Claim OwnershipPhoenix and Flame Podcast
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Phoenix and Flame is a podcast by Dana Skaggs, M.A. She is called the "Queen of Boundaries" as well as the "Sassy Psychotherapist." Her podcast is about going From Ash to Flight on the Wings of Boundaries. If you feel alone in your struggle, check out the candid interviews with inspiring guests.
You'll hear their authentic journey through struggle, what helped them, what hurt them, and how they finally rose from the ashes. Dana asks direct, thought-provoking questions infused with snarky humor and therapeutic commentary, designed so her listeners will take away useful and applicable rubber-meets-the-road coping strategies.
You'll hear their authentic journey through struggle, what helped them, what hurt them, and how they finally rose from the ashes. Dana asks direct, thought-provoking questions infused with snarky humor and therapeutic commentary, designed so her listeners will take away useful and applicable rubber-meets-the-road coping strategies.
158 Episodes
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In this episode, Dana is joined by award-winning actress Brianna Brown Keen, who shares her journey of overcoming immense personal obstacles. From battling severe bullying that led to hospitalization as a teen, to facing a career-threatening injury, Brianna reveals how she learned to reframe her struggles as opportunities for growth. She explains how the tenacity and grit she developed became the foundation for her successful Hollywood career and her nonprofit, The New Hollywood. Brianna provides powerful insights on manifesting your mission, the importance of community, and why getting comfortable with being uncomfortable is the ultimate key to achieving your purpose. Brianna's Linkedin Brianna's Website | Manifesting Your Mission
In this episode, Dana is joined by Amy Siegfried, a networking expert and entrepreneur who transforms how people build professional relationships. Amy shares her personal journey from an "awkward kid" struggling to fit in to a master of small talk, revealing how embracing vulnerability became her greatest tool for connection. She explains why the most common networking question—"what do you do?"—is holding you back and offers powerful alternatives to spark genuine conversations. Amy's Linkedin Amy's Website
In this episode, Dana is joined by Dr. Albert Bramante, a talent agent, performance coach, and Psychology professor who unpacks the hidden mental blocks holding creators back. Dr. Bramante shares his unique journey from studying the human mind to managing performing artists, revealing how he discovered a pattern of self-sabotage driven by deep-seated fears. He explains how subconscious beliefs, often formed in childhood, can manifest as career-stalling behaviors. Dr. Bramante offers powerful tools to overcome these hurdles, from the science behind "power poses" and NLP to the transformative potential of hypnotherapy and the non-negotiable importance of setting firm boundaries to prevent burnout. Dr. Bramante's Linkedin Dr. Bramante's Website
In this episode, Dana is joined by Rhonda Britten, an Emmy Award-winning master coach whose life was forged in unimaginable tragedy. At just 14 years old, Rhonda witnessed her father murder her mother before taking his own life—an event that sent her into a 20-year spiral of guilt and self-destruction. After three suicide attempts, Ronda had a profound realization: she was meant to live and she had a purpose. She shares journey of hitting rock bottom and how that pain became her greatest teacher. Rhonda also reveals how she developed the "Wheel of Fear" to understand the hidden fears that drive us and provides a powerful framework for moving from a life of trauma and reaction to one of authentic freedom and purpose. Rhonda's Linkedin Rhonda's Site Rhonda's Books Rhonda's Free Course
In this episode, Dana is joined by Jessica Hallahan, a stress management expert who turned a personal health crisis into a powerful mission. At just 24, Jessica was hospitalized due to severe burnout, a rock-bottom moment that became her greatest teacher. She shares her raw and honest journey of how over-commitment and a lack of boundaries nearly broke her, and how she learned to rebuild her life from the ground up. Jessica reveals why saying "no" is a form of self-care, how to break the cycle of people-pleasing, and why clear communication is the antidote to 80% of workplace stress. She provides practical tools for setting flexible, healthy boundaries that allow you to move from a life of constant pressure to one of authentic purpose and peace. Jessica's Linkedin Jessica's Site
In this episode, Dana is joined by Heather Powers, a corporate executive and founder who masterfully navigated the complexities of building a career while raising a family. Heather shares her candid journey from a small town in New Hampshire to the boardrooms of Washington D.C., revealing how the pandemic crystallized her mission to advocate for working mothers. We discuss the outdated corporate structures that hold women back and why leaders must recognize the immense value working parents bring to the table. If you've ever felt torn between your career ambitions and family responsibilities, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone and your skills are needed now more than ever. Heather's Linkedin Heather's Website
In this episode, Dana is joined by Dr. Cali Estes, an addictions coach and entrepreneur who built a new path to recovery after her own journey through an eating disorder and prescription pill addiction. Dr. Estes shares her raw and honest story of hitting rock bottom—and how a doctor's blunt warning became her ultimate wake-up call. She reveals how she discovered healing not in traditional meetings, but on a yoga mat, and used that experience to challenge the one-size-fits-all recovery model. This conversation explores why your vice is a solution, not a problem, and how to create lasting change by finding what truly works for you. Dr. Cali's LinkedIn Dr. Cali's Website
In this episode, Dana is joined by Kate Semeniuk, a Rapid Transformational Hypnotherapist, to explore the unseen forces in our minds that hold us back. Have you ever known logically what you need to do—like set a boundary or say no—but found yourself unable to act? Kate reveals how subconscious beliefs, often formed in childhood, create these internal conflicts. She explains that fear and suppressed anger are not weaknesses but misguided protection strategies from a younger self. This conversation is for anyone ready to stop fighting their own mind and finally align their actions with their intentions, reclaiming control over their life and happiness. Kate's LinkedIn Kate's Website
In this episode, Dana is joined by Michael Levitt, founder of the Breakfast Leadership Network and self proclaimed "Chief Burnout Officer." Michael shares his personal story of being a high-achieving executive who pushed himself to the brink, working 6 AM to 11 PM seven days a week. This relentless drive led to a year of devastating consequences, including a near-fatal heart attack, job loss during the recession, and home foreclosure. He reveals how that immense pain became his greatest teacher, forcing him to recognize the dangerous red flags of burnout that so many driven entrepreneurs ignore. Michael's Linkedin Breakfast Leadership
In this episode, Dana is joined by Matt Gerlach, an entrepreneur who helped scale startups to 7 and 8-figures, only to find himself battling a severe mental health crisis after launching his own business. Matt shares his raw and honest journey of hitting rock bottom and how that pain became his greatest teacher. He reveals how he learned to reframe his struggles as "wake-up calls," setting firm boundaries to move from a survival-driven mindset to a life of authentic purpose and freedom. Matt's Linkedin Matt's Website
Host Dana Skaggs sits down with Abagail McKiernan, founder of the nonprofit HelpLink, to uncover the deeply personal story that inspired her mission. What began as a moment of isolation became a movement rooted in unconditional generosity. Together, they explore how giving without expectation can restore dignity, forge authentic community, and remind us that the kindness we extend often finds its way back when we need it most. Abagail's Linkedin HelpLink
In this episode of Phoenix and Flame, host Dana Skaggs sits down with three-time bestselling author and forgiveness coach Katharine Giovanni to talk about the idea of forgiveness—we're told to do it, but rarely taught how. Katharine explains that forgiveness isn't about excusing someone's behavior or even reconciling with them; it's a tool for your own healing. She shares a practical, step-by-step method for releasing the emotional charge from painful memories so you can stop letting people live "rent-free" in your head. Along the way, she highlights the connection between forgiveness and boundaries, showing that letting go of anger doesn't mean letting someone back into your life. Katharine's Linkedin Katharine's Website
In this episode, host Dana Skaggs sits down with Kristal Desantis to talk about why traditional masculinity is struggling in modern relationships. Kristal describes what she calls the "broken script," where old-school roles of men as sole protectors and providers clash with today's need for emotional partnership. This leaves a lot of men caught in a "masculinity trap"—criticized for being too stoic but judged when they open up. The two dive into topics like emotional safety, touch starvation, and the pressure to measure up to narrow definitions of worth. Kristal also shares her "STRONG" model, a down-to-earth framework to help men move past performative roles and create healthier, more genuine connections. Kristal's Linkedin Kristal's Website
In this episode, host Dana Skaggs is joined by fellow boundaries coach Barb Nangle, who shares her journey of navigating what she calls "relational trauma." She reveals how trauma can take the form of a quiet, ongoing pattern of emotional invalidation, not just a sudden, explosive moment. Through 12-step recovery, Barb discovered a path to healing and reframes boundary-setting as an act of integrity and peace rather than confrontation. This conversation offers insight into how these practices can help you live with greater alignment and purpose. Barb's Linkedin Barb's Website
Join host Dana Skaggs and organizational researcher Craig Mattson as they dive into the pressures of the modern workplace. Using powerful metaphors like "the wave" of digital overwhelm and the "life raft" of coping strategies, they explore why remote work often feels confusing and detached. The conversation tackles the big question: "Should I quit if my job feels meaningless?" Craig reveals the four distinct ways people find purpose—from changing the world to simply surviving the day. Ultimately, they argue that in an era of constant change, your greatest skill isn't what you do, but your ability to adapt your perspective and find meaning, even if it feels like you're just a cup of water in an ocean. Craig's Linkedin Craig's Blog
In this episode, Matt O'Neill reveals how to achieve "conscious happiness" even when life feels chaotic. He explains that the common belief of "I'll be happy when..." is a deceptive trap that keeps us constantly striving but never satisfied. Matt reframes negative moods not as personal flaws, but as predictable functions of our "survival brain" that can be overcome. His solution is a set of simple, powerful habits—like gratitude and affirmations—that can be woven into your busiest days without taking extra time. This episode teaches you the skills to stop waiting for perfection and start being happy while life is messy. Matt's Linkedin Matt's Website
In this episode, Dana Skaggs is joined by neurodiversity advocate Khushboo Chabria, who shares her journey to empowerment after a late-in-life ADHD diagnosis. Khushboo explains why feeling misunderstood isn't a personal failure but often a sign of a workplace culture that lacks true acceptance. She introduces a powerful mindset shift: replacing judgment with "compassionate curiosity." Learn how to stop trying to "fix" yourself, advocate for your unique needs, and find the environment where you can truly thrive. Khushboo's Linkedin
In this episode, Dana is joined by coach Arnold Beekes to talk about his journey from a rigid upbringing rooted in extreme conformity to a life of authenticity. Arnold shares how most of us are "conditioned" from a young age, losing sight of what we truly want and living to meet other people's expectations. He breaks down why comparison is a trap and introduces the "Art of Unconditioning"—a process for taking back your power. Learn how to stop chasing approval, start owning your uniqueness, and build the self-confidence to live a life that's truly your own. Arnold's Website Arnold's Linkedin
In this episode, Brad Chandler shares his journey of overcoming unresolved childhood trauma. Brad reveals how his subconscious belief of "not being enough" led to two divorces, millions in business losses, and struggles with anxiety and addiction. He explains that these negative behaviors were not flaws, but outdated survival mechanisms created by his brain in childhood. His breakthrough came not from traditional therapy, but through memory reconsolidation—a technique that rewrites the faulty neural pathways driving these actions. By accessing the subconscious mind, he was able to heal the root cause of his pain. Brad's Linkedin Brad's Linktree
In this episode of Phoenix and Flame, Dana Skaggs welcomes Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, psychologist, executive coach, and author of The Resilience Plan, to discuss the critical role of mental health and resilience in high-performing professionals. Together, they explore why winging it doesn't work when it comes to stress, how leaders often overlook their own mental health, and the power of having a personalized, strategic resilience plan. Dr. Pelletier explains how to plan for life's challenges before they hit and why boundaries, clarity, and mental fitness are key to thriving rather than just surviving. The conversation emphasizes that building resilience is not a sign of weakness; it is essential for long-term success, especially in fast-paced or high-demand environments. Dr. Pelletier's Linkedin The Resilience Plan
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