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

John W. Curren
  • 5.0 (11)
  • 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. 3d ago

    STOP MAKING YOURSELF SUFFER — Thomas Thatcher Breaks the Story You're Addicted To

    Author Thomas Thatcher joins John Curren to dismantle the biggest myth in personal development: that suffering comes from what happens to us. Thomas explains how suffering is created by the stories we attach to pain, why people cling to those stories for the payoff, and how he nearly lost his life to one of his own. This episode is a direct, no‑nonsense guide to separating fact from fiction, reclaiming your power, and choosing a future based on commitment instead of complaint.

    1h 16m

  2. May 23 ·  Video

    Thayne Martin: The Equation of Life, Gratitude & Healing Trauma

    Trauma recovery, neuroscience, and gratitude converge in one of the most remarkable conversations on A Swift Kick in the Ass. Guest Thayne Martin — founder of itspureLove.com — is a childhood sexual abuse survivor who spent decades in silence before a near-death experience unlocked a completely new path forward. Thayne was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Bipolar 1, severe ADHD, and complex PTSD. After multiple suicide attempts and years of severe over-medication, a late-thirties crisis brought everything to the surface. Then a near-death drowning experience became a spiritual awakening — and the beginning of everything. In this episode, Thayne introduces "The Equation of Life and Abundant Happiness" — a behavioral change and emotional healing framework built on mathematical principles. Addition (what to bring in), subtraction (what to release), multiplication (energy alignment and support), and division (sharing your abundance). At the center of it all: gratitude as the equal sign — the neurological bridge that quiets the amygdala, activates the prefrontal cortex, and begins rewriting fear-based neural circuits formed by childhood experiences. His gratitude protocol and 101 experiential neuroscience exercises are currently under study at universities. Concepts like Glimmer Surfing, Dare to Be Second, and the hamburger communication framework give listeners immediately applicable tools for personal growth, mental wellness, and mindfulness. If you are on a healing journey, interested in the science of the mind, or simply looking for a practical framework for a more meaningful life — this episode is essential listening. Visit itspureLove.com.

    1h 48m

  3. May 16 ·  Video

    Long‑Term Care Planning: Protecting Your Future Self with Raymond Lavine ASKITA

    This episode should be positioned as a must‑hear guide for anyone over 50 who wants to protect their independence, dignity, and family from the emotional and financial strain of long‑term care. The hook is not insurance — it's freedom, quality of life, and proactive planning.   John and Raymond Lavine break down the real costs of long‑term care, why planning early matters, and how to protect your independence, dignity, and family as you age. Raymond shares lessons from his mother's 103‑year life and decades of caregiving, explaining how long‑term care insurance works and why it's about freedom — not fear.

    1h 18m

  4. May 12 ·  Video

    Ezra Vancil: Music, Boundaries & Becoming Who You Really Are | ASKITA Podcast

    Musician and multi‑instrumentalist Ezra Vancil joins John Curren on A Swift Kick in the Ass for a raw, honest conversation about music, identity, boundaries, addiction, family, and the courage to pursue dreams even when life gets complicated. Ezra shares his journey from being signed at 19, to losing himself in the chaos of the industry, to rebuilding a grounded life with his daughter on a 9‑acre property. Together, John and Ezra explore: How to protect your authentic self in a world that demands performance The "suit" musicians wear to survive the spotlight Stage fright as excitement, not fear Addiction, recovery, and the power of intentional decisions Parenting creative kids without projecting your fears Why dreams keep calling us back — and what to do about it Setting boundaries with toxic people The evolution of the music industry from the 90s to now If you're someone rebuilding your life, rediscovering your creativity, or trying to live more intentionally, this episode will hit home. 👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on resilience, reinvention, and living life on your own terms. 00:00 – Opening & Ezra's introduction 02:15 – Ezra's early music journey & getting signed at 19 06:40 – Writing as emotional expression 10:22 – Stage fright, excitement & the "suit" 14:55 – Teaching boundaries to his daughter 19:30 – Authenticity vs. personas in music 23:10 – Addiction, recovery & rebuilding life 28:45 – Parenting creative kids 33:20 – Music that shapes memory 37:05 – Industry changes across generations 41:50 – John's 1990s South Florida stories 47:30 – Turning pain into purpose 52:10 – Dreams, islands & creative flow 57:40 – Pursuing goals while honoring family 1:02:15 – Intentional decisions & emotional responsibility 1:06:00 – Collaboration, community & closing thoughts

    1h 37m

  5. May 2 ·  Video

    "Gettin' Asinine About Resilience." A Swift Kick In the Ass Podcast

    Gettin' Asinine About Resilience is where real people talk real resilience — the messy, funny, painful, transformative parts of rebuilding your life after getting knocked flat. Hosted by John Curren, creator of A Swift Kick in the Ass, this series keeps it conversational, unscripted, and minimally edited so the truth stays intact. Each episode dives into the lived experience behind resilience: • the adversity • the breaking point • the rebuild • the lessons that stick • the humor that keeps us going If you're navigating change, reinvention, or a personal reset, this show gives you stories that hit home and perspectives that help you move forward. Listen to the full ASKITA podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-swift-kick-in-the-ass-personal-growth-resilience-podcast/id928326346

    27 min

  6. Apr 30

    AI, Grocery Prices & Community: Andy Ellwood's Mission to Help Families Save ASKITA AE189

    John sits down with Andy Ellwood, founder of Stretch, the AI-powered grocery savings platform helping families compare prices across stores and save over $1,000 per year. Andy shares his entrepreneurial journey, his "make room for many" philosophy, and how AI is reshaping food security and community-driven commerce. Key Topics: AI-powered grocery savings Food affordability & food security Entrepreneurship & early influences Community-driven technology The future of AI in everyday life Guest Links: Stretch: https://stretchgroceries.com Andy Ellwood: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyellwood/ www.aswiftkickintheass.com https://youtu.be/OuNQnWgYWX4

    29 min

  7. Apr 20

    Army Veteran Scott Lackey on Real Resilience, Micro‑Level Change & Finding Purpose ASKITA Audio E188

    In this episode of A Swift Kick in the Ass, John Curren interviews Army combat veteran Scott Lackey about resilience, fear, purpose, and the power of micro‑level change. Scott shares stories from his military service during the Persian Gulf War, his rebellious path to joining the Army, and the life lessons that shaped his upcoming book. Topics include: Resilience in everyday life Overcoming fear through small, consistent actions Marriage, communication, and emotional growth Ironman training and personal discipline Why internal change must come before external transformation The importance of unconditional love and simple human connection Scott's book launches between May 1–15, and John will share the link when it goes live.   Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:12 – Why Scott Joined the Army 05:40 – Deployment to Kuwait 10:22 – Structure, Freedom & Life Decisions 15:55 – Ironman Training & Personal Discipline 21:10 – What Resilience Really Means 27:45 – Marriage, Communication & Emotional Growth 33:30 – Micro‑Level Change: Saying Hello 38:50 – "The Gifts Are in the Pain" 44:10 – Scott's Book Launch 48:00 – Closing Thoughts

    54 min

  8. Apr 12

    Turning Grief Into Clarity: Jermaine Ee on Legacy, Estate Planning & Living Fully ASKITA 187 audio only

    After losing his mother just seven months ago, Jermaine Ee turned grief into purpose by building HeirLight, a modern estate‑planning app designed to help families navigate wills, directives, and end‑of‑life clarity without fear or confusion. In this powerful conversation, John and Jermaine explore how loss can sharpen our sense of meaning, reshape our priorities, and inspire us to live more intentionally. Jermaine shares the deeply personal story behind AirLight, his experience running his mother's shipping container business, and the cultural and generational barriers that keep families from planning ahead. The conversation dives into legacy, money habits, meditation, travel, and the emotional work of becoming the person you want to be remembered as. In this episode we discuss: How grief can become a catalyst for clarity and purpose Why estate planning is really about living, not dying Breaking generational money patterns and "autopilot saving" Writing your own eulogy as a compass for intentional living Meditation, presence, and staying grounded while building a company Travel, relationships, and choosing a life you don't want to escape The tension between ambition, caregiving, and contentment What it means to live fully for the people who can't anymore If you're navigating loss, rethinking your priorities, or trying to build a life aligned with your values, this episode will stay with you.  The ful video veriuso is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GKSnGLefEY 🎧 HeirLight App (Estate Planning Made Human) Website: https://heiight.com 50% OFF for ASKITA listeners

    1h 9m
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

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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