The Dream Catcher Podcast

A conversation about privilege is not an easy one for many. In fact, it makes a lot of people defensive. But being asked to “check your privilege” shouldn’t make you feel guilty or minimize the hardships you face in other areas of your life.  

Instead, it is a gentle nudge to understand the plight of marginalized groups and the struggles that they face. We need to see it as an opportunity to educate ourselves and bear witness to the harsh realities of those who experience the world differently.

Grappling with the realities of privilege is  an ongoing effort. This week. I address how I came to grips with the privileges I have (and don’t have) and how it made me realize the importance of understanding where each of us stand on the privilege ladder.

Humans are creatures of habit. We seek comfort in rituals that free us to focus on less predictable things. Routine gives us a feeling of security and control over our environments.

But not all habits are created equal. The right ones boost our productivity and efficiency. With enough focused repetition, we can master any skill. Our habits are an accurate predictor of future success. 

Instead of falling into the traps of following conventions and refusing to change habits that aren’t good for us, we can become conscious of them. In this episode, I’ve outlined five steps that help you develop habits that lead to success on your own terms.

Each and everyone of us desires to live our best lives. But that life seems out of reach for many of us because of the limitations and obstacles we face along the way. 

My guest today, David Hennessey, a passionate advocate for personal development, say’s that success is possible for anyone, if they’re willing to make simple shifts in their daily life and adopt the right mindset. 

David is trained in psychology and nutrition. 20 years ago he created a holistic personal development program called The WONDER Technique. Over the years, he’s presented it in 100s of workshops and seminars. His goal is to share these fundamental tools of personal development to everyone on the planet through his work.

During the interview, we cover the following areas:

• Techniques to reduce stress and improve sleep quality
• Daily rituals and practices that lead to productivity
• Tips on staying committed to our goals
• Developing simple habits that lead to success
• Ways to achieve a positive frame of mind  

We all have to deal with toxic people in our lives. They can’t be entirely avoided, whether they be a boss, parent, or coworker. While nothing is ever ideal and compromise is needed, we need to be clear about how much we’re willing to put up with.

While toxic people should not be demonized (they obviously need help to change their unhealthy behavioral patterns), it’s important to distance yourself from them to maintain your own sanity. Engaging with their neuroses will take you down to their levels of thinking and being.

In this episode, I describe the key characteristics of five types of toxic people who drain your energy, who you should keep an eye out for and avoid at all costs.

Taking the long view is especially difficult in these times when we’re drowning in information. We’re so distracted by immediate news, global trends, and what we see in the present moment. We lose our ability to see things from a higher perspective. 

To become a superior strategist in life, you have to break away from herd mentality and develop a long-term approach. As humans, we have the gift of seeing further into the future and envisioning possibilities, unlike animals who only react to what’s happening in the now. 

Instead of waiting to connect the dots later, we can give ourselves an expanded view in the current moment. In this episode, I outline three steps to help you gain that perspective.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.