The Dream Catcher Podcast

[Interview] Being Brave Enough to Show Up As Our Authentic and Real Self (feat. Amanda JP Brown)

At some point in our lives, we all struggle with finding a sense of worthiness. Perhaps we’ve had some tough life experiences that left us feeling hurt, with bruises that we’ve never fully healed from.

My guest today Amanda JP Brown, is intimately familiar with this struggle. A former trauma therapist, Amanda went from high school drop-out and drug user to college graduate, earning two masters degrees. Amanda is the author of, “You're Brave Enough: 8 Daily Practices to Be Your Own HERO.” Today, she guides women through their shame so they can stand confidently in their power.

During our conversation Amanda talks about how we can overcome past shame and become the true hero of our lives so that we can live our highest potential.  She encourages us to create a life where we’re free to be exactly who we are, free of expectations and fully embodying every experience that has made us the person that we are today.

Diversity is Beautiful. Here’s Why.

When we talk about diversity, we often think of a melting pot - a society where different types of people blend together as one. Over the years, there’s been a growing acceptance that diversity goes beyond just appearance. It includes other facets of us, such as how we think, live our lives, and express our thoughts. 

An appreciation for diversity begins at home. Maya Angelou once said, "It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength." This is the only way to combat the “cognitive tribalism,” that causes us to dislike anyone who doesn't look and think like we do.

We can become more accepting of others when we see the value in diversity. This week, I offer four reasons why diversity is beautiful and should be encouraged.

5 Simple Ways to Declutter Your Mind

Like most people in modern society, you probably get overwhelmed regularly. We're all prone to overthinking, especially in today's fast-paced, distraction-filled world. It's a trap that almost everyone falls into. 

Just like we need to clean out our closets and declutter our physical spaces, we need to declutter our minds. When there's less happening in our minds, it's easier to monitor our thoughts and pick up on undisciplined mental patterns that are sabotaging our happiness. 

To many, decluttering the mind is daunting. There's just so much to deal with. However, the process of decluttering and simplifying our thoughts is easy if you're willing to build certain habits into your routine. In this week’s post you’ll learn five things you can do to clear your mind.

[Interview] De-Stressing & Maximizing Productivity by Decluttering Our Spaces (feat. Andrew Mellen)

Having a messy and cluttered home not only makes us less productive, but it can also have a negative impact on our emotional wellbeing. Andrew Mellen, my guest today, says that now that we’re spending more time in our homes, due to the COVID-19 quarantine, it’s the perfect time for us to get our house in order and clear out the clutter.

Andrew is an organizational expert, public speaker, and the best-selling author of Unstuff Your Life! He's been called "The Most Organized Man in America" by the media having helped over 100,000 people to declutter and simplify their lives. As an authority on organizing and productivity, Andrew's addressed audiences from TEDx, he’s worked with several corporate clients and makes frequent media appearances including the NY Times, LA Times, Real Simple and O Magazine.

During this conversation, Andrew shares his views on why it’s important for us to simplify and declutter to not only become more efficient but to create more time and space for the things that matter. He also shares simple techniques we can use to begin organizing and clearing away our spaces. 

How to Tell Your Ego from Your Higher Self

At any time of day, we may find our minds filled with incessant chatter. Our ego is the source of the critical and chaotic voice.  More specifically, it is the negative side of it. 

It’s impossible to completely rid of the ego, but we can learn to manage it. Merging the strength of our ego with the wisdom of our Higher Self allows us to make conscious choices. But most people find this hard because their ego is loud and dominating.

We can become attuned to the Higher Self by learning how to distinguish it from the ego. In this episode we’ll take a look at the five key differences between these two aspects to build awareness.

Why Love is Never Wasted

Great love involves great risk. To love anyone, whether that be a romantic partner, family member, a friend, or even a project, cause, or object, calls for us to be vulnerable and willing to open our hearts. Sometimes we get lucky, and the object of our affections returns our love. But we won’t always be that fortunate.

One of the worst feelings in the world is loving someone who doesn’t love you back or can’t express their emotions. Coping by distraction and avoidance is not a solution. It will only stop abundance from flowing into our lives. Loving others is fundamental to being human. 

The good news is that unselfish, pure, and genuine love once given, is never wasted because it transforms us. In this post, I explore how we can love from a soul-centered and healthy place and the positive impact it can have on us.

[Interview] How to Face and Conquer our Fears During a Time of Uncertainty (feat. Vincent Genna)

The Coronavirus pandemic has incited new fears about potential illness and economic hardship. The uncertainty, slowdowns and setbacks is causing stress and imbalance in almost everyone.

According to my guest today, Vincent Genna, what people find most disturbing is the buried fears that are being brought back to the surface in this time of isolation. He says it’s created an opportunity to do some deep introspective work. 

Vincent is a spiritual teacher and psychic therapist known for his “tell-it-like-it-is” style of teaching. He uses his 36 years of training, research, and experience in the Metaphysical, Psychology, and Spiritual fields to dive deep into your psyche to release blockages, resistances, and self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors to live a life of fulfilment. He’s had numerous media appearances and hosts his own radio show called, Stop Stopping Yourself! 

During our lively conversation, Vincent shares his insights on the crux of the fear we’re experiencing as well as coping techniques to reduce our anxiety and to heal ourselves during this crisis. 

The Four Aspects of Aging

The process of aging has been commonly associated with the physical changes our bodies go through as we grow older like slower mobility, loss of skin elasticity, and lower immunity. However, our age is not solely determined by our biology.

When we look beyond our society's obsession with youth and the outdated expectations of “age-appropriateness,” we’ll find that our age is something that is in our hands based on our mindset and the lifestyle we create for ourselves.

This week, I outline the four different aspects of aging which provide a different perspective on aging. If you’re someone who complains about not feeling or looking your age it’s because one of these aspects differs from your chronological age.

5 Ways to Bring Back the Simplicity of Old Times

We can't negate the reality that we live in a world that's faster-paced and provides us with far more options than we can handle. If you’re anything like me, the media frenzy around the Coronavirus pandemic has been overwhelming and leaves you missing the tranquility of simpler times without the instantaneous nature of a tech-driven world.

To bring back simplicity, you must define what it means to you. A simple life has a different meaning to every person—it could be slowing down, decluttering your home and whittling down your possessions or reducing your workload to spend time on things that bring you happiness.

This week, I outline five ways to bring back the joy of simplicity from old time so that you can access to the peace, stillness and joy that lies within you.

[Interview] Empowering Ourselves by Overcoming Negative Self-Talk (feat. Michelle Kuei)

If you’re like most people, you know your inner critic all too well. It’s that voice in your head that judges you, doubts you, and constantly tells you you’re not good enough. It says negative hurtful things to you—things that you would never even dream of saying to others.

My guest today is an expert in this area. Michelle Kuei, a certified transition coach and an author, has been working with negative self-talkers to discover inner strength for many years now. Michelle was permanently disabled after a hit and run car accident when she was 11 years old. Growing up in a society and culture where beauty is weighted heavily on appearance, she had to learn how to overcome her own judgement and criticism. 

Michelle’s story is one of courage, determination, and vulnerability. But more importantly, it’s about having the confidence to face our fears. In this interview, Michelle shares her story and how she learned to deal with her insecurities. She talks about ways we can overcome negative self-talk, overcome major life transitions and become a leader in our life.