Eyes Wide Open with Nick Thompson

Latest Episodes:

Attachment Styles, Trauma, and Self Awareness with Licensed Professional Counselor Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

This episode is heavy.

Mental health has been on my mind a lot lately as I try to figure out how to regulate my own mental health to stay in a place that is operable for everyday life. Lately, I have been struggling with regulating my emotions, grief, loss, and feeling consistent. As a result, I have been on a self-care journey doing reading, listening to experts, paying attention to my emotions and other people's emotions.

In my reading, I discovered the concept of attachment styles. Attachment styles are a theory first described by psychologists Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby which describes how we relate to others in our relationships. Particularly, attachment styles describe how we conduct ourselves during conflicts in those relationships. Our attachment style is shaped early in childhood during our first interactions we have with our caregivers and is later mimicked in adulthood.

Our special guest, Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick, will share what these attachment styles are today. Dr. Fedrick is a licensed clinical therapist with a master's in counseling and a doctorate in psychology. She is also the owner of Evolve Counseling in Gilbert, Arizona, as well as the host of the Calm, Cool, and Connected Podcast.

I'm going to question Dr. Fedrick on childhood trauma, how it affects you in adult life, how it affects our attachment styles, different types of therapy, how your body responds chemically to trauma, and much more. We'll also discuss different types of therapy you can do and the role of mental health in society.

I'm really excited to have this conversation with Dr. Fedrick and have her share her expertise with us.

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

Independent Media, Systemic Issues, and the Midterm Elections with Breaking Points Host Saagar Enjeti Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Today's episode is all about politics.

I've been thinking a lot about what will happen in this year's midterm elections, as well as what has happened in the past two years. Will this election be a referendum on Biden's first two years, are we going to see new populous issues come up, or are we still going to be voting against someone instead of for them?

There are a lot of hot-button, current events issues that will come into play in this election like reproductive rights, the economy, and the cultural issues that are plaguing American society. As we prepare to vote on these issues, it's important to discuss how many of the systemic, underlying issues that are playing into unrest aren't often brought up in the discussion. We still have a major homelessness crisis, the opioid addiction epidemic is running rampant, and there are cultural issues that are dividing us. On top of this, the rich are getting richer and the poor are staying poor.

It seems to me that the problems that are woven into the fabric of our society are just getting worse, while we are distracted by hot-button issues that are important but are more symptomatic of deeper troubles.

To help me navigate this difficult topic, I invited Saagar Enjeti onto the show for a frank discussion about the state of American politics. Saagar is a political analyst and commentator who hosts the Breaking Points Podcast and The Realignment Podcast.

Saagar followed me on Instagram when Love Is Blind season 2 aired and was surprised to find that I had been following him for a long time. Saagar reached out to me, and I revealed to him that I was a big fan of his older show "The Hill Rising," which I watched frequently leading up to the presidential election. I'm a news and politics junkie, and I try to inform my opinions and conclusions with a variety of different sources.

Saagar and his co-host Krystal invited me to join them on their show to talk about media and press freedom, two topics that I am very passionate about. I really considered that a dream come true because I was such a fan and believe in the perspective that independent media can provide.

Find Saagar here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/esaagar

Breaking Points Podcast: https://breakingpoints.supercast.com/new_landing

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

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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

Weight Loss, Diet Fads, and Holistic Nutrition with Amanda Carneiro Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

Today, we'll be talking to Holistic Nutritionist and Fitness Instructor Amanda Carneiro. I wanted to have Amanda on the show because I find her approach to health and wellness interesting, as well as find her perspective on how other parts of our lives affect our health and her journey fascinating.I've felt for a long time that we need to have a broader conversation as a society about health and wellness in a holistic sense. There are a lot of fast-tract pitches that sell quick-fixes to problems that really require major lifestyle changes slowly over time. As a teenager, I tried the Atkins diet, and in hindsight realize that it didn't make a lot of sense. It's very easy to fall prey to these ideas because their simplicity and big promises make them very appealing.Losing weight can be really difficult. Habits, genetics, and how you were brought up play a big role in your ability to lose weight. For me, I was overweight as a child and didn't have the healthiest mindset in my family. We ate a lot of processed foods, and exercising wasn't a priority. We focused more on fun than being healthy, and that affected me through my childhood. It took me a long time to understand that there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution and that I would have to put in the work.

A lot of people fall victim to these fad diets, and I wanted to bring someone on who could put these into perspective and give real, actionable advice instead of a trend. What I want to ask Amanda is, how do we unlock what's happening in our brains that make us seek out these quick fixes instead of making lifestyle changes that will make our bodies more optimal, and how do we supplement that with nutrition and inspiring workouts?

It's so important to find solutions that work for you, and Amanda will share how you can make these changes in your life today on Conversations with Nick Thompson.

Find Amanda Carneiro here:

Website: https://www.rawfitnessandnutrition.com/

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

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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

The Brain, Holistic Health, and Functional Neurology with Dr. Abbey Houde Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

Today on Conversations with Nick Thompson, I sit down with neurologist Dr. Abbey Houde to discuss how the brain, mind, and body work together.

I've been thinking about well-being and holistic health a lot recently, including how we can regulate our nervous system using natural remedies. For a long time, I've been a very passionate advocate for holistic health. I often think about how our practices and habits play into our health and how we can address our ailments in ways other than just popping a pill to fix a symptom.

As I've prioritized working on my nervous system, I've done things like taking walks, getting sunlight, and finding other natural ways to feel better. Exercise and eating healthy also play into it. If I'm not feeding my body the nutrients it needs to support my brain, I will never be operating at my optimal level.

My guest, Dr. Abbey Houde, helped me get even more context on how we can make healthy choices for our brain. I discovered her by listening to one of my favorite podcasts, "Huberman Lab." Leading up to our interview, I realized that Dr. Houde is in an innovative space with her field, functional neurology.

In this episode, we're going to talk about the innovative techniques she is using to help patients improve their neurological health. She is very dedicated to how the different parts of the body work together, and how different people need custom health solutions - nothing is one-size-fits-all when it comes to our health.

Find out more about the Neurological Wellness Institute here: https://neurologicwellnessinstitute.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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

Community, Doing Good, and Maintaining Relationships with 1-800-Flowers Founder Jim McCann Oct 11, 2022

Show notes

I'm very excited to share this episode with Jim McCann, the founder of 1-800 Flowers.

In prepping for this interview, I discovered a lot about Jim that I didn't know before . Jim has a bachelor's degree in psychology, and he was actually a social worker before building a multi-million dollar company. It's fascinating to see how Jim foresaw the rise of 1-800 numbers and built a business around it, and that it would be a great way for people to order flowers, but also how he saw the dot-com boom coming and shaped his business around that.

There's a lot to discuss on Jim's business acumen, but I also wanted to dive into how he as a person has had all this success and yet has still been able to maintain his empathy, integrity, and a willingness to talk about complex topics. In particular, Jim has been a lifelong advocate for mental health.

I haven't always been great about talking about my own mental health. I used to really keep my mental health struggles inside and hid them not only from my friends and family, but really everyone. One of the things I appreciate about Jim is that he is willing to talk about it openly, whether on social media, in conversation, or on his podcast Celebrations Chatter. I think it's important to have people like Jim who have a platform to promote sharing an open dialogue about mental health.

In this episode, I ask Jim about his background and his business experience, and we'll also talk about mental health and the role relationships play in improving people's lives.

Find Jim McCann and 1-800-Flowers here:

Listen to Celebrations Chatter on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2w75ra5DQIjj82mL9XOSlH?si=be5610cef58a4081

Listen to Celeberations Chatter on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/celebrations-chatter-with-jim-mccann/id1616689192

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jim1800flowers

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniesarazin/

Website: www.1800flowers.com

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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

Mindset, Manifestation, and Perspective with Case Kenny Oct 04, 2022

Show notes

I've been thinking a lot about self-care and growth lately, and have really been focusing on finding time for me. A lot of the things in my life that were working for me in the past no longer do, and navigating this has been challenging at times.

After years of work and change, I can truly say that I am a completely different person than I was 10 years ago. Back then, I wasn't giving myself the opportunity to be my best self and grow. Small things like practicing yoga, going outside, going on walks, and getting more sun helped me bring balance to my life, but introspection work has helped me do the heavy lifting.

Getting in tune with myself and figuring out who I am helped me grow beyond some of the parts of my youth that kept me back from the life I want, but what kept me going was realizing that I am always going to be a work in progress. We should never stop growing. I'm always working on myself in some way, whether by taking large steps like going to therapy or through small things like going on a walk.

My guest today, Case Kenny, is very aligned with my passion for self-improvement, self-care, and being mindful. Case is an outstanding content producer and author with a focus on bettering yourself. While he's very outwardly positive, he also is very realistic with himself. Case is a Chicago guy like myself, and he actually got his start posting positive notes all over the city.

In our interview. Case and I talk about writing, creative processes, and our life experiencse. Case is all about trying to take things he's been through and using it to help others, which I think creates a very personal connection and bond. Case and I have a very fresh conversation full of real talk. We talk about mental health, personal growth, learning from one another, and what it's been like going through our life experiences. We also talk a little bit about Chicago and Lolapalooza.

I hope you find some inspiration for your own personal self-improvement journey!

Find Case Kenny here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/case.kenny/

New Mindset, Who Dis? Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-mindset-who-dis/id1383599078?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social

Read "But First, Inner Peace:" https://www.amazon.com/But-First-Inner-Peace-manifesting/dp/B0B4SPZDST/ref=pd_bxgy_sccl_2/135-8318200-4251100?pd_rd_w=VBRin&content-id=amzn1.sym.7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_p=7757a8b5-874e-4a67-9d85-54ed32f01737&pf_rd_r=RQCH1ZZM6R6A71HRR288&pd_rd_wg=XNuev&pd_rd_r=23a82e67-d6e3-4e83-9d47-f94e337244ae&pd_rd_i=B0B4SPZDST&psc=1

Read "The New Mindset Journal:" https://www.amazon.com/New-Mindset-Journal-Mindfulness-Manifestation/dp/057833254X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=gratitude+journal&qid=1640558893&refinements=p_78%3A057833254X&sr=8-1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social

Website: https://newmindsetwhodis.com/

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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

Relationships, Connection, and Online Dating with Naza Shelley Sep 27, 2022

Show notes

Today's episode is all about dating.

I haven't been dating in the past year, but even before going on Love is Blind I was not very active in the dating scene. Like many people, I experienced burnout as a result of complicated social rules and other blockers that make it difficult to find someone you have a genuine connection with. This is rooted in today's app-based dating culture, where the system is built to keep us asking "Who's next?"

There are plenty of good things about modern dating, but the technology portion has led to a lot of uncertainty. It takes time and effort to build a solid relationship, and so many traditional norms are gone. One of the reasons I decided to be a participant on Love is Blind is because it addressed a lot of my concerns. When you go on a social experiment like LIB, you're eliminating distractions and focused solely on forming that connection.

The approach with technology is to utilize it, but ultimately be real and true to ourselves and treat one another as human beings. Use technology as a tool, not a means - use it to communicate, not play the game.

This brings us to today's guest, Naza Shelley. Naza is an attorney and the creator of CarpeDM, a member-only dating community that is centered around people who are seeking relationships with professional black women. We discuss Naza's dating experience and what she's learned, what led her to create CarpeDM, what her vision is, and how she believes by merging technology with personal connections, you can build a better experience for what it's like to date online.

You can find Naza and CarpeDM here:

Website: https://carpedmdating.com/

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

https://www.instagram.com/carpedmdating/

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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

Charity, Country Music, and Broadcast Media with Radio Host Sam Alex Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

I met today's guest, Sam Alex, while hosting a fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. When Sam found out we were doing the fundraiser together, he asked me to come on his nationally syndicated country radio show to promote the fundraiser. In the process, we found out that our networks are actually pretty closely linked with many mutual friends and acquaintances.

Sam and I kept in touch, and we began crossing paths with him at a number of charity events. I became fascinated with his work, which led me to invite him onto the podcast.

Sam is much more than a music talk show host. He is passionate about broadcast journalism, and created an organization called Camp Broadcast to help young adults who are interested in entering the broadcast industry create a reel, network with industry professionals, and get real-world experience.

As someone who pursued journalism in college and high school, I was really inspired by his desire to enable young people to enter the field. I had a passion for journalism and storytelling, but never really knew how to get started in a professional capacity. Thinking back to this period of my life, however, I would have loved to attend a program like Camp Broadcast. The opportunities these students are able to receive beyond school will help them immensely.

Through my conversation with Sam, I learned more about this program and what inspired him to give back and help these aspiring journalists, as well as find out how he can balance it with being a family man, radio host, and all-around great guy.

Find Sam Alex here:

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

Website: https://samalexradio.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SamAlexRadio

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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

Betrayal, Closure, and Ambiguous Grief with Stephanie Sarazin Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

Today on Conversations with Nick Thompson, we're going to talk about a mental health phenomenon that I was previously unfamiliar with: ambiguous grief.

Ambiguous grief is loosely defined as being suffered when a loved one isn't as they once were but is still alive.

When we grieve a death, the finality of death forces us towards closure and pushes us through the stages of grief.

In ambiguous grief, we don't receive that same closure because even though the person we knew is gone, they are still alive. This can occur when a long-term relationship ends, when a parent has a cognitive degenerative disease, or any other circumstance where someone you love has been changed for good. We are left in a limbo where we may hope that the person we once knew may come back, even though we know deep down that they never will.

That leads us to today's guest, Stephanie Sarazin. Stephanie is the author of the book "Soulbroken: A Guidebook for your Journey Through Ambiguous Grief," and the foremost expert on the subject. I met Stephanie through a mutual friend, and I was very intrigued by her story. As I was researching this topic, all roads led to Stephanie, making me realize that this is something she is making discoveries daily as the foremost expert in the field.

In our conversation, Stephanie shares her true story about her marriage ending and how it led her to define ambiguous grief. Stephanie is very passionate and vulnerable, a trait that makes her so compelling.

Find Stephanie Sarazin here:

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniesarazin/

Website: https://www.ambiguousgrief.com/

Pre-Order Stephanie's book "Soulbroken" here: https://www.amazon.com/Soulbroken-Guidebook-Journey-Through-Ambiguous/dp/1538709759/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DY7GWMILY7JW&keywords=stephanie+sarazin&qid=1661981786&sprefix=stephanie+sarazin%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-1

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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

Health, Medicine, and Toothpaste with Leslie Guevara Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

I've been thinking lately about how I can become healthier, improve my well-being, and be more self-sufficient and holistic in regard to what I'm putting into my body. This train of thought led me back to how this all got started: when I began making my own toothpaste. Those of you who know me from Love is Blind know that I've been making my own toothpaste for years. It began by falling down a rabbit hole of exploring and researching the ingredients in products we use every day. I was shocked to discover the number of dangerous chemicals that are in toothpaste despite FDA approval, chemicals that can cause cancer, cognitive issues, hormonal imbalance, and many more side effects that we may not even realize are happening.

There weren't many organic toothpaste brands at the time, so I began making my own. For eight years, I've been creating and using homemade toothpastes, soaps, condiments, recipes, and much more in an effort to live a healthier life. The benefits have been obvious, as I started feeling and looking better within weeks of beginning this journey.

This brings us to today's guest, Leslie Guevara. Leslie reached out to me the night that my toothpaste scene aired on Love is Blind. She asked me if I'd be interested in trying her natural, organic toothpaste. After doing some research, I discovered she runs a small business called Tru-Eden and that her product is actually FDA-approved.

I was very skeptical at first, because even most "natural" toothpastes often have at least one negative ingredient in them. However, Leslie's focus on oral health and how it continues to contribute to overall immunity and health convinced me. She sent me a sample of Tru-Eden toothpaste to try, and I was blown away. I wasn't just impressed with the toothpaste, but also her story, what led her to make her own toothpaste, how she discovered these ingredients, and why she turned it into a business.

Leslie's authenticity and patience with me led us to form a lasting friendship. I can't wait to share my conversation with Leslie with you today.

You can find Leslie and Tru-Eden Toothpaste here:

Website: https://www.tru-eden.com/

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

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/truedentoothpaste

Find Nick Thompson here:

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

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