, seasoned financial strategist, educator, and author of Zero Is Your Hero, to explore a new way of thinking about reti...

Failure has a way of revealing what success often hides. It exposes the pressure behind the momentum, the exhaustion beneath ambition, and the difference between building a life that looks successful… and one that actually feels sustainable. In this powerful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Ari Rastegar — real estate investor, entrepreneur, and author of The Gift of Failure — to exp...

Some of the most lasting lessons we ever learn begin with a story. Long before we fully understand the world, stories teach us about courage, kindness, friendship, curiosity, and the emotions that shape how we connect with others. And often, the simplest stories leave the deepest imprint. In this heartwarming episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with award-winning children’s author Linda Har...

Change rarely arrives with complete clarity. Sometimes it enters quietly — through shifting roles, unexpected endings, uncertain beginnings, or the slow realization that the version of life we once understood no longer fits the person we’re becoming. In this reflective episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Dr. Khutso Madubanya — change strategist, speaker, and creator of the P.I.V.O.T.™️...

Sometimes the struggles we experience in adulthood didn’t begin in adulthood at all. They began in the subtle emotional patterns we learned early — the need to keep the peace, the fear of disappointing others, the habit of overexplaining, overthinking, or carrying responsibility for everyone else’s emotions. In this deeply reflective episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Emily Harris, Li...

Long before someone listens to what we say… they’ve already decided how they feel about us. In a world where everyone is competing for attention, visibility has become easy to chase — but trust remains far more difficult to earn. In this compelling episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Andrew Colsky — founder of Be-Picked, creator of the Credibility Generator, and author of Left of Trust...

Some truths are not meant to be consumed quickly. They ask us to slow down, to question, to confront the contradictions we carry beneath the surface. In this thought-provoking episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Gerome Mauricio — known as The Highway Cipher — a brevity artist and poet whose work challenges readers to actively engage with language, identity, masculinity, and meaning its...

Leadership is often presented as confidence, certainty, and control. But behind the titles, meetings, and expectations… many leaders are quietly carrying pressure they were never prepared for. In this insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Marta Simeonova — former global HR transformation leader and leadership coach — to unpack the emotional and psychological realities of leade...

Some of the most meaningful lessons in life begin in childhood — hidden inside small moments, quiet questions, and the stories we carry with us for years. In this heartfelt episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Jennifer Ballow, social worker and author of Under My Pillow, to explore the emotional power of storytelling and the role it plays in shaping how children understand themselves an...

What happens after survival? How do we rebuild ourselves when trauma changes everything we thought we knew about life, identity, and mental health? In this deeply moving episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Nicholas Ruchlewicz, a trauma and brain injury survivor whose journey through recovery became a powerful mission of advocacy, healing, and hope. After a life-altering motorcycle acci...

In this empowering episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the inner skills that shape clarity, emotional resilience, and aligned living. Joined by transformational educator and intuitive guide Lynn M. Bunch, founder of Intuitive Development and creator of the ID Blueprint™️, this conversation dives into what it truly means to reconnect with your inner wisdom and create meaningful, lasting chang...

In this practical and insight-driven episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what truly makes business growth sustainable—and why so many founders and leaders feel stuck even when they’re doing everything “right.” Joined by Stewart Ervin, founder of Bracket Management and creator of the Built to Run: The $100M System™️, this conversation unpacks how structure, not just strategy, determines wheth...

In this insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore how emotional intelligence and people-centered leadership shape the way organizations function, grow, and succeed. Joined by Sandra Coker, founder and CEO of Human Power Solutions and author of People Profit, this conversation unpacks what it truly means to build workplaces where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered. With over t...

In this thought-provoking episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore how risk shapes not only business decisions, but also leadership, growth, and long-term success. Joined by strategic risk expert and bestselling author Steve Anderson (The Bezos Letters), this conversation unpacks how high-performing leaders transform uncertainty into opportunity through intentional thinking and disciplined action...

In this deeply compassionate episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the complex emotional landscape of grief, healing, and transformation after loss. Joined by grief coach, speaker, and writer Angela Clement, this conversation gently unpacks what it means to navigate life after profound change—and how to find meaning, connection, and resilience in the midst of sorrow. Angela shares her personal...

In this deeply reflective episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the journey of rebuilding self-worth after emotional disruption, betrayal, and identity shifts. Joined by Julie Feldman, founder and CEO of Aurenda, this conversation unpacks what it truly means to return to yourself after life experiences that challenge your sense of stability, trust, and direction. From her background in fitness...

In this deeply moving episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means to move from survival into healing, and from silence into self-expression. Joined by Pamela Michaux, author of Mundele Diaries, this conversation unpacks a powerful journey across continents, cultures, and personal adversity—centred on identity, trauma, resilience, and reclaiming one’s voice. Pamela shares her lived expe...

In this empowering episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what happens when outward success no longer feels fulfilling — and why true growth often requires more than talent, ambition, or hard work alone. Joined by Mark Bruce and Duane Gibbs, co-founders of Huddle for Success, this conversation dives into the mindset shifts, leadership principles, and support systems that help high performers br...

In this deeply insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the realities of chronic stress, emotional overload, and the hidden pressure many people carry every day. Joined by clinical psychologist and stress reduction expert Dr. Alana Atchison, this conversation unpacks how stress impacts the mind, body, emotions, and relationships—and what it truly means to build a life rooted in balance...

In this insightful episode of Elsplend Realities, we dive into the hidden patterns of self-sabotage, overthinking, and mental paralysis that often keep people from reaching their full potential. Joining us is Nicholas Clapham, founder of Safe and Sound Coaching and creator of the PRECISE goal-setting model, who shares neuroscience-based strategies for breaking destructive cycles and moving from he...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means to live at the intersection of structure and surrender — where identity is fluid, transformation is continuous, and meaning is shaped through lived experience rather than fixed roles. We are joined by Sarah Marshall, a novelist and lifelong seeker whose journey spans service in the United States Navy, leadership in technology, and dec...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we dive into the psychology of behavior, emotional blocks, and human potential — exploring how deeper self-understanding can transform not only mental wellbeing, but also relationships, decision-making, and success. We are joined by Blair Dunkley, a Life Skills Coach, NLP practitioner, and one of the world’s leading psychological profilers. Creator of Mind Mo...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the complex emotional terrain of shame, identity, and spiritual wholeness — and what it means to reconcile faith with authentic human experience. Joining us is Juno B. Thorne, author of Sacred Freedom. Through his work and personal journey, Juno speaks to Christian men who feel burdened by the expectations of purity culture, offering a path toward...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it truly means to move from overwhelm into balance — and how emotional awareness, self-leadership, and intentional living can reshape the way we experience both work and life. We are joined by Arlene Cohen Miller, a Work-Life Harmony and Leadership Coach, Professional Certified Coach (ICF), attorney, and transformational mentor. With decades o...