Real Things Living

Brigitte Cutshall

Discover the real things that matter in life. Real Things Living explores resilience, connection, and navigating life’s challenges. Host Brigitte Cutshall shares her journey of surviving cancer twice and a rare brain tumor, offering insights to help you focus on what’s important and find strength. Each episode features practical tips and inspiring stories from Brigitte and her guests to help you overcome adversity, build resilience, and create a meaningful life.

  1. Reflecting on Your Best Self with Rhonda Farrah

    2D AGO

    Reflecting on Your Best Self with Rhonda Farrah

    Stop surviving your circumstances and start thriving through the "adventures" that shaped you. In this episode of Real Things Living, Brigitte Cutshall hosts Rhonda Farrah, a lifestyle empowerment alchemist who shares how she navigated high-stakes life "adventures"—including a federal prison camp stay, a breast cancer diagnosis, and financial ruin. Rhonda reveals how she transformed these "messes into messages" by choosing to see them as opportunities for growth rather than crises. Notably, she clarifies that her prison record was later expunged and was entirely non-violent and non-drug related. They explore the "inside job" of fixing your relationship with yourself to move from merely surviving to truly thriving. Key Takeaways: (1) Fix Your Reflection First: True empowerment begins by learning to appreciate, respect, and love the person looking back at you in the mirror. (2) The Alchemist’s Formula: Combining daily gratitude with deep self-forgiveness creates an empowered life by clearing the "debris" of past resentment. (3) Respond, Don't React: Choosing to respond rather than react allows you to move through life’s challenges with authenticity and clarity. Ready to fix your reflection? Visit Rhonda at https://helpmerhondanow.com or reach her directly at rhonda@helpmerhondanow.com. Follow her on social media for inspiration: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/rhonda.farrah Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/helpmerhondanow_/ And keep an eye out for her upcoming book, "Fix Your Reflection: Your Guide to Growing Where You're Planted" coming this fall.

    37 min
  2. Resilience Beyond the Diagnosis: Greg Smith's Unbreakable Story

    5D AGO

    Resilience Beyond the Diagnosis: Greg Smith's Unbreakable Story

    Doctors said he wouldn't survive childhood. At 69, Greg Smith is believed to be the oldest living person in the world with his condition...and he's got a book to prove the odds wrong. Greg Smith was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) before his second birthday and given a life expectancy of 25 years. In this conversation with Brigitte Cutshall, Greg opens up about growing up in an inaccessible world, the parents who refused to give up on him, and how he went on to earn a social work degree, build a 30-year career serving others, and write his memoir "Stronger Than Bone" — one of the only first-person accounts of living with this rare condition that affects fewer than 50,000 people worldwide. 3 Takeaways: (1) Persistence is Vital: Don’t let "bad days" define you; focus on taking life one day at a time to build mental and spiritual strength. (2) Value Your Support System: Success is a collective effort fueled by "angels"—the caregivers and friends who provide essential support and compassion. (3) Seek Daily Joy: Cultivating passions like music, sports, or writing is therapeutic and prevents your circumstances from putting you in a "box". Grab "Stronger Than Bone" in e-book format or audiobook. It's a listen worth making time for on your next long drive. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FRNPJCRX Connect with Greg on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bluesky as @wheelingreg or reach him directly by email (gapsmith1@verizon.net)

    36 min
  3. From Combat to Calm: How to Reclaim Your Energy with Tim Thomas

    MAR 20

    From Combat to Calm: How to Reclaim Your Energy with Tim Thomas

    A decorated Special Forces veteran nearly lost everything to the system that was supposed to save him—until he discovered the one tool the body has always had. In this episode, Brigitte Cutshall speaks with Tim Thomas, an ex-Australian Special Forces member dedicated to helping people reclaim their sense of self and energy. Drawing from his combat experience and his own journey with PTSD, Tim discusses the vital importance of breaking isolation and overcoming fatigue. He challenges the "economy of dysfunction" in mainstream medicine, advocating instead for natural healing modalities that integrate the body and mind to achieve permanent results. 3 Key Takeaways: (1) The Power of Presence: Anxiety often stems from the mind traveling forward or backward in time; true power and "totality" are found by connecting the mind 100% to the current moment. (2) Breaking the Isolation Cycle: Intense physical or emotional pain often transforms into secret loneliness and isolation, which are the opposite of how humans are built to function. (3) The "P Test" for Success: Effective healing must be Powerful, Positive, and most importantly, Permanent—ensuring that the progress made actually sticks long-term. Connect with Tim Thomas and explore his resources below:https://breathworkinbed.com.au/ https://www.instagram.com/breathworkinbed/ https://www.facebook.com/breathworkinbed https://www.tiktok.com/@breathworkinbed https://www.linkedin.com/in/bettersleepbetterworld/

    55 min
  4. Joy is the Medicine: Reimagining the Dementia Journey with Marilyn Reichle

    MAR 14

    Joy is the Medicine: Reimagining the Dementia Journey with Marilyn Reichle

    Instead of a long goodbye, imagine a nine-year journey filled with newfound creativity, laughter, and deep connection. In this episode of Real Things Living, Brigitte Cutshall talks with Marilyn Raichle, author of "Don't Walk Away: A Care Partner’s Journey." Marilyn shares how her mother’s late-life discovery of painting transformed their relationship from one of "caregiver and patient" to true "care partners". KEY DISCUSSION POINTS (1) Art as an Anchor: Marilyn discovered that while Alzheimer’s is scary, art is not; it allows the person living with dementia to be present and their true self to emerge. (2) The Power of Listening: Marilyn shifted from "being raised to win" to learning the art of listening, discovering that her mother always had something left to teach. (3) Living vs. Suffering: A central theme of the conversation is the importance of saying a person is "living with" dementia rather than "suffering from" it, acknowledging their ongoing value and humanity. (4) Innovation in Care: As Executive Director of the Maudes Awards, Marilyn highlights how they provide $100,000 in annual gifts to individuals and organizations finding innovative ways to bring joy to those with memory loss. Insights for Care Partners: (1) The Five-Minute Rule: If you are struggling to connect, find one simple thing you both enjoy—a walk, a song, or a sunset—and do it for just five minutes. (2) Emotional Memory: Even if a loved one cannot remember the specifics of a visit, they retain the positive emotion and "joy" that the interaction provided. Resources Website: https://dontwalkaway.net The Maude's Awards: https://maudesawards.org

    30 min
  5. Permission to Launch with Chanda Coston

    MAR 3

    Permission to Launch with Chanda Coston

    You've poured into everyone else — your career, your family, your community. Now it's your turn. But where do you even start? Brigitte Cutshall sits down with Chanda Coston, a business coach and strategist who helps women in midlife build businesses that actually fit their lives. Chanda shares how losing her brother to gun violence led her to discover her passion for mentoring, and why she believes women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are uniquely positioned — and urgently ready — to bet on themselves. From overcoming overwhelm to building personal brands, Chanda brings both military discipline and heartfelt coaching to help women stop waiting and start living. 3 Key Takeaways: (1) Structure and boundaries are the cure for overwhelm. If you're constantly saying yes to everyone else, there's nothing left for your own dreams — and that has to change first. (2) All of your experiences are your greatest asset. Nothing was wasted. Your career, your seasons of life, even your failures are human capital that no employer will ever fully compensate you for. (3) Accountability is a multiplier. Telling someone your goal makes you 65% more likely to achieve it — having someone hold you to it pushes that to 95%. Stop waiting for the "perfect" moment to prioritize your dreams. Visit https://Chanda-co.com to explore how a 12-week strategic plan can help you scale your business without sacrificing your well-being. https://www.instagram.com/chanda__co/

    27 min
5
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

Discover the real things that matter in life. Real Things Living explores resilience, connection, and navigating life’s challenges. Host Brigitte Cutshall shares her journey of surviving cancer twice and a rare brain tumor, offering insights to help you focus on what’s important and find strength. Each episode features practical tips and inspiring stories from Brigitte and her guests to help you overcome adversity, build resilience, and create a meaningful life.