Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

Michael G Orlowski
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Mental Health

The Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health podcast shares real stories of resilience and transformation. Raw Stories, Real Emotion. increasing mental health awareness isn't about being perfect — it's about being honest. Get your MOJO Back!

  1. 2d ago

    What Money Can't Solve for High Achievers | Mark Holden | #35 | Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

    You can look like you have it all figured out and still be losing contact with yourself. (Guilty.) 🎙️ This week I sat down with Mark Holden, CFP®, a Chicago-based wealth advisor who has spent his career seeing what really sits underneath money decisions: fear, identity, and the need to prove something. Mark's core insight: financial strength and emotional health are not substitutes for one another. Mark moved to Chicago to pursue stage performance, landed in the world of trading, and found his way into financial advice. Along the way he learned that a survival mindset can build a career and then quietly start working against you.   CONNECT WITH MARK HOLDEN https://www.linkedin.com/in/markholdencfp/ https://www.vestorcapital.com Book, Men, Money, and Mental Health: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJRK8PFM?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback   CONNECT WITH MIKE ORLOWSKI https://www.mojomotivates.com https://www.mojoww.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeorlowski/ https://x.com/MichaelOrlowski https://www.facebook.com/MOJOMotivates https://www.tiktok.com/@mojoworldwide   In this conversation, we talk about: • How a scarcity mindset keeps you stuck in survival mode and costs you opportunity • Why high-functioning men burn so much energy maintaining the "I've got this" avatar • Why "time heals all wounds" is false, and why forgiveness may be the greatest superpower • How success keeps moving the goalposts when it's anchored to someone else's definition • The "assumption machine" and why being needed can feel safer than being known • Impression management vs. relationship management when you sell a business or retire • Why asking for help is a strength, and what "environmental building" looks like when you're ready to move from survival to stewardship   Mark also shares about the Outlier Project community, the Headspace event he co-hosts with Josh Perry, and his chapter in the book Men, Money, and Mental Health. Mark, thank you for showing up so honestly. Your willingness to say "I may not have all the answers after all" gives other men permission to do the same. You are helping people move from armor to authenticity. If you're successful on the outside but struggling on the inside, please know that help is available. Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call 911 in an emergency. You matter beyond your performance.   If this conversation moved you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Get your MOJO back! 💪   This episode is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice.

  2. Oct 13

    The Breakthrough the VA Couldn't Give Him | Chris Eaton | #34 | Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

    Chris Eaton is a military veteran who spent five years and saw 24 different VA therapists trying to deal with childhood and combat trauma. In 2023, psychedelic-assisted therapy (psilocybin) changed everything for him. He's now finishing a PhD in spirituality and consciousness, works as a death doula, and practices shamanic energy healing and breathwork. He's also finishing a book, "Don't Wait for Death to Wake You Up," expected around November.   Connect with Chris Eaton https://www.withchriseaton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriseaton10x/  https://www.trinity-yoga.com      Connect with Mike Orlowski https://www.mojomotivates.com https://www.mojoww.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeorlowski/ https://x.com/MichaelOrlowski https://www.facebook.com/MOJOMotivates https://www.tiktok.com/@mojoworldwide   Episode summary: Chris opens up about childhood bullying, military trauma, a 2018 suicide attempt, and years of drinking to numb it all. He explains why 24 VA therapists only chipped away at "10-15% of the mountain," and how two psilocybin sessions in 2023 gave him what he calls a "reset button" — including the science-ish explanation of how it breaks the brain's trigger loops (why a car backfiring stops meaning "incoming fire"). He and Mike also get into what a death doula does, breathwork and nervous system regulation, forgiveness (of others and yourself), and why hiding pain in silence is what does the real damage.   Key moments (timestamps): 0:00 — Intro and who Chris is 2:09 — Childhood trauma and bullying 9:04 — Rock bottom: 2018 suicide attempt 9:32 — The VA and 24 therapists 10:31 — Finding psychedelic-assisted therapy (via the Sean Ryan/VETS podcast) 13:45 — How psilocybin works on trauma triggers 16:03 — What a psilocybin session is really like 23:28 — The switch flipping — life after his first session 25:16 — Would he go back? "Peeling back an onion" 30:04 — What a death doula does 34:04 — Breathwork and calming the nervous system 41:48 — Central theme: hiding pain destroys from within 46:34 — His upcoming book, "Don't Wait for Death to Wake You Up" 50:15 — Forgiveness — of others, and of yourself 53:03 — Mike's own turning point at 45 59:55 — Where to find Chris

  3. Oct 6

    You Don't Have to Be Healed to Live Fully | Rita Garnto | #33 | Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

    Rita Garnto has been diagnosed with dysthymia — chronic low-grade depression. She's not waiting for it to go away. In this conversation, she shares what it actually feels like to live with ongoing depression while building a full life, and the uncomplicated self-care framework that's kept her going for over 15 years. Connect with Mike Orlowski • https://www.mojomotivates.com  • https://www.mojoww.com • https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeorlowski/ • https://x.com/MichaelOrlowski • https://www.facebook.com/MOJOMotivates • https://www.tiktok.com/@mojoworldwide   Connect with Rita:   ·  www.simpleselfcare.net   ·  https://www.linkedin.com/in/simpleselfcare/     ·  Rita@simpleselfcare.net | Free Simple Self-Care Text Club (Tuesday morning missions) | 6-week workshop series launching October 15 in Charlotte   In this episode: ·       What dysthymia actually feels like — the shadows, the mood swings, the misunderstanding ·       The 2009 turning point: sobbing on the back deck after adopting two toddlers at 45 ·       A doctor's question that changed everything: "What changes are you going to make?" ·       How she started with one tiny practice — stretching while brushing her teeth ·       Why she says "I've been diagnosed" instead of "I have" — don't own your diagnosis ·       Caveman software in a smartphone world: why our stress response can't tell the difference between a tiger and a Tuesday ·       Weightlifting at 63 with a titanium plate in her neck and arthritis for 20 years ·       Why saying it out loud is where healing begins   Uncomplicated Self-Care Rita's framework — simple, consistent practices that fit your daily life and compound over time. Three categories: ·       Movement — walking, stretching, weightlifting, punching a bag, gardening ·       Mindfulness — pausing, breathing, awareness of what triggered you ·       Brain-Dumping — journaling, writing down what's rattling around Science-based, no cost, 30 seconds is enough to start resetting your nervous system.    If you or someone you love is struggling: ·       Call or text 988 — Suicide and Crisis Lifeline ·       Call 911 for emergencies

  4. Sep 29

    He Was Addicted to His Own Business | Alan Stein | #32 | Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

    Alan Stein built Kadima Careers into a $5M business, helped thousands navigate their careers, and burned himself out in the process. In this conversation, he shares what happens when career success turns into burnout, depression, and addiction — and what recovery looks like when there's no clear roadmap forward. In this episode: ·       Alan's career across 21 companies and 30 jobs, from American Express and Google to Salesforce, Meta, and professional baseball ·       How Kadima Careers became both his purpose and his prison — 12-17 hours a day, 5-7 days a week ·       Why his wife and kids saw the warning signs before he did, and the Sunday Zoom that led to rehab ·       Business addiction, weed as self-medication, and the digital detox that was hardest of all ·       Shutting down Kadima in March: "like pulling a band-aid off" ·       Being diagnosed with Type 1 Autism at age 51 — and what it explained ·       The identity crisis of losing "CEO," "founder," and "involved dad" all at once ·       Why employee assistance programs are underused, and how stigma keeps people silent ·       Alan's practical advice for anyone in career transition: five chats a week, listen 2-to-1, build from referrals Five Chats a Week Alan's core advice for anyone in career transition: ·       Aim for five conversations a week with people who can teach you something ·       Listen at a 2-to-1 ratio — two ears, one mouth ·       The best jobs come through referrals and human connection, not online applications   Connect with Mike Orlowski •  https://www.mojomotivates.com   •  https://www.mojoww.com •  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeorlowski/ •  https://x.com/MichaelOrlowski •  https://www.facebook.com/MOJOMotivates •  https://www.tiktok.com/@mojoworldwide   Alan Stein Resources •  https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanjstein/ ·  Alan@KadimaCareers.com

  5. Sep 22

    Losing Her Son. Saving Lives. | Leslie Weirich | #31 | Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

    Leslie Weirich lost her son Austin to suicide in 2016. Now she travels to military bases teaching young men how to stay alive. In this conversation, she shares Austin's story, the counterintuitive triggers driving military suicide, and the practical 3-8-3 Challenge that anyone can use to calm the nervous system before crisis hits. In this episode: ·       Austin's story and how loss became Leslie's mission ·       Why young men 18-30 are the highest-risk group ·       The doorbell at 2:30 a.m. and the chaplain who walked them through it ·       Why relationship breakups — not combat — trigger most military suicides ·       Suicide as a brain injury: the amygdala hijack and undeveloped prefrontal cortex ·       Childhood sexual trauma in the enlisted population ·       Alaska's Mission 100: how connection reduced suicides from 17 to 6     Connect with Mike Orlowski ·       https://www.mojomotivates.com ·       https://www.mojoww.com   ·       https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeorlowski/ ·       https://x.com/MichaelOrlowski ·       https://www.facebook.com/MOJOMotivates ·       https://www.tiktok.com/@mojoworldwide Connect with Leslie Weirich ·       https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-weirich-a55a73159/ ·       https://leslieshope.org/ •     https://www.amazon.com/Gifts-Grief-Four-Decades-Shaped-ebook/dp/B0CR6S2R5P?ref_=ast_author_mpb   8 Warning Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship Austin missed eight out of eight. If you see even one, it's time to look closer. 1.      Excessive jealousy 2.      Constant guilt without knowing why 3.      Always being told you're at fault 4.      Feeling like you're never good enough 5.      Giving up the things or people you love 6.      Never knowing when they'll explode 7.      Non-acceptance of your flaws and demands to change 8.      Pressure to conform to their risky behavior

  6. Sep 15

    How He Broke Free From Opioid Addiction | Hans Weygoldt | #30 | Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

    Master the Pause: Breathwork, Coaching, and Reclaiming Personal Power Hans Weygoldt spent 15 years in corporate management before burnout and substance abuse forced a breaking point. What he discovered next changed everything: breathwork isn't just a relaxation technique—it's a tool that creates neurological space between stimulus and response. Paired with coaching, this "pause" becomes the gateway to freedom. Hans shares his journey from opioid addiction to recovery through plant medicine, breathwork, and consciousness exploration, revealing why the simple act of taking three conscious breaths can rewire reactive patterns and reclaim your power. His core message: stop blaming external circumstances, take responsibility for your nervous system, and master the pause. Everything changes in that space.   Connect with Mike Orlowski • https://www.mojomotivates.com • https://www.mojoww.com   • https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeorlowski/ • https://x.com/MichaelOrlowski • https://www.facebook.com/MOJOMotivates • https://www.tiktok.com/@mojoworldwide   Connect with Hans Weygoldt • https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-andreas-weygoldt-151777356/ • https://www.facebook.com/hans.whygold   Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome, support message, and why breathwork plus coaching matters 01:30 - Hans Weygoldt’s background and core principle of the pause 03:08 - Corporate success that felt empty from the inside 04:20 - The breaking point and deciding drastic change was necessary 05:18 - How prescribed painkillers led to addiction 06:56 - Fatherhood, denial, and realizing the habit was taking over 08:11 - Therapy helped relationships but not the substance abuse 09:09 - Ayahuasca in Peru and the search for consciousness 10:11 - Discovering holotropic breathwork after Peru 11:19 - What a deep breathwork session feels like 12:43 - How breathwork helped dissolve guilt and shame 15:19 - The pause between stimulus and response 18:40 - Why breathwork needs integration coaching 20:41 - How breathwork reveals unconscious patterns 22:30 - Shame, masking, and the pressure on corporate leaders 25:26 - Global perspective, multicultural family, and human connection 27:19 - Group sessions versus one-on-one online work 29:00 - Why helping one person still changes many lives 31:54 - Where to start if you are stuck in reactive patterns 35:35 - Freedom, responsibility, and becoming the master of your own mind 37:40 - Hans’s biggest lesson about addiction and reclaiming power 38:59 - Final takeaway: practice the pause, reset the nervous system, and choose your response

  7. Sep 8

    Grief Isn't Just About Death | Melissa Douaire | #29 | Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

    Grief Beyond Death: Identity Loss, Caregiving, and the Power of Presence Mike Orlowski talks with Melissa Duair, a grief support specialist and caregiving advocate, about why grief is not limited to death. They explore how identity loss, role transitions, divorce, retirement, empty nesting, and caregiving can all trigger real grief. Melissa also explains why toxic positivity can block healing and how presence, validation, and intentional choice create space for real recovery.   Connect with Mike Orlowski • https://www.mojomotivates.com • https://www.mojoww.com   • https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeorlowski/ • https://x.com/MichaelOrlowski • https://www.facebook.com/MOJOMotivates • https://www.tiktok.com/@mojoworldwide   Connect with Melissa Douaire • https://a.co/d/09dIfCM9 - The Care You Give, Amazon • https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissadouaire/ ·  www.wholepersonconversations.com   Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome, crisis resources, and why this episode matters 02:16 - Grief beyond death: identity loss, transitions, and the sandwich generation 04:11 - What is actually lost in caregiving and empty nesting 06:46 - Rediscovering self after the children grow up 08:42 - Gray divorce, family change, and the ripple effects on kids 13:39 - Questions instead of answers: Melissa’s coaching approach 15:02 - The concentric circles framework for inherited narratives 16:59 - Choosing agency over toxic self-talk 18:24 - Stickies on the wall: making overwhelm visible and manageable 22:11 - Why the Ministry of Presence matters more than fixing 25:16 - How presence helps in grief after death 27:39 - The secondary loss of friends who do not show up 29:07 - Why toxic positivity dismisses real fear and grief 33:24 - Sitting with pain instead of rushing past it 34:09 - Loss needs meaning, witnessing, and validation 36:36 - Testing inherited stories against reality 39:30 - Melissa’s grief work during the pandemic and in corporate settings 41:26 - Graduation, retirement, and athletic identity as forms of loss 46:08 - The Care You Give and the hidden burden on caregivers 49:54 - Why caregiving expectations create fear and resistance 52:19 - Sustainable support for the sandwich generation 53:34 - Planning ahead for DNRs, healthcare power of attorney, and final wishes 55:25 - Taking the burden off the next generation 59:12 - What changes when grief is something to learn from, not fix 60:33 - Complicated relationships create complicated grief 62:28 - Where to find

  8. Sep 1

    Stage 4 Cancer to Kona Iron Man | James Logan | #28 | Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health

    James Logan is a stage four colorectal cancer survivor, Ironman athlete, author, and cancer advocate.  He speaks about what mental toughness really looks like when life gets stripped down to the essentials. The conversation centers on surviving a terminal diagnosis, steering suffering instead of surrendering to it, and finding purpose through faith, movement, and service. James shares how cancer became both the worst and best event of his life, and why the mindset that carries someone through Ironman training can also carry them through chemotherapy, surgeries, and uncertainty.   Connect with James Logan ·  https://www.instagram.com/stage42025/ ·  Ironman Foundation Donation Link:  https://bit.ly/3UWNq9N ·  Book “Just Keep Tri-Ing” at Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GX3JNLF7?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Connect with Mike Orlowski • https://www.mojomotivates.com   • https://www.mojoww.com • https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeorlowski/ • https://x.com/MichaelOrlowski • https://www.facebook.com/MOJOMotivates • https://www.tiktok.com/@mojoworldwide

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The Mojo, Motivation & Mental Health podcast shares real stories of resilience and transformation. Raw Stories, Real Emotion. increasing mental health awareness isn't about being perfect — it's about being honest. Get your MOJO Back!

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