618: Return to Real: How To Live Authentically In The Digital World with Ryan Levesque

As the digital world of AI accelerates faster than ever, it's tempting to automate, optimize, and outsource nearly every part of our lives. But what if the path we're on is, ironically, pulling us further away from a meaningful life and genuine happiness?  In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my good friend Ryan Levesque to explore a powerful, yet contrarian concept he calls Return to Real—and why it may be the thing we need most when AI is making us feel more disconnected than ever before. Ryan is a renowned entrepreneur, author, and creator of the ASK Method, who has built and scaled several successful companies. His perspective weaves together business strategies, neuroscience, ecology, and spirituality to challenge how we've come to define success and what leads to true happiness and fulfillment. In our conversation, Ryan breaks down three (3) transformative shifts for living well in the age of AI. He explains why the best things in life don't scale, why optimizing for oxytocin is more important than chasing dopamine, and why reconnecting with nature restores clarity, creativity, and purpose.  If you've been feeling overwhelmed or disconnected in the digital world that's changing faster than ever, this episode is an invitation to return to what's real. KEY TAKEAWAYS What "Return to Real" Really Means Three Forces That Are Colliding & Reshaping Humanity What History Tells Us About the Future with AI Ryan's Journey to Living Intentionally On a Farm Three Shifts That Challenge Mainstream Advice The Best Things in Life Don't Scale Optimize Your Life for Oxytocin, Not Dopamine How Efficiency Squeezes Oxytocin Out of Your Life A Very Simple Way To Increase Oxytocin Levels Prioritizing Time In Nature, Not Manmade Things The Benefit of Touching Earth Before Touching A Screen  How To Connect With Ryan and Get His Book Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/618 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

If you've ever struggled with challenges in your relationships, emotional triggers, or just feeling stuck in old patterns, you're not alone. Those cycles are hard to break, and it often feels like no matter how hard you try, you end up repeating the same behaviors, sabotaging your goals with limiting beliefs. But as today's guest reveals, you're not broken; this is your subconscious telling you that you're ready to heal. Thais Gibson, PhD, is an author, researcher, and founder of The Personal Development School, whose groundbreaking work has helped millions of people unravel emotional blocks, heal core wounds, and defeat the limiting beliefs that quietly sabotage our lives. Thais is certified in more than a dozen therapeutic modalities and has an extraordinary ability to take complex neuroscience and translate it into simple, actionable tools that anyone can use to change their life from the inside out. In our conversation, Thais explains the science behind why we get stuck, how childhood conditioning shapes our adult identity, and why willpower alone will never prevail when your subconscious beliefs are working against you.  Thais also shares a powerful 21-day reprogramming method and her step-by-step process for creating lasting emotional and behavioral changes. If you've been feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or stuck in your personal growth, this episode will show you how to reclaim your confidence and inner strength, and you can get started today. KEY TAKEAWAYS Thais' Podcast Experience with Mel Robbins You're Not Broken, You're Ready to Heal How Your Subconscious Mind Shapes Your Life A More Effective Method for Daily Affirmations Why Core Wounds Become Self-Fulfilling The Real Reason We Self-Sabotage How Repetition and Emotions Rewire Our Brains Reprogramming Tools To Heal Emotions Faster How to Identify Your Limiting Beliefs Why Vocalizing Positive Thoughts Rewires Your Mind Accepting Reality vs. Resisting Reality How Our Brain Gives Meaning To Emotional Trauma  A Step-By-Step Framework to Rewire Your Brain Incremental Repetition Makes A Huge Difference How to Learn More From Thais Gibson Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/617 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

During the holiday season, many people break from their daily routines by staying up late, having drinks, and overeating, and tell themselves they'll get serious again on January 1st. But if you want next year to be the best year of your life, waiting until the new year to begin is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.  In today's episode, I'm sharing why the final weeks of the year are your greatest opportunity to prepare mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the future you want to create. The truth is, the decisions you make in December will undoubtedly impact the momentum, mindset, and confidence you carry into the new year. I'll also walk you through some of the practices I'm focusing on right now, including my commitment to 30 minutes of silence every day for 30 days, and how listening to that voice—call it your intuition, your soul, or divine downloads from God—can guide you to make decisions that align with what matters most. Finally, I'll show you how to use your Miracle Morning with a specific year-end focus that will help you start the new year with clarity, momentum, and purpose, to make 2026 the best year of your life. KEY TAKEAWAYS Why preparing for your best year ever begins before January 1st. How December habits create momentum, confidence, and clarity for the new year. The role of reflection and journaling in closing out your year with intention. Why listening to your intuition can align you with what matters most. How to use your Miracle Morning to intentionally prepare for 2026. Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/616 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC  

Goldman Sachs recently predicted that up to 300 million jobs could be displaced by AI by 2030, a staggering shift that is already creating overwhelm, exhaustion, and a deep sense of instability for millions of people. People are nervous and afraid, and who can blame them? But what if this moment of uncertainty is actually your chance to reclaim control of your life, your freedom, and your future? Today, I'm joined by my longtime friend Amber Vilhauer—marketing visionary, bestselling book launch strategist, founder of NGNG Enterprises, and one of the most grounded, service-oriented entrepreneurs I've ever met. Amber has helped thousands of authors, leaders, and CEOs build meaningful impact online, all while staying deeply rooted in humanity and connection. In our conversation, Amber shares why AI doesn't have to be a threat, why authenticity and alignment will define the next era of entrepreneurship, and how to navigate the coming wave of job displacement by leaning into your unique strengths, voice, and values.  KEY TAKEAWAYS 300 Million Jobs Could Be Displaced by AI?! Entrepreneurship Can Be a Path to Freedom The Simplest Way for Anyone To Become an Entrepreneur How Amber "Accidentally" Became an Entrepreneur How Cutco Shaped Our Business Philosophies Why Treating People Well Is the Foundation of Success Authenticity and Living In Alignment Breeds Success How Childhood Experiences Influence Adult Behavior Amber's Framework For Helping Entrepreneurs Alignment How To Get Amber's Book For Free Using AI Effectively Without Losing Your Originality Amber's Message to Anyone Overwhelmed by AI Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/615 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC  

When life feels overwhelming, the natural reaction for most people is to retreat, drift into some form of depression, and assume the pain or challenge they're experiencing is permanent.  But what if the hardest season of your life could become the catalyst for your greatest transformation? Today's episode is all about accessing inner strength, gratitude, and possibility when life tries to knock you down. I'm joined by my good friend Matt Drinkhahn, author of The Eternal Optimist: It's Never Too Late and host of The Eternal Optimist Podcast. Matt is an executive coach to high-performing entrepreneurs, a devoted husband and father, and one of the most genuinely positive human beings I've ever met. But what makes his wisdom so powerful isn't that life has been easy for him—it's that he became an eternal optimist when life literally knocked him down so bad, he could barely walk for 9 months. In our conversation, Matt opens up about the most challenging period in his life when a devastating zipline accident left him in a wheelchair, virtually unable to stand up, handle chores, or provide for his family. He shares how he battled excruciating pain, which tested his marriage in addition to fears of losing his career, and the possibility he may never walk again—and the three principles he used to rebuild his life from the ground up. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Power of Eternal Optimism Setting Your Intentions to Transform Your Day The Zipline Accident That Changed Everything How The Miracle Morning Anchored Matt's Recovery The First Two Principles to Overcome Overwhelm Acceptance vs. Resistance: The Serenity Prayer The Third Principle to Overcome Overwhelm Remember that This Too Shall Pass How To Set Goals When You're Struggling Why It's Never Too Late to Change How to Connect with Matt and Get His Book Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/614 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

Isn't it easier to feel grateful when life is going well? Everything seems simpler when things are great personally, professionally, financially, and your relationships are thriving. But what about when life gets tough? Maybe you're dealing with a broken heart, struggling to pay your bills, or facing a loved one's hospitalization. In those overwhelming moments, practicing gratitude can feel impossible, but it's also when we need it most. In today's episode, I'm exploring why heartfelt gratitude has its greatest power not when life is easy, but when life is hard—and how  to shift your consciousness from resistance to acceptance. I'll share personal stories from the most difficult moments of my life and how gratitude became the most powerful medicine for peace and healing. Finally, I'll walk you through a simple three-step daily journaling process to help you shift from resistance to acceptance and from suffering to strength. When you learn to practice heartfelt gratitude, you can move beyond surface-level thankfulness to cultivate gratitude, even in your darkest moments, so you can reclaim your inner peace. KEY TAKEAWAYS The difference between intellectual gratitude and heart-centered gratitude. Why gratitude matters most when life feels unbearable. How gratitude transforms suffering into strength and fear into peace. The three-step journaling process to deepen your daily gratitude practice. A seven-day challenge to practice heartfelt gratitude and elevate your consciousness. Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/613 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

When you see someone talking to themself in public, your first thought might be that person is a little crazy and maybe has mental health issues. But what if it's actually one of the most powerful forms of self-leadership? In today's episode, I'll show you how using your own voice can immediately transform your mental and emotional state, elevate your focus, and help you lead yourself through any challenge. I'll share a story about a close friend who inspired me with his daily "self-talk" practice, and how I came to realize he wasn't acting crazy—he was actually being very intentional. Over time, I discovered that speaking affirmations and prayers out loud with intensity, not just thinking them silently, has a far more profound impact on my mental, emotional state, and physical nervous system. Lastly, I'll walk you through a simple 14-day challenge that you can track and rate the impact it's having on you. Because the truth is, silence helps you observe your mind, but your voice can lead it. KEY TAKEAWAYS Why talking to yourself out loud isn't crazy, it's conscious self-leadership. How spoken affirmations and prayers can instantly shift your emotions. The science behind distanced self-talk and how it reprograms your identity. The difference that silence and speaking out loud has on your Miracle Morning. A 14-day challenge to strengthen your focus, faith, and mindset. Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/612 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

What if aging didn't have to mean slowing down or fading out—but instead became the most vibrant and meaningful chapter of your life? Too many people see 50 and beyond as a slow decline, but the truth is, the way you think, move, and care for your body can completely redefine how you experience your later years. Today, I'm joined by my friend and co-author of The Miracle Morning After 50: A Proven Path to Joy, Vitality, and Purpose for Aging Adults, Dwayne J. Clark. Dwayne is the CEO of Aegis Living and a longevity expert who's spent 40 years studying the daily habits and mindset of over 80,000 people—many who've lived well into their 90s and beyond.  In our conversation, Dwayne shares the powerful lessons he's learned from interviewing dozens of centenarians, how inflammation is a significant factor of aging, and why longevity is as much about attitude and perspective as it is about science.  We also explore how to adapt your Miracle Morning practices to thrive after 50. We talked about how movement, meditation, and mindset can dramatically improve your overall wealth and wellbeing and simple habits to ensure your best years are ahead of you, not in the rearview. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Story Behind The Miracle Morning After 50 Why Dwayne Dedicated His Life to Helping Seniors Reframing Aging: How to Thrive in the Second Half of Life Why Hal and Dwayne Decided to Write the Book Lessons From 100-Year-Olds on How to Live Well The 5 Diseases That Kill Most Americans (and How to Prevent Them) Tools to Reduce Inflammation (Red Light, Sauna, Cold Plunge) The Mirror Syndrome: Looking Healthy but Dying Inside Preventative Health Tests That Can Add Years to Your Life How Technology Is Taking Years Off Our Life As We Move Less The Power of Visualization and Manifesting What You Want What 100-Year-Olds Teach Us About Resilience and Perspective Peace at Night: The Real Goal of a Well-Lived Life How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/611 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

Feelings of regret can be one of life's heaviest burdens. I'm sure most people have choices and decisions that they've regretted in their lives, and I'm no different. But what I've learned is that regret doesn't have to be a source of suffering; it can be one of our greatest teachers if we let it. In today's episode, I thought I'd share a very personal letter that I recently wrote to my kids about the biggest regrets of my life. Things like all the precious moments that I've missed that I'll never get back, and moving away from loved ones I wish I'd stayed close to. These are the lessons that taught me that family and loved ones should always come first, no matter what. Ultimately, this episode is about learning to release the weight of regret and transform it into wisdom. We can't change the past, but we can use it to shape a more intentional, love-centered future. My hope is that you'll reflect on your own life, forgive yourself for what you can't undo, learn from it, and make different choices moving forward. This way, when you look back on your life, you won't be reliving the past; you'll look back fondly on what matters most. P.S. My newest book, The Miracle Morning After 50: A Proven Path to Joy, Vitality, and Purpose for Aging Adults, co-authored with Dwayne J. Clark, is now available for pre-order at MiracleMorningafter50.com. If you're over 50—or have a loved one who is—this book will help to live with purpose and joy in the second half of life. KEY TAKEAWAYS How Regret Can Be a Powerful Teacher If We Accept It The Importance of Choosing Family and Loved Ones First Why Being Present Matters More Than Money or Promotions How to Let Go of the Past and Turn Regret Into Wisdom Create a Life You'll Never Look Back on With Regret Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/610 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

I think most people would agree that music, and especially lyrics, is one of the most powerful forms of human expression. If you've ever heard a song that just resonated so strongly with what's going on in your life and made you rethink what truly matters, I think you'll relate to this episode.  Today, I'm talking about a song from Teddy Swims that completely shifted my perspective on love, gratitude, and what's most important in life. At the time, I was in the midst of a petty argument with my wife and dealing with conflict in my marriage. It was a great reminder that, in the end, love and connection in our relationships are what life is all about. So, if you're dealing with some challenging situations in your life, my hope is that this episode inspires you to pause and take a moment, grab your journal, or apply it to your S.A.V.E.R.S., and write down some of the things or people you're grateful for. It worked for me, and I hope it will work for you too. P.S. I also wanted to let you know that you can pre-order the newest book in the Miracle Morning series, The Miracle Morning After 50: A Proven Path to Joy, Vitality, and Purpose for Aging Adults. This book blends  personal development strategies with science backed approaches to thriving in the second half of life. Enjoy!  KEY TAKEAWAYS The Power of Music and How Lyrics Can Impact Us How One Song Helped Transform Hal's Perspective  The Simple Truth About What Really Matters In Life Take Time to Allow Yourself to Truly Feel Joy and Gratitude How to Apply "All That Really Matters" to Any Relationship In Your Life   Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/609 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2025 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC