Manders Mindset

Amanda Russo
  • 5.0 (28)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Are you feeling stuck or stagnant in your life? Do you envision yourself living differently but have no idea how to start? The answer might lie in a shift in your mindset.  Hosted by Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess, who is a former Family Law Paralegal now a Breathwork Facilitator, Sound Healer, and Transformative Mindset Coach.  Amanda's journey into mindset and empowerment began by working with children in group homes and daycares. She later transitioned to family law, helping people navigate the challenging emotions of divorce. During this time, Amanda also overcame her own weight and health challenges through strength training, meditation, yoga, reiki, and plant medicine.  Amanda interviews guests from diverse backgrounds, including entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and wellness experts, who share their incredible journeys of conquering fears and limiting beliefs to achieve remarkable success.  Hear real people tell how shifting their mindsets and often their words, has dramatically changed their lives.  Amanda also shares her personal journey, detailing how she transformed obstacles into opportunities by adopting a healthier, holistic lifestyle.  Discover practical strategies and inspiring stories that will empower you to break free from limitations and cultivate a mindset geared towards growth and positivity.  Tune in for a fun, friendly, and empowering experience that will help you become the best version of yourself.

  1. How Shifting Your Mindset Can Change a Relationship Forever | Dr. Bruce Chalmer | 190

    1H AGO

    How Shifting Your Mindset Can Change a Relationship Forever | Dr. Bruce Chalmer | 190

    Feedback on the show? Send us a message! What if intimacy isn’t lost because love disappears… but because anxiety takes over? In this thought-provoking episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with Bruce, a Vermont-based psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with couples, to unpack what really breaks relationships apart and what actually brings them back together. After navigating his own personal heartbreak and career pivot from statistician to licensed psychologist, Bruce has spent decades guiding couples through infidelity, emotional disconnection, and crisis. Through that work, he developed a simple yet profound framework that challenges what most people think therapy is about. At the core of the conversation is a powerful distinction: it’s not about how couples communicate… it’s about what they are communicating. Respect or contempt. Curiosity or certainty. Faith or panic. Bruce explores the intimacy–stability paradox, explains why intimacy requires tolerating anxiety, and introduces the difference between an “aha” moment and an “oh sh*t” moment... the kind of realization that changes everything. This episode is an invitation to rethink love, conflict, monogamy, therapy, and even certainty itself. Because sometimes the most important shift isn’t fixing the relationship… it’s shifting the mindset behind it. 💡 In This Episode, Listeners Will Discover: 💬 Why “better communication” isn’t always the solution  🔥 The real reason couples avoid therapy (hint: it’s fear, not indifference)  ❤️ Why intimacy requires the ability to tolerate anxiety  ⚖️ The difference between stability and passion and why both matter  💔 Why infidelity is often about context, not character  🧠 How contempt quietly erodes connection  💡 The power of the “oh sh*t” moment in healing  🙏 Why faith (not religion, but trust in reality) transforms relationships  🌱 How monogamy can become a gift instead of a restriction  🕊️ Why humility in beliefs strengthens connection far beyond romance ⏰ Timeline Summary  [2:26] Finding his true calling after personal relationship pain  [6:10] Childhood, identity, and the self-proclaimed “recovering nerd”  [16:38] The long road through his first marriage and the defining “oh sht” moment  [19:40] Meeting his wife in an unexpected, almost fate-like way  [27:21] Why couples therapy became his specialty  [31:00] The seven-word framework: “Be kind, don’t panic, and have faith”  [36:12] The intimacy vs. stability paradox explained  [42:56] Should every couple go to therapy?  [49:00] Why communication techniques alone don’t fix relationships  [1:15:05] The difference between “aha” moments and “oh sht” moments To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! To Connect with Dr. Bruce Chalmer: Website: https://brucechalmer.com Podcast: https://couplestherapyinsevenwords.com/

    1h 32m
  2. From Fear To Love: The Shift That Changes Relationships | Larry Bilotta | 188

    6D AGO

    From Fear To Love: The Shift That Changes Relationships | Larry Bilotta | 188

    Feedback on the show? Send us a message! What if the reason your relationship feels stuck… isn’t because of them but because of what you’re carrying? In this episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with marriage and mindset expert Larry Bilotta for a powerful conversation about emotional patterns, childhood programming, and why it only takes one person to begin healing a relationship. After spending 27 years in what he calls “a marriage made in hell,” Larry shares the internal shift that transformed everything, not by changing his wife, but by changing himself. Together, Amanda and Larry unpack how unseen emotional “energy” shapes relationships, why fear quietly drives so many decisions, and how moving from fear to love can radically shift not just a marriage but every area of life. Expect bold analogies, deep self-reflection, and practical mindset tools that challenge the way you think about conflict, identity, and emotional responsibility. Because sometimes the breakthrough isn’t fixing what’s wrong… It’s choosing a different energy entirely. 💡 In this episode, listeners will learn: 🚂 Larry’s “Energy Train” concept and how emotions silently transfer between partners  💔 Why 27 years of struggle became the foundation for transformation  🧠 How childhood programming (“chaos kids”) impacts adult relationships  ⚖️ The difference between soft-hearted vs. hard-natured personalities  📝 The 25 Fear Words vs. 25 Love Words exercise and how it rewires decision-making  🐀 The “Cruise Ship & Rat” analogy for the inner critic and unresolved pain  👨‍👩‍👧 Clear definitions of a “real” dad, mom, husband, and wife and why clarity matters  ❤️ Why shifting from “What’s wrong?” to “How can I help?” changes everything ⏰ Timeline Summary  [4:30] Childhood roots  [10:40] “Stay married and miserable” the subconscious programming that kept them stuck  [16:40] The “Energy Train” explained: how mood, attitude, and emotion transfer between partners (even when hidden)  [27:30] Soft-hearted vs. hard-natured personalities & the “flag page” framework (fun/peace/control/perfect)  [34:50] The Fear vs. Love word list exercise... choosing a different emotional world to live in  [45:40] Real dad / real mom / real husband / real wife definitions To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

    55 min
  3. Reclaiming Inner Authority: Women's Health & Radical Self-Trust | Dr. Marissa Heisel | 187

    FEB 20

    Reclaiming Inner Authority: Women's Health & Radical Self-Trust | Dr. Marissa Heisel | 187

    Feedback on the show? Send us a message! What if the authority you’ve been taught to look for outside of yourself has actually been within you all along? In this powerful episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with holistic doctor and former midwife Dr. Marissa Heisel for an expansive conversation on women’s health, pregnancy, midlife, and the radical act of self-trust. With more than 26 years of experience working with women and families, Marissa shares how her journey from conventional medical aspirations to holistic care reshaped her understanding of healing and why so many women feel disconnected from their own bodies. Together, Amanda and Marissa explore the cultural conditioning that influences pregnancy and birth, the medicalization of menopause, rising childhood anxiety, and the hidden impact of modern screen culture. At the heart of it all is one core message: reclaiming inner authority isn’t just personal, it’s generational. When women trust themselves, everything shifts. 💡 In this episode, listeners will discover: 🌀 Why women’s health has become increasingly medicalized  👶 How disempowerment can begin during pregnancy and birth  🌿 What “radical self-trust” truly means in everyday life  🧠 The connection between stress, technology, and rising childhood anxiety  🔥 Why symptoms may be signals not problems to suppress  🪞 The difference between identity and inherent worth  🌎 How reclaiming inner authority creates ripple effects for future generations ⏰ Timeline Summary  [3:05] The childhood mohttps://www.instagram.com/elemental.healing_arts/ment that sparked a fascination with healing [8:30] Walking away from conventional medicine [15:10] Disempowerment in pregnancy and birth culture [26:00] Your body as your best medicine [34:40] Technology, anxiety, and modern childhood [46:10] Trauma identity vs. true self-worth [55:00] Final reflections on authority, trust, and generational change To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! To Connect with Dr. Marissa:  Website: https://elementalhealingarts.life/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elemental.healing_arts/

    1h 9m
  4. The Power of Touch: Healing Pain Without Pills | Njideka Olatunde | 186

    FEB 16

    The Power of Touch: Healing Pain Without Pills | Njideka Olatunde | 186

    Feedback on the show? Send us a message! What if pain wasn’t the enemy… but a messenger? What if stress wasn’t just something to “push through”… but the root of nearly every ache, tension, and health challenge in the body? In this deeply insightful episode, host Amanda Russo sits down with Njideka Olatunde, founder of Focus on Healing Wellness Institute, reflexology educator, and pioneer in medication-free pain relief… for a conversation that reframes everything listeners think they know about pain, stress, and healing. Njideka shares how growing up with home remedies, herbal “concoctions,” and doctors who made house calls shaped her early vision of becoming a healer. After witnessing gaps in the medical system as a social worker, she followed a new path into naturopathy and reflexology, where she has now spent over 40 years helping thousands find relief without relying on pharmaceuticals. At the heart of the episode is one core truth: pain and stress go hand in hand. Njideka explains why the body never betrays us, how stress internalized becomes physical pain, and why listening is the first and most powerful form of touch. She introduces the concept of multiple forms of touch, physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and even financial and reveals how something as simple as a smile, gratitude, or holding space can begin the healing process. The conversation also explores personal responsibility in healthcare, asking better questions, stepping “out of the box,” reconnecting with the inner child, and why healing requires participation... not passive prescriptions. It’s a powerful reminder that the body is intelligent, healing is collaborative, and empowerment begins the moment we decide to take back control. 💡 In this episode, listeners will discover: 🖐️ Why pain and stress are inseparable  🧠 How internalized stress becomes physical symptoms  👂 Why listening is the first and most powerful form of touch  🌿 How reflexology activates the body’s natural pain relievers  💊 Why medication should be questioned, not blindly accepted  💰 How financial stress silently contributes to illness  🎈 Why reconnecting with your inner child relieves tension  🙏 Why gratitude is the foundation of healing  🔥 How taking responsibility transforms the healing journey ⏰ Timeline Summary [3:12] Childhood home remedies and the early vision of becoming a healer  [8:45] The stress pain connection explained simply  [12:18] The “mechanic” analogy   [16:40] Listening as the first form of touch  [22:55] Reflexology explained through the nervous system  [31:07] Financial pain as a root cause of stress  [38:42] Creating a “silly day” to reconnect with your inner child  [47:10] Celebrating 40 years of impact in reflexology To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE!

    1h 9m
  5. From Rock Bottom To Purpose Driven Founder | Michael Leung | 185

    FEB 13

    From Rock Bottom To Purpose Driven Founder | Michael Leung | 185

    Feedback on the show? Send us a message! What does it really take to rise from rock bottom and build something meaningful? In this powerful episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with Michael Leung for a raw and deeply human conversation about grief, identity, resilience, and rebuilding after adversity. From immigrating to Canada at six years old to losing his mother to cancer during his teenage years, Michael shares how that devastating loss unraveled him, leading to years of anger, rebellion, and self-destruction before ultimately becoming the foundation for purpose. Together, Amanda and Michael explore toxic friendships, heartbreak after a 12-year relationship ended, navigating partial blindness, and the mindset shifts that transformed pain into impact. What began as survival eventually evolved into innovation, including the creation of an affordable hearing device now helping seniors and individuals with disabilities. This episode is an honest reflection on humility, ownership, and the courage to evolve when life forces change. 💡 In this episode, listeners will discover: 🧳 How immigrating at a young age shaped resilience and identity  💔 The profound impact of losing a parent and how unprocessed grief can manifest as anger  🔥 Why destructive behaviors are often rooted in deeper emotional pain  🧠 How adversity can either harden someone or refine them  🍻 The turning point that led to sobriety and cutting toxic influences  🎧 How personal disability inspired the creation of an affordable hearing solution  📈 Why feedback, humility, and evolution are critical for growth  💡 The “aha” moment that redefined fulfillment and purpose ⏰ Timeline Summary  [5:45] Immigrating to Canada and adjusting to a new culture  [11:10] Losing his mother to cancer and the emotional shift that followed  [18:30] Falling into destructive patterns and feeling completely lost  [27:50] A major career setback that reignited feelings of injustice  [34:40] Being diagnosed with partial blindness and confronting uncertainty  [38:20] The creation of his hearing device and building a purpose-driven company To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! To Connect with Michael & Learn More about Flo:  Website: https://www.theinnerflo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theflogroup?igsh=MXJsZGJzZnc1Z2ZpNA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theflogroup Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.leung.9638?

    49 min
  6. The Cost of Saying Yes | Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala | 184

    FEB 9

    The Cost of Saying Yes | Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala | 184

    Feedback on the show? Send us a message! What if the reason burnout keeps coming back… isn’t because there’s not enough time but because too much of that time is going to things that don’t actually matter to the life someone wants? In this episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala, clinical psychologist, professor, and bestselling author for a grounded, eye-opening conversation about values, boundaries, and what it really takes to create change that lasts. Dr. Sauer-Zavala shares her journey from being a “messy, shy kid” to building a career in treatment research, and why redefining success became non-negotiable once motherhood, burnout, and real priorities entered the picture. Together, Amanda and Dr. Sauer-Zavala unpack why burnout isn’t a productivity problem, how saying “no” can actually bring better opportunities, and why values aren’t just inspirational words, they’re behavioral instructions.  Expect a conversation that cuts through hustle culture, reframes what “success” is supposed to feel like, and brings everything back to one powerful question: Does this move closer to your values… or farther away? 🧭 💡 In this episode, listeners will learn: 🧭 Why values are the missing link between wanting change and sustaining change 🔥 The 2 burnout mindset traps: treating burnout like an efficiency problem + normalizing exhaustion because “everyone is burnt out” 🚫 Why saying no can lead to more aligned opportunities (not fewer) 📩 The surprising downside of “Inbox Zero” and why it’s not a life goal 🧠 How CBT helps challenge fears like “If a boundary is set, everything will fall apart” 📉 Why aiming for 80% effort can reduce overwhelm without lowering performance 🧩 A new way of understanding borderline personality disorder as trait vulnerabilities 🧑‍⚕️ How to find the right therapist: what to ask when someone claims they “do CBT” ⏰ Timeline Summary:  [12:40] Grad school systems: planners, structure, and reducing overwhelm with organization [16:40] Why treatment research matters: impact beyond one-on-one work and “moving the needle” [21:10] Redefining success: stepping away from academic metrics and toward values-based living [27:30] Boundaries and opportunity: why saying no created better-aligned yeses [33:10] Introducing BPD Compass: the book, the framework, and the goal of accessible treatment [38:45] The most hopeful truth about BPD:  [46:40] Burnout reality check: it’s not a planner problem, it’s a too-much problem To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! To Connect with Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala:  Website: https://personality-compass.com/ Shannon's Suggested search: “Values identification worksheet”

    56 min
  7. The First Time You See Someone Wearing Something You Made | Kristen Anderson | 183

    FEB 6

    The First Time You See Someone Wearing Something You Made | Kristen Anderson | 183

    Feedback on the show? Send us a message! What if the reason most bras don’t feel right… is because brands aren’t actually listening?  In this episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with Kristen Anderson, co-founder of Iteration, to unpack what happens when product design is guided by real women, not guesswork. From Kristen’s “Skirt Girl” origins and a wild childhood fashion story to her path through lingerie startups and Target swimwear, this conversation explores the mindset behind creating with intention, building community-driven products, and learning to move forward even when things feel uncertain. Expect laughs, founder truth, and a few unexpected questions, including the one law Kristen would make if she could. ⏰ Timeline Summary:  [06:10] Childhood dynamic, being the youngest, and a healthy co-parenting example after divorce  [11:35] The sewing-machine turning point and how “Skirt Girl” began  [18:40] The Barbie fashion incident that turned into a hospital visit (and a lifelong fashion obsession)  [39:20] Freelancing in the early internet era: uncertainty & learning curves  [45:30] Brutal commutes, startup culture, and developing a growth mindset  [58:05] The idea that lingered: early COVID, abandoning the book, and the start of Iteration To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! To Connect with Kristen/ Iteration: https://iterationera.com/

    1h 2m
  8. Healing Beyond The Mind | Heather Ann Ferri | 182

    FEB 2

    Healing Beyond The Mind | Heather Ann Ferri | 182

    Feedback on the show? Send us a message! What if the healing you’ve been searching for doesn’t start in your thoughts… but in your body? In this episode of Manders Mindset, host Amanda Russo sits down with trauma-informed healer and spiritual educator Heather Ann Ferri for a powerful, wide-ranging conversation on trauma, remembrance, and reclaiming inner sovereignty. Heather shares her extraordinary life journey from Broadway stages and creative success to profound dark nights of the soul and how those experiences shaped the healing work she offers today. Together, Amanda and Heather explore how trauma lives in the nervous system, why the body remembers what the mind forgets, and what it truly takes to heal at the root. This episode moves fluidly between the mystical and the practical, touching on Breathwork, medical meditation, bloodline trauma, and the importance of respecting both the human body and Mother Earth. It’s an expansive, honest conversation that invites listeners to slow down, listen inward, and remember who they are beneath survival mode. 💡 In this episode, listeners will discover: 🌬️ How trauma is stored in the body and nervous system not just the mind  🧠 Why mindset work alone often falls short for deep healing  ✨ What “medical meditation” is and how it supports brain and nervous system rewiring  🧬 How bloodline and generational trauma influence health and behavior  🌿 The role breath, sound, and movement play in releasing stored trauma  💧 Why clean water, environmental awareness, and embodiment matter for healing  👁️ What it means to reclaim sovereignty and remember one’s true self ⏰ Timeline Summary  [1:42] Heather’s early life, creativity, and surviving childhood trauma  [8:30] How the body holds trauma even when memories are fragmented  [16:55] Broadway, performance, and using art as survival and expression  [25:40] Why affirmations and mindset work didn’t heal trauma  [33:10] Medical meditation, Breathwork, and rewiring the nervous system  [45:28] Bloodline trauma, memory, and the body’s intelligence  [57:50] Clean water, Mother Earth, and practical responsibility in healing  [1:14:20] Sovereignty, legacy, and remembering who you truly are To Connect with Amanda: Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE 📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess Follow & Support the Podcast: 📱Instagram: @MandersMindset 👥 Join the Manders Mindset Facebook Community HERE! To Connect with Heather:  Website: https://www.heatherannferri.com/ Subsrcibe to her Youtube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@heatherannferri

    1h 17m
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5
out of 5
28 Ratings

About

Are you feeling stuck or stagnant in your life? Do you envision yourself living differently but have no idea how to start? The answer might lie in a shift in your mindset.  Hosted by Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess, who is a former Family Law Paralegal now a Breathwork Facilitator, Sound Healer, and Transformative Mindset Coach.  Amanda's journey into mindset and empowerment began by working with children in group homes and daycares. She later transitioned to family law, helping people navigate the challenging emotions of divorce. During this time, Amanda also overcame her own weight and health challenges through strength training, meditation, yoga, reiki, and plant medicine.  Amanda interviews guests from diverse backgrounds, including entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and wellness experts, who share their incredible journeys of conquering fears and limiting beliefs to achieve remarkable success.  Hear real people tell how shifting their mindsets and often their words, has dramatically changed their lives.  Amanda also shares her personal journey, detailing how she transformed obstacles into opportunities by adopting a healthier, holistic lifestyle.  Discover practical strategies and inspiring stories that will empower you to break free from limitations and cultivate a mindset geared towards growth and positivity.  Tune in for a fun, friendly, and empowering experience that will help you become the best version of yourself.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Russo
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    189
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Manders Mindset
  • Show Website
    Manders Mindset