The Breakout – Unleashing Personal Growth

Let’s be honest, 2025 has been tough. There’ve been some scary, challenging times both at home and around the world. So, here at The Breakout, we decided that heading into the holidays and the end of this often difficult year, we need some warmth. Right now, we need to hear from strong people who've done amazing things.

That’s why, on this episode we're bringing you some of our most inspirational guests from 2025. These are the people who can launch us into the new year with the tools to go forward. They’re the ones who are all about resilience, and whether they teach it or they demonstrate it, their stories show us how to bounce back and be better.

So, grab some eggnog and settle in because this is The Breakout’s special holiday episode.

Episodes Mentioned in the Show

“I found myself at the kitchen table, with a Glock in my mouth trying to end my life.”

Eric Donoho’s story isn’t easy to hear, but thankfully it does have a great ending.  A highly decorated US Army veteran, he served a grueling 14 months in Iraq, experiencing intense trauma and grief along the way. But when Eric hit rock bottom, and sat down ready to take his own life, something got in the way. Today, he tells that story. 

There’s a troubling epidemic of suicide among members of the US military, and in this episode, we're honoring Veteran's Day with a look at Eric's journey from despair to advocate, and all the ways he’s trying to help.

About Eric

SGT Eric Donoho is a decorated combat veteran and Purple Heart recipient. He’s also a nationally recognized author, keynote speaker, and advocate for military families and veterans. His memoir, Canyon of Hope, offers a raw and powerful account of healing after war. He leads moral injury workshops, collaborates with nonprofits and faith-based communities, and speaks at conferences, churches, and universities across the country. Known for his attention to detail, unwavering work ethic, and powerful storytelling, SGT Donoho continues to inspire transformation through service, truth, and connection.

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For years, Dr. Deborah Heiser studied the pathology of aging, immersed in the nitty gritty of everything that can go wrong with your body as you get older. Until one day someone challenged her to find out what on earth we have to look forward to.

And what she found surprised her.

 ”Honestly, there was a huge amount of research that was out there showing what we have to look forward to, but nobody was talking about it.” That’s when she  shifted her research about aging and what it actually offers.

Today, Deborah tells us about the deeply satisfying stages that are ahead and how an aging population benefits everyone.

In a culture that tells us that as we age, we matter less. Deborah wants everyone to know that as we mature, we matter more than ever before.

About Deborah

Dr. Debbie Heiser is an Applied Developmental Psychologist with a specialty in midlife and beyond and is redefining what life after 40 looks and feels like. She has been featured at TEDx, Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, Thinkers 50 Radar List, Psychology Today and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Psychology Department at SUNY Old Westbury.

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Before sports broadcaster Jen Mueller could break into sideline reporting with the Seattle Seahawks, win her Emmy, and score a Super Bowl ring (yep, she’s got one), she had to bust through some significant gender barriers. 

She pushed past that male-dominated world and into a pretty hostile locker room, and it taught her some things. “You learn how to stand your ground, how to speak up, but more importantly, how to make the most of whatever interaction you actually get with somebody”.

After 17 years with the Seahawks, Jen uses what she's learned in the locker room to help people communicate effectively, when every second counts.

Today we're hearing Jen's lessons on how to use your time to speak up and break out, even if that box seems indestructible.

About Jen

Jen Mueller, founder of Talk Sporty to Me, is a business communication expert with 25 years of experience as a sports broadcaster. An Emmy-award-winning producer, she is currently a sideline radio reporter for the Seattle Seahawks and has worked with the Seattle Mariners. She has also worked for the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and WNBA, and was awarded the Keith Jackson Media Excellence Award in 2022.

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Sometimes making lasting change means stripping everything back to the core, and Shelly Lefkoe knows all about that.

Shelly’s work at the Lefkoe Institute has helped tens of thousands of clients make profound life changes. Her method is all about identifying and then eliminating the beliefs that hold people back. 

“Beliefs are like a box”, she explains, “They shut out possibilities. When you eliminate that box or that belief, more is possible.” Today, Shelly takes us through the Lefkoe Method, the ways we construct walls around our lives, and her powerful process for pulling them down.

Shelly’s offer: Eliminate a Belief For Free!