74. Part 2 of My Conversation with Ben and Jonna Jones-Growing Together: Entrepreneurship, Adventure and Giving Back

74. Part 2 of My Conversation with Ben and Jonna Jones-Growing Together: Entrepreneurship, Adventure and Giving Back

First, A Little Bit More About Ben & Jonna: Benjamin Jones-  Retired 6 year professional football player. RB / QB Founder and creator of the LionFactory, personal development company World Traveling Adventurer. Travelled all over the world with his family, 40 + countries, lived in 6 different  countries Early crypto adaptor, bought his first bitcoin at $200 Husband, father, leader of men Follower of Christ Jonna Jones- Originally from Finland Mother of 3 Ex-model, co-ran a modeling agency in Europe Director of operations for the Jones family aka Chaos Coordinator Travel fanatic Follower of Christ "It's not one more day it's one less. Go be someone" What You Can Find Inside This Episode: - A Discussion on Personal Values like Curiosity, Courage, Variety, Adventure, and Appreciation for our partners and the ways those behaviors produce goodness and abundance in our lives - We talk about the impact of travel and how seeing and experiencing the world both impacts our lives and influences our behaviors and world  - Ben & Jonna share more about the 1 year trip they took a few years ago with their 3 young children. This around the globe adventure was primarily focused on visiting Asia and exploring different places that involved both elements of risk and reward - Jonna shares about the importance of learning to regulate our nervous systems and the benefits of better understanding how to be more in charge of our emotions matters, so that we might deal with challenges that we encounter in healthier ways.  - They both dive into many of the obstacles they faced during their year on the road in Asia and how much of that trip was not planned beforehand. In particular, they share one heartwarming story best described as the best of times and the worst of times, where total exhaustion, no place to stay, a  KFC experience and fireworks in Malaysia in the midst of torrential rains are characterized by the kids as… “the best day of our lives.” - Ben talks about the importance of being aware of your physiological state and how energy is life, energy creates energy, and the importance of movement and staying active. - We also discussed the realities of responding to naysayers and dealing with people who attempt to write scripts for our lives, and how that often springs from fear and the unknown. -There is a brief chat about submission and the negative consequences of living out of alignment with one’s values and goals and we briefly touch on the issue of religious faith and questioning traditional systems.  PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources: Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services. Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com [eric@ericslivoskey.com] -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

73. Creating, Comedy & Coaching: From Page to Stage to Purpose & The Heart of What I Do

In this short form episode I discuss the three elements of my professional life. I talk about the creation piece, which involves the writing and podcasting content that I design.  I also share about my stand-up comedy work in clubs, at festivals, and at corporate events. I elaborate about my Infotainment programming where I pair a talk/lecture/engaging presentation/workshop on an educational or personal development topic like communication, leadership, resilience, etc… with a stand-up comedy set to follow as part of the presentation. I talk about how learning can be enhanced when matched with the joy and laughter associated with comedy.  Towards the end of the conversation, I chat about my personal development coaching business, and how my life experiences, education, research, and coaching training has prepared me to help people. I talked about my specific programs and who I help. Coaching is such a powerful tool and a great way to transform your life, accelerate your growth, and essentially help build a better version of yourself.  I also listed my pricing options in my coaching business and reminded everyone that a 30 minute discovery call with me is absolutely free! It enables us to learn more about one another, offers a place to ask and answer questions, a chance for me to better understand your goals and the change(s) you are seeking, and help determine if we are a good fit to work together.  Consider reaching out to me if you have any questions about my coaching services or if you’d like to explore the possibilities of setting up your free discovery call and beginning to work with me.  My rates are as follows: - $300 For a package of 6 (1 hour sessions) via face to face, phone, or zoom meetings… and this will also include email support - For pre-purchased packages of more than 6 sessions, meetings are priced at a lesser rate of $45 per 1 hour sessions  - Non-package hourly rates are $55 per hour PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources: Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services. Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com [eric@ericslivoskey.com] -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

72. Part 1 of My Conversation with Ben and Jonna Jones- Growing Together: Entrepreneurship, Adventure and Giving Back

First, A Little Bit More About Ben & Jonna: Benjamin Jones -  Retired 6 year professional football player. RB / QB Founder and creator of the LionFactory, personal development company World Traveling Adventurer. Travelled all over the world with his family, 40 + countries, lived in 6 different countries Early crypto adaptor, bought his first bitcoin at $200  Husband, father, leader of men, follower of Christ Jonna Jones-  Originally from Finland Mother of 3 Ex-model, co-ran a modeling agency in Europe Director of operations for the Jones family aka Chaos Coordinator  Travel fanatic Follower of Christ   "It's not one more day it's one less. Go be someone"  What You Can Find Inside This Episode: - How 2 people from opposite ends of the globe and very different upbringings crossed paths in Finland and joined together to begin building a beautiful life - A Discussion on Personal Values like Curiosity, Courage, Variety, Adventure, and Appreciation for our partners and the ways those behaviors produce goodness and abundance in our lives - We talk about the impact of travel and how seeing and experiencing the world both impacts our lives and influences our behaviors and world view  - We chat about how Ben and Jonna view “growth and giving” as northstars and the transformation that occurs when we seek to create and contribute  - Towards the end of the conversation, we begin to get into the 1 year trip that Ben & Jonna took a few years ago with their 3 young children. This around the globe adventure was primarily focused on visiting Asia and exploring different places that involved both elements of risk and reward - A general theme of this first episode can best be summed up with a quote that Jonna shared during this interview.   “Travel is the only thing that you can buy that can make you richer.”   PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources:  Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services.  Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com [eric@ericslivoskey.com]  -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

71. You’re Not Lazy, You’re Depleted: The Truth About Midlife Burnout in Women & How Body Based Approaches Can Begin To Heal the Nervous System

A Little Bit More About Today’s Guest: Dr. Julie Merriman is a PhD, licensed counselor, professor, author, and nationally recognized nervous system expert- In fact her work is grounded in a nervous system first framework * Julie has 30+ years of experience helping high-achieving women move out of burnout, emotional exhaustion, and disconnection * Creator of The Radiance MethodM, a neuro-somatic framework for reclaiming energy, desire, and aliveness * Specializes in women over 50 who feel depleted, numb, or disconnected from their bodies and relationships *  Author of In Pursuit of Soul Joy and Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? Which was released recently in the spring of 2026 * Julie serves as the host of 2 podcasts where she goes deeper into conversations about the clinical frameworks and issues related to her mission * Host of Compassion Fatigue Cure: From Burnout to Radiance for Women Healers 50+ *  Host of Sexy After 50: Improve Sex and Intimacy by Healing Your Nervous System * Known for her core message: You are not broken, you are operating past capacity. And, Welcome to your Homecoming! Julie offers a variety of programs including:  * 7-Day Radiance IntensiveTM -  * Which is A 7-Day Somatic  Intervention for the Woman Who is the "Strong One" for Everyone Else and is Secretly Drowning in the Silence. *   Somatic Signature Quiz - Freebie *   Reignite Your Fire & Desire - Freebie *   And as I previously mentioned her Books: *   In Pursuit of Soul Joy *   Are We Gonna Have Sex or What? (available now) What’s Inside This Episode: * I chat with author, professor, podcaster, counselor, speaker, and coach about an array of topics centered on women’s emotional and mental health including burnout, compassion fatigue, and how to begin to understand the signs and devastating impacts of a depleted nervous system. There is hope, and we also talk about somatic and cognitive approaches where healing and restoration can begin to take place.  * Specifically, we chat about how so many women are deeply committed to caring for others and how that devotion can often start to turn into nervous system depletion or burnout. * We discuss how women can begin to lose access to themselves, what that actually look like in day-to-day life, and how can someone recognize it early. * Julie shares about the concept of compassion fatigue as well as how  chronic burnout or nervous system dysregulation can impact intimacy and relationships, especially for women in long-term partnerships. * She shares about how women take on the role of “the helper” or “the one who holds everything together.” and touches on how women can begin to untangle who they are beyond that role. * We get into some of the common misconceptions about self-care that might actually be keeping women stuck in cycles of depletion. * Julie talks about body-based tools and how they are such an important component for fostering restoration and why working with the body is so essential compared to just talking through stress or burnout. * We chat about what it can start to look like when women begin reconnecting with their bodies and reclaiming their energy, and the changes that can occur like more clarity in their sense of purpose and enhanced vitality. * My guest also offers some great insights for someone who feels completely exhausted and disconnected, including a small practical step they can take today to begin restoring their energy.  How You Can Connect With Julie and Her Work: You can learn more about her work and projects and connect with her through her website and various social media links listed below.  juliemerrimanphd.com [http://juliemerrimanphd.com] * Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliemerriman/ [https://www.instagram.com/dr.juliemerriman/] *   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drjuliemerriman [https://www.youtube.com/@drjuliemerriman] *   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php]? id=61564870628821 *   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-merriman/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-merriman/] *   Blog: https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/blog [https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/blog] *   Podcasts: *   Compassion Fatigue Cure -  https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/compassion- [https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/compassion-] fatigue-cure-1 *   Sexy After 50 -  https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/sexy-after-50 [https://www.juliemerrimanphd.com/sexy-after-50] PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources: Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services. Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com [eric@ericslivoskey.com] -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.

70. Rough Waters, Open Hearts: Travel, Vulnerability, & Breaking Down Assumptions

In this episode recorded from the town of Lerwick in the Shetland Islands, I start off with a story about our rough 8 hour journey here to the remote Scottish Isles by ferry. To get here, we had to navigate violent seas and strong gales overnight into the heart of the waters of the North Sea. I share about how travel can transport us straight out of our comfort zones in so many ways and it is in those moments and experiences where the challenges occur that real changes in perspective and transformation can happen. Some of the biggest takeaways I illustrate and dive into are: Delayed trains and rough seas can be strangely good teachers. Travel can humble you because suddenly you become the outsider… who is more aware of the need to depend on others.  The world becomes less frightening once it becomes personal. Empathy often grows the fastest in unfamiliar places.” Your trip can provide a means for you to replace assumptions with experiences  One of the greatest souvenirs that traveling can ever provide you with is the gift of perspective. Closing Thoughts: Once you eat with people, struggle alongside people, rely on people, and laugh with people— connections are built and new pathways in our hearts connect with our minds… and we can be reminded that our shared humanity is far bigger than any ideology we might cling to. I think we can all agree that travel won’t magically solve hatred or prejudice. But as I’ve mentioned… it becomes much harder to fear people once you’ve shared weather, exhaustion, meals, confusion, and kindness with them. The world stops feeling foreign — and starts feeling human. PerfectWhelm Podcast Links & Resources: Schedule a free discovery call with me to learn more about my coaching programs and services. Email: eric@ericslivoskey.com [eric@ericslivoskey.com] -I hope you will follow, subscribe, rate, and/or share the podcast with someone you think might benefit from it.