This Is It! by Thriving Yinzers

ABOUT THIS EPISODE We’re revisiting growth mindset and  the real question underneath it: do you still believe you’re becoming, or have you quietly stopped expecting more for yourself? Sherry and Jodi talk through the difference between “I can’t” and “I can’t yet,” Michael Jordan walking away from basketball at the peak of his career, and how Fred Rogers turned a lonely, bullied childhood into a 33...

Ever feel like you’ve been “doing the work” for years and somehow still end up back in the same place, asking yourself what’s wrong with you? We’re pulling the plug on that idea with Dr. Leslie B. Newman, psychologist, author, and positive psychology expert, because growth isn’t a straight line and you’re not a project to be completed. We talk about what it looks like when progress comes in loops,...

Emotional Regulation: Working With Your Emotions, Not Against Them Somebody blows up, shuts down, or flips the story so fast you end up apologizing and wondering what just happened. We start there, but we don’t stay there, because the real leverage point is what we do with our own emotions first. We talk about emotional regulation as a learnable skill, why emotions are signals not threats, and how...

A kid catches a fish and suddenly stands a little taller. That moment is why we wanted Phil Papa on the show. Phil is the founder of Fishburgh Outdoors, a Pittsburgh youth fishing program built to help families get outside, get off screens, and feel that rare mix of calm and lit up that happens near the water. What starts as a bluegill at a city pond becomes something bigger: confidence, patience,...

We talk about agency as the small, real choices we can still make when life is unfair, overwhelming, or full of grief. We connect self-awareness to action, name the nervous system “freeze” response, and share practical ways to find one next step without shaming yourself.   • defining agency as influence inside what you cannot change   • why awareness without action turns into shutdown   • Jodi’s s...

You can’t fix what you refuse to notice and most of us are moving too fast to see ourselves clearly. Season two starts with a small, powerful skill that changes how we handle stress, conflict, and burnout: self-awareness. We’re not here to spiral with the headlines or pretend everything is fine. We’re here to get grounded, put our own oxygen masks on first, and take the next right step with more c...

Three words can change how you survive the hardest seasons of your life: This is it. Sherry opens season two by sharing the message her dad wrote to their family while facing glioblastoma, and how those words kept her steady through compounding grief, sudden medical events, and the long, brutal reality of loving someone through addiction and serious mental health challenges. We don’t sanitize any...

We close season one by tracing how small order, honest support, and micro habits help us move from survival toward steadier ground without chasing perfection. The theme is simple and stubborn: accept where you are, build tiny anchors, and keep paying it forward. • defining thriving as mindset, not destination • order over chaos through tiny tools and routines • taking a beat to exit survival mode...

The hardest stories to tell are the ones that matter most. We open our hearts to share a sister’s life, loss, and grief—while confronting the painful truth that love alone can’t solve a complex crisis. What starts as a personal remembrance becomes a wider discussion on addiction, trauma, mental illness, and the limits families run into when care systems fall short. We talk about her early path int...

A life narrowed by chronic pain can make even simple pleasures feel like a threat. We sit down with Dr. Leah Flaherty, a pain psychologist at Allegheny Health Network and certified Empowered Relief instructor, to explore a FREE and practical, two-hour path that helps you change how your brain responds to pain—without pretending it will vanish. Grounded in pain neuroscience education and cognitive...

Life is messy — between burnout, stress, clutter, and emotional overload, most of us are just trying to hold it together. But you don’t have to stay stuck in survival mode. In this episode of This Is It! by Thriving Yinzers , we’re redding up the chaos — starting with what’s actually in our control: our daily habits, routines, and physical environment. We break down why chaos overwhelms your brain...

When life tests us with unimaginable challenges, we discover capacities for strength and resilience we never knew we had. Megan Grau's story embodies this truth in ways that will leave you speechless, inspired, and perhaps forever changed. On a single day in May 2020, while the world grappled with pandemic uncertainty, Megan's world shattered: her husband Mike was diagnosed with stage fo...

A cancer diagnosis changes everything. While medical treatment targets the disease, what about the person—their fears, their appearance, their family, their spirit? Laurin Scanlon from AHN's Integrative Oncology Division reveals the extraordinary support system maybe you never knew existed. The program, fully launched in 2023 after years of development, focuses on four pillars: health and fit...

When life piles up fast—schedules, stress, emotions, unfolded laundry—it's easy to overlook how you're still showing up. That's why we created our #4Wins4Yinz framework, a simple tool to help you see progress when everything feels overwhelming. This episode guides you through four essential dimensions of well-being: spiritual (what gave you peace or purpose?), physical (how did you...

When was the last time you felt truly aligned—mind, body, and spirit working in harmony? For too many of us, that sense of wholeness feels increasingly elusive in a world that treats our physical and mental health as entirely separate domains. Matt Plutko, co-founder and Director of Wellness at Revelations Counseling and Wellness, joins us to share a perspective on healing that bridges this artifi...

That little word "yet" might be the most powerful tool in your mental toolkit. When you catch yourself saying "I can't do this," adding "yet" transforms limitation into possibility—opening the door to growth where you once saw only roadblocks. In this reflective conversation, we explore the science and practical application of developing a growth mindset based on...

Dr. Tony Kovatch, known as "Slow Tony" after being the last to cross the finish line at the 2025 Pittsburgh Marathon, shares insights from his 40+ years as a pediatrician and his philosophy on living a meaningful life shaped by personal struggles and professional triumphs. • Early exposure to his mother's battle with Huntington's disease influenced his decision to become a doct...

Living with intention means taking the wheel of your life instead of letting it happen to you. We explore practical strategies for making deliberate choices that align with your values and create the life you actually want.  Moving from autopilot living to intentional decision-making Why setting boundaries might make others uncomfortable—and why that's okay How meditation and mindfulness can...

Valerie Pedigo’s  journey through burnout began with a shocking moment—finding herself crawling up her stairs, physically unable to walk, yet still answering work calls from the floor. This powerful visual captures what burnout truly means: not just having too much to do, but having nothing left of yourself to give. As a certified life coach, human design reader, and co-founder of Renewed Spirit A...

When life gets heavy, sometimes the best we can do is make a hard day "nicer" rather than "good." That's the powerful distinction at the heart of our new segment and hashtag: #4WINS4YINZ Drawing from behavioral science and psychology, we're introducing a simple framework to help you notice your daily progress across four dimensions:  spiritual (what gave you peace or...

We explore the concept of autopilot—that feeling of going through the motions without being present and how to break free from this cycle before it leads to burnout. • Autopilot sneaks up in small ways like driving somewhere with no memory of the journey • Our brains default to habits and routines to conserve energy, especially during stress • Warning signs include feeling constantly busy but maki...

Dan Heffley's journey of recovery and resilience after experiencing a massive stroke at age 31 demonstrates extraordinary courage & determination as he continues to build a fulfilling life despite significant challenges. • Former Army Ranger who suffered a stroke after a carotid artery tear, affecting the entire left side of his brain • Lives with apraxia (difficulty coordinating speech m...

Small daily actions compound over time to completely change the trajectory of your life, whether in health, career, finances, or relationships. • Trying to change everything at once leads to burnout and failure • Starting small creates achievable wins that build momentum • Shifting perspective during challenges is crucial for finding forward momentum • Habit stacking combines new habits with exist...

We've passed 412 downloads and since that's our lucky number, want to thank our listeners for making this podcast journey possible – your support means the world to us as podcast newcomers. • Our podcast aims to create a space where you can catch your breath while finding your path forward • We don't compare pain or make assumptions about anyone's story – everyone carries somet...

We explore the transformative power of choosing betterment over bitterness when life doesn't go as planned, featuring part of Sherry's personal journey of recovery from medical and other life events. • Sherry shares how a series of small strokes affected her family life • Learning to accept a new reality and choosing better over bitter • How small daily actions compound into significant...