Unplugging

Nicholas Kidd

Unplugging is a podcast about stepping away from the noise. For most of my life, I followed the path I thought I was supposed to follow — the expectations, the rules, and the societal norms that quietly shape how we think and live. Over time, I started realizing many of those beliefs weren’t actually mine. This podcast is about unplugging from that system. Each episode is a face-to-face conversation with people I trust and respect who are also questioning the default path we’ve all been handed. We talk about freedom, identity, personal growth, and what it really means to live intentionally. In a world dominated by social media, algorithms, and constant digital noise, Unplugging is a space for real conversations — no scripts, no distractions, just honest dialogue. If you’ve ever felt like the world is moving too fast… you’re not alone. My goal: build a community of people who want to take back control of their minds and their lives. New episodes weekly!

  1. 6d ago

    We’re So Busy Living That We Forget to Enjoy Life - Episode 16

    Garrett has been a friend of mine for several years now, and asked to be on the podcast. He is a car salesman and has recently learned the importance of his health, and wanted to talk about fitness, diet and life. We reconnected recently, and have always had fun and interesting conversations. I am grateful to have him as a friend and enjoyed the conversation. He will return for future episodes, and I’m looking forward to seeing the growth of both of us! Where you can follow Garrett Green and find pages we mentioned ⬇️ Garrett’s IG: @garrettgreen24 Joshua Brooks’ cooking page: @tavoladibrooks Episode Chapters 00:00 Navigating Anxiety and Finding Balance 03:12 The Importance of Outdoor Hobbies 06:03 Exploring New Activities and Trying New Things 08:47 The Journey into Woodworking and Carpentry 12:05 Fermentation and Gut Health 18:07 Diet, Nutrition, and Accountability 32:25 The Gut-Brain Connection and Sugar Addiction 34:51 Motivation for Health and Longevity 36:14 Dietary Choices and Accountability 39:23 Intermittent Fasting and Meal Patterns 41:10 The Importance of Local Produce 43:59 Understanding Food Quality and Nutrition 46:24 Navigating Health Advice and Personal Choices 48:17 Body Awareness and Mobility Training 51:40 Injury Recovery and Functional Movement 54:51 Integrating New Techniques into Workouts 01:01:47 Setting Goals for Physical Achievement 01:05:03 The Journey of Mastering Handstands 01:08:22 The Freedom of Solo Travel 01:10:43 Cultural Insights from Colombia 01:13:53 The Balance of Independence and Connection 01:16:57 Building Self-Confidence Through Travel 01:22:57 Maintaining Relationships in a Busy World 01:25:21 The Importance of Patience and Accountability 01:30:23 Finding Enjoyment in the Gym

  2. Oct 6

    He Refused to Give Up on the Life He Wanted - Episode 15

    Evan is an entrepreneur and videographer, who has carved his own path and created the life he’s dreamed of. He is living proof that with passion and determination, when pointed in the right direction, you can achieve your dreams. Evan’s travels the world with some of his closest friends and shoots videos for Ferrari, Car Week, Devium, and much more. He has also partnered with his wife, Monica Lesslie, and my sister, Jamie Mansfield, to create a fitness app called Reset and Rise. In his free time, Evan created the app and got it approved by Apple all by himself. In this episode, we talked about his journey - the highs and the lows - and how he kept a positive mindset when things weren’t going his way. He is an inspiration to me, and I am grateful to have him in my life. Where you can follow Evan Buzzell and find projects we mentioned ⬇️ Evan’s IG: @evanbuzzell Devium’s IG: @deviumusa Reset and Rise IG: @resetandriseprogram Reset and Rise Website: resetriseapp.com “Gather Your Arrows” Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdcwR4DuwR4 Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Busy Season Overview 02:51 Career in Film and Photography 06:02 Building an App for Fitness 08:49 Journey into Astrophysics and Art 12:07 Life in New Zealand and Snowboarding Adventures 24:03 Graduation and Reflections on Education 26:58 The Evolution of Learning and Technology 29:20 Creative Pursuits in Education 32:41 Overcoming Academic Challenges 34:32 The Journey into Filmmaking 39:51 Finding a Niche in Video Production 42:46 Transitioning to Independent Work 46:56 The Struggles of the Creative Path 51:59 Reflections on Growth and Gratitude 53:55 From Struggles to Gratitude 01:00:06 Navigating Career Challenges 01:06:12 Consulting and Creative Problem Solving 01:12:12 Building Connections and Collaborations 01:15:03 Manifesting Dreams into Reality

  3. Sep 14

    She Chose Joy When Life Fell Apart - Episode 14

    Annie Kroll is a college graduate with a masters in education with an emphasis in disability studies, disability advocate, disability blogger, accessibility advocate for the Annual Disability Summit, researcher, endurance athlete, positive influence and true inspiration. She was diagnosed with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) at the age of 16, and has spent the last 10 years navigating the disability, school and the medical system. After nearly losing her life at the beginning of 2026, she decided to take her health into her own hands and has made incredible progress in her physical and mental states. Annie is currently in a gap year in her studies, and is experimenting with a variety of health modalities. She has made such significant progress that she is now training for a half-marathon in February 2027. She is a light to everyone in her life, and is a true inspiration. I’m grateful to know Annie and that she was willing to share her story. I hope you enjoy this fun conversation! To follow along with Annie Kroll, you can find her at the following: IG: @anniekroll Her blog IG: @anniekrollblog Website: www.anniekroll.com 00:00 Annie's Journey to Wellness 10:06 Dietary Changes and Their Impact 19:52 Mental and Emotional Transformation 30:10 Skepticism Towards Western Medicine 33:59 Navigating Functional Medicine vs. Western Medicine 37:14 The Importance of Accessibility in Healthcare 40:28 Understanding Disability Advocacy and Personal Experiences 45:34 Exploring Spoon Theory and Energy Management 51:10 Finding Balance: Rest and Activity in Daily Life 56:57 The Role of Sunlight in Health and Well-being 01:00:16 Disability Summit: A Platform for Advocacy and Awareness 01:08:01 Navigating Family Support and Isolation 01:12:36 Finding Community and Connection 01:20:09 The Importance of Doing Things Alone 01:24:50 The Risks of Dating Apps 01:28:21 Balancing Social Media and Mental Health 01:38:11 Unplugging from Perfectionism and Distractions

  4. Sep 3

    What If Everything You Were Told Is Wrong? - Episode 13

    This is a very special episode for me. The #13 is supposedly an unlucky number, but I believe in creating my own luck. I wanted to do something special so I brought my brother-in-law, Blake Mansfield, back on to the podcast! I prepared some talking points, and made sure we had the proper protection from government propaganda on while we talked about some touchy subjects. We talked about various conspiracy theories, our beliefs, and our mindsets. Buckle up! He is an inspiration and I always love hearing his perspective on certain topics, which is why I wanted to conduct this podcast in this way. Since #13 is supposedly an unlucky number, I wanted to do something fun. So, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did! Thank you for being a part of my journey, and I truly hope this is only the beginning. To follow along with Blake and all of his success in social media, you can find him at the following: Instagram - @blakeysmalls Facebook - Jamie & Blake Youtube - @JBGlobal0415 TikTok - @jamieandblake Chapters 00:00 Exploring the Hollow Moon Theory 06:00 The Influence of Technology and Information Control 12:04 Government Control and Mind Manipulation 17:48 The Nature of Reality and Distractions 23:48 The Importance of Knowledge and Storytelling 30:00 The Sun, Moon, and Health Perspectives 31:26 The Connection with Nature 34:37 Unlocking the Benefits of Outdoor Activities 36:45 The Impact of Exercise on Mental Health 39:04 Questioning Universal Agreements 41:30 Conspiracies and Misinformation 43:22 Trusting Your Instincts 46:59 Questioning Religious Beliefs 49:25 The Influence of Modern Society on Indigenous Cultures 54:34 The Importance of Nutrition 56:31 Envisioning a Sustainable Community 01:03:02 The Pursuit of a Simpler Lifestyle 01:05:28 Critique of the Education System 01:10:22 The Flaws of the Medical System 01:16:19 Exploring the Mysteries of the Pyramids 01:28:31 Theories on Ancient Civilizations and Atlantis

  5. Jul 8

    How Shame Can Destroy Your Life (And How to Heal) - Episode 11

    Kelly Angell is a mother, singer, songwriter, actor, writer and sound healer. When she was in high school, she developed an eating disorder in which she admits will be a lifelong recovery. She is very open and vocal about her experience in hopes of being a voice to others struggling from eating disorders. Her story is incredibly powerful. It is so powerful that she was inspired to make a movie about it. Her movie, Shapeless, draws inspiration from her life and shows the internal battles someone with bulimia can potentially face. Kelly is an inspiration, a voice of wisdom and empathy, and is extremely resilient. Her journey has come full circle; it began with singing, which led her to acting, and has now brought her back to singing. She found healing and comfort in her body through sound, and now performs sound meditations as a form of healing to others in groups or private sessions. To get the most up-to-date information on one of Kelly’s sessions, contact her on Instagram @kellyangell__ I truly had a great time getting to know her and learn about her story; I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! Content Note: This episode includes discussions of eating disorders, addiction, trauma, and mental health. Listener discretion is advised if these topics are personally sensitive. Kelly is the star of her movie, Shapeless, and it can be watched at the following links: XYZ Films: http://xyzfilms.com/shapeless Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/shapeless/umc.cmc.w1j9mvqtv7amhur9oqxsaf6o Amazon Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Shapeless-Kelly-Murtagh/dp/B09P4DNVNV Other links so you can follow along with her journey ⬇️ Website: www.kellyangell.com IMDB page:  imdb.me/kellyangell Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro & Kelly Angell’s Story 01:08 When She Developed Bulimia 06:48 How Addiction Quietly Takes Over 12:34 The Moment Kelly Sought Treatment 14:57 Learning to Feel Safe in Your Body 22:33 Signs of an Eating Disorder 33:22 The Reality of Body Dysmorphia 42:40 Making Shapeless & Healing Through Art 52:05 How Sound Healing Changed Kelly’s Life 1:01:55 The Science Behind Sound Baths 1:13:55 Healing Shame & Finding Her Voice Again 1:21:40 Why Human Connection Matters 1:29:55 Letting Go of Success & Finding Purpose 1:36:50 Kelly’s Current Projects 1:41:00 What Should People Unplug From? 1:47:00 Kelly Performs “Into the Mystic” 1:49:00 Final Thoughts

  6. Jul 1

    How to Build a Life That Actually Feels Like Yours - Episode 10

    Isa Griffin is a model, entrepreneur, podcaster, confidence coach, burlesque instructor and habit-based nutrition coach. She has lived an alternative lifestyle, and is working on creating a new life for herself outside of the corporate workforce. She has many ongoing projects in which her focus is helping women find confidence in their bodies and minds. She is a co-host of The Ripple Affect podcast, which talks about change. Isa has a wealth of knowledge in health, wellness and mindset. In this episode we discussed our childhoods, fermentation, spirituality, burlesque, confidence, travel and more. To register to her next burlesque workshop at Vitality Village in Thousand Oaks, CA on July 3, use the following link 👉 https://enourish.hbportal.co/public/Burlesque Follow along with her projects: The Ripple Affect Podcast website - https://rippleaffectpod.com/ Modeling website - https://www.isagriffin.com/ Nutritional coaching and blog - https://www.enourish.life/ You can find her on socials @isagriffin 00:00 Welcome to Episode 10 01:45 The Great Kefir Pronunciation Debate 08:12 Making Homemade Kefir & Why Gut Health Matters 15:08 The Health Habits We Learned From Our Parents 22:46 Why Humboldt County Embodies "Unplugging" 30:55 Growing Up Outside & Living an Alternative Childhood 39:48 Trying to Fit Into the Corporate World 47:20 Nick's Childhood, Sports & Wrestling 58:18 Home Births, Guatemala & Isabel's Family Story 1:08:55 Learning Spanish to Connect With Family 1:17:30 Colombia, Nature & Feeling More Alive 1:27:10 COVID, Anxiety & Rethinking Life 1:35:40 Why Isabel Started Her Podcast 1:47:30 Burlesque, Confidence & Self-Expression 2:01:45 Visualization, Embodiment & Building Confidence 2:10:50 Finding Purpose Through Creativity 2:19:35 The Power of Change & Final Thoughts

About

Unplugging is a podcast about stepping away from the noise. For most of my life, I followed the path I thought I was supposed to follow — the expectations, the rules, and the societal norms that quietly shape how we think and live. Over time, I started realizing many of those beliefs weren’t actually mine. This podcast is about unplugging from that system. Each episode is a face-to-face conversation with people I trust and respect who are also questioning the default path we’ve all been handed. We talk about freedom, identity, personal growth, and what it really means to live intentionally. In a world dominated by social media, algorithms, and constant digital noise, Unplugging is a space for real conversations — no scripts, no distractions, just honest dialogue. If you’ve ever felt like the world is moving too fast… you’re not alone. My goal: build a community of people who want to take back control of their minds and their lives. New episodes weekly!