The Breen Time Podcast

You are not meant to Grow Alone with Guest Doug Lawrence

Growth doesn't happen in isolation - it happens through connection. In this episode, Sabrina sits down with Doug Lawrence, founder of TalentC® and an international mentoring expert with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and organizations navigate change. Doug has spent his career studying the difference between advice and true mentoring - and why so many people feel stuck, disconnected, or unsupported when what they actually need is the right person walking alongside them. He's also the author of the Amazon #1 best seller You Are Not Alone: Mental Health Mentors Take the Journey With You. In this conversation, Sabrina and Doug talk about leadership as service, belonging as a driver of confidence, and why "doing it alone" might be one of the most persistent myths in personal development. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why mentorship isn't a luxury - it's a basic human need, and what happens when people go without it. * The real difference between giving advice and true mentoring - and why the two get confused so often. * What Doug has learned about why people get stuck, and how guidance from the right person can change the direction of a life. * Why leadership is best understood as a form of service, not authority. * How belonging drives confidence - and why disconnection quietly undermines both. * Why "doing it alone" is one of the biggest myths in personal development, and what it costs the people who believe it. If you've ever felt stuck, disconnected, or unsure of your next step, this episode will show you why support isn't weakness - it's how growth actually happens. Find out more about this week's guest: https://talentc.ca [https://talentc.ca] Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant. New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/ [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/] Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcast [https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcast] Brum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/ [https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/] If this episode raised something for you, support is available: Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk [https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/] Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org [https://www.samaritans.org/] Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk [https://www.mind.org.uk/] NHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/ [https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why Boredom is Actually Good for You!

Boredom isn't a glitch to fix - it's a mental state your brain actually needs. In this episode, Sabrina explores why constant stimulation from phones, media, and notifications keeps the brain stuck reacting instead of thinking. When the noise finally stops, the brain's 'Default Mode Network' switches on - the system that helps us process experiences, form new ideas, and sharpen focus. We break down how modern habits have quietly trained us to avoid silence, why that erodes attention and creativity, and how small changes - like walking without your phone or simply sitting quietly - can rebuild mental stamina. The core argument: boredom works like mental training. The more you can tolerate it, the stronger your focus, patience, and clear thinking become. In this episode - Why boredom is a state the brain needs, not a problem to eliminate - How constant stimulation keeps us reacting instead of thinking - What the Default Mode Network is and why it switches on in the quiet - How modern habits trained us to avoid silence - and what that costs us - Why avoiding boredom weakens attention and creativity over time - Small, practical changes to rebuild your mental stamina Key takeaways - Boredom isn't wasted time - it's when the brain processes experiences and generates ideas. - Constant stimulation keeps the mind in reaction mode, leaving no room for deeper thinking. - The Default Mode Network only activates when the noise stops, so silence is productive. - Tolerating boredom is a trainable skill that strengthens focus, patience, and clarity. - Tiny changes - a phone-free walk, a few quiet minutes - start rebuilding attention. Try this week - Take one short walk with your phone left at home or in your pocket. - Sit quietly for five minutes without reaching for a screen. - Notice the urge to fill every gap with stimulation - and let one gap stay empty. Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant. New episodes every Monday - listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/thebreentimepodcast/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/ [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/breentime/] Website: https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcast [https://shows.acast.com/the-breentime-podcast] Brum Radio: https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/ [https://www.instagram.com/brumradio/] If this episode raised something for you, support is available: Counselling Directory: https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk [https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/] Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org [https://www.samaritans.org/] Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk [https://www.mind.org.uk/] NHS Mental Health & Talking Therapies: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/ [https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Relationship You Can't Escape: It Starts With You - with Guest Heather Melville

Your relationships aren't random. They're reflections. And the one you can't escape is the one you have with yourself. In this episode, Heather Melville — a Toxic Relationship Recovery Coach — joins Breen to unpack why the way you connect with others is shaped by the way you relate to yourself. Together they explore how unresolved emotional patterns quietly create toxic cycles in love, work, and life, and why real healing doesn't start by fixing other people — it starts by rebuilding self-trust, boundaries, and emotional responsibility. This is a practical, honest conversation about breaking the patterns you keep repeating and learning to choose differently. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why your relationships are a mirror of the relationship you have with yourself, not a matter of luck. * How self-abandonment shows up in everyday relationships — often without you noticing. * Why people unconsciously repeat the same dynamics, and what keeps the cycle spinning. * What it really means to take emotional responsibility instead of waiting for others to change. * How rebuilding self-trust and boundaries changes the way you show up in love and at work. * The difference between reacting on autopilot and consciously choosing your response. * What genuine change looks like when you stop surviving relationships and start building them on clarity. * How learning to respect yourself becomes the foundation for relationships rooted in peace, not fear. You can't outrun a pattern you haven't faced — the way out is in. Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant. New episodes every Monday on Brum Radio and wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram: @breentimepodcast LinkedIn: @breentimepodcast breentimepodcast.com Brum Radio: brumradio.com Guest: healthyrelationships.info If this episode raised something for you, support is available: * counselling-directory.org.uk [https://open.acast.com/networks/67138d3113da25d9f66f2836/shows/687697c65d5bb088747c11aa/episodes/counselling-directory.org.uk] * Samaritans: samaritans.org [https://open.acast.com/networks/67138d3113da25d9f66f2836/shows/687697c65d5bb088747c11aa/episodes/samaritans.org] * mind.org.uk [https://open.acast.com/networks/67138d3113da25d9f66f2836/shows/687697c65d5bb088747c11aa/episodes/mind.org.uk] * NHS mental health & talking therapies: nhs.uk/mental-health [https://open.acast.com/networks/67138d3113da25d9f66f2836/shows/687697c65d5bb088747c11aa/episodes/nhs.uk/mental-health] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Hope is Real with Guest Kim Lengling

What keeps you going when life feels heavy? Kim Lengling is an author and podcast host whose work explores resilience, hope, and the everyday courage it takes to heal. Drawing from her own lived experience with PTSD, Kim brings a grounded, honest voice to conversations that help people feel less alone. In this episode, you'll hear: * Why hope isn't something you wait for — it's something you practise, one small moment at a time * How Kim's experience with PTSD shaped her understanding of what healing actually looks like in daily life * Why dramatic breakthroughs are rarely the turning point — and what quiet, incremental progress can teach us instead * How storytelling creates connection and why feeling seen and heard is itself a form of healing * The role simple acts of kindness play in building resilience and restoring a sense of human connection * Why perspective shifts — even tiny ones — can help you find your footing again when life feels overwhelming * What everyday courage looks like, and how to recognise it in yourself even when things feel hard Hope isn't a destination you arrive at — it's the practice of choosing to take one more step. Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant. New episodes every Monday on Brum Radio and wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram: @breentimepodcast LinkedIn: @breentimepodcast breentimepodcast.com Brum Radio: brumradio.com Guest website: kimlenglingauthor.com If this episode raised something for you, support is available: * counselling-directory.org.uk [counselling-directory.org.uk] * Samaritans: samaritans.org [samaritans.org] * mind.org.uk [mind.org.uk] * NHS mental health & talking therapies: nhs.uk/mental-health [nhs.uk/mental-health] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

How to Break the Stress Loop - with guest Dr. Gary Sprouse, The Less Stress Doc

Stress isn't coming from where you think it is - and managing it the old way won't fix it. Dr. Gary Sprouse is back! In Episode 32, "Stress Isn't What You Think!" (March 16), Sabrina and The Less Stress Doc challenged almost everything we've been told about stress - that it's a workload problem fixed by breathing more, doing less, or taking a holiday. The real source, he argued, isn't your circumstances; it's how you think about them, with guilt, worry, and regret doing more damage than your to-do list ever could. Now, in Part 2, we move from theory to application. Dr. Sprouse breaks down his practical tool: the Stress Reducer Loop Model. We unpack how stress actually builds in the mind, where people lose control, and - most importantly - where you can interrupt the cycle before guilt, worry, and regret take over. This episode is focused on real-world application, giving you a clear framework you can use immediately at work, at home, and under pressure. If you want less stress without lowering your standards, this is the next step. In this episode * Why most of us misunderstand where our stress actually comes from * The Stress Reducer Loop Model, explained step by step * How stress builds in the mind — and the exact point where people lose control * Where to interrupt the cycle before guilt, worry, and regret take hold * How to apply the framework on the spot — at work, at home, and under pressure * How to lower your stress without lowering your standards Key takeaways * Stress often originates somewhere different from where we assume, so the usual coping tactics miss the real source. * The stress cycle has identifiable stages — and a specific moment where it can be interrupted. * Catching the loop early, before guilt and worry compound, is what keeps stress from spiraling. * Reducing stress doesn't require lowering your expectations of yourself. About the guest Dr. Gary Sprouse - The Less Stress Doc - is a physician, author, and speaker who has spent decades helping people reduce stress and "spend more time in their Happy Place." He has a unique perspective on where the majority of human stress originates and has developed practical tools to address it. His book Highway to Your Happy Place: A Roadmap to Less Stress won a Gold Medal in the 2025 Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY Awards). He is also co-author of the best-seller Mindset Matters with Jack Canfield. Links & resources * Website: https://www.thelessstressdoc.com [https://www.thelessstressdoc.com] * Free chapter of Highway to Your Happy Place (plus a bonus worry-less tool): https://www.thelessstressdoc.com/download-free-chapter [https://www.thelessstressdoc.com/download-free-chapter] Connect with Dr. Sprouse * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lessstressdoc [https://www.facebook.com/lessstressdoc] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lessstressdoc/ [https://www.instagram.com/lessstressdoc/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-sprouse-13842a74/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-sprouse-13842a74/] Breen Time is hosted by Sabrina Brown - life coach and management consultant. New episodes every Monday on Brum Radio and wherever you get your podcasts. Instagram: @breentimepodcast LinkedIn: @breentimepodcast breentimepodcast.com Brum Radio: brumradio.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.