Free & Open Mind

Hardy Brooklyn / Stan Nelson
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Feeling stuck? Craving something real? Free & Open Mind is your invitation to break out of old routines and live boldly. Every Friday, join hosts Hardy Brooklyn and Stan Nelson as they dive into unfiltered, inspiring talks with people who’ve dared to reinvent themselves—artists, coaches, and everyday heroes. Get raw stories, honest advice, and that push you need to take the next step. Hit play, shake up your perspective, and start living on your own terms. No judgment! Just real journeys, practical tools, and authentic voices. New episodes drop every Friday! Subscribe so you never miss one.

  1. 1d ago

    What if the person you've been trying to become... has been you the whole time?

    This Friday on Free & Open Mind, Hardy and Stan sit down with Mike Pierce, creator of The Four Energy Fields — a framework born from over a decade of watching people heal through hypnosis, Reiki, breathwork, meditation, and everything in between. Mike kept noticing the same thing no matter the method: every real breakthrough touched the same four parts of us — Body. Emotion. Mind. Spirit.For years, Mike tried to control his way to clarity — thinking harder, planning tighter, solving every problem before he let himself live it. Sound familiar? He'll tell us exactly what it took to let that go, and what showed up once he did.This is the conversation for anyone who's ever felt stuck even when they "know better" — and wondered why understanding themselves always seemed to be the missing piece.Your takeaway: you don't need fixing. You need to understand yourself. That shift changes everything.📅 Friday, 9 AM on Facebook — hit that reminder button now, grab your coffee, and come think out loud with us. Or catch it after on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube

  2. Aug 7

    No Shame in a Dollar: Andrew Quebbemann’s Estranged Path to Authenticity - Free & Open Mind

    What do you do when the people who taught you hard work, hustle, and DIY grit… also become the biggest drain on your mental health? In this raw, honest conversation, financial advisor Andrew Quebbemann sits down with Hardy Brooklyn to trace his journey from a Wisconsin family candy store to San Diego skies — and the day he chose to become estranged from his own parents to protect his authenticity. We dig into: Growing up in the family gourmet confectionery business (and why he hated helping customers as a kid)Wanting to be a doctor, landing in pharma/biotech, and “tripping” into salesHow a biology major with Midwest guilt ended up as a financial advisorThe decision to go no-contact with his family after years of repeated, unresolved conflictMourning a relationship with parents who are still aliveHow meditation, rock climbing, and water skiing helped him find his centerWhy he believes there’s “no shame in a dollar”—and why time matters more than moneyPractical first steps to align your money with your values (even if you’re scared to open your bank app)If you’ve ever felt ashamed of what you earn, guilty about what you spend, or trapped in a “sports and weather” relationship that no longer fits who you really are, this episode is your permission to take a chance on yourself. 🎧 Hit play to hear how Andrew turned family fracture, money shame, and career pivots into a life built on authenticity, boundaries, and true financial freedom. Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-quebbemann/Find Hardy Brooklyn at  https://boxofrain.com and http://freeandopenmind.com Connect with Stan Nelson at https://coachingwithstan.com.auPodcast website: https://linktr.ee/freeandopenmind If this episode hits home, follow Free & Open Mind on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a review, and share this with one friend who’s tired of pretending.

  3. Jul 31

    Coffee, Courage, and the Gift That Costs Nothing - Free & Open Mind

    She overcame societal expectations by becoming pregnant before marriage, challenged a surgeon who claimed women could not be both doctors and mothers, and established the first inclusive program for deaf students in a New York public school—all before publishing her first book. This week, hosts Hardy Brooklyn and Stan Nelson interview educator and author Rosemary Olender, whose new book, Coffee and Wisdom, distills five decades of parenting experience into one guiding ritual: being present each evening with a cup of coffee and a thoughtful question. Rosemary shares the story her father told her the night before he passed—a story that became the inspiration for her book—and explains her “three pillars of intentional parenting”: observe, listen actively, and model. No expensive programs. No additional hours. Just presence. Takeaways: Connection requires intention more than time—five minutes of genuine conversation before the school bus surpasses an hour of distracted togetherness.Children do not become who you instruct them to be; they become who they observe you to be.Call to Action: Watch or listen on Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, and share a comment about your own “coffee table” moment—a question a parent asked you, or one you ask your children, that made a meaningful impact. We value every comment and appreciate hearing your stories. If this episode resonates with you, consider exploring our back catalog for more thoughtful conversations on authentic living, building resilience in children, and remaining true to yourself in a challenging world. Connect and learn more: Find Rosemary Olender:Calendar link: https://www.companyflix.com/economy/rosemary-olender𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosemary-olender-227660356/Website: www.rosemaryolender.comEmail: roaolender@gmail.comFreebie: Family Reflection Insight Questionnaire Find Hardy Brooklyn at  https://boxofrain.com and http://freeandopenmind.com Connect with Stan Nelson at https://coachingwithstan.com.auPodcast Linktree: https://linktr.ee/freeandopenmind If this episode hits home, follow Free & Open Mind on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a review, and share this with one friend who’s tired of pretending.

  4. Jul 24

    The Badass Grandma ( GJ Scarlet) : Authenticity, Kindness, and Keeping Kids Safe - Free & Open Mind

    In this episode of Free & Open Mind, Hardy Brooklyn and Stan Nelson sit down with C.J. Scarlett – “The Badass Grandma”: survivor, advocate, Marine Corps vet, and creator of the Heroic Kids Safety Game. She shares how she: Turned childhood sexual abuse, PTSD, and autoimmune illness into a mission to protect kidsBuilt a statewide victim notification system that became a national model Uses acts of kindness, boundaries, and authentic self-love to live on her own terms—and teach kids to do the samePerfect for parents, grandparents, educators, and anyone healing from trauma who wants real, authentic tools—not toxic positivity. 3 Key Takeaways you will walk away with:    Authentic boundaries beat people-pleasing: “Nice girl syndrome” keeps kids and adults unsafe; clear, authentic no’s are an act of kindness.    Kids can be taught to protect their authentic selves: With practice, they can trust their gut, speak up, and tell safe adults.    Authentic Healing is active: small, daily acts of kindness and genuine, authentic self-love can shift a victim mentality into purpose. Contact: C.J. / Heroic Kids & resources: ⁠thebadassgrandma.com⁠Find Hardy Brooklyn at  ⁠https://boxofrain.com⁠ and ⁠https://hardybrooklyn.com⁠ Connect with Stan Nelson at ⁠https://coachingwithstan.com.au⁠Podcast website: ⁠FreeAndOpenMind.com⁠ 🎧 Listen now, then do one act of kindness today. That's the whole assignment.

  5. Jul 17

    Origin Story: From Closed Systems to a Free & Open Mind - Free & Open MInd

    Ever taught everyone else to be “free and open” while secretly running your own life like a locked-down server room?In this solo(ish) origin episode, Hardy Brooklyn (aka Leonard Shostak) and co-host Stan Nelson pull back the curtain on how a geeky love of free and open-source software evolved into a life philosophy — and ultimately, the Free & Open Mind podcast. Hardy shares how he once lived as two separate people—the buttoned‑up consultant “Leonard” and the wild creative “Hardy”—and what happened when those worlds violently collided (hint: Times Square body paint and a lost client are involved). That breakdown became the breakthrough that pushed him toward authenticity, coaching, and teaching others to drop their masks. Along the way, they unpack the three masks many of us wear—the Performer, the Peacekeeper, and the Minimizer—and how trading those roles for a more honest, “free and open” way of being led to less stress, better clients, and a more aligned life. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “open” in theory but closed in practice, this one’s going to hit home. Free & Open Mind started in tech, not therapyHow "Leonard’s" years pushing free and open-source software became the metaphor for opening up his own life. Two identities = one exhausted humanThe cost of living as Hardy in one world and Leonard in another, and the moment those identities collided in public. The three masks we all know too well Performer – Reads the room and gives people what they want, at the expense of self.Peacekeeper – Avoids conflict, even when it causes self-harm.Minimizer – Shrinks, disappears, and pretends their needs don’t matter.Authenticity as a stress-reduction toolWhy being honest about who you are, what you value, and who you want around you dramatically lowers stress. Coaching as “open source for humans”How Hardy moved from consultant to coach, blended his sales and communication training, and now openly shares tools instead of guarding them. You don’t have to be “full Hardy”Clients (and listeners) don’t need to copy Leonard; they can find their own mix of authenticity that still feels safe and real. Openness means you might send your client elsewhere—and that’s okayLeonard’s shift from fearing client loss to recommending free coaching spaces and trusting his value. Your stories are your source codeThe “I’m bad at math / money / decisions” scripts you picked up are just old stories you can rewrite. Life is a choice. No choice is also a choice.Stan’s reminder: if you want a better life, you have to choose it first, then do the work to back that choice. Weekly experiment for listenersNotice one belief, habit, or story you picked up from someone else that quietly runs your life. Write it downAsk: “Is this actually mine?”Decide if you want to keep it or refactor it Find Hardy Brooklyn at  https://boxofrain.com and @hardybrooklyn.nycConnect with Stan Nelson at https://coachingwithstan.com.auPodcast website: FreeAndOpenMind.com If this episode hits home, follow Free & Open Mind on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a review, and share this with one friend who’s ready to start living authentically.

  6. Jul 10

    Your “Safe” Life Is Killing You: Fear, Risk & Reinvention with Yaron Urbas - Free & Open Mind

    What would you actually risk to be true to yourself? Drop out of school to be a rapper? Walk away from a comfy corporate job? Tell a TV director, “Dude, I don’t even know how to light this cigarette”? In this episode of Free & Open Mind, Hardy and Stan sit down with Yaron (Ron) Urbas —rapper, finance guy, software engineer, actor, and founder of Yummy Media Agency—aka a one-man witness protection program for careers. Ron gets brutally honest about what it really costs to live authentically when your path looks nothing like the brochure. Reinvention on hard mode – from walking dogs and hostile rap crowds to Wall Street, tech, TV sets, and running a marketing agencyWhen being real gets you in trouble – pushing back on directors, arguing with clients, and saying “no” when “yes” would be saferFear as the real enemy – why almost every stuck place is just fear of the unknown (and how to shrink it without pretending you’re not scared)Energy after 40, 50, 60+ – how passion, not age, decides your fuel tank (plus what to do when your body votes “nope”)Authenticity without career suicide – how to be yourself at work and at home without nuking every relationshipTurning losses into leverage – including how a painful day-trading loss now pushes Ron to bet bigger on what actually mattersA simple reframe to “do it scared” instead of waiting to feel readyPermission to stop believing in the “one big opportunity” mythPractical ways to show more of your real self at work, online, and in your closest relationshipsA reminder that in 100 years, no one will remember that one awkward moment, so you might as well danceIf you’ve ever thought, “I’m too old/too late/too off-track to start over,” this episode is your loving slap in the face.If this hit a nerve (or your imposter syndrome is sweating), follow/subscribe, rate the show, and share this with one friend who’s stuck playing it safe. Ask each other: “What would I do if I wasn’t busy pretending to be fine?” Then go do one tiny scary thing.

  7. Jul 3

    From 9 to 5 Prison to Authentic Freedom: Alexis Crisp on Anxiety, Boundaries & Flourishing — Free & Open Mind

    What if the “safe” life you were told to want is exactly what’s draining your soul? In this episode of Free & Open Mind, Hardy Brooklyn sits down with Alexis Crisp—personal trainer, life coach, and self-described “helper to mankind”—who walked out of a traditional law firm job as a single mom and rebuilt her world around radical authenticity, mental health, and movement. Alexis shares how she traded the 9–5 grind for flexible, freelance work, managed depression and social anxiety (including a disability leave), and used tools like Toastmasters, chess clubs, and her Move 26 Challenge to design a life that actually fits her. Together, we dig into boundaries, family expectations, and why saying yes to yourself is the first step to any real change. If you’re exhausted from performing, people-pleasing, or pretending you’re “fine,” this conversation is your permission slip to live differently. Listen now and ask yourself: Where am I performing instead of living? More about the guest: Move 26 Challenge (free 30 days of videos):Text “Move 26” to 929-379-6716Socials: @alexis.crisp on all major platformsPodcast: Well Women Flourish More about the host: Host: Hardy Brooklyn – Life coach helping people live authentic lives in a truly inauthentic world Host Website: boxofrain.comPodcast website: FreeAndOpenMind.com If this episode hits home, follow Free & Open Mind on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, tap the ⭐ rating, and share this with one friend who’s tired of pretending.

  8. Jun 26

    Borrowed Calm vs Real Calm: Breaking the Alcohol, Weed, and Caffeine Loop — Free & Open Mind

    Are you actually calm… or just numb? In this episode of The Free & Open Mind, Hardy Brooklyn and co-host Stan Nelson sit down with psychologist and stress expert Gudrun to unpack “borrowed calm” — those moments when you feel okay only because you’ve leaned on alcohol, cannabis, caffeine, sugar, or routine to get you through. We explore how these everyday habits subtly train your nervous system to depend on outside substances and bad habits just to feel “normal,” and what it takes to build a calm that’s actually yours and doesn’t disappear when the glass is empty or the buzz wears off. Listen now and ask yourself: Why am I using this right now? Is this really self-care, or just borrowed calm?” Reflect: Tonight, notice *one* moment you reach for a substance or habit to feel okay. Just name it: No judgment, no big change yet. Share: Screenshot this episode and share your biggest insight or question on social. Tag us so we can continue the conversation. Connect & Learn More: Find Hardy Brooklyn at https://boxofrain.com Connect with Stan Nelson at https://coachingwithstan.com.au Podcast website: http://freeandopenmind.comIf this episode hit home, follow Free & Open Mind on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a review, and share this with one friend who might be living on borrowed calm and ready for something real.

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About

Feeling stuck? Craving something real? Free & Open Mind is your invitation to break out of old routines and live boldly. Every Friday, join hosts Hardy Brooklyn and Stan Nelson as they dive into unfiltered, inspiring talks with people who’ve dared to reinvent themselves—artists, coaches, and everyday heroes. Get raw stories, honest advice, and that push you need to take the next step. Hit play, shake up your perspective, and start living on your own terms. No judgment! Just real journeys, practical tools, and authentic voices. New episodes drop every Friday! Subscribe so you never miss one.

Information

  • Creator
    Hardy Brooklyn / Stan Nelson
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hardy Brooklyn / Stan Nelson
  • Show Website
    Free & Open Mind