Flourish FM jonandnick

We interview Dr. Sara Kuburic, existential psychotherapist, writer, and columnist for USA Today, about how existential psychotherapy can help us to flourish.
In particular, we discuss Sara’s work on “self-loss”: what it is, how to identify it and rebuild our sense of self; how overcoming self-loss can help us flourish; and how to live a more authentic and meaningful life.
Sara is the author of It’s On Me: Accept Hard Truths, Discover Your Self, and Change Your Life (Penguin Random House, 2023). The book is a guide to identifying self-loss – one of our greatest unspoken human sufferings, that feeling of being estranged or disconnected from your true self – so we can stop feeling the pain and emptiness that comes from performing or observing life, rather than living it.
Sarah was born in Yugoslavia and raised in Canada, and completed her doctorate in psychotherapy science in Vienna, under the supervision of Dr. Alfried Längle, the founder of existential analysis. She is a trauma-informed clinician with a person-centered approach that is grounded in existential analysis, as well as somatic and experiential techniques. She specializes in moral trauma, identity, existential crisis, and relationship issues.
 
Sara is passionate about helping people seek change and live authentic, free, and meaningful lives. Her interest in psychology stems from her personal experience living through wars, navigating complex relationships, and continually learning what it means to be human.
 
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Dr. Sara Kuburic:
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It’s On Me: Accept Hard Truths, Discover Your Self, and Change Your Life (Penguin Random House, 2023)
 
Timestamps:
00:00:05 - Introduction to Dr. Sarah Kuburic
00:00:26 - Understanding Self-Loss
00:00:37 - Sara's Approach to Psychotherapy
00:01:05 - The Existential Lens on Flourishing
00:02:02 - Defining Existential Psychotherapy
00:03:04 - Core Concepts in Existential Psychotherapy
00:03:38 - Empowering Clients to Face Truths
00:04:08 - Sara’s Specialisms: Moral Trauma and Identity
00:04:42 - Insights from Existential Psychotherapy Practice
00:05:05 - Study on Moral Injury in Infidelity
00:06:20 - Understanding our Sense of Self
00:07:09 - The Ingredients of our Sense of Self
00:08:33 - Constructing vs. Finding the Self
00:09:34 - Self-Loss and the Journey to Self-Discovery
00:10:19 - The Process of Creating the Self
00:11:42 - The Role of Community in Self-Formation
00:12:17 - Trauma and Its Impact on the Self
00:13:33 - The Importance of Facing Ourselves
00:14:15 - The Role of Responsibility in Flourishing
00:16:09 - The Complexity of Human Psychology and Trauma
00:17:33 - The Connection Between Trauma and Self-Loss
00:18:32 - The Role of Flourishing in Existential Psychotherapy
00:19:32 - The Complexity of Moral Trauma and Infidelity
00:20:37 - The Relationship Between Flourishing and Suffering
00:21:07 - The Importance of Community and Humor in Well-Being
00:22:21 - Psychological Flexibility and Inner Safety
00:23:27 - The Role of Responsibility in a Good Life
00:25:06 - Building Inner Safety and Trust in Oneself
00:26:08 - The Empowering Message of Responsibility
00:27:16 - The Role of Reflection in Building Well-Being
00:28:46 - Practical Tips for Self-Discovery and Well-Being
00:30:14 - The Role of Community in Authentic Living
00:31:24 - Using Humor and Reflection for Self-Understanding
00:32:20 - The Runaway Bride Analogy for Self-Discovery
00:33:11 - The Importance of Continual Self-Exploration
00:34:03 - Disconnection from Self: Emotions, Body, and Mind
00:35:17 - Cultural Observations on Flourishing and Self
00:36:07 - The Role of Community and Confidence in Self-Formation
00:37:04 - Finding Meaning in Suffering for Fulfil

In this episode we dive into the extraordinary life journey of a Josh Hernandez. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, to teenage parents, our guest grew up in a nurturing environment where his father was in trucking and his mother ran a home daycare. This early exposure to leadership and working with people laid the foundation for his path.
Despite growing up in a lower-middle-class household, he found his way to a medical magnet high school situated in a lower socioeconomic area of the city. Here, he formed deep bonds with students from diverse backgrounds, enriching his worldview and empathy.
A self-described late bloomer in sports, he stood at just 4 feet 11 inches and weighed 100 pounds in his freshman year. Choosing to pivot from playing sports, he merged his love for athletics and medicine by becoming an athletic trainer, a decision that would shape his future.
His academic prowess led him to the University of New Mexico on a scholarship. He studied athletic training during this time and also received a scholarship for this. However, a lack of study skills resulted in the loss of this scholarship, bringing him back to El Paso where he attended UTEP. It was here that he honed his study techniques and refocused on a new goal: medical school.
Returning to UNM with a renewed academic scholarship, he graduated with a degree in Exercise Science. He then gained valuable experience working in a cardiac rehab clinic and as a Health Educator. But life had other plans.
In 2003, his father requested his help with a small trucking company, which they expanded from 3 to 75 trucks. Balancing the business with also completing medical school prerequisites, he also completed an MBA in 2007 and gained entry into UT Medical School at Houston in 2008. However, the Financial Crisis demanded more of his time in the family business, leading to a tough decision to step away from medical school.
His life took a profound turn in 2009 with the birth of his first child. This joy was shadowed by a traumatic event in 2013, when his son was attacked by a neighbor's dog, a harrowing experience that deeply impacted him and shaped his outlook on life.
Today, he is a dedicated husband and father of three. In May 2023, his trucking company was acquired, marking a significant transition in his life. Under his leadership, the company earned national recognition from the EPA, winning the Smartway Excellence Award thrice and the Smartway High Performer Award for seven consecutive years, accolades reserved for the top echelons of logistics companies.
 
Continuing on this remarkable journey, after leaving the trucking company, our guest embarked on yet another ambitious venture. Leveraging his diverse experiences in business, healthcare, and management, he founded an artificial intelligence (AI) consulting agency. This venture represents the culmination of his lifelong passion for technology and innovation. His agency specializes in helping businesses integrate AI into their operations, focusing on areas such as machine learning, data analytics, and process automation. His deep understanding of both the technical aspects of AI and the practical needs of businesses positions him uniquely to offer insightful, customized AI solutions. This new chapter in his career is not just a business endeavor but a mission to empower other organizations to harness the transformative power of AI, driving efficiency, innovation, and growth. Join us as we delve deeper into his journey and explore how his AI consulting agency is making a significant impact in the world of technology and business.
Learn More About Josh Hernandez
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Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com
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Timestamps:
00:04:01 - Josh's Introduction to Antifragility and Its Application00:06:11 - Proactive Planning and Business Resilience00

In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Bob Goulet. Bob is an American entrepreneur, inventor, and life artist. He is the inventor on more than two dozen patents globally and is a two-time Inc. 500 award winner who has also been recognized globally in the sciences. 
A passionate student of life, he has traveled the world and studied with many of the greatest spiritual teachers of our time. He also holds a BS and MS in chemical engineering from the University of Connecticut and Clemson University, respectively as well as an MBA from Duke University.
In 2022 Bob published Chasm: A Deep Journey in Meaning and Wholeness, a memoir about Bob’s journey from tragedy to deep personal growth and evolution. 
He currently resides in North Carolina with his son.
 
Learn More About Bob Goulet
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Chasm: A Deep Journey into Meaning and Wholeness
 
Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com 
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In this episode, we dive into a conversation with Jackie Space, a highly accomplished individual with experience in national security, aerospace, and academia. Jackie's journey through professional challenges, failures, and successes sheds light on the concept of anti-fragility. We explore how she navigates discomfort and strives to create opportunities for herself and her daughter. Tune in to gain insights from Jackie's inspiring story and approach to life.
Jackie is a co-founder and senior vice-president of BMNT, a national security focused innovation consultancy and early-stage technology incubator. She was also part of the first teaching team for the Hacking for Defense course at Stanford University, and now supports the expansion of H4D into 30 Universities as an advisory board member of the Common Mission Project, the non-profit that develops and supports H4D and other “Hacking for” programs.
 
Jackie is a thought leader on public-private partnerships, called to the White House and Pentagon to contribute on topics of national security and technology. She is an advisor to the aerospace focused venture capital fund, Kluz Ventures/The Flying Object, and is a contributor to the Defense Investors Network facilitated by BMNT.
 
In her previous service in the Air Force, Jackie led joint aerospace programs for military and intelligence customers. Jackie has a B.S. in Behavioral Sciences from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. in Systems Engineering from Loyola Marymount University.
 
Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com
 
Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com
 
Follow us:
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Jackie Space
LinkedIn
 
Timestamps:
[00:05] Jackie Space's professional background
[04:42] Career-changing experiences.
[12:24] Finding alignment with values.
[13:13] Pursuing a career in space.
[25:10] Commercial Space and Military Challenges.
[29:28] Building a startup in Silicon Valley.
[39:43] Success and Growth Journey.
[42:50] Embracing failure and success.
[49:38] Self-discovery journey.
[55:13] Increased self-awareness through therapy.
[56:26] The myth of productivity hacks.
[01:00:12] Shifting perspective for personal growth.
[01:06:26] Parenting and self-worth.
[01:09:04] Helicopter parenting and independence.

Peter Goldstein is a seasoned entrepreneur, capital markets expert, and investor with over 35 years of diverse international business experience. Throughout his career, he's held pivotal roles, including CEO, chairman, investment banker, founder, board member, investor, and advisor to public, private, and emerging growth companies. 
Peter's achievements span capital markets specializing in equity financing, strategic planning, and transaction structuring. These include numerous successful IPOs, M&A, uplisting, reverse merger transactions, private placements, and crowdfunding campaigns. 
He's the founder of Exchange Listing, LLC, dedicated to facilitating growth companies' listings on esteemed exchanges like NASDAQ and the NYSE, and Emmis Capital, a specialized boutique fund investing in global small and microcap pre-IPO growth companies. 
 
Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com 
 
Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com
 
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Peter Goldstein
LinkedIn
Twitter
Exchange Listing
 
Timestamps:
00:01:09 - Introducing Peter Goldstein00:02:23 - Peter's background and achievements00:04:34 - Defining Antifragility00:07:46 - The role of adaptability in antifragility00:10:02 - Entrepreneurship and antifragility00:12:36 - Chosen suffering and meaningful pursuits00:14:07 - Peter's early entrepreneurial experiences00:20:29 - The influence of family values on Peter's resilience00:27:44 - Parenting and instilling antifragility00:30:36 - Embracing uncertainty in a global context00:37:11 - Rebuilding After Setbacks00:40:14 - Wellbeing, skills, and performance in Antifragility00:42:41 - Peter's approach to well-being and self-Care00:47:32 - Managing stress and embracing support networks00:50:15 - The role of coaching in optimal Performance00:51:13 - Parenting and teaching antifragility to Kids

Donene Taylor is a professional author and speaker who delivers energizing,
inspirational, and motivational presentations and workshops to many different
communities, teams, and organizations.
 
Donene is the #1 best-selling author of two books. Her first book, Heart of a
Champion, unpacks her journey of self-discovery as she attained her dream to
become a world champion. Her second and latest book, Master the Art of Winning,
provides readers with steps to take so they can dig digger, and do the
transformational work needed to build their Championship Playbook of how-to
rundown their Bold Goals, at an optimal level.
 
Donene is a Certified Mental Performance Coach. She coaches athletes with tried
and true, proven strategies that help them close the gap between where they are
and where they want to be. She empowers athletes to reach their full potential as
they run down their Bold Goals to become the best version of themselves.
 
She joined the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) in 1998 and
became a WPRA World Champion Tie-Down Calf Roper in 2016. Donene is also a
4-time WPRA Mountain States Circuit Champion Tie-Down Calf Roper.
 
Donene and her husband, Stan, reside in one of the best small towns ever,
Glenrock, Wyoming. She continues to compete with the most elite women rodeo
athletes in the world, in the WPRA. Just like you, she has Bold Goals and is running
them down, one step at a time.
 
Learn more about antifragility at theantifragileacademy.com 
 
Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com
 
Follow us:
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Donene Taylor
LinkedIn
Instagram
Website
 
Timestamps:
00:27 - Donenes Background and Achievements01:09 - The Role of Antifragility in Life and Parenting02:44 - Donine's Personal Definition of Anti-Fragility03:47 - Misconceptions About Anti-Fragility04:40 - Embracing Vulnerability and Courage05:20 - Breaking Away from Patterns & Overcoming Personal Loops07:09 - A Pivotal Moment at a Bull Riding School10:06 - Seeking Out Role Models and Coaches11:45 - Building an Elite Inner Circle13:01 - The Importance of Support Structures14:28 - The Decision to Seek Help and Change17:12 - The Shift from Resilience to Antifragility18:55 - Leveraging Emotional Regulation for Growth & Antifragility24:09 - The Impact of Family Dynamics on Personal Growth25:18 - The Choice to Survive and Thrive26:13 - Leveraging Negative Emotions for Positive Change27:36 - The Complexity of Parent-Child Relationships34:05 - Creating Space for Mindful Responses37:08 - Being Your Own Best Coach38:19 - Parenting with Antifragility in Mind39:37 - Encouraging Independence in Children40:50 - Balancing Challenge and Support in Parenting42:53 - Allowing Children to Face Challenges45:00 - Teaching Children to Earn Their Achievements47:34 - The Role of Support in Antifragility49:03 - Modeling Antifragility for Children