Shows
Free & Open MindBorrowed Calm vs Real Calm: Breaking the Alcohol, Weed, and Caffeine Loop — Free & Open MindAre you actually calm… or just numb?In this episode of The Free & Open Mind, Hardy Brooklyn and co-host Stan Nelson sit down with psychologist and stress expert Gudrun to unpack “borrowed calm” — those moments when you feel okay only because you’ve leaned on alcohol, cannabis, caffeine, sugar, or routine to get you through.We explore how these everyday habits subtly train your nervous system to depend on outside substances and bad habits just to feel “normal,” and what it takes to build a calm that’s actually yours and doesn’t disappear when the glass is empty...
2026-06-261h 00Free & Open MindYour System Isn’t Broken: Quiet, Checklists, and Surviving With Your Actual Brain - Free & Open MindWhat if your “quiet” isn’t a mask at all—but a survival tool your brain built on purpose? In this follow‑up to our episode on masks and masking, Hardy and Stan revisit the three-mask framework (performer, peacekeeper, minimizer) after a powerful message from an autistic/ADHD listener who didn’t see themselves in any of those boxes. Their feedback flips the script: quiet can be a strategic way to regulate, tears can be pressure valves (not “breakdowns”), and some brains need checklists—not feeling wheels—to move through the world.In this conversation, we explore:When...
2026-06-1949 minFree & Open MindHow to Speak Up for Yourself Without Blowing Everything UpWhen was the last time you walked into a room — a meeting, a family dinner, a tough conversation — and were completely, unapologetically yourself?In this episode of The Free & Open Mind, Hardy Brooklyn breaks down why so many smart, capable people stay silent even when they see exactly what’s going wrong… and what it’s costing them in their bodies, minds, and relationships.You’ll hear about:The 3 common masks we wear: the Performer, the Peacekeeper, and the MinimizerWhy your body and nervous system keep the score when you swallow the truthThe idea of “authenticity debt...
2026-06-1219 minFree & Open MindInto the Unknown: Authentic Living, Risk & the First Hot Air Balloon - Free & Open MindWhat does a hot air balloon in 1783 France have to do with your life and business today?In this episode of The Free & Open Mind, Leonard (Hardy Brooklyn) and Stan revisit the story of the Montgolfier brothers and the first hot air balloon flight to explore what it really means to live authentically, take real risks, and follow your curiosity even when people are watching.You’ll hear us dive into:Authenticity vs. performance – Are you taking real risks, or just looking like you are?Fear of public failure – Why you often have to “show up...
2026-06-0549 minFree & Open MindMoney, Mental Health & Authenticity: A Real Conversation with Michael About Living on His Own Terms**What if the only thing standing between you and your true potential is the fear of being your true self?**In this episode of **Free & Open Mind**, we sit down with **Michael S.**, who grew up with a learning disability, speech challenges, and constant bullying — and still chose to build a life based on **authenticity, courage, and compassion**.Michael spent his early years in special ed classes, working with speech therapists and navigating labels that tried to define him. As a teen, he began sitting in on his own **IEP (Individualized Education Plan)** meetings and advocating to move into ma...
2026-06-0558 minFree & Open MindWhen Your Body Says “No More”: Chronic Illness, Queerness & Radical Authenticity - Free & Open Mind**What happens when your body forces you to stop pretending?**In this episode of the Free & Open Mind Podcast, Hardy and co-host Stan sit down with marketing strategist and proudly queer business owner Tom Basgil for a raw, practical conversation about authenticity when life hits hard.After being diagnosed with Addison’s disease, Tom went from barely making it to the subway — stopping at every bench — to betting on himself, leaving agency life, and building a business that actually fits his energy, values, and identity.We dig into: **Chronic Illness & Identity** • The moment Tom’s life flipped with his Addison’s...
2026-06-0545 minFree & Open MindWhen Money Gets Weird: How to Stay Sane in an Insane Economy: Free & Open Mind Podcast**When money gets weird, our nervous system does too.** In this episode of *Free & Open Mind*, Hardy and Stan dive into what so many people are quietly wrestling with right now: **rising prices, shrinking options, and the shame spiral that follows.**We’re **not** financial advisors. We’re **life coaches** who work with real people trying to stay grounded when:• Groceries cost 30% more than last year • Gas and travel feel out of reach • Digital money makes it way too easy to swipe, tap, and overspend • Social pressure says “Keep up” while your budget screams “Slow down”### In this episode, we explore:**What’s...
2026-06-0543 minFree & Open MindEgo Is Not Your Amigo: Radical Self-Reliance, Haiti, Burning Man & Authentic Living w/ David RoblesWhat does it *really* mean to live authentically when the world keeps asking you to compromise?In this episode of the **Free and Open Mind Podcast**, hosts **Hardy Brooklyn** and **Stan Nelson** sit down with **David Robles** — New Yorker, entrepreneur, Coast Guard officer, and fearless truth-teller — whose life journey runs from Brooklyn to North Africa and Haiti, from Burning Man to the music industry, and from exposing corruption to building a life rooted in integrity.**You’ll hear David talk about:**• Surviving Haiti during earthquake relief and what happens when you’re *not sure you’ll make it home*• How Burning Ma...
2026-06-0538 minFree & Open MindBaby Steps, Big Change: How 15 Minutes a Day Can Rewrite Your Life - Free & Open MindWelcome to the Free and Open Mind Podcast, where massive life changes start with small things, like 15 minutes of exercise, a treadmill, and a stranger ...In this episode, Hardy Brooklyn and Stan Nelson dive into the messy, funny, and very human reality of embracing change – not with dramatic movie-montage transformations, but with tiny, awkward, powerful baby steps.*You’ll hear about:*🏋️ The client who hated his job so much that a 15‑minute morning workout accidentally led him to a better-paying, work-from-home dream job (thanks to one very loud phone call at the gym).🐢 Why small, consistent steps beat giant “New Year, New Me...
2026-06-0524 minFree & Open MindEvolving Woman: Navigating Identity, Growth, and Motherhood - Free & Open MindIn this episode of the Free & Open Mind Podcast, hosts Hardy Brooklyn and Stan sit down with CC Kaminovich, a former attorney and NFL sports agent turned transformational mentor for women navigating big life transitions.Together, they explore what it really means to live authentically beyond titles and roles—especially around motherhood, career, identity, and societal expectations—and how women can reclaim their inner authority and stop abandoning themselves.🌱 *In This Episode, We Talk About:*- CC’s unconventional journey from law to NFL sports agent to transformational mentor- How a career built on contracts and negotiations led her to mindse...
2026-06-0546 minFree & Open MindFrom Dyslexia to Award‑Winning Art: Harrison Love on Living Authentically - Free & Open Mind PodcastWelcome to The Free and Open Mind Podcast, where we explore what it really means to live authentically in a world that constantly pushes us to conform.In this episode, Hardy Brooklyn and Stan Nelson sit down with award‑winning artist and author Harrison Love—one of the rare creators celebrated both as a visual artist and a novelist. Harrison’s illustrated novel, “The Hidden Way,” was 13 years in the making and is rooted in three years of first‑hand research living among indigenous tribes in the Amazon jungle.In this conversation, we explore: • Turning dyslexia into a superpower • How being labele...
2026-06-041h 06Free & Open MindTrance, Tennis Rackets & Authentic Living with Joel from BodyMind Hypnotic- Free & Open Mind PodcastWelcome to the Free & Open Mind Podcast, where we explore authentic living, deep change… and why hypnotists aren’t out there robbing banks.In this episode, hosts Hardy Brooklyn (Brooklyn-based business & life coach) and Stan (goal success coach from Perth, Australia) sit down with Joel from BodyMind Hypnotic. Joel's a former paralegal who traded checking legal documents for guiding people into trance and transformation.*You’ll hear about:*• How trance is really just focused attention (yes, your highway driving zone-out counts).• Why self-hypnosis is possible—but a lot easier with a coach who can see you spinning your hands and say, “Uh...
2026-06-0442 minFree & Open MindLiving Authentically Through Trauma, Addiction & Disability | Free & Open Mind PodcastIn this episode of the Free & Open Mind podcast, hosts Hardy Brooklyn (life & business coach, Brooklyn, NY) and Stan Nelson (moving forward & goal success coach, Perth, Australia) sit down with Gudrun Schmidt, a psychologist and coach from Germany who specializes in resilience, burnout, and traffic psychology.Gudrun shares her powerful story of: Growing up with a mother who struggled with alcoholism and a suicide attempt Building resilience from a difficult childhood and learning to cope rather than escape Working in traffic psychology, alcohol- and drug-related driving offenses, and stress reduction Facing a life-changing lymphoma diagnosis, partial paralysis, months in...
2026-06-0424 minFree & Open MindArt, Authentic Living & Mental Health with Coach Hardy Brooklyn | Free & Open Mind PodcastIn this episode of the Free & Open Mind Podcast, hosts Hardy Brooklyn (life & business coach, Brooklyn, NY) and Stan Nelson (moving forward & goal success coach, Perth, Australia) explore the art of being yourself and how creativity can literally save and reshape a life.Hardy shares his powerful journey from a burned-out tech consultant to body-painted performance artist, burlesque performer, and life coach—and how art helped him recover from medical trauma, addiction to prescription meds, and a career that was destroying his body. (Note: video includes reference to self-harm.)You’ll hear about: • How music and the live music commun...
2026-06-0423 minFree & Open MindLiving Authentically as GBTQ+: Nervous System Regulation, Breathwork, and Sexual Well-BeingIn this episode of the Free and Open Mind Podcast, hosts Hardy Brooklyn from Brooklyn, NY, and Stan Nelson from Perth, Western Australia, sit down with life and wellness coach Paul Lennander to explore what it truly means to live an authentic life — especially as a gay man growing up in a world that didn’t feel accepting.Paul shares his powerful journey of realizing he was gay at a young age in a large Irish Catholic family, and the years he spent people-pleasing, code-switching, and disconnecting from his true self. He opens up about: - Growing up knowing he w...
2026-06-0421 minFree & Open MindAuthentic Relationships 101: How to Love Without Losing Yourself | Free & Open Mind PodcastWelcome to the Free & Open Mind Podcast – where real people from all walks of life get honest about authentic living, relationships, and becoming who you truly are.We go live every Friday around 9:00 AM Eastern Time, sharing: • Candid conversations about love, boundaries, and authentic relationships • Real-life stories about breaking free from family conditioning and old expectations • Practical tips for communicating your needs, love languages, and boundaries • Honest talk about what it means to grow at your own pace – even when your partner, friends, or family aren’t growing with youIn this episode, Hardy Brooklyn (life & business coach from Brooklyn, NY) and Stan N...
2026-06-0440 minFree & Open MindValentine’s Day Expectations, Boundaries & Consent | Free and Open Mind PodcastIn this episode of the Free and Open Mind Podcast, life and business coach Hardy Brooklyn (Leonard Shostak) from Brooklyn, New York, and Moving Forward coach Stan Nelson from Perth, Western Australia, dive deep into Valentine’s Day expectations, boundaries, and consent.Valentine’s Day can bring joy, pressure, and confusion—especially around what we “should” do, what we expect from our partners, and how far we push boundaries. Leonard and Stan unpack how to navigate all of this in a way that’s healthy, honest, and sustainable for your relationship.In this episode, we explore: Expectations vs. Reality on Valentine...
2026-06-0426 minFree & Open MindHow to Love Authentically Using Love Languages | Free & Open Mind PodcastAre you loving in a way that feels true to you—or just going through the motions? In this episode of the Free & Open Mind Podcast, hosts Hardy Brooklyn (life and business coach based in Brooklyn, NY) and Stan Nelson (relationship coach from Perth, Australia) unpack what it really means to love and live authentically.They explore: • How to use the 5 Love Languages as a starting point, not a box • Why you and your partner can share the same love language but mean totally different things • Real-life examples of navigating mismatched love languages • Setting and communicating boundaries without sounding controllin...
2026-06-0426 minFree & Open MindHow to Set Healthy Boundaries at Work (Time, Money & Communication) | Free & Open Mind PodcastIn this episode of the Free & Open Mind Podcast, hosts Hardy Brooklyn and Stan Nelson dive deep into one of the most important skills for authentic living: setting and holding boundaries in the workplace.Using a real-life story about a confusing presentation request, Hardy explains how clear boundaries around time, expectations, and communication protect your professional reputation, your energy, and your personal life.We explore: 💼 Workplace Boundaries • How unclear expectations around a presentation (time, length, audience, focus) can derail your work • Why saying “I cannot commit until I have this information” is both professional and necessary 🧠 Coaching & Client Boundaries • Why Hardy requir...
2026-06-0420 minFree & Open MindActive Listening: The Most Underrated Communication Skill | The Free and Open Mind PodcastIn this episode of The Free and Open Mind Podcast, Hardy Brooklyn (Leonard Shostak) and Stan Nelson dive into the art of active listening — a core coaching skill that can transform your relationships, your work, and your everyday conversations.We explore:What active listening really is (beyond just “hearing” someone)Why interrupting and “waiting for your turn to talk” kills real connectionHow to handle those silent pauses without rushing to fill the spaceThe role of eye contact, body language, and non-verbal cuesWhy taking notes helps you stay present and catch what’s not being saidThe impact of ADHD, ASD, anxiety...
2026-06-0416 min
Regarp BookBlogPodReview of: The Westerners: Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier, by Megan Kate NelsonReview of: The Westerners: Mythmaking and Belonging on the American Frontier, by Megan Kate Nelson
Reviewed by Stan Prager, Regarp Book Blog, www.regarp.com
2026-03-2613 min
Regarp BookBlogPodReview of: Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America, by Megan Kate NelsonReview of: Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America, by Megan Kate Nelson
Reviewed by Stan Prager, Regarp Book Blog
2023-07-2908 min
2020-03-0800 min2020-03-0848 minRockville Assembly of GodOne Love, One People, One Name! - AudioGod loves all people and all nations. For God So loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish.
2020-03-0129 minRockville Assembly of GodOne Love, One People, One Name! - PDFGod loves all people and all nations. For God So loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish.
2020-03-0100 minRockville Assembly of GodLiving the Story. - AudioOur perspective directs our reality. Jesus gives us a new perspective. This new perspective redefines our relationships.
2020-02-1635 min2020-02-091h 03Rockville Assembly of GodSet Me Free from Me - AudioAs humans, we have about 60,000 thoughts a day. We can have great thoughts or we can have bad thoughts. IF we are not careful our thoughts can easily move to negative thoughts that work against us. The good news is that we can overcome these self-destructive thoughts and move into life-giving thoughts that bring fulfillment and peace.
2020-02-0242 minRockville Assembly of GodChange Your Life By Changing Your Mind. - AudioNeuroscience now confirms what God has been saying for a few millennia; that humans can change/rewire their minds by changing their thinking.
2020-01-2643 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Battle for Your Mind. - AudioYour mind is a gift from God. The human brain is capable of great things. Humans have used their minds to do great things and not so great things. Because humans have the capacity to use our minds for great things or harmful things, the enemy of our souls tries to damage our control our brains so that we will destroy each other. God gives us the ability to win this battle for our minds. Through our choices we can take control of our thoughts and win the battle for our minds.
2020-01-1437 minRockville Assembly of GodA Long Time Prayer - AudioZechariah and Elizabeth waited most of their lives for a prayer to be answered. The Lord heard their prayer and answered it when they were well along in years. Their faithfulness was rewarded. How long do we prayer for something? Are we praying "Long Time Prayers?"
2020-01-0645 min2019-12-3016 minRockville Assembly of GodEven the Wise Know Who to Worship and Adore - AudioThe Wisemen that came to worship Jesus about 2 years after he was born brought gifts for Jesus. They were led by a star. God still guides us through divine means and when we find Him, He is still worthy to be worshipped.
2019-12-2342 min2019-12-1638 min2019-12-0133 min2019-11-2400 min2019-11-2445 minRockville Assembly of GodHope the Mind's Defense! - AudioWhere do thoughts come from? Are our thoughts helpful or maybe even hurtful? How do we protect our mind from hurtful thoughts and hopelessness? God offers a prescription to protect our minds with His hope.
2019-11-1739 minRockville Assembly of GodHope the Mind's Defense! - PDFWhere do thoughts come from? Are our thoughts helpful or maybe even hurtful? How do we protect our mind from hurtful thoughts and hopelessness? God offers a prescription to protect our minds with His hope.
2019-11-1700 minRockville Assembly of GodHow is Your Hearing? - AudioWhat if you only heard part of the words someone was speaking to you? Would you benefit from the conversation? What if you intentionally tuned them out? The people of Nazareth had tuned out Jesus to the point that He could no little or no miracles. What happens when people tune God out?
2019-11-1046 minRockville Assembly of GodOur Big God! - AudioLife has some valuable lessons. If we are open to learning from each situation we face we will grow stronger. If we aren't open to learning, we will face hardships that could make us doubt God and His love for us. Jonah had a hard time learning from his life lessons. God's lessons were for teh benefit of Jonah and the people of Nineveh. Maybe your life circumstances are not just to help you but to help many people?
2019-11-0340 minRockville Assembly of GodSeemed Very Wrong - AudioJonah was angry at God for sparing the people of Nineveh. He wanted God to give them their due justice. Have ever hoped that God punish our enemies but instead He spared them? Did it make us angry? Do we have the right to be angry?
2019-10-2755 minRockville Assembly of GodWhat Would You Do With a Second Chance? - AudioWhat would you do with a second chance in life? In a relationship? For a career? For health? In regards to your faith? We see throughout the Bible how God gave many people second and third chances in life. God's ultimate desire is to redeem our lives so that we can have a chance to thrive in life.
2019-10-2041 min2019-10-1333 minRockville Assembly of GodSpiritual Renewal Service #3 with Jayme Montera - AudioSpiritual Renewal service #3 Sunday Oct 6
2019-10-061h 09Rockville Assembly of GodSpiritual Renewal Service #2 with Jayme Montera - AudioOct 5 Spiritual Renewal Service
2019-10-051h 18Rockville Assembly of GodSpiritual Renewal Services with Jayme Montera - AudioFriday Night Oct 4th Service
2019-10-041h 112019-09-2944 minRockville Assembly of GodJesus Christ Will Draw. - AudioEvangelist Gerald Mayhan speaks of the need for Christains to bring people to Jesus.
2019-09-2334 minRockville Assembly of GodIn My Distress! - AudioSometimes we make some bad decisions and think we are stuck. Jonah made some bad decisions and was swallowed up by them. While int he belly of a great fish, he called out to God in his distress. God heard his cry and delivered him. In our distress we can call on God and He will answer!
2019-09-1539 minRockville Assembly of GodMy Bad! - AudioAll of us make mistakes. Sometimes we admit our mistakes but make no change to move away from these mistakes. We see that Jonah admitted his mistake but made no effort to make things right. What can we learn from this?
2019-09-0144 minRockville Assembly of GodHow Can You Sleep? Sleeping through life. - AudioFalling asleep at the wheel while driving is very dangerous. For the drive, passengers and those around the car. Likewise when we sleep though our lives, we can miss out on important relationships and even cause problems for the lives of those around us. Are you sleeping through life? God can help you redeem your life purpose.
2019-08-2555 min2019-08-1842 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Warrior Stands In Their Pain. - AudioEveryone is fighting an internal battle. God knows about it and wants to help bring an inner peace.
2019-08-1148 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Warrior Becomes One with All of God - AudioWhat if we could pray like Elijah and see the same results that he had? What if miracles were designed to be more of a common thing? Is there a way to be One with All of God?
2019-07-2142 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Warrior is One with God: God's Business is Your Business. - AudioRockville Assembly of God
2019-07-1440 min2019-07-0751 minRockville Assembly of GodUnited We Pray...Divided We Fail! - AudioWhat happens when people unite in prayer? What happens when people do not unite in prayer? There is great power in unity. Many great things have happened throughout history when people have untied for a good or noble cause. Imagine what great things could happen when believers united in prayer?
2019-07-0245 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Warrior Harnesses Their Strength. - AudioPassion, Power, Energy, Purpose, Strength, Fire
2019-06-2347 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Warrior Harnesses Their Strength. - PDFPassion, Power, Energy, Purpose, Strength, Fire
2019-06-2300 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Warrior Owns Defeat - AudioBased off Erwin McManus' Book "The Way of the Warrior," today we look at owning defeat. We look at overcoming victimization and how to stop using the "victim card" which keeps us from freedom.
2019-06-1644 minRockville Assembly of GodBaptism of Power - AudioGod gave the Baptism in the Spirit for the Purpose of Witness and the building up of His Church. The Purpose of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not for entertainment but to empower each willing believer to be be a gateway for God's supernatural power to help build up His Kingdom.
2019-06-0948 minRockville Assembly of GodBaptism of Power - PDFGod gave the Baptism in the Spirit for the Purpose of Witness and the building up of His Church. The Purpose of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not for entertainment but to empower each willing believer to be be a gateway for God's supernatural power to help build up His Kingdom.
2019-06-0900 min2019-06-0633 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Warrior Gains Mastery over Their Mind: Learning to Think Differently. - AudioRockville Assembly of God
2019-05-2644 min2019-05-1950 min2019-05-1239 minRockville Assembly of GodThe Warrior Fights Only for Peace - AudioSermon Series Based off Erwin McManus' book "The Way of the Warrior: An Ancient Path To Inner Peace."
2019-05-0548 minRockville Assembly of GodHe Still Moves Stones - AudioHow many of us would love to rollback to a time in our lives and change something we did so that we would not feel the negative effects of that time? The Good News of the Resurrection is that we can have Jesus give us a New Life so that we can have a fresh start.
2019-04-2336 minRockville Assembly of GodThe King Who Serves - AudioWhen we think of a King we think of someone who is served by many people around that king. In the Kingdom of God, servanthood is held in high esteem. Jesus would come into Jerusalem recognized as king but would lead His people through serving.
2019-04-1435 minRockville Assembly of GodRescue - AudioThe Fire department's mission is Rescue. Jesus' mission was to Rescue mankind from sin, the devil and eternal death. He gave His life so we could be rescued. This mission is part of His plan for the Church. If rescue is Jesus' mission, then rescue should be the mission of His Church.
2019-04-0842 min2019-03-3131 minRockville Assembly of GodLeave Yourself Alone. - AudioWe live in a world wired for sight and sound with constant noise and messages going into our minds. The reality this constant overload of stimuli is wearing us down and we really need alone time. hat we need is alone time with God. Being alone with God is different than being lonely.
2019-03-2447 minRockville Assembly of GodHe has been dead four days. - AudioLazarus received a second chance in life after Jesus resurrected him from the dead. Imagine the pain and loss his sisters, Martha and Mary felt the four days that he was dead in the tomb? Sometimes we experience loss and never fully recover. So we live in a tomb of sorrow or lament. Just as Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, Jesus is calling you out of the tomb of sorrow.
2019-03-1727 minRockville Assembly of GodWill I Have To Face the Fire? - AudioWill there be persecution of Christians in the US? Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were persecuted for their faith in God. The Bible shows how to handle persecution.
2019-03-1153 min2019-03-0436 minRockville Assembly of GodPlaying It Safe Is Dangerous. - AudioFaith in God means taking a risk. American Consumerism has made Christianity sterile, safe, and without risk. The Bible has a different concept on faith.
2019-02-2437 min2019-02-1734 min2019-02-1246 minRockville Assembly of GodSeeing Is Not Believing - AudioWill you use doubt to drive you to God, not away from God?
2019-02-0350 min2019-01-2751 min2019-01-2047 min2019-01-0650 min2018-12-3041 min2018-12-2347 min2018-12-1851 min2018-12-0946 min2018-11-1142 min2018-11-0448 min2018-10-2842 min2018-10-2345 min2018-10-0743 min2018-09-2337 min2018-09-1646 minRockville Assembly of GodSeven Things That Can Ruin Your Life Part 4 - AudioRockville Assembly of God
2018-09-0939 min2018-09-0258 minRockville Assembly of GodSeven Things That Could Ruin Your Life Part 2 - AudioRockville Assembly of God
2018-08-2648 min2018-08-1956 min2018-08-1243 min