Why Men Stay Stuck: The Hidden Stories Controlling Your Life | Jon Symes

Why High Achievers Feel Empty (And How to Reinvent Yourself) with Angela Kerek

What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted… and still feel stuck? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with former professional tennis player, attorney, entrepreneur, and coach Dr. Angela Kerek for a powerful conversation about identity, reinvention, discipline, and learning to believe in yourself again. Angela shares her incredible journey from escaping communist Romania to becoming a professional tennis player, earning a PhD in law, making partner at an international law firm, and ultimately rebuilding her life after burnout, weight gain, and losing belief in herself. This conversation dives deep into: • Why high achievers often feel empty • The mindset shift that changed Angela’s life • How coaches help us see what we cannot see in ourselves • Why identity matters more than motivation • The hidden danger of living for other people’s expectations • How to reinvent yourself without throwing your life away • The connection between discipline, mastery, and self-leadership • Why avoiding your “backhand” in life keeps you stuck One of the most powerful moments in the episode: A coach simply texted Angela: “What’s up today, athlete?” That single sentence changed the way she saw herself and ultimately changed the trajectory of her life. If you’ve ever felt burned out, stuck, disconnected, or unsure of what comes next… this episode is for you. Connect with Angela: Website: https://angelakerek.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelakerek/ Connect with Bobby: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbAUhnH37eodhRKlVu7B--g Instagram: @theselfleadershiplab LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b⁠ Podcast: The Self-Leadership Lab (Available on Apple, YouTube, or Spotify) Website: ⁠www.battlecatcoaching.com⁠ Book: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT68RCB1⁠ Substack: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ Want to be a guest on The Self-Leadership Lab? Send Bobby Shelton a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17641667851977069fa15a161 Subscribe to The Self-Leadership Lab New conversations every week focused on leadership, discipline, mindset, purpose, and becoming the person you were created to be. #SelfLeadership #Mindset #PersonalGrowth #Burnout #HighPerformance #Coaching #Entrepreneurship #Stoicism #LeadershipDevelopment #AngelaKerek

How AI Will Change Your Life (And Why Most People Are Using It Wrong) w/Ken Cox

What if you're using AI completely wrong? In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with entrepreneur, technology expert, and AI innovator Ken Cox for a conversation that completely changed the way he thinks about artificial intelligence. Most people use AI like an upgraded search engine. Ken argues that's a mistake. Instead, he explains how AI can become a coach, a business partner, a chief of staff, and even an employee that helps you reclaim your time and focus on the work that matters most. During this conversation we discuss: Why AI is changing entrepreneurship forever How small business owners can compete with larger companies Why AI should be treated like an employee, not a toy The future of work and leadership How AI can help you discover your identity and purpose The dangers of refusing to adapt Why human creativity will become more valuable, not less Ken also shares his remarkable journey from a difficult childhood to the music industry, to building successful technology companies and becoming one of the leading voices helping entrepreneurs navigate the AI revolution. Whether you're excited about AI, skeptical of it, or simply curious about what's coming next, this episode will challenge the way you think about technology, work, and self-leadership. Connect with Ken: https://kencox.com/ Connect with Bobby: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbAUhnH37eodhRKlVu7B--g Instagram: @theselfleadershiplab LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b⁠ Podcast: The Self-Leadership Lab (Available on Apple, YouTube, or Spotify) Website: ⁠www.battlecatcoaching.com⁠ Book: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT68RCB1⁠ Substack: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ Want to be a guest on The Self-Leadership Lab? Send Bobby Shelton a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17641667851977069fa15a161 #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Entrepreneurship #SelfLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ChatGPT #Leadership #Productivity #SmallBusiness #FutureOfWork

Why Most People Stay Stuck | Anne Karber on Radical Ownership & Self-Awareness

Most people say they want a better life… but few are willing to confront the person standing in the way. In this episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, I sit down with entrepreneur, podcast host, and author Anne Karber for a powerful conversation about radical ownership, savage self-awareness, emotional energy, and the hidden habits keeping people stuck. We dive into: • Why most people unknowingly give away their power • The truth about self-awareness (and why most people don’t actually have it) • How social media, noise, and distractions drain your energy • Anne’s “Skittles” framework for protecting your mental and emotional energy • Why curiosity is the first step toward change • The danger of living on autopilot • How unresolved pain turns into anger, defensiveness, and burnout • Practical ways to reclaim your focus, peace, and purpose If you’ve ever felt exhausted, overwhelmed, emotionally reactive, or frustrated because you know you’re capable of more, this conversation is for you. This episode is about learning to govern your inner world, so your outer life reflects your convictions. Topics Covered • Self-leadership • Radical ownership • Savage self-awareness • Emotional intelligence • Personal growth • Protecting your energy • Dopamine & social media addiction • Healing from anger and burnout • Intentional living • Stoicism & mindset • Building a meaningful life Connect with Anne Karber • Book: The Life Hack Playbook • Podcast: Let’s Get Naked Podcast • Website: https://letsgetnakedpodcast.com/ Subscribe to The Self-Leadership Lab If this episode helped you, subscribe and share it with someone who needs it. Want to be a guest on The Self-Leadership Lab? Send Bobby Shelton a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17641667851977069fa15a161 self-leadership, self-awareness, savage self-awareness, radical ownership, personal growth, emotional intelligence, mindset shift, protect your energy, burnout recovery, stop wasting your life, intentional living, mental toughness, discipline and mindset, overcoming anger, dopamine addiction, social media addiction, reclaim your focus, life purpose, personal responsibility, self-improvement podcast, high performance mindset, leadership podcast, men’s mental health, emotional healing, self-development, stoicism, mindset coaching, motivation podcast, energy management, protect your peace, how to change your life, stop making excuses, accountability mindset, healing journey, overcoming burnout, habits for success, podcast interview, Anne Karber, The Life Hack Playbook, The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby Shelton, self-mastery, leadership development, emotional resilience, purposeful living, controlling your thoughts, self-discipline, mindset transformation, growth mindset, PodMatch

Really Living… Or Just Existing? | Seneca, Self-Leadership & The Good Life

What does it mean to truly live a good life? In this reflective solo episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby explores a powerful quote from Seneca: “Show me that the good life doesn’t consist in its length, but in its use…” After hearing about the passing of racing legend Kyle Busch, Bobby found himself wrestling with a deeper question: Are we actually living our lives… or are we just existing? This episode explores: - How distraction and negativity quietly steal our lives - Why modern culture makes intentional living difficult - The connection between Stoicism and Biblical wisdom - What it means to make the most of the life we’ve been given - How self-leadership ultimately comes down to how we use our time, attention, and energy Key Quotes: “A distracted life can become an unlived life.” “We only get this moment. Let’s not waste it.” “The good life isn’t measured only by years… but by how we use them.” This Week’s Self-Leadership Challenge: For the next 7 days, ask yourself before bed: Did I truly live today… or did I just exist? Did I let things outside my control steal my peace? Did my actions reflect the life I say I want to live? Because self-leadership is not just about success. It’s about learning how to fully live the life you’ve been given. If this episode helped you, share it with someone who may need this reminder today.

Why Men Stay Stuck: The Hidden Stories Controlling Your Life | Jon Symes

Why do so many men feel stuck even when they’re doing everything “right”? In this powerful episode of The Self-Leadership Lab, Bobby sits down with transformation coach Jon Symes to unpack one of the most overlooked drivers of human behavior: The stories we unconsciously tell ourselves. From childhood conditioning... to career identity... to the pressure of being “the good guy” ... Jon reveals how the hidden narratives shaping your life may not even be yours. If you’ve ever struggled with: • Feeling successful but unfulfilled • Carrying pain in silence • Constantly seeking approval • Losing your identity in work, family, or expectations • Wondering why growth feels harder than it should This conversation will challenge the way you see yourself and give you a path toward freedom. In this episode: How subconscious stories shape your identity Why pain often becomes the catalyst for transformation The “Good Guy Trap” many men fall into How to reclaim your agency and rewrite your story Jon’s powerful 3 F’s of Being Human Why presence may matter more than productivity Memorable Quotes: “Transformation is changing the story you live inside.” “We are all fabulous, fallible, and frankly strange.” “The goal is not doing more. It’s becoming more alive.” Connect with Jon: Whole & Free: https://www.wholeandfree.me/ https://jonsymes.com/ (as referenced in the interview) Connect with Bobby: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbAUhnH37eodhRKlVu7B--g Instagram: @theselfleadershiplab LinkedIn: ⁠https://linkedin.com/in/dr-bobby-shelton-dsl-pmp-acc-124502b⁠ Podcast: The Self-Leadership Lab (Available on Apple, YouTube, or Spotify) Website: ⁠www.battlecatcoaching.com⁠ Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FT68RCB1⁠ Substack: https://bobbyshelton.substack.com/ Want to be a guest on The Self-Leadership Lab? Send Bobby Shelton a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17641667851977069fa15a161 self-leadership, men's mental health, personal growth for men, midlife transformation, identity, subconscious beliefs, confidence, purpose, masculine leadership, emotional intelligence, mindset, healing, Jon Symes, Bobby Shelton, PodMatch