Adrienne Barker Speaks: No Prep Needed

Pete vs Anxiety: When Triggers Take Over (with Pete)

In this episode, Pete opens up about the physical and emotional toll of severe anxiety and PTSD. He explains how certain triggers—like court dates, holidays, or unexpected reminders—can cause days of nausea, exhaustion, and shutdown. Drawing from lived experience, Pete shares how counseling, grounding techniques, trusted support people, and knowing when to seek emergency care helped him survive moments that felt unsafe. The conversation also addresses how misunderstood anxiety is, why people who haven’t experienced it often minimize it, and how grounding tools like the 5-4-3-2-1 method help bring the nervous system back to the present. The episode highlights the real impact of crisis resources like the 988 Lifeline and reinforces one core message: you are not weak for needing help—you are human. What happens when anxiety doesn’t just live in your head—but takes over your body? In this raw conversation, Pete shares what it’s like to live with PTSD-driven anxiety, how triggers can shut everything down, and why having a plan can save your life. * Anxiety can be physically debilitating, not just mental * PTSD triggers may appear suddenly and drain the body for days * Having a crisis plan and trusted contacts is critical * Grounding techniques like 5-4-3-2-1 can interrupt panic cycles * Knowing when to seek emergency help is a form of strength * Support is about listening and presence, not fixing * Crisis resources like 988 have proven, life-saving impact * Sharing stories helps others feel less alone “I knew I wasn’t in a safe place anymore—and I had to reach out.” Connect with Peter: https://www.instagram.com/pete_vs_annxietypodcast?igsh=MTA1bjczZTFodDY2cg== [https://www.instagram.com/pete_vs_annxietypodcast?igsh=MTA1bjczZTFodDY2cg==]

Marcy Axelrod: Showing Up Changes the World

In this profound episode of Adrienne Barker Speaks, author, researcher, and artist Marcy Axelrod explores the concept of “showing up” as a conscious, moment-to-moment choice that impacts ourselves, others, and the world. Drawing from over 30 years of global research, Marcy explains why we are not “human doings,” but human beings—flow systems deeply interconnected with one another. Marcy introduces her three core roles of showing up—self, situation member, and societal member—and walks listeners through the continuum from barely there to truly showing up. She shares her personal story of losing her ability to speak as a child, how that shaped her lifelong mission, and how her bestselling book How We Choose to Show Up became a blueprint for living with presence, compassion, and choice. The conversation also weaves through art, neuroscience, mindfulness, parenting, leadership, and authenticity—culminating in a reminder that every interaction, no matter how small, is shaping the world we live in. What if the way you show up—moment by moment—literally shapes the world around you? In this deeply moving conversation, Marcy Axelrod shares decades of research, lived experience, and art to redefine what it truly means to show up as a human being. 1. You are always showing up — whether consciously or unconsciously, every moment carries impact. 2. We are flow systems, not labels — identities like “job titles” or roles limit the fullness of who we are. 3. There are levels of showing up — barely there, just showing up, and truly showing up. 4. Presence creates opportunity — when you truly show up, people feel it, and doors open naturally. 5. The universe is self-reflective — how you show up to the world is how it shows up to you.“You are showing up at every moment—and you are changing the world. So choose how you show up.” — Marcy Axelrod Alternate quote options: * “We are not human doings. We are human beings.” * “Showing up isn’t what we do—it’s who we are.” * “The universe isn’t kind or cruel; it’s self-reflective.” Connect with Marcy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy/]

Dylan Bost and the Art of Alignment

In this powerful roundtable episode of Adrienne Barker Speaks, information architect and leadership coach Dylan Bost shares his journey through business success, personal collapse, addiction, healing, and profound self-awareness. Dylan explains why we are not our stories — but the ones telling them — and how true transformation begins with awareness, not force. Joined by a live panel of coaches, healers, and community leaders, the conversation dives into living from the scar rather than the wound, subconscious conditioning, nervous system regulation, emotional integration, leadership alignment, and Dylan’s upcoming book The Seven Mirrors: A Guide to Remembering Yourself. The discussion becomes a rare, honest exploration of healing, identity, and what it means to lead — and live — consciously. What happens when success no longer feels aligned? In this deeply reflective live conversation, Dylan Bost explores identity, awareness, healing, and what it truly means to live — and lead — from presence instead of performance. 1. You are not your story — you are the one telling it, and you can choose to tell a new one. 2. Awareness is the medicine — healing begins when unconscious patterns are seen, even before they’re “fixed.” 3. Live from the scar, not the wound — healed experiences inform wisdom without emotional captivity. 4. Alignment matters more than performance — success without alignment leads to collapse, not fulfillment. 5. True leadership is human — integrating personal and professional life creates healthier businesses and lives.“I’m not my story — I’m the one telling it.” — Dylan BostAlt quote options: * “Awareness, to me, is the greatest medicine there is.” * “We’re not here to become a higher version of ourselves — we’re here to remember who we already are.” * “Every trigger is a mirror showing us something that wants to be healed.” Connect with Dylan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanbost/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanbost/]

Khrystyna Baca on Action, Purpose, and Innovation

In this conversation, Khrystyna Baca shares her journey as a young founder building mission-driven solutions across healthcare and finance. Drawing from personal experience, Khrystyna explains how long-term thinking, logical decision-making, and consistent action shape sustainable success. She challenges listeners to stop waiting for the “right time,” confront fear head-on, and build with purpose rather than pressure. This episode is a powerful reminder that progress comes from doing—not just talking. What happens when lived experience meets long-term thinking and decisive action? Khrystyna shares how purpose, logic, and resilience can turn challenges into real-world solutions—and why action matters more than intention. * Think long-term: Real decisions should be guided by where you want to be in 5, 10, or 20 years—not just today. * Action beats intention: Time passes quickly; growth only happens when ideas turn into action. * Fear can be a teacher: Growth begins when fear is faced, not avoided. * Logic matters: Clear, thoughtful decision-making creates stronger outcomes than emotion alone. * Your experience has value: Personal challenges can become the foundation for meaningful impact. * Build with purpose: Sustainable success comes from alignment, not shortcuts. “Growth really does start once you let the fear go.” connect with Khrystyna Baca [https://www.linkedin.com/in/khrystyna-baca-baa470260/overlay/about-this-profile/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3BguO9XRlsRMueSZbz5ITqeQ%3D%3D]https://www.linkedin.com/in/khrystyna-baca-baa470260/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/khrystyna-baca-baa470260/]

From Publishing to Personal Branding: Kelly Schuknecht Journey

She spent years as “the person behind the person,” building other people’s platforms, brands, and books—until a layoff pushed her to develop her own, finally. In this episode, Kelly Schuknecht, founder and CEO of Two Mile High Marketing, shares how she helps business owners step into thought leadership, land speaking and podcast opportunities, and turn their expertise into real authority. In this conversation, Adrienne talks with Kelly Schuknecht, founder of Two Mile High Marketing and host of the Beyond the Best Seller podcast. Kelly walks through her journey from a decade in publishing to becoming the first marketing hire at an accounting firm, where she built a full marketing department and helped grow the firm from $4M to $12M in revenue—only to lose her role after the company was acquired. Instead of going back to being “the person behind the person,” Kelly decided to start her own company and focus on what she does best: helping business owners build a thought-leadership platform. She explains what thought leadership really means, why clarity of message matters more than “talking about everything,” and how she and her team help clients refine their niche, develop signature frameworks, write books, get on podcasts, secure speaking opportunities, and strengthen their presence on platforms like LinkedIn. Kelly and Adrienne also walk through Kelly’s Thought Leadership Quiz live on the website, demonstrating how it helps people identify their strengths and areas for growth. Along the way, Kelly shares real success stories—from the accountant who became “the guy with the book” for law firms, to the AI expert whose strategy had to shift because events in his niche were pay-to-play. She also discusses using AI as a tool (not a replacement for real human connection), why “done is better than perfect” when it comes to websites and branding, and why experts need to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight. “Nothing replaces you getting on a stage or a podcast and connecting with people. AI can’t do that for you.” * Thought leadership starts with a clear message, not “I can talk about anything.” Kelly helps clients clarify who they serve, what they’re known for, and the specific problems they solve, so their marketing and speaking actually land. * Your experience has more value than you think—if you put it to work. Years of publishing and marketing taught Kelly that many professionals underestimate how much they know. Books, talks, podcasts, and LinkedIn content are powerful ways to build authority on that knowledge. * Done is better than perfect—especially at the beginning. Kelly launched her business before her branding and website were “perfect.” She emphasizes that waiting for everything to look flawless delays momentum; you can refine as you go, as long as you’re consistently showing up and serving your audience. http://www.kellyschuknecht.com [http://www.kellyschuknecht.com] If today’s conversation inspired you to elevate your brand and grow your thought leadership, be sure to connect with Kelly! You can visit www.kellyschuknecht.com [http://www.kellyschuknecht.com] to explore her free resources, check out her podcast Beyond the Bestseller, or book a consultation to take the next step in your journey.