Jeffrey van Leeuwen Podcast

At nine, Michael Ostrolenk refused a psychiatrist’s quick-fix, walked out, and followed a different map: guided imagery, biofeedback, meditation, and martial arts. That choice shaped everything. Years later, a brutal one-two of loss during an MBA program forced a pivot into transpersonal and somatic psychology, coaching, and a decade building programs with SEALFIT. In this conversation, Michael traces the line from a mislabeled “le...

Is family court protecting you or enabling abuse? In this episode, high-conflict divorce coach Lisa Johnson of Been There Got Out breaks down how “legal abuse” and coercive control play out in real cases, and why smart strategy (and not just righteousness) wins in court. Drawing from her own litigation (including arguing an appeal herself that resulted in a published decision in the Connecticut Law Journal), Lisa shows how to navig...

Joshua Spatha majored in anthropology with a minor in Old Testament studies and has served in full-time missions since 2006, primarily across the Middle East and Asia. An ordained minister and disciple‑maker with Youth With A Mission (YWAM), Joshua blends frontline ministry with academic insight, as he prepares for long-term ministry in Central Asia.

In our conversation, you'll hear how Western culture’s reliance on materialism and...

Andrew-Ryan Profaci thought he found spiritual truth, but instead became entangled in the bizarre world of a modern cult known as “Love Has Won.” Driven by curiosity and a deep desire for meaning, Andrew-Ryan quickly rose from outsider to insider, witnessing firsthand the manipulation tactics of cult leader Amy Carlson, referred to by members as “Mother God,” whom he once cared for deeply.

In this raw and honest conversation, we ...

After decades of guiding couples through their most challenging moments, Dr. Bruce Chalmer understands what truly brings relationships to life. With a deeply personal journey from statistics to psychology, Bruce discovered that helping couples navigate intimacy, stability, and the complexities of forgiveness wasn’t just a profession. It was a calling.

In our conversation, Bruce explores profound insights on what makes relationships...

What does true evil look like? And how do you confront it face-to-face? In this raw conversation with Brad Beeler, who served as a Special Agent for the United States Secret Service for 25 years, we explore his extraordinary career confronting humanity’s darkest crimes, especially those involving children. Brad reveals a rarely-seen side of the United States Secret Service, reflecting deeply on his experiences as a polygraph examin...

In a vulnerable and deeply reflective conversation, personal growth coach Kristan Swan and Jeffrey delve into a quiet fear that most of us carry: the anxiety about being misunderstood or misrepresented by others. Through candid storytelling and authentic introspection, Kristan shares how the shadows of past experiences and the fear of judgment often hinder our ability to form meaningful connections and trust in relationships.

The e...

Joel Bouchard, philosophy podcaster and author of From Nowhere to Nothing, joins me for an intellectually intense exploration into some of life’s deepest philosophical dilemmas. In this episode, Joel skillfully unpacks intricate issues like the nature of good and evil, whether humans are inherently moral beings, and if true free will even exists.

In our conversation, we talk about:

• Why free will might be more limited than you ...

Is everyone suddenly a narcissist, or are we misusing the term? Dr. Sterlin Mosley, Professor of Human Relations and author of The Narcissist in You and Everyone Else, dives deep into the misunderstood realms of narcissism and empathy. Through an eye-opening conversation, Sterlin reveals why our culture casually labels selfish behaviors as narcissistic, and why real narcissism goes much deeper, intertwining with empathy. Or rather,...

In this heartfelt conversation, clinical psychologist Dr. Alison Greco challenges modern assumptions about emotional distress, uncovering why our everyday struggles with grief, anxiety, and life transitions shouldn’t be hastily labeled as disorders. Drawing on her experiences from prisons to college counseling and community mental health, Alison reveals an overlooked truth: not every emotional struggle is a pathology needing therap...

From a restless boy in Swindon who dreamt of cockpit horizons, Paul Hughes has spent twenty-five years insisting on forward motion. He sprinted through call-centre headsets, warehouse night shifts, and blue-chip project boards; earned stripes with the Royal Air Force Reserve under Basra’s rocket-lit sky; then reinvented himself as a military broadcaster. Now forty-two, living in Germany and still measuring the echo of every take-of...

He warned Congress in 1991, now he's sounding a new alarm. Cybersecurity pioneer Winn Schwartau reveals how your mind is being weaponized by technology, a threat we're not prepared for.

Winn Schwartau is a renowned cybersecurity expert, visionary, and author who has shaped the conversation around digital security since the early days of the internet. Known for introducing the concept of an "Electronic Pearl Harbor," Schwartau has c...

In this revealing episode, adult content creator Harper The Fox takes us from a wholesome Midwest childhood to the cutting edge of digital entrepreneurship. Harper explains how a lifelong love of theater, music, and being seen led her to experiment on Chatroulette, pioneer live webcamming, making the move to OnlyFans, and building her other creative projects. Along the way she addresses stigma around sex work, shows why empathy and...

In this episode, Jeffrey van Leeuwen talks with adjunct philosophy & ethics professor Anthony David Vernon about the significance of postmodernism, fascism, and nationalism in today's society. Anthony explains how understanding multiple narratives helps combat dangerous ideologies and why recognizing different perspectives is crucial for meaningful discussions.

Key areas that are covered:

* The real meaning of postmodernism

* H...

In this powerful episode, former project manager Daniel C. Rodgers reveals exactly how he overcame over $100,000 of debt to retire early and achieve financial independence. Daniel shares practical insights on budgeting, saving, investing, and explains why most people remain financially trapped despite earning a steady paycheck.

You’ll learn Daniel’s strategies for escaping debt, why he fired nine financial advisors, and how to buil...

In this episode, I speak with Nick Field, an investment manager based in Sydney, Australia, who began with a fear of public speaking. We chart his journey from awkward school debates and scripted speeches to founding speaking clubs to help others speak with confidence.

Nick shares his top takeaways: how layering technical expertise with simple metaphors wins over any audience; the balance between obsessive preparation and playful i...

In this episode, former Israeli soldier Danny Orvomaa opens up about his experiences serving on the tense border with Gaza. Through a deeply personal and candid conversation, Danny sheds light on the realities of military life and the complex dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Danny explores the dangers of societal complacency, and how being unprepared can lead to devastating consequences, as exemplified by events in Eur...

In this episode, I speak with George van Houtem, a negotiation expert and author of multiple books, including The Dirty Tricks of Negotiation and The Psychology of Negotiation. In our conversation, we explore the art of negotiation, discussing practical techniques, their effects on people, and how to recognize and handle manipulative tactics (or “dirty tricks”) effectively.

George reveals why successful negotiation is not simply ab...

Huguette Bourgeois is a poet and writer from the small Canadian town of Rogersville, New Brunswick, where she grew up during the early 1950s. Known for her deeply reflective and profoundly personal style, she has published multiple works, including Alysse: An Acadian Refugee, a collection of short stories capturing the memories of her childhood and teenage years. Her recent work, Raw Sweets, is a collection of poems exploring life’...