The Shadows Podcast: Emotional Intelligence Through Pop Culture

The creator of Comedy Central, former President of Court TV, and author of Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor, Art Bell joins us this week on the Shadows Podcast! While working at HBO, Art Bell had an idea for a 24/7 all-comedy channel. He pitched the idea to the head of programming and was told, “It’s the worst idea I’ve ever heard.” He didn’t let the rejection crush his dream. That idea eventually became known as Comedy Central. Art talks about his upbringing, why humor is essential in every aspect of life, his jobs at CBS, HBO, creating the Comedy Channel, the merger with Ha! to create Comedy Central, his time as President of Court TV, and his book, Constant Comedy. Check out this episode and all past episodes of the Shadows Podcast at https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast or www.theshadowspodcast.com. Grab a copy of Art’s book Constant Comedy: How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor at https://www.amazon.com/Constant-Comedy-Started-Central-Sense/dp/1646040899?asin=1646040899&revisionId=&format=4&depth=1 Finally, if you’re looking to become a certified Leadership Coach, make a lasting impact on people, and get paid to do it, you need to become a Certified Leadership Coach with GiANT. Go to giant.tv/shadows and attend their FREE training session! The Shadows Podcast is a proud member of the Lima Charlie Network.

Part I of the Rise From The Shadows: Behind the Mask Season 2 Finale is now available at www.theshadowspodcast and https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast. (7:10) Caleb Vaden is a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force. He's served for 21 years active duty and is the author of Boot Leadership. He kicks off our season finale of Rise From The Shadows with a powerful message of self-refection about Our Dash, Values, Purpose, Legacy, and Being Hard to Kill. He breaks down his Hard to Kill mindset, which is designed to assist with the struggles of everyday life. His message will prepare you psychologically, physically, and emotionally steady for any threat! Caleb Vaden's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-vaden-3165ab53/ (24:35) Brian McComak is back, but this time for the finale of Rise From The Shadows! Brian is the CEO and founder of Hummingbird Humanity and has plenty of experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In this episode, he discusses his experience stepping into corporate America at 24. Brian takes us through his time at the busiest AMC in the World, Walt Disney World's Pleasure Island theatre, followed by Red Lobster. Brian felt he couldn't be authentic and had to be quiet about who he truly was. He talks about his breakthrough moments and how he's now established a framework called the Four Lenses of Representation. If you follow this framework, you and others should see yourself in any organization and not have to hide your true authentic selves. Brian McComak's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bmccomak/ (41:57) Nathan Coy is a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force and the founder and host of the Wartime Leadership Podcast. He returns to the Shadows to discuss spiritual resiliency. What does it look like to you? He takes us through his four pillars and how it's impacted his life over the past year. He motivates and inspires us to have difficult conversations with someone that defines spiritual resilience differently than ourselves. Wartime Leadership Podcast: www.wartime-leadership.com (52:51) Finally, we hear from Marisol Ortiz Flores! She's a Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force. Today she talks to us about her journey to discovering wellness. She is very transparent and vulnerable about the experiences she's encountered. She struggled to establish peach in others when she wasn't even at peace with herself. She did something many of us have been guilty of, becoming a "Master Packer." She talks about the importance of not letting things build up and addressing them head-on through various ways of speaking it out loud. Marisol Ortiz Flores Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisol.ortizflores.77 Part II of the Rise From The Shadows Finale will be available tomorrow! Also, the Shadows Podcast returns on Monday, September 26, with former University of Georgia Running Back and the #7 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, Tim Worley! Head over to our YouTube channel and make sure you subscribe and hit the notifications icon so that you don’t miss any future episodes.

Episode 5 of Rise From The Shadows: Behind the Mask is now available at https://linktr.ee/shadowspodcast or www.theshadowspodcast.com. Every day we interact with other people’s masked versions of ourselves. Most people have a select few that they allow to unmask them. Often, our biggest struggle isn’t understanding others, but it’s trying to figure out who we are. When we pull off our masks and do some soul searching, it’s scary and frightening, but it can also be grateful and rewarding. This week we have the power couple Noble and Kathy Gibbens joining us for the Rise From The Shadows! First, we have a guest returning to the Shadows for the third time. He’s an Emotional Intelligence Coach, founder, and host of the EQ Gangster Podcast, Noble Gibbens! He’s here today to pass along eleven emotional intelligence principles. EQ Gangster – www.eqganster.com After Noble’s message, we go from our emotional intelligence to critical thinking skills. We have the other half of this fantastic duo and host of the Filter It Through a Brain Cell Podcast, Kathy Gibbens! Kathy provides eleven reasons why good thinking skills can change the world. The Filter It Through a Brain Cell Podcast – www.filteritthroughabraincell.com Have you ordered the Shadows Podcast Coffee yet? To quote the great philosopher Gwyneth Stefani, What You Waiting For? The Shadows Podcast Coffee is 100% Arabica ground with the perfect balance of full-bodied, intense, sweet, and gentle acidity. With this dark roast blend, you get a sense of chocolaty-cocoa flavor, toffee-like sweetness, and some very earthy, rich flavors. Order the Shadows Podcast Coffee at https://www.theshadowspodcast.com/store/ Credit for the Rise From The Shadows Podcast theme goes to Dollshade “Let The Reaper Wild”

Episode 4 of Rise From The Shadows: Behind the Mask is now available at https://linktr.ee/shadowspodcast or www.theshadowspodcast.com. Every day we interact with other people’s masked versions of ourselves. Most people have a select few that they allow to unmask them. Often, our biggest struggle isn’t understanding others but it’s trying to figure out who we indeed are. When we pull off our masks and do some soul searching, it’s scary and frightening, but it can also be grateful and rewarding. This week we bring you a returning guest. He’s a Senior Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force and the Chief of Enlisted Force Development, Headquarters Air Force, the creator of Llama Leadership, and cohost of the Llama Lounge Podcast, Joe Bogdan!! At the age of 40, Joe does some self-reflecting and discusses seeing the world through adult eyes. Joe discusses the five key things that have made him more aware of how he sees the world around him as his perspectives have changed in recent years. Joe Bogdan’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jybogdan/ Llama Leadership: www.llamaleadership.com/ Then we bring you the Vision Board Master, the Motivational Firwood Guy, a Human Punch Up Specialist, and Comedian, Steve Gamlin! Steve shares his hardcore visualization tips, strategies, and the story behind how he is today. Steve encourages you to visualize your goals by thinking about what your goals look, feel, smell, and sound like. He will help your visualization at a deeper level and wake up the next day motivated and inspired. Steve Gamlin’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/stevegamlin/ Motivational Firewood: www.motivationalfirewood.com The Shadows Podcast Coffee is 100% Arabica ground with the perfect balance of full-bodied, intense, and sweet with gentle acidity. With this dark roast blend, you get a sense of chocolaty-cocoa flavor with toffee-like sweetness and some very earthy, rich flavors. Order the Shadows Podcast Coffee at https://www.theshadowspodcast.com/store/ Credit for the Rise From The Shadows Podcast theme goes to Dollshade “Let The Reaper Wild”

Episode 3 of Rise From The Shadows: Behind the Mask is now available at https://linktr.ee/shadowspodcast or www.theshadowspodcast.com. Every day we interact with other people’s masked versions of ourselves. Most people have a select few that they allow to unmask them. Often, our biggest struggle isn’t understanding others but it’s trying to figure out who we indeed are. When we pull off our masks and do some soul searching, it’s scary and frightening, but it can also be grateful and rewarding. This week we bring you a trauma-informed certified grief coach, author of Restorative Grief: Embracing our losses without losing ourselves, and the host of the podcast, Restorative Grief, Mandy Capehart! Mandy takes us through a tumultuous time in her life that was riddled with toxic conversations and was taking a toll on her mentally and physically. She tells us how to transform from post-traumatic grief to post-traumatic growth through her talk. How can we incorporate healthy coping mechanisms? How do we gain confidence while dealing with difficult situations? Then we bring you a Research Director at the Peanut Institute, Dr. Samara Sterling. She discusses something most of us can relate to eating on the go. Her family went from eating healthy in Jamaica to moving into the hustle of New York City. She walks us through the three life nudges she encountered that helped change her perspective on healthy eating. She gives us pointers that can help us curve our dietary patterns while balancing a busy lifestyle. The Shadows Podcast Coffee is 100% Arabica ground with the perfect balance of full bodied, strong and  sweet with a gentle acidity.  With this dark roast blend you get a sense  of chocolaty-cocoa flavor with toffee like sweetness and some very  earthy rich flavors.the Shadows Podcast Coffee at https://www.theshadowspodcast.com/store/ Website: MandyCapehart.com Instagram: @MandyCapehart Twitter: @MandyCapehart Quarterly “Very Good Things” Newsletter: MandyCapehart.com/subscribe Podcasts: Uncomfortable Grace & Restorative Grief with Mandy Capehart The Guidebook: Restorative Grief: Embracing Loss Without Losing Ourselves Substack: https://mandycapehart.substack.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mandycapehart Become a Premium podcast subscriber: https://anchor.fm/mandy-capehart/subscribe LinkedIn: Samara Sterling, Ph. D. Facebook: Veggie Nutrition Doctor Credit for the Rise From The Shadows Podcast theme goes to Dollshade “Let The Reaper Wild”

Every day we interact with other people’s masked versions of themselves. Most people have a select few that they allow to unmask them. Often, our biggest struggle isn’t understanding others, but it’s trying to figure out who we truly are. When we pull off our masks and do some soul searching, It’s scary and frightening, but it can also be grateful and rewarding. The Shadows Podcast returns with an all-new season of Rise From The Shadows Season 2, Behind the Mask at https://linktr.ee/shadowspodcast Our first guest is the founder and host of the Purpose Infused Brotherhood Podcast, Clay Smeltzer! He will talk to us about the Many Mask That Men Wear. In this episode, he will help you reveal your purpose, experience the freedom of being your true self, and stay centered and not drift. Then we bring you a returning guest to the Shadows, the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seed Leadership, a leadership coach to introverted leaders, a leadership facilitator, strategy consultant, and renowned public speaker Nancy John! And she talks to us about challenging ourselves to get comfortable being uncomfortable with moving Forward With Fear. Purpose Infused Brotherhood: www.purposeinfusedbrotherhood.com Seed Leadership: https://seedleadershipdevelopment.com/

The finale episode of the Rise From The Shadows season one is now available! In this episode, we get things started with a Senior Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force and recently launched a YouTube channel called "Live Well!" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6m-T0GxuDQ), Mary Polanco discussing how we all need to be Listening to the Quiet. She outlines how putting yourself first isn't always selfish; it's self-care. She opens up about how some emotions just about all of us deal with: stress, anxiety, and depression became her most incredible gift. Afterward, we welcome another Senior Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force, Demetrius Booth. He discusses the best presents you can give and receive this holiday season is presence. He talks about not taking the moments you have in this world for granted. Cherish every moment of every day. Finally, previous Shadows Podcast guest, creator and founder of the Click & Carry (https://clickandcarry.com/), Shark Tank Winner, and cancer survivor Kim Meckwood joins our finale. Kim talks about how persistence has helped her create her product and fight through the constant rejections she received from Shark Tank until she ultimately appeared on the show and struck a deal with a Shark. Also, her perseverance and determination have helped her in her battle with cancer. Check out this episode and all past episodes of the Shadows Podcast and Rise From the Shadows at https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast or www.theshadowspodcast.com. We will love to hear your feedback if you like what we're doing with the Shadows Podcast! Please leave us a review at https://www.theshadowspodcast.com/reviews/new/ If you're looking to become a certified Leadership Coach, make a lasting impact on people, and get paid to do it, you need to become a Certified Leadership Coach with GiANT. Go to giant.tv/shadows and attend their FREE training session!

What better way to wrap up season 1 of Rise From The Shadows and 2021 than with two episodes packed with personal development?  In this episode, we kick things off with Leadership Development Course Instructor at Air University on Maxwell Air Force Base, Jason "JW" Womack, talking about Leading Humans Being. He covers topics such as self-reflection, understanding the three things our mind constantly does, and provides some essential information for journaling to include his technique of overwriting.  Afterward, we have TedX Speaker, Chief Civility Officer at TrainXtra, and Chief Culture Officer at Nobody Studios, Sejal Thakkar discusses a hot topic, Unconscious Bias. She talks about diversity and inclusion, tips to possibly reduce toxic work centers, her acronym H.A.T., tools for understanding your own unconscious biases, and microaggressions.  Finally, Senior Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force and current Commandant at the Patrick Airman Leadership School, Jeff Reyes. Jeff talks to us about his mantra of Grind and Shine. He discusses the importance of waking up early and setting time aside for yourself, properly recharging at the end of your day, and the power of positivity.  Stay tuned tomorrow for the second half of our two-part finale. We bring you two Senior Noncommissioned Officers in the United States Air Force, Mary Polanco and Demetrius Booth, and the creator of the Click & Carry, Shark Tank winner, and cancer survivor, Kim Meckwood.  Check out this episode and all past episodes of the Shadows Podcast and Rise From the Shadows at https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast or www.theshadowspodcast.com. We will love to hear your feedback if you like what we're doing with the Shadows Podcast! Would you please leave us a review at https://www.theshadowspodcast.com/reviews/new/ If you're looking to become a certified Leadership Coach, make a lasting impact on people, and get paid to do it, you need to become a Certified Leadership Coach with GiANT. Go to giant.tv/shadows and attend their FREE training session!

On this Black Friday edition of Rise From The Shadows, we welcome Scott Mason back to the Shadows! During this episode, Scott tells the story of listening to Leroy Garvin playing the harp at his mother's church every fourth Sunday while singing "A Motherless Child." That song resonated with him as an adopted child. Scott discusses his journey from being born in England as Calvin Fronz Crowdey to being adopted by an African-American family and moving to Kansas. He struggled to come to terms with not being wanted by his family and was raised in an environment that opposed his destiny. He often wondered what his life would be like if he were still Calvin. When he was 12-years old and his family was on vacation in Denver, he walked into a bookstore, and a cover spoke to him. It was D'Aularies' Greek Myths. The theme of heroes rising from adoption wasn't uncommon in this book, and he could relate to Percious and Moses. This book gave him a sense of hope that allowed him to face the monsters that he would eventually have to slay in life and was able to overcome his shadows. Scott also encourages us to find our personal avatar through Greek Mythology. Check out this episode and all past episodes of the Shadows Podcast and Rise From the Shadows at https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast or www.theshadowspodcast.com. You can listen to Scott Mason's Purpose Highway at www.purposehighway.com. Also, tune in every Thursday night at 7:15 EST on Facebook Live and LinkedIn for Just a Squirrel Looking For a Nut. If you're looking to become a certified Leadership Coach, make a lasting impact on people, and get paid to do it, you need to become a Certified Leadership Coach with GiANT. Go to giant.tv/shadows and attend their FREE training session!

George Linen Jr. aka “Fresh Linen” is a Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force, Airman Leadership School Instructor at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and an accomplished spoken word artist, author, and Tedx speaker. On this episode, George talks about the superpower we posses known as vulnerability. Throughout his life he suppressed his feelings from being a victim of domestic abuse and sexual assaulted. However, he found his outlet to express his feelings through the power of poetry. He talks about how the power of the spoken word saved not only himself, but one of his fellow Airmen. Check out this amazing episode of Rise From the Shadows – Vulnerability at www.theshadowspodcast.com or https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast Before The Street Lights Come On: https://freshlinencreates.com/buy-my-book A Breath of Fresh Air Scholarship: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3BS4H95ZWTQME Spoken Word Album: https://album.link/mg6nmz6z0vqjj TEDx video: https://youtu.be/WBg5GK58Beg

Amy Wade is a Senior Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force and the Commandant at the Langley Airman Leadership School. On this episode, Amy takes this time to reflect on uncomfortable situations that she was thrust into at a young age, such as a public speaking contest. As terrifying as that sounds to most people, she constantly had the support of her mother. Amy’s powerful message is about not only having that "corner man" in life that instills that courage into you, but being that person for someone else. Amy’s book recommendation: The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip Heath You can now listen to this episode of Rise From the Shadows – Courage at www.theshadowspodcast.com or https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast

Llama Lounge Takeover week continues as W. Scott Greene joins us on this episode of Rise From The Shadows! On this episode, Scott talks about an article he wrote a few years ago titled “Attitude, Decisions, and Actions”. Scott shares his appreciation of the silence, solitude, peace, and darkness of an early morning drive to work. It allows him moments of reflection and how he’s in control of the day that lies ahead. He admires the intentional actions of those sharing the road with him from a cross country team to an older couple out walking. Our intentional decisions and actions define who we are. “The choice to overcome adversities is ours, and ours alone.” Scott also talks about not allowing others to influence our lives and not accepting mediocrity. You can now listen to this episode of Rise From the Shadows – Attitude, Decisions, and Actions at www.theshadowspodcast.com or https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast Go and support the Llama team over at www.llamaleadership.com Scott’s Book Recommendations: The Way of the Shepherd: Seven Secrets to Managing Productive People https://www.amazon.com/Way-Shepherd-Ancient-Managing-Productive/dp/0310250978 Man’s Search For Meaning https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/1416524282

Sha Sparks returns to the Shadows to discuss that voice inside our head. That voice can hurt us if we allow it to, but we need to realize that it can also empower us. On this episode, Sha talks about how in life we all want to belong, be heard, not be alone, and to be loved. However, the road to get there can be a tumultuous one. Sha is a believer that our childhood experiences shape our adult decisions. She began drinking at the age of eleven, broke her knee, fell into depression and by the age of fifteen she was drinking every day. She even received a DUI at the age of sixteen. She then became trapped in an abusive relationship for years. It wasn’t until she came to the realization that we get to choose who we are and how we live our lives. This is where Sha began to understand that hurt people, hurt people and empowered people, empower people. You can now listen to this episode of Rise From the Shadows – Empowered People, Empower People at www.theshadowspodcast.com or https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast Also, check out everything Sha is doing at www.shasparks.com and grab a copy of #Firestarters Book Project at https://www.firestartersbookproject.com/sha

Mike Roderick is a Senior Noncommissioned Officer in the United States Air Force and the Commandant at the Whiteman Airman Leadership School. On this episode, Mike opens up about his troubled childhood. He discusses the abuse, abandonment, and neglect he and his brothers had to deal with while staying with his mother. He also discusses how he was able to overcome the psychological toll those events took on him at a young age and fight through it to discover his purpose and helps hundred of Airmen on a annual basis through adversity. Mike’s book recommendation: The Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves: The Arbinger Institute: 9781523087303: Amazon.com: Books You can now listen to this episode of Rise From the Shadows – Weaponizing Adversity at www.theshadowspodcast.com or https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast

Angela Winner is a Noncommissioned Officer and Professional Military Instructor in the United States Air Force. She currently teaching at the Little Rock Airman Leadership School. On this episode, Angela opens up about three lessons she picked up on as a child and how those same three lessons took on a whole new meaning after some traumatic life experiences. Angela talks about having a rift with her father while she was trying to become more independent in her early adult years. From there she deployed in 2016 and those same life lessons clashed with stress, isolation, depression, and suicidal thoughts. It was her faith and a strong support system that got her back on track, allowing her to bounce back and while doing so, reconcile her relationship with her father before he passed away. This emotional episode is released two days after Angela’s fathers birthday and we thank her for opening up and celebrating him on this episode of Rise From the Shadows – Life Wounds Need Band-Aids Too, now available at www.theshadowspodcast.comor https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast

“When you name the emotion, you can tame the emotion.” Noble Gibbens is a former emotionally clueless West Point Army Ranger who’s now an emotional intelligence practitioner and corporate emotional intelligence coach. On this episode of Rise From the Shadows, Noble talks about what sparked his emotional growth journey. He discusses what causes emotional knots and how you can give your mind an emotional massage and prevent yourself from going A.P.E. He discusses how our furry, cute, little emotional monkey grows throughout our lives and eventually turns into a giant emotional A.P.E. He talks about the importance of acknowledging our feelings, allowing ourselves permission to feel, and the importance of expressing our emotions and feelings. This episode is a small dose of the emotional health and fitness program Noble can get you started on over at www.eqgangster.com Check out Rise From The Shadows, Episode 3 entitled, Emotional Knots and Going APE at www.theshadowspodcast.com or https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast

We often live with the weight of others’ expectations. We’re told who we should and shouldn’t be. It could be high academic standards placed on our shoulders by our parents or peer pressure from kids at a young age. We have those periods in our lives when we feel like we’re an outsider, but that can be a wonderful gift. That’s when we get to write our own journey and you can begin to own who you are and have a true sense of personal fulfillment. Please listen to our incredible first guest, Nina Choy-Rohmiller encouraging you to blaze your own trail on Season 1, Episode 1 of Rise From the Shadows at www.theshadowspodcast.com or https://linktr.ee/ShadowsPodcast

🎄 CHRISTMAS VACATION & EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCEWhy do the holidays push our buttons more than any other time of year?Why do expectations explode, emotions boil, and perfectly good people end up snapping like Clark Griswold under 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights?This week, The Shadows Podcast dives into the timeless chaos of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation through the lens of Emotional Intelligence, uncovering why this movie still hits home decades later — not just because it’s funny, but because it’s relatable on a deeply human level.Released in 1989 and eventually becoming a holiday cult classic, Christmas Vacation wasn’t just a comedy — it was a mirror. A mirror reflecting family pressure, financial stress, miscommunication, comparison, expectations, and the emotional minefields we tiptoe through every December. From Clark’s desperate desire to create “the perfect Christmas” to Cousin Eddie’s unfiltered authenticity, the characters accidentally teach us more about EQ than they ever intended.In this episode, we break down the emotional patterns behind the comedy, unpack why the Griswolds feel like our family, and explore three Life Cheat Codes you can use immediately — at home, at work, and especially during the holidays.Clark Griswold wanted the dream Christmas—perfect lights, perfect family gathering, perfect bonus check. But perfection is a fantasy. Expectations without communication or flexibility lead to disappointment, resentment, and emotional blowups (looking at you, squirrel-in-the-tree situation).Learn how to spot unrealistic expectations before they hijack your holiday.We break down emotional regulation through Clark’s legendary meltdown. (“We’re gonna have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas…!”)Pressure + unspoken stress + emotional exhaustion = explosion.We show you how to pause, breathe, reset, and avoid turning into a human pressure cooker.Eddie may be unpredictable, messy, and a walking HR violation…But he shows up.He listens.He cares in the ways he knows how.This cheat code explores why genuine connection matters more than flawless behavior — and why the people who frustrate us sometimes need grace the most.Annoying people don’t always intend to be annoying.Sometimes they’re stressed, insecure, emotionally overloaded, or simply living by a different internal script.We explore why their reactions say more about their emotional landscape than yours — and how EQ helps you avoid losing your peace over someone else’s chaos.If you’ve ever:✔ tried too hard to make something perfect✔ felt overwhelmed by holiday expectations✔ snapped under pressure✔ dealt with family drama✔ or wished for a vacation from Christmas Vacation…This episode meets you right where you are.You’ll leave with emotional tools you can use today — not just in December, but in every season of life.🎮 LIFE CHEAT CODE #1 — Manage Your Expectations… or They’ll Manage You🎮 LIFE CHEAT CODE #2 — Regulate Before You Detonate🎮 LIFE CHEAT CODE #3 — Connection Before Perfection💡 BONUS EQ TAKEAWAY — The Todd & Margo Principle🎙️ WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS

The holidays are here, and there’s no better way to kick off the season than revisiting one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made — Home Alone. But this time, we’re not just watching Kevin defend his house with paint cans, micro machines, and blowtorches. We’re diving deep into what this classic can teach us about Emotional Intelligence, resilience, family dynamics, and how to navigate chaos with clarity.In today’s 20-minute episode, The Shadows Podcast breaks down why Home Alone still hits home emotionally more than 30 years after its release. Beneath the comedy and iconic booby traps is a powerful story about courage, belonging, fear, forgiveness, and the emotional messiness that comes with being part of a family — even a wildly dysfunctional one.We open by stepping back into 1990, a year of cultural shifts, global tension, and cinematic magic. Home Alone premiered on November 16, 1990, and instantly became a box office juggernaut — holding the #1 spot for weeks and becoming the highest-grossing live-action comedy for nearly two decades. Today, it's more than nostalgia. It’s a reminder that sometimes life throws chaos at us… and we still have the power to choose our response.Then we look at the McCallister family with a humorous EQ lens:✨ A full house of stress, ego, impatience, bad communication, questionable parenting choices (they forgot this kid twice), and a brother who downs Pepsi, wets the bed, and everyone just… accepts it.✨ A kid desperate to feel seen.✨ An old man judged entirely on rumor.✨ And two burglars who are somehow both terrifying and hilariously bad at their jobs.But hidden in all that dysfunction are lessons we can use in our daily lives.Each week on The Shadows Podcast, we give you practical tools — “cheat codes” — that you can actually use in real life. Today’s episode breaks Home Alone into three actionable, easy-to-apply Emotional Intelligence lessons:Kevin didn’t choose the chaos — but he chose the response.Life hits us with our own versions of paint cans, icy stairs, and unexpected blowtorches. This section explores how creativity, composure, and emotional regulation help us turn overwhelm into problem-solving power.Kevin was terrified of Old Man Marley because of the story he told himself. When they finally talk, Kevin realizes Marley isn’t a monster — he’s a human dealing with regret and loneliness. We explore how changing your perspective can change your relationships.Kevin goes from “I’m scared” to “This is my house, and I have to defend it.” This is a mindset shift we all need. Whether you’re facing holiday stress, work conflict, or personal goals, confidence and self-trust are the foundation.Because this 20-minute episode gives you:• A nostalgic escape• A psychological breakdown of holiday stress• Tangible EQ skills you can apply immediately• A new way to watch a beloved Christmas classic• Humor, heart, and real-life emotional insightsWhether you’re traveling, wrapping gifts, hiding from your relatives, or recovering from a burnt turkey, this episode will help you laugh, reflect, and navigate the season with more clarity and intention.🎮 THE THREE LIFE CHEAT CODESCheat Code #1: Resourceful, Not RecklessCheat Code #2: Separate the Behavior From the PersonCheat Code #3: Every Battle Starts with Believing You Can Win🎄 WHY LISTEN?

Scrooged and Emotional Intelligence | The Shadows PodcastThe 1988 holiday classic Scrooged isn’t just a funny, chaotic, Bill-Murray-fueled Christmas movie—it’s one of the most emotionally rich, psychologically layered holiday stories ever put on screen. Behind the sarcasm, the ghosts, the TV-network chaos, and the unforgettable final monologue is a message that hits deeper than most people ever realize: emotional intelligence is the real holiday spirit.In this episode of The Shadows Podcast, we break down Scrooged through the lens of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, emotional triggers, leadership, relationships, and the power of personal transformation. Whether you’ve seen the movie a hundred times or you only remember Bill Murray yelling “Feed me, Seymour!” on live television, this episode will change the way you watch it forever.Frank is the perfect example of how unresolved childhood wounds, workplace pressure, and distorted self-worth shape adult behavior. We break down:Why Frank’s sarcasm is actually a defense mechanismHow over-achievers numb themselves with workWhy “success without connection” leaves people emptyEmotional burnout, holiday stress, and the cost of avoiding vulnerabilityYou’ll see Frank’s emotional triggers—and maybe even a few of your own—more clearly than ever.Each ghost in Scrooged represents an EQ checkpoint:Past: self-reflection, childhood imprinting, identityPresent: situational awareness, emotional blindnessFuture: consequences of unhealed patternsWe talk about how the movie uses humor and shock to highlight empathy, compassion, and the life-changing impact of perspective-taking. Tiny Tim isn’t the heart of this version—Grace and Calvin are.Frank’s transformation is chaotic, hilarious, and deeply human. We explore:Why real change looks “messy”Why relationships need repair, not perfectionHow EQ helps us reconnect with the people we pushed awayWhy showing emotion isn’t weakness—it’s leadershipFrank’s final monologue is more than a holiday moment. It’s an EQ masterclass about connection, gratitude, forgiveness, and emotional courage.We bring the film into today’s world with real-life examples:Perfectionism during the holidaysOverworking to avoid emotionsEmotional withdrawal after burnout (especially in leadership roles)The pressure to look “fine” when life feels overwhelmingHow unresolved pain shows up as anger, sarcasm, or distanceIf you’ve ever found yourself short-tempered during the holidays, overstretched at work, or emotionally disconnected around the people you love—this episode will make you feel seen.Awareness: Notice your emotional patterns before they hijack your holiday.Empathy: Everyone is carrying more than you know. Grace goes further than you think.Connection: Repair the relationships that matter.Purpose: The holidays aren’t about perfection—they’re about presence.We even give you reflection questions you can carry with you into the season or revisit during your inevitable Scrooged rewatch.Emotional intelligenceHoliday classicsLeadership developmentSelf-awareness and personal growthMovies with deeper meaning…then this is the perfect holiday episode for you.Share this episode with someone who:Needs a reminder that change is possibleStruggles with holiday stressIs navigating emotional burnoutLoves Scrooged, Christmas movies, or Bill MurrayIf this episode resonates, tap follow and stay connected for weekly conversations on emotional intelligence, personal growth, and the stories that shape us.“A Bit of Hope” by David Fesliyan — FesliyanStudios.com🔥 What We Explore:1️⃣ Emotional Self-Awareness — Frank Cross as the Mirror2️⃣ Empathy, Compassion, and the Ghosts Who Force Accountability3️⃣ Connection, Repair, and the Courage to Change4️⃣ Modern Parallels — Work Stress, Holiday Pressure & Emotional Triggers🎯 Key EQ Takeaways You Can Use Today🎄 If You Love:📣 Spread the Holiday EQ🔗 Follow, Subscribe, and Join Our Community🎧 Music: