Between the Covers Podcast

Let's talk about what unites us today. In an age where we are more and more characterized by what makes us different, it's important for us to see what brings us together. Even people with different spiritual and religious beliefs, cultural backgrounds, political perspectives, and upbringing, there are more things that unite us than separates. A love for life. A desire for acceptance and comradery. To be accepted for who we are. To have community and a place to feel safe and secure. Instead of trying to tear ourselves apart, what would happen if we instead focused on what unites us?
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For this month's hero's study, I go back to the roots of these episodes. Today, we're looking at Samwise Gamgee from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Some have said at he's the true protagonist in the story. He exemplifies so many heroic traits through his loyalty, brave when he needs to be, and always supports those closest to him without question. In the epilogue of the story, he's one of the first to stand up to Saruman and Wormtongue when they lead a group of bandits to take their revenge against the Shire. He starts out as a humble and timid farmer who doesn't speak up for himself to becoming the one who literally carries the ring bearer to the volcano so he can complete his task. Sam is a true inspiration!
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's continue to talk about some political woes and why they are so exhausting. As we are moving into spring and looking toward the summer and the political landscape continues to heat up, it's important to remember what's happened over the last year and a half. This is a reminder so we don't forget.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about the notion that we are problems to be solves, because we're not! This is a message I've wrestled with since childhood and it's something that was taught by family, neighbors, friends, and society. If you've struggled with this message, then please tune in! We aren't problems to be solved. We may have problems that need to be worked on, such as mental and physical health, but that doesn't mean we are the problem. With many clients I've worked with, this is almost a universal mental wall that needs to be dismantled.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about what others are saying about us, and even what we are saying about others. If you're like me, then there is a running inner dialogue that is often less than flattering, but it doesn't have to be this way. If you are your own worst critic, then I challenge you to look outside yourself and see what others say about you. Let's face it, the people closest to us often see things differently from what we see and can shed some light on our good qualities. In fact, I encourage you to take a challenge that I did back in June of 2025: ask people who know you well to describe you in 3-5 words.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For this month's hero's study, I had the opportunity to interview John Duresky, the Democratic candidate for the US House of Representatives in Washington's 4th District. In this conversation, we discuss politics and almost everything it entails including health care, gerrymandering, voting, the tragedies from ICE in Minnesota, and what his plans are for this midterm election if he gets into the House. We also go over all the usual questions, and while it always meanders back to politics, it's was a great conversation with an awesome person. Enjoy!
You can connect with/follow and even donate to his campaign with the links below.
johnduresky4congress@outlook.comhttps://johnduresky4congress.com/
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/john-duresky
Social Media:https://www.facebook.com/JohnDuresky4Congress
https://www.instagram.com/johnduresky4congress/
https://www.youtube.com/@JohnDuresky4Congress
https://www.tiktok.com/@johnduresky
https://bsky.app/profile/fjohnd4.bsky.social
https://x.com/JohnDuresky4
https://www.threads.com/@johnduresky4congress
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about finding the humanity in others and ourselves. In a world where we often are looking through a lens of good and evil, black and white, or them and us, it's easy for us to look at the "other side" from us and see them as objects of our ire. This robs them of their humanity. Even though I didn't want to try this out myself, I even look at the actions of President Donald Trump and the GOP to see the humanity of what they are doing. Does that mean I agree with what they're saying and doing? Of course not. You don't need to agree with people in order to find the humanity in them. In the end, finding that humanity is really the only place where we are going to find any kind of conversation instead of throwing darts at each other.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about the hard work we're doing on our journeys, because let's face it that this is some of the hardest work that we can do. It involves us putting ourselves out there. We have to use our voices. Stand up for ourselves. Stand up and protect others. Rejection, loss, pain, hardship, confusion, crossroads, and bad actors are all a part of the hero's journey. I share some of my own experiences recently and what I've learned from them.
 
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Let's talk about authority today. I find it important for us to answer the question: who is an authority in your life? While we should be the ones who have authority in our lives, there are so many people and powers that want to have authority over our lives. Whether we are talking about spiritual authorities, family, friends, or political figures, none of these people have the authority to tell you what to do with your life. That's ultimately up to you. I challenge you to be the authority in your life.
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

For this month's hero's story interview I had the privilege to speak with Dr. Kade Sharp, a licensed independent social worker I met at a local Pride Rally in June of 2025. He's also a sex therapist and has a PhD in Clinical Sexology. He's also transgender and autistic! We have an incredible conversation about being transgender, autistic, and the unique struggles he's experienced in his life.
You can connect with Kade here:https://www.kadesharp.com/https://www.patreon.com/cw/AcesUpYourSleevePodcast
Please rate and review the podcast on Apple podcast, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app.
Follow me on Bluesky! @marcus-spaur.bsky.social
Have questions you'd like discussed on the podcast, or people to interview/research for future hero studies? Send me an email! You can reach me at questions (dot) btcpod (at) gmail (dot) com.
Website: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/
Interested in working with me? Schedule a free discovery call: https://calendly.com/marcus-spaur/discovery-call
Free Recovery Resources: https://www.betweenthecoverscoaching.com/free-resources
"Nonstop"Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/