Manders Mindset

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What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want... is the courage to simply begin?

Three years ago, I published the very first episode of Manders Mindset using nothing but my iPhone. I didn't have a microphone, a fancy setup, or a perfect plan. I just had an idea and the willingness to start. Looking back, I'm so grateful I did, because this journey has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined.

In this special three-year anniversary episode, I'm reflecting on the three biggest lessons podcasting has taught me. From learning that confidence is built through action, to discovering that authenticity creates deeper connections than perfection ever could, to realizing that the things we create often end up shaping us in return, I'm sharing the lessons that have stayed with me over the past three years. I'm also taking a moment to thank the incredible people and every one of you, who have made Manders Mindset possible along the way.

💡 In this episode, you'll learn:

💜 Why you don't have to feel ready to take the first step.
🎙️ How confidence is built through action not before it.
🤍 Why authenticity will always connect more deeply than perfection.
🌱 How the things you create often end up transforming you in return.
🙏 The importance of gratitude and celebrating the people who support your journey.
🚀 Why this might be the sign you've been waiting for to finally begin.

⏰ Timeline Summary:

[0:00] Celebrating three years of Manders Mindset and reflecting on how it all began with nothing more than an iPhone.
[1:40] The first lesson I've learned: Confidence
[3:45] Why authenticity, not perfection, is what truly resonates with people.
[5:45] How creating this podcast has changed my life in ways I never expected.
[7:35] Thanking the people who helped make this journey possible and expressing my gratitude to every listener.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

Feedback on the show? Send us a message!

What if the most important work you'll ever do... is the work no one else can see?

In this inspiring episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo welcomes back former Australian Special Forces commando, speaker, and founder of Breathwork In Bed, Tim Thomas, for a thought-provoking conversation about the invisible habits that shape our lives, the power of taking imperfect action, and why true transformation always begins from within.

Building on themes from Tim's first appearance, Amanda and Tim explore how the challenges you've overcome often become the greatest gift you can offer someone else. Together, they discuss why so many people feel stuck, how isolation quietly impacts mental health, and why reconnecting with yourself is often the first step toward creating meaningful change.

Throughout the conversation, Tim shares lessons from overcoming PTSD, explains the different personality archetypes that influence how we show up in the world, discusses the concept of becoming an "energetic millionaire," and reveals why the habits no one else sees are often the ones that determine every visible result. Amanda also reflects on her experiences traveling to Bali, embracing imperfect action, and learning that growth isn't about having everything figured out...it's about continuing to move forward.

💡 In this episode, listeners will learn:
💜 Why taking imperfect action creates more growth than waiting for the perfect moment.
🧠 How the invisible habits you practice every day shape the life you experience.
🌱 Why connection... to yourself and to others is one of the greatest foundations for healing.
✨ How understanding your natural tendencies can help you break old patterns and grow into the best version of yourself.
🤍 Why your greatest struggles may become the exact thing that helps someone else feel less alone.
🌬️ How breathwork can help create greater clarity, resilience, and inner peace.
🚀 Why investing in yourself first allows you to show up more fully in every area of your life.

⏰ Timeline Summary:
[1:15] Amanda shares why taking imperfect action has become one of the biggest lessons shaping both her life and podcast.
[4:00] Amanda reflects on traveling to Bali, embracing uncertainty, and discovering the value of imperfect action.
[9:00] Tim introduces personality archetypes and explains how understanding them can reveal the patterns that keep us stuck.
[21:00] The conversation explores PTSD, isolation, human connection, and why feeling understood is often where healing begins.
[33:30] Tim shares the life-changing question that transformed his perspective and inspired his life's work.
[44:30] Becoming an "energetic millionaire," investing in yourself daily, and using Breathwork to reconnect with your inner resources.
[56:45] Why performance is a visible result of an invisible process and how unseen habits create the results everyone notices.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

These links are for those people who want immediate and natural sleep improvement; They’re for Tim’s -  ‘Breathwork in Bed’ app.

The app will guide you to sleep with peace, and out of bed with power. Enjoy it for 28 days of great sleep for free. 

Apple link: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6575362285?pt=127061224&ct=BIB50K&mt=8  

Google Link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.breathworkinbed.bibsleepapp20&hl=en

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What if the hardest thing you've ever faced became the very thing that revealed how strong you truly are?

In this episode of Manders Mindset, Amanda Russo sits down with author, speaker, coach, and founder of Ubi Global, Laura Bratton, for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, self-compassion, grief, and discovering the courage to move forward after life changes in an instant.

At just nine years old, Laura was diagnosed with a rare eye disease and told she would eventually lose her sight. Over the following years, she navigated the emotional challenges of losing her vision, grieving the life she once knew, and learning to embrace a new reality. Together, Amanda and Laura explore how those experiences shaped Laura's mindset and ultimately led her to dedicate her life to helping others navigate change with grit and gratitude.

The conversation dives into identity, anxiety, healing, mindfulness, self-worth, and the importance of validating your emotions instead of pushing them aside. Laura shares why courage isn't about pretending everything is okay, how gratitude can exist alongside grief, and why every person is capable of finding strength they never knew they had.

💡 In this episode, listeners will learn:
💜 Why true courage begins with acknowledging your pain instead of avoiding it.
🌱 How grief, healing, and gratitude can coexist.
🧠 Why your mindset is one of the few things you can always control.
✨ How practicing self-compassion can transform the way you respond to life's challenges.
🤍 The impact of feeling invisible and how to rebuild your sense of self-worth.
🚀 Why everyone has more resilience than they realize.
💫 Why validating your emotions is often the first step toward lasting growth.

⏰ Timeline Summary:
[2:10] Laura shares her childhood and the early signs that she was beginning to lose her vision.
[8:45] Receiving a life-changing diagnosis and how her family navigated the uncertainty.
[17:30] Growing up with vision loss, adapting to school, and struggling with feeling different.
[27:40] Feeling invisible in high school and rebuilding self-worth through self-compassion.
[38:15] College, mindfulness, and discovering the power of mindset and advocacy.
[49:20] Laura explains the balance between grit and gratitude and why both are essential for healing.
[58:40] Writing her book, helping others navigate change, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Laura:

Website: https://www.laurabratton.com/

Feedback on the show? Send us a message!

What happens when life strips away the identity that once defined everything?

In this powerful conversation, Brian Nugent shares the remarkable journey that took him from professional football to becoming a performance coach after facing life-changing adversity. Along the way, he opens up about the hidden pressures of elite performance, navigating burnout, and rebuilding purpose after major setbacks.

From surviving septic shock and recovering from a devastating stroke to discovering a deeper understanding of resilience, discipline, and healing, Brian offers powerful insights on overcoming life's greatest challenges. This conversation is filled with perspective, practical wisdom, and a reminder that even the hardest seasons can become the foundation for a stronger future.

💡 In this episode, listeners will discover:

🏈 The hidden mental and emotional cost of performing at an elite level
🧠 Why identity can unravel after a major life or career transition
💪 How discipline, not motivation became the foundation for recovery
❤️ Lessons learned from surviving septic shock and a life-altering stroke
🌍 The powerful perspective shift that came from serving in Kenya
🔥 Why burnout often develops long before anyone notices the signs
🌱 How resilience is built through small, consistent actions during life's hardest moments
✨ What it truly means to reclaim purpose, health, and personal power after adversity

⏰ Timeline Summary:

[2:14] Brian reflects on the qualities that define him and how life experiences shaped his mindset.
[6:41] Growing up in a competitive household and the lessons learned from childhood.
[13:48] The reality of becoming a professional football player and learning to manage immense pressure.
[20:23] A life-changing trip to Kenya and the powerful lesson that shifted Brian's perspective forever.
[26:48] Life after football, navigating an identity crisis, and rebuilding confidence after retirement.
[39:17] The journey from personal trainer to performance coach and helping high-achieving women overcome burnout.
[52:04] Surviving septic shock, recovering from a major stroke, and the discipline required to reclaim life one step at a time.

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Brian:

http://www.briannugent.ca

Feedback on the show? Send us a message!

What happens after you begin finding your voice?

In Part 2 of Amanda Russo's conversation with visibility and embodiment coach, speaker, author, and Dance to Heal podcast host Jenny C. Cohen, the conversation continues with an even deeper look into healing, resilience, and the life-changing lessons that emerged through some of Jenny's greatest challenges.

Jenny shares her breast cancer journey, the realities of navigating menopause, chronic stress, and women's health, while also opening up about parenting through difficult seasons, supporting her children unconditionally, and learning to advocate for herself after years of putting everyone else first. Together, Amanda and Jenny explore how our hardest experiences can become catalysts for growth, why healing is an ongoing process, and what it truly means to choose yourself without guilt.

From difficult diagnoses to personal transformation, this conversation is filled with wisdom, hope, and practical reminders that healing isn't about becoming someone new—it's about returning to who you've always been.

Sometimes the greatest act of courage isn't surviving what happened to you—it's deciding that your story can become someone else's hope. ✨

💡 In this episode, listeners will discover:

💜 Jenny's breast cancer journey and the lessons it taught her about resilience
🩺 Why women need to become stronger advocates for their own health
🌱 How boundaries, self-worth, and healing continue to evolve over time
❤️ The power of supporting loved ones through life's biggest transitions
🧠 Why therapy and self-awareness can transform the healing process
✨ How embracing authenticity creates confidence and lasting change
🌟 The importance of choosing yourself without guilt

⏰ Timeline Summary:

[2:00] Jenny shares her breast cancer diagnosis and how it changed her perspective on life
[8:15] Women's health, menopause, and why self-advocacy matters
[17:20] Navigating IVF, motherhood, and raising her children through life's challenges
[28:10] Supporting her children with unconditional love and acceptance
[39:40] The role therapy played in healing childhood trauma and complex PTSD
[50:15] Turning adversity into purpose and embracing visibility with confidence
[57:30] Jenny's final reflections on resilience, healing, and living authentically

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

Follow & Support the Podcast:

📱Instagram: @MandersMindset
👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

To Connect with Jenny: 

Website: https://movetobloom.com/