Learn From People Who Lived it

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...

Understanding Fast and Slow Thinking with Dr. Dave

In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Dave to explore the inner workings of the human mind, inspired by Daniel Kahneman’s groundbreaking book, "Thinking, Fast and Slow."

They unpack the two key mental systems: System 1, the fast and automatic thinking that governs much of our daily lives, and System 2, the slower, more deliberate process used for complex ...

Perception vs. Reality: Tuesdays with CoCo

What if much of what we accept as “reality” is simply shadows on the wall? In this episode, author and speaker Cortney McDermott and Mathew explore Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, using it as a powerful metaphor for how our perceptions, conditioning, and learned helplessness can keep us stuck in limited narratives.

They share personal stories of breaking free from those chains, discuss the...

Finding Friendship and Connection Over 40 with Dr. Anna Marie Frank

In this heartfelt episode, Mathew Blades sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank to explore the challenges and opportunities of making new friends after 40.

Together they discuss the unique loneliness that often arises after decades spent building careers and raising families, and how quality, depth, and accountability become more important in friendships as we age. ...

One Phrase That Can Change Your Year with Johanna Laurent

In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with author Johanna Laurent to explore the transformative impact of language on mindset, resilience, and personal growth.

Inspired by her journey overcoming childhood adversity, she shares how uplifting phrases helped her navigate uncertainty and self-doubt, leading to her pocket-sized book, Everything is Fine.

The conversation delv...

In this timely episode, Mathew Blades and Jill McMahon confront the emotional toll of gun violence as it saturates our screens and social feeds. Drawing from lived experience and clinical expertise, Jill unpacks the damaging effects of repeated visual trauma and how constant exposure can desensitize us, elevate stress, and keep us in a cycle of hyper-vigilance.

Together, they discuss practical tools for reclaiming wellbeing: paus...

How Decision-Making Works with Dr. Dave

Ever wondered why you make the choices you do? In this episode, Mathew Blades and Dr. Dave break down the science and psychology behind decision-making, highlighting how much happens before we’re even aware we’ve made a choice. Dr. Dave explains the “spark” that jumpstarts our decision process and reveals how our brains weigh tiny votes for and against, influenced by emotions, context, and ...

Using Your Original Equipment with Cortney McDermott

In this special episode, hosts Mathew Blades and Cortney McDermott explore the concept of “original equipment." Those innate gifts, talents, and qualities we are born with often get buried under societal expectations and conditioning.

Through storytelling, reflection, and a guided meditation, they invite listeners to reconnect with their true selves by embracing childlike energ...

How to Talk to Yourself with Dr. Anna Marie Frank

In this episode, Mathew Blades sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank, author, speaker, and founder of Happy Whole You, to explore the art and science of self-talk.

Drawing from her book, Stop Bullying Yourself, Dr. Frank unpacks why negative self-talk develops, the powerful impact of our upbringing and environment, and how our internal dialogue can shape everything from physical hea...

On this Feel Good Friday edition of Learn From People Who Lived It, host Mathew Blades welcomes leadership economist, keynote speaker, and former U.S. Navy commander Mary Kelly.

Together, they dive into the power of clear communication in work and life, revealing why most misunderstandings stem from assuming others can read our minds.

Mary Kelly breaks down practical frameworks for leaders sharing how setting deadlines, giving re...

Guns and Grief: Healing After Trauma with Jill McMahon

In this episode, you'll hear:

What truly happens to survivors in the aftermath of gun violence and suicide Why grief from traumatic events like shootings or suicide is uniquely isolating Practical ways to support those impacted, beyond platitudes or quick fixes

Mathew Blades and grief specialist Jill McMahon explore the often-overlooked experiences of survivors of gun viole...

In this episode, Mathew Blades and longtime guest Dr. Dave dive deep into how the mind works—and what it really takes to get “unstuck.”

Drawing on over 30 years of psychiatric experience, Dr. Dave explains why true transformation starts with radical acceptance before digging into past traumas or tough relationships. Together, they break down the difference between externalizing blame and taking responsibility, sharing real-life s...

One great teaching with Cortney McDermott

Join Mathew Blades, author, and coach Cortney McDermott as they explore “one great teaching” rooted in Einstein’s quote: “The field is the sole governing agency of the particle.”

They discuss agency, overcoming the blame game, and how shifting our internal landscape can lead to transformation. Cortney McDermott offers practical guidance like the power of simply lying down to help listener...

Feeling stuck in the cycle of proving yourself?

In this episode of Learn From People Who Lived It, host Mathew Blades sits down with naturopathic doctor, author, and speaker Dr. Anna Marie Frank to unpack the deep-rooted human desire for acceptance and belonging.

Drawing from personal experience and professional practice, Dr. Anna Marie Frank explains the critical difference between fitting in and true belonging, highlighting how...

The Power of Forgiveness 

In this episode, host Mathew Blades shares a deeply personal journey into forgiveness, exploring its significance both biblically and psychologically. Through powerful storytelling—from confronting a public critic to healing a strained relationship with his mother—Mathew Blades reveals that forgiveness is a process, not an event, and is essential for emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. He disc...