Staying Power

Episode 113: "What I Didn't Know About You" What if better conversations start with better questions? In this lighter but deeply insightful episode of Staying Power, Ashley and JD ask each other unexpected, humorous, and thought-provoking questions — sparking stories about identity, growth, fear, resilience, and joy. Backed by research on curiosity, emotional intimacy, and relational connection, t...

Episode 112: "What Are You Looking Forward To?" What if one of the simplest ways to increase resilience, optimism, and emotional energy isn’t a massive life change — but intentionally putting something on your calendar? In this episode of Staying Power, Ashley and JD explore the psychology and neuroscience of anticipation — why having something to look forward to improves mood, reduces stress, and...

Episode 111: "JD's Eighteen Months In Fight, Flight, and Freeze"  Recently, JD spent 18 months navigating uncertainty, professional identity shifts, financial recalibration, and invisible pressure. He didn’t think he was “falling apart.” He thought he was adapting. Surviving. Doing what adults do. But when a new opportunity emerged and his stress levels suddenly dropped, he realized something...

Episode 110: "When Ashley's Light Went Out"  What happens when, little by little, we give up parts of ourselves to make life smoother for someone else? Not in dramatic ways, but in subtle, quiet ways: the holiday traditions we stop celebrating, the enthusiasm we mute, the joy we tone down so we won’t feel let down. Ashley noticed all of these things were happening to her, and so she decided t...

Episode 109: What We Love (and 'Hate') About Love It's Valentine's season, and JD and Ashley are in the spirit (so to speak!). This episode goes far beyond the sentimental cards, overpriced sweets, and societal expectations for Valentine's Day by taking an honest and unvarnished look at Love in all its forms - including its Not So Great parts. Join them for a freewheeling conversation that is hone...

Episode 108: "‘Do Your Own Research’: What Real Inquiry Actually Looks Like” In today’s world, “do your own research” is often used as a mic-drop — but what does real research actually look like? In this episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley challenge the growing confusion between genuine inquiry and confirmation-seeking. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and academic research methods, the...

Episode 107: When Letting Go Is Strength, Not Escape We often talk about the importance of not taking the easy way out — of staying present, doing the hard work, and not avoiding discomfort. But what about the moments when letting go is actually the healthier, more honest choice? In this episode of Staying Power, Ashley and JDK explore how to tell the difference between avoidance and discernment —...

Episode 106: What Real Fitness Looks Like So often in fitness — and in life — we focus on a specific outcome: a number on the scale, a finish line, or an idea of how things should go. But what if that mindset is actually what drains our motivation and disconnects us from ourselves? In this episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley explore a healthier, more sustainable way to think about fitness — n...

Episode 105: “After the Confetti Settles” The first week of January often brings a quiet shift: the excitement fades, routines return, and doubts creep in. In this episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley explore what actually sustains change once novelty wears off. Drawing on neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and ancient wisdom, they unpack why motivation is unreliable — and what works instead...

Episode 104: “The Spice of Life - Designing a Year That Feels Alive” New Year’s Eve often comes with pressure: resolutions, reinvention, and unrealistic expectations. But what if the new year wasn’t about fixing yourself — and instead about cultivating excitement, curiosity, and aliveness? In this New Year’s Eve episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley explore how to shape the coming year from a g...

Episode 103: “When Hope Helps — And When It Holds Us Back” It’s Christmas Eve — a night filled with symbolism, expectation, longing, and hope. But what is “hope” in real human terms? And how do we hold hope without drifting into passivity, denial, or waiting for someone else to rescue us? In this episode, JDK and Ashley gently explore hope’s emotional, spiritual, and psychological dimensions. They...

Episode 102: From ‘Should’ to ‘Want’: Creating Your Own Holiday Season The holidays can easily become a season of autopilot — traditions we never question, expectations we silently carry, and routines that leave little room for what we actually want. In this episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley explore the power of setting clear intentions — and actually following through on them — especially...

Episode 101: “Why Time With Our Elders Matters” We say we “should” spend more time with our aging parents and elders — but life gets busy, visits get delayed, and loneliness quietly grows. In this episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley explore why time with seniors is far more than a nice gesture. It’s medicine: for their bodies and brains, for our own mental health, and for a culture that often...

Episode 100: "One Hundred Episodes Strong!"  One hundred episodes. Countless lessons. Endless gratitude. In this milestone episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley look back on the show’s journey, reflecting on the people, stories, and moments that have shaped them — and the listeners who’ve made it all possible. Together they explore the real science of gratitude: how it strengthens resilien...

Episode 099: "Nine Lessons From Our Hardest Moments"  As we all enter the season of gratitude, the show takes a look back — not at achievements, but at adversity. In this special episode, JDK and Ashley each share three personal challenges they’ve overcome that have shaped them, revealing them to each other for the first time live on air. Through spontaneous reflection, they explore what thos...

Episode 098: "That Awkward Bridge Between Chapters" We all know that strange emotional space between life chapters — when something has ended or changed, but the next thing hasn’t quite begun. It’s awkward, disorienting, and often filled with doubt, waiting, and mixed feelings. In this episode of  Staying Power , JDK and Ashley explore what happens inside us — psychologically, neurologically,...

Episode 093: "Where Shall We Begin...Again!" This week, Ashley and JD grant the requests of listeners to play another round of “Where Shall We Begin”, the game created by famed relationship therapist, Esther Perel. They give on-the-spot answers to questions ranging from the deeply serious to downright silly, all revealing a great deal about the hosts as they build an even deeper connection! This c...

Episode 097: “The Space Between My Truth and Yours” Disagreement doesn’t have to mean disconnection. In an age of constant polarization, we’re quick to assume that difference equals danger — but it doesn’t have to. In this episode of Staying Power, JDK and Ashley explore how two people can both “be right” from their own lived experience, and still stay curious, compassionate, and connected. They u...

Episode 096: “Letting People Be Themselves (Without Losing Yourself)” Why is it so hard to stop trying to “fix” or “improve” other people — even when we know it rarely works? Whether it’s a partner, co-worker, or family member, most of us try to shape others to meet our comfort zones, beliefs, or needs for control. In this episode of  Staying Power , JDK and Ashley unpack the deep human...

Episode 095: “The Bright Side Has Clouds Too” We often think of “happy” people as immune to bad days — or that those who struggle with sadness or stress can’t genuinely embrace positivity. In this episode of  Staying Power , JDK and Ashley explore why both ideas miss the mark. True happiness isn’t about constant positivity; it’s about balance — the ability to hold space for hard emotions...

Episode 094: "When Inner Turmoil Hijacks Your Best Habits" We all know the feeling: endless tasks, heavy responsibilities, and the pressure to perform—while at the same time trying to honor our health with sleep, exercise, food, connection, and calm. In this episode, JD and Ashley explore what happens inside us when inner turmoil disrupts our routines, why our brains make bad trade-offs under stre...

Episode 092: "The Advice Filter: Friends, Pros, and the Internet"  When life gets messy, who should we turn to - and who should we avoid? This episode breaks down how to pick trustworthy advice-givers (and why that's harder than it sounds), the psychology of why we sometimes chase the wrong voices, and a nuanced look at what online forums like Reddit get right and wrong. Hear about research-b...

Episode 091: Values in Action: How to Align Our Lives with What Truly Matters | Staying Power In this week's episode, JD and Ashley dive into the importance of learning and knowing our values in building a better life. They introduce the VIA Strengths and Values Assessment, discussing their own results in depth. Join them as they reveal their top and bottom-ranked values, the introspection these r...

Episode 090: “The Courage to Act (When You’d Really Rather Not)” Big decisions aren’t just choices – they are also actions. This week, JDK and Ashley unpack why moving from intention to action with difficult decisions can feel so hard, biologically and socially, and how we can make courageous follow through more reliable. They explore the brain’s “freeze” response, why uncertainty always feels so...

Episode 089: “Healing is Hard, Healing is Worth It” First responders see and experience trauma daily — and often carry those wounds long after the sirens fade. In this episode of Staying Power, JD Wyneken and Ashley Knebel talk with trauma psychologist Dr. Denise Haselwood about how trauma rewires the brain, why it changes thoughts and behavior, and most importantly, how it can be healed. Denise s...