The Shift To Freedom Podcast

podast logo

Episode 101

8 Simple Choices for a Problem-Free Business

Do you ever feel tired of doubting your decision making? Wish you had more confidence, better boundaries, or more work-life balance?

Tuning in to this episode will give you important insight into something you might not have considered yet… your mindset.

In this episode we cover essential mindset transformations for business owners. Discover how making eight simple yet profound choices can amplify your personal power and efficacy in your business, helping you overcome overwhelm, people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure.

Listen to discover the 8 simple choices you can make to create a problem-free business. You will learn exactly how to take control of your thoughts and actions to manifest the business reality you’ve always desired.

Episode 100

MVP: How To Acknowledge We’ve Been Riding the Bike On Our Own

Every time we are about to take a big step, and we question ourselves if we are on the right track or making the right choice, where does that voice come from? Is it fear of failure? Is it self-doubt, our gut waving at us, trying to stop us from making a mistake, or is it just us getting in our way? 

In this MVP episode, I’m joined by Sophie Weill to identify where this voice comes from, how to avoid falling into a plateau in our personal and professional growth, determine if we are making decisions out of fear or love, and identify self-doubt’s red flags.

Together, we discuss the importance of recognizing the authority and autonomy over our life choices and the need to stop seeing failure as an end and understand it as part of every process. We also explore the concept of externalizing authority, building external and internal self-trust mechanisms, and developing the strength to be ready to face the risk and the consequences of our actions.

Episode 99

MVP: Getting Comfortable In Our Zone of Genius

In this MVP episode, we talk about the zone of genius with Sophie Weill, Founder of the PR Agency Nude Nation Relations and host of the Active Ingredient podcast. 

Together, we unravel this fascinating topic. We delve into what is the zone of genius, why it is often related to the Japanese “Ikigai” concept, and what we can do to operate 100% of the time in it. 

We discuss what it takes to hone the skills that belong to our zone of genius, why we feel miserable when we spend too much time out of it, and why, by doing this, we end up blocking others from accessing their own. We also differentiate zone of genius from zone of excellence, analyze the “know every moving part of your company” business model, and introduce the concept of enrolling as an upgrade of the word, delegating.

Episode 98

MVP: Building an Unbreakable Mindset

In this MVP episode, Ben and Clayton have a conversation about mindsets, experiences, egos, and uncertainty in life. A lot of us experience adversity and multiple challenges in our everyday life. It is up to us to be resilient and look forward to a brighter tomorrow. In this episode, Ben and Clayton focus on anti-fragility, its definition, and its various concepts.

Episode 97

MVP:

Surrendering Ourselves To the River Flow of Reality

Ironically, acceptance is one of the most resisted concepts when it comes to wrapping our minds around it. It’s an idea that is hard to grasp without confusing it with something else like tolerance, resignation, or agreement. 

In this MVP episode, Clayton and I talk about one of the radical shifts we can make to change our world: radical acceptance. We delve into why it is so hard to connect with radical acceptance and embrace it in the present moment without feeling we are losing something. 

Together, we uncover the several meanings we tend to attribute to acceptance that doesn’t necessarily describe what it is and how it can serve us. We pay attention to the language we use to describe acceptance and get in touch with how those words land within ourselves and make us feel. We also go through some practical and philosophical ways to embrace acceptance in the present moment and learn how to be friends with the things we want to change in ourselves and the world around us.

Episode 96

MVP: Just One More Shot! I’ve Only Failed A Thousand Times

Although success and failure are antonyms, in practice, they are complementary. In any endeavor, failing is the most logical way to reach success. The truth is that accomplishing something we want badly has more to do with the will to succeed than how and how many times we fail at trying. 

In this MVP episode, we discuss radical commitment, the only tool we need to go through, manage, and conquer anything we put our minds into. We analyze the power of radical commitment, go through the four steps to choosing it to be our opt-out to failure, and learn how to put failure in perspective and change our perceptions about it. In addition, we explore and understand why sometimes it is so hard to commit to something.

Episode 95

MVP: Freeing Ourselves from the Imposter Syndrome

Most entrepreneurs, especially those who reach a certain level of success, sooner or later experience a sense of disbelief in their abilities and unworthiness of what they’ve accomplished; they feel like a fraud.

These feelings are best known as imposter syndrome. Although we are beings having human experiences, and it’s completely normal to feel like this, there are ways to mitigate these sensations and slowly but surely, erase them from our system.

In this MVP episode, Ben explores why we experience imposter syndrome and why it’s so common among successful people. The “curse of knowledge” and its role in creating the feeling of unworthiness, and practical ways to deal with it are also covered.

Our world is shaped by what we are looking for, let’s not overlook the importance of celebrating our wins and appreciating our progress.

Episode 94

MVP: How Would You Operate If You Were Already There

Approaching every aspect of life as a zero-sum game not only adds unnecessary pressure, but it chops off our creativity and forces us to operate from a scarcity mindset. 

In this MVP episode, I’m joined by Clayton Olson to talk about the limitations of having a zero-sum game mindset, how it impacts our professional and personal lives, and how to avoid being trapped in it.   

Our conversation revolves around how we are socially conditioned to operate from a zero-sum game mindset, the debilitating and daunting tendency of setting external mile markers, and the distinction between what we need and what we want. We also touch on how the zero-sum game mindset affects our sentimental, professional, and personal lives and what are the most effective motivators to reach our goals.

In addition, Clayton shares a powerful framework to transform external mile markers into internal ones by celebrating small victories and focusing on the path behind us. 

Episode 93

MVP:

Setting Boundaries: A Key to a Meaningful Life

Clayton and Ben are back with a MVP episode and this time they’re talking about the importance of boundaries. Setting boundaries is key to having a meaningful life. They allow you to create space for the things that matter most to you. They protect your relationships. They save you time.

But it can be difficult to set boundaries with other people. We want to be liked, we don’t want to rock the boat. We’re afraid of what other people might think or say. So how do we find the balance between building solid relationships and protecting what’s important?

Episode 92

MVP:

The New Prescription for People Pleasing: From Vibe to Tribe

“People pleasing brings a ton of limitations and really gets in the way of us being able to create adult relationships where there’s vulnerability, authenticity, transparency, and a resilience in the connection where both people can be seen and actually loved,” explains co-host Clayton Olson. If you have a tendency toward people pleasing, you are likely not being your authentic self and may even be struggling to find your tribe. Truthfully, it takes a lot of inner work to reverse the childhood conditioning that reinforces people pleasing behaviors, but it is worth it to build better relationships. In this MVP episode, co-host Clayton Olson and I talk about why people pleasing exists and how to stop people pleasing and start forming more authentic relationships. 

When we are children, we rely on the relationship with our caregivers for everything. This means that we tend to learn pretty quickly that it works in our favor to try to please them. However, this type of relationship is very unbalanced and doesn’t work in adulthood. If we constantly try to please everyone, we can never show our true selves. And instead of attracting our tribe, we will attract the tribe that fits the false self that we created to please others. In order to stop people pleasing and start living authentically, we must figure out what our own principles are and stick to them. 

People pleasing can be a really problematic tendency for many people because it is a survival technique we learn in childhood. Even though people pleasing may seem harmless, it tends to lead to resentment, poor boundaries, and inauthentic relationships. 

Episode 91

MVP: Dealing with Unworthiness’ Sneaky Ways

Unworthiness is a layered and complex feeling; it can also be manifested in different ways, from overworking ourselves to exhaustion, imposter syndrome, or paralysis. 

In this MVP episode, Clayton Olson helps me unravel unworthiness’ tricky ways. We learn about the concept of worthiness, how it might be showing up in our lives, and what we can do to reverse unworthiness symptoms and effects. 

Throughout our conversation, we analyze some of the typical responses to feeling unworthy, like overworking or procrastination, their origin, and what they are trying to protect us from. Clayton shares Richard Schwartz’s fascinating view of humans as a constellation of parts. We take a deeper look at these parts separately, unravel their original intentions, and figure out why they might not be helping us move forward. 

Episode 90

MVP: Using Language to Create Your Life Part 2

In this MVP (most valuable podcast) we cover the following… If you’re like me, you love learning new things that can help you in your life. If you haven’t caught last week’s Shift to Freedom yet, we talked all about how to use empowering language to create the life you love. But there were just too many for one episode!

That’s why I’m excited to share with you the latest episode. In this episode, we discuss four more of the most common language patterns of limiting beliefs and how you can talk to yourself instead.

Episode 89

MVP: Using Language to Create Your Life Part 1

In this MVP (most valuable podcast) we cover the following… We’ve all heard “glass half full/empty” as an analogy for optimism and pessimism. But really think about it for a second. When you are looking at the glass as half-full, you have a genuinely different perspective on the world than when you are seeing it as half-empty.

There are lots of different ways that we can use language that accidentally limit our possibilities in the world. It might sound minor, but I can’t stress the impact of this enough.

Empowering language is one of the master keys to creating the life you want. It can be the difference between feeling stuck and feeling motivated, between feeling victimized and feeling empowered.

Episode 88

Changing Seasons and Exciting Shifts

In this episode of The Shift to Freedom podcast, host Ben Easter announces an upcoming break where no new podcasts will be released for a few weeks. During this period, the team will focus on reimagining, reinvigorating, and re-envisioning the podcast to better cater to your needs, without changing its core purpose. Listeners are encouraged to revisit previous episodes during this break, and can look forward to a reinvigorated podcast upon return.

Episode 87

How to Increase Power and Influence as a Leader

You might have heard of attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, etc.), but did you know that your attachment style can impact your abilities as a leader?

In this episode, hosts Ben Easter and Clayton Olson explore how our attachment styles, originating from early relationships with caregivers, can significantly impact our leadership styles and interpersonal relationships.

They dissect the core beliefs, strengths, weaknesses, and impact of anxious, avoidant, secure, and disorganized attachment styles on leadership. The discussion provides practical tips for accepting your current style as well as shifting towards a secure leadership style, encouraging greater flexibility and adaptability.

Listen in to gain insights into your leadership style and learn how to level up your relationship skills for a healthier working environment.

 

Episode 86

Self-Trust and the Importance of Authenticity and Alignment

In this episode of The Shift to Freedom podcast, we discuss the notion of self-trust and how it contributes to our general well-being and success in life. We explore the issues of identity, positive self-talk, decision making, and overcoming struggles by cultivating self-trust. We propose several strategies to build your confidence, perceive reality in a more resourceful way, and navigate life using your core values and intrinsic desires. Try on the lens of maintaining optimism and being open to all possibilities, regardless of the challenges you encounter.

 

Episode 85

Using Mental Models to Make Better Decisions with Spencer Cox

For a lot of business owners, business feels complicated, unclear, and disorganized. Founders end up spending a lot of time outside of their zone of genius.

In this episode, I talked with Spencer Cox, founder of CoachOS, about mental models that can help you streamline, simplify, and generally joy-ify your relationship with your business.

Tune in to this conversation to get yourself some high-leverage insights for when you’re thinking about your business operations.

Episode 84

Real-World Magic for Non-Believers

‘Magic’ is about thinking beyond conventional boundaries. It’s about creating awareness of the hidden forces at work that shape outcomes and the verbal ‘spells’ you cast with how you talk about your business and life. And even finding inspiration in appreciating the magic of the mundane.

In this episode, we explore the concept of magic in everyday life and the power of ‘make believe’ to enhance the way you feel about your business and life, get unstuck, and achieve better results.

Episode 83

Expanding the Pie, the Art and Science of Negotiation with Gerta Malaj

Improving your negotiation skills can lead to better sales, strategic partnerships, and stronger relationships for your business.

In this episode, we discuss the art and science of negotiation with Gerta Malaj, a world-class negotiator. Gerta dispels misconceptions about negotiation and shares practical tips and strategies that will help you change every interaction from ‘dividing a pie’ to ‘expanding the pie’ outcome.

From identifying your priorities to learning the power of silence, Gerta imparts practical wisdom to help you supercharge your negotiations and create win-win scenarios.

Episode 82

Enlightenment through Equanimity: Practicing Mindfulness

Who else wishes they had a more peaceful mind?

As an entrepreneur, you’re probably used to a busy mind. You might catch yourself procrastinating or hesitating when faced with it. But what if, instead of avoiding discomfort, you could embrace it and use it to improve?

Creating peace through mindfulness is about developing a practice of remaining present, observing your thinking, accepting your reality, and managing your mind.

In this episode, discover practical approaches that you can incorporate into your daily life to help you notice unresourceful thought patterns and think your way free.

Episode 81

Building A Product Market Fit Machine with Charles Cormier

Being an entrepreneur is more than just a job, it’s a way of life. A path of continuous improvement, overcoming challenges, and personal development.

In this episode, I talked to Charles Cormier, a many time entrepreneur, biohacker, and ultra athlete.

We discuss the enigma of product-market fit and how to turn your business into a success-generating machine.

It’s an inspiring jaunt through the topics of rigorous self-improvement, market mastery, and how you can align your work to carve out a path to freedom. It’s just full of gems.

Episode 80

How to Have Your Own Back in Tough Times

Ever found yourself in a tough spot where it seems like the world is against you? How do you navigate the stormy seas of life’s trials with resilience and grace? In this episode, your Ben Easter and Clayton Olson take you on a journey through embracing hardship and supporting yourself during challenges.

In Episode 80, we explore the concept of having your own back during tough times and how to approach challenges with dignity, resourcefulness, and creativity. Ben and Clayton explore the ebb and flow of life’s struggles, drawing parallels to the stock market’s highs and lows, stressing the importance of aligning with core values, embracing a sense of connection, and harnessing positive energy. They invite you into open conversations about the fear of burdening others with our struggles. Sharing poignant references from Bruce Almighty and Braveheart, this episode is an empowering guide to standing tall amidst life’s upheavals.

Episode 79

Reset Your Reality with Gratitude with Paige Easter

How can cultivating gratitude rewire your mindset and enhance your life? Just in time for the holidays, hosts Paige and Ben Easter explore how our internal “search engine” determines what we notice and appreciate. They’ll guide you through a gratitude exercise designed to shift your attention gears to a more positive, “glass half-full” perspective.

In this episode, Paige and Ben discuss the power of gratitude and its potential to change our perception of reality. Using engaging metaphors and insightful discussions, they discuss the intricacies of the human mind, the influence of the reticular activating system, and how our attention and intentions shape our life experiences. So, whether you’re seeking ways to improve your mindset, or reignite the magic of holidays, this is an episode you won’t want to skip.

Episode 78

Finding Balance Between Ideas and Action with Piper Watson

Are you struggling to find balance between generating ideas and taking action? Tune in as Ben Easter and guest Piper Watson share insightful strategies on finding equilibrium and creating spaciousness in your life.

In this episode, host Ben Easter invites life and business coach Piper Watson to explore the concept of balance between ideas and action. Drawing inspiration from the yin yang symbol and the seasons, they discuss the importance of embracing stuckness as an opportunity for growth and using thoughtful questions to navigate through it. Piper shares her expertise on the Heroine’s Journey, the energetics of masculine and feminine energies, dreaming, visualization exercises, and the power of reflection. They touch on topics such as prioritization, breaking tasks into simple steps, accountability, and the role of spaciousness in finding clarity and freedom in life and business.

Episode 77

The ABCs of Optimism with Paige Easter

Do you ever find yourself caught in a negative spiral? You might be having a human experience that will pass in time. Or you might be stuck in pessimistic thinking. Many of our thoughts and beliefs go unexamined, and simply shining a flashlight on them can bring a profound shift to your life. In this episode of “The Shift to Freedom,” hosts Paige and Ben Easter dive into the ABCs of optimism, exploring how examining our thoughts can lead to a freer and more fulfilling existence. By questioning the truth and usefulness of our thoughts, mindfully exploring their consequences, and embracing a healthy assessment of optimism, this episode provides the tools to break free from toxic positivity and create an authentic connection with ourselves and others.
 

Episode 76

Creating Emotional Freedom with Saren Eads

Changing your mindset can supercharge your energy levels and free up more time in your life! In this episode of “The Shift to Freedom,” host Ben Easter and guest Saren Eads – The Emotional Wealth Coach, discuss the power of shifting your thinking to experience positive change. They explore the impact of embracing anxiety, building emotional wealth, and finding balance in entrepreneurship. Get ready to upgrade your mindset and unlock your limitless potential!
 

Episode 75

Authentic Expression – An Antidote to People Pleasing with Paige Easter

Tired of constantly trying to please others and feeling like you’re losing touch with your true self? Want to break free from the people-pleasing trap and start living life on your own terms? Discover how authentic expression can be the antidote you’ve been searching for.
 

In this philosophical episode, hosts Paige and Ben Easter explore the concept of authenticity and how it can liberate us from the endless cycle of people pleasing. They delve into the underlying challenges of worthiness, the power of resonance, and the importance of understanding our own “yeses” and “nos.” With insightful examples and insights, this conversation will empower you to prioritize your needs while fostering genuine connections with others.

Episode 74

How to Prioritize with Paige Easter

 

Are you constantly juggling a never-ending to-do list? Struggling to identify what truly matters in your life and business? In this episode of The Shift to Freedom, Paige and Ben explore the art of prioritization, offering practical strategies to help you gain clarity and focus on what’s truly important. Get ready to shift your mindset and discover the freedom that comes with prioritizing effectively.

As Ben and Paige explore the concept of prioritization, they delve into the spiritual and practical aspects of determining what truly matters in life and business. From evaluating the wheel of life to understanding task dependencies, they provide insights and tools to help you make conscious choices and find what is useful for you. Tune in for their discussion on the power of prioritizing.

Episode 73

What to Do if You Fall Out of Love with Your Business with Paige Easter

 

Do you feel like you’ve fallen out of love with your business? Discover valuable insights and practical tips on how to reignite the passion in your business and create a sustainable and fulfilling relationship.

In this episode of The Shift to Freedom podcast, hosts Paige and Ben Easter dive into the topic of falling in and out of love with your business. They explore the importance of having a strong relationship with your business, so it can provide the freedom you desire. Paige and Ben discuss the signs that indicate you may be falling out of love with your business, how beliefs about business being a grind can affect your relationship, and the importance of managing emotions and staying aligned. Tune in for valuable insights on maintaining a healthy and fulfilling connection with your business.

Episode 72

Pricing Perfection: What’s the Value of Your Service or Product with Paige Easter

 

In this conversation we take a look at a crucial aspect of running a successful business: understanding the value of an offering. Hosts Paige and Ben Easter explore the costs, pricing strategies, customer value, and transformational potential behind products and services. If you’ve ever found yourself struggling to set the right price or communicate the true value of your business to customers, this episode shares insights and strategies that will help you navigate the complex world of pricing and value in the entrepreneurial landscape. Join Paige and Ben as they uncover the secrets to unlocking the true value of your offerings.

Episode 71

The 9 Hidden Truths of Business and Love: Part 2 with Clayton Olson

 

Tired of feeling burned out and lacking inspiration in your work? Discover the secret to unlocking your true creative potential and achieving greater success by embracing self-care and reflection. In this episode of The Shift to Freedom, Ben Easter and Clayton Olson delve into the transformative power of taking a step back, finding new models for success, and harnessing the magic of relationships for personal and professional growth.

In the second part of their conversation, Ben and Clayton explore the relationship between rest, creativity, and productivity. They share personal anecdotes, insightful stories, and perspectives to help you shift your mindset and tap into your unlimited potential. From challenging conventional ideas about relationships to investigating self-talk, this episode provides a roadmap for harnessing your inner power and finding fulfillment in both work and personal life.

Episode 70

The 9 Hidden Truths of Business and Love: Part 1 with Clayton Olson

 

Struggling to find balance between your business and personal life? Wondering how to navigate the treacherous waters of love and entrepreneurship? Tune in to learn the 9 hidden truths that can transform your approach to business and love, and unlock the freedom you’ve been seeking.

In this episode of “The Shift to Freedom,” hosts Ben Easter and Clayton Olson dive into the 9-hidden truths of business and love. With a focus on personal development, authenticity, and taking risks, Clayton Olson shares his wisdom on navigating the complex worlds of entrepreneurship and relationships. From prioritizing personal well-being and embracing failure to finding your voice and letting go of control, our hosts offer insights that may shift your perspective and help you thrive in both business and love. Don’t miss out on this conversation that may inspire you to shift your perspective and step into your true potential.

Episode 69

How to Stop White Knuckling It Through Life with Paige Easter 

 

Ever been caught in the trap of feeling unmotivated, pushing through tasks with sheer willpower? Ben and Paige Easter understand the struggle.  In this episode, they challenge some of our beliefs about motivation and the art of getting things done. 

They explore motivation that stems from our genuine desires and interests. They question the heavy “should”, “have to”, and “need to” phrasing that often burdens our tasks, nudging listeners toward a more genuine approach: focusing on what genuinely excites us.

They encourage a routine self-check-in, emphasizing the need to prioritize well-being and align with our core desires. By doing so, they suggest, we can sculpt a life more attuned to our values, one that is inherently more fulfilling.

Episode 68

The Art of Connection: Navigating Social Anxiety, Building Networks, and Embracing Rejection with Paige Easter

 

In this episode, Ben and Paige Easter delve into the important topic of building community through networking. They tackle the pervasive sense of isolation that many entrepreneurs experience, especially common with founders and solopreneurs who suffer from the absence of a peer group in their businesses. 

The duo navigates the complexities of forging connections in our modern, ever-changing society while spotlighting the growing opportunities offered through online relationships. They also explore how to conquer hurdles like social anxiety and the fear of being turned down, emphasizing the importance of aligning with individuals who resonate with your fundamental beliefs. 

Ben and Paige share their own networking journeys and offer actionable advice, including leveraging meetups and tapping into networks that align with your passions. This episode will encourage you to take steps forward to build a broader base of support for your entrepreneurial journey.

Episode 67

Taking Action: Transforming Tolerations into Accomplishments with Paige Easter

 

“Every toleration we hold onto is like a program running in the background, draining our energy and holding us back from living our freedom. It’s time to reboot, clear the list, and become the version of ourselves that takes care of what’s important. Zap those tolerations and watch as your mental space and self-image transform.” – Ben Easter

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and burdened by the little things in life? Do you want to break free from the energy-draining monster known as tolerations? In this week’s episode, Ben and Paige Easter dive into the important topic of tolerations. They discuss how tolerations can drain our energy and hold us back from living our best lives. Drawing from an analogy of computer system maintenance, they emphasize the importance of identifying and addressing these tolerations to free up mental space and boost productivity. The hosts share practical strategies, such as creating a list of tolerations and prioritizing them based on values alignment and impact. They also highlight the transformative power of taking action on these tolerations, not only in terms of clearing our physical and mental space but also in shaping our self-image and identity.

Episode 66

Listen to Your Heart: Lessons from Pocahontas with Paige Easter

“Love and fear are the driving forces in life. When we lean towards love, listen to our hearts, and take courageous leaps, we contribute to a better reality for everyone. It’s about embracing courage and understanding, rather than succumbing to fear,” says Paige Easter, Co-host of the Shift to Freedom podcast.

This week, Ben and Paige are digging into their impressions of the beloved Disney classic, Pocahontas! While Ben experiences the movie for the first time, Paige fondly recalls it as a cherished part of her childhood. The hosts explore the film’s themes of love and fear, and the thought-provoking interplay of toxic masculinity versus healthy masculinity portrayed through the movie’s supporting characters. While Pocahontas may not boast metaphors like other Disney classics, the hosts celebrate the lessons and insights that Pocahontas imparts about having the courage to follow your heart in the face of adversity, taking the time to truly listen to those you disagree with in order to resolve differences, and generally following your heart’s call.

Episode 65

Becoming Your Own Bank: Creating Financial Freedom with John Ensley

Unlocking financial freedom remains a tantalizing dream for many, but the journey to true independence is fraught with hurdles. In a riveting discussion, Ben Easter and John Ensley peel back the layers of a little-known financial strategy: cash value life insurance. Diving into the mechanics behind these policies, they unveil how cash value accumulates over time and the myriad advantages they hold. From exploiting tax benefits to harnessing policy loans for diverse purposes, the conversation unveils the potential for tax-free retirement income. With an expert’s touch, they underscore the significance of tailored policies aligned with unique financial ambitions. Prepare to be enlightened as John divulges the inner workings of this extraordinary financial system, offering invaluable insights and long-term benefits for individuals and enterprising business owners alike.

Episode 64

Core Values: The Compass for a Purposeful Journey with Paige Easter

Are you living within alignment with your core values? In today’s episode, co-hosts Ben and Paige Easter are back to guide you on a purposeful journey toward freedom using core values as a compass. Whether you are brand new to the idea of core values or already have a list that you live by, reflecting on what matters most to you is a useful tool for growing and creating meaning within your life. If life’s purpose is the experience of your values, then you owe it to yourself to get really clear about what those values are and how you wish to see them expressed in your life. When you take the time to put words to these abstract concepts, it becomes easier to remember your values in the moment and make aligned decisions.

Episode 63

Embracing the Unknown: Thriving Through Risky Actions with Paige Easter

It’s time to step into the unknown and unleash your inner badass! In today’s episode, co-hosts Ben and Paige Easter are back to talk about confidence building through having the courage to take risky actions that are outside your comfort zone. So many people mistakenly think they need to wait until they feel confident to take certain actions, but that’s not the case! Confidence does not require you to overcome perfectionism. All it requires is the self-belief that whatever you wish to achieve is possible and that even if you do not succeed, you will still be okay in the end. 

Episode 62

The Visionary Mind: Mastering the Art of Visualization

Open yourself up to a world of possibilities through the power of visualization! In today’s episode, co-hosts Ben and Paige Easter are back to share clear steps for leveraging visualization to step into the life of your dreams. Through visualizing your future, you can learn to create your own reality, manifest success and ultimately unlock your full potential. 

A few key tips for utilizing visualization to create your desired future:

  • Get really clear about your end goal before you even start visualizing anything
  • Walk yourself backwards from your goal and determine what steps it would actually take to get there
  • Figure out what your body would physically be doing during those steps and visualize yourself doing that in your mind
  • Charge up your visualization process by approaching the exercise from a place of gratitude rather than fear or worry

Everyone engages in visualization all the time, even if they do not realize they are doing it. Instead of allowing unresourceful visualizations to continue playing in the background, start engaging in visualization exercises consciously and telling yourself the story that you want for your future.

Episode 61

Fear and Freedom: Unveiling the Higher Self’s Guidance with Clayton Olson

Let go of fear and step into alignment with the wisdom of your Higher Self. In today’s episode, co-host Clayton Olson returns for a conversation with Ben Easter about recognizing the difference between intuitive choice making and ego. Learn how to tune out insecurity and tune into wisdom, love, and connection. Being in touch with your true intuition allows for conscious decision making where your actions are aligned with your purpose and core values. 

A few tips to help guide your path to unveiling your Higher Self:

  • Liberation exists on the other side of ego. Let go of the ego’s need for control and transform your life with the freedom that comes from embracing uncertainty.
  • Remember that insecurity can often mask itself as intuition. Ask yourself, what about this emotion or thought is important to you. What would love, connection, and wisdom do in this situation?
  • If you are under-resourced, you may have a more difficult time accessing your intuition. Be sure to take care of yourself, get enough sleep, eat and hydrate before making any major decisions.
  • Consider which path will result in putting more of your own values into the world around you. If the decision is coming from your Higher Self, it will inherently be in alignment with your core values. 

Freedom is waiting right on the other side of fear! Shift your mindset to recognize the difference between thoughts and feelings that are driven by insecurity and those that are truly coming from intuition. 

Episode 60

Cultivating Self Trust, Exercises and Mindsets with Clayton Olson

In today’s conversation, co-host Clayton Olson joins forces with Ben Easter to delve into the transformative journey of building self-confidence and learning to trust yourself. Get ready to unlock the secrets to cultivating unwavering self-belief by taking inventory of your values and recognizing the countless times when the universe has had your back.

A few pointers that will revolutionize the way you approach trust and self-confidence:

  • Identify the instances when you betray your own trust. It’s time to shift gears and start honoring your own values above the desires of others.
  • Break free from building boundaries driven by fear. Instead, create structures that genuinely serve you and align with your core beliefs. 
  • Craft a powerful list that recounts all the times when life has come through for you and when you have achieved success. 

Embrace a mindset shift that prioritizes your own desires over the expectations of others. By honoring the boundaries that truly support your growth and happiness, you’ll reclaim your trust in yourself. Leave the people-pleasing tendencies in the past and step into a future where you live authentically for what matters most to you!

Episode 59

Trusting Yourself with Clayton Olson

Say goodbye to people-pleasing, perfectionism, and analysis paralysis, and embrace the vibrant authenticity that lies within you! In today’s episode, co-host Clayton Olson joins forces with Ben Easter to unravel the secrets behind mastering the art of self-trust. Get ready to dive deep into the exhilarating world of self-belief and discover how it can set you free.

Episode Highlights:

  • Uncover the essence of not trusting yourself by identifying what holds you back from trusting your own abilities.
  • Shift your focus from solely trusting yourself to succeed, and instead, trust yourself to learn from every experience, no matter the outcome.
  • Don’t wait until you trust yourself completely before taking action. Trust is built through experience.

Remember, self-belief isn’t solely about having unwavering confidence in your abilities. It’s about trusting that you’ll survive and thrive, no matter what. Take that courageous first step and emerge on the other side with newfound confidence and wisdom. Get ready to conquer the world, one self-trust leap at a time.

Episode 58

The Power of Place: How Your Environment Shapes Your Success with Paige Easter

Do you want to leverage your environment to increase your chance of success? Then step into today’s episode for a thought-provoking conversation led by co-hosts Ben and Paige Easter as they reveal the secrets to unlocking the potential of your mental and physical surroundings so that you can continue on the journey to becoming your best self. 

Episode Highlights:

  • Learn the ways in which your environment can help propel you towards your goals with ease and grace.
  • Learn the art of “zapping tolerations,” a transformative practice that liberates your mental energy by eliminating the things that drain your vitality.
  • Immerse yourself in the concept of future pacing, a powerful technique that allows you to practice and refine new habits and skills in the safety of your own mind.

The path to self-improvement doesn’t have to be hard and demanding. By leveraging your current environments, you can sculpt your life into the life you’ve always envisioned.

Episode 57

The True Measure of a Hero: Lessons from Hercules with Paige Easter

Do you want to be the hero of your own story? Your co-hosts Ben and Paige are back again to take another deep dive into a Disney classic. In this episode, they analyze the lessons learned from Hercules and reflect on what it truly means to become a hero.

Despite being well-known for his God-like strength and perfect physique, the qualities that make Hercules heroic go beyond his physical appearance. In fact, when you pay close attention to the storyline, it is his determination, perseverance and positive self-beliefs that make him triumphant. His motivating core value of belonging fuels his journey, and although there are many opportunities for distraction along the way, he is kept on the right path thanks to Phil’s reluctant, but supportive mentorship.

A few key takeaways:

  • The true measure of a hero
  • The strength of standing up for your core values
  • The benefits of mentorship as seen through Phil’s influence on Hercules’s growth
  • Life is always hard- It’s all about choosing your hard and seeing it through

There is a lot that can be learned from Hercules and how it can apply to your personal journey. So let’s dive in and uncover ways to expand our own human potential!

Episode 56

From Overwhelm to Freedom: Unlocking Your Productivity Potential with Chelsey Newmyer

In this episode, we talk with Chelsey Newmyer, time management and productivity coach. With host Ben Easter, Chelsey encourages listeners to explore what productivity techniques actually align with their personal preferences. Listen as Ben and Chelsey uncover some useful tips to mastering productivity. They explore the importance of prioritization, goal-setting, and finding your personal approach to productivity.

Discover the following:

  • The art of prioritization
  • Breaking down projects into manageable tasks aligned with your goals
  • Strategies to address lingering tasks and consider delegation options
  • Tools and routines that work best for you, whether it’s time blocking or creating work rituals to stay focused
  • Balancing leadership and empathy to ensure task completion and foster a harmonious team
  • Systems and project management tools for streamlined workflows

Join us on this transformative journey to unlock productivity and achieve a fulfilling work-life balance. Let’s dive in!

Episode 55

How to Flip Your “Peace Switch”: The Power of the Parasympathetic

with Paige Easter

Ever find yourself wishing that you could tap into a greater sense of peace and clarity?

Welcome to a captivating episode that takes you on a journey into the intricate world of the nervous system and its profound impact on our overall well-being.

Join hosts Ben and Paige as they dive into a wealth of valuable concepts and strategies. From exploring the window of tolerance to practicing the transformative Breath to Surrender technique, you’ll gain practical tools to navigate the ebbs and flows of your nervous system.

Get ready to uncover practical tools and insights to unlock a profound sense of peace, regulate your nervous system, and cultivate a greater sense of well-being and presence in your life.

Episode 54

Cycles of Success: Four Phases to Maximize Your Potential with Paige Easter

Whether you are a man or a woman, everyone has energetic cycles happening internally that match up with the cycles of the outside world. When you really look at it, everything in our world is cyclical. Cyclical living is all about aligning your actions with the cycle that you are in at the moment and scheduling things based as much as possible on that desire for alignment. 

Don’t miss out on this enlightening episode as Ben and Paige unravel the mysteries of cycles, empowering you to embrace your cyclical nature and thrive in all aspects of life.

Episode 53

Control is Overrated: Embracing Non-Attachment in Life and Business with Clayton Olson

The Buddha said that attachment is the root of all suffering. When you get too wrapped up in #perfectionism and #peoplepleasing due to your attachment to a certain outcome or a desire to maintain a certain identity, you are setting yourself up for potential suffering. You cannot control every outcome. And by being so caught up thinking about the future, you may miss out on all the good things around you in the present. Today, co-hosts Ben Easter and Clayton Olson discuss #detachment and how to overcome your #fearoffailure to let go of the fantasy of control.

Episode 52

A Roadmap to Freedom: Navigating Our Most Helpful Episodes

Come along as co-hosts Ben and Paige Easter navigate the roadmap to freedom by sharing the most impactful highlights from every episode of The Shift to Freedom podcast. There is a full year of episodes to dive into exploring topics that will help you to #unleashyourpotential and find your #innerbadass.

Episode 51

Navigating the Uncertainty of the AI Revolution with Clayton Olson

The #AIrevolution has been a major focus ever since the rise of Chat GPT. While some people are excited about #embracingthefuture, others are afraid of the #uncertainty that comes along with a rapidly #changingworld. Whether AI will lead to a beautiful utopia and ultimate freedom or a scary dystopian society like those in tv and movies is yet to be seen. Today, co-hosts Ben Easter and Clayton Olson discuss how to navigate the uncertainty of the AI Revolution.

Episode 50

Building Financial Freedom into Your Business with Natalie Cook

Having your own business opens up many opportunities for freedom in your life. Whether that be freedom to make your own schedule, financial freedom, or the freedom to pursue your passions. When you’re first starting out with your business, or if you are considering scaling, there are ways to build #financialfreedom directly into your business model. Today, Natalie Cook, CEO of Copper8 Strategies, LLC, joins host Ben Easter to discuss how to simplify your business, how to scale, when to hire, and how to achieve financial freedom.

Episode 49

Finding Your Purpose: Life Lessons from Moana with Paige Easter

No matter what age you are, there are many lessons that can be learned from Disney’s Moana. From the #ancestorwisdom passed on from Moana’s grandmother, to Moana’s journey of #findingpurpose, and Maui’s struggle with #overcomingego, each character teaches the audience something different about life. Today, hosts Ben and Paige Easter talk about the life lessons they learned while watching Moana.

Episode 48

Living a Fearless Life with Diana Davis

In order to achieve freedom and live your most authentic life, it is important to face your fears. Living a #fearless life can be daunting at first, but also incredibly rewarding. With the rise of AI technology and remote work, more entrepreneurs are shifting into a #digitalnomad lifestyle. Today, Diana Davis, business coach for creative entrepreneurs and host of the podcast Pollen, talks with host Ben Easter about how to live a fearless life, what it’s really like to be a nomadic #entrepreneur, and why establishing boundaries is so vital to preventing #overwhelm and #burnout.

Episode 47

Developing Your Confidence and Clarity with with Erin Falter

Developing #confidence and #clarity requires a lot of #innerwork and dedication. It’s easy to get caught up in your #ambition and constantly be looking ahead to the next project, especially as a high achiever. Learning to accept yourself, as is, in the moment is key for achieving greater freedom. Today Erin Falter, creator of WORKWORK, marketing director at Tydo, and founder at Pink Skies talks with host Ben Easter about what she has learned about developing confidence and clarity from her own coaching and personal development journey.

Episode 46

Free Yourself from Your Trance with the Enneagram

Today, co-hosts Ben Easter, Paige Easter, and Clayton Olsen talk about how to free yourself from your trance through the use of the Enneagram.

There are many personality typing systems, but the Enneagram is a particularly useful one for #selfdevelopment because it aims to reveal your development trajectory. As a child, you develop armor to protect yourself in the world and this armor shows up as your personality. This armor served a purpose at the time, but now as an adult, it is helpful to peel it back to see your true essence underneath.

Personality assessments can be useful tools, but rather than think of them as prescriptions for how you should behave, think of them more like descriptions for how you tend to be.

Episode 45

Finding Your Center: Your Path to Freedom

Finding your center is the key to #emotionalfreedom. The simple truth is that even though there is a common belief within our society that being self-centered is negative, that does not change the fact that you are the center of your reality. Radical self-center allows for true #freedom because it gives you permission to accept that you are the most important person in your reality and to live a life of #alignment with your #corevalues. Today, hosts Ben and Paige Easter talk about the concept of radical self-center and the value of #authenticity for achieving freedom.

Episode 44

Transforming the Toxic Masculine in Beauty and the Beast

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast has really beautiful themes representing the ways masculinity and femininity balance one another out. By showing Gaston as essentially an archetype for the #toxicmasculine and then countering that with the Beast who seems outwardly very masculine, but has a soft, tender heart hidden within, it comments on the value of #balance between the masculine and feminine in everyone. Today, hosts Ben and Paige Easter talk about transforming the toxic masculine through the lens of Beauty and the Beast.

Through the lens of Beauty and the Beast, you can see the benefits of masculinity and femininity balancing each other within each of us. Gaston does not have enough femininity within himself to temper his masculine traits, so he comes off as an example of ‘toxic masculinity’. Whereas, the Beast appears aggressive and controlling at first, but under Belle’s feminine influence that masculinity begins to soften and transform into a more balanced version.

Episode 43

Unlocking Limiting Beliefs with Grace Clarke

The language you use everyday with yourself often reinforces limiting beliefs. By shifting to using #empoweringlanguage, you can enter your #zoneofgenius and unlock yourself from those #limitingbeliefs. Today host Ben Easter talks with Grace Clarke, founder of GGC Consulting, about how to unlock limiting beliefs, the benefits of investing in coaching as an entrepreneur, and how the language you use can change your mind.

When you shift away from the limiting belief that everything ‘should’ be done a certain way simply because it was done that way in the past, or that is how you’ve observed other entrepreneurs doing it, you gain the space and freedom to choose your own path to excellence. Build your own strategies and work the way you want to work rather than worrying about the ‘shoulds’. When you reinforce #limitingbeliefs in your mind, your brain will look for proof in the world to back up those beliefs. Shifting language away from viewing yourself negatively will help to create a more positive reality. 

Episode 42

Spreading the Flame of Freedom

The flame of freedom is everywhere if only you know how to tap into it. When you shine your light brightly, you can spread that flame of freedom to other people who can in turn spread it to their own communities. Today co-hosts  Ben and Paige Easter share how you can be the change by getting involved in Project Candlelight.

Project Candlelight is inspired by the candlelight service sometimes done at churches wherein everyone lights their candle from one initial flame. Instead of worrying about what you cannot control like systemic issues and policies, change your mind and the minds of others by embracing responsibility for only what you can control. Simply by being near another person’s light, you too can become ignited. This means that the more you are willing to show up in the world and shine your light of freedom, the more people you will inspire who can then go on to inspire others.

Freedom is contagious and once people see your light shining, they will desire it for themselves. To get involved in Project Candlelight, fill out the form linked below and submit your questions about the roadblocks that are stopping you from attaining freedom.

Episode 41

Conquering Comparison with Clayton Olson

Do you find yourself frequently comparing yourself to others? Comparison is a totally normal part of human existence. It can help people to have more ambition and propel them into entrepreneurship and leadership positions. However, it can also be a damaging tool if used incorrectly. Today, co-hosts Ben Easter and Clayton Olson discuss how to stop comparing yourself to others and start centering yourself in your life experiences. 

Everyone compares themselves to others. It can be a great tool for motivating yourself and temperature checking where you stand in a group. But when comparison starts to feel bad or get in the way of your progress, that is when it is important to re-evaluate and center yourself in the reality of your life. 

Episode 40

No Apology Necessary, Finding Freedom from Forgiveness

with Paige Easter

Are you the kind of person who is always apologizing for every little thing, even just for taking up space? The truth is that apologizing is typically not the most effective way to communicate with others and can actually cause you to be out of alignment with your own values. Today, co-hosts Ben and Paige talk about the concept of forgiveness, how to properly apologize when it is warranted, and how to stop apologizing when it is not necessary. 

The most effective apology is the one you make to yourself. If you do something that you later realize was not in alignment with how you want to show up in the world, then go ahead and apologize! But that apology is for your benefit, not the benefit of others. Learn more about the trap of over apologizing, the importance of communicating with intentionality, and how to build your self-esteem so that you can stop apologizing for just being yourself. 

Episode 39

What’s Alive In You? A Values Based Model of Communication with Paige Easter

The trick to better relationships is better communication, and the trick to better communication skills is using values based communication. Today, co-hosts Ben and Paige Easter explain the benefits of switching to a values based model of communication. 

If you want to strengthen your interpersonal relationships and feel like your values are being met, you can benefit tremendously from switching to a values based model of communication. Learn the four steps to values based communication and how to begin implementing them in your daily interactions. 

Episode 38

Hypnotherapy to Transform Limiting Beliefs with Paige Easter

Hypnotherapy can be a great tool for transforming limiting beliefs. Today, co-hosts Ben and Paige Easter dispel some of the common misconceptions around hypnotherapy, explain how hypnotherapy actually works, and talk about the benefits of hypnotherapy for personal transformation.

If you are struggling with making a change in your life, hypnotherapy can help. Often we are being held back by limiting beliefs that we don’t even realize are there. Through hypnotherapy, you can find the root cause of that belief and show your brain that it is running outdated software.

Episode 37

A Scientific Approach to Affirmations with Paige Easter

Affirmations are a very useful tool for becoming the person you want to be in life, but you may not have tried them simply because the concept sounds a little woo-woo at first. However, the impact of simple affirmations are very much based in neuroscience. Today, co-hosts Ben and Paige Easter talk about the scientific approach to affirmations and the way that they can benefit your personal development.

Episode 36

The New Prescription for People Pleasing: From Vibe to Tribe with Clayton Olson

When we are children, we rely on the relationship with our caregivers for everything. This means that we tend to learn pretty quickly that it works in our favor to try to please them. However, this type of relationship is very unbalanced and doesn’t work in adulthood. If we constantly try to please everyone, we can never show our true selves. And instead of attracting our tribe, we will attract the tribe that fits the false self that we created to please others. In order to stop people pleasing and start living authentically, we must figure out what our own principles are and stick to them.

Episode 35

Stopping the War with Yourself with Paige Easter and Clayton Olson

Self improvement begins with taking responsibility for yourself and your life instead of continuing to blame external factors. Many of the beliefs holding you back are actually beliefs that were created during childhood. And when you realize these are outdated, then you can start to see your present situation differently. In order to make changes at the identity level, you need to fully embrace your vision for who you want to be and the life you want to have. If you are still in a victim mindset, you will not be ready to step into your journey of self improvement. Personal development requires you to look at those beliefs from your past through a lens of curiosity rather than judgment.

Episode 34

Money Mindset: Rethinking Your Thoughts on Currency pt.2 with Paige Easter

Having a financial mindset shift can lead to great benefits. Learn more about value creation, the mistrust around sales tactics, and how investing can have positive outcomes.

Episode 33

Money Mindset: Rethinking Your Thoughts on Currency pt.1 with Paige Easter

In this episode, we talked about the role of money in our lives and how our beliefs about money can impact our experience of it.

Money is a way to exchange value and it can be used to facilitate trust between people, even if they do not know each other. However, because of this abstraction of value, we can wind up telling a whole lot of stories about money that don’t contribute to its flow through our lives.

Our beliefs about money and value can influence the economy and shape our experiences with scarcity or abundance. Conflicting beliefs about money and values can lead to inaction, so recognizing and addressing these conflicts can allow us to take aligned action towards abundance.

If you want to create more abundance and value in your life, then check out part 1 of this 2 part discussion of money mindset.

Episode 32

Transform Your Life with these Essential Practices with Clayton Olson

If you’ve ever wanted to become the best version of yourself, this episode could be especially helpful to you.

In it, Clayton and I discuss the practices we use to improve their mental health and well-being. The importance of setting clear intentions in the morning, incorporating meditation, breath work, and free writing into your daily routine, and finding a routine that works best for you (whether that be in the morning or at night). We also discuss the value of setting aside time for reflection and intention setting before or after sleep.

These practices can help to reduce stress and increase feelings of calm and clarity, allowing you to approach your day with a sense of purpose and intention. Treat this episode like a buffet of ideas: Take what resonates and discard the rest in order to find what works best for you.

Episode 31

Unlocking the Wisdom of The Lion King: Balance, Responsibility, and Worthiness with Paige Easter

Have you ever felt like there was something fundamentally wrong with you? That no matter how hard you try, you’ll just never be good enough, smart enough, strong enough? If so, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common challenges that I see people face in personal development.

In fact, it’s one of the major themes explored in the Lion King.

We all know it’s a classic movie, but did you know that it’s a rich source of lessons about our own journeys to freedom and transformation? In this episode of the Shift to Freedom Podcast, we discuss the movie’s themes of balance, responsibility, worthiness, worry, and the importance of pain in healing.

Episode 30

Breaking out of Burnout and Building a Balanced Life with Emma Grace Moon

Most business owners know that starting up can be challenging. Fear of failure, burnout, and making mistakes can be a normal part of the journey. And even though the journey to build a business you love can feel lonely, you’re not alone! In this episode, I talked to Emma Grace Moon about her journey in building a badass Affiliate marketing agency. We discuss how to identify clients who are out of alignment with your business, how to build a supportive team, finding your “butterfly” clients, and a lot of the other early stage challenges that business owners face.

Episode 29

Getting out of the Drama Triangle with Clayton Olson

We all know the feeling of being stuck in a cycle within a disempowering relationship. It can be like walking into a scene from a movie where you play out the roles of Victim, Villain, or Savior over and over again.

The Drama Triangle is real and it’s not just limited to relationships! The truth is, this dynamic is everywhere and it prevents us from true freedom and transformation. That’s why I think it’s so important to learn about this dreaded triangle – so we can recognize when we’re in it and start shifting our perspective.

Episode 28

The Care and Feeding of Your Superpowers: Exploring Frozen with Paige Easter

You’re probably familiar with the age-old dilemma of fear vs. love. It’s a choice we all have to make every day, in every decision we make.

While fear can be a powerful motivator – It can keep us safe and help us avoid making mistakes. It can also hold us back from living our best lives and activating our true superpowers.

Love, on the other hand, is often seen as weak or naïve. But it’s actually the most powerful force in the universe. And when we choose love over fear, we open ourselves up to beautiful possibilities.

In this episode, Paige and I discuss the movie Frozen and how it explores the consequences of behaving out of fear, what it means to embrace our uniqueness, and becoming your own hero.

Episode 27

The Practice of Being Yourself with Clayton Olson

If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to improve your skills. And one of the best ways to do that is through practice. But practices aren’t just a way for us to improve. We can also use practices to maintain our center, find balance, and tap into our true essence as human beings.

The thing is…You are always practicing something. Whether you’re engaged in some activity to return to your essence and remember who you are, get better at some skill, or even just practicing doom-scrolling on IG, you’re honing and refining neural pathways in your brain. To learn more about practices, take a listen to my conversation with Clayton.

Episode 26

Rethinking Your Story with Lindsey Rose Alt

Being a business owner can sometimes feel really challenging. It can be lonely, as you often feel like you’re the only one who understands what you’re going through. It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks and lose sight of your larger goals.

In this episode, Lindsey Alt and I talked about overcoming Analysis Paralysis, comparison to others, slime-free sales, taking risky action, and much more:

Episode 25

Using Language to Create Your Life Part 2 with Paige Easter

If you’re like me, you love learning new things that can help you in your life. If you haven’t caught last week’s Shift to Freedom yet, we talked all about how to use empowering language to create the life you love. But there were just too many for one episode!

That’s why I’m excited to share with you the latest episode. In this episode, we discuss four more of the most common language patterns of limiting beliefs and how you can talk to yourself instead.

Episode 24

Using Language to Create Your Life with Paige Easter

We’ve all heard “glass half full/empty” as an analogy for optimism and pessimism. But really think about it for a second. When you are looking at the glass as half-full, you have a genuinely different perspective on the world than when you are seeing it as half-empty.

There are lots of different ways that we can use language that accidentally limit our possibilities in the world. It might sound minor, but I can’t stress the impact of this enough.

Empowering language is one of the master keys to creating the life you want. It can be the difference between feeling stuck and feeling motivated, between feeling victimized and feeling empowered.

Episode 23

The Power to Change the World with Clayton Olson

Ever feel frustrated or resentful at the way things seem to work in the world? What if I told you that there was an art to changing all that. And just like watercolors or charcoal, you can get better and better at it the more you practice. In this episode, Clayton and I start off a bit philosophical so that we can lay out some foundational thinking patterns that can help to shape the world into a VERY useful place, no matter what your current circumstances.

Episode 22

Crafting a Life You Love with Julianne Fraser

Many business owners reach a point in their businesses where they either start to lose that magical feeling that they had when they started out. Maybe you start to feel overwhelmed, maybe you want more balance, or maybe you just start to become so expert at what you are doing that you get a little bored with the day to day. Does any of that sound familiar? In this episode, I chat with Julianne Fraser all about building a business that works for you.

Episode 21

Reaching Your Potential: Paradox, Mentorship, and Transformation in the Sword and the Stone with Paige Easter

In this podcast episode, we watched the old Disney movie, The Sword and The Stone again (my first time as an adult) and I never realized how deep it is! It’s a story of the tension between knowledge and wisdom, brains vs. brawn, and the importance of walking the path in front of you (even when it people are telling you it’s not the right one). At it’s core, it’s about facing risk and paradox to become the kind of person who can take leadership in your life.

Episode 20

Creating Your Life Using Powerful Questions with Clayton Olson

In this episode, Clayton and I get into a flow about how questions work in our lives. How they shape our reality, and how we can use them to our benefit. We also share some of the questions that have helped us create amazing freedoms in our own lives.

Episode 19

An Antidote for Blame with Sophie Weill

In this week’s episode, Sophie and I dive into the concept of blame: what it’s there for, what it costs us (you’ll probably care), and what you can do about it if you catch yourself caught up by it.

Episode 18

Going All In: Ariel’s Radical Commitment with Paige Easter

In Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Ariel makes a proverbial deal with the devil to get out from under the oppressive rule of her father and follow her highest excitement. In this episode, Paige and Ben discuss the challenges of following your heart, enrolling a supportive team, and the power of radical commitment.

Episode 17

Setting Boundaries: A Key to a Meaningful Life with Clayton Olson

Clayton and Ben are back with another episode and this time they’re talking about the importance of boundaries. Setting boundaries is key to having a meaningful life. They allow you to create space for the things that matter most to you. They protect your relationships. They save you time. But it can be difficult to set boundaries with other people. We want to be liked, we don’t want to rock the boat. We’re afraid of what other people might think or say. So how do we find the balance between building solid relationships and protecting what’s important?

Episode 16

Enrollment vs Delegation: The Art of Inspiring a Team with Sophie Weill

In most early-stage businesses there comes a time when there is more to get done than any one person can accomplish. This is when most business owners start to look to grow their team. But if we’re not careful we can wind up spending as much time on managing as we were on the work itself. In this week’s episode, we’re dealing with some of the mindsets that come up when business owners are thinking about team-building. In our conversation, Sophie and I discuss the challenges of keeping work on track, finding vs training talent, and enrollment vs. delegation.

Episode 15

The Gift of Breakups: Finding Freedom in Loss with Clayton Olson

All of us experience breakups throughout our lives. These aren’t necessarily breakups with a significant other, although they can be. Various life circumstances can be viewed as breakups, whether it’s deciding to leave a career, a relationship, or a bad habit. Today’s focus is on the types of breakups we may experience in life and how to use them to grow in our freedom. In this episode, Ben is joined by Clayton again as they have a conversation about mindsets, experiences and breakups in life.

Episode 14

Even Heroes Feel Like Imposters: Understanding Aladdin with Paige Easter

In this episode, we explore what the story of Aladdin can tell us about each of our journeys to stay focused, build community, and ultimately achieve our heart’s true desire.

Episode 13

Building an Unbreakable Mindset with Clayton Olson

In this episode, Ben is joined by Clayton again as they have another conversation about mindsets, experiences, egos, and uncertainty in life. A lot of us experience adversity and multiple challenges in our everyday life. It is up to us to be resilient and look forward to a brighter tomorrow. Today, Ben and Clayton will focus on anti-fragility, its definition, and its various concepts.

Episode 12

The Safety of Obedience and the Dangers of Freedom in Lady and the Tramp with Paige Easter

In this episode, after a quick recap of the main plot, highlighting the most controversial and engaging parts of the story, we analyze the messaging involving the social and cultural clash depicted in the movie.

We explore the contrast between the safety of following the rules and making our own, how it can be translated to the battle between having a 9 to 5 job or starting a business, and how we tend to judge and desire what we lack in others.

Episode 11

Creating Our Way Out of Analysis Paralysis’ Labyrinth with Sophie Weill

In this episode, we are joined by Sophie to talk about analysis paralysis, why it shows up, and what we can actively do to stop suffering from it. We tackle this issue using several analogies to help us understand why we get paralyzed before making life choices and what analysis paralysis is trying to protect us from. 

Episode 10

The Tension Between the Self and the Collective In Pinocchio with Paige Easter

Today, in our third episode analyzing the myths, the symbols, and the metaphors in Disney movies, we take a deeper look at the story of the wooden boy, Pinocchio. 

We explore the story’s invitation to reflect on cultural clashes, the desirable attributes an individual should aspire to have to become a contributor to society’s flow, and the tension between self-centeredness and community. We also navigate the subtle difference between selfishness and self-centeredness, the negative connotation society attributes to the latter, and the fascinating way fairy tales model and shape heroic attributes and characteristics. 

Episode 9

Surrendering Ourselves To the River Flow of Reality with Clayton Olson

Today, I’m joined by Clayton Olson to talk about one of the 7 radical shifts we can make to change our world: radical acceptance. We delve into why it is so hard to connect with radical acceptance and embrace it in the present moment without feeling we are losing something. 

We go through some practical and philosophical ways to embrace acceptance in the present moment and learn how to be friends with the things we want to change in ourselves and the world around us. 

Episode 8

Just One More Shot! I’ve Only Failed A Thousand Times

In this episode, we discuss radical commitment, the only tool we need to go through, manage, and conquer anything we put our minds into. We analyze the power of radical commitment, go through the four steps to choosing it to be our opt-out to failure, and learn how to put failure in perspective and change our perceptions about it. In addition, we explore and understand why sometimes it is so hard to commit to something.

Episode 7

How To Acknowledge We’ve Been Riding the Bike On Our Own with Sophie Weill

In this episode, we discuss the importance of recognizing the authority and autonomy over our life choices and the need to stop seeing failure as an end and understand it as part of every process. We also explore the concept of externalizing authority, building external and internal self-trust mechanisms, and developing the strength to be ready to face the risk and the consequences of our actions.

Episode 6

Dealing with Unworthiness’ Sneaky Ways with Clayton Olson

In this episode, Clayton Olson helps me unravel unworthiness’ tricky ways. We learn about the concept of worthiness, how it might be showing up in our lives, and what we can do to reverse unworthiness symptoms and effects.

Episode 5

A Deeper Look at Snow White, The Fairest of Them All with Paige Easter

In this episode we discuss symbols, the metaphors, and the message behind the story of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. We take a closer look at both the Disney version and the one published by the Grimm Brothers in 1812 and spot the main differences. 

We analyze the fairy tale’s messaging on value, presence, communion with nature, and acceptance of the inevitable passage of time. We also touch on the cultural differences the tale showcases, especially on how men are women are represented. 

Episode 4

Freeing Ourselves from the Imposter Syndrome

In this episode, we delve into why we experience imposter syndrome and why it’s so common among successful people. We talk about the “curse of knowledge” and its role in creating the feeling of unworthiness, and we go through some practical ways to deal with it. 

We acknowledge that our world is shaped by what we are looking for, and we analyze the importance of celebrating our wins and appreciating our progress.

Episode 3

Getting Comfortable In Our Zone of Genius with Sophie Weill

Joining me today to talk about the zone of genius is Sophie Weill, Founder of the PR Agency Nude Nation Relations and host of the Active Ingredient podcast. Together, we unravel this fascinating topic. We delve into what is the zone of genius, why it is often related to the Japanese “Ikigai” concept, and what we can do to operate 100% of the time in it.

Episode 2

Once Upon a Time. Humans Created the Seeds of Immortality with Paige Easter

Although evolution and change have been the leading force on earth since the beginning of times, some millennial stories, myths, and metaphors stand out for their longevity and relevance. Some of them went through slight modifications to land better in present times, but all maintained their core message. In this episode, I’m joined by my wife Paige to discuss the metaphors in Disney movies; we analyze their long-lasting nature and their power to teach us about ourselves and the world around us.

Episode 1

How Would You Operate If You Were Already There with Clayton Olson

Our conversation revolves around how we are socially conditioned to operate from a zero-sum game mindset, the debilitating and daunting tendency of setting external mile markers, and the distinction between what we need and what we want. We also touch on how the zero-sum game mindset affects our sentimental, professional, and personal lives and what are the most effective motivators to reach our goals. 

For further application of this topic, use this Becoming Goals Workbook.

The Shift to Freedom

Introduction

The Shift to Freedom podcast — a weekly podcast series hosted by Ben Easter and his weekly co-hosts unpacking the discussions of the stories we tell ourselves that hold us back from achieving true freedom.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.