Goal Magic

Dear Friends, Due to some difficult life circumstances, we’ve made the tough decision to end the Goal Magic podcast. We both needed to reclaim some precious time and headspace and this felt like to right time to bring the project to a close. If you've been a listener of the show, we want to you to know that we are so grateful that you joined us on our journey. We hope we helped you on your own unique path toward getting unstuck. That was always our goal. We'd also like to thank all of our many amazing guests for their contributions to Goal Magic over the past two years. We learned so much and had so much fun chatting with you on the show. Endings are always hard, but closing one door opens many others. If you want to see what's next for us, we invite you to follow @cynthias_whole_life and @writingimpulse on Instagram. Here's to the next big thing! Warmly, Cynthia & Brennen Episode Music Credits It Meant Everything to me by Le Gang Nostalgia by Johny Grimes Nostalgia by Tobu

For anyone furloughed or out of work right now and not sure what your next move is, this episode may spur some creative energy in you. I happen to know our next guest because she grew up in the same town as I did, and was friendly with my family. We connected on Instagram a little while back, which is when I got wind that she was creating content for brands and serving as an IG influencer. This got me wondering how she started doing that, because in her regular day to day life she’s a mama of three kids who doesn’t have a lot of time, yet she still managed to grow a network and eventually collaborate with brands and post just about every single day. She’s on her way to monetizing her instagram account now, so her story was one that I thought many of us at home and out of work may need to hear. About Hillary Kezelman Hillary Kezelman resides in sunny Southern California with her 3 babes and husband of 8 years. Being a stay at home mom is her daily job and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Instagram has been

We are going to level with you, this has been just the weirdest time to be alive. We’re all experiencing the weirdness at the same time and in different ways. It’s like an unwanted Instagram filter of fear, anxiety and uncertainty has been applied to the whole world, and none of us quite knows what to do about that because we’re in uncharted territory. But at the same time, springtime is coming and birds are singing, people are still falling in love, kids are drawing rainbows with sidewalk chalk and ordinary humans are stepping up in amazing ways to do what needs doing, even if it’s scary. It’s the best of times and the worst of times, all at once.  Cynthia and I recorded this episode more than two weeks ago, hoping things would be much improved by now, but things are still really hard out in the world. We chatted about staying sane and productive during the COVID-19 crisis and I think there is some good positive advice here if you’re needing a boost. For one thing, we both think laughter is one of the keys t

Have you ever had the gut feeling that you needed to do something and take a leap but you felt unsure? Have you ever wanted to go into a new industry but were feeling uneasy if you should take the risk, even though there was nothing stopping you? If these sound like you then you will want to tune into a very cool episode today focused on taking a risk when the time is right. I got to interview Chris Casile, who went from losing her job to taking a leap into a new one in an emerging industry with no guardrails. Talk about guts! About Chris Casile Christina is a certified Interior Designer with 20+ years of experience in the industry. Chris received a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Philadelphia University and honed her skills as an interior designer with several large architecture firms in Philadelphia. Specifically, while with Ballinger and EwingCole, Chris gained considerable experience in a variety of market sectors including healthcare, research and development, government, education and sports

I’m here today to bring you a very special episode that I recorded with my amazing friend Jennifer Blaine. If you’re a long-time listener, you’ll know that Jennifer has been on the show twice before, but this is my first time getting to interview her. We had the most amazingly deep conversation about creativity that had us both in tears by the end. I honestly didn’t want it to end and I think we could have talked for at least another hour, but I am so so proud of what we managed to capture here. I hope this conversation gives you good things to think about if you’re stuck at home waiting out the coronavirus like me and everybody else.  This episode is for the artists and creatives out there, especially the artists like me who sometimes struggle for a reason to keep making art. It’s for writers who have lost the plot, painters who are procrastinating and actors who aren’t sure if they can do one more audition. So strap your headphones on extra tight and enjoy the show! About Jennifer Blaine Jennife

This week our guest is an expert in resilience - what it is, if you can learn it, and how to teach it to your kids. Resilience is what separates the people who stay knocked down and the ones who decide to get back up and try again. It’s something I am fascinated by. Our guest Dr. Lucy Hone got personal and vulnerable as she shared her own story of grief and then later resilience. About Dr. Hone Dr Lucy Hone is a director of the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience, a research associate at AUT University, a published academic researcher, best-selling author and blogger for Psychology Today. In 2014, the sudden death of her 12-year old daughter, Abi, (along with Lucy and Abi’s friends Ella and Sally Summerfield in a tragic road accident) forced Lucy to turn her substantial academic training and professional practice to foster resilience in very personal circumstances. The blog she wrote in the aftermath of Abi’s death attracted international attention and resulted in the best-selling non-fiction

I love learning about the science of our bodies - what makes them stronger and better, and how we can circumnavigate them when they’re not doing what we need them to. This was the topic of discussion with my next guest, who studies the brain and neurobiology. We talk about how brain development gets disrupted for girls, and how this plays into some of the setbacks that we see for women in our society. We also get into how our brains are trying to protect us but they sometimes end up causing illnesses like depression and isolation. Noelle Cordeaux specializes in the relationship with one’s self. Her incredible “User’s Guide to the Brain” perspective focuses on how a basic knowledge of neurobiology helps us understand our brain & body. Noelle also reveals everything you never knew about romantic love & the brain!  Noelle is the CEO and co-founder of JRNI where she helps clients get unstuck & make real progress. She holds a B.A. in Literature (Rutger). A Graduate Certificate in Executive & Profes

We are kicking off 2020 with some heavy hitters, including an Emmy-nominated producer who recently overhauled his family’s financial future with one tiny but major concept that could also change your life: FIRE (Financial Independence/Retire Early). If you are wondering how you can retire early and what it may take, if you’re sick of the grind and cannot imagine doing your job for another 30 years, this show could be the one that gets you moving towards FIRE. And for anyone who hasn’t read the book that Scott Rieckens, our guest today wrote, Playing with FIRE, it’s a great place to start. About Scott Rieckens Scott Rieckens is an Emmy-nominated film/video producer and author. Scott has spent his career as a storyteller connecting people with ideas. Along the way, Scott’s work has generated millions of views through a feature-length documentary, multiple television series, short films, and a diverse range of commercial projects for the world's largest brands. Now, Scott has created Playing with FIRE, which exp

We are kicking off 2020 with one of our favorite guests and fit-fluencers, Mackie Root. Yep, he’s back and we are dishing on the best things you can do to kick off your healthiest year yet because more than ever, we all know how our health can influence so much - from our mindset to our sleep to our productivity and even our stress. It’s why we wanted to get an expert in to guide you on the best way to make it happen. About Mackie Root  Mackie Root is the founder of the ReadySetActive Online Training platform, which is a health coaching business on a mission to help busy people live healthier and happier. He is a health coach, online personal trainer, a group fitness coach in Philadelphia, with classes at Unite Fitness and Flywheel Sports. Mackie combines the latest science in nutrition and training with motivational techniques to create efficient and effective weight loss protocols for clients. Follow Mackie Root: @mackieroot Readysetactive.com Quick programming note: We decided to launch our episodes

Happy Holidays to all the friends and listeners of our show and welcome to our last podcast of 2019... and of the decade! I can’t quite believe how many closures are happening as 2019 comes to an end, but I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season and new year. I hope our show has helped you out, brought you joy, brought you clarity, or been a good friend to you when you needed one. In closing out the year, we have a really special episode that I recorded with Celia Gaze who went from burnt out working at the National Health Service in England and trying to be a good partner and mother to going almost bankrupt trying to make a farm into a business to then putting a bowtie on a llama and changing the course of her life. I don’t want to spoil any of the story for you because Celia has one wild ride to success. About Celia Gaze Celia Gaze is an entrepreneur and founder of The Wellbeing Farm. She worked in the NHS for 14 years in a senior management role, before reaching t

As we round out the year and head into the new year, which is always a great time for resetting and restarting, we want to give you the tools you need to light a fire and blaze a trail for whatever you want to achieve in your own life. It’s why we brought back Andy Ramage, who started One Year No Beer, had appeared on the Rich Roll show, and now has written a book Let’s Do This which will help you understand what you need to get or stay motivated. Fun teaser: it’s a really simple thing that everyone can do every day. But you have to be willing to show up. About Andy Ramage: Andy is a former professional athlete. After injury cut short his career, he went on to create two multimillion-dollar city brokerages.   After achieving traditional “success” Andy was left unfit, unhealthy, overweight, stressed and unhappy. He believed there had to be another way to win big in the city while staying super fit, healthy, maintaining a happy home life and doing it with a smile on his face. So he set out on a quest to study p

We have an awesome episode this week for all the moms out there. I actually came across our guest today when I was searching for exercises to help my bad back, and ironically, found videos about core health and postpartum strength training. I kept saving videos from her as she popped up in my social feed, but was most impressed with her focus on women during and after pregnancy because there seems to be so little out there for anyone who is trying to establish their core connection again after pregnancy. I also just loved her down home, real perspective as a busy mother of four children and a woman running her own business. About Andrea Allen Andrea Allen grew up playing sports but didn't get into fitness and health until college. She used physical exercise to pull herself out of her depression her freshman year of college and became hooked on the endorphins. She graduated with a degree in public health education. Andrea became a fitness instructor during this time as well. In 2007 she tore her ACL while play

Brennen and recorded this episode together because Brennen witnessed a friend's life event that shifted his own life in a big way. For those of you who are stuck in any way, this show is a great reminder that nothing is permanent, not even your life; that you can change at any point; and that if we can get unstuck in our everyday lives so can you. Meanwhile, we want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! We want to thank everyone who has been listening and following along with Goal Magic. We are grateful for everyone who has helped build our show. If you feel inclined and haven’t already done so, we would love it if you would leave us a review on apple podcasts and give some love back. Thank You, Cynthia & Brennen

With the holidays next week, and the onslaught of parties, goodies, and just the overall stress that we sometimes feel to make it all happen, we wanted to bring back one of our favorite guests to help us manage our health during this time, Mackie Root. Mackie and I chat about the best ways and the most simple things you can do to ensure that you don’t let the holidays “gift” you with an extra 15 pounds come the new year. For those of you who hadn’t listened to our first episode with Mackie, you should definitely check that out because he does a great job of simplifying what we all really need to do to hit our fitness goals or just stay healthy. In this episode, it’s all about managing your health without depriving yourself. About Mackie Root Mackie Root is the founder of the ReadySetActive Online Training platform, which is a health coaching business on a mission to help busy people live healthier and happier. He is a health coach, online personal trainer, a group fitness coach in Philadelphia, with classes a

Our episode today was recorded with a dear friend of Brennen’s and mine. We have been lucky enough to work with Russ Hickman when he took our photos for both our Goal Magic shoots. Upon learning more about his unusual childhood, his path from wannabe director living in NYC to finding passion in photography and stills, and finally his road to coming out we just had to get him on as a guest on the show. You’ll have to tune in to get all the juicy details! About Russ Hickman Russ Hickman is a professional lifestyle photographer based in Philadelphia. He specializes in photographing people in all different types of life events, which can range from editorial portraits and weddings to corporate headshots and professional branding. His work is best known for its colorful, cinematic style and he uses his humor and film background to make images that overflow with emotion. He loves coffee, any and every dog, movies/tv and nerds out over anything photography related. Connect with Russ: russhickman.com www.instagr

Unless you’re living in the dark ages, you know or have heard or even seen how cannabis has become THE hot topic in our country. From CBD to legalizing marijuana, cannabis is the girlfriend everyone wants to date or is dying to be. It’s why we decided to bring on a trailblazer in this space, who has been on the front lines of this trend for over a decade. Not to mention, this person is a woman, working in [what was] a very masculine space. For all these reasons and more I was eager and excited to talk to Claudia Post.  Claudia Post is an award-winning and seasoned leader, business owner, nonprofit executive and experienced problem solver with the ability to steer change and transform organizations. As a dynamic strategic thinker and influential change agent, Post consistently demonstrates commitment, leadership and vision. She has proven her effectiveness in cultivating and leveraging professional relationships throughout organizations and across industries. Post founded Diamond Courier Service, Inc., a same

Our episode today is one that is fueled by our own desire to continue to push for a fair and representative democracy. While voting is not something that everyone does in every election (local or presidential) we want to urge people to go and vote so that your voices are heard more loudly and consistently. The Atlantic is saying to brace yourself for the voter “tsunami” and Pew Center Research is showing that Gen X’ers, Millennials, and Gen Z are turning out in higher numbers than Baby Boomers. The importance of getting your voice heard through your vote has never been more apparent or needed, which is why we wanted to bring on our guest today, Jess Riegel. Jess Riegel is Co-Founder and CEO of Motivote, a voting accountability platform for Millennials. Jess started her career with Teach for America, leading first-grade classrooms in New Orleans and Newark. As a consultant with Cause Strategy Partners, she advised nonprofits and foundations on board governance. She also led impact evaluation efforts for an e

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom” Aristotle once said, and it’s one of the reasons that I brought our next guest on our show. The episode we have got for you today will have you turning the mirror on yourself over and over, so that you can better understand your own reactions to loved ones in your life, and have you taking responsibility instead of pointing the finger, which is what most of us do when faced with a situation that has us thinking “why did they do that ME?” Our guest today, Figs O’Sullivan, who is the leading Relationship Therapist in San Francisco and the Bay Area, will help everyone realize that your reactions are actually not at all about the other person, they’re all about you... and that is a constant for everyone. This episode is going to change your relationship with yourself and help you reflect on what’s really happening when someone lashes out at you, or you break down and feel helpless, or a loved one gets angry and takes it out on you. About Figs O’Sullivan Fiachra “F

One of the biggest things on my mind is millennial debt and the crisis it is creating for our economy. I think about this A LOT, in part because my husband and I discuss his student debt ALL. THE. TIME. Business Insider says that the average millennial earns $35,455. The average student-loan debt per 2018 graduate is $29,800. A recent SuperMoney report found that, since the 1970s, young adults have seen only a $29 income increase, while college tuition has more than doubled” which means that, sadly, we are getting more educated without any financial opportunity on the other side of it. This topic has sometimes been called “the next bubble to burst” and it’s something that our current democratic presidential candidates have policies around, should they make it into office. The issue is that big! Because I think this topic is *so* critical for so many people, I wanted to bring back a favorite guest of ours, Robert Farrington who is a Millennial money expert and founder of thecollegeinvestor.com. Robert’s path i

Cynthia and I have a fun episode for you today where we try out our brand new Wheel of Questions segment. What is the Wheel of Questions, you ask? It’s a list of quirky questions that we’ll randomly ask guests at the end of each show, just for fun. Now, I must admit that this segment didn’t quite go as we planned, but the results are pretty funny and we got into some interesting territory.  Meanwhile, we want to invite you into the Backstage Pass Goal Magic Community Group on Facebook. Our group is a very dynamic, supportive, and creative bunch who is full of awesome ideas, is always willing to help, and has already had some amazing conversations about our struggles and goals. We’d love to meet you, and so would our community, so drop us a note to say hi once you’re in! Here’s to Getting Unstuck, Cynthia & Brennen     Goal Magic Music Credits