Elsplend Realities

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...

In this intimate episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what happens when a woman who has done everything “right” begins to question the life she built. Polish-born author and poet Karina, writing under the pen name K. K. Biernath, shares the deeply personal journey behind her memoir Karina: One Woman’s Journey from Fear to Freedom — a story first written for her children and later offered to t...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the powerful connection between personal transformation and community impact. Public health writer, editor, and advocate Venchele Saint Dic joins the conversation to share how storytelling, resilience, and leadership intersect in her work to improve health access and empower families. From her journey as an author and founder of MESFAMI Care Inc. t...

In this energizing episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the powerful connection between physical strength and mental resilience. Because true confidence isn’t just about how you look — it’s about how you think, the habits you build, and the way you show up for yourself consistently. Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach McKenzie Jacobs joins the conversation to share her journey from...

In this uplifting episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore joy as a mindset, creativity as a life practice, and happiness as a choice we can return to again and again. Life and executive coach, speaker, and debut children’s book author 'Terry Bean' joins the conversation to share the inspiration behind her book ABRACADABRA and her belief that happiness is a superpower available to all of...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore how resilience is built not through certainty, but through awareness, adaptability, and mindset. Our guest, Bart Merrell—international entrepreneur, author, and creator of Monetize Your Mindset—shares a life shaped by bold risks, creative ventures, and a deep belief in self-sufficiency. From turning ideas into income at a young age to embracing exp...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we turn our attention to the emotional and cognitive realities of dyslexia—and the often-unseen weight carried by children who struggle to read in systems not built for how they learn. Joining us is Russell Van Brocklen, known as The Dyslexia Professor, who brings clarity, compassion, and actionable guidance to parents and caregivers navigating daily reading...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what it means to build a fulfilling life when traditional paths never quite fit. Author James Lee joins us to share his journey of resilience—from growing up with a learning disability and feeling overlooked by the education system, to finding purpose in healthcare, discipline through fitness and martial arts, and renewed confidence later in life t...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the inner landscape of self-doubt—how it forms, how it speaks, and how it can be navigated without letting it run the show. Award-winning author and professional nonfiction book coach Amy L. Bernstein joins us to unpack the emotional mechanics behind fear, confidence, and creative resistance. Drawing from her book Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fight...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we sit with a story that invites deeper empathy and a more expansive understanding of inclusion. Author, disability advocate, and accessibility educator Jenna Udenberg joins us to share her lived experience of navigating the world with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis from a young age. Drawing from her memoir Within My Spokes and her work through Above & Bey...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we turn inward to examine the quiet but relentless mental narratives that shape how we see ourselves and the world. Certified life, spiritual, and relationship coach Jacquie Elliott joins us to unpack what she calls Abusive Brain Chatter (ABC)—the internal dialogue that erodes confidence, clouds clarity, and keeps people stuck in cycles of self-doubt and peop...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore how reclaiming focus and building real connection can unlock creativity, resilience, and purpose in a digitally saturated world. Strategist, speaker, and community builder Kelsey L. Green joins us to examine the impact of digital habits on our energy, relationships, and mental health—and how intentional boundaries can create space for what truly ma...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore what happens when a core part of identity is altered without warning. Eileen Meehan—a longtime special education teacher and lifelong choir member—shares her experience of living with a chronic voice disorder and the profound emotional shift that followed. As her voice changed, so did the way she communicated, connected, and understood herself. Wit...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore why business growth so often stalls—not because of strategy, but because of the unseen inner dynamics of leadership. Business Growth Strategist Maritza Davila, creator of the G.R.O.W. Methodology, joins us to unpack how self-awareness, trust, and emotional intelligence directly shape team performance and execution. Drawing from over a decade of ope...

In this episode of 'Elsplend Realities', we sit down with 'Michael T. Brown, LPC' — licensed professional counselor, leadership consultant, and author — for a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience, and inspired action. With over two decades of experience working with individuals, families, businesses, and communities, Michael shares practical insights on what it truly mea...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we explore the deep connection between clarity, purpose, and human behavior inside organizations. When teams lack direction, confusion, burnout, and fragmented effort often follow—but when the “where” and the “why” are clear, something powerful shifts. Joining us is Clare Treston, author of The Where and The Why and known as “The Where and The Why Whisperer.”...

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, we dive into the human side of security with Robert Siciliano—cybersecurity expert, ethical hacker, private investigator, and bestselling author. Robert helps us see that personal and digital safety isn’t just about technology; it’s about behavior, awareness, and emotional intelligence. From AI-driven scams to identity theft, he explains how our instincts, em...