Truth Tastes Funny With Hersh Rephun podcast

37:44

Ryan DeLena and his dad Rob join Hersh to talk about labels, limits, and the true realization of potential on this episode of Truth Tastes Funny. When Ryan DeLena was five years old, he was placed in a therapeutic school that relied on detrimental methods of behavior modification such as physical restraint. He was heavily medicated and four years later, was voluntarily committed to a mental hospital for further evaluation. His parents Rob and Mary Beth were counseled to place him in a group home. They refused. Today, Ryan is the youngest person to ski tour in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, having completed expeditions in Antarctica (2018), Svalbard (2022), and Baffin Island (2023). He was featured on the cover of Backcountry Ski Maps, and he’s climbed and skied peaks in Chile, Argentina, Oregon, Washington, and more. He graduated from Vermont State University in 2024. When he’s not on skis, Ryan is an enthusiastic rock climber, ice climber, and avid hiker, summiting the Grand Teton twice and completing the “Hundred Highest” hiking peaks in New England. Connect with Ryan: Website - https://ryandelena.com/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkxyySYYWjELdMUwMi-A18A Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/extreme_ryan_delena/ (0:00) Ryan DeLena's early struggles, love for skiing, and introduction by Hersh Rephun (2:00) Ryan and Rob DeLena join the podcast, discussing early school challenges (5:02) Ryan's behavior, impact of therapeutic school, and Rob's perspective (8:10) The negative impact of therapeutic schools, medication, and skiing as a positive outlet (17:39) Transitioning out of therapeutic schools, finding agency, and societal pressures (23:08) Reflections on parental guilt, the role of doctors and educators (25:18) Discussing diagnoses, labels, and ADHD (27:45) Overcoming diagnoses and reclaiming self-perception (31:32) Future plans, upcoming adventures, and advice for non-conformists (35:59) Parental perspective, personal growth, and concluding thoughts…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

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From Finance to Funny: Jim Flynn on Life, and it's Not Brain Surgery 28:22

5 weeks ago28:22

28:22

Jim Flynn shares his remarkable journey from the finance world to becoming a successful author. Following a life-altering brain surgery, Jim found a new perspective and direction in life, leading him to write bestsellers. The conversation delves into his influences, decisions, and the intersection of finance and writing. Jim and Hersh discuss their writing styles, comedy, and the evolution of jokes. They reflect on the comedy profession and Jim's future plans. The episode also offers writing tips and emphasizes professionalism. Jim's personal growth, influenced by surgery, aging, and family, is highlighted, concluding with a promotion of his work and final thoughts. Connect with Jim at https://www.jimflynnsix.com/ (0:00) Introduction and Jim's Journey from Finance to Writing (3:20) Jim's Brain Surgery and Life Changes (6:35) Influences and Decisions: Finance and Writing (9:00) Exploring Jim's Bestsellers and Literary Success (12:29) Hersh and Jim on Writing Styles and Comedy (16:12) Standup Comedy Plans and Joke Evolution (21:35) Reflecting on the Comedy Profession and Future Plans (24:08) Writing Tips and Professionalism in Literature (25:23) Personal Growth: Surgery, Age, and Family Influence (27:00) Conclusion: Promoting Jim's Work and Closing Thoughts…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

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Balancing Goals and Distractions: Tina Collura's Advice for the New Year 20:26

6 weeks ago20:26

20:26

Tina Collura, an award-winning Productivity and Business Development Coach who leverages 14+ years of entrepreneurial expertise to drive businesses from surviving to thriving. Through personalized consultations, she helps business owners develop growth models that will help them secure deals and triples entrepreneurs' income swiftly. As a dynamic Keynote Speaker, Tina shares insights globally on business development and productivity. She's not just a consultant but a dedicated strategic partner empowering entrepreneurs on their path to success. Connect with Tina https://www.seeyourselfgrow.com/ https://hihello.me/p/abf99156-04af-433a-abbc-44ceeddcfcb7 (0:00) Introduction and Challenges in the New Year (4:22) Society, Distractions, and Managing To-Do Lists (7:17) Realistic Goal Setting and the Big Picture (12:19) Balancing External Events with Personal Goals (17:53) Advice for New Entrepreneurs (19:36) Where to Find Tina Collura Online…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

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David Weiss on Questioning Reality and Rediscovering Personal Power 1:09:03

7 weeks ago1:09:03

1:09:03

David Weiss, also known as Flat Earth Dave, dives into the depths of alternative cosmology in this episode. He challenges the conventional understanding of space, gravity, and Earth's movement, sparking a discussion on the reliability of scientific evidence and expert credibility, including figures like Neil deGrasse Tyson. David and Hersh explore the purpose and logic behind various conspiracy theories, including control theories and the significance of the Georgia Guidestones. They emphasize the importance of questioning reality, understanding societal power dynamics, and overcoming fear to rediscover personal power. The episode concludes with reflections on critical thinking and a preview of future discussions. Connect with Dave at https://flatearthdave.com/ (0:00) Introduction to David Weiss and questioning space concepts (5:02) Evidence reliability and scientific methods discussion (9:03) Challenging gravity and Earth's movement (14:17) Hersh Rephun on empirical evidence and Wikipedia (21:42) Credibility of experts and Neil deGrasse Tyson (25:12) Comparing visual effects to reality perceptions (29:53) Purpose and logic behind conspiracies (39:12) Control theories explained with plane routes (44:47) Human significance in conspiracy theories (46:44) Power, control, and self-determination in society (48:06) NASA's influence and hidden clues (50:25) Significance of the Georgia Guidestones (53:44) Questioning education and critical thinking (55:16) Overcoming fear and rediscovering personal power (57:06) Importance of understanding and questioning reality (1:00:09) Exposing the space station and zero gravity flights (1:04:12) Encouraging knowledge pursuit and critical thinking (1:08:05) Closing thoughts and listener appreciation (1:09:15) Hersh's reflections and episode preview (1:11:30) Acknowledgments and sponsor message (1:12:05) Sponsor: BetterHelp (1:12:45) Final jokes and sign-off…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

1
Navigating Burnout and Finding Purpose with Jean-Francois Lappas 43:04

8 weeks ago43:04

43:04

"JF" burned-out and quit his 6-fig corporate job during the pandemic. He then reset his whole life, and has since been investing his time and savings into building a business he’s truly passionate about. He believes that, for an individual to be truly happy, they must be supported in exploring all possible ways to self-realize. That's why - through his coaching platform, wabya - he aims to bring self-actualization to 1 billion people by 2033. Connect with JF https://www.linkedin.com/in/jflappas/ (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/company/wabya (wabya LinkedIn) https://www.instagram.com/wearebecauseyouare/ (wabya instagram) https://www.youtube.com/@wearebecauseyouare (wabya youtube) (0:00) Introduction to burnout and podcast welcome (1:48) Guest background and early life influences (4:17) From lifeguard union to corporate career (6:01) Exploring sibling relationships and solitude (8:14) The journey through career dissatisfaction to defining burnout (14:06) Embracing unique life paths and the creation of life choices (18:38) How parental influence shapes our careers (22:21) Finding meaning and purpose in life (25:05) Exploring the impact of coaching and its scalability (29:20) Building a business on trust and personal metrics (33:11) Tackling fear and its origins (35:31) The story behind the company name Wabia and interdependence (41:00) Hersh's improv philosophy and company insights (41:34) Where to find Jean-Francois Lappas and Wabia (42:24) Closing thoughts and expressions of gratitude…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

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Thomas R Wilson on Sensory Friendly Initiatives and Emotional Processing in Youth 28:00

9 weeks ago28:00

28:00

Inspired by his own experiences as a member of the Neuro-diverse and Mental health community, Thomas R Wilson is a professional Advocate, Writer, Consultant, Business Owner, and Sensory Friendly Event Specialist. In this episode of Truth Tastes Funny, Hersh sits down with Thomas to discuss his work, which involves an empathic and person-first mindset that works to empower and uplift community voices. Connect with Thomas: https://linktr.ee/ndttrpg (0:00) Introduction and the importance of processing emotions (0:31) Introduction to the Truth Tastes Funny podcast (0:51) Introducing guest Thomas R Wilson (2:00) Thomas's background in sensory friendly initiatives (3:08) Thomas's personal challenges and growth (8:01) Communication skills development in children (10:50) Navigating fear and anger in youth (14:14) How childhood messages shape self-perception (16:18) Sensory friendly environments and energy management (20:32) Thomas's ongoing and future projects (27:38) Closing remarks and call to action…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

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Dame Clarissa Burt on Self-Esteem, Resilience, and Mental Health Challenges 37:05

10 weeks ago37:05

37:05

Dame Clarissa Burt is an internationally acclaimed award-winning media personality, producer, director, writer, author, public speaker and former supermodel and winner of the Celebrity Survivor show! With hundreds of television and film credits to her name, this Who’s Who of International and American Women brings over 35 years of entertainment industry experience in both International and American markets. Clarissa is the Founder and CEO of In the Limelight Media, a multi-media platform consisting of video, a podcast and a digital magazine. Her shows can be seen on YouTube. and her podcast is heard on 15 different distribution platforms. Connect with Clarissa: Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ClarissaBurtOfficial LinkedIn http://linkedin.com/in/clarissaburt Twitter https://www.twitter.com/clarissaburt Pinterest http://pinterest.com/clarissaburt Instagram http://instagram.com/clarissaburt TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@clarissaburtofficial (0:00) Introduction to youth mental health and social media's impact (1:16) Guest introduction: Dame Clarissa Burt and her book "The Self Esteem Regime" (5:13) Influences on self-esteem: family and the modeling industry (8:14) Men's mental health, stigma, and suicide rates (13:26) Overcoming life's challenges and building resilience (18:35) Clarissa Burt's career and embracing failure (21:08) Clarissa's current projects and value system (23:45) Tough talk Tuesday, personal branding, and setting boundaries (27:23) Handling toxic relationships and controversial guests (30:10) Self-esteem in relation to Asperger's and sensory challenges (32:35) The role of epigenetics and mirror therapy in self-acceptance (35:45) Redefining self-worth and concluding thoughts…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

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The Power of Belonging, Self-Acceptance, and Family Health with Jeff and Liz Spitzer 38:39

11 weeks ago38:39

38:39

GET YOUR HEAD & HEART IN THE GAME! In this episode, Hersh welcomes Jeff and Liz Spitzer from Head Heart Health to discuss belonging and self-acceptance. Jeff and Liz share their journey in service-oriented business and coaching, highlighting the importance of positive recognition and emotional health in families. The conversation covers distinctions between emotional and mental health and the role of thoughts, feelings, and actions in health coaching. They also touch on aging, recent health research, exercise benefits, and online vs. in-person connections, ending with advice on making incremental lifestyle changes. Connect with Jeff and Liz: myh3h.com https://www.facebook.com/jeffspitzer1970 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffspitzer/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/h3h-liz-spitzer/ (0:00) Introduction and the power of belonging and self-acceptance (1:02) Introducing Jeff and Liz Spitzer from Head Heart Health (2:05) Hersh's journey and the origin of the appreciation board (5:25) The appreciation board's impact on family dynamics (7:17) Transition to service-oriented business and coaching practices (12:43) Positive recognition and emotional health within the family (15:55) Emotional health vs. mental health (19:31) Thoughts, feelings, and actions in health coaching (23:26) Coping with aging and maintaining emotional health (27:07) Staying updated with recent health research (29:08) Brain health: microglia and astrocytes (32:20) The benefits of exercise and social interaction (33:42) Comparing online and in-person social connections (34:09) Guest's final message and advice on health (37:22) Encouraging incremental changes for a healthier lifestyle (38:17) Conclusion and call to action…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

1
Ashish Kothari on Neuroplasticity, Joy, and Mindful Living 32:26

12 weeks ago32:26

32:26

C'MON GET HAPPY!!! Ashish Kothari is an executive coach, author, consultant and founder of Happiness Squad, a company focused on helping individuals and organizations make flourishing their competitive edge and operate at their fullest potential. In his best-selling book, “Hardwired for Happiness,” Ashish outlines an easy-to-follow recipe that can help anyone increase joy, health, love and meaning in their lives. Prior to starting Happiness Squad, Ashish Kothari was a Partner at the global management consulting firm, McKinsey & Company and spent over two decades helping thousands of leaders and their organizations achieve breakthrough performance through increasing their effectiveness, building more human centric cultures, and transforming capabilities at scale. Connect with Ashish Website: www.happinesssquad.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/myhappinesssquad/ (0:00) Introduction to Truth Tastes Funny and neuroplasticity (1:07) Introducing Ashish Kothari and sources of joy (3:55) Mindfulness, gratitude, and maintaining equanimity (6:25) Joy as a base state and the brain's negative bias (16:11) Happiness Squad's approach to fostering change (22:54) Human touch, analog interactions, and counting blessings (27:47) Balancing future planning with living in the moment (30:27) Community importance and seeking help (32:05) Closing remarks and call to action…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

1
Heroines, Mysticism, Villains, and Modern Parallels with Douglas Burton 29:48

13 weeks ago29:48

29:48

We've got a treat for our lovers of storytelling! Hersh sits down with Douglas A. Burton, a novelist and storyteller whose various works emphasize heroic women in fiction. Doug’s debut historical novel, "Far Away Bird," brought Byzantine Empress Theodora to life through an intimate biographical account. The novel collected numerous awards including gold medals for the IBPA’s Best New Voice in Fiction, Readers’ Favorite Historical Personage, and eLit’s Best Historical Fiction eBook. Far Away Bird was also a finalist for the Montaigne Medal (Eric Hoffer Book Award) and Screencraft’s Cinematic Book competition. His articles and work on Theodora have appeared in Ms. Magazine and have been cited on Wikipedia. More recently, Doug’s short story ‘The Vaccine’ won the 2024 NextGen Short Story Awards for the Scary Story/Paranormal category. Burton’s newest book, The Heroine’s Labyrinth: Archetypal Designs in Heroine-Led Fiction, is a nonfiction writing craft book that boldly presents a paradigm shift for story structure. Sourced entirely from heroine-centric stories. The heroine’s labyrinth model offers a completely original and groundbreaking alternative to the hero’s journey. The book has been endorsed by Hollywood and storytelling gurus such as Christopher Vogler and Matt Bird. Burton currently lives in Austin, TX with his wonderful wife, Crystal, and two energetic boys, Jacob and Lucas. Connect with Douglas: https://www.facebook.com/douglasaburtonauthor https://www.instagram.com/dougburtonwriter/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-a-burton-790095186/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfHHg-qxyLSa3EVlyQo971Q (0:00) Introduction to Hero and centric characters in native culture (2:11) Douglas Burton's passion for historical fiction and Far Away Bird (4:25) Mysticism, power, and introduction to Heroine's Labyrinth (7:10) Identifying patterns in heroine-centric stories and their journeys (12:11) Villains and masked minotaurs in heroine centric tales (18:20) Douglas Burton's literary background and influences (19:20) Byzantine politics in House of Dragons and modern parallels (24:17) Revolutionary figures in heroine stories and writer support (26:18) Heroine's labyrinth applicability across genres and consulting (28:15) Douglas Burton's online presence and closing remarks…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

1
Lawrence Dunning: Reinventing Life through Martial Arts & Business 44:27

14 weeks ago44:27

44:27

Lawrence Dunning joins Hersh to discuss reinvention through martial arts and business. They explore dreams, work-life integration, valuing time, and building client relationships. Lawrence shares insights on early career success, ambition, and the role of intrinsic goals in personal growth. The episode also covers defining 'enough' for life satisfaction, staying present amidst digital distractions, and embracing fatherhood. Lawrence reflects on adapting career paths, the impact of grandparenthood, and balancing different forms of wealth, concluding with thoughts on personal evolution and genuine kindness. Connect with Lawrence https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-dunning-mba-2b97a120/ (0:00) Introduction to Lawrence Dunning and the theme of reinvention (2:12) The role of martial arts in life and business (3:09) Understanding dreams and work-life integration (5:34) Valuing time and building deep client relationships (7:43) Exploring work, love, and finding fulfillment (12:24) Early career success and the pursuit of ambition (17:04) The importance of intrinsic goals and personal growth (23:00) Defining 'enough' and achieving life satisfaction (24:32) Staying present amidst digital distractions (27:25) Embracing fatherhood and managing life transitions (32:29) Adapting career paths for personal flexibility (35:00) The impact of grandparenthood on family life (37:18) Various forms of wealth and finding balance (39:07) Lessons learned from travel experiences (40:06) Final thoughts with Lawrence Dunning and where to find him (41:29) Life as a game: understanding and applying the rules (41:51) Insights from positive psychology and finding strengths (42:45) Personal evolution from fighter to lover (43:08) Decision-making: love versus fear (43:28) The difference between virtue signaling and genuine kindness (44:06) Hersh Rephun's closing remarks and call to action…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

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Embracing Discomfort: Debra Stone on Global Perspectives, Adaptability, and Happiness 33:38

15 weeks ago33:38

33:38

In the wake of a heated and emotional US election cycle, Hersh sits down with international executive Debra Stone to talk through the business and personal cultures at play, from America to Europe and beyond. The Founder & Managing Partner of Prism Coaching, Debra holds a master’s in business management from Boston University. After more than a decade in the US service sector industry, working for publicly traded companies (Verizon), she pursued a career in executive leadership for international organizations in the Europe and MEA region. Debra held senior leadership roles in the commercial launch of large-scale mobile telecom companies (France Telecom, Orange, BellSouth) across multiple countries, grew businesses into customer-focused enterprises, and helped scale multi-international startups. With 30 years of experience in global leadership and living across three continents, Debra offers broad perspective and creativity to her coaching. Her coaching and leadership clients come from highly diverse cultures and work in a variety of industries and countries. Debra is also an adjunct professor, having built and taught courses at Boston University and Brussels School of Governance (BSoG). Drawing from her many professional lives, she continues to lecture and teach international business and leadership courses to students from across the globe and regularly holds workshops with medium and large companies in transition along with scientists, engineers and early-stage start-up CEO’s. Connect with Debra website : prism-coach.com LinkedIn Profile : linkedin.com/in/debbiestonebrussels (0:00) Embracing discomfort and developing self-awareness (1:19) Introducing guest Debra Stone and her background (2:29) Discussing the US elections and global perspectives (3:17) Cultural differences in feedback, kindness, and racism (9:11) Evolution of communication and division in international business (16:15) Understanding and dealing with the BANI framework (21:41) Strategies for addressing anxiety and fostering adaptability (26:24) Balancing resistance and adaptability in a complex world (27:23) Democracy, advice for young people, and the pursuit of happiness (32:00) Lessons from French culture and living a good life (33:03) Where to find Debra Stone…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

1
Navigating College Costs: Brad Baldridge on Planning, Financial Aid, and Parental Strategies 35:40

16 weeks ago35:40

35:40

Does the phrase SAVE FOR COLLEGE overwhelm you??? Today Hersh is joined by Brad Baldridge, one of the nation’s leading college financial planning experts. Brad teaches families the best ways to plan, save and pay for college so they can make their children’s college dreams come true without wiping out their finances or their retirement. For over 20 years, he has shared his expertise and insights through his private practice, as a presenter at numerous workshops and seminars, and as a blogger and host of the Taming the High Cost of College Podcast. Today, Brad is joining us to talk about how to plan and save for college with smart and effective strategies, and he’ll answer some key questions that many families have about the college process. Connect with Brad: Baldridge College Solutions www.BaldridgeCollegeSolutions.com Baldridge Wealth Management www.BaldridgeWealthManagement.com (0:00) Introduction and student loans for college (1:31) Late stage college planning and its challenges (3:47) College degree vs. college experience and student expectations (8:42) Preparing children for college responsibilities and the value of achievements (12:03) Is college the right path for everyone? Addressing the costs and expectations (16:24) Tackling unrealistic college plans and the necessity of parental discussions (20:41) Balancing college costs with retirement planning (24:27) Understanding financial aid for graduate studies (26:32) Addressing college planning and financial aid complications due to divorce (29:41) Strategies for divorced parents on managing college expenses (33:09) Final tips for effective college planning…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

1
Rebecca Norrington on Words, Worry, & Rethinking Happiness 27:04

17 weeks ago27:04

27:04

C'MON GET HAPPY! Rebecca L. Norrington is a Happiness Specialist & Inner Peace Practitioner. She's a student of the Universe and Its Laws. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and decades of education and training on topics ranging from Spirituality to Human Behavior. Rebecca's professional journey includes: Speaker, Author, Podcaster, Workshop/Retreat Facilitator, Fitness Instructor, Reiki Practitioner, retired Legal Secretary, and Mother. Rebecca’s latest book, "Programmed for Unhappiness," can be found on Amazon. She's also the author of "RealitySpirituality: The Truth About Happiness." Connect with Rebecca www.realityspirituality.com Website: https://rebeccanorrington.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rebecca+norrington X: https://twitter.com/rlnorrington AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/Programmed-Unhappiness-Exposing-Untold-RealitySpirituality/dp/B0D3HVWXJC/ref=monarch_sidesheet (0:00) Introduction to Truth Tastes Funny & Rebecca Norrington (1:20) Rebecca's Book, Happiness Philosophy, and Defining Contentment (3:47) The Pursuit of Happiness and Societal Programming (5:30) Rebecca's Career and Personal Journey to Happiness (7:38) The Temporality of Happiness and Learning from Life's Challenges (9:07) Childhood Influences on Happiness and Relationships (11:00) Rebecca's Relationship with Her Son and Societal Expectations (13:13) Understanding Programmed Behaviors and the Addiction to Worry (15:01) The Power and Impact of Words (18:10) The Power of Words and Personal Reactions to Insults (20:12) Discussing Cancel Culture and the Role of Ego (24:10) Rebecca's Final Thoughts and Happiness Resources (26:42) Closing Remarks and Call to Action…

Truth Tastes Funny with Hersh Rephun

1
The Complete Man: Purdeep Sangha on Masculinity, Science, and Self-Awareness 29:22

18 weeks ago29:22