Inspiration Station - Hitting Rock Bottom And Choosing Himself - Bryan Blackmon

Inspiration Station - Hitting Rock Bottom And Choosing Himself - Bryan Blackmon

California can look like a promise from far away, especially when you grow up watching music videos and believing Sunset Boulevard is where life finally starts. We bring on Bryan Blackmon, internet personality and founder of Crab Crew Life, to tell the full story behind that dream, including the part most people never see: addiction that stops being fun, homelessness that strips you down, and isolation that quietly pushes everything ten steps darker. Bryan gets painfully honest about alcohol and drug addiction, the failed attempts at sobriety, and why “doing it for someone else” never lasts. Then he shares the moment that changed everything: brushing his teeth, looking in the mirror, and hearing two words that finally felt true, “you are worth it.” From that point, we talk about what early sobriety really costs, why letting go of friends and familiar places can be the hardest part, and how gratitude for simple basics can rebuild your inner world one day at a time. We also dig into misconceptions about California life, from the emotional coldness to the extreme contrast between luxury and suffering, plus the realities of cost of living and street survival. Finally, Bryan explains how TikTok Live became his digital accountability system and a platform for giving back, and he previews the Crab Crew Transformation Experience, a six-week course designed to help people shift mindset, habits, and direction. If this conversation hits home, share it with someone who needs hope, then subscribe and leave a review so more people can find stories that spark real change. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/cw/theycallmemistayu]

Inspiration Station - The Hidden Cost Of High Achievement - Coach Kurt Bush

“Fake it till you make it” can sound like grit, but for a lot of leaders it quietly becomes a lifestyle of hiding, overfunctioning, and running on fumes. I sit down with Kurt Bush, a certified IFS practitioner, trauma coach, and co-founder of Brimstone Coaching Group, to name the real costs high performers rarely admit: the pressure to look strong, the fear of asking for help, and the slow drift into survival mode that feels like success from the outside.  We get practical about the inner critic, including when that voice is actually useful feedback and when it crosses the line into shame that makes you avoid, withdraw, and stop growing. Kurt also reframes success in a way every entrepreneur and corporate leader can use: measure your inputs, not just outcomes you can’t fully control. That shift makes it easier to spot burnout signs early, protect your limits, and build rhythms of rest and reflection that keep your leadership sustainable.  We also unpack why self-awareness is so rare in “go, go, go” work culture and what authentic leadership really looks like. Spoiler: it is not impulsively saying whatever you feel and calling it authenticity; it is aligning your leadership with who and how you want to be, then choosing that version of yourself under pressure. If you’ve ever wanted to quit being “the adult in the room,” this conversation will hit home.  If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a leader who’s carrying too much, and leave a review so more people can find these tools. What’s one pressure you’re ready to stop performing through? Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/cw/theycallmemistayu]

Inspiration Station - When Inclusion Is Not Enough/Dignity for the Disabled - Dr. Stuart Jones

A doctor advised two teenage parents to “put him away.” They refused, and that choice shaped an entire family’s understanding of dignity, disability, and what it really means to be human. We sit down with award-winning author Dr. Stuart D. Jones to talk about his memoir *For the Love of Stephen: The Story of a Boy Who Was Never Broken* and the brother who changed his life.  Stephen grew up in the 1950s with an intellectual disability at a time when special education and disability resources were scarce and stigma was loud. We trace what it looked like for a family to practice radical love in public: pushing doors open so Stephen could be part of Boy Scouts, school, church, and everyday community life, even when people responded with cruelty. Along the way, we unpack the painful reality of abuse and exploitation, and the startling way Stephen kept choosing kindness, friendship, and forgiveness.  We also challenge a modern buzzword: inclusion. When does inclusivity become performative, and what does true belonging require from the people “inside the door”? Dr. Jones offers a clear framework for shifting perspectives, breaking down common misconceptions about developmental disabilities, the subtle harm of pity, and why simple, genuine kindness is often the most powerful starting point.  If this conversation moves you, share it with someone who needs a new lens on disability and belonging, subscribe for more stories that shift perspective, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. What does “belonging” look like in your community? Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/cw/theycallmemistayu]

Inspiration Station - The Achievement Trap/Why High Achievers Are Still Empty - Jon Paul Crimi

The trophy, the title, the million-dollar milestone, the Oscar, the Super Bowl ring, why do so many high achievers reach the summit and still feel a hole inside? We sit down with transformation coach and former celebrity trainer Jon Paul Crimi to name the lie that quietly drives burnout: “When I get the thing, then I’ll be happy.”  We dig into the deeper script many of us carry, “I’m not enough,” and how that belief keeps your nervous system locked in survival mode. Jon Paul shares what he sees across CEOs, elite athletes, and people rebuilding their lives after addiction: real change requires doing the work you’ve been avoiding, showing up when you don’t feel like it, and staying willing to adjust instead of repeating the same patterns. We also talk about “failing forward,” using setbacks as data, and redefining success as the number of people you help, not the amount of applause you collect.  The conversation gets real about fame, identity, and recovery, including a story about Matthew Perry and the painful reality that achievement cannot fix what’s happening internally. We cover warning signs that someone may be spiraling, how intervention can save a life, and how to stay present with someone who feels trapped in shame. John Paul also explains his transformational letter practice and breathwork approach for stress, anxiety, and nervous system regulation, plus where to find his weekly class at breathewithjp.com.  If this hits home, subscribe so you don’t miss the next conversation, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What’s one “win” you’re ready to stop using as a substitute for fulfillment? Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/cw/theycallmemistayu]

Inspiration Station - Near-Death Perspective And The Real Value Of Time - Author Jay Setchell

Time does not slow down for denial, and Jay Setchell has lived that lesson in the most extreme ways. After multiple near-death experiences, paralysis, and 73 surgeries, Jay joins us with a message that is both raw and practical: life moves at the same speed every day, but your awareness of it can change everything. We talk about how surviving the unimaginable can either trap you in survival mode or push you into a deeper kind of responsibility. Jay connects his resilience mindset to growing up on a working farm, to the Marine Corps, and to a faith-driven commitment to help other people. He shares what it is like to wake up in real pain, get moving anyway, and refuse to build a life around “woe is me.” Along the way, we dig into why earned progress feels sweeter than instant results, and why consistent practice is what separates people who change from people who only hope. Jay’s core principle is blunt: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” We break down what that looks like day to day, including his advice to dream big, take small steps, and keep going when your circumstances feel out of control. If you are searching for motivation, mental toughness, veteran perspective, overcoming adversity, or a real-world blueprint for personal responsibility, this conversation delivers. Subscribe for more stories that spark action, share this with someone who needs a push, and leave a review with the small step you are committing to this week. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/cw/theycallmemistayu]