Podcast
Peace Love and Bring a Bat
Hosted by David Chametzky · EN
Finding balance in life is a process and it’s ever changing. Journey with Uncle Dave as we find out how to get through the rollercoaster of life while enjoying our clan of engaging, supportive individuals along the way. Peace and love is in abundance on our journeys, but what if sometimes you just need to bring a bat to the party and take a stand for the things you hold closest in order to find that balance. Deep conversations and deliberate chaos to expand and grow our minds and embrace our highest good...that’s what this podcast is about.
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MATT RAI: YOUR THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR IDENTITY
Yesterday00:50:06Tap to summarizeMATT RAI: YOUR THOUGHTS ARE NOT YOUR IDENTITY What if mindfulness is not about silencing your mind—but learning to observe it without allowing every thought to control you? In this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Matt Rai, a mindfulness and resilience coach, musician, father, and founder of Schools for Nepal. Matt shares how international experiences, personal loss, neurodivergence, service, and self-awareness shaped his approach to helping people create meaningful inner and outer change. Born in the United Kingdom to a family of Indian heritage, Matt lived with his grandparents in rural Punjab when he was young. Moving from a privileged British upbringing into a community with fewer resources transformed his perspective. Everyday comforts such as warm showers and refrigerated milk suddenly felt like luxuries. Matt later lived in Canada before moving to Australia, where he has spent the past 15 years and is raising two children. His experiences across different cultures taught him that perspective changes when we step outside the world we know. That awareness eventually inspired Matt to establish Schools for Nepal. The volunteer-run charity helps provide educational opportunities in rural Nepal, particularly for girls who might otherwise never attend school. Matt cannot solve every global inequality, but he can act within his circle of influence and help individual communities. Matt also speaks candidly about losing his mother to a heroin overdose. She had been a successful, compassionate nurse before a series of decisions and difficult reactions to adversity changed her life. Her death reinforced Matt’s belief that resilience is not simply about what happens to us—it is about developing the awareness needed to choose our response. The conversation challenges popular definitions of mindfulness, meditation, and resilience. Matt believes these words are often repeated without being understood. Mindfulness is not forcing ourselves to think positively or achieving a completely empty mind. It begins by noticing our thoughts without immediately identifying with or judging them. Recurring thoughts such as “I’m not good enough,” “What if I fail?” or “I’m not worthy” can feel like facts because they have repeated for years. Matt encourages people to notice the voice, say its message aloud, and ask where it appears physically—in the throat, chest, stomach, or another part of the body. Once we observe a thought, we create separation between the thought and our deeper identity. Instead of saying, “I am not good enough,” we can recognize, “There is the voice telling me I’m not good enough again.” Matt sometimes invites clients to turn this voice into a character. Who does it resemble? How old is it? Where did it originate? What is it attempting to accomplish? Although the voice may feel destructive, it often developed as an attempt to protect us from rejection, danger, embarrassment, or pain. Rather than attacking that frightened part of ourselves, Matt encourages curiosity and compassion. Asking, “How is this voice trying to serve me?” can fundamentally change our relationship with it. Mindfulness must also be practical. Matt helps clients build routines that fit their actual lives. Instead of prescribing an unrealistic hour of meditation, he may begin with five minutes. The individual chooses the time, location, environment, and ritual—perhaps sitting on a bed after the children leave for school and lighting a candle before looking at a phone. Progress begins by deciding that the practice is worthwhile, identifying potential obstacles, and taking one manageable step. Matt also discusses being diagnosed later in life with ADHD and autism after his son received similar diagnoses. He explains that ADHD does not necessarily mean someone cannot focus. Many neurodivergent people can concentrate intensely on subjects they find meaningful while struggling with tasks that feel disconnected from their interests. Purpose matters. When people understand what they genuinely want and why it matters, focus becomes easier. Practical systems, small habits, medication when appropriate, and self-awareness can all help—but meaningful change cannot be forced upon someone unwilling to participate. In this episode, you will discover: • Why mindfulness begins with observing your thoughts • How to separate recurring thoughts from your identity • Why negative inner voices may be attempting to protect you • How physical sensations reveal emotional patterns • Why five intentional minutes can begin a lasting practice • How ADHD can involve hyperfocus as well as distraction • Why purpose and passion influence concentration • How service transformed Matt’s perspective on gratitude • Why inner change must precede sustainable outer change • How compassion creates space between stimulus and response Matt’s seed for the magic garden is to identify your most persistent negative message. Write it down. Notice its voice, age, personality, and physical location. Give it a character if that helps. Then become curious about why it exists and how it may be trying to protect you. You are experiencing the thought—but the thought is not the entirety of who you are. Connect with Matt: Website: https://mat Rai.com.au Name Search: Matt Rai Charity: Schools for Nepal EP: Silence As Bombs Fall Down Music: Available on major streaming platforms Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, observe your thoughts, give yourself grace, serve where you can, and hit your sweet spot. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #MattRai #Mindfulness #Resilience #SelfAwareness #Meditation #ADHD #Autism #Neurodiversity #SchoolsForNepal #PersonalGrowth To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
Transcribe →MARTIN MAYR: FROM CONCERT HALLS TO HOSPITAL WALLS—AND BACK AGAIN
Yesterday00:48:18Tap to summarizeMARTIN MAYR: FROM CONCERT HALLS TO HOSPITAL WALLS—AND BACK AGAIN What happens when the physical ability behind your life’s passion suddenly disappears? In this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Martin Mayr, a Canadian neoclassical concert pianist and composer whose remarkable career—and painful road back to the piano—offers a powerful lesson in resilience, advocacy, and hope. Martin’s professional journey began when he made a $35,000 bet on himself at age 18. He independently produced, filmed, and recorded his first concert, hoping it would attract attention in Canada or the United States. Instead, a performing-arts agency in China discovered his music online and invited him on a 16-city tour. Almost overnight, Martin went from performing one self-produced concert to appearing on billboards, receiving police escorts, and being surrounded by fans seeking autographs. By 2019, Martin was performing across 20 cities in 30 days. Then, while returning home from the tour, a hotel shuttle stopped abruptly. Martin flew forward into his luggage, dislocating his left pinky and spraining a finger on his right hand. For a concert pianist, the accident threatened far more than his next performance. It threatened his career, identity, independence, and reason for getting up each morning. What followed were four and a half years involving 21 specialists, 233 medical appointments, major surgery, intense pain, and countless unanswered questions. The struggle became even more isolating when the COVID-19 pandemic caused medical offices to close and delayed access to care. Medication initially concealed the severity of Martin’s injuries. He continued playing because the pain signals were being blocked—but the underlying damage remained. As the medication was reduced, the pain became overwhelming. Eventually, Martin could no longer cook, drive, shop for groceries, use his phone comfortably, or lift a teacup. Playing professionally was no longer the immediate goal. He first had to find a way to live as a human being without constant pain. Martin candidly discusses the grief of losing the identity he had built over decades. He describes setting aside “Martin the musician” and focusing on Martin the person. That emotional separation felt like hanging a treasured suit inside a closet, locking the door, and not knowing whether he would ever wear it again. His search for answers required relentless self-advocacy. When one specialist could not help, Martin found another. A crucial turning point came when a hand specialist recognized that the source of his pain was not actually in his hands. That revelation provided the small glimmer of hope he needed to continue searching. Martin also learned that musicians should be treated like elite athletes. Their bodies endure thousands of repetitive movements, demanding practice schedules, extensive travel, and long performances. Yet many silently perform through significant pain because the industry often stigmatizes injury. Recovery required Martin to rebuild from the ground up. He adjusted the height of his piano bench, changed his posture, learned to generate movement from his shoulders instead of overworking his hands, and incorporated warmups, cooldowns, stretching, nutrition, rest, and intentional self-care. Martin eventually returned to the piano and released Solo Piano Collection, featuring 16 pieces from throughout his career. The collection includes “New Beginnings,” the first piece he wrote and performed after returning to the instrument. Its artwork carries equally personal meaning. The cover features a sunrise Martin painted during art therapy after being asked to imagine what life might look like on the other side of recovery. Together, the painting and composition represent the new beginning he once struggled to believe was possible. In this episode, you will discover: • How Martin’s $35,000 gamble launched an international career • Why one accident led to more than four years of treatment • How chronic pain affected his career, identity, and mental health • Why musicians should be viewed as elite athletes • How self-advocacy helped Martin find the right medical team • Why the source of pain may not be where it appears • How small physical adjustments transformed his playing • Why recovery must begin with manageable steps • How art therapy inspired “New Beginnings” • Why sharing your struggle can help someone feel less alone Martin’s seed for the magic garden is simple but courageous: Share your story. Being the first person to stand up and admit that you are struggling can be frightening, but it gives others permission to stand beside you. Sometimes saying, “I’m struggling too,” is enough to remind another person that they are not alone. Connect with Martin: Website: https://martinmayr.com Music Website: https://martinmayrmusic.com Facebook and Instagram: @iammartinmayr Music: Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and Tidal Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, advocate for yourself, hold tightly to hope, speak up, and hit your sweet spot. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #MartinMayr #NewBeginnings #SoloPiano #ConcertPianist #ChronicPain #Resilience #MusicianHealth #SelfAdvocacy #MentalWellness
Transcribe →SANDY COHAN: BUILD THE MINDSET TO BECOME UNSHAKABLE
2d ago00:47:03Tap to summarizeSANDY COHAN: BUILD THE MINDSET TO BECOME UNSHAKABLE What separates high performers from everyone else when pressure rises, failure hits, or the plan falls apart? In this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Sandy Cohan, former hockey player, coach, bestselling author, global speaker, and founder of Mental Edge Hockey. Sandy explains how athletes, leaders, and everyday people can strengthen their mindset, perform under pressure, and maximize their potential. After his playing career ended, Sandy spent years coaching professional, collegiate, Olympic, and youth hockey players. He eventually realized that physical talent alone does not separate good performers from great ones. The missing piece is often mindset. Sandy identifies seven essential qualities: belief, attitude, grit, focus, emotional control, discipline, and self-awareness. These are not emergency tools used only when something goes wrong. They form the foundation beneath everything a person wants to accomplish. Adversity eventually reaches everyone. Sandy believes parents and coaches should not try to prevent every fall. Their responsibility is to teach young people how to get back up. Falling does not automatically mean failure, and failure does not define someone. The important question is: “Now what?” High performers do not necessarily forget difficult moments or completely “get over” them. They learn how to move through them. Instead of remaining trapped in disappointment, they identify the next useful action and return their attention to what they can control. Sandy also explains why success must be clearly defined. Moving through life without a target is like getting into a car and driving without knowing the destination. The target may change, but having direction allows us to evaluate our progress, adjust our behavior, and recognize meaningful victories. Perfection, however, is a dangerous target. It often grows from fear of judgment, criticism, and how others see us. Rather than chasing a flawless outcome, Sandy encourages people to pursue progress and become one percent better every day. True focus does not mean blocking everything out. It means locking in on the right actions. Outcomes matter, but we cannot always control them. We can control our preparation, effort, discipline, attitude, decisions, and response. The conversation explores the important relationship between belief and confidence. Sandy compares confidence to the visible portion of a tree and belief to its roots. Without strong roots, the tree cannot remain standing. Confidence grows when we remember previous successes and create a mental highlight reel of times when we performed well. Thoughts are not facts. A fearful thought does not prove that something bad will happen. Instead of constantly asking, “What if I fail?” Sandy suggests considering the opposite possibility: What if it works? What if this becomes your best decision, performance, or opportunity? Elite performers practice pressure until their responses become familiar. Michael Jordan missed more shots than he made. Alex Ovechkin became hockey’s greatest goal scorer while failing to score on most of his attempts. Their success came from continuing to shoot, trusting their preparation, and focusing on their actions instead of obsessing over statistics. In this episode, you will discover: • Sandy’s seven foundations of a powerful mindset • Why adversity should be navigated rather than avoided • How high performers reset after mistakes • Why focus means locking in—not merely blocking out • How belief creates lasting confidence • Why thoughts should never be confused with facts • How practicing pressure creates dependable responses • Why actions and behaviors matter more than outcomes • How to distinguish between what you want and what you need • Why youth sports should develop better human beings Sandy’s seed for the magic garden centers on self-talk. If you would not say something cruel or destructive to another person, do not say it to yourself. Correct the mistake, learn from it, and prepare for the next opportunity—but do not become your own worst opponent. Ultimately, Sandy is not simply developing better hockey players. He wants to help build stronger human beings who believe in themselves, manage pressure, enter future locker rooms and boardrooms with confidence, and maximize their potential wherever life takes them. Connect with Sandy: Website: https://sandycohan.com Mental Edge Hockey: https://mentaledgehockey.com Instagram: @sandycohanofficial Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, doubt your doubts, keep shooting, and lock in on the next right action. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #SandyCohan #MentalEdgeHockey #Mindset #MentalPerformance #Confidence #Focus #Resilience #HighPerformance To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
Transcribe →KATE MARKLAND: WHEN ONE HOUR A WEEK BECOMES AN UNBREAKABLE STORY
2d ago00:47:58Tap to summarizeKATE MARKLAND: WHEN ONE HOUR A WEEK BECOMES AN UNBREAKABLE STORY What can a mother and son build when nearly everything is taken from them except one weekly conversation? In this deeply personal episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Kate Markland, former physiotherapist, business consultant, author, and founder of StoryQuest. Kate shares how an agonizing separation from her son, Gabriel, unexpectedly led them to create an Amazon bestselling children’s series—and a storytelling method now inspiring children around the world. Kate spent years running physiotherapy clinics before selling her final practice following the 2020 lockdowns. She then began helping other clinic owners understand what she calls the “anatomy and physiology of a business.” In 2023, Kate and nine-year-old Gabriel left a difficult personal environment to stay with a friend. According to Kate, what followed was a nationwide search, police intervention, family-court proceedings, and the traumatic removal of Gabriel only days before his tenth birthday. Kate recounts watching officers take her barefoot son from the house and place him inside a police van. She says she was not told where he was being taken and later discovered that court proceedings had occurred without her participation. Eventually, she was allowed only one hour of FaceTime contact with Gabriel each week. Faced with a system she believed was unwilling to hear her, Kate made a decision: she would not quit, and she would use every available minute to protect her relationship with her son. At first, Kate read illustrated books to Gabriel during their weekly calls. Storytelling had always been central to their family. Gabriel loved bedtime stories, audiobooks, and creating adventures, while Kate grew up listening to her grandfather recite poems and monologues. After several months, Kate asked Gabriel a simple question: “Shall we make up a story where you’re the hero?” Gabriel immediately began creating a world filled with extraordinary characters and adventures. Kate became his scribe, recording his ideas without correcting or restricting his imagination. During each call, she read the previous story back to him, invited his edits, and helped him continue. After approximately eight weeks, they had created six short stories. Kate organized everything into a Word document merely to clean up her desktop. When Gabriel saw it, he recognized something she had not yet seen. “Mum, it’s a book.” They published The Adventures of Gabriel, which became an Amazon bestseller. What began as a way to preserve their connection became a larger mission centered on children’s creativity, confidence, identity, and self-leadership. Kate realized that her storytelling process mirrored her work as a physiotherapist. Instead of listening for the story behind someone’s pain, she was listening for the worlds inside a child’s imagination. The storyteller speaks freely, a partner acts as the scribe, and the story is read back so its creator can expand and refine it. Kate brought this process into schools. Hundreds of children—including reluctant writers and pupils with different learning needs—were invited to become heroes in their own stories. By separating imagination from the pressure of spelling, grammar, and the blank page, StoryQuest allowed children to focus on one task at a time and discover that their ideas mattered. The stories have since gained attention across the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Canada, the United States, and Argentina. Kate believes children’s stories can cross educational, cultural, and political borders that adults often cannot. In this episode, you will discover: • How Kate transformed weekly FaceTime calls into a bestselling series • Why listening without correcting unlocks a child’s imagination • What “Mum, it’s a book” taught Kate about believing children • How storytelling helped Kate and Gabriel survive separation • Why every child deserves to become the hero of a story • How oral storytelling removes barriers for reluctant writers • Why creativity can build confidence and self-leadership • How children’s stories can cross borders and create connection • Why resilience sometimes means refusing to quit Each book reflects another stage of their journey. The first centers on perseverance. The second introduces a resurrected dodo named Hope and explores the return of hope. The third examines identity and freedom from the prisons, labels, and limitations imposed by others. Kate’s seed for the magic garden comes from Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If,” which her grandfather repeatedly recited to her. She never imagined how deeply she would need its lessons decades later. Her message is a reminder that oral stories, poems, and words planted during childhood can become sources of strength when life demands everything we possess. Connect with Kate: Website: https://storyquestglobal.com LinkedIn: Kate Markland Book Series: The Adventures of Gabriel Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, never stop listening, refuse to quit, and give every child the freedom to tell their story. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #KateMarkland #StoryQuest #TheAdventuresOfGabriel #ChildrensBooks #Storytelling #Resilience #ChildrensVoices #SelfLeadership #NeverQuit To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
Transcribe →CHIP SCHOLZ: SMALL DECISIONS CREATE BIG SHIFTS
3d ago00:44:49Tap to summarizeCHIP SCHOLZ: SMALL DECISIONS CREATE BIG SHIFTS What if changing your life does not require one enormous breakthrough—but a series of small, intentional decisions made every day? In this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Chip Scholz, executive coach, speaker, author, woodturner, husband of 42 years, and proud father of three daughters. Chip shares lessons from nearly three decades of coaching leaders, working with family, recovering from a stroke, embracing creativity, and learning when leadership requires letting go. After being laid off from a corporate position in California in 1998, Chip and his family moved to North Carolina. He knew he wanted to work for himself, but he arrived without an established network or local reputation. The first five years were difficult, yet one speaking opportunity at a Rotary Club introduced him to the warehousing and logistics industry. That connection led to regional and national conferences, assessment work, leadership programs, and executive-coaching relationships around the world. Chip has now spent more than 20 years working within logistics and has led one client’s leadership program for 17 years. Chip explains that careers rarely follow straight lines. His guiding phrase is “Semper Gumby”—always flexible. Plans change, opportunities disappear, and unexpected paths open. The key is remaining flexible enough to change direction without abandoning your values. That flexibility became essential after Chip suffered a stroke in 2012. Although he does not want the stroke to define his story, it became a pivotal moment. His wife gave him a lathe for Christmas, introducing him to woodturning. Working with spinning wood demanded concentration, movement, patience, and creativity while helping him rebuild his cognitive abilities. Recovery also required daily action. Chip initially could not walk around the block, but he began making the decision to put on his shoes and walk. Over two years, he walked approximately 3,500 miles and lost 110 pounds. The transformation did not come from one heroic act. It came from repeatedly choosing the next right action. That philosophy inspired his book Small Decisions, Big Shifts. Chip reminds listeners that every decision leads toward an outcome. The routines of work, family, school, and responsibility can create a whirlwind that consumes our attention. Meaningful change begins when we intentionally make room for what matters most. Uncle Dave and Chip also explore delegation, succession, and why many leaders hold on too long. Chip says fear is natural, but leaders must name it, understand it, and discuss it honestly. Delegation requires trust, humility, and the willingness to accept that another person may accomplish the goal differently. Leadership eventually requires a shift from doing to being. Early in our careers, we are rewarded for personal performance. Once we lead others, our responsibility becomes developing people, communicating outcomes, and giving someone else the same opportunity once given to us. Chip believes strong leaders do not need to be the smartest people in the room. They surround themselves with capable people, listen to different perspectives, and remain focused on results—as long as the methods remain legal, moral, and ethical. In this episode, you will discover: • Why small daily choices produce major transformations • How Chip rebuilt his life after a stroke • Why woodturning became part of his recovery • What “Semper Gumby” teaches about flexibility • Why delegation is fundamentally about trust • How identity can prevent leaders from letting go • Why leaders must move from doing to being • How honest coaches and mentors expose blind spots • Why curiosity helps us continue growing at every age • How storytelling can transfer wisdom without controlling others Chip also discusses his books Every Dog Has Its Day: Reflections on Life, Love, and the Lathe and Small Decisions, Big Shifts. His upcoming fiction book, Handoffs, explores an aging owner, his adult son, family-business succession, control, identity, and the difficult process of passing leadership to the next generation. His message is clear: Get over yourself, remain curious, trust capable people, and make the small decisions that move you toward the life you want. You may not control every turn, but you can choose how you respond. Connect with Chip: Books: Small Decisions, Big Shifts Every Dog Has Its Day: Reflections on Life, Love, and the Lathe Upcoming Book: Handoffs Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, stay flexible, remain curious, and make the next right decision. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #ChipScholz #SmallDecisionsBigShifts #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #Delegation #StrokeRecovery #Woodturning #SemperGumby #Curiosity To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
Transcribe →NANCY DEYO: WHEN PUSHING THROUGH STOPS WORKING
3d ago00:44:01Tap to summarizeNANCY DEYO: WHEN PUSHING THROUGH STOPS WORKING What happens when the determination that created your success becomes the very thing causing you harm? In this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Nancy Deyo, former Silicon Valley CEO, writer, speaker, resilience advocate, and longtime champion for women and girls. Nancy shares how business failure, a devastating injury, 15 years of chronic pain, and opioid dependence forced her to redefine resilience and rebuild her identity. Nancy was the CEO of Purple Moon, an innovative technology company created to help adolescent girls become comfortable and competitive with computers. The company combined software, internet experiences, collectibles, and books designed specifically for girls. Nancy built a team that was approximately 94 percent women and believed in hiring the smartest people possible. However, her leadership example came with a cost. She worked longer, pushed harder, and measured herself by how many goals she could surpass and how much she could endure. When Purple Moon began running out of money, Nancy sold it to a competitor she considered an archrival. Although others viewed the sale as an accomplishment, Nancy experienced it as a personal failure. Determined to prove she could still achieve something meaningful, she decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Two weeks before the climb, Nancy injured her back. Instead of stopping, she compartmentalized the pain and continued. Her team eventually fashioned a back brace from duct tape and an inflatable pillow. At 16,000 feet, she collapsed in a tent, unable to move her legs and feeling as if a steel rod were being driven through her spine. That moment exposed the danger in the strategy that had guided her life: pushing harder could no longer solve the problem. The injury began a 15-year struggle with debilitating chronic pain. Nancy spent years lying down beside a supply of opioids, grieving the athlete, CEO, wife, and active person she had once been. Even after surgery repaired the original damage, her nervous system remained sensitized, creating a cycle of pain, fear, isolation, and declining function. A pain-rehabilitation and detoxification program attempted to remove the medication and rapidly restore physical activity. Nancy’s body could not tolerate the aggressive approach, and she entered the hospital unable to walk and requiring even higher doses of opioids. Nancy finally recognized that the medical system had done what it could. Her survival required a different strategy: listening to her body, respecting its limits, releasing the person she used to be, and directing her remaining energy toward what was still possible. A therapist encouraged Nancy to accept a “new normal.” Nancy hated the phrase until she understood that acceptance was not surrender. She did not have to give up; she needed to stop fighting herself long enough to move forward. Unable to sit in a classroom, Nancy enrolled in graduate school and attended while lying on an army cot. During orientation, she told her classmates, “I’m good with it, so you can be too.” Months later, those classmates challenged her description of herself as a disabled chronic-pain patient. They saw a capable contributor who simply happened to work lying down. Nancy realized that her limitations affected her—but did not define her. She eventually traveled by purchasing three airplane seats so she could lie down, returned to meaningful work, strengthened her body, regained function, and completed a careful yearlong opioid taper under the care of a compassionate physician. In this episode, you will discover: • Why pushing through is not always genuine resilience • How professional failure can damage identity and self-worth • What Mount Kilimanjaro taught Nancy about listening to her body • Why accepting a new normal is not the same as giving up • How Nancy attended graduate school while lying on a cot • Why chronic pain patients can feel blamed or dismissed • How medical bias may affect women’s treatment • Why our roles and limitations should never define our worth • How focusing on what remains possible can reopen a life Nancy’s seed for the magic garden is to separate yourself from your professional roles. Titles such as CEO—and labels such as chronic-pain patient—may describe part of an experience, but they are not your complete identity. Determine what is true, stay aligned with your body and mind, focus on what you can do, and take the first step before you feel completely ready. Connect with Nancy: Website: https://nancydeyo.com Substack—Life Inside Pain: https://nancydeyo.substack.com Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, bring awesome thoughts, listen to your body, remain authentic, and hit your sweet spot. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #NancyDeyo #LifeInsidePain #ChronicPain #Resilience #Identity #WomenInLeadership #OpioidRecovery #NewNormal #Authenticity To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
Transcribe →REGINA HUBER: LEAD WITH HEART, ENERGY, AND YOUR UNIQUE BRILLIANCE
4d ago00:39:57Tap to summarizeREGINA HUBER: LEAD WITH HEART, ENERGY, AND YOUR UNIQUE BRILLIANCE What can dancing teach us about trust, communication, leadership, and empowering ourselves? In this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Regina Huber, leadership coach, speaker, trainer, author, and founder of Transform Your Performance. Regina shares how her international business experience, passion for dance, and heart-centered approach help leaders build trust, recognize talent, and create thriving teams. Regina grew up in a tiny Bavarian village of approximately ten houses before moving to Munich, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, New York City, and Florida. She spent 16 years with Boston Consulting Group, helped open offices in Portugal and Brazil, built brick-and-mortar businesses, and eventually launched her own coaching, speaking, and training company. Although Regina did not grow up dancing, it became one of her greatest teachers. Partner dancing requires a leader and follower to communicate without words. If the leader cannot clearly express an intention through movement, energy, and body language, the follower will not feel safe or know where to go. The same principle applies in business. Leadership is not merely about words, titles, clothing, or carefully prepared presentations. People quickly sense whether someone is confident, authentic, and trustworthy. Regina explains that energy often communicates faster—and louder—than words. Dance also teaches awareness of space, cooperation, and trust. Whether moving through a crowded floor or being lifted into the air, every dancer must understand their role while remaining aware of the people around them. Teams operate the same way: individuals need clarity, communication, responsibility, and confidence that others will support them. Regina defines heart-centered leadership as putting people at the center of an organization. When business results decline, leaders often focus first on numbers. However, the people create those results. By investing in employees, listening to them, and understanding their strengths, leaders create the conditions for performance to improve. Her New Paradigm Leadership framework contains four elements: heart, mind, message, and trust. Heart represents compassion, courage, intuition, and accumulated wisdom. Mind represents mindset. Message covers communication, while trust is the glue that allows teams, creativity, and innovation to flourish. True leadership begins with self-leadership. A thriving leader is more likely to create a thriving team. Leaders must develop self-awareness, care for their well-being, communicate the larger vision, and include others in decisions when appropriate. Delegation becomes more effective when people feel challenged, valued, and connected to a meaningful purpose. Regina also encourages leaders to become genuinely curious about their team members. Someone may possess hidden abilities that never appear in a formal job description. By asking deeper questions, leaders may discover that employees can contribute more effectively—and feel more fulfilled—in different roles. Everyone possesses what Regina calls “unique brilliance.” When leaders understand their own brilliance, they become less threatened by the talents of others. Leadership stops being a competition and becomes an opportunity to combine complementary strengths. In this episode, you will discover: • What partner dancing teaches about leadership and trust • Why energy and body language speak louder than words • How heart-centered leaders improve business performance • Regina’s four-part New Paradigm Leadership framework • Why courage and curiosity are essential leadership qualities • How leaders can uncover hidden talent within their teams • Why authentic leadership begins with self-awareness • How to identify and value your unique brilliance • Why business owners can become trapped by the success they created • What it truly means to empower yourself Regina recommends listing your talents, skills, positive qualities, and accomplishments. Ask trusted people what they value in you and where you can grow. This practice can strengthen confidence while revealing possibilities you may have overlooked. Her final message is direct: Nobody else can empower you. Leaders, coaches, and communities can offer guidance, but empowerment remains an individual decision. Do not wait for someone else to grant permission to become who you are capable of being. Connect with Regina: Website: https://transformyourperformance.com Invisible Success Trap Audit: https://reginahuber.com/audit Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, bring awesome thoughts, lead with heart, and be authentic. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #ReginaHuber #TransformYourPerformance #Leadership #HeartCenteredLeadership #ExecutivePresence #SelfLeadership #Authenticity #UniqueBrilliance To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
Transcribe →ANNIE EMPRIMA: WHEN TRAUMA RIPPLES, HEALING CAN RIPPLE TOO
5d ago01:20:22Tap to summarizeANNIE EMPRIMA: WHEN TRAUMA RIPPLES, HEALING CAN RIPPLE TOO What if healing required more than addressing the mind and body? What if the soul, nervous system, memories, and earlier versions of ourselves also carried wisdom we needed to hear? In this deeply personal episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Annie Emprima, a veteran and metaphysical trauma researcher who explores healing through a mind-body-soul perspective. Rather than conducting a traditional interview, Uncle Dave hands Annie the reins and participates in a guided healing session. Annie’s journey began during a military deployment in 2016, when she says her intuitive senses suddenly intensified. Over the following decade, she studied trauma beyond conventional medical and mental-health frameworks. She developed modalities intended to help people reconnect with parts of themselves that no longer feel authentic or aligned with their path. Annie guides Uncle Dave into a symbolic “black room,” where emotionally significant memories appear as murals. Together, they enter those scenes as observers and connect with earlier versions of Dave who were carrying grief, guilt, loneliness, fear, and unanswered questions. The first memory brings Dave to the funeral of a girlfriend whose death left him overwhelmed by sadness and survivor guilt. Through breathwork and visualization, Annie helps him offer his younger self the compassion and support he did not receive at the time. He reminds that version of himself that he is loved, supported, and capable of eventually finding joy beyond the pain. The second scene involves eight-year-old Dave crying at his grandmother’s home because he wanted to be with his friends. What initially appears to be a childhood disappointment reveals a deeper pattern of feeling excluded, unheard, and unable to see the larger picture. Looking back, Dave recognizes that he missed an opportunity to appreciate time with his grandmother—but also understands that a child cannot possess the perspective of an adult. That eight-year-old version of Dave then accompanies them into one of his darkest adult experiences: a period of suicidal ideation. Together with Annie and symbolic ancestral support, the different versions of Dave surround the man who could not see beyond his pain. They remind him that he is not alone, his future contains experiences he cannot yet imagine, and his story will eventually help others heal. The session reveals an unexpected connection between Dave’s childhood love of baseball, his need for community, and the mission behind Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat. What appeared to be a simple childhood passion was already pointing him toward connection, storytelling, teamwork, and service. Annie explains that healing does not require revisiting every painful memory. The focus should be on wounds that continue interfering with the present. Even joyful or seemingly unimportant memories may contain valuable wisdom because the soul does not measure significance in the same way as the conscious mind. In this episode, you will discover: • Why Annie views trauma as a 360-degree mind-body-soul experience • How guided visualization can uncover patterns within memories • Why survivor guilt may remain hidden for years • What Uncle Dave learned from his eight-year-old self • How childhood exclusion can influence adult experiences • Why support and communication matter during emotional crises • How storytelling can transform pain into connection • Why healing one person can affect families and communities • What it means to move from awareness to alignment and alchemy Annie leaves listeners with an important message: Trauma ripples. Unhealed wounds can affect spouses, children, friends, pets, workplaces, classrooms, and communities. However, healing ripples too. We cannot heal another person or override their free will, but we can take responsibility for ourselves, change what we carry forward, and positively influence those around us. Connect with Annie: Website: annieemprima.com Book: Trauma Whispers Before It Roars Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, tell your story, support your community, and hit your sweet spot. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #AnnieEmprima #TraumaHealing #InnerChildHealing #MindBodySoul #HealingJourney #SelfAwareness #Community #Authenticity To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
Transcribe →THOMAS “TJ” BAIRD: HOW TELLING YOUR STORY CAN SAVE A LIFE
5d ago00:46:51Tap to summarizeTHOMAS “TJ” BAIRD: HOW TELLING YOUR STORY CAN SAVE A LIFE What happens when a battle-tested leader discovers that the most courageous thing he can do is reveal the struggles behind the uniform? In this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Thomas “TJ” Baird, retired Army Command Sergeant Major, bestselling author, speaker, husband, and girl dad. After 32 years of service, more than 20 worldwide deployments, and nine combat deployments, TJ shares how poetry, fatherhood, friendship, and storytelling helped save his life. TJ’s book, Warrior Dad, began with poems and haikus written for his daughter during his final deployment to Afghanistan. She had given him a stuffed animal named Cool Bear, who traveled with TJ and even flew aboard an F-16. The poems helped them remain connected and assured his daughter that she was never forgotten. The story carries a deeper purpose. When his daughter was six, she told TJ that he had become too frightening and wanted to return to her mother. Her honesty brought him to his knees. TJ knew he needed to change, but healing was not immediate. He struggled through dark periods, suicidal thoughts, traumatic brain injury, and years of difficult personal work. A trusted friend quietly removed a loaded pistol from TJ’s home after recognizing the danger. Later, treatment at a polytrauma center, creative therapies, writing, family support, and self-examination helped TJ begin what he calls his Reforged journey. Writing allowed him to confront buried experiences and transform pain into connection. TJ explains that sharing a story lightens the burden because another person may recognize that they are not alone. It also reminds the storyteller to keep walking the path of recovery. Uncle Dave and TJ discuss why nobody else can own your story. Two people—even identical twins—can experience the same event and carry away different truths. Honest stories reveal failures and victories, close the distance between leaders and those they serve, and create lessons capable of changing lives. Retirement brought another challenge: separating identity from rank. TJ is no longer Command Sergeant Major Baird; he is TJ Baird. Titles and outside recognition are not self-worth. He encourages people facing transition to create a five-year roadmap and build their next chapter around values, passion, and purpose. TJ’s guiding principles include smiling, remaining disciplined in thought, word, and deed, making the team better tomorrow, staying fit in mind, body, and spirit, and living life fully. The conversation also honors the unseen people behind every successful mission. The final one percent cannot happen without the 99 percent handling preparation, logistics, security, communication, and support. Strong leaders ensure everyone understands that their contribution matters. In this episode, you will discover: • How Warrior Dad became a love letter to TJ’s daughter • Why writing became part of his healing • How one friend helped save his life • Why sharing difficult stories reduces isolation • How to rebuild identity after leaving a major career • Why personal values matter more than titles • How leaders recognize people working behind the scenes • Why failure can become a lesson that strengthens others TJ leaves listeners with one clear challenge: Tell your story. Share the mistakes, support, lessons, and moments that helped you rise. As his wife’s tattoo says, “Fall seven, rise eight.” Your experience may be what someone else needs to begin again. Connect with TJ: Website: warriordadstories.com Book: Warrior Dad Companion Guide and Creative Forge: Available through his website Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, bring awesome thoughts, tell your story, and rise again. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #TJBaird #WarriorDad #VeteranStories #MentalHealth #WritingToHeal #Leadership #Fatherhood #Resilience #Reforged To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
Transcribe →ROY CASTLEMAN: BUILD A BUSINESS WITHOUT BUILDING YOURSELF A PRISON
5d ago00:42:11Tap to summarizeROY CASTLEMAN: BUILD A BUSINESS WITHOUT BUILDING YOURSELF A PRISON What if entrepreneurship became the very thing trapping you—and what would it take to reclaim your time, health, and purpose? In this episode of Peace, Love, and Bring a Bat, Uncle Dave welcomes Roy Castleman, entrepreneur, business coach, AI strategist, Wim Hof instructor, and founder of All The Power. Roy shares lessons from building 15 companies, losing millions, surviving a mental-health crisis, and creating businesses that thrive without consuming their owners. Roy arrived in the United Kingdom from South Africa in 1996 knowing almost nothing about computers. After landing an IT job, he secretly called his brother from client restrooms whenever he needed help. Years later, Roy bought the company that first hired him. Since 2002, Roy has launched 15 companies. Some failed; four reached seven figures. His warning to entrepreneurs is blunt: avoid shiny objects. Ideas are plentiful, but success requires choosing a meaningful vision and staying focused. In 2017, Roy was running two IT companies while working 14 hours a day, seven days a week. By implementing repeatable systems and empowering his team, he reduced his involvement to roughly five hours per week. He then acquired another company and prepared the group to operate independently. Roy explains that a business needs its own identity, culture, systems, and vision. Founders become bottlenecks when they make every decision or expect employees to work exactly as they would. Strong leaders accept 80 percent, then give people room to grow and surpass them. The conversation turns deeply personal as Roy describes losing millions after COVID-19 devastated his indoor adventure center. During an extremely dark moment, he stood atop a 130-foot tower intending to end his life. Three rounds of Wim Hof breathing gave him enough space to pause, climb down, and take the next step. That experience reshaped Roy’s coaching. Business owners cannot separate growth from physical and mental health. Breathwork, cold exposure, relationships, and resilience help leaders make decisions from facts instead of fear. Roy recommends using AI as a 60-percent tool—not a replacement for judgment, creativity, or authenticity. It can organize knowledge, document systems, repurpose stories, and complete weeks of work in hours. But it needs the owner’s experiences, brand, voice, audience, and processes. Otherwise, it produces generic “AI slop.” Roy authored Thinking Outside Your Brain with AI in nine days. AI helped interview him, organize approximately 150 stories, and structure the manuscript, but the experiences, lessons, emotions, and voice remained his. In this episode, you will discover: • Why focus matters more than having endless ideas • How systems can return time and freedom to business owners • Why founders must stop becoming their company’s bottleneck • How breathwork helped Roy survive his darkest moment • Why health and resilience belong in every growth strategy • How to use AI without losing your authentic voice • Why businesses should operate without the founder • How failure can become the beginning of something new Roy’s final lesson is simple: Never undervalue what you have. Your experience, mistakes, resilience, and shortcuts can save someone else enormous time and pain. Measure the value of the problem you solve—not the limited value you place on yourself. Connect with Roy: Website: allthepower.co.uk LinkedIn: Roy Castleman Book: Thinking Outside Your Brain with AI Bring peace and love into your life. When necessary, bring a bat, bring awesome thoughts, and be authentic today. #PeaceLoveAndBringABat #UncleDave #RoyCastleman #AllThePower #Entrepreneurship #BusinessSystems #AI #Leadership #Resilience #WimHof #Authenticity To support us: https://davidchametzky.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@davidchametzkyNOW https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/peace-love-and-bring-a-bat/id1552738547
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