The Game Changer Podcast

Michelle Dutro
  • 4.8 (106)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
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The Game Changer Podcast explores the intersection of health, purpose, and performance — spotlighting leaders, clinicians, and creators who turn adversity into growth. Hosted by Michelle Dutro — Air Force veteran, former firefighter, PTSD nonprofit founder, and founder of Inner North Star Retreat — each episode blends candid conversations with science-backed tools for stress mastery, mental fitness, and resilience. This is a show for curious, growth-minded people who believe the best chapters of their lives are still ahead of them — and who want real conversations, new ideas, and the kind of guests you won't find on every other podcast. At a time when everything seems designed to divide us, this is a place to learn something genuinely new, think a little differently, and grow — without anyone telling you what to think. With over two decades in biofeedback and wellness, Michelle brings a trauma-aware, compassion-forward approach that helps listeners elevate their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. New episodes every Monday. Go deeper at michelledutro.com — The Path online course, private three-day retreat experiences, and Michelle's books.  📰 Published author — Spirituality & Health Magazine   📖 Chapter contributor — Awakened Hearts Book Series | Featured in Awaken Magazine: https://awakenedmagazine.com/michelle-dutro

  1. 172: Why Team Culture Is Your Biggest Advantage with Emile Studham

    4D AGO

    172: Why Team Culture Is Your Biggest Advantage with Emile Studham

    Send us Fan Mail What if your team's performance problem isn't a strategy problem — it's a trust problem? Emile Studham has spent his career studying why some teams thrive under pressure while others fall apart — and his answer is consistent across every industry he's worked in. Before you fix the mechanics, you have to unlock the human dynamics. Trust, safety, and belonging aren't nice-to-haves. They are the engine. In this conversation, Michelle and Emile explore why so many leaders unknowingly create environments of fear and protection rather than openness and cooperation, what the "player-coach syndrome" is and how it silently undermines team culture, how storytelling builds the kind of trust that no performance review ever will, why your reward systems may be driving the exact opposite of the cooperation you're trying to create, and how the principles of high-performing teams apply just as powerfully to your personal relationships and family. Emile also shares his own journey from burnout to purpose-driven coaching — and what that turning point revealed about the environments we create for ourselves and others. If you lead people — at work, at home, or in your community — this conversation will change the questions you ask. To learn more about Emile Studham's work visit https://www.emilestudham.com 🔗 Find everything at linktr.ee/michelledutro 🤝 Let’s Connect: linktr.ee/michelledutro  🌐 Learn more: www.michelledutro.com  🏞️ Retreat Center: www.innernorthstar.com

    44 min
  2. 171: Is Your Home Holding You Back? Conscious Design with Architect, Talor Stewart

    MAR 23

    171: Is Your Home Holding You Back? Conscious Design with Architect, Talor Stewart

    Send us Fan Mail What if the reason you can't focus, your relationships feel strained, or your motivation keeps stalling has nothing to do with your mindset — and everything to do with your kitchen table? Architect and Conscious Home Design founder Talor Stewart has spent his career studying the relationship between the spaces we live in and the lives we're trying to build. His conclusion is both simple and startling: your environment is either supporting your growth or quietly undermining it — and most people never stop to look. In this conversation, Michelle and Talor explore why clutter is never just about messiness, how dedicated spaces rewire the subconscious for success, what Winston Churchill understood about buildings and human behavior that most people still haven't caught up to, why your bedroom, workspace, and kitchen table may be working against you, and how Conscious Home Design works alongside Feng Shui and intentional living to create spaces that actually support who you're becoming. You don't need a renovation. You need a new way of seeing the space you're already in. To learn more about Talor Stewart's work visit conscioushomedesign.com 🔗 Find everything at linktr.ee/michelledutro 🤝 Let’s Connect: linktr.ee/michelledutro  🌐 Learn more: www.michelledutro.com  🏞️ Retreat Center: www.innernorthstar.com

    46 min
  3. 170: From Marine to Paralympic Medalist: How Dennis Connors Rebuilt His Identity After Brain Injuries and Stroke

    MAR 16

    170: From Marine to Paralympic Medalist: How Dennis Connors Rebuilt His Identity After Brain Injuries and Stroke

    Send us Fan Mail What does it take to rebuild your entire identity from the ground up — not once, but multiple times? Former Marine Dennis Connors knows better than most. After serving his country with distinction, Dennis faced a series of devastating traumatic brain injuries followed by a stroke that threatened to take everything. His athletic career. His sense of self. His future. What happened next is nothing short of extraordinary. Rather than accepting the limits placed on him, Dennis redefined what perseverance actually means — and went on to become an elite Paralympic athlete competing on the world stage. In this conversation, Michelle and Dennis explore what it really means to lose yourself and find your way back, why community and connection are not optional in recovery, how identity survives — and thrives — after catastrophic loss, what elite adaptive sports teaches us about the human spirit, and why Dennis believes none of us have any excuse to give up on what we love. This episode is for anyone navigating a major life transition, health challenge, or moment where they've looked up and wondered who they've become. You are worthy of love, support, and a life that lights you up — no matter what you've been through. To follow Dennis Connors' journey and support him in the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028- visit dennisconnorsusa.com In this Episode: 00:00 – Introduction to Dennis Connors 02:50 – The Journey of a Marine and Athlete 14:03 – Facing Adversity: Strokes and Identity  22:29 – Redefining Identity and Finding Worth  26:54 – A Message of Hope and Worthiness  27:19 – The Power of Connection and Support  29:49 – Redefining Identity and Perseverance  33:46 – High Performance and Competitive Spirit  39:56 – Challenges of Paralympic Athletes  41:42 – Legacy and the Pursuit of Passion  More about Michelle Dutro   🔗 Find everything here: https://linktr.ee/michelledutro 🤝 Let’s Connect: linktr.ee/michelledutro  🌐 Learn more: www.michelledutro.com  🏞️ Retreat Center: www.innernorthstar.com

    50 min
  4. 169: Running Across America: An Ex-Commando's Mission for Peace, with Mark Seven

    MAR 9

    169: Running Across America: An Ex-Commando's Mission for Peace, with Mark Seven

    Send us Fan Mail Former British Army commando Mark Seven is taking on the ultimate ultra-endurance challenge: a massive run across America for the 2027 Run of Hope Liberty Torch Relay. In this episode of The Game Changer Podcast, we dive deep into the mind of an ultra-endurance athlete to uncover what it really takes to build unbreakable resilience and discipline. From battling extreme self-esteem struggles to becoming an ultramarathon champion and motivational speaker, Mark shares the internal shifts required to push past your physical and mental limits. Whether you're looking for extreme motivation or a way to reconnect with your true purpose, this conversation will change how you view your own potential. 🔥 Support Mark's Mission & The Run of Hope -https://therunofhope.com/ 📚 Get Mark's Book: Mark's Books on Amazon   ✨ About the Show: Welcome to a space where purpose meets possibility! I’m Michelle Dutro, coach, mentor, and host of The Game Changer Podcast. My mission is to help you reconnect with your purpose, align with your values, and live your best life from the inside out. 🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, please follow The Game Changer Podcast and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! 🤝 Let’s Connect: linktr.ee/michelledutro  🌐 Learn more: www.michelledutro.com  🏞️ Retreat Center: www.innernorthstar.com

    47 min
  5. 168: You Are Not Your Diagnosis: A Psychiatrist's Warning, with Dr. Fred Moss

    FEB 23

    168: You Are Not Your Diagnosis: A Psychiatrist's Warning, with Dr. Fred Moss

    Send us Fan Mail After 40 years as a psychiatrist, Dr. Fred Moss is challenging everything we know about mental health and medication. What if your diagnosis isn't a life sentence, but a misunderstanding? Summary: In this provocative episode of The Game Changer Podcast, host Michelle Dutro sits down with Dr. Fred Moss to explore a radical approach to mental health that prioritizes human connection over prescriptions. They dive deep into the trap of "alphabet soup" diagnoses, why believing you are "broken" is the biggest obstacle to healing, and how true recovery often starts with honest conversation rather than a pill. Dr. Moss reveals why creative self-expression might be the most underutilized antidepressant available and challenges you to ask: "What if there’s nothing actually wrong with me?" Chapters: 00:01 – Intro: Dr. Fred Moss + healing through conversation 01:22 – His origin story: why communication became the “medicine” 05:30 – Mental hospital work + why he rejected mainstream psychiatry 08:00 – Becoming a psychiatrist to change the system from within 10:55 – 2006: taking hundreds off meds (with consent) + what happened 12:10 – “Welcome to Humanity”: suffering ≠ something wrong with you 13:37 – When diagnosis becomes identity (alphabet soup labels) 20:45 – Taking back the reins: choice, agency, and human connection 22:00 – The elephant metaphor: how labels can create cages 26:07 – Prozac + the shift to “biological psychiatry” (1987) 33:30 – Creative Eight: creativity as self-expression and relief 38:50 – The core message: healing through human connection 40:30 – Where to find him: drfred360.com + The Undoctor Reset 44:10 – Final question + answer: “There’s nothing wrong with you.” To connect and learn more: https://welcometohumanity.net/ https://drfred360.com/ 🤝 Let’s Connect: linktr.ee/michelledutro  🌐 Learn more: www.michelledutro.com  🏞️ Retreat Center: www.innernorthstar.com

    46 min
  6. 167: Why Motivation Fails: The "Identity Stability" X-Factor, with Bryan Hedrick

    FEB 10

    167: Why Motivation Fails: The "Identity Stability" X-Factor, with Bryan Hedrick

    Send us Fan Mail Most high achievers think they need more motivation or better tactics to succeed, but that is actually a recipe for burnout. The true foundation of sustainable performance isn’t what you do—it’s how stable your identity is when the pressure hits. Discover why identity stability—not motivation or tactics—is the true foundation of sustainable performance and leadership. In this episode of The Game Changer Podcast, Michelle Dutro sits down with leadership coach, researcher, and U.S. Army Chaplain Bryan Hedrick to explore the hidden “X-factor” behind clarity, resilience, and lasting change. While this work emerged from elite military and high-pressure environments, it applies to anyone navigating leadership, transition, or personal growth. We discuss how strengthening your sense of self transforms the way you make decisions, respond to pressure, and lead—both personally and professionally. In this episode, you will learn: ⭐ Why identity stability drives performance more than motivation or strategy  ⭐ How tying identity to roles and labels leads to burnout and loss of direction  ⭐ The difference between short-term performance and sustainable high performance  ⭐ How internal alignment creates clarity in health, relationships, and leadership Key discussion points: 00:01 Welcome + Who Is Bryan Hedrick  01:41 Why Identity Stability Matters  03:03 The “X-Factor” in Human Performance  06:46 When Identity Is Tied to Labels  07:52 Sustainable Performance vs. Chasing Metrics  10:39 Why Some People Change and Others Don’t  14:03 The Stability of Self Inventory (S2I) Framework  16:07 Values, Agency, and Internal Alignment  22:00 Identity Under Pressure  31:02 Coaching, Growth, and Inner Work  35:59 Leadership Is for Everyone  38:31 Final Truth: An Upright Inner World To learn more about Bryan's work: https://www.corefocusperformancecoaching.com/ For Bryan's assessment: https://www.lacunaleadership.com/ 🤝 Let’s Connect: linktr.ee/michelledutro  🌐 Learn more: www.michelledutro.com  🏞️ Retreat Center: www.innernorthstar.com

    41 min
  7. 166: How To Rewire Your Brain... (The Method) with John Kennedy, Founder of Combat Brain Training

    JAN 26

    166: How To Rewire Your Brain... (The Method) with John Kennedy, Founder of Combat Brain Training

    Send us Fan Mail Summary: Discover how to rewire your brain for permanent high performance and limitless focus. In this episode of The Game Changer Podcast, Michelle Dutro sits down with John Kennedy to reveal the science behind neuroplasticity and cognitive training. While these methods started in high-stakes environments, they are now available to help ANYONE improve focus, reduce anxiety, and sharpen decision-making.    We discuss how specific brain training exercises can transform the way you think, helping you reach your full potential regardless of your starting point.  In this episode, you will learn:  🧠 How neuroplasticity allows you to physically change your brain structure at any age  🧠 Simple neuroscience hacks to instantly improve focus and mental clarity  🧠 Why cognitive training offers a permanent solution to burnout and stress  🧠 How to turn unique brain traits into hidden strengths through targeted practice    Key discussion points:    00:00 Introduction to Brain Training  01:20 John Kennedy's Journey  08:39 The Impact of Brain Training on Performance  12:29 Exercises and Techniques for Brain Training  16:27 Addressing Anxiety and Stress through Brain Training  20:26 The Role of Brain Training in Goal Setting  27:27 Understanding Brain Training Solutions  29:12 The Impact of Environment on Cognitive Development  30:37 Transforming Mental Traits into Superpowers  33:30 The Longevity of Brain Changes  35:04 Neural Primers for Quick Mental Boosts  36:45 Training for High-Stress Situations  39:53 Addressing Trauma Symptoms  42:05 Practical Advice for Everyday Awareness  45:10 Accessing Brain Training Programs    To learn more go to: https://combatbraintraining.com/ 🤝 Let’s Connect: linktr.ee/michelledutro  🌐 Learn more: www.michelledutro.com  🏞️ Retreat Center: www.innernorthstar.com

    51 min
  8. 165: Rucking for Beginners: How to Build Strength While Walking with Kayla Girgen

    JAN 19

    165: Rucking for Beginners: How to Build Strength While Walking with Kayla Girgen

    Send us Fan Mail Summary Have you ever considered walking with weight? In this episode of the Game Changer podcast, host Michelle Dutro interviews Kayla Girgen, a registered dietitian and founder of Sugar and Strength Academy. They discuss the concept of rucking, which is walking with weight, and its benefits for both physical and mental health. Kayla shares her journey into rucking, the importance of nutrition, and how to create a sustainable lifestyle that focuses on overall well-being rather than just weight loss. The conversation emphasizes the accessibility of rucking for all fitness levels and the necessity of spending time in nature for mental clarity and health.   Takeaways  Rucking is a simple and effective way to build strength. It offers both physical and mental benefits. Rucking is low impact and suitable for all ages. Proper footwear is crucial for a safe rucking experience. Nutrition plays a key role in overall health and fitness. Balancing blood sugar can help manage cravings and energy levels. Creating a goal lifestyle is more important than focusing on weight loss. Small, sustainable changes lead to long-term success. Spending time in nature is essential for mental health. Rucking can be done anywhere, making it a versatile exercise.    Get Kayla's New Book: Ruck Fit -  https://www.amazon.com/Ruck-Fit-Strength-Endurance-Walking/dp/1324111526 To Keep Up with Kayla's latest projects, and her Sugar And Strength Academy: https://kaylagirgenrd.mn.co/   Chapters- 00:00 Introduction to Kayla Girgen 02:23 Understanding Rucking: A New Approach to Fitness 06:20 Physical and Mental Benefits of Rucking 11:10 Rucking for All Ages: Addressing Joint Concerns 15:59 Getting Started with Rucking: Tips and Techniques 21:20 The Importance of Footwear in Rucking 22:44 Nutrition Insights: Balancing Calories and Blood Sugar 28:50 Creating a Goal Lifestyle: Beyond Weight Loss 34:32 Final Thoughts: Nature as a Necessity 🤝 Let’s Connect: linktr.ee/michelledutro  🌐 Learn more: www.michelledutro.com  🏞️ Retreat Center: www.innernorthstar.com

    37 min
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4.8
out of 5
106 Ratings

About

The Game Changer Podcast explores the intersection of health, purpose, and performance — spotlighting leaders, clinicians, and creators who turn adversity into growth. Hosted by Michelle Dutro — Air Force veteran, former firefighter, PTSD nonprofit founder, and founder of Inner North Star Retreat — each episode blends candid conversations with science-backed tools for stress mastery, mental fitness, and resilience. This is a show for curious, growth-minded people who believe the best chapters of their lives are still ahead of them — and who want real conversations, new ideas, and the kind of guests you won't find on every other podcast. At a time when everything seems designed to divide us, this is a place to learn something genuinely new, think a little differently, and grow — without anyone telling you what to think. With over two decades in biofeedback and wellness, Michelle brings a trauma-aware, compassion-forward approach that helps listeners elevate their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. New episodes every Monday. Go deeper at michelledutro.com — The Path online course, private three-day retreat experiences, and Michelle's books.  📰 Published author — Spirituality & Health Magazine   📖 Chapter contributor — Awakened Hearts Book Series | Featured in Awaken Magazine: https://awakenedmagazine.com/michelle-dutro

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Dutro
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    171
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Game Changer Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Game Changer Podcast