Observeday

If you’re looking for real talk about what inclusion at work can look like—and what it actually takes—this episode is for you. Join me as I sit down with Win Charles, an author, podcaster, and Ironman triathlete living with cerebral palsy. Win opens up about building a career on her own terms, from writing her memoir to producing 1,500+ podcast episodes. In this conversation, we get into the small...

If you’ve ever thought humor and mental health don’t go together, this episode is for you. I sit down with Dave Mowry, author, mental health advocate, and stand-up comic, to explore how laughter can be an unexpected and healing way to cope with life’s hardest moments. You’ll hear stories of transformation—not just from Dave, but also from students who discovered courage by turning pain into comedy...

If you care about deeper conversations around Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this episode is for you. I sit down with Erica Neubert Campbell, a breast cancer survivor who brings candor and warmth to a topic we often shy away from. Erica opens up about her journey from her own diagnosis through surgery, sharing the type of honest storytelling that moves people to action. You’ll get a peek at the ra...

If you want an honest and thoughtful look at how we can transform deep pain into new understanding, this episode is for you. I sat down with Kerry Blaser, a shaman, author, and mental health advocate, to talk about her own journey through childhood trauma, loss, and a suicide attempt—and how these moments led her to a life of healing and helping others. We don’t shy away from tough topics, but you...

If you’ve ever wondered how to truly support someone going through a tough time, today’s episode with Mr. Whiskey gives you a fresh, honest perspective. We talk about veteran suicide and mental health, but this conversation goes deeper—touching on why it’s so hard to talk about suicide, the real impact it has on friends and families, and practical ways to help. You’ll hear why caring as a friend m...

If you’ve ever wondered how art and personal experience can help us navigate pain, this episode is for you. I sat down with Lora Arbrador, a registered nurse and artist, who brings a unique perspective as both a care provider and someone who’s lived with chronic pain. We get into her creative journey with the ancient painting technique of egg tempera and talk through how creativity can offer joy,...

If you’ve ever struggled with pain—whether it’s physical or emotional—this episode is for you. I sit down with Michael Ostrolenk, a longtime resilience and conscious relationship coach, to explore how pain is more than just something to “get through.” We look at how pain can be a signal for growth, and how reshaping your mindset can actually transform your relationship with difficult experiences....

If you’re someone who wants to grow, get unstuck, or just make the most of where you are in life, this episode is for you. I’m talking with Kevin Jackson (aka Kevi the Dreamer), a self-improvement creative, nurse-turned-podcast-host, and someone who knows a lot about what it means to “grow through what you go through.” We dig into why celebrating small wins is so important—not just for your mindse...

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by grief, addiction, or the silence that often surrounds mental health struggles, this episode is especially for you. I sit down with Damian Bloss, who generously shares his story of losing a loved one to suicide, battling addiction for 20 years, and the moment everything changed. Whether you’re a podcaster, creator, or simply someone seeking hope, you’ll walk away...

Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels, trying to “improve” but not really getting anywhere? In this episode, I sit down with coach and entrepreneur Rob Tracz to dig into burnout, self-improvement, and why simply consuming podcasts or books isn’t enough to actually move forward. Rob shares how he broke out of “robot mode” and now helps side hustlers build businesses (and lives) that feel more...

If you’ve ever wondered how automation and AI can actually make your life — and your business — simpler, this episode is for you. I sit down with Michael Buckbee, co-founder of Noahtoa, to talk about the real-world ways intelligent automation is becoming more accessible, even for those of us who aren’t tech experts. You’ll hear why Michael believes almost anyone can start using tools like ChatGPT...

September is Self-Improvement Month, and on this episode, we dig into what real personal growth truly looks like — beyond feel-good quotes and routines. I sit down with Dina Ovsepian to hear how law school, of all things, became her experiment in self-growth. Dina shares honest lessons about how big changes come from doing uncomfortable things, and why logic and resilience sometimes outweigh pure...

If you’re looking for comforting and practical ways to support yourself—or others—through tough times, this episode is a must-listen. I sit down with Anil Gupta, known as the Love Doctor, who opens up about his own journey stepping back from the edge and choosing a life dedicated to helping others. We talk honestly about why it can feel almost impossible to ask for help, and what small steps you c...

If you’ve ever felt like your stories “aren’t big enough” to share, this is the episode for you. In honor of National Read a New Book Month, I talk with Sara Lohse about how even life’s small, everyday moments make for powerful stories—especially in podcasting and content creation. You’ll hear about Sara’s unusual claim to fame (yes, she really told a tattoo story on a finance podcast!) and how le...

If you’re ready to rethink what it means to be truly well—especially during Thyroid Cancer Awareness Month—this episode is for you. I sat down with Shruti Sethi, a cancer survivor, holistic nutritionist, and founder of Awana Health, to dig into some of the most overlooked signs and triggers when it comes to thyroid and overall health. You’ll hear Shruti’s personal diagnosis story, plus down-to-ear...

If you’re looking for ways to spark creativity in your music or storytelling, this episode is for you. I sat down with Christopher Kaufman, a fantasy author and composer, to talk about how music—especially the piano—fuels his imagination and shapes his unique approach to writing epic fantasy. You'll get to hear how combining music, narration, and art creates a truly immersive story experience,...

If you’ve ever wondered why picking up a fresh book can change more than just your reading list—or if you’ve been curious about writing one yourself—this episode is for you. I chat with Rodney Miles, known as “the Book Dude,” who has spent over 14 years helping authors publish their stories. We dig into how reading and writing new books keeps your mind healthy, and Rodney shares practical ways you...

September is National Reading New Book Month, and in this episode, I’m sitting down with Michele Defilipo, a publishing veteran who knows all about how new stories come to life. If you’ve ever wondered how to professionally publish a book—or avoid common missteps as a creator—this episode has some essentials you won’t want to miss. Michele unpacks the differences between self-publishing, hybrid, a...

If you’re a creator looking for a real, honest talk about mental health, this episode is for you. On today’s show, I sit down with Brandon Held, host of the Life is Crazy podcast, in honor of National Suicide Prevention Month. Brandon shares his personal journey through trauma, loss, and rock bottom — and how he chose not only to survive, but to build something positive from his darkest moments. W...

If you’ve ever struggled with feeling stuck, carrying shame, or wondering if true change is possible, you’ll want to join me for this honest and heartfelt conversation with Jessica Morris. In honor of National Recovery Month, Jessica shares her deeply personal journey with addiction, faith, and healing, offering real talk about how recovery really works and what keeps people going when it feels im...

This episode is all about why accessibility in books matters and how making your stories more inclusive isn’t just the right thing to do—it actually helps you reach more people. I sat down with Maxwell Ivey, the Blind Blogger, who shared what it’s really like to discover stories when you’re blind, and the clever ways he’s found to write, publish, and get his own books out into the world. If you cr...

Curious about how your food choices can shape your health, relationships, and even spark a little romance? In this episode of the Observeday podcast, I sit down with Amy Reiley, who knows all about the delicious intersection of organic food, health, and those “feel-good” connections at the table. You’ll get a fresh look at what aphrodisiac foods truly are (spoiler: it's not all chocolate and oyste...

If you’ve ever wondered how reading—and writing—new books can change your life, this episode is for you. As National Reading New Book Month rolls around, I sit down with author Teri M. Brown to chat about pushing past fears and making your creative dreams real (even if you think you aren’t ready). Teri shares her journey from nonfiction to historical fiction, what gave her the courage to finally h...

If you’ve ever wondered how classical music can influence creativity and provide healing, this episode is for you. I’m joined by Andrew Cloninger—artist, musician, producer, and author—who opens up about his lifelong connection to classical music, and how it shaped his path through recovery and creative rediscovery. Listen in to hear about the surprising ways classical music can help with focus, m...

If you’ve ever wondered why sleep is really so important — beyond just needing to “feel rested” — this episode is for you. I sat down with Anthony Guastella, a certified health coach who’s turned his own health journey into a mission to help others feel their best. In our conversation, we dig into what actually happens in our bodies when we sleep and how small, realistic changes to your bedtime ro...