Clear Choices Podcast

Welcome to the Clear Choices podcast! This podcast is designed to guide you to make more conscious and powerful choices and inspire a positive change in your life. The podcast was borne from the emotional history of two holocaust survivors, Eva and Leslie Aigner, as told by their son and your Clear Choices host, Rob. Their harrowing yet inspirational journey provides essential historical context to the experiences of survivors. Also, it gives insight into how some of us make choices that can quite literally change the world. Rob interviews a wide variety of guests who have made the bold choices necessary to elevate their lives and positively impact others. You'll walk away more motivated and inspired by hearing about what these everyday people did to make such changes happen for themselves, as well as how they are impacting other people's lives positively with those decisions!

Ep 54: Frank Brown on Creating a Community of Support for At-Risk Students 08/04/2021

Ep 54: Frank Brown on Creating a Community of Support for At-Risk Students How can we bridge the gap and bring equality to education in America? How has COVID impacted students who live in low income areas? What can we do? My guest today, Frank Brown, heads up an organization that is answering the call for how to help those students who are most at-risk for falling behind and not graduating high school. He is Chief Executive Officer of Communities In Schools of Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta was deemed the income inequality capital two years in a row, prior to Covid. This inequality leads to many more problems, including: housing insecurity, inequality in educational opportunities and lack of appropriate health care. Communities In Schools (CIS) of Atlanta is an award-winning dropout prevention organization that was established in Atlanta, Georgia in 1972. What began in the basement of a modest home in the Grant Park community is now the nation’s largest dropout prevention network with a proven track record of positively impacting graduation rates. Their mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Listen in to hear how CIS is making such a positive impact in Atlanta and throughout the country and how we can get involved supporting such an important mission. Notable Quotes: "I tell my team, if we get it right in Atlanta, it’s a blueprint for the rest of the country, the world, on how to deal with some of the poorest people in this country and get them to become full participants in the American dream." "There was a report that came out in Atlanta that said only 3 out of 10 black kids will be proficient in reading and math after Covid, that’s 30%. We are talking about whole generations lost." "Sometimes people look at poverty, and look at people we serve as inanimate objects. They are human beings, they have dreams and aspirations just like you and I and they want to make clear choices, but there's systematic racism and all types of barriers that they’ve been under for years." "These people sacrifice their own personal good to help these children, to get them to the other side. And the thanks is when you see a child walk across the stage and you know they would never have done it without us." "In Atlanta, depending on what zip code you’re born in, you have a 4% chance of getting out of a poor zip code. Go to Vegas with 4% chances, you’ll never win. But, that’s the child that I work with every day and I believe that 4% is better than 0%." In this episode, you will hear: -The history of Communities In Schools of Atlanta (CIS) and their mission -The three-tier model that CIS uses at different schools -Progress and impact of CIS in Atlanta -Frank’s perspective on education from a global standpoint -How CIS is helping parents to lead their children to better choices -Biggest educational challenges and threats for children -CIS Atlanta’s plans and trajectory for the next 5 years Resources and links mentioned during this episode: For donations and more info, visit Connect with Communities In Schools of Atlanta on Instagram , , and . Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements. Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/19888229

Ep 53: Dr. Linda Tamura on Asian American Racism from World War II until Now 07/21/2021

Ep 53: Dr. Linda Tamura on Asian American Racism from World War II until Now When you hear the word racism do you ever think of Asian Americans and how they are treated? Since the pandemic, the rise in hate crimes and violence to Asian Americans has increased by 164%. That is a staggering number but this is not the first experience with racism that the Asian American community has endured in our country. Today’s guest, Linda Tamura, who is a Sansei (third generation Japanese American) and daughter of a World War II veteran, is talking to us about the racism that Asian Americans experienced in the 1940’s when Japanese Americans were incarcerated in camps because of the war. She is the author of two books on the subject Nisei Soldiers Break their Silence and Hood River Issei. We also discuss the recent rise in hate crimes to the Asian American community and her ideas on what we can do to make things better. A Professor Emerita of Education, Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, she is very involved in projects, exhibits, and organizations educating and celebrating the history of Japanese Americans and inclusion in Oregon. As a former elementary school teacher and university professor, Dr. Linda Tamura is a teacher of teachers and an educational leader. Notable Quotes: “I think that would be what I try to do as a teacher and what I try to continue to do now and that is simply to be a positive role model and a positive ally to others.” “What can we do to make life better for ourselves but mostly for other people too?” In this episode, you will hear: - Linda’s history and how she became an advocate for educating and helping Asian Americans - Why she made the choice to write her books - What we can do to make things better for Asian Americans and all people Resources and links mentioned in this episode: Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/19725272

Ep 52: Rick Barde on Surviving and Recovering from COVID-19 07/07/2021

Ep 52: Rick Barde on Surviving and Recovering from COVID-19 Over the past two years, we all probably know someone who had a mild case of COVID but how about someone who barely survived it? My guest today, Rick Barde, joins us to tell us about his experience surviving and recovering from COVID-19. Rick is a recently retired school teacher who spent nearly two months in the hospital battling this disease. His case was so severe, he was placed on ECMO (advanced life support equipment called Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) where 40% do not make it off and was placed in an induced coma to rest his lungs. He is truly thankful to be alive. He credits his recovery to all of the support he received from his wife, his school community, and the amazing nurses and doctors. You will hear about his experience through the worst parts of this disease, his recovery that he is still dealing with today, how this has changed him, and what he wants others to learn from his experience. Notable Quotes: “When I know how many hundreds of thousands of people have died, and I didn’t, and mine was such a bad case, I am fortunate, I am thankful, I am grateful to anybody and everybody who has been a part of my recovery.” “If I can impact one person to make a choice to better the world by taking the vaccine or wearing a mask or whatever it may be, then I feel I am doing my job. We have to have more people out there who are making a clear choice to wear a mask and get vaccinated. It’s the only way we are going to get through this. I have hope that we’ll get there.” “It’s changed me in that I am much more grateful for life. I get emotional about how close I was to not making it.” “If people are thinking about getting vaccinated, I say ‘ I had COVID and you do not want to get what I got.’ ” In this episode, you will hear: - What Rick went through and what he remembers while battling COVID - His recovery and the symptoms he still deals with today - How COVID has changed him - What he wants others to learn from his experience Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/19633154

Ep 51: Stu Massengill on Finding Happiness and Purpose in Your Life 06/16/2021

Ep 51: Stu Massengill on Finding Happiness and Purpose in Your Life Do you know what your purpose is? Do you love what you do and are you happy? The reality is that most people don’t. My guest today, Stu Massengill, is on a mission to change the statistic that 80% of people don’t love what they do. He wants to help people find their true passion in life and give them the beautiful gift of waking up every morning excited to tackle and live a life of passion and fulfillment. Stu is a Peak Performance Strategist and National Trainer for non-other than Tony Robbins. He is the Founder of Finding Direction University and Podcast where he helps people go from being lost in life to a life of passion and fulfillment. Listen in to hear about Stu’s life journey from creating successful organizations to battling cancer to how he found his purpose; and how he is now helping others find theirs. Notable Quotes: “Every single day I’m looking at how can I find happiness in that I have air in my lungs, how can I find happiness that I woke up today, that my eyes are opened.” “I am such a believer that the seeds in our mind grow and that creates our life.” “There’s 3 decisions you make every single moment of your life, it’s 1.What are you going to focus on? 2. What’s the meaning that you give that? 3. Ultimately, what are you going to do from that?” “One day I had this massive realization that if I’m successful in this business, it’s my fault. And if I’m not successful, it’s also my fault. And I think that transcends to life. If you’re happy, that’s your fault.” In this episode, you will hear: - How Stu finds happiness and joy especially with the backdrop of 2020 - How having cancer shaped Stu’s life and view on happiness - His advice and how he guides people to find their joy and passion - What choices you can make to live a happy life right now Connect with Stu: Websites- Podcast- 3 Steps to Finding Direction in Under 10 Minutes- Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/19403909

Ep 50: Terre Steinbeck on How Learning to Live Within Her Means Changed Her Life 06/02/2021

Ep 50: Terre Steinbeck on How Learning to Live Within Her Means Changed Her Life Our guest today, Terre Steinbeck, shares her story of riches to rags to riches again (and truly finding herself!). She was riding the real estate market wave back in the early 2000’s- driving a Range Rover, living in the best part of town, and wining and dining her friends and clients, when the market crash of 2008 hit. All of a sudden, she had no income coming in and with no savings, she faced decisions and choices she never thought she would have to make. She talks with us about her darkest days, the choices she made to turn her life around, and how even though it was a painful experience, she is grateful for the experience. She also gives advice for what someone can do if they find themselves in a similar situation. Notable Quotes: “Your head just takes you in horrible, horrible places when you are going through something you’ve never gone before.” “My advice would be- exactly what I did- grab a hold of your friends, it doesn’t matter who they are, and if you’re homeless, grab a couple of homeless people. Figure out your goals, where do you want to be?” “Having a group of people in the same spot that you’re in is truly helpful- and everybody is good at something.” “Living within your means is paramount. I mean, that is something I was never taught how to do, and now I do it. I’ve been doing it for 10 years and I tell you, I can sleep at night.” In this episode, you will hear: - Terre’s story of having it all, losing it all and finding her true self - The choices Terre made to turn her life around - The importance of living within your means - Her advice to others who may be in a similar situation Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/19163939

Ep 49: High School Seniors Surviving 2020 05/19/2021

Ep 49: High School Seniors Surviving 2020 2020, COVID-19, Pandemic- these words have such profound meaning on our whole world and what we have all experienced this past year. For seniors in high school, this has meant a lot of change, disappointments, and loss. Their last year of high school has not turned out the way they had once expected it would. Today we are going to hear it straight from the words of five high school seniors who talk to us about this past year, their experiences, and what it has been like being a senior in high school while living through this pandemic. They talk through what has been the most difficult for them, the impact of social media and their usage, the positives about the pandemic, how they have changed, and what they have learned through this unique year that no one will ever forget. Notable Quotes: “I feel like there’s no closure because I’m not going to be able to have my senior activities and have my last year on campus.” Julia “School was really tolerable and I really enjoyed school because of the social aspect and I got to see all my friends so it made it really hard to just be locked up in my living room with my teacher assigning essays.” Jake “I feel like I’ve grown up a lot in a short span of time.” Sami “I’ve used a lot of social media even prior to the pandemic and I think this just kind of boosted it to a point where it’s a little bit even unhealthy.” Nick “I’ve accomplished a lot of things I’d been putting off for a long time because of school.” Matt In this episode, you will hear: - What has been the most difficult thing about this past year - How they have used social media to stay connected and what effect it has had on them - The positives from the pandemic and what they have learned through this year - How they now have a different outlook on the world and a new sense of appreciation for what they have If you are a teenager, please seek out support and help if you need it. And if you are a parent, please make sure and talk to your kids. Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/18939023

Ep 48: Sankar Raman on the Importance of Sharing Immigrant Stories 05/05/2021

Ep 48: Sankar Raman on the Importance of Sharing Immigrant Stories Immigration. America is a country made up of immigrants. My parents are immigrants and probably many of your parents or grandparents are as well. It is an important topic and my guest today is the stories of immigrants. Sankar Raman, an immigrant himself who came to America to attend college, ended up working and retiring here. It was around the time of the 2016 election that Sankar was preparing to relax and enjoy his retirement. When he heard the anti-immigration rhetoric and the theme of scapegoating immigrants and immigrants of color, he knew he could not sit back and watch. He had to take action and do something. Sankar started interviewing and telling immigrants stories to counteract the rhetoric of hate and negativity against immigrants. He has now interviewed over 180 immigrants and, through these stories, is able to hold true to his mission- to foster empathy and build a more inclusive community by sharing immigrant stories. Notable Quotes: “A lot of times we don’t take the time to understand our neighbors.” “I think if you look at the common theme, these folks are resilient. To give up everything to come, to come to a new country without knowing the language. In most cases bringing a dollar or two with them, that’s what America.” “And I think that is the beauty of human nature. And I think people are helping each other, giving a hand, at the same time once you are in a position to help, you return the favor.” “This America is full of stories of all of us. You know, your story, my story, everyone’s story is what is the America’s story.” In this episode, you will hear: - Why he started the Immigrant Story program and what he hopes to accomplish through it - Some of the profound changes he has seen with the conversations - The common themes through the different immigrant stories - Changes he would like to see regarding policy on immigration Resources and links mentioned during this episode: Link to my parent’s stories: https://theimmigrantstory.org/holocaust/?fbclid=IwAR1Hr_yM2pon0kFyrEEpviRUZipu-lJxQA_MV6tjHZ6IUkuyMS_asztn7Hs Website: https://theimmigrantstory.org/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/many-roads-to-here/id1534252582 https://theimmigrantstory.org/manyroads/ Sankar is always looking to interview immigrants to share more stories. If you would like to tell your story, drop a note through the contact form on their website: https://theimmigrantstory.org/contact-us/ Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/. Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/18838220

Ep 47: Chris Bello on How to Implement Advice and Keep Track of Your Goals 04/21/2021

Ep 47: Chris Bello on How to Implement Advice and Keep Track of Your Goals Get your pen and paper ready because you are going to want to take notes from today's episode! I am joined by another great guest who will surely motivate and inspire you, Chris Bello. Chris is a college graduate, who quit his corporate job after three years, wanting to take reins of his life and write his own story. After struggling with one side hustle after another, he went all in on residential real estate, where he's quickly caught momentum. He's also the host of the top rated business podcast The Entrepreneur Motivation Podcast, where he documents his journeys and interviews incredible guests. His motto is less dreaming, more doing! Today, Chris shares the story of his career and all the lessons he learned that helped him make better choices along the way. Memorable Quotes: "Everybody has something worth sharing and learning, and I constantly find myself writing down notes.It's just constant training." "Money can't buy happiness and it really takes making the money to realize that. And once you're there, you realize: I still have this empty feeling, I guess it's not about the money. But when you don't have it, all you can focus on is the money; when we get it, that's when you realize there's other things to life, that are more important probably to you." "Oftentimes, we only see what we can see, what is our reality, what we understand. Things that are the answers that we need, may be invisible to us until someone opens our eyes to the possibilities." "Whatever those goals are- business or personal, write them down, put them in a place where you're not going to forget about them, review them and then check in from time to time. Maybe they're not really your goals, and you can adjust and course correct as needed." "Say yes to the things that truly matter to you. But to do that you have to be very clear and define what's important to you." In this episode, you will hear: -Chris’ career in podcasting and what attracted him to entrepreneurial work environment -How to put advice into action, and know whose advice to follow -Chris’ program to coach and support others in achieving their success -Why it’s important to let go, outsource and delegate as an entrepreneur -Overcoming limiting beliefs and how to focus on your zone of genius -How to compensate when you get off track with your goals Resources and links mentioned during this episode: Connect with Chris on Instagram- Connect with Chris on LinkedIn- Connect with Chris on Facebook- Chris’s Entrepreneur Motivation Podcast- For more info visit Chris’ website- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown- Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/18690047

Ep 46: Rabbi Yossi Mintz on Bringing More Light into the World 04/07/2021

Ep 46: Rabbi Yossi Mintz on Bringing More Light into the World News is made and distributed faster than ever. Often, unfortunately, the news cycle is also more negative than ever. In the midst of this, how can we choose to focus on the positive and bring more light into the world? My guest today, Rabbi Yossi Mintz, has been able to do it and has advice for how we can do it as well. Rabbi Yossi is a renowned communal leader and spiritual guide. In 1995, he established the Jewish Community Center of the South Bay that has reached the entire landscape of diverse cultures providing everything from counseling and financial help for people in need to teaching leadership and volunteerism for those who are more fortunate. A unique place in his heart has always belonged to children with special needs which led him to establish the Friendship Foundation, an organization that provides for over 1,800 children with special needs and their families while involving the entire community. Join us in today’s episode to learn more about his journey and why he believes that every human being has their own special needs. Memorable Quotes: "I was instilled at a very young age the impact that each one of us has, a responsibility that we're not just here for ourselves. There is a purpose for each one of us in this world. And how we can impact this world and make it a better place, and the years we live on this earth, that we do not know, but every day we must not take it for granted." "You can make a difference in the life of somebody else. You are fortunate to have all your abilities, be grateful and make those choices to inspire someone else’s life to make it better." "When they know that we’re proud, that we know how to answer and we are not afraid of them, they melt away. Because their base is false." "Let’s make this world a better place, bring light to the world. Remember one thing - a little light, which is joy and universal acceptance, takes away so much darkness and this world is so dark today." In this episode, you will hear: -What inspired Rabbi Yossi in his choice to become a Rabbi -Activities for youth and children provided at the Jewish Community Center of the South Bay by Rabbi Yossi and his team -What can we do better in regards to antisemitism, immigration and Black Lives Matter Movement? Resources and links mentioned during this episode: For more info visit Jewish Community Center https://www.jccmb.com/ For more info visit The Friendship Foundation https://www.friendshipfoundation.com/ Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/. Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/18535754

Ep 45: Ken Buckles on the Importance of Remembering and Learning from the Stories of War 03/17/2021

Ep 45: Ken Buckles on the Importance of Remembering and Learning from the Stories of War Do you know someone who has been affected by war either by serving in the military or by getting caught in the crossfire? Have you heard their stories of how war affected them? My guest today, Ken Buckles, a retired high school teacher and football coach, has seen first hand the importance of hearing the stories from a diverse group of veterans and others affected by war. Ken is the son of a Marine who experienced combat during the Korean War, returned home experiencing symptoms of PTSD, and committed suicide when Ken was just 30 years old. We will discuss how this caused ripple effects on him and his family but how ultimately, it inspired him to start a program at his high school called Living History Day, which allowed veterans and others affected by war to engage with his teenage students and tell their stories. As Ken began recording the many stories he was hearing, this ultimately morphed into a book with three volumes, the first titled, Remembrance Volume I: Remembering My Veteran Friends and Guests From Living History Days. It is a page turner to say the least and after hearing him speak with me today, is something that you will definitely want to get your hands on. He has opened a door allowing Veterans and others affected by war to share their stories and the atrocities they’ve had to face and conquer in his book with more volumes on the way. Listen in to learn all about the adversities that Ken has had to overcome, all of the ways he has stayed positive, and the impact he has made on countless people over the years. Memorable Quotes: “So many people, they need to realize that you got to hang on to hope and you got to know there’s better times ahead, we can get through this and there’s so many lessons to be learned, you know, the choice is which way do you want to go?” “When you accomplish something, no one can ever take it away from you.” “I’m so proud of them, and they’ve carried that with them into their careers and raising their kids.” “Coached a lot of kids who played at the college level whether it’s football or other sports, and one who ended up playing in the NFL.” In this episode you will learn: All about Ken’s background and what made him into the man he is today. How he overcame adversities in his life and how we have the power to decide our own fate, despite going through hard times. The importance of perspective and how seeing things from a different lens can positively impact your life. All about Ken’s days as a D1 Athlete, High School Teacher and Football Coach The amazing program he started for his students to learn from Veterans and more. How Ken became an author of the book Remembrance Volume I: Remembering My Veteran Friends and Guests From Living History Days. Ken Buckle’s book: Remembrance Volume I: Remembering My Veteran Friends and Guests From Living History Days Available on Amazon: Book Reviews: “The whole weekend he wouldn’t put it down.” “I hate reading, I never read books, but I couldn’t put yours down!” Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/18191027

Ep 44: World Series Pitcher Ryan Sherriff on Choosing Discipline and Hard Work to Reach His Dreams 03/03/2021

Ep 44: World Series Pitcher Ryan Sherriff on Choosing Discipline and Hard Work to Reach His Dreams How hard do you need to work to conquer your goals and reach your dreams? Do you have the drive, determination, and discipline to do whatever it takes? Joining me today is a man who has done it. Ryan Sherriff is a Tampa Bay Ray who earned his right to pitch in the 2020 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Why is this important? Because he made it to the major leagues at an older age than most and he had to overcome challenges after challenges, including Tommy John surgery. Listen in to hear the inspiring story of how a man reached his dreams through discipline and hard work and the lessons that he has learned along the way. Memorable Quotes: “I really have to work hard if I want this.” “I’m more in love with the process of getting better than I am with baseball.” “Everything I had to do, I had to do to prove myself.” In this episode, you will hear: - Ryan’s story of growing up and playing baseball - The lessons he has learned along the way that have helped him become successful - Why discipline and hard work can help you overcome your challenges and obstacles Are you ready to start a podcast? Use, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/. Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/17917241

Ep 43: Dr. Brett Levine on COVID-19 from a Medical Perspective and How to Focus on the Positive 02/17/2021

Ep 43: Dr. Brett Levine on COVID-19 from a Medical Perspective and How to Focus on the Positive We all know the impact that COVID-19 has had on our lives. But have you ever wondered what the medical professionals are thinking when it comes to it? I want to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Brett Levine, Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist in Southern California, who has seen first hand what this unpredictable disease can do, shedding his light from the inside! Graduate of USC School of Medicine, Dr. Levine has his own private practice and conducts surgeries in local hospitals in the South Bay of California. Although COVID-19 has brought on an abundance of stress, loss, and hardships for people to deal with, it is even more amplified for medical professionals. With seeing over 8,000 patients during this worldwide pandemic, how has he managed to do it you may be wondering? One of Dr. Brett’s main philosophies resonates with having a positive mindset and intentional gratefulness towards what we do have, as opposed to focusing on all of the negatives in our lives. Let him take you on a journey of hard facts, real life worries, and his own selfless project of breaking the cycle when it comes to dealing with your mental health and stepping outside of your comfort zone. Come and join us to listen in and hear what Dr. Levine has to say. It might not only help you change your perspective but you may learn a thing or two about COVID-19 and the importance we all have to play. Memorable Quotes: “If you want to change your life, you have to change your mind.” “Covid-19 is real. It is NOT the flu. In my 25 years of practice, I have never seen a hospital I’ve worked for close down because they don’t have the capacity of oxygen or ventilators or beds.” “The minute I think differently, I act differently, and then I see changes in my life.” “The explosion of telemedicine and medicine I think is a positive for the future.” In this episode, you will learn: The effect COVID-19 has had on medical professionals and their practices Hard facts related to COVID-19 and whether they are TRUE or FALSE What you need to remember about this disease and the importance of self-discipline Dr. Brett’s selfless project that he created to not only help people, but make their everyday lives better by shifting their mindset. How stepping out of one’s comfort zone, although scary, can be the most beneficial for your mental health To connect with Dr. Brett Levine: To learn more about Dr. Brett’s amazing project: Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/17915516

Ep 42: Sam "The Bam" Cunningham on Making College Football History and His Life Afterward 02/03/2021

Ep 42: Sam "The Bam" Cunningham on Making College Football History and His Life Afterward It is an honor and privilege to bring you this episode with the college and professional football player who helped change the game of football forever. Joining me today is Sam “The Bam” Cunningham who played for the University of Southern California. On Sept. 12, 1970, his USC football team made history by becoming the first integrated team to play and defeat the segregated University of Alabama team at Denny Stadium. This changed football in America forever. We talk through his experience as well as the social justice issues still facing us today. Sam went on to play another year at USC and was drafted 11th overall in the 1973 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He became the team’s all-time leading rusher with over 5,400 yards and finished his career with 43 rushing touchdowns. Listen in to hear historical details first hand as well as some fun stories from his professional and personal life. Notable Quotes: “We look at football now and we see what it looks like, and a lot of what it looks like is a direct result of that game in 1970.” “I truly believe that individually you try to make strides, in whatever neighborhood or community you are in, you try to break it down a little piece at a time.” “With anything you do in life, not just athletic sports, there’s lessons to be learned and hopefully you’re better at it 5- 10 years down the line then you were when you started.” In this episode, you will hear: - The significance of the game Sam played in versus Alabama in 1970 - Sam’s perspective on civil rights and our current climate - How athletics and competition help prepare people for life - What he has done after his football career To see more from Sam, check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dFW5MmJrNs Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/17749415

Ep 41: Dr. Karen Stewart, Clinical Psychologist, on How to Prioritize and Navigate Relationships During the Pandemic 01/20/2021

Ep 41: Dr. Karen Stewart, Clinical Psychologist, on How to Prioritize and Navigate Relationships During the Pandemic How are your relationships doing and how is this pandemic affecting them? Do you feel closer to your partner or is spending so much time together wearing on you both? I’m thrilled to have clinical psychologist, Dr. Karen Stewart, on the show today to discuss the ripple effects the pandemic has had on our society and relationships as a whole. We’ve all had to deal with more stress and challenges, and then add to that, we are around the same people (or possibly by ourselves) for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Karen talks to us about the challenges she has seen people face and some tips to help all of us take care of ourselves and our relationships during this difficult time. Dr. Karen Stewart is a nationally renowned clinical psychologist and featured expert specializing in sexual dysfunction, sexual disorders, relationship counseling and couples issues. She has appeared on numerous media outlets as a featured expert/psychologist discussing sexual therapy, relationship/couples therapy, addiction, stress/anxiety and current events. She practices in two locations in both Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, CA, and virtually. Notable Quotes: “The biggest thing (problem) has been reconnecting with your partner when you are spending 24/7 with them.” “My little FYI for people considering couples therapy, do it before it turns into crisis mode.” “It’s very cliche but communication is key. If there’s something either partner said, talk about it.” “When we are on easy street or we’re comfortable, we don’t excel.” In this episode, you will hear: - Karen’s choice to become a psychologist and how she chose her specialty - How the pandemic is affecting relationships and some tips to help - Advice for people wanting to make positive changes in the new year To connect with Karen: https://www.drkarenstewart.com/ Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/. Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/17535107

Ep 40: Paul Walker on COVID and Its Effect on Youth Sports 01/06/2021

Ep 40: Paul Walker on COVID and Its Effect on Youth Sports Welcome to 2021! To kick off this new year, I have my first return guest on the podcast ever, Paul Walker. If you haven’t listened to Episode 4, go back and take a listen. You will hear all about how he made the choice to sell his successful business of 20 years solely to run a youth soccer organization that helps underprivileged kids. The reason I invited him back is to get his insights on how COVID has impacted not only youth sports but young adults in general. It is appropriate that the title to his previous episode was “Win or Lose, You Always Have to Come Back” as Paul is a fighter. He is able to get through challenging times as he has done in the past with his organization Total Futbol Academy. With COVID and this very challenging time that we have all been going through, it is helpful to hear his perspective of how he is getting through it and what that means to his organization and the kids and young adults he is impacting. Notable Quotes: “Find solutions. Don’t sit around complaining and don’t shut down and don’t fall apart. Find solutions because there are solutions if you just sit down and get creative.” “When I’m feeling stressed out, I know the only way to alleviate that is to come up with solutions, then it puts your mind at ease a bit.” “There’s always a way to fight through, whatever it is, whatever the adversity is. And this is a great lesson for all these kids.” In this episode, you will hear: - The major changes and effects COVID has had on his futbol academy - How he had to get creative to be able to provide training and some normalcy for the youths and their families - Pauls’ choices and how he stays positive during challenging times - The positives and negatives that have come out of COVID for his organization To support Paul’s organization Total Futbol Academy and other resources mentioned in this episode: https://www.totalfutbolacademy.com/page/show/3469083--thank-you- Books: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/17292404

Ep 39: Matt Teter on How To Create Growth and Progress in 2021 12/16/2020

Ep 39: Matt Teter on How To Create Growth and Progress in 2021 For this final episode of 2020, I am excited to have an ideal guest to help us close out the year and bring into 2021 with a bang. Joining me today is Matt Teter who is the Director of Leadership Coaches for more than 50 MAPS (Mega Achievement Productivity Systems) throughout Keller Williams. So basically he coaches people who coach others. So, what does this mean for you? In a time where typically we begin thinking of new year’s resolutions, creating goals, and starting over with a clean slate, Matt brings us practical advice and strategies to help us create and live our best lives yet. He talks about everything from how to “find” your passion, how to set meaningful goals, how to lead during difficult times, his experience in leading with diversity as a priority, and really being a lifelong learner. He even offers us all a challenge so listen all the way to the end! As the Director of Leadership Coaches, Matt is responsible for coordinating the strategy and value for more than 50 MAPS Coaches and over 1500 Leadership Clients throughout Keller Williams. As an active MAPS Leadership Coach he has coached more than 150 Keller Williams leaders for more than 6000 coaching hours. He is an active market center investor, was a former team leader, and is an active real estate investor. He lives with his wife Regina, their dog Miura, and their two cats in Austin, Texas. Notable Quotes: “Sports are one of the greatest examples of what life is all about- in a few hours.” “When something goes wrong, I look for some type of win before the end of the day” “When you ostracize or eliminate a group of people’s ability to make fundamental contributions to the betterment of all of us, you’re eliminating the ability for yourself to live a better life.” “You are going to grow in the direct proportion to the level of discomfort you are willing to tolerate.” In this episode, you will hear: - How Matt approaches and feels about coaching coaches - His view on how sports prepare people for the challenges of life - How to lead during difficult times - The way diversity is shaping leadership and companies for the better - His challenge to us for positive growth and change Connect with Matt and other resources mentioned in this episode: https://www.instagram.com/teter.matthew/ https://www.facebook.com/matthew.teter.1 Books: Pale Rider by Laura Spinney How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/. Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/17140946

Ep 38: Meria Carstarphen on The Effects of Schooling Children in a Pandemic and Possibly the Silver Lining 12/02/2020

Ep 38: Meria Carstarphen on The Effects of Schooling Children in a Pandemic and Possibly the Silver Lining What are the effects that this pandemic is having on our children who are learning virtually? Is this increasing the disparity of quality education among socio-economic levels? What are some of the choices that need to be made? And could there be a silver lining to all of this? Today I am joined by Dr. Meria Carstarphen to discuss her perspective on the schooling of our children during this pandemic. She was most recently the superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools where she was charged with leading the transformation of the district following the largest cheating scandal in the history of public education. Dr. Carstarphen hails from Selma, Alabama, where she was born and raised in a family of four girls. Prior to serving in Atlanta, she was superintendent in other major metropolitan public school districts, including Austin, Texas, and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Not only is Meria an expert in urban education, she is also a “champion for change” and passionate about improving income disparity and creating a better future for those who are living in poverty. This is such a powerful interview that brings a great perspective on how this pandemic may be the crux of how choices can be made that will bring about positive change for our country. Listen in to hear about closing the gap in education, social injustice, and economic disparity. Notable Quotes: “It’s a hard time for everyone. I don’t think any decision is an easy decision.” “We have an opportunity to challenge the way the [public education] system has failed black and brown and poor kids for decades now.” “The silver lining is the opportunity. The opportunity to challenge the old system and build something better for the future.” In this episode, you will hear: - Meria’s choice to take the challenging positions like the APS superintendent position - The difficulties that students and schools are facing during virtual learning and the pandemic - Her perspective on the choices that can be made to close the gap in education, social injustice, and economic disparity Connect with Meria and other resources mentioned in this episode: [email protected] Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE. Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. **This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!** /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/16858256

Ep 37 Natalie Taylor: From Homelessness to Helping Others through Transformational Coach and Paying it Forward 11/11/2020

Ep 37 Natalie Taylor: From Homelessness to Helping Others through Transformational Coach and Paying it Forward How do people rise above their difficult circumstances and build a better life for themselves? My guest today, Natalie Taylor, is sharing how she did it and her journey to overcome. She went from being homeless at age 14 while living in Jamaica to graduating from college in the United States to working on Wall Street. And her struggles did not end there. She continued dealing with the negative effects of her past until she realized that she needed to change her mindset. Now she is paying it forward by helping others who feel stuck in their lives. Her story is beyond incredible and perfectly defines the power of a mindset shift. Natalie is a Life Architect and Transformational Coach who has fought with imposter syndrome her entire life along with the thought that she was undeserving of the success she was creating. She's on a mission to help women succeed in their financial lives, experience positive self-worth, and build confidence. Notable Quotes: “I didn’t understand that you can create a space within you to experience joy.” “Two ways people deal with their upbringing is either run towards it or run away from it. Either way, they still have to deal with it.” In this episode, you will hear: - Natalie’s transformational story from being homeless to becoming a transformational coach - How she dealt with imposter syndrome and what it looked like for her - The importance of mindset and how she helps others transform their lives through a shifting their own Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Natalie and/or book a free call: /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/16478252

Ep 36 The year in review: 12 months of Clear Choices in the books. A retrospective with Rob Aigner 10/28/2020

Ep 35 Andie Kramer and Al Harris: Breaking Through Biases and Stereotypes 10/14/2020

Ep 35 Andie Kramer and Al Harris: Breaking Through Biases and Stereotypes With the recent loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I am honored to have two people on the show who are very much in alignment with her fight for gender equality. Andie Kramer and Al Harris are gender bias experts who have spent the past 30 years combating gender bias through writing, speaking and mentoring. We are talking today about the ways in which women experience bias in the workplace and how these biases hinder their advancement and compensation in their careers. You will hear what choices and changes need to occur for our country to make progress in gender equality and racial equality as well. Andie and Al are the co-authors of two award-winning books: Breaking Through Bias: Communication Techniques for Women to Succeed at Work and It’s Not You, It’s the Workplace: Women’s Conflict at Work and the Bias That Built It. Andie and Al’s writing on communication strategies and gender biases have been widely featured, including in HBR.org, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, and The Chicago Tribune. Andie is also a contributing writer for Forbes.com. Together and separately, Andie and Al speak and lead workshops across the country to help women, men, and organizations overcome the negative effects of gender bias and build healthier, more productive workplaces. “Implicit bias is still a problem and that's what we focus on in our work.” “We need a new approach. We need a new way of attacking gender bias. And that new approach involves not telling people NOT to be biased but it involves finding ways to interrupt biases from career affecting decisions.” In this episode, you will hear: - The difference between explicit and implicit bias and how to tell the difference - What women, men, and organizations can do to decrease gender bias - Andie and Al’s choice to write two books and fight for gender equality Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Andie and Al: /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/16238684

Ep 34 Sue Kern Wendel: Lessons From a Child of a Holocaust Survivor and Why Resilience is Such a Gift 09/30/2020

Ep 34 Sue Kern Wendel: Lessons From a Child of a Holocaust Survivor and Why Resilience is Such a Gift What does resilience mean to you? The online dictionary definition is “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.” While we are all going through difficulties and toughness right now, it is so important to remember that we can choose how we will react to these difficulties. We can choose to recover quickly and exemplify resilience. My guest today, Sue Kern Wendel, tells us how being the daughter of resilient Holocaust survivors has shaped her life and taught her many lessons. The most important, and the one we can learn from now, is that while we may not get to choose what happens to us, we do get to choose how we will react to it. Sue is one of four daughters of Holocaust survivors Alice nee Koppel and Hugo Kohn (changed to Kern in 1955) and of Sighet, Romania and Wopfing, Austria, respectively. Along with her cousin, Diana Lindemann, she is co-coordinator of the Next Generations Group in Portland, Oregon. She holds a BS in Social Service and an MS in Communication from Portland State University. In her free time she runs an Israeli and International folk dance session, currently on Zoom. “I think that as a second generation there was a lot of focus on the trauma. And now there’s a lot of focus on the resilience and I think that is important.” “It’s a choice to focus on the negative, it’s a choice to focus on the positive and when you can understand what each of those choices results in- because you are what you think, you are what you choose. Yes, you can choose to be a victim but what does that result in? And if you choose resilience then I think you’ll have a more satisfying life.” In this episode, you will hear: - Her experience as a daughter of Holocaust survivors - Why she made the choice to pursue creating and coordinating the Next Generations Group - Her advice on the choices you should consider if you are interested in a cause that is close to your heart Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Sue: Sue’s Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/sue.wendel.5 Next Generations Group Facebook Page Alice Kern’s book Tapestry of Hope Alice Kern’s website /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/15947066

Ep 33 Andrew Cushman: From Chemical Engineer to Successful Real Estate Investor and Wealth Builder 09/16/2020

Ep 33 Andrew Cushman: From Chemical Engineer to Successful Real Estate Investor and Wealth Builder As we find ourselves in this new economic era, there is time to be thinking of how to grow your wealth and take advantage of some of the opportunities that may arise. We are joined today by Andrew Cushman, a real estate investment specialist, who is sharing his experience, ideas, and perspective on using real estate investment to build your wealth. The choices he has made over the years (and how he has made them) is super insightful and can help you navigate choices- whether in real estate investment or in everyday life. Andrew is a former chemical engineer who found his entrepreneurial calling in real estate. In 2007, Andrew left his corporate position to start a business in real estate investment, starting off flipping single family properties in Southern California. Sensing a shift in the market, in 2011 Andrew transitioned to multifamily acquisitions and has successfully syndicated and repositioned over 1,800 multifamily units. Outside of the business world, Andrew has been a certified alpine ski instructor and when not working in real estate enjoys surfing, backcountry skiing, and trying to not be outwitted by his two children. “In my opinion, real estate is the surest and the most easily accessible for the everyday American to build wealth.” “Once you make the choice, commit to it and just do it.” In this episode, you will hear: - How Andrew weighed the pros and cons to make the choice to leave his job as a chemical engineer - What syndication is and how he determines what multifamily units to acquire and transform - His perspective and advice on using real estate investment to build wealth Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [email protected] or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/. Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Andrew: https://www.vpacq.com/ The Multifamily Accelerator https://www.vpacq.com/mastermind.html Chart: What Assets Make Up Wealth? https://www.visualcapitalist.com/chart-assets-make-wealth/ /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/15838391

Ep 32: Paul Stretton-Stephens On How a Mindset Coach Can Change Your Life 09/02/2020

Ep 32: Paul Stretton-Stephens On How a Mindset Coach Can Change Your Life Do you find purpose and fulfillment in your life? Most people are looking for ways to get closer to that goal. My guest today has not only helped countless people do so but has also had to overcome a major obstacle in his own life to do so. Are you living out your passion and living with joy? If your answer is no then having a coach may help you. I am excited to have Paul Stretton-Stephens on the show today as he is the first coach I have ever had as a guest. It is great to talk with him about how he helps people, and about how coaches can really transform lives. Paul is a mindset coach, author, and speaker who helps people craft their best future in business, sport, adventure, and life. He has over twenty-five years coaching and teaching experience, and he has worked with a range of individuals from entrepreneurs to celebrities, from CEO’s to military personnel, and from sporting talent to epic adventurers. He takes them from where they are now to where they want to be–and helps them achieve what otherwise would have been considered impossible. He uses his personal life experience in his coaching and knows first hand how to overcome difficult obstacles. He has developed a rare eye disease which has resulted in a significant loss of sight but is still able to pursue his calling and help others. “As coaches, we understand quality questions to get quality answers.” “I think being curious is one of the best attitudes for growth.” In this episode, you will hear: - How Paul helps his clients transform their lives - How he helps people navigate choices - His advice for making choices to create positive change in your life Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Paul: Your Best Self Podcast /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/15730952

Ep 31 Frank King: A Mental Health Comedian Chooses Humor to Get Through Difficult Times 08/19/2020

Ep 31 Frank King: A Mental Health Comedian Chooses Humor to Get Through Difficult Times We have had some heavy subjects to deal with- in our lives, in the world, and on this show. I decided it was time to lighten things up so I am bringing a comedian onto the show. How ironic that I found a mental health comedian, Frank King, and he lives in Springfield, Oregon, home of my Oregon Ducks! Frank King is a Suicide Prevention and Postvention Public Speaker and Trainer, was a writer for The Tonight Show for 20 years, is a Corporate Comedian, syndicated humor columnist, and podcast personality, who was featured on CNN's Business Unusual. Depression and suicide run his family. He's thought about killing himself more times than he can count. He's fought a lifetime battle with depression, and thoughts of ending his life, turning that long dark journey of the soul into a TED Talk, "A Matter of Laugh or Death." During what many of us consider dark times, Frank's perspective can help- and he will definitely make you laugh. “Generally, the comedy, the funny, is in the frustration with whatever the situation happens to be.” “The bottom line is you’re controlling the things you can control, and then letting the rest go.” “I want to make talking about depression and thoughts of suicide as easy as talking about sports or the weather.” In this episode, you will hear: - Frank’s personal battle with depression and how he got into comedy - How he is using his platform and comedy for suicide prevention - The way he is finding humor and taking care of himself during this difficult time Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Frank: See Frank in his TED talks: TED: A Matter of Laugh or Death TED: Born to Be Funny TED: Mental With Benefits TED: Suicide, The Secret of My Success /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/15573440

Ep 30 Dr. Laura Abrams: Making the Clear Choice for Change 08/05/2020

Ep 30 Dr. Laura Abrams: Making the Clear Choice for Change In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, the protests for social change, and the important Black Lives Matter movement, what choices can we make as individual’s and as a society to bring about social justice reform? Joining me today on the podcast is Dr. Laura Abrams, professor of Social Welfare and Department Chair at UCLA. Her studies and focus are on improving the wellbeing of youth and young adults with histories of incarceration. She has a wealth of knowledge and information from her years of research about the juvenile justice system and social inequalities. Today she shares with us her experience and perspective of how our society is failing juveniles in the justice system and also how our society is failing Black people as a whole. She provides hope by giving us advice on how we can all make choices (and they aren’t massive!) that can create a big impact towards social change and equality. Dr. Laura Abrams is the author of many publications including two books: and . “I also try to instill upon my social work students, what an honor it is to be a part of people’s lives at these critical times.” “The big picture is you have a lot of young people that we don’t know how to care for, we don’t know how to help. Then you have a system that generally harms people, and in rare cases, helps you get better but generally makes people worse. And then you have a big public investment in locking up youth because we think somehow that makes us safer. When really those approaches are very damaging for society and young people.” “When you’ve been taught that racism is just an individual attitude, like prejudice, it distorts the whole core of the issue which is inequality.” In this episode, you will hear: - How Laura got into social justice and reform - Her perspective on the problems with the juvenile justice system and the overrepresentation of Black people in the criminal justice system - Laura’s advice on making choices to impact social inequality and justice Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Laura: Twitter: @labramsucla Resources mentioned in this episode: Movie : The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/15398216

Ep 29 Zach Shapiro: A Rabbi Shares His Perspective on Our World’s Current Challenges 07/22/2020

Ep 29 Zach Shapiro: A Rabbi Shares His Perspective on Our World’s Current Challenges With the current pandemic, the economic fallout, the political environment, and the social justice reform movement, we are all living in intense times and facing very difficult challenges. These are challenges that we would have never dreamed that we would face in our lifetime. Joining me today on the podcast to give us some wisdom and perspective on making choices in the face of these challenges is Rabbi Zach Shapiro. Rabbi Shapiro has been the spiritual leader of Temple Akiba in Culver City since 2006. Since his arrival at Temple Akiba, the congregation has experienced growth in numbers and in spirit. Rabbi Shapiro’s mission in life is to bring goodness into the world. This mission guides every aspect of his rabbinate. His weekly blog, “A Moment in Time” reminds us that every day provides opportunities to harness goodness. A native of Boston, Zach received his B.A. in Spanish from Colby College, in Waterville, ME. He has been married to Ron Galperin, Los Angeles City Controller, since their religious ceremony in 2002, and again in a legal ceremony in 2008. They have twin babies, Maya and Eli. “My goal in life was to help bring goodness into the world. And I had the treasures of Judaism to help guide me on that path.” “When you sit down and have a real conversation with someone you don’t see eye to eye with, that’s where real change can begin- because you build these bridges.” In this episode, you will hear: - What caused Zach to make the choice to become a Rabbi - The choices that he has made throughout his life - How he leads and guides others on making choices Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Rabbi Shapiro: /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/15133652

Ep 28 Mary Eberle: DNA Hunter Helping People Navigate their Choices in Solving Family Mysteries 07/08/2020

Ep 28 Mary Eberle: DNA Hunter Helping People Navigate their Choices in Solving Family Mysteries DNA testing has opened a world of amazing possibilities for so many people around the world. From helping adoptees find their birth parents to helping the criminal justice system solve crimes and mysteries. There can be so much joy and self-discovery in DNA testing but these results can also bring up some very important ethical dilemmas forcing critical choices for people to make as per our theme of this show. Joining me today on the podcast to discuss all about DNA testing and those choices that come with it is Mary Eberle. Mary is the founder of DNA Hunters which is a service that helps find birth parents of adoptees and others with unknown parents, grandparents, or other ancestors. After careers as a biotech patent attorney and scientist, Mary uses this background to help solve family mysteries by analyzing DNA test results and genealogy records. Mary discusses the choices that many have to make when going through DNA testing and genealogy. If you have ever considered using DNA testing to help you find out more information about yourself or your family, listen in to hear about some of the aspects and choices you may need to consider around this topic. “The path that I am on is the most rewarding, satisfying, and interesting career choice that I have made.” “When we are asking our cousins, or aunts and uncles, or grandparents to do DNA testing to help us in our genealogy, it’s really important to say ‘Okay, I’ve heard sometimes family secrets can be uncovered and sometimes there are surprises. How would you like me to handle that?’” In this episode, you will hear: - How Mary’s love of DNA/genetics followed her through her different career changes - Some amazing stories of families reunited through DNA testing and genealogy - The dilemmas and choices people have to make when searching for their relatives Coaching Information: If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at or go to our website at . Thank you so much for listening! Please , leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Mary: Website: Facebook: LinkedIn: Instagram: Free download of DNA Roadmap: /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/15060890

Ep 27 Tami Matheny: Mental Game Coach Helping Athletes (and all of us) Build Confidence 06/17/2020

Ep 27 Tami Matheny: Mental Game Coach Helping Athletes (and all of us) Build Confidence Are you a confident person? How do you handle pressure? Stress? Do you have a positive mindset? How is your self-talk? Building confidence and having a positive mindset can have a huge impact on our lives. My guest today, Tami Matheny, is a mental game coach who helps athletes (and non-athletes too!) build confidence to perform on the field and in life to be the best person they can be. Listen in to hear the 4 ways you can start building your confidence today! Tami is the owner of Refuse2LoseCoaching and author of “The Confident Athlete: 4 Easy Steps to Build and Maintain Confidence” and “The Confidence Journal.” She assists people in all walks of life with improved confidence, focus, motivation, mental toughness, leadership, and teamwork. Tami has a passion for helping others build a foundation of confidence. “The thing that I see that affects confidence the most is the comparison.” “We were all made unique and I think that is the beauty of it. And that’s finding the special strengths, the special traits, the special skills that we bring to this world, forget even athletics, but as human beings.” “Your mind is the most important thing you have going for you. I think once we recognize that then let it work for you instead of against you. It is your best friend; then you are going to be happier, more successful, and you’re going to be a magnet. People are going to want to be around you. They are going to want to know- what is it that he or she has.” In this episode, you will hear: - How Tami got into being a mindset coach - The 4 main principles she teaches that build confidence - How these principles can help everyone including non-athletes thrive in their lives Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . Ask questions and get inspired and motivated to make conscious, clear choices! If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Connect with Tami: Website: Instagram: Twitter: and Linkedin: “The Confident Athlete” and “This Is Good” can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or contacting “The Confidence Journal” can be found on Amazon or contacting /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/14683298

Ep 26 Alex Lewis: How a Life Altering Disease Has Made Him a Better Man 06/03/2020

Ep 26 Alex Lewis: How a Life Altering Disease Has Made Him a Better Man Alex Lewis was just a normal guy. He was living in the United Kingdom with his partner and child when his life was turned upside down by disease that permanently altered the course of his life. In 2013, Alex came down with what he thought was a cold but quickly turned into a life-threatening Strep A toxic shock syndrome. In the course of the next several months, Alex had life-saving surgeries to remove all four of his limbs to keep the strep from getting to his heart. He is now living an extraordinary life in a very different body. He is creating and leaving a legacy that is so inspiring and moving, you have to hear him tell it. In today’s day and age, with the pandemic of a virus that has changed our world, Alex’s mindset, fortitude, persistence, and positive attitude is an inspiration to us all. “Once I knew I had love in my corner, once that was made clear to me, I think the rest of it, came very easily.” “We made a choice years ago, Lucy and I, that this wasn’t going to define who we are. You know, the strep, the disability, the loss of limbs, it’s just one part of us as a family.” “When I look at myself in the mirror, what I see looking back at me, I think, do you know what? You’ve done something. You’re making a difference. And I think we all have it within us.” In this episode, you will hear: - His story of overcoming a life-threatening disease and how he not only survived it but thrived - The powerful choices he has made that have propelled him to live an extraordinary life and help others - His message to those who are scared and worried in the midst of the pandemic Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . Ask questions and get inspired and motivated to make conscious, clear choices! If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website . I am also available for speaking engagements. Other resources and links mentioned in this episode: /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/14588267

Ep 25 Brad Klontz: Your Relationship With Money Could Be More Important Than How You Actually Make It 05/20/2020

Ep 25 Brad Klontz: Your Relationship With Money Could Be More Important Than How You Actually Make It How is your relationship with money? Do you hoard it? Feel like you don’t deserve it? Spend too much of it? Gamble it? Don’t understand it? You worship it? Do you think more of it will make you happy? Did you know that how we feel about money directly impacts our current financial situation? With money being the # 1 source of stress in American lives, (and I imagine even more so now with our current pandemic and economic situation) is there anything we can do about it? I am thrilled to be joined by Brad Klontz, a financial psychologist, author of Mind Over Money, and co-founder of Your Mental Wealth. He explains why our relationship with money impacts our current finances and what we can do to transform it. We will hear how he got into this business, the importance of financial literacy and having a good money mindset, and how to alleviate financial stress by improving our relationship with money. With so much chaos, confusion, and complexity around money, especially right now, this message is more important than ever. Dr. Brad Klontz is a financial planner and a financial psychologist. He is a partner of Occidental Asset Management, LLC, co-founder of Your Mental Wealth, and the Financial Psychology Institute. He has a passion for helping individuals and families understand their views on money and to assist them throughout their financial transformation by providing ongoing guidance and financial planning. “Money is the number one source of stress in the lives of Americans.” “Frankly, that’s where happiness comes from, it’s the ability to immerse yourself in the moment, to be present, and enjoy what’s around you.” “There’s always opportunity in the midst of crisis and that’s the mindset that I think is most helpful.” In this episode, you will hear: - How Brad got into this business and how this became his passion - Why Americans have such a hard time with money and what studies show can help - Steps you can take to improve your relationship with money Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend. Find me on Instagram and on . Ask questions and get inspired and motivated to make conscious, clear choices! If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website I am also available for speaking engagements. Other resources and links mentioned in this episode: by Brad Klontz /episode/index/show/clearchoices/id/14389763

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