The Power of Oxygen 1st

Dot Rock
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

When my son was little, I was a single mom who was doing it all alone. I was putting everyone else first and my own needs last. To everyone around me, I was successful but little did they know that my success was tied to pushing, stressing, sleepless nights and early morning workouts pushing my body and my limits to the extreme. Until one day  I was flying alone and nearly crashed an airplane and I realized that I needed to take care of my own needs first before anyone else. You see, when you’re a pilot, if you have any issues in the plane, you put on your oxygen mask 1st, not your passengers. They need you to land the plane.    This podcast is all about this journey to healing, to getting clear on the desires of your heart… and stepping into them with courage while leaning into, asking for and receiving support.  I hope you feel inspired to do less, to follow your passions and infuse them into your daily life and truly claim the life you were meant to live: a life filled to the brim with epic ADVENTURE.  

  1. 2d ago

    Ep 118: Should You Fire Them? The Grow or Go Framework for Difficult Employee Conversations

    One of the questions I hear most often from leaders is, "Should I fire them?" After more than 20 years in HR and leadership, I've learned that most leaders don't actually have a termination problem—they have a clarity problem. In this episode, I'm sharing a real conversation I recently had with a CEO who thought she was ready to let go of a senior executive. She was exhausted, frustrated, and carrying the weight of a decision that had been keeping her up at night. But as we talked, we realized something important: this wasn't just about performance. It was about fit. Sometimes people aren't failing because they're incapable. They're struggling because they're sitting in the wrong seat. And when we avoid addressing that truth, everyone feels it—the leader, the employee, the team, and the entire organization. That's exactly why I created my Grow or Go Framework. I believe difficult conversations can be handled with both compassion and accountability. I call it the "velvet hammer" approach: leading with heart while still holding clear expectations and boundaries. Because leadership isn't about avoiding hard conversations. It's about having them with courage, kindness, and honesty. In This Episode: Why most leaders struggle with certainty—not terminationHow to tell the difference between a performance issue and a fit issueThe hidden cost of avoiding difficult conversationsWhy the right conversation can create clarity for everyone involvedHow to lead with both compassion and accountabilityWhat my Grow or Go Framework looks like in practiceHow to create a path forward that honors both the employee and the organization  Grow or Go Framework: https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/fire-with-grace Ready to Breathe Easier? Whether you’re navigating a difficult people decision, feeling buried in work that drains your energy, or ready to build support that actually fits.  Start With Oxygen 1st https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/contact You’ll be guided to the right next step — without pressure, urgency, or overwhelm. Free Tool: Support + Breathe Calculator https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.

    21 min

  2. Jun 9

    Ep 117: Rest, Surrender & Receiving Support - Why High Performers Struggle To Let People Help Them

    Sometimes the teacher needs to learn the lesson too. This episode is a vulnerable one. I'm getting personal about the last few weeks — my son's unexpected injury (a rare thrower's fracture at baseball practice), the ER visit that went from "Epsom salt bath" to "emergency surgery" and back again, and the way that shock cracked something open in me. What followed was a real-time reckoning with the very thing I teach: putting on your oxygen mask first and actually asking for support. If you've ever caught yourself carrying everything and calling it strength, this one's for you. In this episode: What a thrower's fracture is and how Dominic's injury became a turning point for meWhy hyper-independence in entrepreneurs is actually a form of codependency — and why I think we need to call it something differentThe over-functioning cycle: how "I'd rather just do it myself" quietly becomes survival modeWhat I actually did to get the trauma out of my body (breathwork, kitchari, reading in the middle of the day — yes, really)The new session I'm adding to the Oxygen First ClubWhy rest isn't the reward for finishing everything — it's the thing that creates the clarity to move forward Kitchari recipe: (2-4 servings) Kitchari is a potent blood purifier and an Ayurvedic superfood. Mung beans help to strip environmental toxins out of the tissues, which is especially helpful for the reproductive organs liver and thyroid gland health. Kitchari is a great source of protein, easily digestible and perfect for seasonal cleanses. Enjoy preparing! Ingredients: 1/2 cup basmati rice 1/2 cup split mung beans 4-6 cups of water (vegetable stock/bone broth) 2 T ghee (clarified butter) 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 Tbs whole cumin 1 Tbs coriander 1 tsp. fennel 1 Ts fresh grated ginger 1 teaspoon of sea salt 1 teaspoon of turmeric, powered or fresh root. In a saucepan or in your instant pot, warm the ghee. Be really careful to NOT burn it. It is like burning butter. Add spices and sauté for one to two minutes until the aroma the spices is released. Add rice and mung beans and sauté for 2-4 minutes or until they star sticking to the sides of the pot. Then add 4-6 cups of water or , stock (I use water only) and bring to a boil. In Instant Pot, I pressure cook for 20 min (in Colorado at altitude), then slow release. Sometimes it isn't ready but it often is. If using a saucepan, turn down to medium-low heat, cover and cook until beans & rice are tender (approximately 45 minutes). Add salt in when Kitchari is almost done. Your finished kitchari should be the consistency of oatmeal, as opposed to a broth. You may find yourself needing additional water and add more salt as needed. Serve with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime and a dollop of plain, whole yogurt or ghee. I also add chopped avocado to mine and sprinkle with finishing salt. Mung Beans: https://a.co/d/0bLYxN0D Kitchari Spice Mix (I don't use this): https://a.co/d/0iV7jUBb My favorite Ghee: https://a.co/d/09vfk118 Ready to Breathe Easier? Whether you’re navigating a difficult people decision, feeling buried in work that drains your energy, or ready to build support that actually fits.  Start With Oxygen 1st https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/contact You’ll be guided to the right next step — without pressure, urgency, or overwhelm. Free Tool: Support + Breathe Calculator https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.

    32 min

  3. Jun 2

    Ep 116: Delegation WITHOUT Systems Is Just Expensive Babysitting

    Sometimes support doesn’t feel like relief. It feels like more people needing something from you. In this episode, I’m unpacking why delegation so often fails for entrepreneurs and why hiring help can sometimes create even more overwhelm instead of less. I share the deeper truth behind operational exhaustion, the emotional side of leadership, and why simply adding people to chaos is not the same thing as creating support. I’m walking through the difference between task dumping and true delegation, how founders accidentally become the bottleneck inside their businesses, and why so many leaders are still carrying every decision, system, and emotional burden themselves. I also introduce my Four T’s Framework—Trash, Trim, Treasure, and Transfer—to help identify where your energy is leaking and what no longer belongs on your plate. This episode is for entrepreneurs, leaders, and business owners who are tired of holding everything together alone and are ready to create support systems that actually help their business breathe. In this episode, you’ll discover:  Why hiring without systems creates more overwhelm The difference between control and true delegation How founders accidentally become operational bottlenecks Why delegation is an exchange of trust and energy How the Four T’s Framework helps plug oxygen leaks Book a Consultation Call: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/1fbcf12d/appointment/23908581/calendar/3919747?appointmentTypeIds[]=23908581 Ready to Breathe Easier? Whether you’re navigating a difficult people decision, feeling buried in work that drains your energy, or ready to build support that actually fits.  Start With Oxygen 1st https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/contact You’ll be guided to the right next step — without pressure, urgency, or overwhelm. Free Tool: Support + Breathe Calculator https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.

    17 min

  4. May 26

    Ep 115: The Oxygen First Approach to Healing with Lynn Joselyn

    Healing hasn’t been one big fix for me. It’s been layer after layer of finally understanding what my body has been trying to say for years. In this episode, I’m talking with Lynn Joselyn about my own health journey — from liver failure and autoimmune symptoms to realizing mold exposure, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation were playing a much bigger role than I understood at the time. We get into what healing actually looked like for me in midlife, especially during the moments when I felt frustrated, exhausted, and confused about why I still didn’t feel good despite trying so many things. Lynn shares how functional and integrative medicine takes a different approach by looking at the whole body instead of chasing individual symptoms. We also talk about sleep, hormones, inflammation, stress, light exposure, circadian rhythm, and why healing is never as simple as a checklist. This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt dismissed, overwhelmed by wellness advice, or stuck wondering why their body still feels off. And most importantly, it’s a reminder that healing doesn’t have to come from doing more.   In This Episode: Why healing chronic illness is rarely about one root cause How mold toxicity can impact hormones, inflammation, and autoimmune symptoms The role circadian rhythm plays in energy, sleep, and vitality Why nervous system stress affects physical health more than we realize What biofilms are and how they impact chronic health conditions The importance of building a personalized health support team How curiosity can shift your relationship with your body and healing   Connect with Lynn: Website: https://www.integratedspectrumofhealth.com/   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynn-joselyn-0a832135b/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/integrated_spectrum_of_health/   Special offer:   Lynn would like to offer listeners $100 off our Functional Lab program - this is a great entry point to membership or if someone is just wanting to get a deeper look but not commit to full membership.  Initial visit history and exam, comprehensive lab panel and a follow up visiit to review labs and targeted treatment plan to get started.  Hailey will create a code and send it to you.   For the Functional Lab Package, listeners can use code OXYGEN at checkout for $100 off Learn about the Functional Lab Package IntegratedspectrumofhealthFunctional Lab Package | ISH Patients that enroll in the Functional Lab Package typically have a discovery call first. You can share the FREE discovery call link: https://integratedspectrumofhealthscheduling.as.me/?appointmentType=17795642Or if they want to purchase the package without a discovery call: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/catalog.php?owner=21019616&action=addCart&clear=1&id=171890Ready to Breathe Easier? Whether you’re navigating a difficult people decision, feeling buried in work that drains your energy, or ready to build support that actually fits.  Start With Oxygen 1st https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/contact You’ll be guided to the right next step — without pressure, urgency, or overwhelm. Free Tool: Support + Breathe Calculator https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.

    1h 6m

  5. May 19

    EP 114: The Hidden Energy Leaks Costing Your Business Thousands

    Sometimes the biggest shift in a business doesn’t come from adding more. It comes from finally being honest about what’s no longer working. In this episode, I’m talking about one of the hardest leadership questions I see business owners struggle with: should you hire or should you fire? I share a personal moment from a difficult week in my own life and how it brought me right back to the conversations I often help leaders navigate inside their businesses. I’m walking through the hidden weight of dysfunctional team dynamics, the exhaustion that comes from constantly managing chaos, and why so many leaders normalize environments that quietly drain everyone involved. I also share how I approach what I call “Grow or Go” conversations—honest, grounded leadership conversations that create clarity instead of shame. This episode is for leaders who feel stretched thin, emotionally heavy, or stuck carrying dynamics that no longer feel sustainable. Sometimes restoring oxygen starts with one difficult but necessary conversation. In this episode, you’ll discover: How energy leaks quietly impact a businessWhy leaders often avoid hard conversationsWhat happens when teams normalize dysfunctionA more grounded approach to accountabilityWhy clarity creates more oxygen than over-functioning Book a Consultation Call: https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/fire-with-grace Ready to Breathe Easier? Whether you’re navigating a difficult people decision, feeling buried in work that drains your energy, or ready to build support that actually fits.  Start With Oxygen 1st https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/contact You’ll be guided to the right next step — without pressure, urgency, or overwhelm. Free Tool: Support + Breathe Calculator https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.

    24 min

  6. May 12

    EP 113: Breathwork Changed the Way I Trusted Myself with Ashlee Livingstone

    There are moments in life when you realize you can’t think your way forward anymore. You have to get quiet enough to finally hear yourself. In this episode, I’m sitting down with my breathwork coach and dear friend, Ashlee Livingstone, for a conversation that feels incredibly full circle for me. Ashlee has walked beside me through some of the hardest and most transformative seasons of my life, and this episode is a very real look at how breathwork, nervous system regulation, and self-trust helped me begin choosing myself in a completely different way. We talk about what breathwork actually feels like, why so many women struggle to trust themselves, and how getting out of our heads and into our bodies can create clarity we’ve been trying to force for years. We also dive into motherhood, raising teenage boys, manifestation, emotional regulation, and the power of having someone hold the vision for you when you can’t fully hold it yourself yet. This conversation is warm, honest, emotional, and deeply grounding. And if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or like there’s something inside you asking for more, I think this episode will really land. In this episode: How breathwork helps quiet survival modeWhy self-trust is so hard for many womenThe difference between reacting and respondingHow nervous system regulation creates more capacityWhy healing often starts with slowing down Ashlee Livingstone is the founder of Ashlee Livingstone Coaching – a personal growth and breathwork coach supporting high performers who are reaching for their next level in life and business. She teaches her clients how to stay regulated to enhance their clarity and focus, she supports them as they navigate resistance and ensures they are empowered as they take action towards their next level. She is the creator of “The Mental Fitness Club” a space to breathe and actively destress, and “Regulate” a program supporting high performers and teams (from entrepreneurs, women in business, athletes and first responders), where she guides them through the restorative process of becoming regulated to improve your performance and quality of life. Ashlee is currently offering her regulate program! Regulate – this is the foundation of the work I do. Once we learn how to better regulate ourselves we can experience greater clarity, connection and trust our aligned action. https://www.ashleelivingstone.com/regulate Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashlee.livingstone/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlee-livingstone/ Website: www.ashleelivingstone.com Podcast: The Calm Collective - a wellness podcast for women - Podcast - Apple Podcasts Ready to Breathe Easier? Whether you’re navigating a difficult people decision, feeling buried in work that drains your energy, or ready to build support that actually fits.  Start With Oxygen 1st https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/contact You’ll be guided to the right next step — without pressure, urgency, or overwhelm. Free Tool: Support + Breathe Calculator https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.

    1h 17m

  7. Apr 28

    EP 112: Human Design for Business Owners: Stop Forcing, Start Flowing with Jackie Smythe

    What if the reason your business feels heavy isn't because you're doing it wrong—but because you're doing it in a way that was never designed for you? I sit down with Human Design expert Jackie Smythe to explore how understanding your energetic blueprint can completely transform the way you work, lead, delegate, and show up in your business. We break down what Human Design actually is (hint: it's not just another personality test), explore the five energy types, and get real about what it means to build a business aligned with how you're naturally wired—not how hustle culture tells you to operate. Jackie does a live reading of my chart on the podcast, revealing why I've always felt "different," why I was told to be quiet my whole life as a Manifester, and how my psychic intuition and pattern-interrupting energy actually show up in my Human Design. We also talk about my son's Projector energy and how understanding his design has completely shifted how I parent.   In This Episode, You'll Learn: What Human Design is and why it's the clearest picture of who you are at your coreThe five energy types and how they operateWhy Manifesters like me are natural initiators and change-makers—but need rest and solitude to rechargeHow to use your Human Design chart to refine your business messaging and offersThe "not-self theme" for each energy type and how to recognize when you're out of alignmentWhy understanding your team's (and family's) Human Design can transform your relationshipsHow Jackie used Human Design to leave a toxic marriage and build a multi-six-figure business from authentic self-expression  Connect with Jackie:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjackiesmythe?igsh=MTVucDg1YWtraXllbw%3D%3D Ready to Breathe Easier? Whether you’re navigating a difficult people decision, feeling buried in work that drains your energy, or ready to build support that actually fits.  Start With Oxygen 1st https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/contact You’ll be guided to the right next step — without pressure, urgency, or overwhelm. Free Tool: Support + Breathe Calculator https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.

    1h 10m

  8. Apr 21

    EP 111: When Your Body Keeps Score: Putting Your Oxygen Mask On First with Ruth Hirshberg

    What happens when your body starts keeping score? When the life you've built, the career, the routines, the constant giving, suddenly doesn't fit anymore? It can happen to any of us. This week, I am sitting down with Ruth Hirshberg, MSW, RSW—registered social worker, certified meditation and breathwork teacher, and founder of Grounding with Ruth. Ruth shares her powerful journey from social work burnout and chronic illness to creating a life that actually feels like hers. This episode is a reminder that putting on your oxygen mask first isn't selfish. It's survival. And sometimes, it's the only way back to yourself.   In This Episode, You'll Hear: How Ruth went from investigating child abuse as a social worker to walking dogs—and why that pivot saved her lifeWhy people-pleasing and overgiving often stem from childhood beliefs about not being enoughHow meditation and breathwork became Ruth's pathway to healing and self-discoveryWhat it really means to give yourself compassion, empathy, and nurturing first—then show up for othersThe Self-Worth Solution: Ruth's program helping women reconnect with their inherent worthWhy it's okay to change your mind, pivot a thousand times, and build a life that evolves with youRuth's daily oxygen-first practice (hint: it's not in the morning, and that's perfectly fine)The power of community in healing and the gift of feeling less alone Connect with Ruth:  Website: www.groundingwithruth.com Instagram: Instagraminstagram.com groundingwithruth/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61579052467890/mentions/ Facebook group The Enough Project: www.facebook.com/groups/theenoughproject/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ruthhirshberg Podcast Inspired Questions: https://www.groundingwithruth.com/podcast Ready to Breathe Easier? Whether you’re navigating a difficult people decision, feeling buried in work that drains your energy, or ready to build support that actually fits.  Start With Oxygen 1st https://www.dotrockconsulting.com/contact You’ll be guided to the right next step — without pressure, urgency, or overwhelm. Free Tool: Support + Breathe Calculator https://dotrockconsulting.myflodesk.com/hiring-calculator Connect with Dot Instagram - www.instagram.com/dot_rock_ Remember: your energy is your greatest asset. Protect it, invest in it, and always put your oxygen mask on first.

    59 min
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About

When my son was little, I was a single mom who was doing it all alone. I was putting everyone else first and my own needs last. To everyone around me, I was successful but little did they know that my success was tied to pushing, stressing, sleepless nights and early morning workouts pushing my body and my limits to the extreme. Until one day  I was flying alone and nearly crashed an airplane and I realized that I needed to take care of my own needs first before anyone else. You see, when you’re a pilot, if you have any issues in the plane, you put on your oxygen mask 1st, not your passengers. They need you to land the plane.    This podcast is all about this journey to healing, to getting clear on the desires of your heart… and stepping into them with courage while leaning into, asking for and receiving support.  I hope you feel inspired to do less, to follow your passions and infuse them into your daily life and truly claim the life you were meant to live: a life filled to the brim with epic ADVENTURE.  

Information

  • Creator
    Dot Rock
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Power of Oxygen 1st
  • Show Website
    The Power of Oxygen 1st