Episode 02 – Judgment

Main concepts covered in this episode:

• What is Judgment? 
• Contributing Factors
• Staying In The Solution

Resources discussed in this episode:

• TED Talk: Could Heavy Metal Music Help Maintain Your Mental Health? Mark Deeks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDL3rnGgi8s 

• Bonus additional resource – Beth Roars did a video called Metal Music Makes You Calmer? Your Brain on Metal: https://youtu.be/fPL6SxdgYEs?si=BakQ67wZQ8sVgpXB 
• The Man In The Arena: https://www.worldfuturefund.org/Documents/maninarena.htm
• Our Flag Means Death – I was not able to find the scene referenced in this episode on YouTube, but it’s from Season 1, Episode 5: “The Best Revenge Is Dressing Well”. In brief, Stede and Ed are in a room full of aristocrats and Stede tells Ed that this is a fickle crowd.
• Juicy by Biggie music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZom_gVfuw
  • Correction 12:53 from “some days” to birthdays. The full lyric is:
    Birthdays was the worst days
    Now we sip Champagne when we thirsty
• Joshua Bell experiment: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/pearls-before-breakfast-can-one-of-the-nations-great-musicians-cut-through-the-fog-of-a-dc-rush-hour-lets-find-out/2014/09/23/8a6d46da-4331-11e4-b47c-f5889e061e5f_story.html?utm_term=.751bc9d3d16f 
• Eartha Kitt interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlUjHu3H_L4 
• Tracee Ellis Ross:
  • https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/tracee-ellis-ross-gets-candid-about-dating/ 
  • Interview with Oprah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vMCUv2DihY 
• Stanzi’s video The Trial of Chappell Roan: https://youtu.be/QpteSrUNjpo?si=IyEVd1wXt0_uWwIv 
• Think and Grow Rich – borrow from a library/Libby, or buy from Bookshop.org, who funnels sales to independent bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/think-and-grow-rich-napoleon-hill/d6ed9b9530e2600b?ean=9781585424337&next=t 
• Skin horse quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/304174-the-skin-horse-had-lived-longer-in-the-nursery-than 
• The Power of Vulnerability TED Talk by Brené Brown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o 
• Hayao Miyazaki’s founder of Studio Ghibli thoughts on artificial intelligence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngZ0K3lWKRc 

PERSONAL INVENTORY GUIDE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12AZlSNEBwXiNvQx8TogT4ljFyGkA5eGP4vLF3H59yr4/edit?usp=sharing

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Motivational Minute 02 Doubt Only Dies If You Keep Pouring Trust In

This quick burst of motivation is focused on facing judgment, which can often be a barrier between us and what’s meant for us.

This is a taste of the full-length episode Judgment, which goes live on Thursday, June 11th, 2026.

Support is always appreciated! Likes, comments, and subscriptions are welcome! If you’d like to further support Smashing Success Stories, a one-time and/or monthly Ko-Fi donations are available.

Patrons get exclusive content and credit in videos; Patreon information can be found here.

Motivational Minute 01 Cant See The End From The Start

This quick burst of motivation is focused on getting started – every great journey starts with the first step!

This is a taste of the full-length episode Just Get Started 🙂

Support is always appreciated! Likes, comments, and subscriptions are welcome! If you’d like to further support Smashing Success Stories, a one-time and/or monthly Ko-Fi donations are available.

Patrons get exclusive content and credit in videos; Patreon information can be found here.

Episode 01 – Just Get Started

This episode addresses a simple concept that often can be difficult to execute – HOW TO GET STARTED.

The key concept is simple: DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT

High-level overview:

• Just get started
• Know that there will be barriers to face
• Mistakes will be made
• Excuses and insecurities are loud

We are going to tackle this with a three step process:

1. Acknowledge
2. Accept
3. ACTION

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Big Bang Theory video (It’s a wave!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnHnzpbqE-Y 

• On Writing by Stephen King (Bookshop.org) – note that I do NOT get affiliate/commissions from this: https://bookshop.org/p/books/on-writing-a-memoir-of-the-craft-stephen-king/35694917f8e2e375?ean=9781982159375&next=t 

• Greatday.com

• University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address – Admiral William H. McRaven (Make Your Bed): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70 

• Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis (Hungarian doctor handwashing)
  • Correction: I mentioned infant mortality rates decreasing; the statistic is related to new mothers
  • https://youtu.be/UnV05wN3ZGs?si=t3rE6vjr0z3X3KpY 

• Ryker Road reaction to Afraid of the Dark
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9ev0Il6v_U&t=641s 
  • Referenced point starts at 7:19
• I created a guide and a workbook to supplement this episode – once the workbook is opened, click on File – Make a Copy. Use this as a template for your goal-setting process, and create a copy when you’re ready to get started on one of your goals! The guide has some examples, too 🙂

Support is always appreciated! Likes, comments, and subscriptions are welcome! If you’d like to further support Smashing Success Stories, a one-time and/or monthly Ko-Fi donations are available.

Patrons get exclusive content and credit in videos; Patreon information can be found here.