Eyes Wide Open with Nick Thompson

Latest Episodes:

Mental Health, Listening to the Universe, and Crowd-Sourcing Hope with Ariana Vargas Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

Over the past few months, I have gone through a lot of life-changing events. To help find my path forward, I've been relying a lot on my intuition and listening to the universe. I feel like I'm open to the universe speaking to me more than I ever have before. I'm really listening to it.

Today's guest, Ariana Vargas, is the founder of the mental health app STIGMA. This app is designed to help people who are struggling connect with one another and give each other support. Given that caveat, how did I get in contact with Ariana? This is where I think the universe is speaking to me.

A couple of weeks ago, I was trying to find any excuse not to go to the gym, but forced myself to go anyway. When I arrived, I didn't feel like working out and began to wander. As I finally got in a groove, I noticed a former co-worker and felt the social pressure to say hi. I wasn't in a mood to talk, so I began avoiding him. This led to me ending up in one of the gym's studios, where somebody approached me and asked if I was "the marketing executive from 'Love is Blind.' I got into a conversation with him about how he quit his well-paying tech job to begin his startup journey.

As we conversed about marketing and business, he asked me what I was doing right now, and I talked a little about my advocacy for authenticity and mental health. He mentioned that his friend Ariana had recently won an award for her mental health app STIGMA, and I immediately said I'd love to meet her. A little bit later, she DM's me, and we set up a time to grab a coffee. An hour of discussion turned into many hours of sharing stories and learning about STIGMA. When I heard her passion and found out about the vision, I immediately wanted to get her on the podcast.

I love hearing people talk about their passions, and as I go through my own journey, Ariana is someone who I think can help guide me as she's guided so many others. The STIGMA app is free, and gives you the opportunity to ask someone for hope or share hope through video, text, voice memos and a variety of ways.

Find Ariana here:

STIGMA App: https://thestigma.app/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Discourse, the Enlightenment, and Bridging the Political Divide with Seth David Radwell Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

Today's guest, Seth David Radwell, is the author of the book "American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing Our Nation." Not too long ago, we came out of the midterms, and I've been thinking a lot about what the results mean for the years ahead. Every election feels like a game of monkey in the middle between the two parties, with the citizens in the middle. It often feels like nothing changes, we're just passing the ball back and forth.

One of the interesting things about Seth is that he is not looking at politics from a left or right perspective - he looks at it in terms of the fracturing we are experiencing. Seth's ultimate message is that if we don't make structural changes to the way we conduct politics, we won't have a democracy for very long.

It often feels like our democracy is hanging on by a thread between the pressure of big business interests and corruption within the system. Our political system is set up in a way that doesn't allow us to make progress, and we all suffer for it. At the same time, we as citizens are too busy arguing with one another to actually hold our elected officials accountable for the promises that they make us and to solve the issues.

Seth uses history as a tool to examine what is going on in the modern world, drawing heavily from the Enlightenment as well as important turning points in American history. Seth looks at the points where we were most divided and focuses on the areas where we were able to come together. Seth also draws on his business background to find problem-solving methodologies that can be deployed to help bridge the divide between Americans on either side of the political aisle.

Let's dive right in.

Find Seth David Radwell here:

American Schism Book: https://www.amazon.com/American-Schism-Enlightenments-Secret-Healing/dp/1626348618/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3M7RZ677MPO08&keywords=american+schism&qid=1673041498&sprefix=american+sc%2Caps%2C412&sr=8-1

Website: https://sethdavidradwell.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Bullying, Social Media, and Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin with Ena Mazzilli Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

This week on Conversations with Nick Thompson, we're featuring Ena Mazzilli, an anti-bullying activist who is doing a lot of great things in the world.

Since the rise of the internet, bullying feels like it's only getting worse. Children are being bullied at school as they always have, but now, social media has allowed it to follow them into everyday life. Bullying is going on in school, work, culture, and social media at a level it never has been before.

Ena reached out to me when Love Is Blind aired and told me a bit about her brand BeYouByElla. Ena started BeYouByElla at the start of her journey recovering from her own experiences, and did it as a way to prepare her children for any bullying they may face on their own. Growing up, Ena had been bullied for her skin color, her hair, her language, and being from Egypt. By 10 years old, she felt very uncomfortable in her own skin. As she continued down life's path, she still found herself facing bullying in the workplace. It took years and a lot of work for her to become comfortable in her own skin.

I invited Ena onto the show because I wanted her to share her own personal story about surviving bullying. Growing up, I was bullied a lot for a lot of different reasons: poverty, being bad at sports, being introverted, and much more. Being in the spotlight since Love Is Blind aired, I have been the subject of a lot of attacks online and in the media. Having been bullied, Ena's story resonated with me even more.

I think it's important to have these conversations, as they are the best tool we have for combatting this toxic trend. Please welcome Ena Mazzilli.

Find Ena Mazzilli here:

BeYouByElla Website: https://www.beyoubyella.com/

BeYouByElla Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyoubyella/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Bonus Episode: Live Q&A on Boundaries with Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

In this special episode of Conversations with Nick Thompson, we replay my recent Instagram Live conversation with previous Conversations guest Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick, where Dr. Elizabeth and I discussed the topic of boundaries and took questions from the audience. Join us for an invigorating conversation on mental health and relationships!

Follow Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drelizabethfedrick/?hl=en

Calm, Cool, and Connected Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1656793

Evolve Counseling: https://www.evolvecounselingaz.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Pregnancy Loss, Infertility, and Hope in Community with Ashley Bitterman Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Today's episode is going to be a heavy listen. I'm speaking with Ashley Bitterman, who is an advocate for pregnancy loss, infertility, and host of the podcast "Unexpecting."

Ashley and I had been working with one another professionally, but also struck up a personal friendship in the process. When we met recently, she shared very openly about her podcast "Unexpecting," which focuses on pregnancy loss. Ashley has been through a number of challenges trying to conceive her first child with her husband, and has found a voice sharing about her journey.

As she was sharing her research on the topic, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of people struggling with pregnancy loss and infertility challenges. There's so little known about what causes infertility in the majority of couples. Because we don't talk enough about this subject, you might not realize how common this form of loss is. As she was sharing with me her experiences with infertility and pregnancy loss, the community of people that reached out to her gave her the platform to share real stories from people and families going through pregnancy loss in an honest, raw way.

I asked Ashley if she would come on the show and talk about her experiences and the community around this topic. It's a heartbreaking story, but what I think is important in this interview and on "Unexpecting" is that it allows us to normalize these types of conversations. Because we often avoid these difficult discussions, people who experience pregnancy loss feel isolated. It's incredibly painful to think for your whole life that you will have a child and then find out that you may never have the opportunity. We need to normalize this as everyday conversations and remind people who are suffering that they are not alone, and we can make this possible by coming together and sharing stories.

If you are going through the traumas of pregnancy loss and infertility, I hope that this interview brings you community and helps you in your healing journey. If you know a family member, friend, or loved one who is experiencing this, I hope that you find some answers on how to best support them and make a comforting space for them to heal.

Find Ashley Bitterman here:

Unexpecting Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unexpectingpodcast/

Listen to Unexpecting on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unexpecting/id1586460698

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Codependency, Perfectionism, and Setting Healthy Boundaries with Alana Carvalho Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

You may have heard that I am going through some tough times right now. I'm on a new mental health trajectory to help understand myself and work through a difficult, public divorce. I'm learning a lot about myself, and I think one of the interesting things about going through this publicly is that I get to share what I'm learning in real time and hope that it helps someone else out.

It's not always easy to do. It's been difficult for me to open up about my wellness and mental health over the years. However, I've found comfort in that people are supportive and understand that it's a process.

One of the things that helps me is following mental health experts on Instagram who post friendly reminders, tips, educational material, and more. It's helped me recognize some of these behaviors within myself and understand the "why."

Alana Carvalho is a therapist and mental health expert that I've been following for a few months. She actually reached out to me and asked if I'd like to have her on the show. I was really excited to have her on because she has a focus on codependency and perfectionism, which I just find very interesting. She has actually been nicknamed "The Codependent Perfectionist." Alana is also an author, having recently written the parenting book, "Raising Empowered Children: The Codependent Perfectionist's Guide to Parenting."

We're going to unpack the terminology and symptoms surrounding codependency and get to the bottom of what it means, what signs and habits to look for, and how to identify a codependent relationship and learn how to set up proper boundaries.

Find Alana Carvalho here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecodependentperfectionist/?hl=en

Website: https://www.alanacarvalho.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Medical Entrepreneurship, Olympic Strength Training, and The Physio Fix with Dr. Stacie Barber Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

This week, we have an amazing guest - Dr. Stacie Barber. Dr. Stacie is a Physical Therapist and Founder of The Physio Fix. I've been following her work for a few years now and am a big fan.

As I was on a walk the other day, I passed a spot where I had fallen and injured myself during a blizzard in 2021. It was a herniated disk, and I immediately began doing physical therapy to try and repair it. There were times I couldn't get out of bed without mental and physical prep to stretch it out.

I started following Dr. Stacie after this. I had gone to a chiropractor and doctor, but didn't want to use pain medicine unless absolutely necessary. Rather, I preferred to strengthen it and cure it myself with the help of some physicians and physical therapy. Someone from my work recommended I follow her on the Physio Fix and immediately noticed that she was creating consistent, high-quality content that can help people in their day-to-day life. It was fun, informative, and easy to follow that was actually really good for me to incorporate into my daily life.

As I walked past this place I had injured myself, it got me thinking that I should ask her to come on the show because I had really loved her work. Dr. Stacie's content was great to supplement the physical therapy that my chiropractor had recommended, and got me back to better shape.

Not only is she a great content creator, but also a medical entrepreneur, Olympic strength trainer, and physical therapist. In this episode, I ask her how she maintains all these passions while also building a business and a community around physical therapy. Join us today to find out!

Find Dr. Stacie Barber Here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thephysiofix/ Website: https://thephysiofix.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Yoga, Self-Transformation, and Finding Inner Peace with Jonathan Villacres Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

Today, we're going to have my personal friend and yoga instructor, Jonathan Villacres.

One rainy day, I offered Jonathan a ride home after taking his yoga class knowing that he usually takes public transportation. I asked him on this ride how he got into yoga, not expecting a very in-depth, personal story as an answer. Instead, I got an incredible story about Jonathan's past, being angry with the world, and living on the edge that shook me to my core. I couldn't believe that Jonathan had once been that person, and I wanted him to share his hard, inspirational journey from a turbulent lifestyle to finding inner peace.

One thing I like about Jonathan is that he would make a point at the beginning of class and sum it up with a lesson learned at the end of class. One of the first classes I took with him was after he moved back from a failed escapade to Ecuador. In the class, he was sharing the lessons he learned on that journey and themed the classes around those lessons. I found this very insightful and refreshing.

Jonathan is very transparent, and puts himself out there through his wellness routines and yoga practice in a way that is incredibly relatable. He is always honest around his emotional state. When he was having a rough day, Jonathan would theme the classes around finding our best selves to make a positive shift. When he was having a great day, he'd always talk about finding the sun in your life and sharing positive energy. Jonathan's approach to yoga and life is incredible, and I can't wait for him to share his story in this episode.

Find Jonathan Villacres here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.villacres/

Yoga on the Beach: https://www.yogaonthebeachco.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Vulnerability, Mental Health, and Finding Gratitude Through Hard Times with Chris Schembra Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

Today's guest is Chris Schembra, the best-selling author of "Gratitude and Pasta: The Secret Sauce to Human Connection" and "Gratitude Through Hard Times."

When I first was introduced to Chris, I was astounded by his vulnerability. Chris is totally transparent about his mental health struggles, and shares some of his darkest moments in an open and honest way.

His vulnerability has gained him recognition as a top stigma-breaker for men's mental health, a topic that is near and dear to me and many others. Chris breaks open the idea that men can't talk about mental health, that we can't cry and must always be strong.

What's really remarkable about Chris though is how he uses gratitude as a vehicle to get through hard times. With all of the challenges that Chris has faced, I was particularly interested in learning how he found gratitude and the ways it has changed his life. Chris looks to his darkest moments as a source of gratitude.

In this conversation, we dive into Chris's own mental health challenges to get to the root of how he became the beacon of gratitude he is today.

Find Chris Schembra here:

Website: https://www.747club.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.schembra/

Read "Gratitude Through Hard Times:" https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Through-Hard-Times-positive/dp/B0B2HML7QS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3KEW0VW567UUO&keywords=gratitude+and+pasta&qid=1661980967&sprefix=gratitude+and+pasta%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-2

Read "Gratitude and Pasta:" https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Pasta-Secret-Sauce-Connection/dp/0578604949/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3KEW0VW567UUO&keywords=gratitude+and+pasta&qid=1661980967&sprefix=gratitude+and+pasta%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg

Freedom of Speech, Politicians, and Independent Media with Hard Lens Media Co-Founder Kit Cabello Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

Today our guest is a Chicago Local, Kit Cabello. Kit is the Co-Founder of Hard Lens Media, an independent network that covers local and national politics. I discovered Hard Lens Media around 2018 or 2019 as part of my media journey. It's important to me to think about where I'm getting my news coverage, whether from local or national sources.

If you know me, you know I talk about economics, politics, and current events a lot. I try to dig through and get my media from a variety of sources in order to form my own opinion and see what's actually happening. Mainstream media that take ad revenue from major corporations isn't the only place to find news, which is why I've been a contributor to independent sources like Breaking Points. I truly believe that our media isn't accurately representing what's going on in the world, all the way down to the local level.

In 2015, I had a moment when I really felt that no media outlets or politicians really met my needs. I discovered independent media on YouTube, many of them founded by independent journalists who were no longer working at the major outlets. The internet gave us the ability to have a platform outside of the mainstream press without taking ad money from major companies, which I think is a beautiful thing. The consolidated mainstream media is bogged down by red tape and corporate money, which makes me question the validity of the coverage and how it applies to what I see in my everyday life.

Independent media is an outlet that you shouldn't give all of your attention to, but as research to look to for different talking points, commentary, and coverage you might not receive from mainstream sources. I've found it very valuable to understand other perspectives and realize that my experience isn't the same as everyone else's. If we listen to each other, we can start to understand each other. It's the future of media and the way we stop the divide.

Bringing on Kit today was exciting because I've been listening to Hard Lens Media for years. I wanted to have Kit on to talk about independent media, holding politicians accountable, freedom of speech, and some of the challenges and wins he's had since launching Hard Lens Media.

Find Hard Lens Media here:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HardLensMedia99

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardlensmedia/?hl=en

Website: https://99perspectives.tv/hard-lens-media/

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/HardLensMedia

Find Nick Thompson here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nthompson513/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXipWcR8Pit6vYHd1ZcKgKg