Between the Covers Podcast

For this month's hero study, I brought on my friend Brandon to share his story. He's a Christian, an engineer, pilot, a member of the Mid-Columbia Master Singers, and published author! We met through our gaming group and our friendship has grown since. Part of his story involves being ostracized by his friend group and finding acceptance from his mentors. He's also received incredible words against these thoughts throughout his 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/

Sorry again for the poor audio on this one. I recorded a couple of episodes before discovering how bad the headphones mic sounded.
Today, let's talk about the power that our words can have. Similar to my sticks and stones episode I released much earlier, our words have the power to destroy or build up. With some recent familial troubles, I experienced both. Some members of my family said things when emotions were high and hurt, manipulated, and tried to guilt us into doing what they wanted us to do. Other members of my family said some encouraging words that lifted me up much higher than the others tore me down. It's important to know what words you are taking in from those around you, and yourself, so do what you can to surround yourself with words that will build you up.
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 stories we are hearing, or even telling ourselves, about what's masculine and what's feminine. I grew up hearing that it's masculine to not cry or show emotions, to disregard the emotions of others, and if I showed anything that is considered feminine, then there's something wrong with me as a man. Have you experienced similar messaging in your life? Whether or not, you will either experience or will know someone who has experienced this, so let's get into what we can do about it.
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/

Today let's talk about reserving judgement. This come from the handiwork of the excellent podcast, White Homework, where Tori Williams and Benjamin Faye talk about the nature of being unhoused. Benji shared his story of how he found himself without a house and unable to find a job for reasons completely out of his control. This is something that I've struggled with when looking at the unhoused population here: I pass judgement on them. Unless we listen to their story, we are going to get the answer wrong on why someone is pan-handling or looking for help. Let's see what we can do to withhold our judgement against others.
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/

I tried a new microphone for this and a couple of other recordings and it turns out that it's not a great one! My apologies for the terrible audio quality from me and I'll make sure to use my original microphone in the future.
For this month's hero's study, I interview my friend John Estey. He's another friend from our gaming group who is a teacher, thespian, and proud homosexual. He has some great insights in his years of teaching, growing up in small town America, coming out to his parents, and finding love, along with his love of games and storytelling. I hope you enjoy this interview with a good friend.
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 a way we can find hope. Thanks to White Homework for providing another inspiring quote! Today's episode comes from the quote, "I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I can see the light in all of you." This has been helpful since the time of the recording and now with the looming Big Beautiful Bill making it's way through, having ally nations warn their citizens that the U.S. isn't a safe place to travel to, the social and financial instability, and so much animosity between groups, it's impossible to know whether or not we will ever see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we can see the light in others around 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/

Today we have a hard topic. With the recent violent acts that continue to escalate in the U.S., I believe it's important to discuss that violence is rarely the answer to a given situation. The one exception for me is in self-defense. If you are taking a gun to counter protest others, you're not there to defend yourself. If the intrusive thoughts are telling you to drive your vehicle into a crowd of people who believe in something different than you, allow me to suggest you seek therapy rather than act on them. In Pennsylvania, Utah, California, and Oregon to name a few, violent acts took place because of political differences. This is unacceptable. It only creates more violence. If we have the power to do so, it's important for us to find other ways to resolve our differences!
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 using our creativity to change use instead of shame. If you're like me, then you have a lot of experience with shaming yourself or being shamed by others in order to get us to change. It doesn't work. In fact, I would go so far as to say it never works. If it did, we wouldn't be here having this conversation because we'd have it figured out by now. Curiosity is one of the most powerful tools I've learned to use when I work with my clients and myself. It helps us to find out what's truly going on instead of the symptoms of the problem. If we can learn to use curiosity instead of shame, we would live in a very different and better world!
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 continue my interviews with my friends. Today, it's Katie Shobe, a pet and book lover, gamer, and all around great person who has so many different interests and hobbies. You'll have to hear from her mouth what it is that she enjoys. Katie has overcome some challenges in the last few years that I've been able to support her through and have seen first hand the integrity and perseverance of someone who is trying to live her best 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/

Let's talk about reaching out. It's something that's come up many times from myself and others in previous episodes, and yet it's more important than many people give it credit. Knowing that we're not alone and there are others supporting us in whatever our endeavor is helps us reach the fullness of our purpose, yet there's a siren song of independence, fear, and even pride that keeps us from even sending a text to someone saying we need some help. Reach out! There are others who will support you and want to help you succeed!
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/