Glass Half Full

Chris Levens
  • 5.0 (18)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Glass Half Full is an educational podcast about sharing our life experiences, as a lesson. A safe platform where people can listen, and learn through positivity, spirituality, wellness and creativity in someone else’s testimony and life experiences. We all have something to share, and many times we are all searching for the same things. I hope to start a platform, to aid in this educational bridge to show how we can become our best selves, that we possibly can. Through this, I believe we can really live the most out of our daily lives.

  1. JAN 8

    Rewriting How We Think About Aging With Dr. Corinne Auman

    Send us a text Most of what we’ve been taught about aging is wrong—and it’s quietly shaping how we live, work, and show up for each other. With gerontologist  Dr. Corinne Auman, we swap the “over the hill” narrative for something more honest and far more hopeful: Keenagers—older adults who stay keen, engaged, and purposeful. We trace Corinne’s path from rural North Carolina to the classroom and into real-world care management, where she sees 70-year-olds advocating for their 90-year-old parents and launching new ventures. We unpack why language matters—how a single word can open space for dignity—and we get practical about what truly drives a great later life. Lifestyle accounts for the majority of our aging experience, which means movement, social ties, learning, and purpose are non-negotiable. We connect the dots to Blue Zones and to cultures like Japan, where elders remain woven into daily life, and we talk candidly about the mental toll of retirement when purpose disappears. This conversation is equal parts mindset shift and field guide. You’ll learn how to spot ageism in everyday moments, replace limiting scripts with stronger ones, and design a plan that goes beyond money: legal basics, weekly routines, intellectual spark, and community anchors. Corinne shares simple practices for mental health and why even with illness, adaptive joy—like Parkinson’s dance classes—keeps agency alive. If you’ve ever said “I’m too old for that,” consider this your invitation to rewrite the line. Listen now, share this with someone who needs a brighter map for their next chapter, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Want more conversations like this? Subscribe and tell us the one aging myth you’re ready to retire. http://www.corinneauman.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinneauman/ https://www.instagram.com/keenagersbook/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558512157337 Support the show

    58 min

  2. 12/11/2025

    Rising From The Crash

    Send us a text What happens when a single crash erases days of memory and rewrites the rules of your life? We sit down with Nicholas Ruchlewicz to trace his arc from a storage-lot motorcycle crash to surgeries, rehab, and the gritty work of reclaiming identity after a traumatic brain injury. He opens up about the 12-day void he can’t remember, the moment he realized he had to relearn how to walk, and the unexpected tools that pulled him out of isolation. Nicholas walks us through the realities of right-side brain injury—executive function, attention, vision—and the emotional whiplash of anxiety and depression that followed. He shares how continuity of care became a battle with the health system and why protecting a trusted therapist can be the difference between treading water and moving forward. Along the way, he uncovers practices that actually help: naming the feeling under anger, pausing before you react, and choosing an opposite action to shift momentum. Then the story turns to music and games. Heavy music lowered his pain spikes in the ICU and later became a bridge to community and purpose. Following Lacuna Coil across cities, he transformed gratitude into connection and advocacy. At the tabletop, role-playing games rebuilt fine motor skills, memory, and focus while offering a safe, inclusive space for players to belong. Painting miniatures during the pandemic anchored his nerves and gave him a daily ritual of calm. We wrap with clear takeaways for anyone facing trauma or supporting someone who is: you are not alone, healing is not a zero-sum game, and hope is free medicine. If you’re looking for real talk about recovery—and practical ways to find your footing again—this conversation will meet you where you are and hand you a next step. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs it, and leave a rating or review so others can find these stories. LinkTree - https://linktr.ee/giftofperspective YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@NPR_Nerd Spotify (link in my LinkTree)- https://open.spotify.com/user/31vgmhbu654nulf6pcfso4khw6i4 Support the show

    58 min

  3. 10/30/2025

    From Cardiac Arrest To Courage: Rebuilding Life 30 Seconds At A Time

    Send us a text A metal building. A humid morning. A partner workout with his teenage son. Then silence. Jeff Luther’s heart flatlined, the AED fired three times, and eight minutes later he came back with a vow: die living instead of live dying. What follows isn’t a hero montage. It’s a human one—fear, bitterness, an ARVC diagnosis that punishes exertion, and a divorce that lands just as he’s relearning how to trust his body. We walk through the messy middle: the taste of near-death that lingers, the implanted defibrillator that both protects and unnerves, and the hard truth Jeff discovered when time was measured in heartbeats. He didn’t want more money or medals. He wanted a hand on his arm and his son within reach. That clarity becomes a compass. Gratitude stops being a platitude and starts working like a switch—crowding out despair with small, specific thanks. From there, he designs a new way to move: low-adrenaline training, no music, no cheering, and a coach who agrees to watch the clock and call the ambulance if needed. The breakthrough is quiet and real. Mid-workout, Jeff quits—fully. His coach asks for 30 seconds just to end on a win. He tries. Nothing breaks. He tries again. He finishes the session in 30-second intervals, and a life philosophy takes shape: success isn’t a finish line, it’s the action you take today. Put on your shoes. Show up. Work for 30 seconds. Rest. Repeat. Along the way we talk about CrossFit community, cardiac arrest survival, ARVC-safe exercise, the psychology of fear, and why better questions—how is today treating you—build stronger connections than small talk ever could. If this story resonates, follow and share it with someone who needs a small win today. Subscribe for more conversations about resilience, purpose, and practical courage, and leave a review to help others find the show. What’s the next 30 seconds you’re willing to take? Jeffluther.com IG – allcan_nocant Support the show

    1h 10m

  4. 10/09/2025

    Sleep Is The Superpower You’re Missing

    Send us a text What if the fastest way to think sharper, feel steadier, and show up stronger is the one habit you keep postponing? Dr. Leah Kaylor—licensed clinical and prescribing psychologist and longtime sleep expert for the FBI—joins us to unpack sleep as the hidden engine of performance, health, and daily sanity. Her journey from a small Pennsylvania town through the VA sleep clinic to federal service reveals just how many struggles are actually sleep problems in disguise—and how fixable they can be with the right tools. We get practical fast. Leah demystifies insomnia by splitting it into primary, secondary, and paradoxical types, then walks through the proven CBT-I playbook: consistent wake times, smarter naps, reframing anxious sleep thoughts, and designing a wind-down routine that lowers light and dopamine. She breaks down circadian rhythm in plain English and shares a free, powerful reset: morning outdoor light within an hour of waking to cue the brain’s clock and get melatonin flowing on time at night. We also explore the link between short sleep, hunger hormones, and next-day cravings—why a single bad night can push you toward sugar, extra calories, and sluggish motivation. Leah doesn’t shy away from the tricky stuff. She outlines how to make bedrooms safer for sleepwalkers, why scheduled awakenings can interrupt predictable episodes in kids, and how alcohol quietly wrecks sleep quality even when it helps you doze off. And we talk about her new book, If Sleep Were a Drug—a practical, data-informed field guide written with first responders in mind but useful for anyone who wants steadier moods, clearer focus, and real recovery. If you’re ready to make tonight easier and tomorrow better, press play and try her simple steps: dim earlier, cut the late scroll, get morning light, and give yourself a landing strip before bed. If this conversation helps, share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can sleep better and live better. drleahkaylor.com all socials I am Dr. Leah Kaylor  Book will be on my website, books.by, and amazon.  Support the show

    1h 6m

  5. 09/12/2025

    Who Are We Beyond What We Can See?

    Send us a text How do you navigate life when the world around you literally begins to disappear? Laura Bratton takes us on a remarkable journey through her experience of losing her sight as a child and discovering a deeper kind of vision along the way. Diagnosed at age nine with a rare retinal condition, Laura gradually lost her sight throughout middle and high school—a particularly painful time as her peers were gaining independence through driver's licenses while she was losing hers. Yet through this profound challenge, Laura discovered a powerful framework for resilience that she now shares with others: the balance of grit and gratitude. The most touching moments in our conversation reveal how Laura's family refused to let blindness become her identity or excuse. When teenage Laura tried using her condition to get out of chores, her mother simply said, "Laura, unload the dishwasher" and walked away—a moment of "tough love" that Laura initially resented but now recognizes as one of her greatest gifts. These experiences taught her that limitations don't diminish worth, and that acknowledging difficulties while choosing to move forward anyway is the essence of true courage. Laura's definition of gratitude might surprise you. It's not about constant positivity or denying difficult emotions. Rather, it means being thankful for what helps us move through challenges—sometimes as simple as appreciating that a particularly tough day is finally over. This refreshing perspective liberates us from the pressure to "stay positive" and instead encourages authentic engagement with our full human experience. As founder of Ubi Global and author of "Harnessing Courage," Laura now guides individuals and organizations through significant life changes and what she calls "non-death losses"—the grieving process that accompanies major life transitions beyond literal death. Her story reminds us that healing integrates mind, body, and spirit, and that our greatest challenges often become the foundation for our most meaningful contributions to others. What change are you facing that could benefit from both grit and gratitude? Join us for this transformative conversation about seeing beyond sight and finding strength in vulnerability. //www.laurabratton.com/ Support the show

    57 min

  6. 06/12/2025

    Everyone has a guardian angel waiting to guide them through life.

    Send us a text What if the answers you seek have been with you all along, waiting for you to simply open the right channel of communication? Ros Place, a Guardian Angel communicator with over 20 years of experience, reveals the extraordinary reality that each of us has a personal guide assigned at the moment of conception—our very own guardian angel. From her earliest memories of angelic presences surrounding her bed as a toddler to reluctantly shutting down her connection as a pre-teen facing social pressure, Ros's journey with her guardian angel Trissan is both deeply personal and universally relevant. The dramatic reconnection came during the vulnerable, transformative experience of childbirth, creating a crack in her defenses that allowed this ancient bond to flourish once again. The most fascinating aspect of Ros's work is her Channel of Clarity Method—a structured 12-step process that enables anyone to establish direct verbal communication with their guardian angel within just 12 weeks. Unlike vague spiritual practices, this method consistently delivers results by teaching people to channel through their heart center rather than their mind. As Ros explains, "Channeling is an experience of being in a space of spa-like peace" where profound guidance flows through you without mental interference. Now traveling the world with her husband and teenage sons under Trissan's guidance, Ros demonstrates how angelic communication transforms everyday life into an adventure of purpose and alignment. Her guardian angel doesn't map out grand life plans but instead provides just the next step—creating a beautiful metaphor for spiritual growth itself. As she puts it, "All you need is the next step, because when you apply that, you're able to see the next thing." Ready to discover what your guardian angel has been trying to tell you? Start by noticing recurring numbers in your environment—a simple way these celestial guides attempt to catch our attention. Then consider taking that courageous step toward establishing your own direct line of communication with the highest personal guide who has been with you all along. hello@rosplace.com https://courses.rosplace.com/products/digital_downloads/angel-number-guide Support the show

    1h 11m

  7. 05/15/2025

    Dreaming Beyond Disability: The Ken Kunken Story

    Send us a text What happens when a football tackle changes everything? Ken Kunken's life pivoted dramatically in 1970 when he broke his neck during a Cornell University football game, leaving him almost completely paralyzed from the shoulders down. Doctors delivered a devastating prognosis—they didn't expect him to survive the week. If he did, they predicted a shortened life in a nursing home. Ken refused to accept these limitations. Just eleven days after hospital discharge, he returned to Cornell—navigating a campus with no wheelchair accessibility—and became the first quadriplegic to graduate from the university. This was merely the beginning of his boundary-breaking journey. Through raw, honest conversation, Ken shares how he earned two master's degrees and faced crushing employment discrimination despite his impressive credentials. When over 200 job applications went unanswered, he finally found opportunity at Abilities Inc., counseling others with disabilities. But Ken wasn't finished redefining possibility—he graduated from law school and spent over 40 years as an Assistant District Attorney, even though he couldn't initially fit through the courtroom doors in his wheelchair. Perhaps most powerfully, Ken opens up about finding love later in life and becoming a father to triplet sons through in vitro fertilization. Now in their twenties and attending prestigious universities, his sons represent the life Ken was told would be impossible. Throughout our conversation, Ken's philosophy shines through: "Just because something has not been done before doesn't mean you cannot do it now." His memoir, "I Dream of Things That Never Were," captures this spirit of relentless possibility. Whether you're facing challenges or simply need inspiration, Ken's story proves that with determination and support, extraordinary achievements are possible regardless of physical limitations. Subscribe to Glass Half Full for more conversations that challenge assumptions and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit. Please reach Ken: www.kenkunken.com,  kennethkunken@gmail.com. Also, is via messenger connected to facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ken.kunken/) Support the show

    1h 3m

  8. 04/24/2025

    Beyond Words: How Art Reveals What Your Soul Already Knows

    Send us a text Ever felt stuck in your own head, trying to think your way out of difficult emotions? Susan Hensley discovered a powerful alternative when she picked up some crayons during the pandemic and let her "inner five-year-old get loose." This simple act of creative play opened a doorway to profound healing and self-discovery that changed the trajectory of her life. Susan joins us to share how art journaling became her pathway from corporate executive to transformational coach and author. With warmth and wisdom, she explains why this practice works especially well for people who don't consider themselves creative or artistic. "I have yet to meet an adult who takes themselves seriously while holding a crayon," she laughs, revealing how this simple tool helps silence our inner critic and access deeper wisdom. What makes Susan's approach so refreshing is its accessibility. Her three-minute scribbling exercise requires nothing more than two colors and a small piece of paper. Yet this brief creative play can provide what she calls a "turbo boost" for emotional processing—helping us move through rage, fear, and uncertainty with greater ease. She shares fascinating examples of how the images and symbols that emerged in her journals revealed truths her conscious mind hadn't yet recognized, from winding paths that predicted her career transition to an open door with a yellow lab that appeared just as she was publishing her book. For anyone navigating life's "messy middle" between endings and new beginnings, Susan offers both practical tools and compassionate perspective. Whether you're facing career changes, relationship shifts, or simply seeking more joy in your daily life, her insights on creative resilience provide a refreshing alternative to traditional self-help approaches. Try her simple exercises, explore the patterns that emerge, and discover what your soul might be trying to tell you through color, shape, and symbol. Ready to scribble your way to greater clarity and peace? Visit susan-hensley.com for free resources to start your own art journaling practice today. https://susan-hensley.com/ Support the show

    1h 6m
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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Glass Half Full is an educational podcast about sharing our life experiences, as a lesson. A safe platform where people can listen, and learn through positivity, spirituality, wellness and creativity in someone else’s testimony and life experiences. We all have something to share, and many times we are all searching for the same things. I hope to start a platform, to aid in this educational bridge to show how we can become our best selves, that we possibly can. Through this, I believe we can really live the most out of our daily lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Levens
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    73
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Glass Half Full
  • Show Website
    Glass Half Full