The Common Ground Podcast

What happens when you lose your career and your marriage —and the life you built no longer exists? In Episode 25 of The Common Ground Podcast , we sit down with Jonathan Emery (host of Life’s Checkmark ) for a powerful, honest conversation about the moment divorce stops being paperwork… and becomes an identity collapse . Jonathan shares how losing a job after 20 years and facing divorce in the sam...

What happens when success stops feeling aligned—and faith starts leading the way? In Episode 24 of The Common Ground Podcast , we sit down with Priyanka Khandalkar , an engineer-turned-CEO, Tony Robbins & Dan Graziosi trainer, and founder of Synergy, to unpack what it really takes to scale a business without burning out your soul . Priyanka shares her powerful journey from corporate engineerin...

What if trauma isn’t just something you “think” about… but something your body carries? In Episode 23 of The Common Ground Podcast , we sit down with Jamie Hughes — social psychologist, author, and holistic mental health educator — to break down why so many people feel stuck after years of talk therapy, and what changes when you treat trauma like a nervous system issue , not just a mindset problem...

What if the relationship didn’t “break” you… but revealed what needed to heal? In Episode 22 of The Common Ground Podcast , we sit down with Stephanie McPhail, MS —CEO of Being Loved Shouldn’t Hurt , certified coach, crisis counselor, Reiki practitioner, author, and co-founder of the Divorce Support Network —for a powerful conversation about leaving abuse, healing deeply, and building a life you’r...

From sleeping in a car and praying not to freeze… to rebuilding a life with purpose, faith, and a mission to help others—Ric “Mystro” shares a redemption story you won’t forget. In this powerful Episode 21 of The Common Ground Podcast , John “PhillyGoLive” Fletcher and Sydney Curtin sit down with Ric aka Mystro —artist, author, filmmaker, and founder of Innovative Media Atlanta —to unpack the real...

What happens when faith, trauma, and hypnotherapy collide? In Episode 20 of The Common Ground Podcast , John “PhillyGoLive” Fletcher and co-host Sydney Curtin sit down with Evie Sullivan — Austrian-born psychologist, integrative medical hypnotherapist, former actress and journalist — to unpack how hypnosis, faith, and the subconscious all show up in real-life healing. Evie shares her powerful stor...

Can you chase justice by day and chase meaning by night? In this episode of The Common Ground Podcast , John “Philly” Fletcher and Sydney Curtin sit down with Eric Harrison — lawyer by day, songwriter by morning/late-night, vinyl-loving storyteller always — to talk about what it really looks like to balance a demanding legal career with a thriving creative life. #TheCommonGroundPodcast #CommonGrou...

Episode 18 – Peace Ike: Bold & Kind: Faithful Conversations in a Divided World What does it look like to be both bold and kind in a culture obsessed with outrage, labels, and “us vs. them”? In this episode of The Common Ground Podcast , Sydney and John sit down with Peace Ike —executive coach, communication strategist, speaker, worship leader, and founder of Set the Table and The Gathering Pla...

What does it look like to raise up a bold, Bible-anchored generation in a world shaped by TikTok trends, ideological battles, and constant noise? In this episode, John and Sydney sit down with Britney Jenine Moonsamy —writer, author, songwriter, rap artist, and founder of Youth Cross Experience Magazine from Durban, South Africa—to talk about discipling Gen Z in a culture full of competing influen...

Welcome to a very special episode of The Common Ground Podcast with your hosts John “Philly” Fletcher and Sydney Curtin . Today, it’s just the two of us — no guest, no interruptions — because something important has been happening behind the scenes, and it's time to talk about it. After 10+ episodes, hundreds of guest inquiries, and a powerful shift sparked partly by recent events involving Ch...

What do you do when the narcissist isn’t an ex—you still have to see them at work, in your family, or in your building? In this powerful conversation, hosts John “Philly” Fletcher and Sydney Curtin sit down with H , a veteran teacher and Muslim American, to unpack life with a narcissist you can’t leave. We dig into gaslighting vs. reality, boundaries that protect (not punish), culture and faith dy...

When everything you’ve built falls apart, can obedience still look like success? In this powerful episode, Meme Mulugeta , founder of The One and Only Publishing , joins John Fletcher and Sydney Curtin to share her extraordinary journey from corporate success and devastating loss to divine purpose and radical obedience. After losing everything, Meme heard God say, “Write your book.” What started a...

Survivor advocate and new podcaster Sara Creque shares how she went from feeling invisible to reclaiming her voice—launching Unquiet Healing to “heal out loud.” We talk trauma bonds, leaving an abusive marriage, single-mom grit, EMDR therapy (what it is and how it helped), co-parenting through the court system, and the power of safe community (CASA, friends, faith) to move from survival to a life...

Debbie shares the unimaginable loss of her quadruplets at 26 weeks, how surrender and faith reframed “why me?” into “how do I survive & thrive?”, and why she and her husband chose to adopt sibling groups from the foster care system. We dig into open adoption, PACAs, co-parenting with wisdom, honoring birth families, and what it really takes to build a legacy. #CommonGroundPodcast #AdoptionJour...

Narcissism doesn’t just show up in one person—it becomes a system . In this episode, Shannon Farrar shares how narcissistic family roles (scapegoat, golden child, enabler) kept her stuck—and how she found freedom through boundaries , evidence-based therapy (EMDR/DBT/brainspotting), and a community that chose dignity over drama. We talk about loving difficult people without losing yourself, protect...

What if you became so mentally wealthy that you weren’t dependent on circumstances to feel fulfilled? Life coach & author Jeremy Rodriguez joins John & Sydney to unpack mental wealth vs. money, taking radical responsibility, healing habits, boundaries with family, operating at the right frequency , and aligning purpose (what you practice) with an abundant inner state. In this episode Menta...

#Communication #CoreValues #Relationships How do you communicate so people feel heard , respected , and inspired —not attacked? TEDx speaker and communication specialist Tia Cristy joins John Fletcher & Sydney Curtin to break down core values, emotional regulation, nonverbal cues, and her signature idea: “your words should be a gift.” We cover listening vs. reacting, setting boundaries, social...

In this episode of The Common Ground Podcast, hosts John Fletcher and Sydney Curtin engage with JP Marsh, a single father and passionate co-parenting advocate. JP opens up about his personal journey—navigating co-parenting dynamics, breaking free from the cycles of his own upbringing, and building a healthy, mindful environment for his daughter. The discussion explores: The importance of intention...

In this heartfelt episode of the Common Ground podcast, hosts John and Sydney reflect on the tragic events surrounding the death of Charlie Kirk, a respected leader. They share personal stories of grief, the impact of Charlie's legacy, and the importance of hope and obedience in the face of adversity. The conversation emphasizes the need for community, action, and maintaining a positive outloo...

In Episode 6 of The Common Ground Podcast , hosts John Fletcher and Sydney Curtin engage with Shaolin Brown , a passionate advocate for child care and family support. Shaolin opens up about her journey as a child care provider, the barriers within restrictive regulations, and the urgent need for reform in child care and foster care systems. She also reflects on how faith sustains her mission, and...

In this episode of The Common Ground Podcast , hosts John Fletcher and Sydney Curtin welcome Chris Mamone , an Acceptance Coach who helps individuals navigate grief and trauma with compassion and courage. Chris shares his own experiences of loss — including the passing of his grandfather and his son — and how they reshaped his life and calling. In this heartfelt conversation, we explore: Why safe...

On this episode of The Common Ground Podcast , hosts John Fletcher and Sydney Curtin sit down with musician and songwriter DK Lyons to explore the big questions around love, relationships, self-love, and personal growth . From his early dreams of becoming a rock star to his path as a successful independent artist , DK shares how love continues to inspire his music and shape his journey of self-dis...

In this episode of The Common Ground Podcast , hosts John Fletcher and Sydney Curtin sit down with Kali Walker , a nurse and podcaster, to discuss her journey of healing from childhood trauma, toxic relationships, and the path to self-love . Kali opens up about how her past shaped her parenting style, the challenges of breaking free from unhealthy relationships, and the importance of unconditional...

In this episode of The Common Ground Podcast , hosts John Fletcher and Sydney Curtin sit down with author and “emotional baggage handler” Dallas Collis to explore how trauma, addiction, and personal stories shape our reality. Dallas shares his journey of overcoming challenges, confronting the illusion of healing, and realizing the power of taking responsibility for our own narratives. Together, th...

In this episode of The Common Ground Podcast , hosts John Fletcher and Sydney Curtin talk with life coach and fitness expert Alfredo Zapata about his inspiring journey of overcoming adversity, discipline, and transformation . From growing up in Mexico City to crossing into the U.S., Alfredo shares how he overcame struggles with alcohol and rebuilt his life through fitness, coaching, and personal g...