12. Mediumship: How to Know If You’re Really Connecting With Spirit

14. Healing the Inner Critic: Why Positive Thinking Isn’t Enough

📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus?sub_confirmation=1] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2bWo7CWS0Lv8oFB4svtar9] “The inner critic is not an enemy. The inner critic has good intentions. The inner critic is a benevolent protector,” says Greg Schmaus, holistic health practitioner and integrative mental health coach, on this episode of Mental Health in a Modern World. After personally overcoming severe anxiety and OCD, Greg Schmaus has dedicated the last decade to guiding thousands through healing by combining lifestyle coaching, psycho-emotional work, mindfulness, and archetypal practices. Today, Greg Schmaus breaks down the origins of the inner critic, revealing how this often-misunderstood internal voice is not something we’re born with, but a protector part we inherit in response to early criticism or shame—usually from parents or authority figures. He exposes the limitations and potential harm of common self-help advice that urges us to “eliminate” or “replace” the inner critic with positive thinking, arguing instead for a revolutionary approach: befriending and understanding the inner critic’s protective role. In this episode, Greg Schmaus shares a powerful meditative practice to relate to your inner critic with compassion, explains the neuroscience and psychology behind parts work, and explores how modern life’s overwhelming flow of information fuels cycles of not-enoughness and self-sabotage. You'll walk away with concrete tools to begin unblending from your inner critic and forging a healthier, more spacious relationship with yourself. Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World for a transformative perspective on the root cause of your inner dialogue—and discover how true healing begins by turning toward, not away from, your most critical parts. 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS Unlock new freedom from your inner critic—here are five powerful steps you can use starting today: 1. Recognize that your inner critic is a protector, not an enemy—approach it with curiosity instead of resistance. 2. Pause and practice "unblend and befriend": create space between yourself and the critical voice, then get to know its positive intentions. 3. Identify the core wound or belief your inner critic is trying to protect (such as shame, humiliation, or not-enoughness). 4. Write out your self-critical contract: clearly state the agreement, behavior, benefit, and cost driving your inner dialogue. 5. Balance your information consumption with mindful integration to prevent your inner critic from growing louder—apply what you learn rather than just accumulating more knowledge. Start implementing one step today and witness the shift inside yourself—your healing begins with action. MEMORABLE QUOTES > "The inner critic is not an enemy. The inner critic has good intentions. The inner critic is a benevolent protector." > "No child is ever born with an inner critic. All judgments and all criticisms are borrowed and inherited." > "In parts work, what's called unblend and befriend. Unblend means we separate ourselves from the part; befriending means it's not the enemy—it's a part that we see in a benevolent way." RESOURCES MENTIONED Family Constellation Work (as taught by Sarah Peyton) - https://sarahpeyton.com/ [https://sarahpeyton.com/] CONNECT WITH GREG Website - https://www.healing4d.com/ [https://www.healing4d.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ [https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/] 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co [https://fullcast.co] Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ [https://www.thepodosphere.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm] Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm]

13. The Warrior Archetype: What the Modern Man Misses About True Strength

📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus?sub_confirmation=1] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2bWo7CWS0Lv8oFB4svtar9] “The medicine’s always with you. Until you realize it for yourself, it doesn’t matter who tells you that or how many times you drink ayahuasca,” says Kyle Kingsbury, former UFC fighter turned holistic health coach, on Mental Health in a Modern World. Kingsbury shares how his journey from the physical violence and discipline of professional fighting evolved into a lifelong quest for presence, self-mastery, and ultimately spiritual awakening. He peels back the layers of the “warrior” archetype, describing how true strength lies not just in discipline but in knowing what’s worth fighting for—and balancing that drive with the softer power of the lover archetype. In this episode, Kingsbury details his transformation through martial arts, plant medicines, and deep spiritual practice, questioning the Western pursuit of constant addition—more hacks, more knowledge, more intensity—as a substitute for genuine self-understanding. From the dangers of awakening that outpaces integration to the pitfalls of spiritual ego and the necessity of real community and connection with nature, Kingsbury brings raw honesty and powerful lived experience to the table. Tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World to hear why Kingsbury believes we can’t “add” our way to healing, why the strongest among us are often the most attuned to vulnerability and connection, and what we’re missing about real rites of passage, self-acceptance, and the wisdom found in simply slowing down. 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS This episode delivers practical wisdom for living with depth, purpose, and balance—here are five actionable steps to transform your life today: 1. Commit to Integration, Not Just Insight: After any powerful experience—whether plant medicine, therapy, or learning—focus on actively integrating the lessons into your daily life to create real, lasting change. 2. Master Your Shadow Through Self-Inventory: Regularly review your behaviors and patterns, especially those shaped by the warrior and other archetypes, to expose and work with your personal shadow. 3. Prioritize Community and Authentic Connection: Seek out and cultivate genuine relationships and participate in groups or circles that offer support, challenge, and authentic witnessing. 4. Balance Consumption With Contemplation: Slow down your rate of consuming information, create regular pockets of stillness and reflection, and trust when you feel the urge to pause or let go. 5. Reconnect With the Natural World: Develop a direct relationship with nature—whether through farming, sourcing your food locally, or simply spending mindful time outside. MEMORABLE QUOTES > "The warrior faces life frontally. It doesn’t avoid challenge. When I was a kid, my parents would fight, I would shut down and freeze. But in school, when things got tough, I would stand up and fight. There’s a big distinction between crumbling and confronting life head-on." > "When your rate of awakening outpaces the pace of integration, the potential downside is you lose your mind. That’s probably the biggest one, and that’s the worst one by far. There’s nothing as bad as that; I’m not even sure death is as bad as losing the mind." > "The medicine’s always with you, and until you realize it for yourself, it doesn’t matter who tells you that or how many times you drink ayahuasca. It takes you actually having access to that point to recognize it. People can tell you over and over that you’re going to be successful or have all this going for you, but until you understand it for yourself, it’s meaningless." CONNECT WITH KYLE Website - https://www.kingsbu.com/ [https://www.kingsbu.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kylekingsbu/ [https://www.instagram.com/kylekingsbu/] RESOURCES MENTIONED King, Warrior, Magician, Lover by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette - https://amzn.to/4epm17G [https://amzn.to/4epm17G] Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler & Jamie Wheal - https://amzn.to/4uR23c5 [https://amzn.to/4uR23c5] Gene Keys by Richard Rudd - https://amzn.to/4frFJki [ https://amzn.to/4frFJki] How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy! by Paul Chek - https://amzn.to/4uQYItt [https://amzn.to/4uQYItt] CONNECT WITH GREG Website - https://www.healing4d.com/ [https://www.healing4d.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ [https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/] 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co [https://fullcast.co] Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ [https://www.thepodosphere.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm] Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm]

12. Mediumship: How to Know If You’re Really Connecting With Spirit

📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus?sub_confirmation=1] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2bWo7CWS0Lv8oFB4svtar9] “Spirit’s always in charge… Life is just the lily pads to getting to where we’re going to go anyway,” says Dawn Paula, evidential medium and energy healer who joins Mental Health in a Modern World to unravel the mysteries of intuition, near-death experiences, and the deep connection between the physical and spiritual realms. Having encountered profound paranormal experiences since childhood and survived a life-changing near-death event in high school, Dawn Paula has spent her life seeking out others who share these boundary-expanding encounters—and now helps clients explore their own intuitive and psychic abilities. In this immersive, hope-filled episode, Dawn Paula reveals how “the spirit world isn’t out there—it’s right here,” sharing her journey from sports medicine into massage therapy, Reiki, and ultimately, mediumship. She explains why modern society dampens our innate sensitivity, how children’s energetic gifts are shaped (and often shut down) by trauma and cultural programming, and how the rise of technology is altering our consciousness and frequency. She and Greg also dive into the purpose of soul contracts, the nuances of free will, and why embracing both the dark and the light is essential to the human experience. Tune into Mental Health in a Modern World for an unforgettable conversation on spiritual awakening, evidential mediumship, and how to reclaim your sovereignty—and your joy—on this wild, multidimensional path. 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS Unlock your intuitive potential and embrace your spiritual path with these actionable steps: 1. Trust your intuition—reconnect with the innate sensitivity and knowingness you had as a child. 2. Nurture your physical body—maintain your health to raise your vibration and deepen spiritual connection. 3. Approach technology mindfully—limit overwhelming input to create space for subtle awareness and intuitive growth. 4. Embrace free will—recognize your power to shape your journey through conscious choice and self-empowerment. 5. Allow yourself to play—infuse your life with joy, curiosity, and lightness on your spiritual path. Take one step today to trust yourself more and live with greater presence! MEMORABLE QUOTES > "I believe that we are really spiritual beings having this earthly human experience. As children, we're open, we're just naturally intuitive, and then society starts to desensitize us from that knowingness." > "Our intuition is one of the hardest and greatest things that we can do in being connected to source and spirit. I think that's what really desensitizes children—teaching them to go against the grain and not to trust themselves." > "The gift is being in the human body and being able to experience it all, knowing that it's not the end all, be all." CONNECT WITH DAWN Website - https://www.dawnpaula.com/ [https://www.dawnpaula.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_dawnpaula_ [ https://www.instagram.com/_dawnpaula_] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DawnPaulaPsychicMedium [https://www.facebook.com/DawnPaulaPsychicMedium] RESOURCES MENTIONED Sacred Soul Society – https://www.dawnpaula.com/sacred-soul-society [https://www.dawnpaula.com/sacred-soul-society] Waze – https://www.waze.com/ [https://www.waze.com/] Poltergeist - https://amzn.to/3PqyiiU [https://amzn.to/3PqyiiU] CONNECT WITH GREG Website - https://www.healing4d.com/ [https://www.healing4d.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ [https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/] 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co [https://fullcast.co] Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ [https://www.thepodosphere.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm] Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm]

11. Overcoming Porn Addiction: Healing the Root Cause of Intimacy Issues with Kevin Netteberg - LIVE COACHING SESSION

📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus?sub_confirmation=1] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2bWo7CWS0Lv8oFB4svtar9] “I've been using spirituality and other means to reject myself and repress who I am, and I was just finally ready to ask for help,” says Speaker A, an emerging artist whose struggle with insomnia, pornography addiction, and the fear of intimacy leads to a powerfully vulnerable session on Mental Health in a Modern World. In a riveting conversation with holistic practitioner Speaker C, Speaker A unpacks his journey: four nights without sleep, waves of shame, and the realization that his deepest wounds stemmed not from simply bad habits, but from a lifelong impulse to hide the truest parts of himself. Today, Speaker A shares how archetypal and parts work unlocked the protective, sabotaging patterns within him and the childhood pain beneath—a territory rarely explored so openly by men. He courageously details the process of breaking his unconscious contract with pornography, the visceral chaos of inner transformation, and how somatic dance (and finally, authentic creative expression) helped him find safety in his body and connection with others. Tune in to this episode of Mental Health in a Modern World for a raw, hope-filled look at healing addiction, shame, and the path to genuine intimacy—starting with the courage to be seen. 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS Healing deep wounds and reclaiming intimacy requires courage, self-inquiry, and compassion—here’s how you can start: 1. Identify and compassionately engage with your inner protector parts to understand what they’re guarding and what they truly need. 2. Give yourself permission to express difficult truths and vulnerabilities, especially the ones you’ve been ashamed to share. 3. Replace self-destructive coping mechanisms, such as pornography or media binging, with embodied practices like somatic dance and creative expression. 4. Release unconscious contracts and old patterns by consciously naming them, honoring their original purpose, and inviting in healthier replacements. 5. Regularly create safe spaces for authentic self-expression and supportive community connection—your healing can inspire others to share and heal as well. Start today: embrace your inner work, express your truth, and reconnect with your authentic self. MEMORABLE QUOTES > "I was cracking up the other day because here I am, 30 years old, living with my parents, dealing with porn addiction, compulsive masturbation, insomnia— all these things going on. As I'm healing, it's like my parents are out of town, and I feel like Kevin McAllister in Home Alone, stepping outside going, 'I'm not afraid anymore.' But then, of course, that guy down the street shows up and I realize, okay, I'm still afraid. That's what these past weeks have been like." > "I knew that the deeper need of pornography was me looking to be held, for intimacy, and I confused it with sex. I took on the programming of pornography—so when that moment arises where you feel lonely and want to be held, it means that you want to have sex or consume sexual content. But what I actually needed was intimacy, to be held." > "For so many years, I was sharing things I thought were cool designs so people would accept me. Now I'm excited to finally share the things that move me, not the things that keep me safe." CONNECT WITH KEVIN Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kev.net_ [https://www.instagram.com/kev.net_] RESOURCES MENTIONED King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering Masculinity Through the Lens of Archetypal Psychology - A Journey into the Male Psyche and Its Four Essential Aspects - https://amzn.to/4nGVN3R [https://amzn.to/4nGVN3R] CONNECT WITH GREG Website - https://www.healing4d.com/ [https://www.healing4d.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ [https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/] 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co [https://fullcast.co] Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ [https://www.thepodosphere.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm]

10. The Hidden Cycle of Addiction and Self Sabotage

📺 Watch on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus?sub_confirmation=1] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2bWo7CWS0Lv8oFB4svtar9] "Addictions are when wants become needs—and wants become needs as a result of unmet needs," says Speaker A, holistic health practitioner and host of Mental Health in a Modern World. Drawing from a decade of experience helping clients navigate anxiety and OCD, Speaker A dives deep into the epidemic of “socially approved” addictions, from scrolling social media to processed food and caffeine, and unravels why most of us are unconsciously trapped in cycles of self-sabotage. In this episode, Speaker A explains how socially normalized patterns of addiction are rooted in invisible wounds: attachment injuries, unmet essential needs, and the internal wars between our desires and our deeper needs. He breaks down frameworks for understanding the psychology behind addiction—including Gabor Maté’s cost-benefit ratio, the alignment of "head and heart," and the role of internal "protector parts" that uphold destructive habits. If you want to uncover the hidden contracts that keep you trapped, decode what unmet needs are fueling your habits, and hear actionable steps for healing addictive patterns at the deepest level, tune in to Mental Health in a Modern World for this insightful solo episode with Speaker A. 5 KEY TAKEAWAYS Transform your relationship with addiction by putting these steps into practice now: 1. Take a Needs vs. Wants Inventory: Write two columns for your essential needs and non-essential wants; identify which wants have turned into needs and which needs consistently go unmet. 2. Reflect on Attachment Injuries: Look back at your childhood to uncover breaks or injuries in your attachments to caregivers and where you may have sacrificed authenticity to secure attachment. 3. Identify Your Story Gap: Recognize any discrepancy between your internal feelings and the story you project outwardly to others—closing this gap removes a major driver of addiction. 4. Check Your Head-Heart Alignment: Explore where your head and heart (or mind and body) are out of alignment, and commit to making choices that unite your intellect and intuition. 5. Write Out Your Unconscious Contracts: Clearly state your unconscious agreements driving self-sabotage—identify the behavior, its perceived benefit, and its cost, and start the process of renegotiating these contracts. Start now—empower yourself by taking one concrete step from this list today! MEMORABLE QUOTES > "Addictions are when wants become needs, and wants become needs as a result of unmet needs." > "You can't escape the prison that you don't know you're in." > "Addiction is when a want becomes a need." RESOURCES MENTIONED In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté - https://amzn.to/4tz76fu [https://amzn.to/4tz76fu] Introduction to Internal Family Systems by Richard C. Schwartz - https://amzn.to/4uQgAnP [https://amzn.to/4uQgAnP] CONNECT WITH GREG Website - https://www.healing4d.com/ [https://www.healing4d.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/ [https://www.instagram.com/4d_healing/] YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus [https://www.youtube.com/@gregschmaus] LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-schmaus-22929589/] 🎙️🎙️🎙️ Podcast Production & Marketing by FullCast: https://fullcast.co [https://fullcast.co] Discover the best podcast services in the world at The Podosphere: https://www.thepodosphere.com/ [https://www.thepodosphere.com/] Mentioned in this episode: Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm] Embark on The HTM Journey MHMW - HTM [https://mental-health-in-a-modern-world.captivate.fm/htm]