Finding Better Podcast

EP 192 - Happy Holidays!

In this special holiday episode of Finding Better, John Suzuki shares a heartfelt solo reflection on love, forgiveness, gratitude, and finding peace in a divided world.
As the holiday season brings both joy and tension, John offers a powerful reminder: we are far more connected than we realize. Through personal stories, thought-provoking perspective shifts, and deeply human lessons, this episode invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with yourself and with others.
John explores why the opposite of love isn’t hate, but fear… how forgiveness can literally lift a lifetime of emotional weight… and why gratitude may be one of the most powerful tools we have for mental and emotional well-being.
Whether you’re preparing for a difficult family gathering, feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, or simply looking for meaning during the holidays, this conversation is an invitation to find peace—starting within.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:1. Why we are all more connected than we think2. How forgiveness can free you, even when the other person isn’t present3. Why fear—not hate—is the true opposite of love4. How gratitude shifts your mindset and emotional health5. What “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me” really means
This episode is about choosing love, practicing grace, and remembering what the holidays are truly about.
If this message resonates, please share it with someone who may need it.

EP 191 – The Brain Hijack: Your brain is built for survival—not love. Here's how to change it.

What if the reason your relationships feel hard isn’t communication… but your nervous system?
In this episode of the Finding Better Podcast, John Suzuki sits down with Diane McDowell, creator of the Brain to Heart Code, to explore why love can feel unsafe even when everything else in life is working. Diane explains how our brains are wired for survival—not connection—and how a hidden “brain hijack” can turn the people we love most into perceived threats.
Together, John and Diane unpack how emotional disconnection happens, why willpower and communication tools aren’t enough, and how learning to regulate your nervous system can completely change how you show up in relationships—from romantic partnerships to work and everyday life.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:
1. Why most relationship struggles aren’t about communication2. How the “brain hijack” turns closeness into perceived danger3. Why shame and self-blame keep relationship cycles stuck4. How emotional safety changes everything—without needing your partner to change5. The power of calming your nervous system in moments that matter6. Why changing your energy can change the entire relationship dynamic
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Your brain is designed for safety, not connection—and that matters in love2. Understanding your nervous system removes shame and blame3. It only takes one regulated person to shift a relationship4. Emotional safety starts from the inside out5. You don’t need to fix yourself—you need to feel safe being you
Connect with Diane McDowell:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-mcdowell/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diane_pqc/Website: https://www.powerfulquestionscoaching.com/
👉 If this conversation resonated with you, please like, subscribe, and share this episode. Your support helps us continue bringing real conversations about finding better—together.

EP 190 - Stop Chasing Busy: Neuroscience tips that fuel and focus your energy

Want success that fuels you — not drains you? 🚀 In this conversation, Dorota Kosiorek (neuroscience coach, ex-consultant) explains how she hit the “success wall,” rewired her high-achiever brain, and designed a version of success that brings peace and productivity.
John Suzuki sits down with Dorota Kosiorek — a former consultant turned neuroscience coach for high achievers — to unpack the mental tools that let you keep winning without burning out. Over 13+ years in high-pressure corporate & startup roles Dorota discovered achievement without peace isn’t success. In this episode we cover practical brain training exercises, the power of one-word shifts, mental rehearsal used by elite athletes, and how to build boundaries and routines that protect your energy.
Inside this conversation you’ll learn:
1. Why the words “have to” vs “get to” change how your brain experiences work.2. How the prefrontal cortex explains why mornings are prime for deep work.3. Simple, science-backed exercises (mental rehearsal, visualization) to build confidence and skill.4. How to use the 80/20 rule to stop perfecting low-value tasks and focus on what moves the needle.5. Practical steps to say “no,” set boundaries, and rehearse difficult conversations.6. Why adding the word “yet” unlocks a growth mindset for high achievers.
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Reframe language: swap “I have to” → “I get to” (and add “yet” to limiting beliefs).2. Prioritize deep work in the morning — your prefrontal cortex is freshest then.3. Train your brain like an athlete: mental rehearsal builds confidence and improves performance.4. Use the 80/20 rule to focus energy on the 20% that creates 80% of value.5. Start small with daily micro-practices to build sustainable change (boundaries, visualization, morning rituals).
Connect with Doroa:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorotakosiorekInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindbydorota/Facebook: https://www.ook: facebook.com/dorota.kosiorek.56/
If this episode helped you rethink success, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and share with a high achiever who needs this. Comment below: what one word will you change today — “have” → “get” or add “yet”?

EP 189 - The Math to Fulfillment and a Better Life - Alan Lazaros

Want a life that actually matters — not just more stuff? 🎧
In this episode, John Suzuki sits down with Alan Lazaros, founder & CEO of Next Level University, to unpack what it really means to optimize for fulfillment — not just happiness or success. After surviving a near-fatal car accident at 26, Alan rebuilt his life around purpose, personal development, and reaching one’s full potential.
Together, John and Alan explore the mathematics of consistency, the compounding effect of tiny daily improvements, and why being “healthy, wealthy, and in love” is so rare — yet worth striving for.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:
1. Why “fulfillment” (not quick happiness) is the real north star2. How 0.1% daily improvement compounds into massive life outcomes3. How to reframe setbacks as turning points toward purpose4. Why health, wealth, and love are “three full-time jobs”5. How to play the long game using math, mindset, and meaning6. Why community and belonging will be the next true competitive edge
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Small, consistent improvement beats intensity — every time2. Fulfillment is a by-product of pursuing your full potential3. True balance in health, wealth, and love requires intention4. The rate of change is exponential — human connection is the anchor
Connect with Alan:Facebook: www.facebook.com/alan.lazarosInstagram: www.instagram.com/alazaros88Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanlazarosllcYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@NextLevelUniversityWebsite: https://www.nextleveluniverse.com
If this episode gave you something to think about, hit Like, Subscribe, and Share — and tell us one area you’ll improve by 1% today.

EP 188 - Happy Thanksgiving, The True Power of Gratitude

🍂 A Thanksgiving special from John Suzuki — gratitude as a daily practice that transforms your life.
In this special Thanksgiving edition of Finding Better, host and guest John Suzuki shares a heartfelt, evergreen message about gratitude — why it matters, how it changes your brain and relationships, and a simple 60-second exercise you can do anywhere. John reads a brief ChatGPT summary of the science behind gratitude, shares personal stories (including a multi-generation gratitude ritual), and gives practical steps to make gratitude part of your everyday life.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn: neural benefits of gratitude; a 60-second practice; how gratitude deepens relationships; how to use gratitude during difficult family moments; and John’s personal ancestor gratitude ritual.
💡 Key Takeaways:
Gratitude strengthens neural pathways for optimism — practice consistently.
A short routine anchors you in the present and supports resilience.
Expressing appreciation deepens relationships and reduces conflict.
 If this episode helped you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share — and try saying “thank you” to someone today. Leave a comment with your 60-second gratitude experience.

EP 187 - The curiosity muscle: reinvent yourself and reclaim your identity

🌱 Feeling restless after years of success? This episode is for you — midlife reinvention doesn’t have to be scary.
John Suzuki sits down with Shelley McIntyre, a reinvention partner who helps midlife professionals step out of their corporate identities and into meaningful second-act careers. Together, they explore what it means to hear the “little voice,” rebuild curiosity, and make courageous transitions without fear and doubt taking over. Whether you’re exploring consulting, creative work, entrepreneurship, or a personal pivot, this episode delivers grounded, compassionate guidance for reinventing your next chapter.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:
1. Why you must stop ignoring the “little voice” — and what it’s trying to tell you.2. How to explore new passions safely while still employed.3. How curiosity and imagination get crushed — and how to reignite them.4. The story-driven method Shelley uses to uncover true identity and core values.5. Why reinvention is a layered process, not a dramatic leap.6. The growing importance of human skills, community, and empathy in the age of AI.
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Follow curiosity in small, manageable moments — it compounds over time.2. Ask 10 people: “When I’m at my best, what am I like?” to reveal your essence.3. Your corporate mask is not your identity — it can be safely peeled back.4. Reinvention requires both safety and support; choose your circle wisely.5. Human connection is becoming more valuable as technology accelerates.
Connect with Shelly McIntyre: 1. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burnthemapcoaching/2. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-mcintyre/ 3. Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BurntheMapCoaching 
If this conversation resonated, please like, subscribe, and share. And comment below with one curiosity you’ll follow this week.

EP 186 – Betting on Yourself: How Chuck Cuda Turned Prison into Purpose

🎧 Betting on yourself when the odds are against you — that's Chuck Cuda's story.In this episode John Suzuki sits down with Chuck Cuda, author of Ego Strength: Betting on Myself, to unpack how one life-altering choice led to prison and ultimately became the catalyst for a purpose-driven life, entrepreneurship, and legacy-building. Chuck walks us through the raw moments of accountability, the hustle of rebuilding (vending routes, UPS nights, bartending), and the strategic moves that turned small wins into businesses in real estate, physical therapy, and cannabis. This is practical, no-fluff advice for anyone facing setbacks.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:
How a single Thanksgiving moment of accountability changed Chuck’s trajectory.The mindset shift from “victim” to owner of your choices.Tactical steps Chuck used to re-enter the workforce, rebuild income, and scale businesses.How curiosity and willingness to do “whatever it takes” unlock new opportunity channels.Real examples of asset-first thinking — buying, fixing, and flipping to build capital.Leadership lessons on legacy, employee development, and scaling people as well as companies.
💡 Key Takeaways:Accountability is the power switch — stop blaming, start acting.Do the work: temporary, humble jobs can fund the comeback and teach resilience.Create repeatable plans and rinse + repeat — consistency wins.Capitalize on small, local, distressed opportunities; parlay returns into bigger plays.Fear is the main limiter — manage risk, experiment early, and learn fast.
Connect with Chuck:cuda@opestre.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-cuda/https://www.chuckcuda.com
If you got value from this episode, like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear this comeback story. Leave a review — it helps more people find honest stories of growth.

EP 185 - From a Cult to the Cockpit to the Control Room: How Radical Responsibility Saved His Life

🎙️ From a controlling childhood in a religious cult, to two combat tours in Iraq, to calling the shots as a live TV director — Logan’s story is one of survival, radical responsibility, and reinvention. In this episode, John Suzuki sits down with Logan to unpack the choices, the low points, and the moment that changed everything — the decision to fight not only for himself but to model resilience for his daughter.
Inside this conversation, you’ll learn:
 1.How a strict cult upbringing shaped identity and led to suicidal thinking — and how Logan escaped.2. Why joining the Air Force became both a refuge and a source of further trauma (two tours in Iraq).3. The ways PTSD and hypervigilance followed him home, and how those effects show up in daily life.4. The turning point: the thought that saved him and led to sobriety and radical action.5. How Logan cold-called his way into TV directing — and why pursuing a dream is part of healing.6. What “radical responsibility” really means and practical steps listeners can use to take control.7. How to lead by example so your life becomes a blueprint, not a warning, for the next generation.
💡 Key Takeaways:
1. Healing often begins with a single conscious decision to stop waiting for rescue and start taking responsibility.2. Trauma compounds when left unaddressed; professional help + sustained action are critical.3. Purpose (like Logan’s directing dream) can be a powerful vehicle for recovery.4. Leading by example — especially for children — can reframe personal struggle into legacy.
Connect with Logan:🌐 Website – https://www.theloganunlimited.com/ 📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/theloganunlimited/💼 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/loganunlimited/ 
If this episode hit you, please Like, Subscribe, and Share — and leave a review so we can keep bringing forward stories that help us all find better.