Learn From People Who Lived it
Navigating painful life circumstances would be easier if they came with a how-to guide. This podcast writes the book! Our show is all about transformation. Mathew Blades, a seasoned radio and television personality, uses his exceptional interview skills to guide individuals in sharing their challenging stories. With the support of our in-house psychologist and psychiatrist, we explore the patterns and strategies that enabled these individuals to transform their lives from a difficult phase to a thriving one.
Episodes

Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Blowing Up What You Built & The Social Media Trap: Insights from The Salzburg Executioner
In this episode, you'll hear:
Key questions to ask before making a bold life change
What the Salzburg executioner reveals about today’s social media culture
Powerful tools to renegotiate your relationship with social media
How your online presence, and absence, shape your digital footprint
L.A. Fatzinger is a novelist, essayist, and observer who transitioned from a successful career as a technology investor, entrepreneur, and CEO, having founded over ten software and services companies. After experiencing multiple stress-induced panic attacks, he realized it was time for a major life change. After experiencing multiple stress induced panic attacks L.A. decided it was time to make a big change in his life. He now resides in Salzburg, Austria, where he was inspired to write his latest psychological thriller, "The Salzburg Executioner," which delves into themes of morality, technology's societal impact, and the pursuit of justice in the modern era.
In this episode, Mathew and L.A. Fatzinger dive into the challenges of making bold career moves and navigating the emotional rollercoaster of dismantling what you've built to pursue something new. They encourage listeners to reflect on key questions, such as: Who are you doing this for? Drawing from themes in Fatzinger’s book, they explore what’s healthy about social media, the importance of letting go of what no longer serves us, and how to redefine our relationship with these platforms. They also confront the unsettling reality that both our presence and absence online are being tracked. Mathew and L.A. share practical tools for using social media with intention, helping listeners analyze their own FOMO and take back control.
“You have to have a lot of confidence in yourself when you are at your lowest point.”
“When you have a failure is not an option mentality, you’re going to spend a lot of time grinding your nails down, doing whatever you possibly can to make sure the thing doesn’t fail, without considering that you are failing everyone by taking that path, including your long-term health, your long-term well-being, and who everyone knew you as.”
“The minutes of use spiked [on social media platforms] during the pandemic when everyone was home and using their devices but they haven’t gone up very much since then, but the net income of all these public companies has.”
Follow the podcast:
Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h)
Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM)
Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE)
Resources:
L.A. Fatzinger Website
The Salzburg Executioner by L.A. Fatzinger
Jill McMahon Website
Bulletproof by Jill McMahon
ARO - Founded by Joey Odom and Heath Wilson
Connect with Mathew Blades:
Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades
Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/
Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/
Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/
Additional Credits:
LFPWLI is managed by IMS LLC
A note from our partner, Better Than Bitter:
Divorce isn’t just a life transition - it’s a full-blown identity shift. One day you’re a partner, a parent, and a planner for the future. The next? You’re staring at paperwork, lawyer fees, and the overwhelming question: ‘What now?’
I know it’s hard. That’s why we’ve created these courses - to give you courage, clarity, communication tools, and the support you need to move forward with confidence
(and maybe even a little hope)!
Reality check! Divorce is expensive - but battling in court is even more costly. For less than the price of an hour of an attorney’s time, you’ll gain the tools, support, and strategies to create a peaceful path forward. This program will pay for itself by helping you save thousands in legal fees and emotional stress! Hit these links to sign up today.
Premium 5-Step Game Plan Course w/ Chat Coaching
https://tanialeichliter.ontralink.com/t?orid=1049&opid=7
Standard Course 5-Step Game Plan Course
https://tanialeichliter.ontralink.com/t?orid=1049&opid=8

Monday Mar 03, 2025
Is an Amicable Divorce Possible? with Tania Leichliter
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Look for a note from Better than Bitter below.
In this episode, you'll hear:
When to contemplate the end of a relationship
Strategies for managing nonproductive emotions and thoughts
The five-steps to an amicable divorce
A powerful exercise to kickstart your self-care
Tania Leichliter is an Amicable Divorce Success Coach and the host of the podcast Better Than Bitter. She is the founder of a coaching platform dedicated to guiding individuals toward amicable divorce resolutions. Drawing from her personal experience of navigating a positive, amicable divorce, Tania emphasizes the importance of emotional healing before engaging in the legal process. She believes that with mindset management, self-love, and a clear vision of the future, an amicable divorce is attainable.
In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank Bevacqua, and Tania discuss the complexities of ending relationships, focusing on divorce but highlighting how the insights and tools shared can apply to all types of relationships.They emphasize that, although divorce may be common, it doesn’t have to be the adversarial battle many envision. They explore how to recognize when it might be time to end a relationship, address how certain emotions and thought patterns can perpetuate harm, and share tools to manage them. Tania also outlines her five-step process for achieving an amicable divorce.
“What if divorce is just another life transition, and we all deserve to have better and brighter futures.”
“If it’s my truth it’s just a thought, if it’s the truth that’s the fact.”
Follow the podcast:
Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h)
Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM)
Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE)
Resources:
Divorce Coaching - Better Than Bitter (TM)
Better than Bitter Podcast
LFPWLI series on intimacy with Dr. Elizabeth Fedrick
Connect with Mathew Blades:
Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades
Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/
Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/
Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/
Additional Credits:
LFPWLI is managed by IMS LLC
A note from our partner, Better Than Bitter:
Divorce isn’t just a life transition - it’s a full-blown identity shift. One day you’re a partner, a parent, and a planner for the future. The next? You’re staring at paperwork, lawyer fees, and the overwhelming question: ‘What now?’
I know it’s hard. That’s why we’ve created these courses - to give you courage, clarity, communication tools, and the support you need to move forward with confidence
(and maybe even a little hope)!
Reality check! Divorce is expensive - but battling in court is even more costly. For less than the price of an hour of an attorney’s time, you’ll gain the tools, support, and strategies to create a peaceful path forward. This program will pay for itself by helping you save thousands in legal fees and emotional stress! Hit these links to sign up today.
Premium 5-Step Game Plan Course w/ Chat Coaching
https://tanialeichliter.ontralink.com/t?orid=1049&opid=7
Standard Course 5-Step Game Plan Course
https://tanialeichliter.ontralink.com/t?orid=1049&opid=8

Monday Feb 17, 2025
Monday Feb 17, 2025
In this episode, you'll hear:
The physical and emotional toll cancer takes
The importance of mentors
How to react intelligently instead of emotionally
Tips to remember when going through tough times
The role of gratitude, honesty, and resilience
In this episode, Mathew and Ronnie sit down to discuss a remarkable journey of resilience and growth. Ronnie shares her experience as a Division 1 athlete and the mindset required for success, as well as the profound challenges of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis during the pandemic while living in the Middle East. Together, they explore how she approached cancer with intellect over emotion, embraced simplicity, and prioritized health through research, community support, and balanced habits. Ronnie also reflects on the pivotal role of faith in her recovery and how she now takes care of herself, embodying strength and perseverance.
Ronnie Laughlin is a breast cancer survivor, author, advocate, speaker, speech-language pathologist, and former Division I basketball player. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and faced treatment challenges living in the Middle East, far from her family. Drawing on her athletic determination, faith, and support from her "Tribe" of friends, she authored "An Atypical Journey: Facing Breast Cancer Alone in the Middle East with God and My Tribe," offering inspiration and guidance to others facing similar challenges.
“We’re always reinventing; and we’re not the same person we were yesterday, and we don’t know who we are going to be tomorrow.”
“You have a setback for a comeback.”
Follow the podcast:
Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h)
Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM)
Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE)
Resources:
Ronnie Laughlin Website
An Atypical Journey: Facing Breast Cancer Alone in the Middle East with God and My Tribe by V Ronnie Laughlin
LFPWLI: Umar Kankiya
LFPWLI: Johann Hari
LFPWLI: Ken Honda
Jeddah Saudi Arabia
Color Commentator
Connect with Mathew Blades:
Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades
Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/
Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/
Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/
Additional Credits:
LFPWLI is managed by Sam Robertson

Monday Feb 03, 2025
Harness Resilient Thinking and Rewrite Your Story with Hope Kelaher
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Harness Resilient Thinking and Rewrite Your Story with Hope Kelaher
In this episode, you'll hear:
How to harness resilience in relationships, breakups, and career challenges
The power of reframing perspectives and finding a balance between letting go and caring
Techniques to deepen personal awareness and break free from limiting narratives
Practical framework for setting and achieving meaningful goals with confidence
Hope Kelaher is a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in lower Manhattan, specializing in individual, couple, and family therapy. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Columbia School of Social Work, Hope brings over a decade of experience helping individuals and families navigate challenges like loss, addiction, trauma, and poverty. Her background includes roles at Children’s Aid and the Mental Health Association of New York City, where she worked extensively with children and adults facing serious mental health issues, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship challenges. Hope has advanced training from the Ackerman Institute for the Family, as well as certifications in Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Frank, and Hope discuss the transformative power of resilience, exploring how to build and resource it in the face of life’s challenges, including relationships, breakups, and career struggles. They discuss the importance of reframing perspectives, letting go without apathy, and gaining personal awareness to navigate adversity with strength. The conversation highlights how the narratives we tell ourselves can either propel us forward or keep us stuck, and introduces a practical framework for setting and achieving meaningful goals. Hope also shares insights from her new book, The Resilience Workbook for Women: A Transformative Guide to Discover Your Inner Strength, Conquer Adversity, and Achieve Your Goals, offering actionable strategies for growth and self-reliance.
“Fear and hope come from the same place, the unknown, and you get to choose.”
Follow the podcast:
Listen on Apple Podcasts (link: https://apple.co/3s1YH7h)
Listen on iHeart (link: https://ihr.fm/3MEY7FM)
Listen on Spotify (Link: https://spoti.fi/3yMmQCE)
Resources:
Hope Kelaher Website
Hope Kelaher Instagram
Dr. Frank Bevaqua
The Resilience Workbook for Women: A Transformative Guide to Discover Your Inner Strength, Conquer Adversity, and Achieve Your Goals by Hope Kelaher
Under the Tuscan Sun (Film)
Connect with Mathew Blades:
Twitter - twitter.com/MathewBlades
Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/
Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/
Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/
Additional Credits:
LFPWLI is managed by IMS LLC







