Whole Again: Mindfulness and Resilience Through Kintsugi Wisdom | Podcast Guru

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Discover how to create a meaningful life on your way to who you are becoming. Whole Again: Mindfulness and Resilience Through Kintsugi Wisdom provides the support you need to heal, develop a growth mindset, and embrace who you are becoming. Inspired by the Japanese art of “Golden Repair,” Kintsugi teaches us that even when life breaks us, we can rebuild—stronger, wiser, and more beautiful than before. Listen to discover weekly growth-mindset tips, build emotional resilience and manage stress through microdose meditations, and ways to live a meaningful life and the person you are becoming. And as America turns 250, tune in to hear your neighbors share their reflections on our Perfectly Imperfect Union and on ways we can come together to end the divisions that prevent us from realizing our collective potential. I’m Michael O’Brien—husband, Girl Dadx2, son, friend, animal lover, endurance cyclist, and survivor. After a near-death cycling accident—what I call My Last Bad Day—the metaphor of Kintsugi helped me see that I could be whole again. Today, as a Mindset & Resilience Leadership coach, Corporate Speaker, Meditation Teacher, and founder of The Pause Breathe Reflect Method, I'm here to support you as you create a meaningful life and become the person you are becoming. Join me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for micro-episodes designed to help you embrace the Kintsugi spirit within you and truly feel Whole Again. And each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, check out my new series, A Perfectly Imperfect Union, as America turns 250 this year.

Recent Episodes

A Perfectly Imperfect Union: Reflecting on America 250 with Julia Krazt

In the latest episode of A Perfectly Imperfect Union, I head to The Hoosier State and connect with Julie Krazt. In 2000, Julie cast her very first vote alongside her mom. They picked different people, then went out to eat. No big deal. Twenty-six years later, she wonders if that moment is even possible anymore. Today she has mixed feelings about America and what she calls the myth of meritocracy. Her biggest hope for healing is restoring confidence in our elections, and remembering that every big name on the ballot started local. As she puts it, they came from somewhere. Plus, a professor’s view on why her students skip Apple and Google and name Buc-ee’s as a company they admire. To learn more about Julie, visit her website. And her question for you and her next guest is: How do you stay informed and still protect your mental health in a 24-hour news cycle? You can now download my Pause Breathe Reflect App with Microdose EQ for FREE on Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Discover how to spend less time on your phone and more time on things that bring you joy. Also, find the support you need to navigate today’s uncertainty with more calm and grace. Receive a FREE copy of my book: “My Last Bad Day Shift.” We can also connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.

36 MIN

Growth Mindset Tip for Mindfulness and Resilience: Sorry Not Sorry

It's time for another Friday Growth Mindset Tip. This episode packs two tips into one word: Sorry. In 2026, to celebrate My Last Bad Day, I'm sharing tips I've learned over the last twenty-five years to help you step into the person you're becoming and build a meaningful life. You can now download my Pause Breathe Reflect App with Microdose EQ for FREE on Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Discover how to spend less time on your phone and more time on things that bring you joy. Also, find the support you need to navigate today’s uncertainty with more calm and grace. Receive a FREE copy of my book: “My Last Bad Day Shift.” We can also connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.

10 MIN

A Perfectly Imperfect Union: Reflecting on America 250 with Sofia Gibson

In the latest episode of A Perfectly Imperfect Union, I travel to The Cornhusker State and connect with Sofia Gibson. For her, America means community. Wherever you go, someone knows someone. Still, she sees many people stuck in their ways. Her ask is simple: set your stubbornness aside and listen. You don’t have to change your mind. Just widen the view. To learn more about Gravel Worlds, head to their website. Her birthday wish for America is to break out of our shells, and her question for you and our next guest is: What’s your favorite off-the-beaten-path place you’ve ever been? You can now download my Pause Breathe Reflect App with Microdose EQ for FREE on Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Discover how to spend less time on your phone and more time on things that bring you joy. Also, find the support you need to navigate today’s uncertainty with more calm and grace. Receive a FREE copy of my book: “My Last Bad Day Shift.” We can also connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.

31 MIN

The Obvious Focus That Could Mean Fewer Fraternity Sexual Assaults (Cornell 7)

What if the best way to prevent sexual assault starts long before anyone walks into a fraternity house? Since the news broke about The Cornell 7 and Jane Doe, many have weighed in on how to make things right. Some want Cornell's President to resign; others suggest banning frats or making them co-ed. These might work, but they are also downstream solutions. What I haven't heard people talk about is what influenced these men long before they arrived on campus, and that is the focus of this episode. You can now download my Pause Breathe Reflect App with Microdose EQ for FREE on Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Discover how to spend less time on your phone and more time on things that bring you joy. Also, find the support you need to navigate today’s uncertainty with more calm and grace. Receive a FREE copy of my book: “My Last Bad Day Shift.” We can also connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.

12 MIN

A Perfectly Imperfect Union: Reflecting on America 250 with John Ramer

In the episode of A Perfectly Imperfect Union, I travel to The Equality State to connect with John Ramer. We start here: What happens when you put a beagle in a room full of politicians? John Roemer knows. He’s the executive director of Kindness Ranch Animal Sanctuary, a home for animals retired from laboratory research. For years, John and his beagle, Uno, have traveled to Capitol Hill to advocate for research animals. On one trip, they met with members of Congress from both ends of the political spectrum. Every single one of them ended up on the floor playing with Uno. No labels. No talking points. Just people and a dog. Learn more about Kindness Ranch here. His question for you and our next guest is: When you make decisions, how much do you think about your legacy? You can now download my Pause Breathe Reflect App with Microdose EQ for FREE on Apple’s App Store or Google Play. Discover how to spend less time on your phone and more time on things that bring you joy. Also, find the support you need to navigate today’s uncertainty with more calm and grace. Receive a FREE copy of my book: “My Last Bad Day Shift.” We can also connect on LinkedIn. Subscribe to be sure you don’t miss any of the micro-meditations, wellness tips, and guidance that I publish every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 7:11 am.

40 MIN