The Daniel Stih Podcast

This conversation explores creative expression, emotional processing, human connection, and why people use art, music, poetry, and storytelling to communicate experiences that are difficult to express directly. My guest is Dr. Diane Kaufman — a psychiatrist, poet, artist, and suicide survivor whose work focuses on how creative expression can help people process emotion, reconnect with meaning, and...

Discover how to reinvent yourself and live the life you're meant to live—at any age. In this episode, we explore proven strategies for overcoming fear, building confidence, and taking bold action to design a fulfilling life. Whether in your career or personal relationships, this episode will inspire you and push you to start creating the life you desire.  

My guest is Tracy Hannigan, a behavioral sleep therapist who specializes in evidence-based approaches like CBT-I and ACT-I.This conversation is not about quick fixes. It's about a deeper question: Why is sleep so difficult to fix—and what actually helps? In this episode, we explore: • Why insomnia persists even when people "do the right things" • What's actually happening when the mind won't shut...

My guest is Darius Wallace, an actor, speaker, and storytelling coach who has performed for thousands of audiences across schools, theaters, and stages. This conversation focuses on the question: Why do some messages engage people immediately—while others fall flat? In this episode, we explore: • What makes communication engaging • How storytelling changes how messages are received • Why authentic...

Retirement is often framed as a financial target. The real question is: What does "enough" actually mean—and how do you define it? My guest is Dalene Higgins, founder of Elevate Finances, who approaches retirement planning through values, not just numbers. In this conversation, we explore: • How people define "enough" (and where it goes wrong) • Why financial plans often miss what actually matters...

"Follow your dream" sounds simple. In practice, most people don't. In this episode, I sit down with Bill Robertson—writer, filmmaker, and creator—to explore what actually happens when someone commits to a creative path. We break down: • How people figure out what they want to pursue • Why fear—not lack of ability—stops most people • How opportunities get created (not found) • What it looks like to...

Travel photography isn't just about taking pictures of places. It's about learning how to see them. In this episode, I talk with Ralph Velasco, travel photographer, tour leader, author, and host of The Continental Drifter, about turning creativity into a career and using photography as a way to experience the world more deeply. We explore: • What makes a place photogenic • How slow travel changes...

My guest is Alison Bladh, a registered nutritional therapist who works with women navigating the challenges of menopause. This conversation focuses on a deeper question: What actually helps manage symptoms—and how should nutrition be evaluated in that process? In this episode, we explore: • The most common challenges during menopause • How nutrition may influence symptoms like mood, sleep, and ene...

My guest is Olivier Mankondo, a weight loss and wellness coach who has followed a plant-based approach since 2016. After losing over 70 pounds in nine months and resolving long-standing health issues, his work now focuses on helping others rethink how they approach food and health. This conversation is less about diet advice, and more about a deeper question: What problem are we actually trying to...

Is there evidence for life after death—and how should we evaluate it? In this episode, I talk with Liz Entin, author of WTF Just Happened?!, who set out to investigate the possibility of an afterlife from a skeptical perspective after the loss of her father. We explore: • What is considered "evidence" in afterlife research and how it's interpreted • Experiences with psychic mediums and how reading...

My guest is Marie McKenzie, an intimacy and relationship coach who works with women navigating recovery after sexual assault. This conversation focuses on a difficult but important question: How does recovery happen—and how are trust and relationships rebuilt over time? In this episode, we explore: • What to do if you think an assault may have occurred • How recovery unfolds and what makes it diff...

My guest is Adriana Cefala, a bilingual English teacher who moved from Australia to Italy and now helps others prepare for life in Australia. This conversation is less about language itself—and more about a deeper problem: What does it take to navigate a new environment where the rules aren't written down? We explore: How language reflects underlying cultural systems Why "speaking like a local" is...

What does it actually take to walk away from a structured life—and not know what comes next? In this episode, I talk with Jenell Jones, who at 60 sold everything she owned, bought an RV, and left with no plan.  • What goes into a decision like that—and what doesn't • The difference between perceived risk and actual risk • What changes when you remove the idea of a "home base" • The trade-offs of l...

Some people are told early how their story will end. Most believe it. Shawn Harper didn't. In this episode, we look at what actually changed—from learning disabilities, poverty, and being labeled "most likely to fail" to making it to the NFL. We explore: • What "mindset" actually means in practice • How identity shapes behavior—and outcomes • Why some people change trajectory and others don't • Wh...

My guest today is Noah Healy, a market designer and game theorist working on a better way to organize how prices are set. We take something that sounds complex—commodity markets—and break it down into a simple question: Why do things cost what they do? And why are prices so high? Noah explains how current market structures create instability, inefficiency, and higher costs—and how a different appr...

Intuition is often treated as either truth—or nonsense. In reality, it's something people use every day without fully understanding how it works. In this episode, I sit down with psychic medium Corbie Mitleid to explore how intuition is interpreted, applied, and experienced. We examine: • What people mean when they say "intuition" • How signals are interpreted in the absence of clear data • Why so...

My guest for this episode is Dr. Rebecca Allen. Dr. Allen's current focus is on brain stimulation and treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions and depression. In this conversation we talk about the following treatments, what they are, how they work, who might benefit from them, and possible risks and side of effects: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)   Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) ketam...

Photography isn't just about capturing images. It's about how you see. In this episode, I talk with photographer Molly Schlachter, creator of Photo Jam, about using photography as a way to change perception, think differently, and create more intentionally. We explore: • How attention and perception shape what you notice • Why creative constraints (light, shadow, space) change how you think • Usin...

My guest is Near Death Experiencer (NDE), Best-selling Author, Speaker, and coach Kathy McDaniel. In 2000, Kathy had Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a serious lung condition that causes fluid to build up in the lungs. She survived, but not before she had a "Distressing Near Death Experience."   You may be familiar with the acronym NDE - Near Death Experience. NDEs are usually positive. During...

This conversation is not just about resumes—it's about a deeper question: How does the hiring system actually work, and why do so many people struggle to navigate it? My guest today is Josef Stetter, the resume whisperer. Josef's "Land Your Dream Job Now" program was created after twenty years during in which he switched careers 9 times and jobs 18. He understands the frustration job seekers go th...

Minimalism is described as "living with less." The real question is: What does it  change, and what do people misunderstand about it? My guest is Stephen Warley, who has spent decades designing work and life on his own terms. In this conversation, we explore: What minimalism is and isn't Why it's not just about owning fewer things How it changes decision-making around work and time The trade-offs...

My guest is Dolly Manghat, who has spent decades working with astrology and numerology as tools for guiding decisions and shaping life direction. This conversation is not about validating or dismissing astrology. It's about a deeper question: Why do people use systems like astrology to make decisions—and what role do those systems play in how they understand themselves and their choices? – How ast...

This conversation is not just about clothing—it's about a deeper question: How do we evaluate claims about risk, health, and exposure when the information is complex and often conflicting? My guest is Jeff Garner, a celebrity designer and Emmy award-winning sustainability activist. Jeff has designed for and dressed Giselle Bundchen, Taylor Swift, The Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, Cara Delevigne, Suzy C...

My guest is David Fox, one of the founding members of Lucasfilm Games and a longtime game designer and programmer. This conversation is not just about game design—it's about a deeper question: How do you build a career in a field where the path isn't clearly defined? My guest for this episode is David Fox. David was one of the founding members, first game designer and project leader at Lucas film...

Voting is often discussed in terms of participation and outcomes. The real question is: How do voting systems actually work—and what determines whether a vote counts? My guest is Amy Widestrom, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters in Pennsylvania and a political scientist. In this conversation, we explore: • How voting systems are structured • Where breakdowns and friction occur • What...