If you only have a chance to listen to this podcast or meditate, please meditate

Want to be a guest on Inner Skilled? Send Josh Dippold a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/innerskilled

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(Ai assist:) Meet Jaime Schwarz. He's a brand therapist and innovator with a deep background in advertising and psychology. Jaime shares his journey from creative director in ad agencies to founding Brand Therapy, a discipline that helps brands develop a "voice of conscience" aligned with their true purpose. We explore the hypocrisy in traditional storytelling, the evolution of branding in the digital age, and the importance of separating personal identity from the brand. Jaime discusses his nonprofit work with Pro4Bono, ethical considerations in business, and the shift toward human-centric AI through initiatives like the Team Flow Institute. The discussion delves into the IP economy, decentralized ownership, and his project Mrkd DJ, which uses NFTs and blockchain to empower creators with digital rights and royalties. Jaime emphasizes Prosumerism – producing and adding value as consumers – as a path to escaping consumerism and building a legacy in an AI-driven world. This episode blends practical branding advice with philosophical insights on innovation, ethics, and the future of creativity.

[partial chapter markers:]

0:00 The Power of Personal Brands

1:41 Background in Advertising & Brand Therapy

4:01 From Mad Men to Hypocrisy in Storytelling

7:47 Crash Course in Branding: Why, How, What

13:00 Humanizing Brands & Building Relationships

19:03 Brand Therapy & AI Integration

21:42 Birthing a Brand: Cutting the Umbilical Cord

23:39 Tools for Brand Building: Ikigai & Success Stacks

26:53 Strategy Origins & Moving Beyond Consumerism

29:40 Nonprofits Meet Business: Pro4Bono, Purpose

32:59 Activating Resistance

35:33 Vetting Ethics

41:06 Infinite Games & Long-Term

43:18 Humanizing Companies

48:59 AI in the Loop: Human-Centric Corporations

51:03 Team Flow: Parameters for Collective Success

55:28 Collective Intelligence Tools

59:32 Collectivism vs. Individualism

1:06:49 Reclaiming Ownership: IP ID, the IP Economy

1:12:10 Sovereign Media and Enforceable Rights

1:18:00 IP Economy to Reward Creators

1:20:40 Micro Payments and Automated Royalties

1:23:41 Sampling, Fair Use, Co-Creation

1:26:53 Decoupling Music from Objects: NFTs, Physical Media

1:29:50 From Streaming to Ownership: Thousand True Fans

1:32:02 Outro: The IP Economy Book and Prosumerism

https://brandtherapy.coach

https://jaimeschwarz.com

https://teamflow.institute

https://mrkd.dj and https://mrkddj.com

xrsi.org

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeschwarz

parallelworlds.us

https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action

@Andrewism

M-Pesa

Speed of Trust

Want to be a guest on Inner Skilled? Send Josh Dippold a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/innerskilled

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Note: Apologies for the few moments of echo]

(Ai assist:) As a teenager, Laura Bratton was diagnosed with a rare, still-unnamed eye disease that left her completely blind. What followed was intense grief, depression, panic attacks, and the terrifying question: “How do I keep going?”

In this raw and uplifting conversation Laura shares how she refused to let blindness define or defeat her. She reveals the turning points that rebuilt her life:

- Permission to grieve for a lifetime while still moving forward

- The unexpected power of family, friends, and community who treated her exactly the same

- Discovering mindfulness and learning to observe (not fuse with) painful thoughts

- Cultivating genuine gratitude—not for blindness itself, but for the tools that helped her navigate it

- Redefining “grit” as acknowledging emotions and choosing courage anyway

0:00 Introduction & Welcome – Meet Laura Bratton

0:12 Who Is Laura? Speaker, Coach, Author on Grit & Gratitude

0:55 Laura's Story: Becoming Totally Blind as a Teenager

1:49 The Undiagnosed Rare Eye Disease – Initial Reactions

2:18 From Denial → Intense Grief, Depression & Panic Attacks

4:02 The Lifelong Grieving Process – Permission to Grieve Forever

5:20 Grieving & Moving Forward Can Coexist

7:31 Support Systems: Actions Over Words (Parents, Brother, Community)

9:53 Healthy Interdependence vs. Independence in Grief

11:22 Common Misconceptions & Funny Reactions to Blindness

12:36 Discovering Mindfulness – Resistance to Transformation

14:18 Game-Changer: Observing Thoughts Without Becoming Them

15:52 Body Scan, Tension Release & Listening to the Body

19:00 Breath Awareness – Diaphragmatic Breathing for Anxiety

20:19 Integrating Mindfulness into Daily Life (Slow Reminders)

21:09 Eyes Closed vs. Open in Meditation – Inner vs. Outer World

24:19 Daily Gratitude Practice – Starting Small & Stubbornly

26:03 Cultivating Gratitude Mindset (Not Gratitude for the Pain)

27:52 Reframing: Grateful for Resources to Navigate Difficulty

29:24 Authenticity in Affirmations – Aspiration Over Delusion

31:23 Defining Grit: Courage to Feel & Keep Going Anyway

33:54 Acknowledging Pain Without Judgment – Self-Compassion Practice

36:57 Extending Compassion to Others After Giving It to Yourself

39:13 We're Not Alone – Universal Human Emotions Connect Us

41:15 Peaks & Valleys of Life – Nothing Lasts Forever

42:10 Where to Find Laura: Website, Book & Speaking

43:03 Book Spotlight: Harnessing Courage – Story + Tools for Adversity

44:56 Final Message: You Are Enough – Harnessing Courage Every Day

Author of Harnessing Courage and a sought-after speaker and coach, Laura now teaches organizations and individuals how to face massive change with grit and gratitude. Her message is universal: no matter what life takes from you, you are still enough—and you can keep going.

A deeply human episode about loss, resilience, mindfulness, and the courage to feel it all.

LauraBratton.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bratton-speaking

Want to be a guest on Inner Skilled? Send Josh Dippold a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/innerskilled

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(ai assist:) Melissa Monty shares her raw journey from a charmed life to rock bottom: sexual assault, suicide loss, dad's death, bulimia, party drugs, and a felony arrest tied to her con-man boyfriend's meth-fueled jewelry theft ring. What started as luxury lies ended in courtroom devastation—but became her greatest gift.

Discover how Melissa broke free through narrative rewriting:

Drama Triangle Traps: Victim, rescuer, persecutor shifts.

Self-Deception Exposed: Law of reflection & red-flag addiction.

Spiral Growth: Matt Kahn's staircase vs. hamster wheel.

Religious Deconstruction: Hell myths, Eleusinian mystery schools, Gnostic texts.

Science of Story: Narrative identity (Dan McAdams) + epiphany bridge marketing.

ADHD as Superpower & miscarriage healing without victimhood.

The Game-Changer: Melissa's 7-Step Framework (Hero's Journey on steroids):

Algorithm: Unpack your subconscious loop.

Disruption: The shock that breaks it.

Awakening: See the pattern clearly.

Resistance: Face fears & sabotage.

Choice: Commit to change.

Embodiment: Live the new you.

Gold: Extract wisdom to serve others.

Perfect for trauma survivors, coaches, podcasters, or anyone stuck repeating cycles. Melissa reveals how to consciously create vs. unconsciously repeat—turning pain into purpose, business, or awakening.

Key Takeaway: "You are always creating. Choose conscious intention over default algorithms."

https://MindLove.com

https://instagram.com/mindlovemelissa

https://tiktok.com/@mindlovemelissa

0:00 Welcome & Melissa's Intro

0:32 Charmed Life to Trauma Spiral

1:03 Sexual Assault, Suicide, Dad's Death

1:39 Party Girl Mask & Self-Destruction

2:45 Numbing with Alcohol, Bulimia, Drugs

3:06 Luxury Lies: Meeting the Con Man

3:50 Meth Addiction & Hawaii Escape

4:05 Arrest: Stolen Jewelry Bust

5:04 Courtroom Victims & Felony Plea

6:42 Turning Point: Seeing the Algorithm

7:20 Rewriting Your Narrative (Core Work)

7:45 Drama Triangle: Victim, Rescuer, Persecutor

9:29 Self-Deception & Law of Reflection

11:50 LA Stalking & False Healing Trap

13:27 Spiral Growth vs. Hamster Wheel

15:29 View vs. Narrative: Agency in Perspective

16:40 Controlling the Narrative (Power Structures)

18:16 Internet Marketing Win & VP Rise

20:18 Purpose Inquiry: What Lights You Up?

22:31 ADHD as Superpower

23:51 Religious Deconstruction & Hell Myth

25:54 Eleusinian Mysteries: Story as Tech

27:17 Narrative Identity Science

28:28 Epiphany Bridge: Sell Transformation

29:10 Buddhist Mind: Words Shape Reality

31:50 Letting Go of Narrative? (À La Carte Living)

34:01 Labels as Cages: Evolve Your Story

36:49 Miscarriage Trauma: Choosing Meaning

40:31 7-Step Framework Overview

42:09 Step 1: The Algorithm (Your Loop)

43:39 Step 2: Disruption (The Shock)

44:15 Step 3: Awakening (Fog Lifts)

44:47 Step 4: Resistance (Fear Phase)

45:35 Step 5: Choice (Commit to Change)

46:01 Step 6: Embodiment (Live It)

47:11 Step 7: The Gold (Extract Wisdom)

48:25 Real Results: Coaches & Transformations

49:07 Thanks & Contact: MindLove.com

50:39 Final Message: Create Consciously

53:00 Closing Blessings

Want to be a guest on Inner Skilled? Send Josh Dippold a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/innerskilled

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(Ai assist:) David Deighton and I explore the intersection of art, politics, and human connection. David shares his journey as an abstract artist who engages strangers in public spaces to discuss sometimes taboo topics like politics. We get into the limitations of free speech zones, the importance of active listening, and the transformative power of art in fostering dialogue while also touching on disillusionment with traditional politics, the role of AI in communication, and the future of human interaction in a digital age.

00:00 Introduction to David Deighton and His Work

02:28 Exploring the Concept of Free Speech Zones

06:41 Engaging in Political Conversations with Strangers

11:50 The Power of Listening and Finding Common Ground

17:54 Transformative Experiences in Conversations

24:00 Reflections on the Current State of Politics

30:02 Artistic Practices and Personal Growth

30:54 Transformational Listening and Self-Discovery

32:02 Disillusionment and the Search for Meaning

34:44 The Impact of Digital Communication

37:38 The Power of Direct Human Interaction

39:00 The Role of AI in Modern Communication

41:42 The Future of Political Engagement

45:52 The Dangers of AI and Authenticity

49:40 The Importance of Compassion and Community

52:27 The Power of Personal Connection

55:34 Closing Thoughts and Future Endeavors

Takeaways:

• David Deighton is an abstract artist focused on fostering conversations about politics.
• He engages with strangers in public spaces to discuss taboo topics non-confrontationally.
• Free speech zones are often limited and can restrict genuine dialogue.
• Listening actively is crucial for meaningful conversations and finding common ground.
• Art can serve as a medium to facilitate discussions on difficult subjects.
• Disillusionment with politics can lead to a search for alternative solutions.
• AI's role in communication raises concerns about authenticity and human connection.
• The importance of face-to-face interactions in a digital age is emphasized.
• Transformative experiences can arise from engaging with others on sensitive topics.
• Small acts of political engagement can have a significant impact on society.

"Let's do the hardest one."

"Free speech should be anywhere, right?"

"Courage and kindness are core values."

https://youtube.com/@triptych-dialogue

https://www.instagram.com/triptych_dialogue

Want to be a guest on Inner Skilled? Send Josh Dippold a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/innerskilled

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Note: I appreciate Jennifer taking and responding well to some hard and heavier questions

(Ai assist:) This thoughtful and wide-ranging talk features Jennifer Edwards, founder and CEO of Breakthrough Financial Wellness. We explore the deeper emotional, psychological, and philosophical dimensions of our relationship with money, moving far beyond basic financial literacy.

Jennifer defines true financial health not as hitting specific savings goals, but as living with awareness, mindfulness, and alignment—free from constant regret and conscious of the external forces shaping our financial lives. We discuss money as a "store of energy" that should flow (currency), the role of generosity, childhood money beliefs, and the illusion of ultimate security in a trust-based fiat system.

The discussion expands into broader societal issues: the history of currency, fractional reserve banking, the fragility of modern financial systems, building real security through community rather than just wealth accumulation, ethical living, consumerism as numbing, and even touches on non-violence, fear-driven geopolitics, and living in alignment with core values. Jennifer emphasizes her 7-layer framework for financial wellness and the importance of conscious choices within an imperfect system.

The episode ends on an uplifting note about personal contribution, cumulative positive impact, and accepting limitations while striving to live skillfully.

**Key Themes**: Mindful money relationship, money as energy, systemic flaws in finance, security vs. illusion, generosity, ethical living, consciousness over accumulation.

https://breakthroughfinancialwellness.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-edwards-cfp

0:00 Introduction and Welcome

0:17 Who Is Jennifer Edwards? Founder of Breakthrough Financial Wellness

0:36 Healing Your Relationship with Money: Beyond Just Literacy

1:46 What Does True Financial Health Look Like?

2:06 Living Mindfully: Awareness, Consciousness, and Alignment with Money

3:20 Money as Energy: A Store of Value That Needs to Flow

5:22 Generosity, Circulation, and Why Money Isn't the Root of Happiness

8:45 Childhood Beliefs About Money and Writing Your Own Obituary

10:19 The Origins of Currency: From Barter to Fiat Money

12:32 Building Real Security in an Unpredictable System

15:03 Retirement, Nest Eggs, and the Illusion of Total Independence

17:20 Community vs. Monetary Resources: Preparing for Collapse Scenarios

19:23 Off-Grid Living, Homesteading, and the Limits of "Exiting" the System

22:04 Land Ownership, Taxes, and Historical Trust Issues

24:44 Cultural Values: Independence vs. Family Support in Old Age

26:06 Caregiving, Struggle, and Why Humans Need Challenge (Anti-Fragility)

29:33 Amassing Wealth for Big Projects Without Traditional Debt

31:48 Private Equity, Accredited Investors, and Crowdfunding Alternatives

36:15 Freedom vs. Security: The Eternal Human Tension

38:23 Fear, Trust, and the Cycle of Exploitation in Society

40:11 Non-Violence, Conscience, and Living by Your Values

44:22 Ethical Dilemmas: WWII Lessons and the 2008 Financial Crisis

46:58 Future of Money: Crypto, AI, Cashless Society, and Trust Again

48:37 Adding Consciousness to Your Money Relationship (7-Layer Framework)

50:08 Closing Thoughts: Your Unique Contribution and Cumulative Impact

51:21 Where to Find Jennifer: Breakthrough Financial Wellness Programs

Want to be a guest on Inner Skilled? Send Josh Dippold a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/innerskilled

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.