Navigating Addiction, Recovery, and Sobriety with Dr. Cali Estes
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
In this episode, Dana is joined by Dr. Cali Estes, an addictions coach and entrepreneur who built a new path to recovery after her own journey through an eating disorder and prescription pill addiction. Dr. Estes shares her raw and honest story of hitting rock bottom—and how a doctor's blunt warning became her ultimate wake-up call. She reveals how she discovered healing not in traditional meetings, but on a yoga mat, and used that experience to challenge the one-size-fits-all recovery model. This conversation explores why your vice is a solution, not a problem, and how to create lasting...
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Your Logical vs. Subconscious Mind: Who's Really in Control?
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
In this episode, Dana is joined by Kate Semeniuk, a Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapist, to explore the unseen forces in our minds that hold us back. Have you ever known logically what you need to do—like set a boundary or say no—but found yourself unable to act? Kate reveals how subconscious beliefs, often formed in childhood, create these internal conflicts. She explains that fear and suppressed anger are not weaknesses but misguided protection strategies from a younger self. This conversation is for anyone ready to stop fighting their own mind and finally align their actions with...
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How to Spot Burnout Before It's Too Late
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
In this episode, Dana is joined by Michael Levitt, founder of the Breakfast Leadership Network and self proclaimed "Chief Burnout Officer." Michael shares his personal story of being a high-achieving executive who pushed himself to the brink, working 6 AM to 11 PM seven days a week. This relentless drive led to a year of devastating consequences, including a near-fatal heart attack, job loss during the recession, and home foreclosure. He reveals how that immense pain became his greatest teacher, forcing him to recognize the dangerous red flags of burnout that so many driven entrepreneurs...
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Finding Freedom After Success-Fueled Anxiety
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
In this episode, Dana is joined by Matt Gerlach, an entrepreneur who helped scale startups to 7 and 8-figures, only to find himself battling a severe mental health crisis after launching his own business. Matt shares his raw and honest journey of hitting rock bottom and how that pain became his greatest teacher. He reveals how he learned to reframe his struggles as "wake-up calls," setting firm boundaries to move from a survival-driven mindset to a life of authentic purpose and freedom.
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The Power of Unconditional Generosity
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
Host Dana Skaggs sits down with Abagail McKiernan, founder of the nonprofit HelpLink, to uncover the deeply personal story that inspired her mission. What began as a moment of isolation became a movement rooted in unconditional generosity. Together, they explore how giving without expectation can restore dignity, forge authentic community, and remind us that the kindness we extend often finds its way back when we need it most.
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Beyond Forgive and Forget: The Real Secret to Letting Go
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
In this episode of Phoenix and Flame, host Dana Skaggs sits down with three-time bestselling author and forgiveness coach Katharine Giovanni to talk about the idea of forgiveness—we’re told to do it, but rarely taught how. Katharine explains that forgiveness isn’t about excusing someone’s behavior or even reconciling with them; it’s a tool for your own healing. She shares a practical, step-by-step method for releasing the emotional charge from painful memories so you can stop letting people live “rent-free” in your head. Along the way, she highlights the connection between...
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Why Traditional Masculinity Is Failing Modern Relationships
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
In this episode, host Dana Skaggs sits down with Kristal Desantis to talk about why traditional masculinity is struggling in modern relationships. Kristal describes what she calls the “broken script,” where old-school roles of men as sole protectors and providers clash with today’s need for emotional partnership. This leaves a lot of men caught in a “masculinity trap”—criticized for being too stoic but judged when they open up. The two dive into topics like emotional safety, touch starvation, and the pressure to measure up to narrow definitions of worth. Kristal also shares her...
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Finding Purpose After Relational Trauma
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
In this episode, host Dana Skaggs is joined by fellow boundaries coach Barb Nangle, who shares her journey of navigating what she calls "relational trauma." She reveals how trauma can take the form of a quiet, ongoing pattern of emotional invalidation, not just a sudden, explosive moment. Through 12-step recovery, Barb discovered a path to healing and reframes boundary-setting as an act of integrity and peace rather than confrontation. This conversation offers insight into how these practices can help you live with greater alignment and purpose.
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Adapt or Drown: Finding Your Life Raft in the Modern Workplace
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
Join host Dana Skaggs and organizational researcher Craig Mattson as they dive into the pressures of the modern workplace. Using powerful metaphors like "the wave" of digital overwhelm and the "life raft" of coping strategies, they explore why remote work often feels confusing and detached. The conversation tackles the big question: "Should I quit if my job feels meaningless?" Craig reveals the four distinct ways people find purpose—from changing the world to simply surviving the day. Ultimately, they argue that in an era of constant change, your greatest skill isn't what you do, but your...
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How Your Survival Brain is Sabotaging Your Happiness
Phoenix and Flame Podcast
In this episode, Matt O'Neill reveals how to achieve "conscious happiness" even when life feels chaotic. He explains that the common belief of "I'll be happy when..." is a deceptive trap that keeps us constantly striving but never satisfied. Matt reframes negative moods not as personal flaws, but as predictable functions of our "survival brain" that can be overcome. His solution is a set of simple, powerful habits—like gratitude and affirmations—that can be woven into your busiest days without taking extra time. This episode teaches you the skills to stop waiting for perfection and start...
info_outlineIn this episode, Dana is joined by Matt Gerlach, an entrepreneur who helped scale startups to 7 and 8-figures, only to find himself battling a severe mental health crisis after launching his own business. Matt shares his raw and honest journey of hitting rock bottom and how that pain became his greatest teacher. He reveals how he learned to reframe his struggles as "wake-up calls," setting firm boundaries to move from a survival-driven mindset to a life of authentic purpose and freedom.