In this episode, MaryLou is joined by therapist and executive psychology coach Mandy Morris for a powerful conversation about nervous system regulation, old programming, and what high achievers often struggle with behind the scenes.

Mandy breaks down why mental and physical health can't be separated, how early conditioning shapes our adult lives, and why burnout, anxiety, and self-sabotage are often signs of subconscious patterns, not personal failure.

They also explore what healthy striving actually looks like, how to tell when ambition turns into chronic stress, and why you don't need to be in crisis to do meaningful inner work.

Conversation Highlights

• Why "mental health" deserves a reframe through the mind–body connection

• How subconscious programming from childhood impacts adult performance

• High-functioning anxiety, burnout, and the hidden cost of achievement

• Nervous system regulation and why your body knows before your mind

• EMDR therapy explained in accessible terms

• The difference between healthy striving and self-eroding ambition

• Why the past is still shaping the present—and how to move forward without staying stuck

• Using technology wisely to support (not replace) real human connection
  
  

About Mandy
Mandy Morris is a former trauma therapist with 15 years of clinical experience who now works with high achievers, entrepreneurs, and leaders through executive psychology coaching. She is the creator of The Internal Edge, a six-week program focused on nervous system regulation and subconscious rewiring, and co-creator of the SoFree wellness app.

Connect with Mandy

• Website: https://mandyemorris.com
  
  

• Programs: The Internal Edge
  
  

• App: SoFree (available for both iOS and Android)

Get MaryLou's Book and Keep in Touch:

It's Not You, It's the Algorithm Book

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/

Instagram: @maryloukayser

Website: https://maryloukayser.com

What happens when reading stops being "school" and starts being power?

In this upbeat, hopeful conversation, MaryLou sits down with Chris Clinard, founder of Books4Guys—a growing community and mission built to get books into the hands of young men (and grown men) who might not see themselves as readers… yet.

Chris shares how he went from "didn't like reading in high school" to becoming the kind of person who can't stop talking about books—in the best way. His turning point wasn't discipline or a sudden personality change. It was relevance. He started reading biographies of athletes he admired, then leadership and personal development books, and realized: I wish I'd found these earlier.

That insight became Books4Guys: a place where men can get recommendations, discover authors, and—most importantly—help put books into the hands of students through partnerships with high schools, coaches, and mentorship programs.

If you've been worried about attention spans, leadership, or what young people are up against in a screen-saturated world, Chris offers a grounded, non-preachy reminder: one good book at the right time can change someone's trajectory.

In this episode, we talk about:

-Why Chris didn't enjoy reading as a student—and what changed everything

-The cultural gap: why there aren't more "book spaces" for guys (and why that matters)

-How Books4Guys partners with high schools (including a Player of the Week chooses a book model)

-What kinds of books young men are choosing (yes, sports… and also things like crypto)

-Leadership lessons Chris learned the hard way—especially staying true to your own style

-Why memoirs and long-form conversations build empathy in a world trained for hot takes

-Two books that have shaped Chris: QBQ (Question Behind the Question) and the Tiger Woods biography

-A hopeful note heading into 2026: less scrolling, more real conversations, more depth

Connect with Chris / Books4Guys:

Website: books4guys.com
(Links to the Books4Guys podcast, newsletter, and social channels are on the site.)

If this episode sparked something for you—consider sharing it with a coach, teacher, parent, or mentor who influences young men. This mission grows one conversation (and one book) at a time.

Get MaryLou's Book and Keep in Touch:

It's Not You, It's the Algorithm Book

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/

Instagram: @maryloukayser

Website: https://maryloukayser.com

About today's amazing MVP, Wayne Mullins: Wayne sits down with MaryLou for a third time to talk about what's on so many minds these days --> AI, small business marketing, and getting attention from the right people in a crowded noisy world.

It's not every day you get to sit down with someone who's seen—and shaped—so much in the world of marketing and leadership. Over the years, Wayne's insights have stood out not just because of his expertise, but because of his authenticity and willingness to challenge the status quo, especially as the world around us keeps changing at lightning speed. Whether he's sharing hard-won lessons from running his agency, talking about the importance of real human connection in a digital age, or opening up about the times things didn't go as planned, Wayne always brings a refreshing blend of honesty, wisdom, and warmth. There's a lot we can learn from him today!

You can find Wayne on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fireyourself/

Grab Wayne's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Full-Circle-Marketing-Transform-Evangelists/dp/B0BBSR658Q

Listen to Wayne's previous conversations:

270: Wayne Mullins on Why Your Website Doesn't Have to Be Pretty
408: Wayne Mullins on Where Trust Goes, the Money Flows

If this episode resonated, share it with someone who also thinks deeply about where we're headed. And if you'd like more conversations like this, make sure you're subscribed to the show.

Get MaryLou's Book and Keep in Touch:

It's Not You, It's the Algorithm Book

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/

Instagram: @maryloukayser

Website: https://maryloukayser.com