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 May 26, 2025
The Mirror Isn’t the Enemy with Karianne Munstedt
Monday May 26, 2025
Monday May 26, 2025
The Mirror Isn’t the Enemy with Karianne Munstedt
In this episode you’ll hear:
Strategies for finding self-acceptance with your body
Why the stories you tell yourself about your body might not be yours, & how to reclaim them
How body image impacts every aspect of your life, including your business
Karianne Munstedt is a Phoenix-based portrait photographer specializing in empowering corporate headshots, branding photography, boudoir photography, and family portraits. Her mission was sparked by a personal realization: she didn’t have any photos of herself for her website or social media. When she finally booked a photo session, she was confronted by the harsh, critical stories she had been telling herself about her body. But that session became a turning point. Her work emphasizes body positivity and self-acceptance, aiming to help women embrace their authentic selves through photography. By capturing genuine images, Karianne facilitates a mindset shift in her clients, fostering newfound confidence and self-love.
In this episode, Mathew and Karianne Munstedt dive deep into the emotional power of photography as a tool for transforming the stories we carry about our bodies. Designed for anyone who looks in the mirror with criticism or discomfort, this conversation explores how negative body image can impact not just your self-esteem but also how you show up in your personal and professional life. They unpack the role of societal messages, family influences, and social media in shaping how we see ourselves, and how we can begin rewriting that narrative. Kari shares actionable strategies to start working towards self-acceptance in order to break free from generational body shame and build a more compassionate view of your body. You’ll learn why working with a photographer can accelerate the journey to self-love and how headshots can transform your business presence. This episode is both practical and empowering, reminding you that the story in your head isn’t always yours, and it’s never too late to change it.
“I didn’t look at my body at all, I saw my soul…I saw not only who I was but who I was becoming.”
“It started... with a story that wasn’t even her own.”
“It’s going to feel awkward…untrue at first because we’ve been talking so negatively to our bodies and ourselves for so long…give it a week, give it two weeks, give it three weeks it’s going to start reprogramming your body and you're going to start showing up in different ways in this world.”
“It starts with us looking in the mirror and being kinder to ourselves.”
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:
Karianne Munstedt’s Website
Karianne Munstedt’s Instagram
Karianne Munstedt’s Facebook
Karianne Munstedt’s Pinterest
Karianne Munstedt’s Linkedin
Karianne Munstedt’s YouTube
Move The Needle episode with Kari: Podcast and YouTube
Insight: The Power of Self-Awareness in a Self-Deluded World by Tasha Eurich
I Needed That Podcast
Chris Powell
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 May 19, 2025
Exciting Event Announcement + Getting out of your head and into your heart
Monday May 19, 2025
Monday May 19, 2025
“I'm not here to save the world. I'm here to help people remember that they can save themselves.”
Here is the link to our FULLY ALIVE Retreat
In this episode, Mathew and Jeanette discuss the work she is doing at the Radiant Soul Center in Tempe, Arizona, and Jeanette takes one of her clients, Kate, through a healing session. We get to hear how they tap into and explore core false beliefs that are blocking the flow of energy, and how they are able to call in a source frequency to hold space for Kate’s inner child to step forward.
Jeanette St.Germain has been a healer her whole life and has been working in the space professionally for over 14 years. She helps her clients unravel things deep in their DNA, access the wisdom of their ancestors, and she teaches us there is no healing without relationships.
In this episode, you'll hear:
Ways to identify obstacles and tools to get around them
The benefit of understanding the why
How to know when you're in your head vs when you're in your heart
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)
Connect with the guest:
Jeanettestgermain.com
Jeanette St.Germain on Instagram
Jeanette St.Germain on Facebook
Resources:
HeartMath Institute
Ram Dass Love Serve Remember Foundation
Learn from People Who Lived It, Episode 9
Connect with Mathew Blades:
Instagram - instagram.com/MathewBladesmedia/
Facebook - facebook.com/mathewbladesmedia/
Website - learnfrompeoplewholivedit.com/

Monday May 12, 2025
From Struggles to Songs: Music and Resilience with Gene Moran
Monday May 12, 2025
Monday May 12, 2025
Turning Struggles into Songs: Music and Resilience with Gene Moran
In this episode, you'll hear:
The power of letting someone believe in you
The need for humor when facing hard times
How cerebral palsy isn’t the end—it just requires more creativity to overcome challenges
In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Dave Leicken, and Gene Moran dive into the creative process behind Gene’s songwriting and the deeper themes that shape his music. Born with cerebral palsy, Gene reflects on how his father instilled in him the belief that he was capable of doing hard things. Gene shares how he overcame his fear of looking foolish on stage and the transformative power of having someone believe in you. The conversation also highlights the role of humor in overcoming hardships and the importance of letting go of expectations to embrace personal growth.
Gene Moran is a singer-songwriter and musician based in Mesa, Arizona, born with cerebral palsy, which affects his fine and gross motor skills, Gene has developed a distinctive playing style that sets him apart. Before fully immersing himself in music, he dedicated 21 years to teaching 5th and 6th grade in public schools. Transitioning from the classroom to the stage, Gene has been involved in various musical projects, including Mean Gene and the Soul Scorchers, Rockin' Chair, The Blinding Suns, and Mean Gene and the Green Sardines. His songwriting resonates with everyday issues of poverty, addiction, despair, and love, delivered with an authenticity that reflects his personal experiences and resilience.
“You give off good energy, you get back good energy.” - Gene Moran
“There is a split where you could on the one hand embrace the disability and say well I can’t do this I can’t do that…then you end up limiting yourself but I think the right way to do it is the way your dad encouraged you is, how can we…you have to do things a little differently then other people but the hard ‘no’ isn’t there, you just have to find a way to make it work.” - Dr. Dave Leicken
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:
Gene Moran’s Website
Dead Man’s Guitar by Gene Moran
Dr. Dave Leicken
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 Apr 28, 2025
Humor, Healing, and Resilience with Elaine Lindsay
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Humor, Healing, and Resilience with Elaine Lindsay
In this episode, you'll hear:
How our belief system about ourselves is formed—and how to shift it
What it's like to live with suicidal ideation
Strength in accepting what you can and cannot change
In this episode, Mathew, Dr. Dave Leicken, and Elaine Lindsay explore the power of humor as a therapeutic tool, highlighting its ability to bring lightness to even the heaviest of struggles. They discuss the importance of beginning the healing process while emphasizing that it doesn’t have to follow a specific timeline. The conversation also delves into the realities of living with suicidal ideation, offering insights into navigating these challenges with compassion, resilience, and support.
Elaine Lindsay is a Canadian speaker, podcaster, and digital integration specialist dedicated to mental health advocacy, particularly suicide prevention and awareness. As the host of the Suicide Zen Forgiveness podcast, she fosters open and honest conversations to break the silence, stigma, and shame surrounding suicide loss, ideation, and mental health. Her personal journey is one of profound resilience—having lost a friend to suicide at 16, turned to substance use, and endured a life-altering car crash in her 20s that resulted in the loss of a pregnancy. Despite facing multiple personal losses and numerous surgeries, Elaine has found strength in community support, storytelling, and even humor. Writing for Medium and performing stand-up, she uses laughter as a healing tool, bringing a unique perspective to discussions on grief, trauma, and recovery.
“Don’t keep everything inside. You are not a one person army.” - Elaine Lindsay
“When you realize that some of these things are temporary, and the fact is, I lived through all that pain, I can go through one more thing.” -Elaine Lindsay
“If you can just keep moving forward and keep plowing through, things eventually settle down. And when you get on the other side of it, there is gold. There are lessons to be learned, and there are things you can draw out of the pain that make you stronger, wiser, better equipped to help other people going through it.” - Dr. Dave Leicken
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:
Elaine Lindsay Website
Suicide Zen Forgiveness Podcast by Elaine Lindsay
Elaine Lindsay Linkedin
Dr. Dave Leicken
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







