Ask For An Answer

What happens when you trade external validation and financial success for internal alignment and emotional freedom? Hans joins Ask for an Answer for a conversation about personal transformation, overcoming addiction, and the courage to start over. Hans spent two decades in North Carolina after moving from Germany at 25 to work in his family's veneer manufacturing business. From the outside, he seemed to have everything a person could dream of. On the inside, he felt empty, hollow, and profoundly disconnected, eventually leading to severe depression, anxiety, and an eight-year struggle with opioid addiction. Everything changed when he chose to stop running, step away from the family business, and embrace the power of plant medicine and breathwork. Now a breathwork facilitator and integration coach, Hans helps others release suppressed emotions, heal trauma, and rediscover their true purpose. Jim and Hans explore the moments that sparked this profound shift. Hans shares how an unscripted trip to Peru for an ayahuasca ceremony shattered his expectations and showed him the path toward recovery. He discusses why letting go of control allowed him to surrender to his inner guidance and break free from addictive patterns. Hans also opens up about his recent decision to relocate his entire life back to his hometown in Germany with his wife and two children, proving that true growth requires stepping into the unknown. IN THIS EPISODE: How external markers of success can mask deep internal emptiness, depression, and disconnection. Why real personal change occurs when the fear of remaining unchanged outweighs the fear of the unknown. How letting go of rigid expectations creates space for unexpected healing and personal insight. How somatic breathwork helps access the inner healer to process suppressed emotional pain. Why revisiting past trauma through conscious breathing allows people to reframe their stories and take full ownership of their lives. Why integration coaching, journaling, and daily habits are vital for turning emotional insights into permanent life shifts. How practicing radical gratitude for past hardships breaks the cycle of addiction and self-blame. Why trusting the process and surrendering control lowers anxiety during massive life transitions. How simple conscious belly breaths can serve as a daily reset tool when feeling overwhelmed or distracted. How authentic personal growth positively impacts immediate family dynamics and personal relationships. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 01:12 Welcoming Hans: A Major Transition Back to Germany 03:27 Moving to America at 25: Chasing Financial Success 06:43 Feeling Hollow: The Long Journey to Recognizing the Need for Change 09:18 Quitting the Family Business and Choosing Trust Over Fear 13:11 The Hidden Struggles: Opioid Addiction, Depression, and Anxiety 14:40 The Ayahuasca Experience: Dropping Expectations and Finding Inner Peace 17:35 Breaking Free: Reclaiming Curiosity, Sobriety, and Personal Growth 20:49 Discovering Somatic Breathwork as a Powerful Path to Healing 22:45 How Breathwork Sessions Work: Surrendering to the Inner Healer 31:32 Transforming Pain with Gratitude: Finding Freedom from Past Addiction 38:39 Virtual vs In-Person Breathwork: Building a Practice Across Borders 48:46 The Importance of Integration Coaching and Daily Action Steps 54:05 Closing Reflections: Leading with Curiosity, Kindness, and Awareness Meet Hans Hans is a breathwork facilitator and integration coach dedicated to helping individuals break free from emotional suppression, addictive patterns, and internal stagnation. After spending 20 years in North Carolina working in engineering and manufacturing, he navigated a personal recovery journey from opioid addiction, depression, and burnout through somatic breathwork, plant medicine, and self-reflection. Today, he works with clients globally, combining deep breathing practices with structured integration coaching to facilitate lasting emotional healing, self-trust, and resilience. He lives in the Black Forest region of Germany with his family. ✨ Connect with Hans Weygoldt 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hans-andreas-weygoldt-151777356 📱 Facebook: facebook.com/hans.whygold ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

How Do You Raise Capital and Build Success When the System Wasn't Built for You? Allison Byers joins Ask for an Answer with Jim Fielding to discuss self-trust, overcoming trauma, and reclaiming power in venture capital. After walking away from corporate management consulting following a maternity leave ultimatum, Allison co-founded a medical device company out of MIT, raised nearly $10 million, and brought an FDA-registered product to market. When a Series B round stalled, an asset sale turned into a painful wake-up call. The all-male acquiring team went on to raise $55 million using her team's assets. Instead of playing the victim, Allison dived deep into capital allocation research, exposing systemic bias and founding Scroobious to level the playing field for every underrepresented founder. Jim and Allison dig into what it truly takes to navigate inequity without losing your identity. They unpack the power of turning personal hardship into systemic change, why equity investing is a form of everyday voting, and how setting healthy boundaries protects high performers from burnout. Allison also opens up about her grassroots political work with Founders for Kamala, her role in co-authoring California's landmark Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Law, and why entrepreneurship gave her back her professional identity. IN THIS EPISODE: 1. How to spot and reframe real-time bias during high-stakes investment pitches. 2. Why separating your personal identity from your company protects mental health. 3. How physical burnout and stress signal the need for immediate boundaries. 4. The key differences between fiduciary venture funds and angel investor groups. 5. How groupthink inside angel networks can accidentally block funding for great ideas. 6. Why female founders deliver more profit per dollar invested despite receiving less capital. 7. How alternative funding sources can liberate founders from demoting themselves for venture money. 8. Why legislative policy and data collection are mandatory for long-term systems change. 9. How treating everyday spending and investing as voting shapes our economy. 10. Why entrepreneurship offers a vital lifeline for reclaiming professional agency. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 01:06 Welcome Allison Byers, author of Fundraising for the Rest of Us 02:40 Origin story: From management consulting to spinning out an MIT medical device 03:45 The asset sale, systemic disparities, and turning trauma into action 08:31 How historical bias shapes check-writing decisions 12:28 Identifying bias inside the room and shifting the narrative 16:50 Physical limits: Battling facial shingles from extreme stress 18:50 Healing through community, partnership, and separating self from business 22:40 Launching Scroobious in 2020 and building a movement 38:34 Why founders shouldn't dim their light for venture capital 42:28 Writing California's historic Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Law 55:53 Why consumer dollars and investments dictate daily life 01:00:03 The final question: Why entrepreneurship matters so deeply MEET ALLISON BYERS Allison Byers is a founder, investor, capital access advocate, speaker, and author of Fundraising for the Rest of Us: How to Build Your Pitch, Navigate Bias, and Raise Capital on Your Terms. She is the founder of Scroobious, a relationship-first capital access platform built to scale startup growth for underestimated founders. With experience spanning corporate management consulting and medical device innovation out of MIT, Allison co-authored California’s landmark Fair Investment Practices by Venture Capital Companies Law and serves on multiple boards. ✨ Connect with Allison Byers 🌐 Website: allisonbyers.com | scroobious.com 💼 LinkedIn: Allison Byers | Scroobious 🦋 Bluesky: @apbyers.bsky.social 📸 Instagram: @apbyers | @scroobious 📚 Book: Fundraising for the Rest of Us ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, and leave a review if you want more of this kind of honest, unscripted conversation. #LeadershipPodcast #FundraisingForTheRestOfUs #WomenInBusiness #StartupCapital #Resilience

What happens when you stop running from your past and finally claim your full story? Dr. Joel Davis Brown joins Ask for an Answer for a deep, soul-stirring conversation about the messy reality of personal transformation, emotional growth, and what it truly means to lead an authentic life. As an awareness agent, organizational development consultant, university professor, and Chief Visionary Officer of Pneumos LLC, Dr. Joel shares how unaddressed trauma and unhealed wounds silently govern our choices until we take ownership of our narrative. Jim and Dr. Joel unpack the subtle art of inner work. They explore why real leadership starts from the inside out, how to break free from generational patterns, and why forgiveness is a physical release rather than a quick, surface-level exercise. Dr. Joel opens up about his journey writing his latest book, reflecting on his relationship with his late father, learning to parent himself, and finding true freedom in total vulnerability. IN THIS EPISODE: How claiming every part of your personal story eliminates the leverage others have over your self-worth. Why authentic leadership requires doing deep internal healing work before attempting to lead external organizations. How unaddressed emotional trauma and anger eventually bleed out onto loved ones and colleagues if left unchecked. Why true healing involves learning to parent yourself and stepping into full governance over your own narrative. How to break the cycle of generational trauma when caring for aging parents or navigating family dynamics. Why forgiveness is an active, physical release of bitterness that makes you lighter rather than a one-time gesture. How overextending yourself for others can actually be a subtle symptom of unhealed personal wounds. Why reframing leadership beyond corporate titles allows you to show up better in everyday personal relationships. How embracing complete stillness without overstimulation restores emotional energy and prevents burnout. Why self-acceptance and inner peace are essential prerequisites before building healthy long-term partnerships. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:37 Welcoming Dr. Joel Davis Brown to Ask for an Answer 01:05 What It Means to Be an Awareness Agent and Strategic Storyteller 05:28 The Inspiration Behind Souls of Queer Folk and Redefining Leadership 10:14 Embracing the Beauty and Complexity of Intersectional Human Identity 15:44 Finding Belonging, Community, and Authenticity Across Different Cities 24:09 I Had to Become the Father: Unpacking Healing, Repair, and Letting Go 31:58 Navigating Generational Trauma and Caregiving for Aging Parents 42:42 Owning Your Truth and Finding Total Freedom in Vulnerability 45:49 Redefining Family, Parenting, Mentorship, and Healthy Relationships 53:36 Prioritizing Self-Care Through Stillness and Peace 56:56 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Meet Dr. Joel Davis Brown Dr. Joel A. Davis Brown, Esq., PCC, is the Chief Visionary Officer of Pneumos LLC. As a certified leadership, life, and executive coach trained in somatic coaching, Gestalt methodology, and trauma-informed care, Dr. Joel works collaboratively with organizations, civic groups, and professionals to create synergistic cultures, breakthrough performance, and dynamic leaders. He teaches strategic storytelling at a university in France, specializes in cultural intelligence, emotional intelligence, and organizational strategy, and has spent nearly 30 years working with Startups, Non-Profits, Philanthropic Organizations, and Fortune 500 companies. He is the author of Souls of Queer Folk: How Understanding LGBTQ+ Cultural Values Can Transform Your Leadership Practice and I Had to Become the Father: The Art of Healing, Reconciliation, Repair, and Letting Go. ✨ Connect with Dr. Joel Davis Brown 🌐 Website: pneumos.com 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joelanthonybrown 📧 Email: [email protected] 📚 Books: Souls of Queer Folk & I Had to Become the Father ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer: 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, and leave a review if you want more of this kind of honest, unscripted conversation.

How do you find the courage to lead with total vulnerability when the whole world expects you to stay invincible? Dr. Julie Basler walked away from a high-profile career as a college president to help leaders reclaim their mental health, their boundaries, and their lives without losing their seat at the table. Armed with a PhD in English and decades of leadership experience, Dr. Basler is an author, speaker, and advocate who wrote her transformative book, She Is Strong Enough to Break, to break the silence around female leadership, mental health, and the burden of carrying it all alone. What Happens When Leaders Stop Hiding Behind the Armor? Dr. Julie Basler joins Jim Fielding on Ask for an Answer for a deeply moving conversation about emotional intelligence, personal growth, and the quiet struggles high achievers carry behind closed doors. From secretly going to therapy while running a college to sending a middle-of-the-night email to her entire campus admitting she was broken, Dr. Basler shares the moment her youngest daughter made her realize that hiding mental health struggles teaches the next generation to do the same. Jim and Julie explore how true strength comes from authenticity, why choosing kindness is a radical leadership strategy, and how breaking down opens the door to genuine healing. IN THIS EPISODE: How to recognize when hiding mental health struggles sends the wrong message to those watching you. Why true strength requires stepping away from perfectionism and embracing vulnerability in front of your team. How to shift your focus from the First Mountain of ambition to the Second Mountain of servant leadership. Why simple, intentional acts like handwritten notes can transform how someone feels seen and valued. How standing up for personal values creates long-lasting ripples of courage for others. Why emotional intelligence and high-level leadership belong together in modern organizations. How reframing traffic disruptions or everyday frustration with empathy helps you realize everyone is carrying hidden pain. Why forgiving previous generations for their lack of mental health awareness brings personal peace. How embracing the role of a lifelong learner builds long-term resilience and intellectual curiosity. Why breaking down is often the necessary first step to breaking through into a more authentic life. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Teaser: A Daughter's Six Words That Changed Everything 00:40 Introduction: Welcoming Dr. Julie Basler 03:48 From English PhD to College President 06:01 Leaving the Office Behind: Transitioning to the Second Mountain 10:35 The Book: She Is Strong Enough to Break 12:05 Sneaking to Therapy: The Middle-of-the-Night Email 19:40 Writing for Women in Leadership 21:35 The Dinner Table Conversation That Added an Extra Chapter 24:14 Someone Noticed Her: The Power of Handwritten Letters 31:18 Jim's Story: The Indiana University Resignation Letter 37:20 Hidden Pain: Why Everyone Is Carrying Something 41:24 25 Years Later: Going Back to College for Counseling 44:41 Research Notes vs. Tech Dashboards 55:20 Generational Trauma and Forgiving Our Parents 01:03:50 Final Words and Where to Find Dr. Julie Basler MEET DR. JULIE BASLER Dr. Julie Basler is an author, keynote speaker, executive mentor, and President of Strong Teams, a company dedicated to building empathy, service, and compassion in workplace culture. With nearly three decades in higher education leadership, including serving as Vice President of Academic Affairs and President of Platt College for over 18 years, Dr. Basler led her team to achieve initial nursing accreditation with ACEN, the first prelicensure BSN program at a career college to do so. ✨ Connect with Dr. Julie Basler 🌐 Website: juliebasler.com 💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Julie Basler 📚 Book: She's Strong Enough to Break: How Female Leaders Can Reclaim Their Mental Health, Their Boundaries, and Their Lives Without Losing Their Seat at the Table ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer: 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it today. #EmotionalIntelligence #Resilience #MentalHealthMatters #WomenInLeadership #AskForAnAnswer

What happens when a life-threatening crisis becomes your greatest catalyst for self-love, healing, and purpose? Jenn Greenhut joins Ask for an Answer for a deeply moving conversation on mindset shifts, emotional intelligence, and finding gratitude in life’s hardest moments. A former elite USA National Team gymnast and UCLA athlete who was used to demanding perfection from her body, Jenn found herself facing rock bottom when a stage IV triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis gave her a 12 percent chance of surviving five years. Instead of seeing the news as a death sentence, a single perspective shift at her oncologist’s office helped her view the diagnosis as a gift that ultimately saved her life. Declared cancer-free just four months later, she turned her personal transformation into a mission to heal and give back. Today, she is the co-author of Everyone Needs a Larry, founder of Love, Zero Negative, and founder of The Zero Negative Foundation, supporting cancer patients, caregivers, and families through their toughest trials. Jim and Jenn dive deep into the emotional themes that shape true resilience: shifting from asking "why is this happening to me" to "what is in this for me," replacing self-judgment with unconditional love, and trusting the journey even through trauma. Jenn shares her experience of navigating a terminal diagnosis as a newlywed, the unique bond between a patient and caregiver, and how elite sports discipline shaped her mindset during recovery. They also explore the power of staying present, managing life choices after career-altering injuries, and how simple daily anchors like her "Pinch Me" method can pull you back into gratitude. IN THIS EPISODE: How shifting your mindset from punishment to protection can turn life's scariest obstacles into gifts. Why asking "what is in this for me" creates openness, curiosity, and emotional growth during adversity. How childhood trauma and high-performance pressure create toxic patterns of self-worth tied strictly to achievement. Why self-love and gratitude serve as powerful emotional superpowers for physical and mental healing. How to navigate a severe medical diagnosis as a newlywed while honoring the critical role of caregivers. Why trusting your medical team allows you to surrender outcome control and focus entirely on present healing. How elite athletic discipline provides psychological strength during personal health battles. Why pivoting away from a lifelong dream like the Olympics can open up unexpected new chapters of fulfillment. How to build an intentional brand and nonprofit foundation to support patients and caregivers. Why using simple tools like the "Pinch Me" method snaps you out of anxiety and grounds you in present gratitude. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 03:04 Facing a Stage IV Cancer Diagnosis and IVF Struggles 06:02 The Medical Moment That Shifted Her Perspective 08:24 Becoming Cancer-Free in Four Months Through Love and Gratitude 11:47 Turning Trauma Into Purpose and Giving Back 16:28 Writing Everyone Needs a Larry and the Caregiver Journey 21:32 Life as an Elite USA National Team Gymnast 37:33 The Sacrifices of High-Level Athletics and Personal Worth 42:40 Expanding Grants for Families and Fundraising Events 44:45 Pitching and Preparing for a TEDx Talk 48:22 Asking Better Questions and Leading With Curiosity 53:14 Jim Shares His Father’s Story With Pancreatic Cancer 01:00:15 Navigating Genetic Markers and Health Decisions 01:02:08 The Pinch Me Method for Staying Present Meet Jenn Greenhut Jennifer "Jenn" Greenhut is a TEDx speaker, author, and founder whose work explores healing, resilience, and transforming life's hardest challenges into opportunities for growth. After becoming cancer-free four months following a stage IV breast cancer diagnosis, Jenn dedicated her life to helping others heal. She is the co-author of Everyone Needs a Larry, founder of Love, Zero Negative, and founder of The Zero Negative Foundation, a nonprofit supporting cancer patients, caregivers, and families. ✨ Connect with Jenn Greenhut: 🌐 Website: www.lovezeronegative.com 🌐 Foundation: www.zeronegativefoundation.org ♥️ Instagram: @lovezeronegative @jenngreenhut @zeronegativeorg 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jennifergreenhut 🎥 TEDx Talk: TEDxRobinsonRoad - Jennifer Greenhut ✨ Follow Jim Fielding & Ask For An Answer: 🌐Website: hijimfielding.com ♥️ Instagram:@hijimfielding 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimfielding 🔗 Podcast: Ask For An Answer, available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify Subscribe to Ask for an Answer on your platform of choice, and leave a review if you want more of this kind of honest, unscripted conversation. #LeadershipPodcast #EmotionalIntelligence #PersonalTransformation #Resilience #CancerSurvivor #OvercomingAdversity #MindsetShift