Category: Podcast

Practical Wisdom from a Renowned Gardener with Fran Sorin

Fran Sorin is the author of the bestseller Digging Deep. Besides being a gardening evangelist, Fran is also an open-hearted coach, futurist, and social entrepreneur. She is passionate about helping individuals experience healthier, more joyful, and creative lives. She believes deeply that we all possess the innate ability to use our imaginations to dream big and live out our dreams.

In today’s episode, Fran reminds us that we are all part of nature. Our culture, however, has disconnected us from this essential truth, and we suffer because of it. Growing a garden allows us to become co-creators with nature and reconnect with our inner self.

Fran shares practical tips for growing a healthy garden as well as creative ways to become one with nature. We discuss various types of meditation that can help you raise your vibration, leaving behind the negative voices. We even dive into Fran’s futuristic predictions about AI, education, hydroponics, and more. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who feels the need to reconnect with Mother Nature. And now, on with the show!

Make “Someday” Happen Today with Kristin Swanson

Kristin Swanson has a gift of helping thought leaders execute their “someday when” procrastinated projects with ease. As a breast cancer survivor & Coaches Institute trained Coach, Kristin has learned the importance of getting out of one’s own way to stop waiting until “someday” to make a unique impact. 

In today’s episode, Kristin talks about dealing with cancer. We talk about how facing her own mortality has created fear, but also opportunity for deep growth for her both personally and professionally. We explore modalities for healing wounds in relationships, and the power of visualization to get yourself through trauma. We talk about clearing blockages that lead to procrastination. 

And we discuss the revelation that once you say it out loud, you basically follow the breadcrumbs. Things will come to you once you speak them into existence. When you celebrate all of the tiniest little wins that you see along the way towards this soul-led goal that you’re stepping into, you build momentum. So, if you’re looking for inspiration and actual tools to move those projects closest to your heart forward, you’re going to love this wonderful episode.

Increase Your Influence, Decrease Your Influenceability with Dr. Robert Cialdini

We live in an age of influence. We are all either the persuaders or the persuaded, intentionally or unintentionally — whether it’s in the business world or the consumer world, whether it’s IRL or online especially on social media where very little can or should be taken at face value. I’m very excited to say that my guest today, Dr. Robert Cialdini, is often referred to as the Godfather of Influence. He is known around the world for his scientific work on what leads people to say yes to requests big and small. His books, including The New York Times bestsellers Influence and Pre-Suasion, have sold over 7,000,000 copies in 44 different countries. 

In today’s episode, we discuss strategies for presenting case studies that people can relate to and we talk about book launches and how you can establish credibility before the book is even launched. We get into some of Dr. Cialdini’s principles which are authentic, ethical practices that are universally applied. No tricks, no schemes. Just real, proven, science-based strategies designed to help you increase your influence and consistently hear the answer you want: “Yes!” So, without any further ado, on with an excellent episode of Get Yourself Optimized.

Connecting to Angels with Corin Grillo

Weird is the new black! This is how my guest on today’s show, Corin Grillo, accounts for the openness she is observing in more and more people who want to explore concepts that have for a long time been considered new-agey and woo. Corin is a #1 best-selling author of the book, The Angel Experiment. She is also a licensed psychotherapist, transformational retreat leader, business mentor, and spiritual instigator. Her message and training deliver powerful anecdotes to help businesses and lives grow through the power of intuition, ritual, and cultivating a deep and palpable relationship with Spirit. 

In today’s episode, we discuss that trend of more and more people, including even high-powered CEOs, reaching out to Corin to work with her, exploring things they find they can’t talk about at work or with their families. We talk about kids and the natural connection they have with the unseen world and how we can cultivate, rather than crush, this ability. Since Corin’s first session with a channeler, she discovered that angels were not wimpy harp-playing creatures but powerful warriors ready and waiting, 24/7, to hear from us. This is a must-listen episode for anyone interested in connecting with the spirit realm, so without any further ado, on with the show!

Synchronize to Synchronicity with Guy Sohm

At the age of five my guest, Guy Sohm’s mother said to him “You can help people heal by channeling energy. Ask first that it is for the person’s highest good, then bring energy in from the universe through your crown chakra and out your hand to where you wish that energy to flow.” Guy started doing hands on healing, then candle meditations and learning about chakras.

Guy is an unusual bloke to use the Aussie term—he lives in a treehouse made from local and recycled materials which have six levels, and every level represents a chakra. He is a tantric teacher, artist, DJ, blogger, and former festival promoter focused now on personal growth and awakening. As I got to know him through my good friend James Schramko, I was so impressed with his teachings, I knew I had to have him on the podcast. 

In today’s episode, we cover a lot of terrain, including training your mind with meditation, and the synchronicity that opens up in your life when you’re in a flow state. Stay tuned and gain a lesson or two from a super enlightening episode of Get Yourself Optimized. 

Optimize Your Child’s Brain with Janet Doman

The human brain is a structure so amazing that a famous scientist once called it, “the most complex thing we have yet discovered in our universe.” My guest today, Janet Doman, has been a pioneer in unlocking what is possible for babies and children with the work she has done as Director of The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential since 1980. I’m grateful to be sitting down with Janet today, as I had the privilege of attending her workshop back in April where I learned techniques for significantly increasing my toddler’s intelligence. 

I have a couple quick examples for you. First example: I quickly flip through a bunch of big cards with randomly-placed dots on them while announcing how many dots on each card. This teaches my son the fact of a number like 18 or 26, rather than merely the symbol of it. Next step in this process will be to teach him equations using these cards. Second quick example: I flip through big cards with pictures of various insects, flowers, dinosaurs, and so forth. One category at a time. Very quickly. Always randomized, never in the same order. His brain is like a sponge, taking up all the new information. I have many, many dozens of these cards. Imagine a little toddler being able to name all the trees, flowers, and insects on a walk through the forest. I can’t even come close to doing that. But that’s what’s possible for children. 

In this episode, Janet explains how babies and children learn, that their brains need a combination of stimulation and opportunity, the incredible adaptability of the brain, even in kids with brain injuries. The brain is actually the most fixable organ of the human body, and it grows by use. This is fascinating and immensely practical, especially if you’re a parent or if you at all interact with children. So without any further ado, on with the show! 

Expand Your Consciousness with Monica Berg

If change is the one constant in life, it’s inspiring to know that embracing change can really open you up to living life to its fullest. My guest on today’s show is Monica Berg, a self-professed change junkie, who is here to share her wisdom and her impressive life experience working as Chief Communications Officer for Kabbalah Centre International. Monica is the author of Fear Is Not an Option and Rethink Love, and she co-hosts the Spiritually Hungry podcast with her husband, Michael Berg.

In today’s episode, we get in a deep discussion about shedding aspects of your character that are not serving you so that you can live a more useful and realized life. We talk about how you can be more open to receiving messages by quieting outside influences and learning to tune into your own intuition. It’s pretty amazing what a freeing and amazing experience it is to realize that you can actually be your own guide once fear is not in the driver’s seat. This is a must listen for anyone interested in creating a life that feels connected and fulfilling, so without any further ado, on with the show!

Essential Steps to Awakening with Divya Darling

Befriending your brain is the business of my guest on today’s show, and she has actually created a thriving business around it. A great storyteller with a profound message, Divya Darling is devoted to illuminating the wisdom within. Having researched the mysteries of the mind for decades, obtaining degrees in neuroscience, psychology, and cognitive sciences and being an avid yogi and philosopher, Divya serves as a Transformational Brain Trainer.

In today’s episode, we dive into topics of triggers, obstacles, and essence vs. ego. We discuss how, for anyone on the path of expansion, there is the cycle of awakening, a shakeup, a wake up, an ego death, followed by cleaning up, growing up, and showing up. We talk about learning to tune into the feedback of the body, and how, once we become more in tune with ourselves, we can also be more aware of recognizing other people’s triggers and needs.

Divya has a way of distilling complicated concepts in an incredibly relatable way. She illuminates how we all have vast resources we can tap into if we work at it with intention. It’s powerful stuff, so without any further ado, on with the show!

A Glimpse of The Matrix with Stephan Spencer and Orion Talmay

I feel so grateful and proud because today we are celebrating the 300th episode of Get Yourself Optimized! That is nearly 6 years, and I’ve never missed a week. I’m grateful for you my listener for taking this journey with me and growing with me over these years and I feel fulfilled gathering and sharing with the world amazing wisdom from the most inspiring teachers, masters, and experts.

The last 14 months have brought tectonic shifts to all of our lives. Most of us felt fear and uncertainty during this global shifts. And yet there is always a silver lining. Some of the most powerful epiphanies and transformations have come through these challenging times. That’s the case for me, and I’m guessing for you too.

For this episode, I’m being interviewed by my beloved wife Orion. I dig deep into my personal journey of finding light within the darkness and thriving in times of chaos. I share the intense experience of moving abroad to one of the most strict locked down countries in the world during Covid times, which turned out to be an incredible time of awakening and spiritual transformation. In today’s episode, you will discover the spiritual practices that are helping me tune into a higher vibration and manifest miracles.

Make Your Marriage Work with Drs. John and Julie Gottman

A relationship is like a bank account—you are either making deposits or withdrawals every day depending on your behavior toward one another. My guests today are Dr. John Gottman and his partner in work and life, Dr. Julie Gottman. They are co-founders of the Gottman Institute, where they have been committed to an ongoing program of research and interventions to foster stronger relationships. It has been their mission to make their services accessible to the broadest reach of people across race, religion, class, culture, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.

In today’s episode, we talk about how to bank enough positive currency in your account so that when a withdrawal is made, it doesn’t break the foundation of the relationship. We discuss genetics, histocompatibility, learned helplessness in relationships, and how couples can get into (and also break) unhealthy patterns. We delve into domestic violence, and the Gottman’s discuss their work in that area which rather than handling conflict management goes deeper to teach skills for building intimacy and connection. If you’re wondering how to take your relationship from meh to marvelous and you’re looking for actionable insights and tools, you’re not going to want to miss this episode. So without any further ado, on with the show!