The Self Help Antidote

Send a text It's fair to say Tiffanee has a hell of a passion for engaging in meaningful conversations, which is why, when the world as we knew it shut down in 2020, she grabbed the opportunity with both hands to dive into the conversational deep-end and launch her podcast, Roll With the Punches.    With the uncertainty of the pandemic, she wanted to invest her time into something that couldn...

Send a text Staying focused and positive in a negative world filled with unproductive distractions is no doubt challenging.  Yet, it's critical for our mental, emotional, social and even physical wellbeing.   There are tools we can use to change our mindset and cultivate feelings of gratitude, both of which are useful.  However, what happens when our positivity negatively impacts our resilien...

Send a text If you are a trainer, coach or are considering working with one, chances are you’ll find this episode to be packed with value.   My guest is a therapist, coach, podcast host and presenter for the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).  In my conversation with Angie Miller we discuss what coaching is (and what it’s not), why it works, and how to effectively apply different  coachin...

Send a text The most common advice in dealing with negative people is don't surround yourself with them!   Ok, fair enough.  But what happens when these are people you can't avoid, like co-workers?  Or, what if this is someone you care deeply about, like a close friend or family member?   Can we have a positive influence on them?  Should we even try?  And if so, how do we go about it, wh...

Send a text Who are you, really?  Most of us think we know ourselves fairly well.  Yet, many of us can’t help but feel something is missing.  Despite spending months, years, and even decades on our own personal development we find ourselves somewhat stuck.    In his book “Awaken to Your True Self”, author Andrew Daniel offers us a different view on transformation, embodiment, healing and shadow wo...

Send a text Having a growth mindset is important.  It's something we hear all the time.  It's something that most of us would agree with.  But what exactly is a growth mindset actually?   In her book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success", author Carol Deck explains the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.  She illustrates the meaning and application of a...

Send a text It seems like most of us have dysfunctional families in one way or another.   However, there's a clear difference between experiencing challenges in our childhood, or growing up in an idiosyncratic family environment, and suffering serious trauma at the hands of people who have hurt you.  What's even worse in when the people who have wounded you the deepest were supposed to l...

Send a text If you want to succeed, get rid of all your friends.  The truly successful person values his or her own company and needs no one but themselves.  Average people, especially your friends will only hold you back with their disloyalty and mediocrity.   In this episode Tiff and I explore this topic, along with other insane bullshit advocated in certain self-help circles.   Granted, not eve...

Send a text Resilience.  We all want more of it.  We've all likely run low on stat times throughout these past couple of years.  And we're being told to develop it from each and every angle.   In this episode Tiff and I have a conversation around what we consider to be the facts and fallacies when it comes to resilience.  We talk about trauma, healing, memories, forgiveness and exposure....

Send a text As far as Tiffanee is concerned, that would be an emphatic yes on the chocolate.   In this episode we banter (surprise) around our own personal experiences with intermittent fasting, and the benefits of making micro changes in our behaviors.   We also talk about about forcing creativity, productivity and change vs. allowing it to happen.  Is there a difference in not only the experienc...

Send a text This week we are back with part 2 of our discussion on Bronnie Ware's beautiful book "The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying", which are: I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. I wish I hadn't worked so hard. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.  I wi...

Send a text This episode challenges the notion of "no regrets." On the one hand, ruminating over our regrets or even being defined by them can deplete the joy from our lives, leaving us stuck.  On the other hand however, our regrets give us insight into our values.  Regrets are important as they give us clarity about who and what matters most.    Me Tiff dive into the subject of regret,...

Send a text Visualization is a highly popular topic amongst self-help gurus and athletic coaches alike.  But does it really work?  If so, how?   Are all forms of visualization equal?  Me and Tiff will unpack this and more in this episode. I was under the weather during this episode, so I was recording from my new empty apartment, rather than the studio.  Apologies for any issues with sound.   Visi...

Send a text What happens when our beliefs have such a strong hold on us that we are not even open to  questioning them, not to mention changing them, despite evidence to the contrary?  Worse, we remain steadfast in our beliefs even when they serve no benefit and even do us harm.   For example the belief that "hard work" is the single key to success resulting in hard work for the sake of...

Send a text Who's your 'one' in terms of your message. Who are you speaking to? Who needs your words, insights and perspectives? In a world where Instagram likes, public accolades and vain popularity feeds our starving egos, how often do we reflect on who it is that we are aiming to reach and impact in our work? We also talk about the whole New Years resolution thing, because well,...

Send a text This episode is filled with practical wisdom and valuable takeaways that you can use in your daily life immediately.   I spoke with my guest at length about his journey from early childhood challenges, and trauma growing up in Philadelphia, to how he found a positive emotional outlet for his struggles through sport.  He shares the lessons he learned as well as the foundational attribut...

Send a text Kicking off with the hard-hitting questions today with 'Is this the best life for my cat?'.  It's the age-old question, am I enough? Or does Bear need more support in order to endure life with TC? As always, simple questions go far deeper than necessary (or deep as absolutely necessary, perhaps?).  We reflect on the inevitable growth, evolution and development of little...

Send a text  Today with Tiff we are talking about her obsession with words and language, given the words we use and how we use them influences not only how we interact and engage with others but also our own understanding of ourselves and our inner world. We hear some alcohol stories and share some thoughts on what is and isn't perhaps an idea relationship with booze. And, of course, we share...

Send a text This episode is among other things, a conversation about gratitude, curiosity, love and connection.  Things that cultivate meaningful relationships, drive us to grow, find fulfillment and enrich the lives of those around us.      Over the years I have had many conversations with my guest for this episode.  Every one of them has both deeply engaged, as well as fascinated me.  This was n...

Send a text This topic was difficult for me.  Growing up with Tourette's, I understand how unforgiving some people can be towards anyone who is different.  Tourette's can be the very embodiment of different.   I would not ever want to have a go at anyone with a legitimate affliction.  However, viewing the increasing number of people with Tourette's on social media, something seems.....

Send a text Have you ever wondered what impression people have of you?  What would you think of  someone just like you?    In this maniacal and sometimes tangential episode, me and Tiff cover a lot of ground.  Speaking of which, we discuss everything from the ankle-foot complex, (no we don’t have a foot fetish) and how it attenuates forces when your foot hits the ground, to why Nostradamus may be...

Send a text What is it that makes us immediately trust or dislike someone?  How we know when our perceptions are being shaped by our stories and other peoples biases?  Perhaps more importantly, when should we question our intuition and when should we pay attention to what it's trying to tell us?   And arguably the most irritating and confronting question of this episode, is it our mistrust of...

Send a text What defines us?    With all the messages we receive daily, admonishing us to be or do something, what is the common thread through which all of us are interwoven?    Returning to The Self Help Antidote for yet another fascinating and provocative conversation is Daniel Ellenberg PhD, a leadership coach, licensed therapist, organizational trainer and executive advisor.    Dr. Ellenberg...

Send a text For some, starting and sticking with an exercise program can be baffling.  Where do I start?  Should I join a gym?  Hire a trainer? Coach?  Take a class?   Do more cardio?  Resistance training?  Do an online program?  What exactly do I do?   To make it even more complicated, many of the exercise gurus dispensing advice seem to contradict each other.   Even though there's no one de...

Send a text Perhaps a  critical lesson in happiness is that when you're unsure about what to do, do the right thing.  Let your values, principles and kindness guide you.   It's arguable that expertise is the development of informed distinctions.  Even with the development of expertise there are so many variables and biases that we are all bound to get it wrong from time to time.  The mor...