Control or Be Controlled

Darlington Ogbuka
  • 4.9 (24)
  • Educación

Most people aren’t in control of their lives they’re driven by habits, addictions, emotions, and distractions they don’t question. Control or Be Controlled explores discipline, self mastery, modern addiction, and the psychology of ambition. Through raw solo episodes and real conversations, it breaks down what it takes to take back control mentally, emotionally, and financially. No surface level motivation just honest, direct insight for those ready to live with intention and build consistency, focus, and long term growth in a distracted world. New Episodes Weekly

  1. hace 1 día

    Lisa Lacy: When Survival Becomes an Identity Trauma, Addiction and the Cost of Performing Strength

    What happens when the very strength that helped you survive becomes the thing keeping you from truly living? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled, Darlington sits down with Lisa Lacy, writer, trauma educator, storyteller, and author of the upcoming memoir Notes From a Certified Madwoman. Lisa brings an unusually honest perspective to addiction, psychosis, trauma, recovery, identity, and what she calls the hidden reality of high-functioning survival. After more than three decades in corporate education, healthcare consulting, performance, and storytelling—and drawing from her own experiences with addiction and severe psychosis—Lisa explores what happens when people become experts at appearing okay while quietly struggling underneath. The conversation goes beyond simply surviving difficult experiences. Lisa shares why people sometimes become attached to the identities they built to survive, how trauma can shape the way we understand ourselves, and why telling the truth about our experiences can become a powerful part of healing. We also explore the pressure many women face to perform strength, wellness, success, and stability—even when their nervous systems are telling a very different story. In this episode, we explore:
• When survival becomes part of your identity
• The hidden cost of always appearing strong
• Trauma, addiction, and psychosis through a human lens
• Why high-functioning people can still be deeply struggling
• Identity masking and the pressure to perform wellness
• How trauma can change the way we see ourselves and others
• The relationship between storytelling and healing
• Recovery, reinvention, and rebuilding after adversity
• Why sharing difficult stories can break the cycle of isolation
• What happens when you finally stop pretending everything is okay Lisa’s approach is raw, psychologically informed, unexpectedly funny, and deeply human. This is a conversation about confronting the parts of ourselves we hide, understanding the stories that shaped us, and deciding whether those stories will continue to control us. 🔗 Connect with Lisa Lacy:
https://www.lisalacy.com/ If you’ve ever become so good at holding everything together that nobody realized you were falling apart, this conversation is for you.

  2. hace 1 día

    David Godshall: From Navy SEAL to Unshakeable Calm How to Quiet a Restless Mind

    What does it take to remain calm when life feels overwhelming and your own mind won’t stop? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled, Darlington sits down with David Godshall, a former Navy SEAL, Beirut veteran, and longtime practitioner of mental training who has spent more than 20,000 hours studying and training the mind under the guidance of a Tibetan Buddhist master. David’s journey began in some of the most intense circumstances imaginable. In 1983, while serving as a Navy SEAL in Beirut, he experienced the devastating barracks bombing that killed 241 Americans. After spending years burying the experience, the accumulated stress eventually caught up with him. Rather than allowing his restless mind to control his life, David embarked on a decades-long search for a better way to understand and train it—from Zen and Eckhart Tolle to intensive training under a Tibetan Buddhist master. Today, he teaches the practical lessons he discovered, stripping away the mysticism and focusing on simple tools anyone can use to manage overthinking, stress, anxiety, and emotional reactions. In this conversation, we explore: David’s experience as a Navy SEAL and Beirut veteranWhat happened when years of buried stress finally caught up with himHow overthinking and anxiety can take control of our livesWhat decades of mental training taught him about the mindHow to interrupt your body’s stress reactionWhy calm is a skill that can be trainedThe difference between controlling your thoughts and understanding themHow to create more space between a trigger and your responsePractical techniques for calming yourself in difficult momentsDavid’s powerful 60-Second Reset techniqueWhat his journey taught him about lasting peace and happinessDavid’s story is a powerful reminder that you may not be able to control everything that happens to you, but you can learn to control how you respond. If you’ve ever struggled with a restless mind, chronic stress, anxiety, or overthinking, this conversation offers both a gripping story and practical tools you can begin using immediately. Connect with David Godshall 🌐 Website: https://davidgodshall.com/
💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/david-godshall-63443a3ab 🎁 Get David’s free 60-Second Reset:
https://davidgodshall.com/

  3. hace 1 día

    Dr. Michael Guadagnino: How to Stay Strong, Active, and Independent as You Age

    What if getting older didn’t have to mean getting weaker, slower, or more dependent? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled, Darlington sits down with Dr. Michael Guadagnino III, a chiropractic physician, lifelong health advocate, martial artist, and author of the bestselling book Fitness Over 50, 60, 70 & Beyond. With more than 30 years of clinical experience and a background in biology and martial arts, Dr. Guadagnino has dedicated his career to helping people maintain strength, mobility, vitality, and independence throughout the aging process. He challenges the idea that pain, inactivity, loss of strength, and declining mobility are simply unavoidable parts of getting older—and explains why taking responsibility for your health can dramatically change the way you experience later life. In this conversation, we explore: Why aging doesn’t have to mean giving up your strength and independenceThe biggest misconceptions about fitness after 50How movement can influence long-term health and quality of lifeWhy strength and mobility become increasingly important as we ageHow martial arts shaped Dr. Guadagnino’s philosophy on discipline and resilienceWhy consistency matters more than intensityHow older adults can begin rebuilding their fitness safelyThe connection between physical health and personal independenceWhy too many people accept declining health as inevitablePractical ways to move better, feel stronger, and stay activeDr. Guadagnino offers a powerful reminder that age is not a limitation—it’s a reason to become more intentional about how you care for your body. If you’re approaching 50, already in your 50s, 60s, 70s, or simply want to build a healthier future, this conversation will challenge you to stop accepting decline as inevitable and start fighting for your health. Connect with Dr. Michael Guadagnino 🌐 Website: https://www.drmguad.com/
📖 Book & Resources: https://FitnessOver50.life
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.michaelguadagnino6874
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrGuad
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michael-guadagnino-dc-ba03b550/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drmguad

  4. hace 1 día

    Kate Engler: The PR Anti-Christ Reveals the Secrets to Getting Free Media Exposure

    What if you could get powerful media coverage without paying thousands of dollars to a traditional PR agency? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled, Darlington sits down with Kate Engler, a PR strategist with more than 30 years of experience who has been dubbed the “PR Anti-Christ” by senior journalists for challenging the traditional PR model. Rather than keeping media secrets behind an agency paywall, Kate teaches entrepreneurs, experts, and business owners how to take control of their own publicity and create opportunities for free media exposure. Kate reveals what journalists are actually looking for, why so many business owners get their media pitches wrong, and how understanding the media landscape can turn an unknown business into a credible expert in the eyes of the public. In this conversation, we explore: Why Kate was given the title “PR Anti-Christ”The biggest mistakes business owners make with the mediaHow to get journalists interested in your storyThe two sides of the media coinWhy traditional PR isn’t always the best optionRookie mistakes to avoid when doing your own PRWhy AI may be hurting your media pitchesWhat Monty Python can teach you about publicityWhy “going for the gap” is crucial in PRHow entrepreneurs can turn media appearances into credibility and growthWhy boundaries matter in business and publicityHow to stop watching competitors get media coverage while you remain invisibleKate brings an irreverent, honest, and refreshingly practical perspective to publicity, showing that you don’t necessarily need a massive PR budget—or a PR agency—to get noticed. If you’ve ever wondered how businesses actually get featured on television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and major online publications, this conversation will give you a very different perspective on how to approach the media. Connect with Kate Engler and learn more about the Meet The Press Masterclass: 🌐 Website: https://meetthepressmasterclass.com.au/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-engler-publicity/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepublicityprincess_/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kate.engler.98 Interested in learning how to manage your own media relations and pitch directly to journalists? Apply for the Meet The Press Masterclass:
https://meetthepressmasterclass.com.au/

  5. hace 1 día

    Doug Red Hail Pineda: Psychedelics, Consciousness, and the Future of Human Awakening

    What if the way we understand consciousness, spirituality, and reality is only the beginning? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled, Darlington sits down with Doug Red Hail Pineda, founder of The Church of Psychedelics, for a thought-provoking conversation about psychedelics, spirituality, personal transformation, and the untapped potential of the human mind. Doug explores some of humanity’s biggest questions: What does it mean to truly awaken? Can psychedelic experiences transform the way we understand ourselves and reality? Why have plant medicines played such an important role in human cultures throughout history? And what might the future of consciousness look like? Rather than offering easy answers, Doug challenges listeners to question assumptions they may have never examined—from conventional ideas about religion and spirituality to our understanding of identity, consciousness, and human potential. In this conversation, we explore: ​The origins of The Church of Psychedelics​Psychedelics and the search for deeper meaning​How mystical experiences can change our worldview​The relationship between spirituality and consciousness​Why humans have always searched for altered states of awareness​Common misconceptions surrounding psychedelics​Personal transformation and expanded awareness​Questioning what we believe about reality​The future of human consciousness and evolution​Whether psychedelic experiences can genuinely change the way we liveThis is a conversation for anyone curious about consciousness, spirituality, psychedelics, and what may be possible when we become willing to question what we think we already know. Connect with Doug Red Hail Pineda and explore more: 🌐 Website: https://www.thechurchofpsychedelics.com/📩 Newsletter: https://www.thechurchofpsychedelics.com/newsletter📌 Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thechurchofpsychedelics/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechurchofpsychedelics/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-church-of-psychedelics🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechurchofpsychedelics Subscribe to the free Church of Psychedelics Newsletter for more insights on consciousness, spirituality, psychedelics, personal transformation, and the future of human potential.

  6. hace 1 día

    Todd A. Krause: Why Treating People Better Can Make You More Money

    What if the key to increasing your profits isn’t working your people harder, but treating them better? Today’s guest, Todd A. Krause, spent two decades in institutional finance, where he helped build a $2 billion fund administration firm from scratch and launch a $14 billion Bank of America business unit. Then, just days before the COVID-19 shutdown, he made a very different move—he bought a struggling cleaning company. Instead of cutting costs and squeezing employees, Todd focused on dignity, trust, accountability, and empowerment. In just two years, he helped grow the company from $1.6 million to more than $4 million in revenue while building an award-winning workplace culture. Now a CPA, MBA, TEDx speaker, author, and founder of Silversun Consulting, Todd helps business owners uncover hidden profit leaks, strengthen leadership, eliminate operational friction, and build companies that can grow without depending on the owner for every decision. In this episode, we explore: Why treating people with dignity can become a powerful business strategyThe hidden connection between workplace culture and profitabilityWhy business owners often become the biggest bottleneck in their companiesHow toxic workplace cultures quietly destroy growthThe operational problems behind turnover, rework, and shrinking marginsHow to create accountability without creating fearWhat Todd learned from buying a struggling business just before COVIDHow entrepreneurs can build businesses that thrive without themWhy investing in people can produce measurable financial resultsThe leadership changes that can create sustainable growthTodd brings real numbers, real stories, and hard-earned lessons to a conversation about leadership, culture, entrepreneurship, and building a profitable business without losing the people who make it possible. Connect with Todd A. Krause 🌐 Website: https://www.silversunconsulting.com/
📅 Complimentary Business Growth Diagnostic: https://calendly.com/d/d2c9-s3g-m93
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddakrause/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554499613120
𝕏 X: https://x.com/ToddAKrause
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SilversunConsulting

  7. hace 1 día

    Karen Grosz: Retirement Isn’t the End—It’s Your Chance to Finally Ask, “What’s Next?”

    What if retirement isn’t the end of your working life—but the beginning of your most exciting chapter? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled, Darlington sits down with Karen Grosz, author, speaker, coach, and creator of Nexters, to challenge the way we think about retirement. After spending 25 years coaching high-powered doctors and lawyers and running a successful national team-building company for 15 years, Karen discovered a problem that financial planning alone couldn’t solve: many people prepare carefully for retirement, only to discover that they never prepared for what they would actually do with their lives afterward. Karen calls it the “two-month crash”—the moment when retirement stops feeling like an endless vacation and every day begins to feel like a lost Saturday. Her philosophy is simple: don’t just retire from something. Retire forward. In this conversation, Karen shares how to build purpose, identity, community, and excitement into the next chapter of life. We also explore aging, reinvention, the importance of staying curious, and how asking “What’s next?” can become a daily practice rather than a question reserved for major life transitions. In this episode, we explore:
• Why retirement can feel surprisingly disorienting
• The “two-month crash” and what causes it
• Why you should retire to something, not just from something
• How identity changes when your career comes to an end
• Finding purpose when traditional achievement is no longer the goal
• What people can do before retirement to prepare emotionally
• Why aging doesn’t have to mean slowing down
• Reinventing yourself when society tells you to settle down
• How community can transform your next chapter
• Karen’s unconventional journey from being told she was “too stupid for college” to coaching doctors and lawyers
• How AI helped shape her latest book
• Why asking “What’s next?” can change the way you live every day Karen brings humor, hard-earned wisdom, and a refreshing refusal to treat aging as a decline. Because retirement isn’t necessarily about stepping away from life. Sometimes, it’s about finally stepping into it. 🔗 Explore Nexters and discover your “What’s Next?”:
https://nexters.life/ 📖 What’s Next? Retirement! The Art of Living Forward is also available on Amazon and Audible.

  8. hace 1 día

    Jennifer Bright: What Nobody Tells You About Writing, Publishing, and Turning a Book to Opportunity

    What does it really take to turn an idea in your head into a book that people actually want to read? In this episode of Control or Be Controlled, Darlington sits down with Jennifer Bright, a publishing expert with more than three decades of experience across virtually every aspect of the publishing industry. As the founder of Bright Communications, Jennifer and her team publish more than 40 books every year, ranging from fiction and nonfiction to children’s books and adult titles. Through her YouTube channel, The Traveling Publisher, she also shares practical advice, industry insights, and entertaining stories from a career spent helping thousands of authors bring their ideas to life. Jennifer breaks down what aspiring authors need to know before they start writing, how to choose the right publishing path, and why a book can be much more than something sitting on a bookshelf—it can become a powerful tool for credibility, business growth, and personal impact. In this episode, we explore:
• How to know if you really have a book inside you
• Where aspiring authors commonly go wrong
• The biggest differences between publishing options
• Whether traditional publishing is still the best route
• How much you should realistically spend on publishing
• Why finishing a book is often harder than starting one
• How authors can use books to grow their businesses
• What actually goes into creating a bestseller
• How to promote a book when you have a limited budget
• The mistakes authors should avoid before signing a publishing deal With decades of experience and thousands of books behind her, Jennifer brings a refreshing, practical perspective to an industry that can often feel confusing and overwhelming. Whether you’ve been thinking about writing a book for years or you’re already holding a manuscript in your hands, this conversation may change the way you think about publishing—and what your book could do for your life and career. 🔗 Learn more about Bright Communications:
https://www.brightcommunications.net 📚 Follow The Traveling Publisher:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheTravelingPublisher-JB

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Most people aren’t in control of their lives they’re driven by habits, addictions, emotions, and distractions they don’t question. Control or Be Controlled explores discipline, self mastery, modern addiction, and the psychology of ambition. Through raw solo episodes and real conversations, it breaks down what it takes to take back control mentally, emotionally, and financially. No surface level motivation just honest, direct insight for those ready to live with intention and build consistency, focus, and long term growth in a distracted world. New Episodes Weekly

Información

  • Creador
    Darlington Ogbuka
  • Años de actividad
    2026
  • Episodios
    447
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Copyright
    © Darlington Ogbuka
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Control or Be Controlled