Ross Leppala - Podcast Details

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The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 108 - The Finale of Project UnchainED, The Shift!Ross Leppala, host of Project Unchained Podcast, reflects on the journey since starting in 2020, advocating for mental health through personal experiences. He announces the end of Project Unchained, revealing his new focus on launching The Intentional Athlete Podcast, inspired by a recent event. The new podcast will still cover mental health and well-being, but with an emphasis on how intentional training can elevate life experiences. This final episode marks the transition to the new project that aligns more closely with Ross's current passions and vision.Connect with your host Ross Leppala!Instagram: ross.leppala 2025-06-0413 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 107 - The Weaponization of LOVE!In this episode of the Project Unchained Podcast, host Ross Leppala discusses his recent busy schedule and shares his excitement about an upcoming event called the Intentional Athlete. He emphasizes the importance of deriving more than just physical gains from training, suggesting it should also benefit life beyond the platform. Ross then delves into the concept of 'the weaponization of love,' explaining how people on both sides of the political spectrum often misuse and manipulate the idea of love for their own agendas. He calls for a more genuine, inclusive expression of love that acknowledges and respects our...2025-04-2315 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 106 - From Fanaticism to Freedom: Navigating Levels of AttachmentIn this episode of the Project Unchained podcast, host Ross Leppala discusses the concept of self-care and personal growth through understanding and reducing levels of attachment, based on Don Miguel Ruiz Jr.'s book 'The Five Levels of Attachment.' Leppola uses sports analogies to explain the five levels: Authentic Self, Preference, Identity, Internalization, and Fanaticism. He emphasizes how high attachment levels cause disconnection and suffering in various aspects of life, including politics and religion. He encourages listeners to reduce attachment through awareness, fostering better human connection and self-authenticity. The episode concludes with a reminder to share the podcast...2025-02-0519 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 105 - Unchain Your Potential: The Power of IntentionIn this episode of the Project Unchained podcast, host Ross Leppala shares his journey of breaking free from self-limiting beliefs through self-care and intentional living. He emphasizes the importance of having a purposeful self-care regimen to improve life experiences. Ross discusses the definition of intention and how being intentional can lead to a life of joy, peace, and freedom. He highlights how his pursuit of powerlifting taught him to live more intentionally and introduces an event aimed at helping athletes train with intention. The episode concludes with reflections on philosophy and ethical intentions, encouraging listeners to take personal responsibility...2025-01-1513 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 104 - The Power of Why: Resolutions with PurposeIn this New Year's episode of the Project Unchained podcast, host Ross Leppala emphasizes the importance of setting intentional New Year's resolutions. He discusses how procrastination can lead to failure and the significance of having a strong 'why' behind each goal to push through hardships. Ross shares his personal experience of setting goals with his family, aiming for greater situational acceptance in 2025. He highlights the value of a support system and accountability in achieving these resolutions. Ultimately, Ross encourages listeners to be purposeful in their goal-setting and to share their goals with supportive communities. 2025-01-0112 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 102 - Navigating Difficult ConversationsIn this episode of the Project UnchainED podcast, host Ross Leppala discusses the importance of navigating difficult conversations for mental health and wellbeing. Ross shares insights into managing emotions, emphasizing the need to own one's feelings rather than projecting them onto others. He references Don Miguel Ruiz's 'The Four Agreements' to highlight the value of not taking things personally. Ross underscores understanding others' perspectives without attempting to change them and stresses the importance of letting people be who they are. The episode concludes with thoughts on balancing acceptance and connection in the face of disagreement and complex issues. 2024-12-1816 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 101 - Reflections of a 20 Yr. Journey with Pia MarangoniWe have a unique episode here for you. Host Ross Leppala joined Pia Marangoni on her podcast, Fiercely Fueled. This was a conversation following Ross's recent performance to become a Master World Champion of powerlifting. I thought it would be cool to share that episode here with you all as well. Guest host: Pia Marangoni IG: pia_marangoni Fiercelyfuelednutrition Podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/show/7J77El30bFjnlTFImc4Ux2?si=aa143f83fccd4ad2 Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...2024-11-201h 16

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 100 - The Role of Community in our HealingIn the milestone 100th episode of the Project Unchained podcast, host Ross Leppala reflects on the journey and the powerful impact of community and vulnerable conversations. He shares his personal experiences, including discussing his own mental health struggles and how connecting with others has been both rewarding and healing. Ross emphasizes the importance of deep, meaningful conversations with friends, family, and even strangers, and how these connections can significantly enhance our well-being. He encourages listeners to create and contribute to their communities and to seek those connections that foster healing and empowerment. Cultivate your sense of belonging...2024-10-0225 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 99 - How Intentional Connection Impacts Well-BeingIn this episode of the Project Unchained podcast, host Ross Leppala discusses the impact of personal and perinatal development on his life and parenting style. He shares insights on conscious and positive parenting, emphasizing the significance of creating a strong connection with one's child through intentional, undistracted quality time. Ross underscores the importance of applying these concepts to self-care, advocating for spending focused, intentional time with oneself to enhance mental health and self-knowledge. He uses examples from his own life, like weight training and woodworking, to illustrate how being present and intentional can fill one's emotional 'bucket' and contribute...2024-09-1816 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 97 - From Chaos to Clarity: Taming Your Inner VoicesIn this solo episode of the Project Unchained podcast, host Ross Leppala discusses the challenges of dealing with overwhelming mental chatter. He explains the impact of this inner dialogue on energy levels and emotional well-being. Ross shares three strategies to manage these thoughts: distinguishing between thoughts and thinking, practicing meditation, and journaling. He emphasizes that these tools may need to be used in combination and encourages listeners to experiment with them. By slowing down and organizing thoughts, one can better understand and take appropriate actions to move forward positively. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...2024-08-2117 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 90- Dad's Don't Babysit with Nate FeathersIt's not uncommon to men putting the majority of the parenting load on the mothers. IMO, this is one of the biggest contributors to the state of a poor mental well-being. Now, more than ever before, children need the dads everywhere to step up. That's what Nate Feathers is doing and showing other dads how to show up. Showing men around the world that dads don't babysit. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Nate Feathers Instagram @dads_dont_babysit Connect with your host Ross Leppala! ...2024-05-081h 24

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 89 - Breaking Down Cultural Barriers with John WangWhether done intentionally or not, our environment often influences our limitations in life. In particular, cultural conditioning. This occurs in many cultures across the world. When we walk the path of personal development and mental well-being, we begin to see those limitations. In this episode, John Wang (Big Asian Energy), talks about some of those cultural barriers he has worked past. While John speaks from an Asian lens, there is much to learn from those cultures that can help us all grow individually and collectively. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest John Wang Website https...2024-04-241h 30

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 88 - How Men CRY with Dxtr SpitsYou don't have to look far to find a man who has an unhealthy expression of their emotions. We express anger to appear aggressive, when it's really sadness that we're experiencing. This primarily because we have been taught to suppress ourselves. We must learn to break that pattern. We must learn how to cry, in a healthy way. That's what we're here to talk about with Dxtr Spits today. Connect with your Guest Dxtr Spits Instagram Dxtr Spits Dxtr's work : https://instabio.cc/dxtrspits Connect with your host...2024-04-031h 07

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 87 - Pursuit of Strength Beyond the Muscles with Paul OneidI'm joined by fellow strength coach Paul Oneid as he shares his journey with strength and personal development. Paul brings some really powerful perspectives to the table that I think will be very beneficial for most of you listening. Whether you are an avid lifter or not. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Paul Oneid Instagram: @pauloneid Youtube: Apauloneid_map Websites: www.masterathletic.comw ww.coachescorneru.com Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala F...2024-03-201h 18

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 86 - Curiously IntrospectiveIntrospection is a powerful tool in the world of personal development. Learning how to do that without harmful self-judgement is massively important. Let's explore how we can do that for ourselves! Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits: "Lost in the Woods" by Gaelynn Lea from the album "Learning How to Stay" Gaelynn Lea: Violin, Vocals Dave Mehling: Guitars, Keyboards, Orga...2024-03-0615 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 85 - Sticks and Stones!A common phrase that gets thrown out there to help people feel better is, "Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words may never hurt me." Having been on the receiving end of it, I can assure you that it is not effective. While well-intentioned, it falls short of being supportive. In this episode, I share a speech I gave on that very phrase. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com ...2024-02-2122 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 84 - Seeking Conscious Masculinity with Jim VanceFrom a life of limitations, to one of conscious masculinity. You can either let circumstances define you or you can choose to define you. That is a massive part of conscious masculinity, self defining how you choose to show up and participate in life. Stepping into a power that not only elevates your life, but all of those around you. Jim Vance shares his life details on how he created that shift for himself and countless other men. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your special guest, Jim Vance Instagram: the.conscious.man We...2024-02-071h 32

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 83 - Responding in the Midst of ChaosWe're all going to face chaotic situations in our life. It will almost certainly be a surprise when that moment happens as well. Learning how to respond and not react can make a considerable impact on the kinds of experiences we have. We all contribute to them. How do you want to contribute? Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits: "Lost in the Woods" by Gaelynn Lea 2024-01-2423 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 82 - Finding a Way Forward with Ashlei HandNo matter where you are in your life's journey, it is always worth finding your way forward. In this episode, we sit down with Ashlei Hand who shares her story. She shares with us some of the hardships she has face and how she has worked through them. She also gets vulnerable about some current things that she is working through. Which can be some of the toughest ways to be vulnerable. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your Guest Ashlei Hand Instagram: Ash - @savita_jalam Facebook: Ashlei...2024-01-101h 12

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 81 - From Shadow to Light: Transforming Trauma to Purpose with Evangelia KoiliakoudiLearning to shine the light on our darkest parts can be difficult work. It is, however, highly rewarding work as well. Special guest Evangelia Koilakoudi joins us to share her story of transformation. Learning to use those traumatic life events to guide her forward with purpose. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Evangelia Koilakoudi Facebook: Evangelia Koilakoudi Instagram: Evangelia Koilakoudi Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits...2023-12-271h 19

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 80 - Learning to Play on the EdgeSo many of us hold back in life. An avoidance of giving our best effort. Even in the simplest of tasks, we play small. There is this unconscious fear that keeps us from playing at our edges. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Most of which are false. We've got to learn to play past those fears. Playing at the edge of our ability. For it is there that provides us with more learning, growth, and joy than anywhere else. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram...2023-12-0615 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 79 - Musical Healing for the Soul with Maggie BaughMusician Maggie Baugh has been advocating for suicide awareness for several years now. She's found healing through her journey with music. Having overcome suicide at a young age, Maggie now seeks to share her story and create awareness. Supporting people's healing with her inspirational music and story. Join us as we learn more about Maggie and how she has transformed her life with music. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Maggie Baugh Website: https://maggiebaugh.com/ Instagram: maggie_baugh Con...2023-11-2255 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 78 - Why the Path of Growth is Lonely at Times.It's not uncommon for a person to experience a bout of loneliness when walking the path of growth & change. Most people will experience that at some point in that journey. It's simple....others are often threatened by your change. When that happens, you have two choices. Remain the same for their safety. Or, walk away from that friendship that is like your other limitations. No longer serving you to be your best self! Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala 2023-11-0821 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp 77. - Cultivating Connection over Seeking ApprovalOne of the most important things we can do is focus on connection with people. What can we do to cultivate connection? That is far more important than gaining the approval of others. Approval-seeking will lead you to people-pleasing tendencies, which do not help create any sustainable connection with another person. Whether it be in a romantic setting, platonic or professional. Connecting with the person is more valuable, to everyone, than approval. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Lep...2023-10-2526 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 76 - Living the Self-Care Philosophy for Generations with Dr. FalamiLearning to live a life of self-care is an important step to one's own wellness. Having those rituals in place is what cultivates your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. What is really amazing is when a person embodies such a practice, they are then able to pass it along. Creating generational self-care. That IS the path toward generational healing. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your Guest Dr. Falami Instagram: the_selfcareritualist Website: https://www.drfalami.com/ Connect with your...2023-10-121h 03

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 75 - The HARD Truth about the FEAR of FailureIt is not uncommon for a person to fear failure. Unfortunately, those fears often drive us to play small and shrink. There is no meaning or purpose to life when we participate in such a small way. It's important that we learn how to step forward and lean into those fears. One of the most powerful ways we can do that is by seeking to hold a better understanding of the origins of said fear. In this episode, we're going to hit the hard truth many of us avoid with our fears. Tune in and learn what that truth...2023-09-2722 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 74 - Cultivating Emotional Intelligence with Jenny WooIt's important that we learn to understand that we can all cultivate emotional intelligence. It is a skill and like any skill, we can increase our level of ability with it. That's what Jenny Woo does. She creates tools that can help us increase our emotional intelligence. Doing that can do amazing things for the quality of our life experiences. Join us as we explore a bit of Jenny's life and her tools for developing emotional intelligence. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Jenny Woo Instagram: @mi...2023-09-131h 21

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 73 - The Intersection of Mental Well-Being and Nutrition with Meryl BinderThe state of our mental well-being has links to all areas of our life. Including our nutrition, eating choices, and body images. Special guest Meryl Binder is here to share some of her life experiences with us. Having overcome some body dysmorphia limitations to now empower others through sustainable nutrition habits, we can learn more about that intersection of mental well-being and nutrition. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Meryl Binder Instagram: merylcbc Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala ...2023-08-301h 00

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 72 - Adding Value with a Go Giver Mentality with Bob BurgBob Burg is the author of the Go-Giver series. Which is a fantastic series of books that can help guide people towards being successful entrepreneurs. There are a lot of great stories in the series that are also highly related to mental health. The model's central premise is to add value, not a sale. When we look at this through a mental well-being lens, there are a lot of correlations. Additionally, it's essential to be mentally grounded so that we can seek to add value. When we seek to add value to the experiences of others, we end up...2023-08-1635 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 71 - What IS Healing in Any Case?We often hear people talk about their healing or healing journeys, but what is that exactly anyways? How does a person actually go on such a journey? It's not like you can hop in your car and drive there. Let's unpack a bit of what that is and what it can look like for people. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music cred...2023-08-0218 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 70 - Live as Often as you Can with Nathan BaxerWe'll never know what challenges will come up in our lives. Some will be seemingly insignificant, whiles others will seem overwhelmingly against you. That has a big influence on our special guest, Nathan Baxter. He's helped lots of people face some extreme loneliness. Even while having to fight some of his own battles. Nathan's mantra, Live as Often as You Can, helps him when times are tough. This was an emotional episode that we sincerely hope adds value to your journey. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Nathan Baxter Websit...2023-07-191h 29

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 69 - Re-Discovering Yourself through Expansive Intimacy with Jim YoungWhen most people think of intimacy, they think of a romantic relationship. Intimacy plays an important role in many relationships, including the one with yourself. KNOWING yourself deeply. EXPRESSING your most authentic self requires intimacy with yourself. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Jim Young Website: www.thecenteredcoach.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/thecenteredcoach Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music cre...2023-07-051h 14

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 68 - Stop Being a Push Over! Establish BoundariesNice guy, people pleasing, and other behaviors like that all share one thing in common. They lack boundaries. A lack of boundaries will lead to a person continuously giving themselves away to circumstances they don't want to. Allowing people to 'use' them and more. Learning how to establish boundaries is critical to your well-being. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits: "Lost...2023-06-2123 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 67 - Advocating for Teen Mental Health Starts at Home with Lainie LibertiThe teenage years can be difficult to navigate for people. Our teens face some significant mental health challenges from many places. Lainie Liberti does a lot of work with teens to help empower their mental well-being. She also works with parents to help support them in their roles with their teens. This is especially important. We as parents are in a position that has considerable influence on how a person develops. It's important that we show up in a conscious way. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Lainie Liberti ...2023-06-071h 19

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 66 - Navigating the Limitations of Shame & GuiltShame and guilt can be some incredibly powerful feelings. There are lots of places we see in our society where they are used from a place of good intentions. Yet, they create life long patterns of limitations. In this episode, we're going to explore that a bit and see how that came to impact our lives in a limiting way. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro...2023-05-2420 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 65 - Healing Through Motherhood with Danielle CoboBecoming a parent is simultaneously one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences. It presents with it, a massive opportunity for healing our unconscious wounds. There is a lot of that in Danielle Cobo's experiences. She shares with us many of her hardships and triumphs. How becoming a mother has empowered her to become the best version of herself yet. Check out this episode today! Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠ Positive Parenting Solutions Connect with your guest Danielle Cobo Instagram: thedaniellecobo Website: www.DanielleCobo.com Po...2023-05-101h 01

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP 64. Mental Health is the REAL Work Place Safety with Vince HafeliThe construction industry has one of the highest rates of suicide of any industry in the US. WHY? In this episode, we break that down with suicide survivor Vince Hayfeli. Vince has been working hard to create a cultural shift in the construction industry and he shares his story with us here. Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠⁠ Connect with your guest Vicne Hayflei Website: https://vincehafeli.com/ TEDx Discussing Mental Health and Suicide in Construction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrNdAT2vuaI Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theaklep...2023-04-261h 06

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 63 - Authenticity is a Pre-Requisite of TrustTrust can only exist through our authentic expression. To express ourselves authentically is to trust ourselves. The only way trust can exist with others is through trust in ourselves. This isn't about agreeing with people. This is about TRUST! Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠ Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits: "Lost in the Woods" by Gaelynn Lea from the album "Learning How...2023-04-1220 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 62 - Embracing Disability, Mental Health, and Personal Growth with Gaelynn LeaGaelynn Lea has faced more hardships and limitations than most people, yet she has done some incredible things with her life. In this episode, we explore a few of those limitations and how she's been able to overcome them on her journey. She is an incredible human who makes the world a better place. She is also the creator of the music for this podcast. Join us as we embark on a bit of her story! Cultivate your sense of belonging with ⁠7-Days of Belonging⁠ Project UnchainED YouTube Connect with your...2023-03-291h 14

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp 61 - The Most Important Relationship of your LifeAll around us, we have different relationships promoted to us. Society tells us through different methods that being married is important. That having thousands of friends and followers is important. Unfortunately, there isn't much promotion of the most important relationship we can ever have. Which I think is a major contributing factor to the overall poor mental well-being of our society. What is that relationship? Tune in and find out! Cultivate your sense of belonging with 7-Days of Belonging Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Em...2023-03-1531 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 60 - Dads Cultivating Mental Well-Being for their Kids with Newton ChengOur kids will benefit from their dads stepping up to the plate for them. In this episode, host Ross Leppala sits down with special guest, Newton Cheng, to talk about some ways in which we dads can learn to show up better for our kids. We set the tone for their mental well-being. Our actions and the ways we handle life will have a direct impact on their self-worth. Join us as we work towards greater depths of growth for ourselves and our kiddos. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with our guest Newton Cheng Instagram: Newton Cheng Connect with your host Ross...2023-03-011h 28

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 59 - How Attachment Creates Disconnection, Suffering, and DeathWhether we are aware of it, we all experience varying degrees of attachment. Often times those attachments develop into unhealthy levels. Our beliefs or ideas block out the ability to see different perspectives. I'm right, you're wrong! This leads to disconnection from ourselves and others at best. Attachments are at the core of unnecessary pain and suffering around the world. Attachment is what leads us to create enemies. We're so entrenched in a belief that we can no longer comprehend how anyone can think differently. At its worse, this is exactly what leads to war! There becomes this 'ne...2023-02-1522 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 58 - The REVOLUTION is YOU with Jason LeenaartsPeople experience all different kinds of hardships in life. Some are difficult to understand how they can be impacting us at the moment. We may not realize how formative different kinds of events are for us. Especially if we're not cultivating awareness along the way. Many of us, cultivate that year after the fact and are then forced to examine our lives in retrospect. Exploring the revolutionary life of Jason Leenaarts shares some of those commonalities. Jason has done an amazing job overcoming some significant adversity in his life. Doing so now in a way that empowers others to live re...2023-02-011h 13

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 57 - Learning How to Take the Mask Off with Ashanti BranchWe all have those parts of us that we try to hide from the world. Depending on the situation we are in, will influence which part or parts we show. While there are times this can benefit us, this can also lead to denying parts of ourselves. In that space, we create inner turmoil. Special guest, Ashanti Branch, has been working hard to support you people, men in particular, with a safe space to express themselves fully. In that expression of full self, we can avoid the slippery slope of suppression. 7-Days of Belonging Connect with y...2023-01-181h 17

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 56 - When Life Punches you, How do you Respond?Life is GOING to punch you. Constantly. There is no bell ring to save you. It is going to keep coming at you. The only way to defend yourself is to punch back. How do you do that? How do you punch back at something that isn't physically there? In this episode, your host Ross Leppala will lead you through the process on how to punch back! 7-Days of Belonging Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Out...2023-01-0420 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 55 - People Pleasing - The Road to FreedomIn this episode, your host, Ross Leppala, talks about people-pleasing tendencies. What they look like, how they reduce the level at which we experience things, and how to move past them. At their core, people-pleasing tendencies come from some underlying insecurities. They led us to behave in ways that are lacking authenticity. This reduces any connection we share with the people we meet and the things we do in life. Being able to move beyond them will add value to your life and to those who are meant to be around you. 7-Days of Belonging Connect...2022-12-2125 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 54 - Putting OCD Behavior Behind you with Ryan NolanIn this episode host, Ross Leppala, sits down to talk with special guest Ryan Nolan to talk about his struggles and ultimate triumphs with OCD behavior. OCD behavior is something that can limit many people all over the world, but it's also something that we can overcome! Through learning how to deconstruct irrational beliefs and create acceptance for things outside of your control, a person does have the ability to leave OCD behavior behind them. What is really amazing about this episode, is the same methods to overcome OCD behaviors are the same methods we can all use to inc...2022-12-071h 07

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 53 - Unschooling Principals for LIFE with Dr. Vanessa GaleJoin your host, Ross Leppala, and special guest, Dr. Vanessa Gale as they reflect on some important principles from the book Radical Unschooling. These principles profoundly impact a young child's development in ways that we believe set them up for lifelong mental well-being. The Belonging Blueprint! Connect with Vanessa Gale Instagram: prettystronglife Connect with your host Ross Leppala: Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits: "Lost in the Woods" by Gaelynn Lea ...2022-11-2355 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 52 - Shifting the Parenting Paradigm for Connection with Dayna MartinWhether we want to admit it or not, a lot of our hardships are often created at home. Even in a loving home. In this episode your host, Ross Leppala, and special guest, Dayna Martin talk about some different ways of parenting that can create a deeper bond/connection between parent and child. That connection can be a very impactful way to empower our youth toward a state of mental well-being. Dayna is an author, speaker, midwife, mother, and light in this world of parenting. She brings to the table a ton of experience and perspectives that empower parents to co...2022-11-091h 23

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 51 - From Social Anxiety, to Professional Public Speaker with Marcus BalesMarcus Bales is a professional public speaker and author. He uses his experiences of overcoming social anxiety to fuel his own ways of guiding others to being and to speak and show up in the world how they would like to. I'm incredibly excited to share this episode with you all as Marcus has a lot of value to add to our abilities and overcoming various social pressures. Connect with your Guest: Marcus Bales Website: https://www.thespeechadviser.com/ The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ros...2022-10-261h 24

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 50 - Using Brian Science to Create YOUR Life!While there is no denying that we are influenced by the environment and people that we are around, there is also the ability to create yourself in the image that you want. Thanks to the neuroplasticity of the brain, we are able to 'wire' and 're-wire' the neural pathways in our brain that connects neurons. This can have a significant influence on the ways we think, behave, and form habits. In this episode, we're going to talk about some of the science behind it and how we can use that to wire our brains in ways that are incredibly pow...2022-10-1223 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 49 - Define your Self-Worth with Internal ValidationA lot of people tend to get their sense of worth through their accomplishments. Those various things that get them all the attention and atta boys from the crowd create their sense of self-worth. This is very common. It was something that gave me a great deal of hardship for many years. Seeking that external validation is fleeting. No matter how great the accomplishment is, it will always be temporary and you'll be left CHASING it if you are not able to internally validate and define your self-worth from within. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your h...2022-09-2828 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 48 - Growing through Behavioral Change Intervention with Daniel DebrockeToday we're going to chat with coach Daniel Debrocke. Daniel shares some of his life experiences and how they have brought him to where he is today. A lot of what he does is help people work on their nutrition and fitness by addressing behavior changes with various tactics. Many of these tactics can be applied in applications that can help support the growth and development of someone's mental strength and fortitude. A strong body is not as capable if it does not also have a strong mind controlling it. Click here for more information on The Belon...2022-09-141h 23

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 47 - How Your Complacency is Reducing the Quality of your LifeIt's completely understandable that we seek to live a comfortable life. Comfortable in having a nice home, steady job, food on the table, and all of those sorts of things. However, too much comfort will lead to our complacency. Nothing will dull your life experience like complacency. In fact, I think it's a killer that we either continue to choose to participate in or choose to make some changes in our life and accept a high level of personal responsibility. Break free from the habits of comfort and grow! The Belonging Blueprint Connect with y...2022-08-3120 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 46 - Ascending the Apex from Substandard Living with Nick ChontosToday we are going to dive deep with the author of Apex Masculinity, Nick Chontos. Nick shares the story of his troubled past that led him to deal with his hurt and trauma with substance abuse. After several years of methanphedamine abuse and multiple trips to jail, we're going to learn how Nick was able to turn his life around to find ways in living a life he can be proud of. He learned to climb the career ladder, love and care for his family, and be a man living a life to a high standard, an APEX standard, and he...2022-08-171h 29

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 45 - Your Resistance to Self Creates your LimitsAnytime your resist leaning into who you are, you create a limit on your life. You create that limit. This means you can break that limit down and open the door to grander ideas of thinking, creating, and being. Stop playing small and step up to this episode's challenge of breaking down your resistance to yourself. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits: "Lost in the Woods" by Gael...2022-08-0316 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 44 - Knowing yourself to Love yourself with Marina GarciaIt doesn't seem to be uncommon that people don't really know who they are. This can often block a person from being connected with themselves. That theme rings strong in this special guest episode with Marina Garcia. Marina shares her story of overcoming some difficulties in her family life and abusive relationships that left her hurting and disconnected from herself. As she was able to get to know herself again, that is when she was finally able to start to love herself again. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your guest Marina Garcia Instagram: @marix...2022-07-201h 18

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 43 - Your Trigger is your Guide, and your Responsibility!You don't have to go far in the world today to find someone who is triggered! It happens, seemingly all too easily. What do you do with that? If we are more conscious of that, we can understand that it is there to guide us. When we take responsibility for the said trigger, we create a deeper understanding of our own hurt and pain. That awareness is what helps lead us to heal and change. Bring some awareness to your triggers and you'll find more conscious ways to interact with them. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with yo...2022-07-0622 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 42 - Finding the Path Forward with Mike TuchschererHave you ever been sidelined from participating in something you love? Or something you are REALLY good at? Eventually, on a long enough time scale, we all will face that adversity. When it happens, we often find ourselves in the think of an identity crisis. In this episode, we talked with RTS founder, Mike Tuchscherer about how he managed his time away from a sport he loved and his return to it. This podcast is sponsored by: The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your guest Mike Tuchscherer Instagram: miketuchsherer Connect with your host...2022-06-221h 08

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 41 - How can we Understand Senseless Acts of ViolenceSenseless acts of violence have become an unfortunate part of our lives. They come in many different forms and are so impactful to anyone who is involved in them. So impactful in fact that it can create generational wounds that carry on for many years beyond the event. The lasting impact and effects of such events can lead to more pain, hurt and suffering than many of us can comprehend. How can we make sense of such happenings? How can we move forward? How can we create a better future for our kids and their kids? Let me share some of my t...2022-06-0842 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 40 - Creating a Culture of Support for Mental Health with Newton ChengWhat a great conversation to be able to record and share with people. My friend Newton Cheng is a high-level leader who oversees a mental health program for the employees of one of the most influential technology companies on the planet. We talk a lot about how he employees the program, asks the tough questions that get ignored, and share a lot about his personal life and mental well-being. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with our guest Newton Cheng Instagram: Newton Cheng Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.lep...2022-05-251h 27

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 39 - Are you Frozen by the F.E.A.R. of Failure?So many people are stifled by the fear of failure. This results in being frozen and lacking action to move forward in life. Complacency and stagnation follow. It doesn't have to be this way though. That fear is something that can be dismantled and broken down. When we do that, we create the power and confidence within ourselves to take that action. To take that risk. To break free from those figurative chains that hold you back in life! Let's break that fear down together! The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagr...2022-05-1128 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 38 - How a Healing Mother Supports her Son with Beth SyversonBeth Syverson has embarked on her healing journey to be better able to support her struggling son. As she discovered her son was struggling with substance abuse issues and suicide ideations, she knew she needed to find a way to support him. In that, she discovered that the best way to support him was to work on her own mental health and well-being. In this episode, Beth shares about her ongoing journey as she works hard to support her son through a rough patch in his life. Connect with Guest Beth Syverson: Podcast: https://anchor.fm/s...2022-04-2759 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEP. 37 - Are you Contracting or Expanding?As the laws of physics state, an object in motion stays in motion. In other words, there is no such thing as a steady state. We are either going to be actively contracting or expanding. If you don't know what you are doing, you are likely contracting. Which is going to limit your life experiences. In this episode, I talk about a few ideas and concepts that will help you actively and intentionally expand yourself and your life. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Lep...2022-04-1322 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 36 - Healing from the Loss of a Son with John Alan ReeseIn this episode, my dear friend, John Alan Reese, shares with me what it has been like to lose his son to a drug overdose. It's never easy for a parent to outlive one of their kids. Most parents view that as one of the worst experiences possible. That can be even harder to cope with when that kid is taken at a younger age. John shares with us how he manages to find his path forward, raising awareness and supporting others along the way. Using his hardship as a way to create meaning, purpose and belonging in his life...2022-03-301h 09

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 35 - The First Woman you will Ever Love!In the last episode, I was fortunate to connect with my mother in a way I had not ever done. It was incredibly powerful for me to learn about events that caused pain and hurt in my mom's soul. That's something that has allowed me to connect and heal in deeper ways that I had not yet experienced. Our mothers are the first woman we will love. Healing those mother wounds are fucking powerful. Join me as I share some of mine with you as I hope this helps you with yours! The Belonging Blueprint Connec...2022-03-1625 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 34 - Connecting with Generational Wounds with Debbie LeppalaGet your tissues ready as we have my mom, Debbie Leppala on the show to talk about how she's experienced this podcast and get into some of the hardships that she has faced in her lifetime. It was incredibly powerful to sit down with my mom and have a vulnerable and honest conversation. She shared with me a few things I was unaware that she had experienced and I can see how those things have impacted aspects of my life. The Belonging Blueprint! Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala F...2022-03-021h 05

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 33 - Healing the Sister Wounds and Reflections of our RelationshipIn the last episode, I sat down with my sister, Jessica Leppala, to talk about the journey that led her down a path of substance abuse and then on to become an alcohol and drug counselor. It was an incredibly emotional episode for both of us and we both walked away from that experience connected in ways that we had not ever felt. It was so incredibly healing for both of us to have that conversation. In this episode, I am going to reflect more about that experience and some events leading up to that from my perspective. Je...2022-02-1627 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 32 - From Overdose to Alcohol and Drug Counselor with Jessica LeppalaI hope you are ready for an emotional episode here! Today, host Ross Leppala, has his sister, Jessica Leppala, on the show to talk about some of her life stories. For many years Jessica struggle with substance abuse that nearly took her life. Now after nearly a decade of sobriety, she has turned her experiences into a gift to help others overcome their battles with addictions. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with special guest Jessica Leppala! Facebook: Jessica Leppala Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Face...2022-02-021h 09

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 31 - What Emotional Invalidation can look like and how to Overcome it!In this episode, your host, Ross Leppala, dives in on some conversation around what emotional invalidation can look like. Particularly as a young kid who is already struggling with understanding their emotions. I specifically talk about a few ways that I experienced as a kid growing up and how that showed up later on in my life where I can often struggle to connect with my emotions. A perspective that I hold is that most of our mental health issues come from a lack of emotional intelligence. Being emotionally invalidated is a huge contributing factor to a lack of emot...2022-01-1932 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 30 - The Healing Journey to Sobriety with Ashley WillAll too often in our culture, we learn to cope with our life's struggle by methods of suppression. That suppression can grow as we get older and develop into life-impacting addictions. In this episode your host, Ross Leppala, has a special guest, Ashely Will, join him to share her story and road to recovery. Ashely gets vulnerable about her past life where she struggles to cope with various events that sent her down a path of alcohol abuse. After much loss and heartache, she was able to find the help that she needed to get her life back on her...2022-01-051h 13

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 29 - The Gift of VulnerabilityThere is a lot of misunderstanding around the idea of vulnerability. Many people think it is a weakness, but in reality, it takes more strength to be vulnerable. It's "easy" to close down and hide your truth, but that also comes at a great cost. Your inner peace! Prior to recording the last episode with my friend Matthew Bivens, we were chatting about vulnerable conversations and how as we grow, it becomes easier to have vulnerable conversations about the past, but can still be challenging to have current moment vulnerability. In this episode, I'm going to talk about the ideas...2021-12-2234 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 28 - Choosing Love over Fear with Matthew BivensYour host, Ross Leppala, sits down with special guest, transformational specialist Matthew Bivens. In this episode, we talk about how Matthew has transformed his life from being driven by fear to leaning in and choosing love. Matthew works with people all over the place to help them live an abundant, loving, life after finding his own way to having it all. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with Matthew Bivens Website: https://www.matthewbivens.com/coaching/ Email: matthew@matthewbivens.com Podcast: https://podcast.matthewbivens.com/ Connect with your host Ros...2021-12-081h 28

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 27 - Project UnchainED 1 Year SpecialWhat an incredible year it has been for the Project UnchainED podcast. It has been an incredible journey and your host, Ross Leppala, has some special giveaways here to celebrate this occasion. He also flips the script a bit on this episode and does things a bit differently. Check it out and find out how you can enter the cash prize giveaway! The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits: "...2021-11-2449 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 26 - Exploring Self-Limiting BeleifsMore often than not, our limits are created by our thoughts. Things that we believe to be true, end up limiting our experiences in life. That is a huge part of why Project Unchained is here in the first place! We want to find those limiting beliefs and break free from them. Breaking free from those figurative chains that keep us down in life. Join me as we find and explore more ways to live unchained! The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala ...2021-11-1032 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 25 - Shedding the Happiness Roadblocks with Paul CliftonJoin your host, Ross Leppala, and special guest Paul Clifton as he shares his story of a traumatized childhood that kept happiness at bay for him for many years. It was until many years later that Paul had the realization that he wasn't happy even with all the good things that were happening in his life. Still carrying with him those open wounds from his youth, Paul sought therapy to help mend those wounds and find a happier more joy-filled version of himself. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with special guest Paul Clifton! Instagram: paul...2021-10-271h 17

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 24 - Let's Talk About Acceptance!In this episode your host, Ross Leppala jams on some ideas around acceptance. Specifically around the idea of accepting people for where they are at, even when that is different than where you are at. There is a lack of acceptance running rapid in the world today and it's a steaming pile of shit! It's a bit of a bully mentality to expect others to think, talk and believe like you. It's also a sign that someone is hurting inside, in their soul, when they are unable to accept a person for who they uniquely are. What blocks us from...2021-10-1335 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 23 - Take your Power Back!One of the greatest shifts that can come from a healing journey is connecting to your own personal power and learning how to no longer give that away. Nothing will cause us more emotional struggle and hardship during the course of our lives than that of our constant power struggle with it. Particularly the power struggle of not showing up and speaking out the truth. Being scared to say what we think or believe in a moment for fear of judgment. Agreeing to perform a favor that we don't actually want to be doing. Two very common ways we give...2021-09-2936 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 22 - Empowering our Children with Dr. Vanessa GaleJoin your host, Ross Leppala, and his life partner, Dr. Vanessa Gale as they talk about some super amazing tools and techniques they have learned during their journey as parents. These tools and techniques will help empower your children. Empowered children make empowered choices. Choices that set them up for success in life and allow them to flow with ease. Something that was missing from my life during many tough times of poor mental health. We've got to empower our children! The Belonging Blueprint Resources: The Conscious Parent: Positive Parenting Solutions: https...2021-09-1557 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 21 - Why do our Children Continue to be Bullied?In this episode, your host Ross Leppala talks about what he thinks is ultimately happening to our kids and why they are continually subjected to bully-like behavior. It's something many of us have endured and something many of our children endures. WHY? With all the anti-bully campaigns out there, why does this continue to happen? The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro and Outro music credits: "Lost in the Woods" by Gaelynn Lea 2021-09-0156 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 20 - Being a High Performer with Shaina RecordIn this episode, host Ross Leppala talks with one of his powerlifting clients and mental performance guru, Shaina Record. Shaina brings a lot of great perspectives to the table when dealing with mental adversity and how to be a high performer in life and athletic pursuits. As she was surrounded by high performers, having to find ways to navigate her self-imposed pressures in order to find success in her own path. With an educational emphasis on performance enhancement, she's got the skills to help people break free of those self-limiting thoughts and behaviors. Having worked with a plethora of dif...2021-08-181h 18

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 19 - Why is it a Healing Journey?Even wonder why they call it a healing journey? When do we become healed? Is it even possible to become 'healed'? In this episode host, Ross Leppala talks about some of his perspectives on why it's a journey and not a destination. What it would take or rather what it would look like to become truly healed. A concept that to him seems like a fairly far stretched idea when we consider the amount of trauma we face on a regular basis. Not to mention the extreme trauma created at large with war, depression, slavery, and other severe...2021-08-0439 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 18 - A Talk with MY Life Coach - Mim ChapmanIn this episode, your Host Ross Leppala is joined by his life coach, Mim Chapman. Ross worked with Mim back in 2015 when he first sought help to work on his own mental health. Mim is a true joy and light in the world having worked with countless people and couples with her personal life coaching. They talk about some of Mim's personal stories and many ways in which she has helped empower people and couples to have more fulfilling life experiences! The Belonging Blueprint Connect with Mim Chapman Website: http://mimchapman.com/ Em...2021-07-211h 11

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 17 - How Athletes benefit from Self-CareAthletes constantly grind on the physical preparations for their sport. They also often prepare their mind for their field of play. But what are you/they doing to help themselves as a person? We see athletes fail and it is often a result of their failure to care for the person. We are people first and athletes second. When we see high-level athletes have failed careers due to off-the-field issues, that's the person failing to make elevated choices. In this episode, Ross shares part of his recent journey with the USA Powerlifitng Raw National Championships and how his se...2021-07-0738 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 16 - A Therapists Healing Journey with Amanda RizoIn this episode, Ross sits down with Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Amanda Rizo. We talk about her healing journey and recovery from some significantly lift limiting aspects from sexual trauma to anorexia. It was during her therapy in college that inspired her to change her academic focus from music to becoming a therapist. Seeing the value it added to her life, she wanted to do the same for others. Now, she is here to add that value to your life in this podcast episode! The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Inst...2021-06-231h 07

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 15 - What is you Self-Talk like?How do you talk to yourself? How do you talk about yourself? Have you struggled with this before? I know that it was a gigantic mess of thought in my head for far too many years. In this episode, I share about what that does for how you show up in the world and give some practical guidance for how to create the shift in your self-talk today! The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Intro...2021-06-0930 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 14 - Internal Validation with Ian BellWe often struggle to find our place in the world. A big part of that struggle can come from seeking external validation, approval from others. That is a sure-fire way to have mental hardships in our journey of life. In this episode, world champion powerlifter Ian Bell talks about his healing journey and the significant role of what finding internal validation has done for him in his life. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your guest Ian Bell Instagram: iandeadlifts Facebook: Ian Bell Powerlifter Connect with your host Ross Leppala! 2021-05-261h 24

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 13 - My Experience with Conquering AnxietyWe all have moments of anxiety. Depending on where we are at in our journey, sometimes we are even crippled by that feeling. In this episode, I share with you some of my experiences and struggles with anxiety in my past. How I was able to overcome and more importantly, how it's shaped the way I view anxiety in the present day! The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com Connect with Connor Ryan Inst...2021-05-1239 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 12 - Overcoming Suicide Ideation with Bryce LewisSuicidal thoughts are not uncommon. What is uncommon is our ability to have a conversation about it. Part of Project Unchain{ED} is aimed at helping create safe spaces for people to talk about their struggles. In this episode, IPF World Champion powerlifter, Bryce Lewis opens up with me about a dark time in his life where he thought about what it would be like to die. We also hit on what action and work he did to help himself work through that dark time in his life that helped him get his headspace right again! The Belongin...2021-04-281h 07

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 11 - Learning to have a different ConversationLet's have a different conversation.....about race! Conversations about race are incredibly uncomfortable, which is exactly why we ought to have more meaningful conversations about it. Why on a mental health podcast? Because your discomfort is a sign you have work to do on yourself and this is a way to do just that. So let's dig in and have a different conversation about race, especially us white people who avoid them the most as many studies have shown. When we show up better when we show up where it's uncomfortable.....we grow, expand and elevate our life experience. ...2021-04-141h 02

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 10 - Reconnecting to Indigenous Roots with Connor RyanIn this episode, I get to talk with mental health advocate and professional skier, Connor Ryan. Connor talks about his personal and ancestral traumas and how reconnecting to his Hunkpapa Lakota roots has played a pivotal role in his mental health and healing journey. I've really enjoyed connecting with Connor on a few occasions and have personal found some of his perspectives highly beneficial to my own self-care regimen. The Belonging Blueprint Indian Horse Film: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Horse_(film) Connect with your host Ross Leppala! Instagram: ross.lep...2021-03-311h 18

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 9 - The Freedom in AuthenticityWe often struggle to be authentic as we do things to gain social approval. This often results in actions & behaviors that don't align with our most authentic selves. We become trapped in pleasing others while sacrificing who we are, creating more distance from being free. Your freedom resides in your ability to be the most authentic version of yourself. I've come to a place in my life where I have found how freeing it is to just be yourself! To just be authentically you, whoever that is, just be that. The Belonging Blueprint Connect with your h...2021-03-1742 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 8 - The Power of PerspectivePerspective is powerful! Perspective drives your reality. In this episode, I'm going to go in on perspective and what that does for us. How our perspectives shape our reality and what we CAN do to have an elevated experience with our reality by simply changing our perspective. This is something you are capable of doing as you learn how to tap into that! As we shift our perspectives, we're able to engage life with high levels of energy. We come from a place of the higher self, a critical component in breaking free from those figurative chains that hold you ba...2021-03-0342 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 7 - Enhancing Your Perspective with Matt VincentIn this episode, your host, Ross Leppala, chats with his friend Matt Vincent. Matt shares where some of his struggles hit him hard mentally, emotionally, and physically. How his father's death impacted his vision for his own life and then dealing with his athletic career being cut short after several failed surgeries. Through that journey, he's found the use of medicinal plants to help open his mind to more perspective that has elevated his life experience. As Matt puts it, "I want to rad shit with rad people." The Belonging Blueprint! Connect with our special guest, Ma...2021-02-171h 08

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 6 - When Life gets Hard?In this episode, I share a story with you all about a defining moment in my healing journey. A moment when things got really hard and painful. A moment that I had to make a choice; continue work on healing myself or fall back into my victim mentality. It was one of the hardest and most defining moments of my life! Moving forward from that time has been incredibly impactful in my journey and how I look at things today. The Belonging Blueprint! Connect with your host Ross Leppala: Instagram: ross.leppala Fac...2021-02-0338 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 5 - Awareness with Dr. Vanessa GaleJoin your host, Ross Leppala, and special guest, Dr. Vanessa Gale as they talk about the experiences that had her living a life limited from shame and guilt. We cover some of her healing and she shares with you all some various tools that help increase your awareness in ways that will benefit your healing journey. All with the ultimate intention to help us increase our life experience! The Belonging Blueprint! Connect with Vanessa Gale Instagram: prettystronglife Body Breath Workshop: https://drvanessagale.kartra.com/page/Suv6 Holistic Alig...2021-01-2057 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 4 - Understanding Basic Thought FormationKnowledge is power but wasted without action. We're going to do both here in this episode. First, let's learn how our brain formulates some basic thoughts! Coming from the book, "The Chimp Paradox" by Dr. Steve Peters, we've been provided with an amazing analogy with how our brain develops thoughts. We're going to cover a bit from that book in this episode as we start learning about how our thoughts are developed. Second, we take some action as we expand on the journaling tool with some more guided introspective intentions with our journaling efforts. If you like to rea...2021-01-0639 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 3 - Personal Responsibility!In this episode, your host Ross lays out some of the groundwork around the ideas behind personal responsibility. It's an important theme if you're truly looking to break free from the chains that hold you back in life. Personal responsibility is a critical component to ensuring you have a quality and elevated life experience. Creating a mind-blowing life experience is one of the core intentions with Project Unchain{ED}! The Belonging Blueprint! Connect with your host Ross Leppala: Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.com 2020-12-2337 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 2 - Self-Care with Project Unchain{ED}I view a properly implemented self-care regimen as the cornerstone effort a person can make to create a greater life experience. Self-care is generally misunderstood and miss applied leading it to be ineffective and frustrating. In this episode, I cover a few thoughts that should help you understand the importance of an effective self-care regimen and what characteristics led to wasted efforts. Allowing you to refine some of your efforts so that they are more effective! The Belonging Blueprint! Connect with your host Ross Leppala: Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala Email: theakleprechaun@gmail.co...2020-12-0929 min

The Intentional Athlete PodcastEp. 1 - What is Project Unchain{ED}?Episode 1!!! Ross gets real vulnerable about some of his past life experiences that have a significant impact on the content of this podcast. From being bullied in his youth and at it's worse, suicidal, to now flourishing in life. Join Ross and his guests as they share with you how you too can create a better life experience. Breaking free from the limiting thoughts and behaviors that have you living life chained down and held back. The Belonging Blueprint! Connect with your host Ross Leppala: Instagram: ross.leppala Facebook: Ross Leppala 2020-11-2641 min