Elsplend Realities

What if success isn’t a straight line—but a long sequence of experiments, setbacks, and recalibrations that quietly shape better judgment over time? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with Kevin Shtofman, investor, advisor, speaker, and software executive with over 21 years in real estate technology and experience spanning more than 100 countries. His career has moved across consultin...

What does it mean to create not for recognition, but for service? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Brigitte Donoho, award-winning songwriter, singer, and worship artist whose music has reached churches, festivals, and media across the country. Known for her sincerity and grounded presence, Brigitte shares a life shaped by faith, family, and a long-standing commitment to usin...

What does it take to stay true to yourself when everything around you quietly invites you to forget your boundaries? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with Teresa Bergen, travel writer and author of Sober Travel Handbook: Navigating the World Alcohol-Free. Drawing from her lived experience in long-term sobriety and years of global travel, Teresa explores what it really means to move...

What if the parts of you that once felt chaotic, intense, or unmanageable weren’t flaws—but signals pointing you toward purpose? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Steve Sxaks (Steven Boehm)—punk rock musician, touring artist, audio engineer, educator, veteran, and author. From the raw energy of punk rock to the discipline of military service and the craft of studio production...

Why do so many meetings feel draining, disconnected, or invisible—even when they’re meant to bring people together? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with Andrew Davies, Better Meetings Director and co-founder of Artly Working, a company that uses improvisation and theatre principles to help organizations like Netflix, Google, Meta, and Roblox build more connected, collaborative team...

Have you ever known something before you could explain it? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore intuition, meaning, and the unseen layers of human experience with Cheryl Bradley, author of the upcoming A Spirit’s Journey. Drawing from her work as a spiritual medium and her reflections on the soul’s journey before and after life, Cheryl invites a gentle conversation about trust, inner...

What if the biggest limitation in your life isn’t external circumstances—but the identity you’ve unconsciously accepted? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Lucie Ptasznik, national speaker, coach, and serial entrepreneur whose work focuses on identity transformation, subconscious rewiring, and aligned action. Drawing from a background that includes quantum physics and extensiv...

Why do the same patterns keep repeating in our lives, even when we’re trying so hard to change? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with Dr. J.D. Pincus, social psychologist and author of The Emotionally Agile Brain. Drawing on decades of research, he introduces the concept of the “emotional fingerprint” — a unique configuration of core emotional needs that quietly shapes our decisions...

In a time where polarization often speaks the loudest, what does it look like to choose presence over protest, and dialogue over division? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we follow the journey of Teddy Bloom, engineering technician, endurance athlete, and organizer of Ride4Rights — a cross-country bicycle ride from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge to the Washington Monument in Washington,...

What happens when family communication breaks down — and how do we begin to repair it without blame, overwhelm, or perfectionism? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit down with Kerre Burley, affectionately known as the family whisperer. With over five decades of experience supporting parents and children, Kerre brings a grounded, practical, and deeply compassionate approach to family dyna...

When a child struggles with focus, sleep, anxiety, or restlessness, we often look to behavior or development for answers. But what if the body has been signaling something deeper all along? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we speak with Dr. Leslie Pasco, founder of MyoWay Centers for Kids and a licensed dentist whose work bridges dentistry, airway health, and child development. With nearly t...

Many of us are living inside stories we never consciously chose — shaped by family dynamics, cultural expectations, and survival patterns passed down long before we had a voice. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit with Lin Green — award-winning community advocate, author of Enough with the Secrets, Mama!, and a powerful voice at the intersection of personal healing and collective transfo...

What if the seasons that broke you were never meant to define you, but to reveal you? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the hidden intelligence within adversity — where suffering, loss, and collapse become unexpected gateways to awakening. Our guest, Sue Paulson, best-selling author and “Magnificence Mentor,” shares a deeply personal journey through divorce, bankruptcy, near-death,...

Success is often measured by what we achieve—but lasting fulfillment depends on something deeper: whether our actions are aligned with who we truly are. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the connection between identity, behavior, and sustainable performance—and what happens when there’s a gap between how we show up and who we believe ourselves to be. Our guest, Douglas McCall (The...

Every interaction we have is shaped by subtle signals—tone, timing, language, and subconscious patterns that influence how we perceive others and how we are perceived in return. Most of this happens automatically, without awareness. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the hidden architecture of human behavior and communication, and what it means to become more conscious of the patter...

Some stories don’t begin with opportunity—they begin with survival. And yet, what happens after survival is often where the most meaningful transformation begins. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means to move beyond endurance and into intentional rebuilding—where identity is no longer defined by trauma, but shaped by conscious choice, accountability, and growth. Our guest...

Many high-achieving women look successful on the outside—but feel misaligned, disconnected, or unfulfilled on the inside. The result is a life that functions well on paper, yet doesn’t feel fully lived. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means to stop living on autopilot and start intentionally designing a life rooted in values, strengths, and personal meaning. Our guest, Dr...

What if scaling a business doesn’t require scaling stress, complexity, or headcount? In a world dominated by “scale or die” thinking, hustle culture, and growth-at-all-costs strategies, many service businesses find themselves overworked, underpriced, and unclear about what actually drives sustainable success. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we challenge conventional wisdom around business g...

There are parts of ourselves we rarely show—the emotional reactions, buried memories, and quiet patterns that surface only when life gets still or overwhelming. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore shadow work as a pathway to self-awareness, emotional healing, and reconnection with the parts of ourselves we’ve learned to suppress or ignore. Our guest, shadow work coach, doula, speaker...

Many of the systems that shape our daily lives appear stable, efficient, and intelligent on the surface—yet beneath that surface lies complexity, fragility, and constant trade-offs that are rarely visible until something breaks. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we step inside the hidden architecture of modern systems—technological, organizational, and social—and explore what their failures r...

Who are you when the roles disappear—when the uniform is off, the spotlight fades, and the expectations no longer define you? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore identity beyond achievement, image, and external validation—and what it takes to face yourself when performance is no longer enough. Our guest, Navy veteran, former athlete, actor, and author John David Gregory, shares a dee...

What if the way we care for our animals reveals something deeper about how we understand connection, belonging, and love itself? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore how emotional intelligence and intentional design can reshape not just relationships—but business itself. Our guest, Courtney Honda, President of Puptqe USA Corp., shares the story behind a brand inspired by Champ, a dog...

Sometimes the first signs of imbalance don’t arrive loudly—they show up as subtle fatigue, anxiety, hormonal disruption, or a quiet sense of disconnection from your own body. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means when the body begins to “whisper,” and how high-achieving women often miss these early signals while continuing to perform, achieve, and push forward. Our guest,...

There is a moment many people quietly experience—when success no longer feels like success. The goals are achieved, the expectations are met, and yet something deeper remains unsettled. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the inner tension between achievement and alignment, and what it takes to rebuild a life that feels as good internally as it looks externally. Our guest, transforma...

Many high-functioning women appear composed, capable, and successful on the outside—while internally carrying exhaustion, misalignment, and a quiet sense of disconnection. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what happens when performance replaces presence, and how to begin returning to a more honest, aligned relationship with yourself. Our guest, transformation facilitator, speaker,...