Phoenix and Flame Podcast

In this episode, Dana is joined by Chris Shurian, a self-proclaimed "entrepreholic" who has spent 39 years building, operating, breaking, and resurrecting companies. Chris shares his story of achieving massive success only to face financial devastation during the 2008 recession. He reveals the mindset of an entrepreholic (where chasing new business opportuntities and building companies feels addic...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Dr. Anthony Silard, a professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology and author of Love and Suffering . Dr. Silard dives into the modern epidemic of loneliness, revealing the surprising fact that the youngest generation is now the loneliest. He shares his powerful framework for breaking the "emotional chains" that hold us back, distinguishing between the n...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Mark DeCarlo, an Emmy-winning comedian and author who makes a compelling case that the most important job you have is to be happy. Mark shares how a near-death experience in high school completely reoriented his life, teaching him to use happiness as the ultimate "North Star" for every decision. He argues that fear is always self-destructive and that failure isn'...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Joanna Lilley, a therapeutic consultant who specializes in helping "emerging adults" navigate the overwhelming transition into adulthood. Joanna explains why today's young people are more anxious and "stuck" than ever, often feeling paralyzed by too many choices and a lack of external structure after college. She offers a compassionate yet direct roadmap for both...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Mandi Pratt, a speaker and self-leadership expert who turned a life-shattering crisis into a powerful mission. Mandi shares the harrowing story of leaving an abusive marriage only to discover her ex-husband was wanted by the FBI for a string of bank robberies, a plot twist that left her feeling completely burned to the ground. She reveals her raw and honest journ...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Dianne Andree, an award-winning speaker and burnout prevention specialist who shares her own journey of standing on the brink of exhaustion. After years in education and leadership, Dianne realized the "hurry culture" and a constant pressure to achieve were draining her energy and purpose. She reveals how she learned to fight back against burnout not just with se...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Jackie Miller, a high-conflict divorce coach who shares her own story of surviving a 16.5-year narcissistic marriage. Jackie details the nature of covert abuse, from the "frog in boiling water" beginning to the complete financial control that left her feeling trapped and erased. She reveals how the abuse escalated post-separation, with her ex-husband weaponizing...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Holly Kostrzewski, an international keynote speaker whose life was first shattered by a traumatic brain injury at 18 that forced her to relearn how to walk, talk, and read. Just as she rebuilt her life, she faced a second "burn" when her father became a paraplegic, thrusting her into the role of a caretaker. Holly shares her powerful story of resilience and how l...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Emma Lyons, a trauma-informed healer who exposes the true identity of our harshest inner critic. Emma shares her harrowing journey of being the scapegoat in a dysfunctional family with a covert narcissistic mother, and how that trauma manifested as a paralyzing "shame voice." She reveals her powerful realization that this voice isn't just self-doubt; it's an inte...

In this episode, Dana is joined by leadership advisor Chris Gillen, who shares his powerful journey of growing up in a family of "professional victims." This experience became the foundation for his work in helping leaders escape what he calls "The Villain Trap"—a destructive cycle of blame that erodes company culture and personal power. Chris reveals how ego prevents us from accepting accountabil...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Clay Moffat, an ex-Navy weapons tech turned behavioral coach and author of The Trust Trap . Clay offers a radical reframe on trust, arguing it isn't a character trait but a dynamic process of alignment that requires constant evaluation. He reveals why we are the "authors of our own pain" and how we unknowingly fall into the "trust trap" by creating a frozen menta...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Cathy Nesbitt, an innovator who turned a city-wide garbage crisis into a thriving entrepreneurial mission. Cathy shares her incredible journey from a secretary to the founder of Cathy's Crawley Composters and Cathy's Laughter Club. She reveals how she overcame the universal "ew" factor of her worm business and navigated the profound challenges of entrepreneurship...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Dr. Victoria Mattingly, an organizational psychologist who is transforming workplace cultures by blending research with lived experience. Dr. Mattingly shares how her personal journeys through cancer, alopecia, and mental health recovery became the bedrock of her professional mission to build more human-centered and equitable organizations. She challenges us to r...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Sarah Brown, a Christian author and speaker who helps women find hope when life gets tough. Sarah shares her raw and honest journey of navigating an unexpected divorce, the shock of single motherhood, and the crisis of faith that followed. She reveals how her relationship with God shifted from transactional to deeply relational in her darkest moments, and how she...

In this episode, Dana is joined by award-winning actress Brianna Brown Keen, who shares her journey of overcoming immense personal obstacles. From battling severe bullying that led to hospitalization as a teen, to facing a career-threatening injury, Brianna reveals how she learned to reframe her struggles as opportunities for growth. She explains how the tenacity and grit she developed became the...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Amy Siegfried, a networking expert and entrepreneur who transforms how people build professional relationships. Amy shares her personal journey from an "awkward kid" struggling to fit in to a master of small talk, revealing how embracing vulnerability became her greatest tool for connection. She explains why the most common networking question—"what do you do?"—i...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Dr. Albert Bramante, a talent agent, performance coach, and Psychology professor who unpacks the hidden mental blocks holding creators back. Dr. Bramante shares his unique journey from studying the human mind to managing performing artists, revealing how he discovered a pattern of self-sabotage driven by deep-seated fears. He explains how subconscious beliefs, of...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Rhonda Britten, an Emmy Award-winning master coach whose life was forged in unimaginable tragedy. At just 14 years old, Rhonda witnessed her father murder her mother before taking his own life—an event that sent her into a 20-year spiral of guilt and self-destruction. After three suicide attempts, Ronda had a profound realization: she was meant to live and she ha...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Jessica Hallahan, a stress management expert who turned a personal health crisis into a powerful mission. At just 24, Jessica was hospitalized due to severe burnout, a rock-bottom moment that became her greatest teacher. She shares her raw and honest journey of how over-commitment and a lack of boundaries nearly broke her, and how she learned to rebuild her life...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Heather Powers, a corporate executive and founder who masterfully navigated the complexities of building a career while raising a family. Heather shares her candid journey from a small town in New Hampshire to the boardrooms of Washington D.C., revealing how the pandemic crystallized her mission to advocate for working mothers. We discuss the outdated corporate s...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Dr. Cali Estes, an addictions coach and entrepreneur who built a new path to recovery after her own journey through an eating disorder and prescription pill addiction. Dr. Estes shares her raw and honest story of hitting rock bottom—and how a doctor's blunt warning became her ultimate wake-up call. She reveals how she discovered healing not in traditional meeting...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Kate Semeniuk, a Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapist, to explore the unseen forces in our minds that hold us back. Have you ever known logically what you need to do—like set a boundary or say no—but found yourself unable to act? Kate reveals how subconscious beliefs, often formed in childhood, create these internal conflicts. She explains that fear and suppress...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Michael Levitt, founder of the Breakfast Leadership Network and self proclaimed "Chief Burnout Officer." Michael shares his personal story of being a high-achieving executive who pushed himself to the brink, working 6 AM to 11 PM seven days a week. This relentless drive led to a year of devastating consequences, including a near-fatal heart attack, job loss durin...

In this episode, Dana is joined by Matt Gerlach, an entrepreneur who helped scale startups to 7 and 8-figures, only to find himself battling a severe mental health crisis after launching his own business. Matt shares his raw and honest journey of hitting rock bottom and how that pain became his greatest teacher. He reveals how he learned to reframe his struggles as "wake-up calls," setting firm bo...

Host Dana Skaggs sits down with Abagail McKiernan, founder of the nonprofit HelpLink , to uncover the deeply personal story that inspired her mission. What began as a moment of isolation became a movement rooted in unconditional generosity. Together, they explore how giving without expectation can restore dignity, forge authentic community, and remind us that the kindness we extend often finds its...