The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien

The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: Humanity Rediscovered

Humanity Rediscovered: Dennis and Ali Pitocco
Twenty-Fourth Episode: Dennis is the founder and CEO of 360° Nation, a multifaceted media enterprise promoting global positivity. In collaboration with his wife, Ali, who serves as Chief Inspiration Officer, Dennis oversees several successful ventures; BizCatalyst 360° — an award-winning global media platform; 360° Nation Studios, producer of uplifting content and events; and GoodWorks 360°, a pro bono consulting service for nonprofit organizations worldwide. For more than a decade, Dennis and Ali have pursued a mission to illuminate the finest aspects of humanity and to leverage their resources to effect daily positive change worldwide. Their operational philosophy emphasizes presence, compassionate service, and the allocation of time, talents, and resources for societal benefit rather than for profit. As a contributing author to multiple best-selling books, Dennis is committed to fostering transformational change and promoting holistic wellness. Dennis and Ali strive to exemplify responsible stewardship while influencing and showcasing humanity’s highest potential. Their work reflects a dedication to ethical business practices, community engagement, and the belief that media can be a powerful force for good in the world.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/WuwBby_UtEY?si=xov9fme9nx0NVz_V
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: The Conversation

The Conversation: Paula Parker and Nick Sternberg
Twenty-Third Episode: In a fairly recent LinkedIn conversation Paula M. Parker and Nick Sternberg had this exchange:
Nick: When I was younger, $3.35 an hour wasn’t enough to live on. Later, $16k a year wasn’t enough to live on. So, I found a cheap flat in a rough area and ate ramen.
Paula: I had a financial slap upside the head. I clawed my way out of it. I developed the tools, knowledge, and self-esteem to know I can get through anything life throws at me.
Nick: I like the notion of becoming less fragile by realizing the material is inferior to the mindset.
Paula: Your responses are nothing short of brilliant. Mindset isn’t the only thing — it’s everything. And boy, could we talk.
Ad, so, I invited them to come on The Anxious Voyage to Talk.
Paula M. Parker Bio:
Paula’s spent most of her life building things — structure, foundation, systems, and processes to generate recurring wealth. Assuming responsibility, leadership roles, and all things building started when her sixth-grade teacher, Miss Carmola, asked her to fill the weekly orders from the Teacher’s Supply Cabinet. Fast forward to a Global Consultancy firm for the Architecture and Engineering industries. The CEO would say, “Here’s the client, the contract, and $25k in seed money. Make it happen.” Then he’d vanish for months. Paula generated $33 million in revenue with eight percent annual growth for 15 years running and an 84 percent client retention rate. Decades later, she quit and established an advisory practice to turn ideas into reality, to make things happen, and to build wealth for businesses. And when she’s not doing those things, she’s making the best meatballs east of the Mississippi.
Nick Sternberg Bio:
Nick’s had a long career as a Creative Director and design educator. He’s been given all kinds of dubious titles like technologist, strategist, visionary, and polemicist. But they’re all irrelevant. Somehow all his clients find their way to the same basic description: He may seem overly analytical at first, but he finds the important stuff that’s true and helps you focus. He calms you down and helps you discover what you already know about yourself and your goals. Often mistaken for a tough-love therapist, he’s a miner. Nick is currently CEO of Hope and Change, an agency working to prototype the future of American corporate identity by writing and producing 21st century design fiction for big brands and finding what’s uniquely American about the little ones. He’s also a God-fearing father, husband, and family man.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/w1ZpK0Ebw1s?si=9O_iNR5uhRw0V9OG
Learn more about Mark here:
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: Spiritual Creativity

Spiritual Creativity: The Magic Mavens
Twenty-second Episode: Given my charmed Irish life, I’m fortunate enough to have crossed paths, at different times, with three wonderful women — Diane Wyzga, Gina Mazza, and Gail Harris. Diane was a guest on my show on November 6th, 2023. At some point, I wondered if the three of them should meet. So, I arranged a Zoom call for the four of us. From my perspective, it was like watching a fireworks display: Their energy was brilliant, spontaneous, and joyful. I dubbed them The Magic Mavens. And I invited them to join me to share their amazing energy with a wider audience. Please join us. You’ll be in for a treat.
The Magic Mavens are, in no particular order:
Diane Wyzga: From US Navy nurse to lawyer, noted speaker to litigation consultant, and seasoned backpacking adventurer to podcaster, Diane’s story is all about Falling Down 7 – Getting Up 8. For 30 years, Diane has been helping professionals take their stories from messages only they could hear to the publishing world, the courtroom, hospitals, board meetings, and the airwaves. Stories that swayed juries. Built markets. Spread ideas. Changed things. Today Diane helps professional women become successful Origin Story creators in the spirit of who they are: finding the words they didn’t know they had to connect with, engage, and enliven their audiences to action while transforming the lives of those they serve. When you summon the courage to say “Yes!” that’s the place where your story changes.
Gina Mazza: Gina’s worked and played with words professionally for nearly four decades as an award-winning journalist and author of four personal-growth books, including Everything Matters, Nothing Matters, which was praised in Publisher’s Weekly. Her newest book, Essential Astonishments: Poetic Reflections for Awakening, answers the soul’s longing to speak intimately about the bliss and bewilderment of the human experience. Gina’s company helps writers bring forth their creative expressions, particularly in spirituality, consciousness, and wellness. Her offerings include ghostwriting, editing, publishing consulting, creative musing, book promotion and branding. She also has a background in PR and advertising, media writing, corporate communications, entrepreneurship, and the use of intuitive guidance to elucidate one’s work, mission, passion, and purpose.
Gail Harris: Gail is a certified ghostwriter specializing in women’s memoirs and an IPNE Book Award Finalist for the memoir Finding Zoe. She collaborates with women who’ve risen above life’s challenges and are ready to share their journeys. Gail reveres the cathartic nature of storytelling — for the authors and for those who read their stories — because the healing is universal. She finds the gold in an author’s story or what sets it apart from other stories to make it marketable. Gail is also the author of the self-help book Your Heart Knows the Answer. Her company is Golden Ghostwriting.
Video Version: https://youtu.be/7TSDAh7Txrg?si=W79TVTJdUxf-V7KH
Learn more about Mark here:
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: Mandate to Elevate

Mandate to Elevate: Mariah and Byron Edgington
Twenty-first Episode: Mariah Edgington is a retired ER, ICU, Critical Care, and Flight Nurse. Byron Edgington is a retired military and commercial helicopter pilot. Published authors, TEDx speakers, creators of Mandate to Elevate LLC, they've lived in Iowa, Hawaii, and Ohio, as well as in Boquete Panama and Medellin Colombia. They now live in Tampa Florida. They’re the authors of the book , Journey Well, You Are More Than Enough: Mindset Matters, written to help people discard old paradigms that limit us in ways we might not imagine. In recognizing their differences, Mariah and Byron determined to embrace and explore them. That led them into the study of neurodivergence. They now perceive their differences as sources of strength and promise. Please join us for what will surely be a seemingly short, thoroughly engaging hour.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/fH8CmQIC7zs?si=v8RM1XqIVHO3PGEt
Learn more about Mark here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cXoftnMYJ7bREYG-K9eng
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: The Self Regained Part 2

The Self Regained: Brian Kelly Part 2
Twentieth Episode: Brian Kelly, founder of Human Factors Consulting, believed vulnerability meant weakness. That affected the way he saw himself and the way he believed others saw him, leading to his feeling directionless and unhappy; creating unhealthy relationships, especially with himself; and falling short of what he wanted from life, personally and professionally. As his experience grew, he learned vulnerability and other human traits actually empower connections, healthy relationships, and high performance. And he saw the need for more human-centered leadership that values humanity as our greatest source of strength. Please join us for a conversation about re-discovering yourself through grace and acceptance.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/U-N-S2hIUTU?si=4GTKdtzTEBTqXYD0
Learn more about Mark here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cXoftnMYJ7bREYG-K9eng
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: The Shame Doctor

The Shame Doctor: John Dunia
Nineteenth Episode: As the Shame Doctor, John understands our lives can be ruined by the ways in which people damage the ways we see ourselves. He helps people stop the self-destructive patterns that arise from shame-based thinking. He knows firsthand healing from trauma is possible, and it’s the key to becoming the most powerful version of ourselves. Working with several accredited psychologists, John designed methods for guiding people beyond feeling stuck in the past, allowing them to heal, and turning the most painful moments from their pasts into their greatest strengths. Please join us for an enlightening conversation.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/EiqtWvWwli0?si=GAqe-zKAPkRQze-d
Learn more about Mark here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cXoftnMYJ7bREYG-K9eng
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-anxious-voyage/about/?viewAsMember=true
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: Courageous Resoluteness

Courageous Resoluteness: Amy LaBossiere
Eighteenth Episode: Amy is a multidisciplinary professional with extensive experience in communications and fine art. She earned a BFA in Communication Arts from Long Island University at CW Post, a Master of Arts in Conscious Evolution from The Graduate Institute, and a Holistic Health Coaching Certificate from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Amy's mixed-media artwork has been featured in more than 60 group exhibitions throughout Connecticut and New York, including a solo exhibition titled Conscious Evolution: Reflections on a Master's Program. Amy published her memoir, Finding Still Waters: The Art of Conscious Recovery, in 2018, with an epilogue update in 2023. Amy also works closely with her husband, fine artist Tao LaBossiere, an earlier guest on The Anxious Voyage, on all aspects of their business. I’ve known Amy for almost 25 years. She still continues to amaze me. Please join us.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/Z26Leu3lPTg?si=mX6tSG1pEfSk7DBI
Learn more about Mark here:
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: The Habit Doctor

The Habit Doctor: Tamsin Astor
Seventeenth Episode: Tamsin Astor, Ph.D., calls herself a Chief Habit Scientist because she helps people by teaching them a few key habit shifts, inspiring them to create their own lives, to find their own way, and to connect their habits to their big juicy life vision. She’s also adept at adjusting her own habits, navigating her own neurodivergence, a divorce, a child with cancer, and another child with ADHD. Tamsin is the author of two books — The Healthy S.E.X. Habit: Get on Top of Your Life By Managing Your Sleeping, Eating & Exercising and Force of Habit: Unleash Your Power By Developing Great Habits. She’ll join me for an enlightening conversation. We hope you will, too.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/nizo6tJuP5A?si=1hqYc4Llp_-hfvmC
Learn more about Mark here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cXoftnMYJ7bREYG-K9eng
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: The Self Regained

The Self Regained: Brian Kelly
Sixteenth Episode: Brian Kelly, founder of Human Factors Consulting, believed vulnerability meant weakness. That affected the way he saw himself and the way he believed others saw him, leading to his feeling directionless and unhappy; creating unhealthy relationships, especially with himself; and falling short of what he wanted from life, personally and professionally. As his experience grew, he learned vulnerability and other human traits actually empower connections, healthy relationships, and high performance. And he saw the need for more human-centered leadership that values humanity as our greatest source of strength. Please join us for a conversation about re-discovering yourself through grace and acceptance.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/FRhL2r6X19k?si=Sf1aZbf-fvgHo6EC
Learn more about Mark here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4cXoftnMYJ7bREYG-K9eng
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The Anxious Voyage with Mark O’Brien: Coming Full Circle

Coming Full Circle: Kris Bryant
Fifteenth Episode: At present, Kris Bryant is Chief Revenue Officer at Rhodian Group, a managed services provider (MSP). Thirty-plus years ago, we were colleagues at The Travelers Insurance Company. Since life is, after all, one big circle, our paths recently crossed again when she and Rhodian Group became a client of my company, O’Brien Communications Group. Kris has spent most of those 30-plus years managing revenue for large technology firms. When she’s not doing that, she’s a wife, a mother, and a grandmother who loves cooking for her family, reading good books, and tackling house downsizing one closet at a time. I’m lucky because she also enjoys talking with me. Please join us for what surely will be a pleasant conversation.
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/live/EpWJ91ubTA8?si=eqTeNv5mJE4Z6kjQ
Learn more about Mark here:
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