While rebuilding his life, award-winning entrepreneur, keynote speaker, podcast host, and bestselling author of Executive Loneliness, Nick Jonsson, began to realize how many business leaders and entrepreneurs need peers who relate to their unique challenges and can play a supportive role, both socially and professionally. Nick has experienced both the highs and lows of the business world. As the co-founder and managing director of Executives Global Network (EGN), which you’ll gain some insigh...
In this powerful "best of" episode, Dr. Sharon Spano sits down with Maira Holzmann to explore the growing mental health crisis and innovative approaches to healing trauma through the body. Maira specializes in helping adults heal from childhood trauma using somatic therapy and co-regulating touch, offering insights into why traditional talk therapy alone often falls short in addressing deep-seated trauma patterns. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why anxiety and depression are symptoms of d...
When you’re in the midst of burnout, it can be difficult to recognize the signs and take action. Things may feel the same, but with a depleted amount of overall energy to take on what you normally would. So how can we learn to recognize the signs of burnout? And how can we build resilience in the process? Joining us today to discuss this complex topic is Dr. Gary Simonds, who, for the past 14 years, has immersed himself in the study of burnout and building resilience. He’s the author of three...
In this moving episode, Dr. Sharon Spano sits down with Phyllis Leavitt, a psychotherapist with over 30 years of experience helping individuals and families heal from trauma. Phyllis shares her personal journey of navigating childhood trauma and how it led her to a lifelong mission of guiding others toward healing and wholeness. She also discusses her book America in Therapy, where she explores how the dynamics of family trauma reflect the larger dysfunctions we see in society today. Phyllis ...
In this Best Of conversation, Dr. Sharon Spano revisits her powerful discussion with Linn Rivers, a holistic healthcare practitioner who has dedicated her life to helping people reclaim their health—especially those with “last resort” cases. After growing up with chronic illness, overmedication, and losing loved ones far too early, Linn discovered a different path to healing—one that integrates functional medicine, the microbiome, and holistic practices. She also incorporates tools like NLP a...
To become a Navy SEAL you need to endure years of grueling training, and it is only a very small portion of those who start the process end up completing it. In this powerful “Best Of” episode, Dr. Sharon Spano revisits her conversation with Stephen Drum, a retired Navy SEAL Master Chief who served in combat zones around the world and now helps organizations build high-performance cultures. Stephen shares battle-tested lessons on courage, accountability, and resilience—and how the same princi...
The stress of modern life can often bring on symptoms like depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. And while it can be tempting to seek out a quick fix, more often than not, these symptoms are our body’s way of asking for help. So how do we learn to listen to our bodies and embark on a healing journey amidst the demands of contemporary life? Joining us today is special guest Sunitha Sandeep, a TEDx speaker, trauma-informed transformative coach, and certified meditation and mindfulness teacher....
In this powerful “Best Of” episode, Dr. Sharon Spano connects with Steve Feldman—CEO of Feinberg Consulting, interventionist, and person in long-term recovery—on the vital importance of family support during addiction, mental health, and complex medical crises. Steve shares his personal and professional journey from entrepreneurship to recovery advocate, and how he and his team are revolutionizing care navigation by treating not only the individual but the entire family system. His multidisci...
In this powerful and inspiring "best of" episode, Dr. Sharon Spano talks with Dan MacQueen, a former tech implementation specialist whose life was turned upside down by a sudden, life-threatening brain hemorrhage. What followed was not only a fight for survival but a journey of radical transformation. Dan shares how he rebuilt his body, mind, and career—one step at a time—and how mindset played a key role in his recovery. Through discipline, gratitude, and goal-setting, Dan created a new life...
In this episode, Dr. Sharon Spano speaks with Aurora Winter, a media coach, ghostwriter, and award-winning author of Turn Words into Wealth. Aurora shares her expertise on using storytelling, neuroscience, and communication strategies to help leaders, entrepreneurs, and family business owners amplify their influence, impact, and income. She introduces the Spoken Author Method, a breakthrough approach that helps clients write books and clarify their messaging through speaking rather than tradi...
In this inspiring episode, I talk with Paul Epstein, former NFL and NBA executive turned purpose-driven leader, speaker, and coach. Paul shares his remarkable career journey in professional sports and how a pivotal leadership retreat helped him discover his true purpose — leading others to unlock their potential through purpose and performance. Paul explains his decision to leave a dream career in sports to create Purpose Labs, a platform dedicated to helping individuals and organizations dis...
In this heartfelt and eye-opening conversation, Dr. Sharon Spano welcomes Debbie Ausburn, who has spent decades raising children who weren’t biologically her own—as a foster parent, step-parent, and advocate. Drawing on her career in social work and law, Debbie shares compassionate, practical advice on how to build trust with traumatized children while holding clear boundaries and protecting your own wellbeing. Whether you’re a foster parent, stepparent, or a caregiver stepping into a child’s...
In this raw and empowering conversation, Dr. Sharon Spano connects with Ana Lennyr, a life strategist whose extraordinary personal story fuels her mission to help others overcome depression and chronic emotional pain. Ana shares her journey from childhood depression, scoliosis, and physical suffering to a life of vibrant health, purpose, and joy. She breaks down her three-level framework for healing emotional wounds, releasing inherited pain, and stepping into the life you were meant to lead....
In one of the most powerful and moving episodes of The Other Side of Potential, Dr. Sharon Spano sits down with the late Kevin Rose, a gifted craniosacral therapist and healer who transformed lives through his integrative approach to wellness. Diagnosed unexpectedly with stage four adenocarcinoma, Kevin shared his healing journey with breathtaking honesty, spiritual depth, and a deep desire to educate others about alternative pathways to wellness. From faith-led medical decisions to groundbre...
In this heartfelt solocast, Dr. Sharon Spano reflects on the incredible journey of The Other Side of Potential podcast and announces a major new chapter: the end of this podcast and the exciting launch of her new podcast, The Unstuck and Unstoppable You. With over 326 episodes since its launch in 2018, The Other Side of Potential has explored the intersection of business success and human development. Sharon candidly shares how her work with high-impact leaders has evolved, leading to a deepe...
In this compelling "best of" episode, Dr. Sharon Spano welcomes Angela Myer, a trauma-informed hypnotherapist and author of The Undetected Narcissist. Drawing from personal experience and clinical expertise, Angela dives deep into the complex world of narcissism—what it really is, how to detect it, and most importantly, how to protect yourself from its damaging effects. Angela explains the behaviors and traits of narcissists, the different types (including the often-misunderstood covert narci...
In this episode, Dr. Sharon Spano speaks with entrepreneur and experience strategist Vinay Raval, who walked away from corporate life to answer a deceptively simple question: How do businesses grow by inspiring happiness in their customers? His journey led him across continents, from mountain markets to high-touch tourism in Peru, culminating in the development of his customer-first philosophy called “Bring the Extra.” Vinay dives deep into the human side of business, explaining how emotion—n...
In this insightful episode, Dr. Sharon Spano sits down with Kay Pfleghardt, a young but remarkably accomplished Certified Financial Planner. Kay shares her personal journey into the world of financial planning, one that was shaped by early financial hardship, emotional insight, and a deep desire to help others think differently about wealth. From her pivot from psychology to finance, to her current passion for fostering intergenerational conversations about money, Kay offers wisdom on how und...
In this inspiring episode, Dr. Sharon Spano is joined by Nir Bashan—award-winning creativity expert and author of The Creator Mindset. Together, they explore how creativity is not just for artists, but a powerful tool for professionals, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to solve problems and drive innovation. Nir shares how cultivating creativity can lead to success in both life and business, and he offers practical steps to help you tap into your own creative potential. Whether you're a busi...
Dr. Sharon Spano and Franco Lombardo explore the profound impact of emotional safety, belonging, and self-worth—especially in high-net-worth families. Franco shares his personal journey from wealth management to deep emotional self-discovery, uncovering how our relationship with money is often tied to childhood experiences and our sense of significance. For more than 20 years, Franco Lombardo has been a trusted advisor and coach to some of the world's most successful and affluent families. Wi...