The Breakout – Unleashing Personal Growth

 Renowned neuroscientist, sex therapist and relationship specialist, Dr. Nan Wise believes we're in the middle of a pleasure crisis. Whether it's the “sexual recession”, or the rise in anxiety and depression, Dr. Wise says that joy and pleasure are on the decline, and that’s signalling a greater problem. “If we're losing connection with sex, which is one of life's greatest pleasures for most peopl...

Some people can see things that no one else can. Artist Heather Eck is one of those people. Heather has synesthesia, a fascinating neurological condition where a person experiences sight, touch, taste, or sounds in a second unrelated sense. They might see music or taste words. For Heather, this extraordinary ability means she can see people's energy and emotions as vibrant colors. When she realize...

Let’s be honest, 2025 has been tough. There’ve been some scary, challenging times both at home and around the world. So, here at The Breakout, we decided that heading into the holidays and the end of this often difficult year, we need some warmth. Right now, we need to hear from strong people who've done amazing things. That’s why, on this episode we're bringing you some of our most inspirational...

“I found myself at the kitchen table, with a Glock in my mouth trying to end my life.” Eric Donoho’s story isn’t easy to hear, but thankfully it does have a great ending.  A highly decorated US Army veteran, he served a grueling 14 months in Iraq, experiencing intense trauma and grief along the way. But when Eric hit rock bottom, and sat down ready to take his own life, something got in...

For years, Dr. Deborah Heiser studied the pathology of aging, immersed in the nitty gritty of everything that can go wrong with your body as you get older. Until one day someone challenged her to find out what on earth we have to look forward to. And what she found surprised her.  ”Honestly, there was a huge amount of research that was out there showing what we have to look forward to, but nobody...

Before sports broadcaster Jen Mueller could break into sideline reporting with the Seattle Seahawks, win her Emmy, and score a Super Bowl ring (yep, she’s got one), she had to bust through some significant gender barriers.  She pushed past that male-dominated world and into a pretty hostile locker room, and it taught her some things. “You learn how to stand your ground, how to speak up, but m...

Sometimes making lasting change means stripping everything back to the core, and Shelly Lefkoe knows all about that. Shelly’s work at the Lefkoe Institute has helped tens of thousands of clients make profound life changes. Her method is all about identifying and then eliminating the beliefs that hold people back.  “Beliefs are like a box”, she explains, “They shut out possibilities. When...

This week we have a bonus episode for you. It's a great big gift from Dr. Keri and Kelly: an audio chapter from their book Whatever the Hell You Want: An Escape Plan to Break Out of Life's Little Boxes and Live Free from Expectations , where they introduce their BREAK model for change. So sit back and enjoy some of this fantastic guide for Breakouts of all kinds! About The Breakout The Breakout is...

“The only one that cares about the extra five pounds you put on is you…Everybody in your life…should want to enjoy your presence and your photos .” For many women, having their picture taken is an excruciating experience; it’s something they’d do anything to avoid. That intense self-criticism is something that  portrait photographer Elizabeth Snyder wanted to address. So, a few years back, sh...

Join us for a bonus episode this month, as we share Keri and Kelly's appearance on Notes on Resilience , hosted by Manya Chylinski! What if the secret to effective leadership wasn't having all the answers, but rather creating space for genuine human connection? In this enlightening conversation with Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, co-founders of the Abbracci Group, we explore the transformative p...

Trystan Reese is a dad to three great kids, he has a loving partner, and a fulfilling career. It's a beautiful, somewhat typical life. But as a transgender man, there's nothing typical about how he got here. How he grew his family – from an unexpected adoption, to his very public trans pregnancy – is a huge part of how Trystan does his LGBTQ+ advocacy work. And in this episode, we hear T...

Join us for a bonus episode this month, as we share Keri and Kelly's appearance on Season of Stuck , hosted by Deanna deBara! Summary In this episode of Season of Stuck , Deanna sits down with Kelly Guenther and Dr. Keri Ohlrich, co-hosts of The Breakout , authors of Whatever the Hell You Want , and co-founders of the Abbracci Group. They'll discuss what it means to get unstuck and how to navigate...

I had a budding career as an attorney. I was making more money than I knew how to spend. I was living in the Upper East Side. Everything looked promising . On paper, it seemed like Justin Maffett had achieved the life he'd always wanted, but instead of enjoying it, he felt trapped in a career that was making him miserable.  Then in 2020, COVID lockdowns forced Justin into a state of physical...

Join us for a bonus episode this month, as we share Keri and Kelly's appearance on Hotter Than Ever , with Erin Keating! Summary Is entrepreneurship truly a solo journey, or would you rather start a business with a friend? For Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, co-founders of the leadership and HR consultancy the Abbracci Group and co-hosts of “The Breakout” podcast, the answer is clear: co...

“ I often say that creativity is rooted in refusal. That you refuse to accept that the world as it is, is just fine as it is, because  you recognize that the world as it is can be altered”.  Dr. Tasha Golden wants everyone to see the extraordinary power in creativity. Tasha is a behavioral scientist, and a leading expert in how creativity drives transformative change. And she should know.&nbs...

“ I really fought against this identity of being a patient - being someone who's just expected to wither away and to rely on doctors”.   When Kim Rahir was hit with a life-altering diagnosis, she knew she needed to take control. After a terrifying episode of paralysis, she learned that she had Multiple Sclerosis - and her life changed dramatically . But, facing frightening changes in her body, and...

“You can't think your way out of a body problem…You have to address what's happening in the body and the brain before you can actually take those steps forward”. Deanna DeBara knows all about feeling “stuck”.  And, if you're a human navigating life right now, you probably do too. Being stuck is that odd sense of not wanting to stay where you are, but not being able to – or knowing how to – mo...

“While I was in the hospital…people started sending flowers and the biggest bouquet of flowers was from my work. And that is a metaphor for how my life was going”. The week before she turned 50, Erin Keating ended up in the hospital, and nearly died from COVID. That’s when a lot of things in her life became crystal clear.  At the time, Erin was the picture of success – but she was also t...

“It's very easy to say Gen Z’s and millennials are demanding, they're needy, but if you really look at the core of what they want, they're basic human needs that we all want.” There's a generational divide in the work place that Madeline Miller wants to change. Madeline is a career coach who focuses specifically on Gen Z and millennial clients, who she says are entering the workforce with an entir...

“We can look at fertility, we can look at cognition, memory, the nervous system, sleep, really there’s not a single system of the body that yoga and meditation don’t have have evidence to support for helping you function.” Ann Swanson has written the book on the science of yoga. Literally. After dealing with chronic pain and anxiety throughout her life, Ann tried yoga and meditation. Reluctant at...

Happy New Year everyone! As you contemplate your resolutions for 2025, sit back and listen to Celeste Headlee's pitch for... Doing Nothing. It's a replay of one of our favorite episodes of 2024, and we're hoping it helps you kick off the new year on the right foot. Enjoy. “People who overwork - more than 55 hours a week - which is most Americans, will die younger. Not that it's correlated with ear...

The festive season has arrived, life is even busier than usual, and there’s still so much to do ! That’s why today on The Breakout , we’re going with something  simple: sending our best wishes, and sharing a few teasers for what you can look forward to in the new year. Join us today for a quick look at 2024, and a glimpse ahead to 2025. And as always, a big thank you to our listeners for making th...

Ryan Murphy is a nine-time Olympic medal-winning swimmer, but it hasn't all been podium glory. At this summer's Paris Games, Ryan missed qualifying for the men's 200 meter backstroke by one tenth of a second. And that was after he had just won bronze in the 100 meter. It's these extraordinary swings between triumph and disappointment that Ryan is so brilliant at managing. Through it all, he's lear...

At 33 years old, Tatiana Miller suddenly lost feeling and movement in her legs, and was lying in a hospital bed. “I had four orthopedic surgeons tell me, ‘this is going to be your new normal’, and at that moment, I remember thinking, no, absolutely not. You're wrong”.  When it comes to her health, accepting the status quo has never been in the cards for Tatiana. As a teen, she saw multiple doctors...

Today, instead of our usual episode, we're excited to share a podcast we think you'll love: Say More with Tulaine Montgomery. Tulaine is an entrepreneur, activist, and CEO of the venture philanthropy firm New Profit. In her show, she speaks with people who are deeply committed to making the world a better place, while also taking care of themselves and supporting their communities. In this episode...