Mindfulness Mode

Sand and Salt Escapes; Max Schneider

Max Schneider uses sand and salt escapes to help his clients avoid burnout. After burning out from a decade in consulting, Max sought healing through a transformative surf and yoga retreat in Costa Rica, where he finally found the clarity and calm he'd been seeking. Inspired, he created “sand and salt” retreats to offer others the same renewal. Max's experiences enable him to design personalized, small-group retreats that calm the nervous system and help high-achieving professionals recharge. His team is dedicated to curating escapes that leave clients feeling refreshed, balanced, and ready to thrive in their lives and careers.

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Contact Info

• Website: www.sandandsaltescapes.com

Most Influential Person

Sam Mallick, a friend who runs a company called Notable

Effect on Emotions

• While growing up I think a lot of us are taught to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. Through mindfulness, I've learned that those emotions are stored in the body and you can't run from them.
• Those emotions will come out. It could be in the form of shingles and anxiety attacks which I've had. You can't run from that kind of stuff. It stays in there.
• It Will metastasize cells into skin cancer. We've seen that happen twice actually with my wife. Stress and those emotions don't run away.

Thoughts on Breathing

• The reason why in meditation we focus on our breath blew my mind when I first started practicing meditation.
• We focus on our breath because the only place that we can breathe is in the present moment. If we're trying to cultivate presence through meditation, all we have to do is focus on our breath.
• Close your eyes, feel your chest move in and out. When I first learned that, it was the biggest aha moment for me.

Suggested Resources

• Book: No Mud, No Lotus by Thich Nhat Hanh
• App: n/a

Bullying Story

• My first job after graduation was in outside sales for a manufacturing company. I was sent to Boston with no cost-of-living adjustment and just two weeks of PTO.
• During the holidays, I asked my manager if I could work from our home office to spend more time with family. He yelled, questioning why I thought I was special.
• I pushed back aggressively, feeling cornered.
• Looking back, I cringe. If I’d practiced mindfulness, I’d have responded with more compassion—for myself and for him—and likely managed the situation better.

Related Episodes

• The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times; Katherine May

• A Vipasana Retreat May Be Your Greatest Mindfulness Experience

• The Wind Through the Trees

Reclaim Your Life; Ken Cox

Ken Cox is determined to help you reclaim your life. His recent book, Reclaim Sobriety; 12 Rounds of Sobriety, is a transformative guide for achieving lasting sobriety. Additionally, he co-authored a chapter in Kevin Harrington’s book, Many Paths to Profit. Ken is the President of a web hosting company called Hostirian and is the host of the Clicks and Bricks podcast. As an entrepreneur, Ken has built a successful career creating safe and happy workplaces, providing critical IT services to companies of all sizes, from small businesses to the Global 500. His commitment to trading value for value and developing products that benefit everyone involved has earned him recognition as a leading figure in the business world.

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Contact Info

• Website: https://reclaimsobriety.com/
• Website: https://kencox.com/

Most Influential Person

My son.

Effect on Emotions

• Mindfulness has made a night-and-day difference in how I deal with my emotions.
  Understanding that if I can sit with my emotions, understand them, accept them, and process them, although painful today, prevents my triggers from the future.
• You can get to a really, really happy place when you've taken the time to process those.

Thoughts on Breathing

• Every course that we do starts with breathing. When you find gratitude for having your breath, I think the world changes for every human.
• I use breathing techniques with my boxing team every day.

Suggested Resources

• Book: Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
• App: www.Udemy.com
• App: www.choosemuse.com

Bullying Story

• I've been on both sides of that bully fence. I had a really challenging time in my youth. My first moment of mindfulness was probably when I was 7 or 8 years old.
• I didn't have the mindfulness I needed at the moment, and I became a very violent young person. Someone was calling me a name, and I got very angry.
• This was my first time in court-ordered therapy. I attacked somebody for calling me a name. At that moment I was living a life of looking up to my peers.
• I look at that moment in my life very frequently about how I reacted and what I did. It was the first time I went to therapy.

Related Episodes

• No Nonsense Addictions Advice; Dr. Cali Estes

• Mindful Movement In Addiction Treatment; Kendra Kirane

• The Mindfulness Solution To Addiction With Expert Jeff Jones

Purpose-Driven Dad; Cameron Race

Cameron Race is a purpose-driven dad, son, and business owner. He is the founder of the Man Up Dad (MUD) movement, a transformation program for businessmen and fathers, especially those with young children. MUD challenges men to confront the truth: they may not be the role models their children need. 2023 was pivotal; after learning his wife was pregnant with their second child, Cameron faced job loss and personal struggles, leading him to overhaul his life. Now, as a committed entrepreneur, he guides dads on their journey toward personal transformation and responsible fatherhood.

Listen & Subscribe on:

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Contact Info

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/cameron_race/

Most Influential Person

Wes Watson, my first coach

Effect on Emotions

• All we are is this big old ball of emotions. Those emotions are trying to hijack us from doing what's actually important to us.
• If we're unaware of all these different emotions that we have and what they're trying to do then it's really easy to be distracted.
• I have mindful practices that I go through every single day that help to ground and center me. They help me get back on track. It's changed my life.

Thoughts on Breathing

• I know there is Wim Hof and a lot of people have specifically practiced breathing. I recognize in myself that when I am praying, I slow my breathing down.
• As I slow my breathing down, everything slows down. My mind slows down, and any energy I have slows down.
• Although I don't practice breathing, breathing is part of the practice I have.

Suggested Resources

• App: www.myfitnesspal.com

Bullying Story

• When I was a kid, I was bullied some. I hit my growth spurt late. There were people that just picked on me based on my size.
• I don't know how mindfulness would have made a difference. Maybe for the bully.
• At the time it was painful but being a kid is painful, right. That's something I recognize more as I've gotten older.
• As an adult, I realize that bullying is an inner turmoil. The way that we treat ourselves. It's really easy to give ourselves a hard time.

Related Episodes

• Embrace Money Mindfulness; Spencer Sherman
• Financial Playbook For Change; Colin Sanburg
• Double Your Income & Happiness By Focusing On Less; David Wood

Cow Hug Therapy; Ellie Laks

Ellie Laks is the creator of cow hug therapy as part of her work as the founder of The Gentle Barn Foundation. This foundation is a national organization that rescues and rehabilitates unwanted animals and heals people with the same stories of abuse and neglect. Ellie is a powerful speaker, celebrated animal welfare advocate, humane educator, animal communicator, and the author of Cow Hug Therapy: How the Animals at The Gentle Barn Taught Me about Life, death, and Everything in Between. Ellie founded The Gentle Barn in 1999. She invented her own Gentle Healing method that allows old, sick, injured, and terrified animals to fully recover. Ellie has hosted hundreds of thousands of people who have come to The Gentle Barn seeking hope.

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Contact Info

• Website: EllieLaks.com, GentleBarn.org

Most Influential Person

My husband, the co-founder of the Gentle Barn

Effect on Emotions

• Mindfulness empowers us to breathe, relax, and to say what we need to say in the most mindful way.
• Mindfulness helps us hear what someone else is saying and allows us to read between the lines.
• Mindfulness diffuses potentially explosive situations. It helps us get through whatever we need to get through.

Thoughts on Breathing

• Breathing and focusing on the breath is important in my morning meditations. It helps me to get grounded.
• Breathing is a part of our cow hug therapy sessions. We encourage our guests to breathe and close their eyes and to connect with the cow.

Suggested Resources

• Book: Communication With All Life: Revelations of An Animal Communicator by Joan Ranquet
• App: Audible and Podcast Apps

Bullying Story

• Kids can be very cruel. There's this idea that there is a norm. Everyone's trying to fit in and be liked.
• Everyone's trying to get approval. No one's sitting in elementary school saying I am different and I love myself.
• We're all saying, “Let us fit in.” I think in the big picture, it's really cool that we get lost because when we become adults, we can become found.

Related Episodes

• Come On Safari With Me; Rev Karen Cleveland

• 494 Live A Well Designed Life With Dr. Kyra Bobinet

• Embody Your Soul and Be Fully Present; Ken W. Stone

Understanding Pet Behavior; Denise Mange

Denise Mange is a certified dog trainer, animal communicator, pet numerologist, and founder of Pet Prana®. Her mindful approach to pet training combines traditional training with energetic considerations of pet guardianship. She has been featured in publications and media outlets worldwide, cementing her reputation as a pioneer in the field of mindful pet training. Her new book, Translating Your Pet’s Behavior: A Mindful Approach to Dog Training, is a #1 bestseller in its category on Amazon.

Listen & Subscribe on:

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Contact Info

• Website: www.petprana.com

Most Influential Person

Abraham Maslow

Effect on Emotions

• Emotions have always been a big proponent for me to sit back and reflect.
• When I have big emotions I shut down. And when I shut down, I reflect.
• For me, mindfulness and emotions go hand in hand.

Thoughts on Breathing

• Breathing is everything. It is life affirming for us and it's one way to remind us that we are worthy to be here on this planet.
• As we regulate and are mindful of our breathing, that helps our animal companions regulate.

Suggested Resources

• Book: A Theory Of Human Motivation by Abraham Maslow
• App: Simple Habit

Bullying Story

• The biggest bully I've had to face in my life is actually myself.
• A lot of times, I think what I've developed isn't good enough. Sometimes I think regarding my projects, I'm not doing them well enough, I'm not doing them fast enough.
• The self-criticism has been the hardest part.

Related Episodes

• 435 Reclaim Your Health and Freedom With a Walking Life;  Antonia Malchik
• 494 Live A Well Designed Life With Dr. Kyra Bobinet

• 165 Be Real, Raw, Honest, and Mindful Recommends Dr. Ed Osburn

From Trauma To Empowerment; Daniel Anderson

Daniel Anderson is a coach who helps clients transition from trauma to empowerment.  As a holistic Trauma Recovery Coach, he helps clients find relief from stress, anxiety, and life dissatisfaction. The creator of ‘Your Purpose Driven Life,' he guides individuals through transformative journeys to break free from feeling trapped in lives that no longer feel authentic. His 12-week ‘Life: Remastered' program helps clients overcome false narratives, reconnect with their core values, and create a clear path to the life they desire. Daniel provides practical tools for rapid relief, helping clients quiet their minds, repair relationships, and uncover their true direction.

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Contact Info

• Website: https://coachdanielanderson.com

Most Influential Person

Dr. Wayne Dyer

Effect on Emotions

• I'm much better now at recognizing my negative emotions.
• That helps me reframe the thoughts causing them and shift from sadness and depression to acceptance and happiness.

Thoughts on Breathing

• I'm a strong advocate of mindful breathing. It's essential, not just for breathing, but for managing overwhelm.
• Taking just two minutes to close your eyes, focus on your breath, and return to the present can make a huge difference.

Suggested Resources

• Book: Stay Focused and Move With The Universe: A Guide to Help You on the Road to Enlightenment by Daniel Anderson
• App: Human Design: Stella

Bullying Story

• Looking back on bullying, I wish I had been more mindful and considered their perspective.
• I believe bullies act out because they lack power in their own lives, whether from relationships, family, or parents. I believe they try to feel bigger by targeting others.

Related Episodes

• Grasping The Emotion of Trauma; David Richman

• Publish, Promote and Profit; Tell Your Story Says Rob Kosberg

• Rising Above Trauma With Dr. Lin Morel

Raising Positivity; Eric McHugh

Eric McHugh is an entrepreneur who is all about raising positivity.  He is the president of SHOPX web3 e-commerce, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Dataing and AI-powered matchmaking. In the past, he founded a VC-funded Saas platform, worked at Snap, in DC and Barcelona, and as a consultant for fortune 500 companies going through the bankruptcy process. Eric has an IQ of over 140, enjoys playing chess and fine cuisine, and his main hobbies include fighting, chess, reading, and meditation.

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Contact Info

• Website: https://shopx.co/

Most Influential Person

Herman Strasbourg

Effect on Emotions

• I see emotions as fuel, and by accepting them, I can redirect and take action. When you're not mindful, you can't fully accept what's happening.
• Without acceptance, you're resisting the situation. Resisting an emotion only amplifies it by giving it more attention, which in turn strengthens the emotion.
• Acceptance, however, helps you navigate through it instead of fueling it further.

Thoughts on Breathing

• Breathing is incredibly powerful.
• I view it as a way to absorb energy from the universe. Deep breathing is especially helpful, and whenever I feel overwhelmed, I focus on my breath.
• This practice, like the Wim Hof method, helps me regain calm and composure, especially when I need to refocus.

Suggested Resources

• Book: The Emerald Tablet of Hermes by Hermes Trismegistus
• Book: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
• Book: Reality Transurfing by Vadim Zeland
• App: n/a (avoid social media if you can)

Bullying Story

• If someone is bullying you, it’s not excusable, but I try to see it from the perspective that they might be dealing with their own struggles. They may have challenging family circumstances, or maybe something traumatic happened, like losing a parent.
• You just never know what someone is going through. Approaching it with empathy might melt the ice around the bully’s heart, and sometimes, it can even lead to unexpected friendship.
• Of course, that’s much easier said than done.

Related Episodes

• Innovation For All; Costa Michailidis

• Breathe Better, Live Better; Michael Feldstein

• Peace, Joy and Consistency Suggests Business Strategist Jay Fiset

Birth Conversations; Claudia Rosenhouse Raiken

Claudia Rosenhouse Raiken is my guest today to share birth conversations. She is a senior teacher at the School of Images (www.theschoolofimages.org) where she runs their DreamBirth™ Program. In that capacity Claudia has trained professionals world-wide and works with women and couples from all continents. She is a world expert at facilitating communication between the parents and the baby in the womb. She communicates with the souls planning to come, still not conceived, and even those that were miscarried or aborted. It is these conversations that led to the writing of Messages from the Womb. Claudia is a Childbirth Educator, a Birth Doula, an Alexander Technique Teacher, and a Biodynamic CranioSacral Practitioner. She holds a Masters from NYU in Kinesiology and Dance, and has assisted in over 300 births.

Listen & Subscribe on:

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Contact Info

• Website: https://www.claudiaraiken.com/ 

Most Influential Person

• Catherine Shainberg (one of the creators of Dreambirth)

Effect on Emotions

• First of all, I tend to see life and emotions on a larger scale, especially when I get deeply involved, as I have a lot of passion.
• I feel my emotions intensely. When it’s a positive feeling, it’s not so bad. But if it’s anger or fear, I make a conscious effort to take a step back. It's like a mental exercise in visualization.
• I literally imagine myself taking three steps back, which helps me calm down instantly. Sometimes I even call upon my inner guidance, saying, ‘Help me calm down,' and then I tune into my body.
• I’ve learned how to let my body give me ‘yes' or ‘no' answers. I teach this method to many people, as there are several ways to do it. It’s almost like my body becomes a pendulum.
• I ask questions like, ‘Is this something I should be scared of?' If the answer is no, I feel reassured. For instance, if I experience a strange pain, I might worry initially, thinking, ‘Is it something serious like cancer?'
• But I quickly calm myself and ask my body, ‘Do I need to worry about this?' If I get a ‘no,' I can relax.

Thoughts on Breathing

• When you imagine a beautiful garden, your breathing slows down. You don't have to do anything.
• I actually don't work with breathing specifically, except for knowing how to calm a person through my hands.
• If you think your house is about to burn or a tiger's coming, the breathing gets very shallow and you have to run.
• If you feel like the universe has your back and everything's really going to be okay then your breathing gets to be what it needs to be.
• And in birth, some women will still take slow breathing. You know, that's what they're learning in their birth education class, but whenever they do the imagery, it kind of gets there naturally.

Suggested Resources

• Book: Messages from the Womb: Babies Talk Through Guided Visualizations Expanding Our Hearts and Minds by Claudia Rosenhouse Raiken
• Book: DreamBirth: Transforming the Journey of Childbirth Through Imagery by Catherine Shainberg Ph.D.
• Book: The Nature of Personal Reality: Specific, Practical Techniques for Solving Everyday Problems and Enriching the Life You Know (A Seth Book)
• App: n/a

Community and Relationship Building; David Van Beekum

Dave Van Beekum is passionate about community and relationship building. He is a co-founder and digital marketing expert behind Tweva, the world’s first social TV network for small businesses and influencers. With a deep background in technology, Dave has excelled in software development, automation, and AI. His journey started with an early love for computers and technology, which he turned into a career dedicated to empowering small businesses. Dave is focused on helping them succeed by providing affordable advertising solutions.

Listen & Subscribe on:

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Contact Info

• Blog: Zach Mathews's Blog
• Book: Climbing Your Self-Discipline Tree: The Three Stages Essential for Accomplishing Any Goal by Zach Mathews  

Most Influential Person

• My dad and my uncle

Effect on Emotions

• I tend to be quite stoic most of the time. My wife often has to remind me that I'm not always in front of the computer, and I have to make an effort to stay positive, even when my mind is racing and jumping from one thought to another.
• This is a common challenge for business owners and startups. I attended a business accelerator where they emphasized the importance of not letting emotions take over, as the journey can be very unpredictable with its ups and downs.
• It's tough, and having been an entrepreneur for a long time, I can attest that managing emotions is always a challenge in this world.sting

Thoughts on Breathing

• I used to have an Apple Watch that reminded me to breathe periodically.
• I've also watched a few YouTube videos where they recommend breathing in for four, five, or even ten times, and then adding a few extra breaths at the end.
• I’ve tried it a couple of times but haven’t done it consistently enough to notice any significant effects.
• The science behind it makes complete sense, but I don’t have a personal opinion on it yet. Fasting

Suggested Resources

• Book: The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
• App: n/a

Bullying Story

• I think, especially for entrepreneurs, it's tough to relinquish control and accept that you don't know everything. When you do, it can almost feel like you're being bullied.
• You think, ‘If I don't know this, I have to trust someone else,' and that creates a sense of uncertainty—'What if I'm making the wrong decision?'
• In some sales situations, I’ve felt like the process was overly pushy in certain areas, but not to an extreme degree. Fasting

Related Episodes

• Your Presence is a Superpower; Elizabeth Tripp

• Evolving Your Leadership and Work-Life Harmony; Andre Young

• Innovation For All; Costa Michailidis

Seeking Out Rejection; Fletcher Ellingson

Fletcher Ellingson is experienced at deliberately seeking out rejection as a way to strengthen his mindset. He is a speaker, coach, and author of the best-selling book The Practice of Feeling Good. Using a combination of science and psychology, he helps his clients break free from financial struggle, being overwhelmed, and persistent worry so they can spend more time doing what they love, contributing to their families, and impacting their communities. Fletcher also hosts a regional weekly TV show, is a regular contributing columnist, and a professional magician.

Listen & Subscribe on:

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Contact Info

• Website: www.FletcherEllingson.com

Most Influential Person

• My mom / Eckhart Tolle / Michael Singer

Effect On Emotions

• Mindfulness helps me slow down by allowing me to become more aware of my thoughts. I believe that much of our thinking is automatic, happening without our permission, consent, or approval.
• This automatic thinking often generates emotions aligned with those thoughts. By pausing and taking a moment to notice my thinking, I practice discerning whether it's truly my thoughts or just an automatic response.
• More often than not, it’s the latter. This awareness then gives me the opportunity to ask myself what I actually want to believe about the situation and what meaning I want to assign to it.
• From there, I can approach the situation with curiosity, which in turn helps me become calmer and more creative in my response.

Thoughts On Breathing

• Breathing is definitely one of the pillars of feeling good. We often take it for granted because it happens automatically, yet it's essential to life.
• I'm a strong advocate for being intentional about breathing and have done various breathing exercises, including Wim Hof training and other fun workshops.
• Every day, I make a point to be aware of my breath, especially in the mornings when I go to the lake. While throwing a stick for my dog and watching the sunrise, I also focus on my breathing.
• It feels great to be mindful of my breath with intention.

Bullying Story

• In high school, I was frequently bullied and constantly on edge. One day, overwhelmed by my emotions and the recent loss of my father, I verbally lashed out at a bully in class, and afterward, I never saw him again.
• Last year, I reached out to apologize for my harshness, only for him to admit he didn’t even remember the incident.
• This resolution finally brought me peace after decades of feeling guilty.

Suggested Resources

• Book: The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
• Book: The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer
• App: Calm

Related Episodes

Living A Mindful Desert Island Life; Jason Barnard

Be The Leader They Want To Follow; Tressa Yonekawa Bundren

Evolving Your Leadership and Work-Life Harmony; Andre Young