Staying Power

Episode 079: “Reframing Beliefs That No Longer Serve Us”  Often we hold on to old beliefs for so long that we don’t realize that we are suffering because of them. Why do we do that? And how can we make changes to those beliefs and get more ease and peace and purpose in our lives? That’s the subject of this week’s episode, and Ashley and JD have a lot to share, ponder, and advise about it. The...

Episode 078 :   Rest Without Retreat: How to Recharge Without Sabotaging Your Goals Summer’s here, the pace of life is shifting—and suddenly it feels easier to let our goals slide in the name of rest, fun, or “taking a break.” But what if those moments of rest could actually  support  your progress instead of derail it? In this episode of  Staying Power , JDK Wyneken and Ashley Knebel unpack how t...

Episode 077: “Help Wanted: There’s Power in Reaching Out” We all feel anxiety, fear, and uncertainty when we need to ask for help, no matter the size of the request. Why do we have such a difficult time with such things? Well, it’s actually wired into us! This week, JD and Ashley talk about the ways we can work with our natural responses to develop pathways where we can more easily ask for help an...

Episode 076: Working Out Our Work Ethic Ever hear people say, “no one wants to work hard anymore!”? If so, then take a listen to this week’s episode, where Ashley and JDK explore this question and end up in a conversation focused on neuroplasticity and any of us can develop a deeper capacity and willingness to work more effectively and diligently. The keys? Curiosity, self-reflection, empathy, and...

Episode 075: Looking Back On A Year of Ashley A year ago this week, Ashley signed on as the new co-host of the show; to put it mildly, she's never looked back, and the show has gotten better every single week as a result. Today, to celebrate this anniversary, Ashley and JDK look back on the past year of the show - how it has grown and improved, what it has inspired - and similarly examine what the...

Episode 074: Bettering the Lives of Billions, Part II Ashley and JD continue their wide-ranging conversation with Deena Mehta, this week focusing on how her experiences in helping modernize India's economy and politics has influenced (and was influenced by) her own personal beliefs, practice, and resilience in pursuing her goals and living by her values. Among the many pearls of wisdom provided ar...

Episode 073: Bettering the Lives of Billions, Part I Every week, this show discusses how we can build better lives for ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. It isn't often, though, where we get the chance to hear from someone who has helped over a billion people - literally - do so. This week and next, JD and Ashley sit down for a wide-ranging conversation with just such a person - Deena...

Episode 072: "What Happens When the Wheels Fall Off?" Life doesn’t always read the script. In this week’s episode of  Staying Power , JDK and Ashley dive into that moment we all dread — when the wheels fall off the plan we worked so hard to build. What do we do when things go sideways? How do we keep our heads, our humor, and our hearts in the game? With a mix of personal stories, research-backed...

Episode 070: “The Anatomy of an Uncomfortable Conversation”  Uncomfortable conversations are never fun, but when handled well, they can be well worth the effort for us and our relationships. This week, Ashley and JD take apart a recent uncomfortable conversation they worked through together, and share what they found on the other side. Hint: it was all good stuff! Take a listen and see how you mig...

Episode 069: “Words, Actions, Peaches, and Rembrandts”  Coming off of challenging weeks, JD and Ashley dig into how our words and actions - and those of others - can combine to either build up ourselves and our relationships, or tear them down. Underneath it all is the power of connection and the willingness to do challenging work on ourselves. But this work is not only possible, but worth all the...

Episode 68: “In Me I Trust” We all seek more trust in our lives and relationships, yet don’t always know if we trust ourselves; and yet, any kind of trust starts within ourselves. But what does that actually look like? How do we know if we do or don’t trust ourselves? Ashley and JD both hear these questions often with clients and in their own lives, so this week’s episode focuses on addressing tho...

Episode 067: “Maintenance Versus Repair” Every relationship - including and especially our most important ones - require regular maintenance and occasional repair. Both require intention and resilience and awareness to do well. But what do these actually look like in practice? Those specifics are the focus of this episode. See what resonates with you from what Ashley and JD put forward and let the...

Episode 066: “When Our ‘Parts’ Crash” We all hope that our toughest conversations will yield growth and positive results in ourselves and in our relationships. The road to those results, though, is by no means easy, and requires inner work. This week, based on some realizations that came to JD before, during, and after a particularly tough series of conversations with a close friend, Ashley and JD...

Episode 065: “Connecting With Diasporaa”  JD and Ashley welcome Adi Mehta - the host of the new “Diasporaa” show and podcast - to the show to talk about his unique life experiences as a “Bombay Boy” living in the United States. As “Diasporaa” is the first show being launched on the new Staying Power Network, this conversation is a big moment in the history of the show! Get to know Adi, and be sure...

These days, it can feel like everyone finds it difficult to admit they’ve changed their minds on anything. What are the fears we have in either admitting we’ve changed our minds, or accepting people who do? Ashley and JD pull on all these threads this week in search of insights and some practical tips on how we can navigate this difficulty.  And be sure to listen in for some big announcements abou...

Episode 063: “12 Mis-Steps: The Dark Side of Twelve-Step Programs” This week, JD and Ashley welcome K’ai Roberts Fu, keynote speaker and author of the upcoming book: “12 Mis-Steps: How 12-Step Programs Trip Up Trauma Survivors” to the show to discuss her experience as a trauma survivor who spent over a decade attending 12-Step meetings. Her story identifies the long-overdue conversation that needs...

Episode 062: “Love Can Be Pork Rinds” With Valentine’s Day this week, Ashley and JD talk all about the ways in which we give out love - big and small - builds our capacity to receive and appreciate all the types of love that come our way every day. In fact, a focus on giving out love connects us immediately to the gratitude we can have for the love we already get. This helps us focus more on love...

Episode 061: More On Agreements Building off of last week’s episode, JD and Ashley dive into the difficult conversations that should be had (but often are avoided) when someone wants to change the parameters of their partnership “agreements”. An intense subject to be sure, but one that the hosts feel strongly about handling in ways that go beyond one’s own selfish / self-focused motives.  HOME (b...

Episode 060: “Said and Unsaid Agreements” Whether we realize it or not, we make all sorts of “agreements” with ourselves and others that govern our relationships, for good or bad and all in between. This week, Ashley and JD discuss the ways in which (and why) we can and should lean into making our agreements with others clear and go through the uncomfortable processes of “rupture and repair” that...

Episode 059: “Decision Fatigue” Ever feel maxed out by all the decisions that you have to make, whether big or small? Well, you aren’t alone! This week, JD and Ashley discuss the challenges they are facing lately with decisions of all kinds. They also have suggestions on ways to work through those times of decision fatigue! HOME (benchstrategy.com) stayingpowershow@gmail.com The Staying Power Netw...

Episode 058: “Planners Rise!” With the busy lives we live, sometimes planning out (and following through on) our short and long term goals can seem daunting. And yet, taking intentional steps towards goals is truly the only way forward. So how do we go about this effectively? This week, Ashley and JD advocate for a powerful method -using a planner! This may not be a new idea for some, but their co...

Episode 057: “The Words We Rely On” The words we use to define ourselves, others, our goals, and the world around us can either help us navigate life in healthy ways, or limit our growth and happiness. How can we tell the difference? Well, that is the question JD and Ashley tackle this week! Listen to their ideas and personal accounts of both liberating and limiting words and see if any similar “w...

Episode 056: A New Year’s Worth of Thoughts    On this special New Year’s Day episode, JD and Ashley ring in 2025 with a broad and often humorous conversation about goals, why the calendar is so weird, and how our approaches to the new year can either help us or hinder us in our pursuits. They go far beyond the standard (and limited effectiveness of) resolutions and instead stress the importance o...

Episode 055: It’s A Christmas Show! It's a special Christmas Day edition of the show! Spend part of your celebration day (on Christmas, or any day) with Ashley and JD as they discuss some of their favorite Christmas moments, traditions, and lessons. Along the way, there is a lot of laughter, sharing of memories, and learning more about one another. It's yet another example of the power of connecti...

Episode 054: The Art of Failing Forward Ashley and JD welcome their friend, Chris Wolf (hear him howl!), to the show to discuss his remarkable and inspiring story of how he built a fantastic life for himself after doing his best to wreck it earlier in life. What lessons did he learn and apply to generate his turnaround? How can we each apply those lessons ourselves? Whatever our answer, we have mo...