Maxim EQ

Growth is often imagined as a way to leave life's challenges behind. But what if real growth doesn't eliminate difficulty, it simply changes how we experience it? In this episode of Maxim EQ , Sam and I are joined by retired UCLA technology manager and former touring musician Greg Vincent to explore the maxim: "Growth doesn't erase difficulty, it reframes it." Drawing on s...

What does it really mean when we say Perception is a Mirror ? In this thoughtful and deeply personal episode of Maxim EQ , hosts Mike Baumer and Sam Wahl are joined by Los Angeles-based artist, producer, and event professional Vera Lee to explore the idea that the way we experience the world is often a reflection of what’s happening within us. Drawing from her work in live event production, creati...

In this special season 1 finale of Maxim EQ, we turn the conversation outward by inviting a listener to join the show. From the beginning, Maxim EQ was created with the hope that the ideas we explored wouldn’t just be interesting — but would also spark reflection and invite listeners to relate them to their own lives. Well, that’s exactly what happened. In this episode, our guest Phil Bergren shar...

In this episode, Sam and I are joined by Jarmal Arnold to explore the idea of Depth Over Frequency—a reflection on what we stand to gain when we slow down, go deeper, and resist the constant pull of surface-level engagement. In a world optimized for speed, metrics, and endless scrolling, we’re often encouraged to value frequency over meaning: more posts, more hot takes, more noise. But what happen...

In this episode, we explore our first listener-suggested maxim: “Don’t let what you can’t do interfere with what you can do.” The saying is primarily attributed to legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, and its message is as practical as it is timeless. Sam and I unpack this adage with our guest, Mike Piehl of Somerville, MA, examining how focusing on forward motion—rather than limitations—c...

While this episode is far from a high-falutin academic deep dive into Seneca’s maxim, we do unpack the very real—and largely unhelpful—habit of catastrophizing: how a relatively small setback can snowball into a full-blown worst-case scenario, and the impact that pattern can have on our well-being. We also dig into the practical foundations that help us show up more fully in every part of life—tho...

We’ve all heard the advice: tune out the noise. But what if that noise is where the valuable signal lives? In this episode, Sam, Lysa, and I dive into the power of paying attention to what may be tempting to ignore. Perhaps we’re actually being invited to listen more closely and observe with greater discernment—because the more “noise” we welcome in, the more opportunity we create to connect, lear...

This engaging episode of Maxim EQ dives deep into the adage “Comparison is the Theft of Joy” with guest Chris Hancock, an integrative therapist and former musician who blends psychology, spirituality, and lived experience. Together we discuss how our natural tendency to compare—especially in the age of social media—often leads to despair and disconnection. Yet, when approached consciously, compari...

The ancient maxim “Know thyself” is certainly timeless—but what does it really look like in everyday life? In this episode, we're joined by our guest Laurie Blanchard to explore self-awareness not as a philosophical idea, but as a lived practice that evolves over decades and through every chapter of our lives. Together with Laurie, we dig into the real, sometimes messy journey of personal gro...

In this episode, Sam and I are joined by musician and certified social worker John Deaderick to delve into a powerful lyric from the R.E.M. song “I Believe” : “Perfect is a fault, and fault lines change.” Using this as our launching point, we dive into the nature of perfection and perfectionism, and explore how embracing flexibility can transform our relationships, creativity, and personal well-be...

In this episode, Sam and I are joined by Cara Price, a modeling and wellness coach from Kansas City, for a conversation exploring the maxim “Mountain?, or a Series of Molehills?” Cara brings thoughtful, real-world perspectives on this idea—drawing from both her personal journey and her holistic work with clients. She shares how reframing challenges can make a huge difference in reaching goals, sta...

In this episode of Maxim EQ , Sam and I are joined by John Dykstra to explore a simple but powerful idea: Empathy is Mutually Beneficial . Empathy has become a buzzword in recent years, but we go beyond the surface—unpacking what it really means, why it matters, and how it can impact both your relationships and your own well-being. John offers thoughtful and practical insights drawn from his uniqu...

In this introductory episode of the Maxim EQ podcast, Sam and I share the story behind the show—along with a brief look into our 30 year friendship. We reflect on how Maxim EQ came to life, why we decided to create it together, and what listeners can expect moving forward. We hope you you’ll enjoy it and tune in to subsequent episodes to listen in on engaging conversations with our guests as we ex...

In this episode of Maxim EQ , Sam and I are joined by our longtime friend Aaron Lippert to explore the value of quitting—or as I sometimes prefer to label it, “self-graduating.” We dig into the language around quitting, how word choice shapes perception, and share personal stories about crossroads in our life experiences around trying to figure out when it’s time to move on. Whether it’s leaving a...