A Swift Kick In The Ass: Personal Growth & Resilience Podcast

John W. Curren
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semimonthly

A Swift Kick in the Ass (ASKITA) is a mindset and resilience podcast for people rebuilding their lives after overwhelm, burnout, or major life transitions. Hosted by John Curren, ASKITA blends philosophy, emotional intelligence, and real‑world storytelling to help you reset your attitude, reclaim your strength, and move forward with clarity. Each episode offers practical tools for personal growth, emotional resilience, and mental reset — including guided reflections, mindset shifts, and the 7‑Day Attitude Adjustment framework. Whether you're feeling stuck, starting over, or seeking a fresh perspective, ASKITA gives you the space to breathe, reflect, and rise again. Topics include: mindset reset, emotional resilience, personal growth, overcoming burnout, rebuilding confidence, life transitions, healing after setbacks, self‑reflection, and intentional living. New episodes every month. Shorts posted daily on YouTube. The show was started in 2014 being hosted by lifelong friends John W. Curren and Tom Stewart. Tom died of brain cancer on 9/16/2020. John continues the quest to disrupt conventional thinking and find true freedom through living life on his terms. Please like and subcribe to get traction on a life on your terms.

  1. 17h ago

    "Set It and Forget It" Is Costing You Your Retirement

    Your retirement plan was probably built on 10% annual returns. Vanguard now projects roughly 3.5–5.5% for the decade ahead. John Curren talks with financial planner John Grace, president of Investor's Advantage in Thousand Oaks, about what quietly breaks when the old math stops working — and the defensive, loss-limiting playbook that replaces "set it and forget it." You'll hear: • Why Grace plans around acceptable losses first — and how moving to cash kept his clients' 2008 losses under 20% while the market fell about 40% • The silent squeeze of withdrawals, RMDs, taxes, inflation, and longer lifespans on a plan built for 10% • Why Yale's endowment holds only about 3% in US stocks, and what real diversification means inside a 401(k) Connect with John Grace: https://whybepoor.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@aswiftkickintheassshow Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-swift-kick-in-the-ass-personal-growth-resilience-podcast/id928326346 A Swift Kick in the Ass is a personal growth podcast built on one idea: the beliefs you inherited are keeping you stuck — and it's time to disrupt them. Host John Curren has raw, honest conversations with people who rebuilt after setbacks and built lives on their own terms. No guru talk. No toxic positivity. Subscribe — and get your ass moving.

  2. 4d ago

    How to Get Scholarships, Choose the Right Major & Avoid College Debt | Shellee Howard

    What if your teenager could go to college — and you didn't have to go broke doing it? College planning expert and founder of College Ready, Shellee Howard, joins John on the ASKITA Podcast to break down exactly how families can take control of the college planning process before it's too late. Named Global Educational Consultant of the Year by the FLUXX Awards, Shellee has helped thousands of students earn millions in scholarships, gain acceptance to top universities, and graduate with significantly less debt than they thought possible. She's been featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, U.S. News & World Report, and MarketWatch. In this conversation, John and Shellee dig into: •  Why starting your college plan early changes literally everything •  How to navigate FAFSA, the Student Aid Index, and financial aid award letters •  Where to find scholarships — and how to actually win them •  Choosing a major that aligns with your teen's strengths AND long-term career goals •  The long-term strategy most families completely overlook •  How to avoid the most common (and most costly) college planning mistakes Whether your teen is in 7th grade or staring down senior year, this episode will challenge you to think bigger — and plan smarter. Connect with Shellee: CollegeReady.com  |  Podcast: Parents: Is Your Teen College Ready?  Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts Don't miss an episode — hit SUBSCRIBE and ring that bell so you never miss a swift kick when you need it most.

  3. Sep 25

    The Hidden Identity Patterns Sabotaging Relationships

    John W. Curren talks with identity and relationship strategist Riana Malia about why high-achieving people often struggle in love despite success in other areas of life. Riana explains how unconscious patterns, emotional wiring, and old identity stories shape recurring relational outcomes — and how her Clear to Create framework helps people clear old narratives, dissolve destructive cycles, and claim a new identity aligned with extraordinary love. They discuss the danger of focusing on what's not wanted, the power of meditation and intentional thought replacement, and how values, non-negotiables, and desires guide better choices. Riana shares her 72-hour mindset rewiring exercise, the Extraordinary Love Index (ELI) diagnostic, and her Clarity Codex process. John reflects on personal experiences with past relationship struggles, meditation breakthroughs, and meeting his future spouse after releasing old beliefs. Riana shares her Clear to Create methodology — a process for clearing old stories, dissolving destructive cycles, and claiming a new identity that supports extraordinary love, confidence, and aligned relationships. Together, John and Riana explore: Why high performers repeat the same relationship patterns How the unconscious mind clings to old stories, fears, and expectations The danger of focusing on what you don't want Meditation, awareness, and intentional thought replacement Values, non-negotiables, and desires as decision-making tools How identity shapes romantic, personal, and professional outcomes The "Clear to Create" framework for building a new relational identity Riana also shares her 72-hour mindset rewiring exercise, including the "Away vs. Toward" lists and the rubber-band pattern interrupt that helps break negative loops in real time. John opens up about past relationship struggles, meditation breakthroughs, and how letting go of old beliefs made space for meeting his future spouse. If you're a high achiever who feels stuck in love, or you're ready to rewrite your relational identity, this episode will hit home. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:12 – Why high achievers struggle in love 05:40 – Identity, unconscious patterns & emotional wiring 11:10 – The danger of focusing on what you don't want 16:55 – Meditation & interrupting negative loops 22:30 – Riana's "Clear to Create" framework 29:45 – Values, non-negotiables & desires 36:20 – The 72-hour mindset exercise 42:10 – John's personal story on letting go 48:55 – Extraordinary Love Index (ELI) 52:40 – Clarity Codex & North Star 56:10 – Closing thoughts & future collaboration

  4. Sep 22

    Heal Your Nervous System & Rebuild Your Life After Burnout with Faith Ashenden

    Neurohacking coach and founder of That Healing Feeling, Faith Ashenden, joins ASKITA host John Curren to break down why your nervous system — not your willpower — holds the key to healing burnout, chronic illness, and anxiety. Faith reversed her own diagnoses of Graves' disease, IBS, and POTS, and has since helped over 30,000 people worldwide do the same. In this episode: the science of nervous system regulation, the power of subconscious reprogramming, and the practical neurohacking tools you can start using today. What if your burnout, chronic pain, or relentless anxiety isn't a character flaw — but a nervous system stuck in survival mode? Faith Ashenden is the founder and CEO of That Healing Feeling, a neurohacking coach, and a trauma-informed practitioner who reversed her own diagnoses of Graves' disease, IBS, and POTS. She has since helped over 30,000 people worldwide heal chronic symptoms through nervous system regulation and subconscious reprogramming. In this episode of A Swift Kick in the Ass (ASKITA), host John Curren sits down with Faith to unpack the science and soul behind healing — and why most people stay stuck because they're treating symptoms instead of the source. In this conversation, you'll discover: • The real reason burnout lingers long after you've "rested" • How your subconscious keeps you in a loop of pain and stress • What nervous system regulation actually looks and feels like day-to-day • The neurohacking tools Faith uses with her 30,000+ students • Why identity change — not just mindset shifts — is the key to lasting recovery • Faith's raw personal story of healing multiple diagnoses and building a global healing community This episode is for anyone who has tried everything and still feels like their body is working against them. It's time to stop pushing and start listening. ───────────────────────── CONNECT WITH FAITH ───────────────────────── Website: https://thathealingfeeling.com Instagram & TikTok: @thathealingfeeling Free Healing Resources: https://thathealingfeeling.com ───────────────────────── ABOUT ASKITA ───────────────────────── A Swift Kick in the Ass (ASKITA) is a mindset and resilience podcast for people rebuilding their lives after overwhelm, burnout, or major life transitions. Hosted by John Curren.

  5. Sep 16

    Decoding the Body's Messages with Dr. John Demartini

    In this episode, John welcomes Dr. John Demartini, human behaviour specialist, polymath, philosopher, and creator of the Demartini Method. Joining the show from his ship near Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Dr. Demartini breaks down one of the most powerful ideas in integrative health: your symptoms are feedback — not flaws. Across five decades of research, Dr. Demartini has mapped the emotional and psychological drivers behind nearly 1,000 health conditions, revealing how perception, stress, and the autonomic nervous system shape our physical experience. You'll hear: Why symptoms often reflect imbalanced perceptions How emotions are physiological expressions of polarized viewpoints The role of intuition and neurotransmitters in attraction and caution How reframing perceptions can dissolve resentment, infatuation, and chronic emotional charge A powerful case study showing how missing information can create lifelong emotional pain — and how reclaiming it restores clarity and love Why values drive behaviour, resistance, and transformation How focusing on your highest values opens the door to opportunity, growth, and healing Dr. Demartini also shares insights from his signature seminar, Decoding the Body's Messages, and explains how individuals and health professionals are using his framework to better understand chronic illness, unexplained symptoms, and long‑standing health challenges. Learn more at drdemartini.com Dr John Demartini, Demartini Method, human behaviour, chronic symptoms, emotional healing, mind body connection, autonomic nervous system, perception, stress, healing, personal growth, psychology, neuroscience, physiology, integrative health, A Swift Kick in the Ass

  6. Sep 9

    Resilience in a Bottle: How Brandon McCraney Built Olde Raleigh Distillery

    Resilience isn't just surviving the hard moments — it's building a life that can handle them. Today's guest knows that better than most. In this episode of A Swift Kick in the Ass, I sit down with Brandon McCraney, Founder and Master Blender at Olde Raleigh Distillery in downtown Zebulon, North Carolina. His journey is a masterclass in grit, reinvention, and extreme ownership. EPISODE SUMMARY Brandon didn't grow up around whiskey. In fact, he grew up Southern Baptist — alcohol wasn't just discouraged, it was forbidden. His great‑great‑grandmother was part of the temperance movement. But life has a way of calling us toward the work we're meant to do, and for Brandon, that calling came wrapped in oak barrels and the art of blending. Before launching Olde Raleigh Distillery, Brandon served in the Air Force, built a corporate career, traveled endlessly as a "road warrior," and hit a breaking point when he realized he was missing his child's early years. That moment sparked a transformation — one that eventually led him to walk away from corporate life and pursue the craft whiskey world full‑time. But the road wasn't smooth. KEY CHALLENGES WE DISCUSS: • 12 rejected small business loans • A four‑year delay from idea to opening • Navigating North Carolina's restrictive alcohol laws • COVID shutting down his planned April 2020 opening • Burning through his 401k to keep the dream alive • Pivoting from distilling to blending due to market shifts • Revitalizing a nearly empty downtown Zebulon • Building a tasting room focused on conversation, not consumption Brandon's story is brutally honest — the kind of honesty you only get from someone who's lived through the spins, the setbacks, and the "praying to the porcelain idol" moments that come from learning the hard way. But it's also a story of craft, community, and the relentless pursuit of doing something the right way. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: • What resilience really means • Why extreme ownership changes everything • How to pivot when your plan collapses • The art and science of whiskey blending • How to build a business that becomes a community anchor • Why authenticity beats scale • How to turn obstacles into opportunities ABOUT OLDE RALEIGH DISTILLERY Olde Raleigh Distillery is a family‑owned craft bourbon and whiskey distillery in downtown Zebulon, NC. Brandon's blending approach is unique — he doesn't replicate batches. Instead, he cherry‑picks the best barrels from across North America, creating one‑of‑a‑kind releases that reflect craftsmanship, curiosity, and artistic freedom. GUEST LINKS Website: https://olderaleighdistillery.com/ Email: brandon@olderaleighdistillery.com Instagram: @olderaleighdistillery Facebook: Olde Raleigh Distillery ASKITA LINKS Website: https://aswiftkickintheass.com SoulWagon: https://soulwagon.co Podcast on Apple: [link] Podcast on Spotify: [link] HASHTAGS #ASKITA #OldeRaleighDistillery #Whiskey #Bourbon #Resilience #Entrepreneurship #ExtremeOwnership #CraftSpirits #ZebulonNC #SoulWagon

  7. Aug 28

    Reinventing Travel: Lisa Pagotto on Resilience & Crooked Compass by Air

    Ever wondered what resilience looks like in real life? Lisa Pagotto sold her house, rebuilt her business after the pandemic wiped out global travel, and launched a private aviation experience that's changing how people explore Australia. Her story is wild — and deeply inspiring. In this episode of A Swift Kick in the Ass, John W. Curren talks with Lisa Pagotto, founder of Crooked Compass and Crooked Compass by Air. Lisa shares her remarkable journey from hitting a career ceiling, selling her house to fund a dream, surviving the pandemic collapse of global travel, navigating personal upheaval, and ultimately discovering a new business model in grounded private aircraft. This is a story of grit, curiosity, and the courage to rebuild when everything falls apart. Learn more at: crookedcompassbyair.com

  8. Aug 21

    Listening to the Frequency Within: Psychic Medium Dallisa Hocking

    Some folks hear the world through their ears. Others hear it through the quiet places inside. This week on ASKITA, John sits down with psychic medium Dallisa Hocking to talk intuition, frequency, and the unseen roads we walk. This episode features Dallisa Hocking, a 5th‑generation psychic medium and educator who helps people develop deep self‑trust through intuitive awareness. She shares her awakening story, real‑world premonitions, mediumship experiences, and practical tools for raising your frequency. 00:00 – Opening 02:15 – Dallisa's 5th‑generation psychic lineage 06:40 – The 2015 awakening at Omega Institute 12:10 – Mediumship, frequency & intuitive mechanics 18:55 – John's story of spiritual presence 25:30 – Kimberly Bergalis & spiritual anger 31:20 – Premonitions: bank robbery, Halloween gunfight, Airbnb break‑in 40:05 – Meditation, Morning Pages & intuitive training 48:50 – Mind‑body healing & emotional patterns 55:30 – Family dynamics as spiritual lessons 01:02:10 – Rumi quote & closing reflections Topics include meditation, Morning Pages, emotional healing, animal spirits, generational patterns, and the spiritual lessons hidden inside difficult relationships.

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5
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About

A Swift Kick in the Ass (ASKITA) is a mindset and resilience podcast for people rebuilding their lives after overwhelm, burnout, or major life transitions. Hosted by John Curren, ASKITA blends philosophy, emotional intelligence, and real‑world storytelling to help you reset your attitude, reclaim your strength, and move forward with clarity. Each episode offers practical tools for personal growth, emotional resilience, and mental reset — including guided reflections, mindset shifts, and the 7‑Day Attitude Adjustment framework. Whether you're feeling stuck, starting over, or seeking a fresh perspective, ASKITA gives you the space to breathe, reflect, and rise again. Topics include: mindset reset, emotional resilience, personal growth, overcoming burnout, rebuilding confidence, life transitions, healing after setbacks, self‑reflection, and intentional living. New episodes every month. Shorts posted daily on YouTube. The show was started in 2014 being hosted by lifelong friends John W. Curren and Tom Stewart. Tom died of brain cancer on 9/16/2020. John continues the quest to disrupt conventional thinking and find true freedom through living life on his terms. Please like and subcribe to get traction on a life on your terms.

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