The Eternal Optimist

In this episode of the Eternal Optimist Podcast, Matthew Christiansen shares his journey of resilience after the death of his son and his success in business, from building a gaming company at 12 years old to selling a business at 20. He discusses how he has used video games to help people going through grief and provides valuable insight on how to stay positive through adversity. Follow @eternalo...

On this episode of the Eternal Optimist Podcast, we hear from Ezra Max, a survivor of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Ezra shares his story of resilience, discussing his experience with trauma, how he overcame it, and found purpose in life. He also shares his journey from being an A.D.D kid to becoming an entrepreneur and how mentors helped him along the way. Finally, Ezra sha...

Welcome to the Eternal Optimist Podcast, where we believe in the power of positive thinking and achieving your dreams! On this episode, we are thrilled to have Will Wang, the founder of Growth Labs, sharing his journey from a humble background to becoming a successful marketer and entrepreneur. Will's story is a testament to the fact that with hard work, perseverance and the right mindset, anyone...

Are you ready to be inspired? The Eternal Optimist Podcast is back with another incredible episode! Our special guest, Carolyn Colleen, is a high performance coach and global thought leader who has an amazing story to share. From growing up in absolute poverty to becoming a successful entrepreneur through Covid, Carolyn has faced some of life's toughest challenges and come out on top. In this epis...

Welcome to the Eternal Optimist podcast! On today's episode, we have Dustin Riechmann, an engineer turned entrepreneur who has some amazing stories to share about his journey. From witnessing abuse in his home as a child, to getting married in high school and starting a family, Dustin has overcome many challenges. He also shares how he found his faith and how it has shaped his marriage ministry. W...

Welcome to the Eternal Optimist podcast, where we empower listeners to turn their dreams into reality. Hosted by Matt Drinkhahn, each episode features inspiring stories and strategies to help you overcome obstacles and reach your goals. Today's show is all about harnessing the power of energy and maximizing your physical potential. Our special guest, Nate Palmer, shares his journey of overcoming b...

In this episode of the Eternal Optimist, Matt Drinkhahn is joined by Alyce Dailey, author of Magic Mom. They delve into the topic of living life on our own terms and how to use that newfound knowledge to inspire others. They discuss Carl Young's quote "The greatest burden on a child is the unlived life of a parent" and its relevance to their lives. Alyce shares her personal journey of reinventing...

In this episode of the Eternal Optimist Podcast, host Matt Drinkhahn interviews David Hendrickson, a high performance coach and founder of the Walking Through Samaria podcast. David discusses his journey of finding peace through personal struggles and using his platform to give back to those in need. He shares his experiences with World Vision and Crisis International, as well as how his relations...

In this episode of the Eternal Optimist Podcast, host Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Deven Wohlwend, a 15-year-old entrepreneur and author. Deven opens up about the obstacles he faced when starting his business at such a young age and the significance of being trustworthy and keeping your word. He shares key lessons he has learned through his experience in business and how it has shaped his educati...

Want to master the art of succeeding in all aspects of life? There's something you're probably ignoring - and it's not hard work, luck, or persistence.  In today's episode, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Reena Friedman-Watts to discuss the one thing guaranteed to bring you success in all areas of your life. They also share how overcoming life's challenges can make you a more confident person a...

Do you feel like a failure? Imagine being so bad at doing things that you worry you might fail at ending your life.  In today’s episode, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Mike Skrypnek to discuss how your failures and success are profoundly connected to your childhood trauma. They also talk about the things you should do when you feel like a failure, how to uncover and fix your childhood trauma,...

Do you struggle with Alcohol addiction? Here’s some good news: you don’t need to hit rock bottom to drop your drinking habit. If you know you need help and truly desire to stop, don’t wait; just take action, no matter how messy it is.  In today’s episode, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Kay Allison to discuss how people can successfully drop a drinking habit, eliminate anxiety, and increase ene...

In this episode of the Eternal Optimist podcast, host Josh Goodman shares his remarkable journey from staffing industry employee to successful business owner in the draft beer and beverage industry. He shares how he reached out to a local expert to gain industry knowledge and how he secured a $10 million project with a public company. Josh also talks about his successful partnership with an Austri...

Dr. Kelly has an inspiring story of personal growth and transformation. After completing his PhD, he married a woman with the same name as him, which caused some confusion for everyone, including the TSA. His ego then wanted to take advantage of his newfound identity and use it to get things. He spent a few years getting to know himself apart from his ego and discovered that he loved to write some...

This conversation is about vertical development, a concept that was invented about 10 years ago. It comes from the field of developmental psychology, which has been around since the 1880s. Vertical development is the idea that adults can develop and go through different stages, just like children do. Ryan shared his experience of going from a prevention mindset to a promotion mindset and how it ch...

What comes to mind when you see a successful person? If you're like most people, you automatically assume they must have had it easy. Or maybe they overcame one or two hard things. But the reality is, we all have challenges. And there is no better person to share how challenges shape our lives than Marcia Martins.  Matt Drinkhahn and Marcia Martins have an amazing discussion about navigating...

Do you trade time for money? Newsflash - there’s only so much time you can trade for money. It would be best if you focused on giving value. Find out what people want and give it to them. Remember, if the only thing you can give is your time, then you will be stuck where you’re at forever.  In today’s episode, Matt Drinkhahn sits down with Eric Wohlwend to discuss lessons on how to adapt to a...

Are you like most people who never explore what they want their life to look like, let alone take action and make it happen? If so, here’s a harsh truth: you will never live up to your potential unless you take action. Whether you’ve got unclear goals or are simply afraid of failing, the only thing standing in the way of your success or happiness is you. If you’re afraid of trying new things and w...

If you don't risk anything, you risk everything.  If you are too afraid to do anything for fear of failure or embarrassment, you have lost the opportunity for failure and any possibility of success. Life is short; the minute you were born, it got risky. So instead of asking for security, seek adventure. Remember, it's not about how long you live but how you live.  Rob Moore is an entrepr...

Are the tangible assets you’re pursuing worth the relational capital you’re spending? Just because you are providing for your family financially doesn’t mean you’re meeting all of their needs. Yes, you may have a pocket full of money, but you must realize there is no greater gift than the love of family. Aaron is a professional coach, mastermind group facilitator, and author of View From The Top....

How would you react if the person you thought would guide you to greatness told you you're a waste of space? Imagine how troubled you'd feel when even your coaches don't believe you have what it takes to make it.  If you feel everybody and everything is going against you, remember it takes one person to believe in you, see your talent, take a risk on you, and change your life. And that person...

Major life events come packed with a full array of emotions. For example, getting that long overdue promotion can be a happy event. On the other hand, losing a parent can be quite destructive. But here's the thing, however dramatic these events are, they can still provide us with perspectives and opportunities to change our lives.  Matt Gilhooly is the host of The Life Shift Podcast, where he...

Dr. William Sparks is an associate professor of behavioral science and has consulted with numerous organizations in the public and private sectors, including the U.S. Navy, Transamerica, Duke Energy, Wells Fargo, and the U.S. Department of Energy. He is also a principal with Sparks & Associates, LLC, a professional services firm focused on leadership and team development, corporate creativity...

Amber Vilhauer is an online business development expert who supports authors, speakers, and coaches to establish a robust online presence that gets results and makes a difference in their respective industries. Since starting No Guts No Glory(NGNG) in 2007, Amber has spent her career impacting communities and building strong strategic alliances with industry leaders and game-changers across the we...

Faith can move mountains but the truth is, with faith comes challenges and many hurdles. For most, the trials and tribulations leave their faith faltered. But in this episode, we speak with one of the very few people whose faith remains strong despite all the dark setbacks. Listen as we learn about Link Forester, a successful financial advisor, avid golfer, and now a new author, as he shares with...