Air-Check Your Life

When Someone You Love Is Dying: Anticipatory Grief with Jill McMahon

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The four stages of anticipatory grief and how they differ from conventional grief

• How to navigate the emotions of loss before it happens, from acceptance and reflection to rehearsal and imagining life without your loved one

• Practical advice for mending relationships and preparing for inevitable goodbyes

Mathew Blade...

I Know Better, Why Can’t I Change? with Dr. Dave

In this episode, Mathew Blades and Dr. Dave dive into the frustrating experience of knowing what you “should” do, yet feeling stuck in old habits and emotional responses. Drawing on neuroscience concepts like kindling theory, Dr. Dave explains why our brains default to familiar patterns, even when we want to change. Together, they explore five core reasons for this struggle: emotio...

Join hosts Mathew Blades and Courtney McDermott as they explore the powerful concept of “frequency over force” and why shifting your internal state, rather than pushing harder, is the key to meaningful transformation. Drawing on neuroscience, personal stories, and practical techniques, Courtney McDermott explains how brainwave frequencies impact our stress and fulfillment, and why simply “forcing it” leads to exhaustion and dissa...

Let’s Air-Check Your Life with Mathew Blades

In this solo episode, Mathew Blades invites listeners to “air-check” their lives using a proven framework from his decades in radio. Instead of just making changes at random, Mathew encourages reflection on three core questions: What are you getting right? What’s going okay but could be better with a tweak? And what’s actively holding you back?

With relatable stories and down-to-earth ...

A Permanent Solution to a Temporary Problem with Jill McMahon

In this candid and compassionate episode of Learn From People Who Lived It, grief specialist and suicidologist Jill McMahon joins Mathew for an honest conversation about the realities of suicide, its profound ripple effects, and the urgent need for open dialogue.

They unpack the latest statistics and reveal that each suicide impacts at least 135 people, highlighting ho...

In this episode, Mathew and Dr. Dave dive into the “Awareness Control Matrix,” a practical framework for personal growth and behavioral change. Building on last week’s discussion of metacognition, Dr. Dave explains why self-awareness often emerges before self-control, and why it’s so easy to get stuck in old patterns despite good intentions. The conversation explores the challenges of breaking automatic responses, the neuroscienc...

In this episode, Mathew Blades and author/speaker Cortney McDermott explore the Parable of Talents and how it applies to discovering and growing your own unique gifts. Their conversation weaves together the spiritual insight that “faith bridges the gap between hope and trust” and the practical need to cultivate and share your talents with the world.

Cortney breaks down the parable’s teachings, revealing its timely message about w...

Your Body Is Trying to Warn You with Dr. Anna Marie Frank

In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank to unpack the subtle ways our bodies communicate health imbalances, often long before symptoms become serious. Dr. Anna Marie Frank, author, speaker, and Chinese medicine enthusiast, shares how the tongue acts as a window into gut health, adrenal function, and even emotional well-being. They explore real-li...

Man, Listen: Mental Health for Black Men with Mark McCray

In this episode, you'll hear:

- How cultural stigma in the Black community shapes men's experiences with mental health - The impact of vulnerability and honest conversation in breaking cycles of silence - Practical tools to navigate people-pleasing, leadership challenges, and self-esteem - What makes the trauma faced by Black men unique in America, and why addressing it...

In this episode, you'll hear:

How grief shows up in the workplace beyond death, including loss of relationships, health, or missed promotions

The importance of shifting bereavement policies to be more supportive and inclusive Practical advice for handling grief at work, both as a grieving employee and as a supportive coworker Strategies for regaining control after loss, including Jill’s “back pocket” tool for navigating difficu...

Ever wondered why you react the way you do?

Or how you could make better choices in the moment?

In this episode, host Mathew Blades and psychiatrist Dr. Dave explore metacognition, the art of thinking about your thinking. Dr. Dave explains how developing awareness of your own thought processes can help you create space between stimulus and response, offering practical strategies to break reactive habits and gain more control ov...

Do you have the patience to wait for clarity, or are you always chasing what's next?

In this episode of Learn From People Who Lived It, Mathew Blades and Cortney McDermott explore the art of patience, presence, and non-doing in the context of the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Fire Horse.

Drawing inspiration from the Tao Te Ching, they break down the wisdom of waiting for the “mud to settle,” trusting that the right action wil...

Mine is Better than Yours: The Trap of Comparison with Dr. Anna Marie Frank

In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank, author and wellness expert, to unpack the impact of comparison on mental health, self-esteem, and personal growth. Together, they explore how comparison can trigger anxiety and chronic dissatisfaction, yet also offer opportunities for inspiration and learning.

Dr. Anna Marie Frank shares ...

Hope’s Role in Grief with Jill McMahon

In this episode, Mathew Blades and grief counselor Jill McMahon explore the complex relationship between hope, trust, and the grieving process. Drawing from Jill McMahon’s expertise in working with those experiencing catastrophic loss and trauma, the conversation unpacks why hope can sometimes feel out of reach or even anxiety-producing in the aftermath of tragedy.

They discuss why well-mean...

Hoping Against Hope: Redefining Control, Trust, and Spiritual Alignment with Dr. Dave

In this episode, you'll hear:

• A fresh perspective on hope and its role in mental health
• How agency, the power to choose, can transform your outlook
• Tips for navigating anxiety, trust, and spiritual alignment

Mathew and Dr. Dave explore the real meaning of hope, inspired by Cortney's decision to remove "hope" from her vocabulary. Dr. D...

One Great Teaching: Overcoming the Divided Mind with Cortney McDermott

In this episode of Learn From People Who Lived It, hosts Mathew Blades and Cortney McDermott dive into the power of decision and the exhaustion caused by a divided mind, inspired by the wisdom of James 1:8.

Cortney McDermott shares her practical techniques for quieting internal conflict, emphasizing the importance of relaxation, trust over hope, and playful di...

Why Are You So Stressed? with Dr. Anna Marie Frank

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why people are feeling more stressed than ever, and the role of alignment in stress

• How people-pleasing, control issues, and overcommitment feed overwhelm

• Simple frameworks like "delegate, automate, delete" to reclaim your time and energy

• The importance of resetting your nervous system with breathwork, meditation, and time alone

• Why “mi...

How did our childhood experiences shape our relationship with money?

Good question, in this "Money" episode, we discuss:

- Practical steps to break free from money controlling your decisions - Tips to create abundance and self-worth, regardless of your bank account

Mathew Blades sits down with Scarlett 'The Biz Hippie' to explore the deep roots of our money stories and how they impact our lives. Scarlett shares her own journey f...

A Tragic Event from the Weekend with Jill McMahon

In this deeply personal episode, Mathew Blades opens up about a heartbreaking event he witnessed while supporting a player on his hockey team, and how that evoked memories of his own father's passing.

Joined by grief counselor and author of Bulletproof, Jill McMahon, the conversation explores the ways old trauma resurfaces when new losses occur, the importance of emotional regulat...