Happiness Is Learnable: Todd Patkin's 12 Steps to a Happier Life | 204

Happiness Is Learnable: Todd Patkin's 12 Steps to a Happier Life | 204

Feedback on the show? Send us a message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2233710/fan_mail/new] What if happiness isn't something you're born with... but something you can learn? In this deeply honest and inspiring episode of Manders Mindset, I sit down with author, keynote speaker, happiness coach, and former business executive Todd Patkin for a powerful conversation about mental health, perfectionism, burnout, and the habits that create a truly fulfilling life. From being bullied as a child and struggling with homesickness to building a $100 million business, Todd spent much of his life chasing achievement, validation, and success. On the outside, he appeared to have everything but behind the scenes, the pressure of perfectionism and relentless ambition eventually led him to a complete mental and emotional breakdown. Together, Todd and I explore the life-changing lessons that emerged from his darkest season, including how he rebuilt his mindset, learned to quiet his inner critic, and developed a practical framework for creating greater happiness, purpose, and peace. Todd shares the 12 principles that transformed his life and explains why meaningful relationships, self-compassion, gratitude, and living in the present may be far more important than any achievement or accolade. This episode is filled with heartfelt stories, powerful perspective shifts, and actionable wisdom for anyone who feels stuck in the pursuit of "more" and is ready to create a happier, more meaningful life. 💡 In this episode, listeners will learn: 🧠 Why perfectionism can quietly destroy happiness 💔 How burnout and mental health struggles can become a turning point for growth 🏃 Why exercise is one of the most powerful tools for emotional well-being 💭 How negative self-talk shapes self-worth and daily happiness 🌱 The importance of learning to love yourself without achievement 👥 Why the people around you influence your mindset more than you realize 🙏 How gratitude can completely shift your perspective on life ✨ Why happiness is a skill that can be learned and practiced Timeline Summary: 03:15 – Growing up with bullying, perfectionism, and homesickness 09:45 – Choosing McGill over UPenn and redefining success 16:30 – Building a thriving family business and leading through mindset 22:45 – The breakdown that changed everything 30:20 – Why exercise became the foundation of happiness 37:15 – Learning to be kinder to yourself 44:10 – The power of positive relationships and environment 50:15 – Gratitude, giving, and living in the present 57:00 – Todd's biggest lessons on happiness, self-worth, and legacy

The Resistance to Change | Madelaine Weiss | 203

Feedback on the show? Send us a message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2233710/fan_mail/new] What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you want… is the resistance to change? In this deeply insightful episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with Harvard-trained psychotherapist, mindset expert, executive coach, and bestselling author Madeline Weiss for a powerful conversation about identity, self-worth, reinvention, and the hidden psychology behind personal transformation. From losing her father unexpectedly at 15 years old to rebuilding her confidence through learning, growth, and self-discovery, Madeline shares the experiences that shaped her understanding of mindset, resilience, and human behavior. Together, Amanda and Madeline explore why people often stay stuck in familiar discomfort, how quieting the mind can help uncover purpose, and why real self-esteem comes from witnessing yourself show up in ways you admire. Throughout the conversation, Madeline breaks down the five-step framework from her book Getting to Great, explains why the brain naturally resists change, and shares how unconscious patterns quietly shape the direction of life, relationships, health, and career decisions. This episode is filled with honest reflections, practical wisdom, and meaningful mindset shifts about courage, personal responsibility, identity, and becoming the version of yourself you were always capable of being. 💡 In this episode, listeners will learn: 🧠 Why the brain naturally resists change and prefers familiarity  🌱 How identity shifts create lasting transformation  💭 The importance of quieting the mind to hear inner guidance  ✨ What true self-esteem actually comes from  📖 How grief and life experiences can shape self-perception  🔥 Why “what you want more” ultimately wins  💪 The role discomfort plays in growth and evolution  🌍 How kindness toward both others and yourself can transform life Timeline Summary: 05:00 – Losing her father at 15 years old 08:15 – Grief, moving, and struggling in school 17:40 – Quieting the mind & polyvagal breathing 26:00 – The GREAT framework explained 31:15 – Why resistance to change is the real work 35:45 – Why people stay stuck in familiar discomfort 39:20 – “What you want more wins” 42:00 – Amanda’s weight loss & identity shift story 46:10 – Manifestation vs becoming the future version of yourself 52:00 – “Just do good work” To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE [https://calendly.com/thebreathinggoddess/podcast] 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess [https://www.instagram.com/thebreathinggoddess] Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset [https://www.instagram.com/mandersmindset] 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559900427844] To Connect with Madeline Weiss: Website:

The Hidden Weight of Shame & How to Release It | Dr. Zoe Shaw | 202

Feedback on the show? Send us a message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2233710/fan_mail/new] What if the shame carried for years wasn’t proof that something was wrong… but proof that healing had never truly been given space to begin? In this deeply vulnerable episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with Dr. Zoe Shaw, licensed psychotherapist, relationship coach, author, and podcast host for a powerful conversation about shame, secrecy, identity, and emotional healing. Dr. Zoe opens up about growing up in a strict religious environment, navigating racial identity shame, becoming pregnant as a teenager, and carrying the burden of secrecy for decades after placing her daughter for adoption. Together, Amanda and Dr. Zoe explore the emotional weight of people-pleasing, perfectionism, trauma, and the ways shame quietly shapes relationships, self-worth, and the ability to show up authentically in the world. Dr. Zoe also breaks down the difference between guilt, simple shame, toxic shame, and what she calls “complex shame”, a deeper form of shame built over years of painful experiences and hidden wounds. This conversation is an honest and hopeful reminder that healing doesn’t begin through hiding… It begins through vulnerability, self-forgiveness, and finally allowing the truth to be seen. ⏰ Timeline Summary [5:40] – Growing up with racial identity shame and strict religious expectations                                                                                                                    [9:15] – Becoming pregnant at 15 and carrying the burden of secrecy                  [14:30] – Using achievement, success, and perfectionism to hide shame [19:05] – The moment she revealed her secret to her children and family [23:45] – The difference between guilt, simple shame, complex shame, and toxic shame                                                                                                            [31:40] – Practical ways to begin untangling shame and finding forgiveness  💡 In this episode, listeners will discover: 🧠 The difference between guilt, simple shame, toxic shame, and complex shame 💔 How secrecy and people-pleasing can quietly shape identity and relationships  ✨ The emotional impact of carrying shame from childhood into adulthood  📖 Dr. Zoe’s personal journey through teen pregnancy, adoption, and self-forgiveness 🪞 How perfectionism and achievement can become coping mechanisms for hidden pain To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE [https://calendly.com/thebreathinggoddess/podcast] 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess [https://www.instagram.com/thebreathinggoddess] Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset [https://www.instagram.com/mandersmindset] 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559900427844] To Connect with Zoe:   📖 Get Dr. Zoe's Book Stronger in the Difficult Places: https://a.co/d/bWNSd4G [https://a.co/d/bWNSd4G] Get Dr. Zoe's Must Have Resources to untangle Shame:  https://dr-zoe-shaw-enterprises.kit.com/7247f0bc86  [https://dr-zoe-shaw-enterprises.kit.com/7247f0bc86 ]

Rebuilding Yourself After Trauma | Shannon Michelle | 201

Feedback on the show? Send us a message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2233710/fan_mail/new] What if rebuilding your life after trauma wasn’t about becoming who you once were… but learning how to embrace who you are now? In this deeply moving episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with author, speaker, and trauma survivor Shannon Michelle for a powerful conversation about resilience, identity, healing, and the life changing power of staying present. After surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident that left her in a coma for two months, Shannon shares what it was like to relearn how to walk, read, speak, and rebuild her life from the ground up. Together, Amanda and Shannon explore the emotional journey of letting go of old identities, learning to accept life’s hardest moments, and finding beauty even in the middle of pain and uncertainty. Shannon opens up about surviving childhood abuse, building a successful interior design career, navigating physical and emotional recovery after her accident, and eventually transforming her experiences into a book designed to inspire others through trauma and healing. This conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t always about returning to who you once were…  Sometimes it’s about discovering a completely new version of yourself. 💡 In this episode, listeners will discover: 🧠 What it was like for Shannon to relearn how to read, walk, and navigate life after a traumatic brain injury  🌿 Why staying present became one of the biggest lessons of her recovery  💔 The emotional process of letting go of old identities and expectations  ✨ How childhood trauma shaped Shannon’s drive, resilience, and independence  📖 The unexpected journey that led her to writing and publishing her book  🛁 Why relearning simple daily tasks became some of her biggest victories  💫 How acceptance, grace, and small moments of joy helped her rebuild her life ⏰ Timeline Summary [2:10] Shannon reflects on how her accident transformed her identity and perspective on life [7:50] Growing up in a chaotic and abusive household while learning independence young [15:40] Starting her first business at 22 and unexpectedly entering interior design [28:15] The motorcycle accident that changed everything and surviving a two-month coma [39:20] Relearning how to walk, read, and navigate life after traumatic brain injury [47:30] Letting go of her old life and learning to embrace “Shannon Michelle 2.0” [53:50] Writing her book, rebuilding purpose, and helping others through trauma [58:40] Staying present, acceptance, and finding abundance through life’s hardest moments To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE [https://calendly.com/thebreathinggoddess/podcast] 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess [https://www.instagram.com/thebreathinggoddess] Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset [https://www.instagram.com/mandersmindset] 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559900427844] To Connect with Shannon: Website: https://stepintoyourmiracle.com/ [https://stepintoyourmiracle.com/]

Doing It Anyway: Real Talk on Insecurity, Growth & Finding Your Voice | Amy Bolduc | 200

Feedback on the show? Send us a message! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2233710/fan_mail/new] What happens when you’ve spent most of your life believing your voice doesn’t matter… and then you decide to use it anyway? In this milestone Episode 200 of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with podcast host and sustainability advocate Amy Bolduc for one of the most raw and honest conversations yet. From navigating a challenging childhood and years of self-doubt to building a podcast and showing up consistently despite insecurity, Amy shares what it really looks like to grow through the mess... not after it. Together, Amanda and Amy unpack the reality of doing things before you feel ready, learning to trust yourself after life-altering decisions, and the quiet but powerful realization that… people actually care. This episode is a reminder that your voice matters, even if you’re still learning how to believe that. 💡 In this episode, listeners will discover: 🧠 How childhood experiences can shape self-worth and identity  💭 What it feels like to live with deep-rooted insecurity and still move forward  🎙️ The reality of starting a podcast (and hitting record) before feeling ready  🔥 Why “do it anyway” can be the most life-changing mindset shift  🌱 How growth often comes from uncomfortable, unexpected life transitions  💔 Navigating big life changes like divorce, relocation, and starting over  🧭 The powerful realization that your voice matters more than you think ⏱️ Timeline Summary: [1:30] Celebrating Episode 200 & how Amanda and Amy connected  [6:00] Amy’s childhood, family dynamics, and early instability  [14:30] School struggles, insecurity, and not following a traditional path  [24:00] Early adulthood, relationships, and career journey beginnings  [34:30] Job transitions, COVID struggles, and emotional burnout  [43:00] Starting her podcast despite fear and self-doubt  [52:00] The mindset shift: “do it anyway” & finding her voice  [1:00:00] Realizing people care & reflections on growth and self-worth TAKE THE SURVEY TO WIN A $25 AMAZON GIFT CARD & A MANDERS MINDSET TEE: https://form.jotform.com/mandersmindset/200-episodes-of-manders-mindset [https://form.jotform.com/mandersmindset/200-episodes-of-manders-mindset] To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE [https://calendly.com/thebreathinggoddess/podcast] 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess [https://www.instagram.com/thebreathinggoddess] Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset [https://www.instagram.com/mandersmindset] 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559900427844] To Connect with Amy: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundedinmainepodcast_/ [https://www.instagram.com/groundedinmainepodcast_/] Listen to Grounded in Maine Podcast: https://www.groundedinmaine.com/ [https://www.groundedinmaine.com/]