The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

How Sports Build a Life of Personal Freedom | Dr. Jordan B. Goldstein

Mac Dohm — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:02:03 GMT

What if sports are about far more than fitness, competition, and physical health?

What if athletics can help us develop the discipline, courage, resilience, confidence, and self-mastery necessary to live a freer life?

In Episode 15 of The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm, I sit down with — The Athletic Philosopher — for a fascinating conversation about the deeper meaning of sports and their connection to personal freedom, philosophy, personal development, and the pursuit of a meaningful life.

Jordan is a former university professor of sport history and philosophy who also taught sports psychology and sociology. Today, he brings those ideas into fitness and life coaching through what he calls the athletic lifestyle.

To read Jordan’s published PHD Paper from the University of Toronto Press, click here: Canada’s Holy Grail: Lord Stanley’s Political Motivation to Donate the Stanley Cup by Jordan B. Goldstein

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In This Episode

We explore:

Why Jordan defines personal freedom through responsibility and courage
How athletics develop mental toughness, resilience, and self-belief
Why sports are about much more than physical fitness
The connection between sports, philosophy, and personal growth
How trail running helped Jordan develop courage outside of athletics
Why your greatest athletic opponent may actually be yourself
How training creates opportunities for self-knowledge and self-mastery
The ancient Greek understanding of athletics and moral virtue
Why competition can reveal the truth about ourselves
Discipline vs. motivation and why sustainable discipline should come from love
Why adults need more play, movement, and competition
How finding a sport you genuinely love can improve your fitness, nutrition, sleep, habits, and overall life
Why endurance challenges can teach you what you’re truly capable of
How sports can become a pathway toward greater personal freedom

One of Jordan’s central ideas is simple:

“The truth is in the training.”

Athletics give us a place to voluntarily encounter difficulty. You discover what happens when you’re tired, uncomfortable, losing, afraid, or tempted to quit.

And every time you confront those moments, you learn something about yourself.

Jordan and I also explore why finding a physical activity you love can be more powerful than forcing yourself through exercise you hate. When you love the game, the trail, the competition, or the challenge, healthier choices can begin flowing downstream into the rest of your life.

Whether you’re interested in sports psychology, fitness, mental toughness, self-improvement, personal development, discipline, philosophy, endurance sports, strength training, healthy habits, or personal freedom, this conversation offers a different way of thinking about what it means to be athletic.

Jordan leaves us with a challenge:

“Move your body in beautiful ways.”

Play. Compete. Challenge yourself. Find something you love doing with your body.

Because sport isn’t just training for your body. It’s training for your life.

Connect With Dr. Jordan B. Goldstein

The Athletic Philosopher Podcast:

The Athletic Philosopher

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Hit that button below to discover how we can work together in a coaching or consulting capacity…

2 years ago

Substack Publication:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.jordanb.goldstein7977

Coaching:

The Athletic Philosopher

Work 1:1 With Me

Hit that button below to discover how we can work together in a coaching or consulting capacity…

2 years ago

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The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

RV Life_Digital Nomad _Fisherman that is trying to be a better Hunter_Lover of poems and songs_An enjoyable drinker, eater, and breather_A man who is rebuilding something greater

There are rainbows in the storms.

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The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

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Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

Freedom isn’t just about where you go. It’s also about who’s driving the wheel. Tools like Ever Accountable help create honesty, intentionality, and accountability in a world designed to distract and consume you.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Personal Freedom Field Notes #2

Mac Dohm — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 18:48:14 GMT

Before we get started

Thank you for being here and supporting what I am building.

I’m sure there are a million things you could support every month instead of this subscription, and the fact that you choose to spend some time supporting my publication and podcast means a lot to me.

Your support helps me continue these conversations, writing, creating, and seeing where this whole Personal Freedom project can go.

For paid subscribers, I hope these Field Notes can be a medium that gives you a little more insight into the person behind the screen — nothing super polished — just what is on my mind and what is happening in my life. There will also be questions for you to reply to if you feel inclined to continue the conversation.

As I continue to work on this project, my goal is to provide more value for your subscription and to also build a relationship with you as we journey together in life.

Thanks for riding along — now roll the windows down and enjoy.

Much Love,

Mac

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Personal Freedom Field Notes #2

Here’s what’s been on my mind this week...

Something I’m learning

The Freedom to Question Everything | Mariah Faith Continelli of The New Unhinged

Mac Dohm — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:01:26 GMT

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What happens when you stop automatically accepting the stories, assumptions, and narratives placed in front of you—and start asking questions?

On this episode of The Personal Freedom Podcast, I sit down with (Mariah Faith Continelli), writer of The New Unhinged: Not Here to Influence, Here to Interrupt, for a wide-ranging conversation about pattern recognition, critical thinking, intuition, personal freedom, culture, technology, van life, and learning to think for yourself.

Mariah has spent the past several months living on the road with her German Shepherd, Myra, while writing and exploring the ideas that have captured her curiosity. Her work on The New Unhinged isn’t built around telling people what to think. It’s about interrupting assumptions and encouraging people to look closer.

A major theme of the conversation is pattern recognition.

Mariah explains how difficult experiences in her own life led her toward constantly asking why—why people behave the way they do, why certain stories repeat themselves, and what connections might exist beneath the surface.

But questioning things also means being willing to question yourself.

As Mariah says at the beginning of the episode, her opinions have changed many times throughout her life—and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to stubbornly defend what you believed yesterday. It’s to remain curious enough to keep learning.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Mariah developed her fascination with pattern recognition
Why she created The New Unhinged
Questioning narratives instead of automatically accepting them
The relationship between intuition and critical thinking
Why changing your mind can be a sign of growth
Independent thinking in an increasingly polarized culture
How personal experiences shape the way we interpret the world
Technology, modern society, and where our culture may be heading
Curiosity, rabbit holes, and the danger of believing you already have all the answers
Mariah’s experience living van life with her German Shepherd, Myra
What it means to stay open-minded while still trusting your instincts
Why noticing the world around you may be an important part of personal freedom

Mariah’s central challenge is simple:

Pay attention. Notice patterns. Ask questions. And don’t be afraid to change your mind.

She describes pattern recognition as one of the biggest reasons her perspective on life has become more open-minded, and closes the conversation encouraging people to “keep asking questions.”

This isn’t a conversation about having all the answers.

It’s about having the freedom—and curiosity—to keep searching for better ones.

About Mariah Faith Continelli

Mariah Faith Continelli is the writer behind The New Unhinged, a Substack publication with the tagline:

“Not Here to Influence, Here to Interrupt.”

Her writing explores pattern recognition, culture, human behavior, personal experience, and the questions that emerge when you begin looking more closely at the world around you.

At the time of this conversation, Mariah had also spent roughly seven months traveling and living on the road with her German Shepherd, Myra.

Series Mentioned While Recording in July:

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

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Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Personal Freedom Field Notes #1

Mac Dohm — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 21:45:10 GMT

Before we get started

Thank you for being here and supporting what I am building.

Your support helps me continue these conversations, writing, creating, and seeing where this whole Personal Freedom project can go.

As I continue to work on this project, my goal is to provide more value for your subscription and to also build a relationship with you as we journey together in life.

Thanks for riding along — now roll the windows down and enjoy.

Much Love,

Mac

Subscribe now

Personal Freedom Field Notes #1

Here’s what’s been on my mind this week...

I Spent a Week in a Cave & Here’s What It Taught Me | Zach Homol

Mac Dohm — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 19:06:57 GMT

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knows how to do hard things.

He’s been a powerlifting world record holder, Kentucky and New York Strongest Man, an Ironman competitor and ultramarathoner. He’s built businesses, opened a gym, coached others, spoken on stages, and created the Do Hard Things community.

But one of the hardest things Zach ever did required almost no physical strength at all.

He spent a week in a cave in total darkness.

No phone. No social media. No sunlight. No endless stream of information competing for his attention.

And in the silence, Zach began confronting something deeper about himself.

Despite everything he had accomplished, he was rarely content.

There was always another goal. Another challenge. Another thing on the horizon.

Subscribe to Zach’s Substack

ZACH HOMOL & HIS DEFINITION OF PERSONAL FREEDOM

In this episode of The Personal Freedom Podcast, Zach and I explore what happens when ambition, even healthy ambition, becomes an inability to simply be where you are.

We talk about his experience in the cave, his years in powerlifting and Strongman, transitioning into ultramarathons and endurance sports, faith, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, social media, smartphones, discipline, identity, and learning to protect your peace in a culture that never seems to slow down.

Zach also shares his journey from working as a coal miner to building his own gym and businesses, and how his definition of success has changed as he’s gotten older.

Today, his definition of personal freedom is surprisingly simple:

Contentment.

Not abandoning ambition.

Not becoming passive.

But learning to stop living entirely for the next achievement and recognizing the life that’s already happening in front of you.

We get into:

• One week alone in a cave in total darkness
• Ambition vs. contentment
• Powerlifting, Strongman and world records
• Training for 100-mile ultramarathons
• Why doing hard things prepares you for life
• Faith and identity beyond achievement
• Fatherhood and changing priorities
• From coal miner to entrepreneur
• Building the Do Hard Things community
• Protecting your peace
• Smartphones, social media and distraction
• Why modern life feels so fast
• Learning to slow down
• Finding freedom in the present moment

This is a conversation about strength — but probably not the kind of strength you’d expect from a former world-record powerlifter.

It’s about developing the strength to finally say:

What I have is enough.

ABOUT ZACH HOMOL

Zach Homol is an entrepreneur, gym owner, keynote speaker, personal development coach, health and fitness coach, and founder of the Do Hard Things community.

A former powerlifting world record holder, Zach was also the 2018 Kentucky Strongest Man and 2020 New York Strongest Man before shifting his focus toward endurance challenges, including Ironman events and ultramarathons.

Today, much of Zach’s work centers around helping men challenge themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually through coaching, community, conferences, and the Do Hard Things Men’s Retreat.

For more about Zach’s upbringing and experience coal mining and opening a gym/the Do Hard Things Community, check out this discussion with friend of the show, - Do Hard Things with Zach Homol.

Resilient Mental State

Do Hard Things with Zach Homol

Zach Homol is a husband, father, entrepreneur, gym owner, coach, athlete, and founder of the Do Hard Things community…

Listen now

2 months ago · 33 likes · 12 comments · Kyle Shepard and Zach Homol

FOLLOW ZACH

X: @zachhomol_
Substack: Zach’s Substack - Do Hard Things
Community: Do Hard Things
Instagram: Zach Homol

Follow Zach for his writing and conversations on faith, fitness, fatherhood, personal development, entrepreneurship, discipline, and what it means to Do Hard Things.

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

The World Doesn’t Need Another Podcast. Start One Anyway.

Mac Dohm — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:33:36 GMT

Most people I knew or really didn’t know well laughed or scoffed when I said I was going to start a podcast three years ago, typically followed with doubting questions and bemused incredulity.

Not all people, but most of them.

When I think of the success of podcasters in the past few years, like many other newer mediums that are now mainstream, it can look to many like the market is overly-saturated. I don’t necessarily disagree with those statements, and in many cases, they are well-founded opinions.

But what I disagree with is the idea that just because a market is getting worn out in podcasts — just like it has been for every energy drink, coffee bag, whisky/tequila/vodka bottle of X,Y,Z famous person who needs to brand anything and everything — it isn’t worth trying yourself.

It is a daunting thing to consider, not just for the podcaster, but the audience as well.

“Who would want to listen to you?”

“Do you really have that much to talk about?”

“What if no one listens to you?”

So many questions that punch you in the gut, but are not always said with cruel intention and actually mean well.

Suppose it is the world that we are inhabiting that trains us to want millions of voices listening to our every word. A culture, at least in the West, that adores celebrity and success in an unhealthy way. I love Americana, I love America, I love so many things about my country — but there’s something off here in this new age of social media stardom. It’s not your father and mother’s root beer.

There’s something almost synthetic about it, something souleaving. Still a soul but it is on its way out. You can see the corporate boardrooms infiltrating all aspects of creativity, looking to gnaw the meal through the marrow, until there are just fragments of the bones left.

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We are brimming with choices. But hey, the dude abides. In my opinion, all are welcome. And maybe that’s the point I am meandering to. This is a free thought after all.

I think it’s important to say what is on your mind and to share it with as many people as you can if you think it would be worthwhile. Worthwhile being a personal definition that will vary as much as the pebbles on the beach.

For some it may be for fame. For some it may be for money. For some it may be to make a change, to be a cultural revolutionary. For some it may be a method to cure the lonesome soul, to have a bustling void to shout or whisper into. For some it’s to remember and to learn. For some it’s to inspire. For some it’s to become relevant. For some it’s to restore relevance. For some it’s to question. For some it’s to amplify.

For many, it’s an evolving reason.

That’s how my experience has been at least. For me, I just knew I needed to do it. It wasn’t a how, a why, a what, an if, or a when. It just hit me and stuck. This thought of speaking my mind and telling my story felt like some sort of epiphany, like a part of me was let out to see the sun after a long time in a cell.

I think one of the saddest things about being exposed to porn at the age of 10 and developing its consumption as second nature as a kid that loved to play outside, catch fish and snakes, and play video-games on the weekends with his close friends — was that its condition of business was silence. Silence that sunk many ships that were full of treasure. Unseen whirlpools and submerged rocks, seemingly uncharted by my adolescent mind and overlooked by my budding adulthood.

There was a silence in me through it all, for over 20 years. Silence that initially started as a baited anticipation and trance but became a scream of terror when the consequences began to land. It was a silence that needed to speak after the storm of the divorce concluded, almost like a buoyant spirit to help me stay afloat.

That’s why I started my podcast, Porn Free Millennial. To let that voice finally speak. A voice that has that hope to help others find theirs.

For all the names and voices I see in the podcast space, I wish there was more in this category, for how widespread it is. I’m telling you all, we’ll be looking back soon at this epidemic and will be shocked how we let it get this far. It’s going to be a rude awakening for many when that time comes. Better to be far away of that guillotine and avoid the trial altogether, in my humble opinion.

So yeah, I’ve done this podcast for three years.

Has it gone viral? No

Did it grow as fast as you think it would? No

Do you love it? Yes

Do you need to do it? Yes

Do you want to do it? Yes

For me, it’s about stories and being able to have the voice to tell them. For all my life, I grew up with stories. I’m blessed to have a big family with tall tales and to have so many talented tellers. From my parents, to siblings, to cousins, to uncles, aunts, grandparents, friends, strangers — I’ve always loved a good story. I fondly remember my grandparents at their respective dinner tables and the gleam of light in their eyes, a reflection of their attentive audience.

Traditions, tabloids, or tribulations, all treasures.

That’s my vibe. I just love the ability to tell tales and share them.

To add to that, my dad placed an old cassette player in the hallway closet between me/little brother and my older/younger sister’s rooms upstairs with wires through the walls so each of us would have a speaker. We’d take shifts during the week to turn the cassette over if you were still awake.

My nights were serenaded with Mark Twain short stories, Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad, The Series of Unfortunate Events narrated by Tim Curry, Jim Dale voicing Harry Potter, and the harrowing horror of Bunnicula, The Vampire Bunny.

Stories surrounded me and soothed me. And I think that’s why sharing my stories was something I needed to do.

And now that it’s been 3 years, I began to think…I’d like to share other people’s stories too. Don’t get me wrong, I love PFM and what I am doing with it, but it is a touchy subject. Pun intended. But seriously, it is a tough thing to talk about and people don’t always want to hear these discussions. There is still a stigma about it, even if you are aiming to help others or trying to seek help yourself.

So I was shooting hoops on the basketball court one day during my lunch break back last Spring and started thinking about if I could do another podcast, what would it be about?

As I started to ponder this, the word freedom spoke to me and landed. What does freedom look like to someone in their daily life? If I asked them to define personal freedom, how would they define it? In many ways, I think my personal freedom has been expressed through the PFM Podcast. A new way of living, thinking, acting, breathing, and interacting.

I am living into my personal freedom by living differently from how I have been the rest of my life. And as I thought about this feeling in my life, I started to think — I want to share that feeling with others and share their experience of personal freedom with others. Basically download a personal freedom fest party onto the social dancefloor.

All welcome. Grab a mic and share something about yourself.

And then shoot it off into the sky to see where it lands.

The Personal Freedom Podcast

So far, I’ve published 12 conversations, with more coming weekly.

All conversations are different, all are special, and all are inspiring in their own unique way. All voices breaking the silence that would have otherwise remained a vague idea. Connections that otherwise would have been strangers. Conversations from all walks of life, converging together on the definition of personal freedom.

It’s been a fun endeavor and something that keeps me on track as well.

It’s hard putting your life together after it is broken to bits and I’ve found that connecting with others has been a worthy healing remedy.

So to podcast or not to podcast?

I say if there’s something you are passionate about and you want to share that on the airwaves, go for it.

At worst, no one listens and you still took a courageous step toward learning more about yourself.

At best, you touch someone’s life in an extraordinary way.

Even if it is just one person who truly appreciated your words and felt something stir within them that they’ve never felt before — I’d say that is worth the try.

There may be many in the same “space” as you.

But, you have an advantage.

You are you.

And you are unique.

Go for it.

Signing Off,

RV Life • Digital Nomad • Fisherman Trying To Be A Better Hunter • Lover of Poems and Songs • A Man Rebuilding Something Greater

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

There are rainbows in the storms.

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Currently On The Personal Freedom Podcast…

What if the thing keeping you from freedom isn’t your circumstances, but your fear of what other people think?

Bob Lewis spent decades building what looked from the outside like a successful life. He became a highly accomplished trial attorney, rarely lost in court, and built a reputation as one of the busiest attorneys around.

But internally, Bob was fighting a very different battle.

Behind the success were imposter syndrome, perfectionism, workaholism, alcoholism, anxiety, and a constant fear that people would eventually discover he was a fraud.

In this episode of The Personal Freedom Podcast, Bob joins Mac to tell the story of what he describes as his “nine lives”—a journey through professional success, addiction, burnout, multiple reinventions, prison, recovery, faith, entrepreneurship, disability, and ultimately a new sense of purpose.

One of Bob’s greatest turning points came from one of the darkest chapters of his life, receiving a second DUI and spending four months in an Arizona state prison.

What Bob once feared would destroy his life became, in his words, “the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Inside, he found a recovery community, developed a deeper spiritual life, and began confronting the fear that had quietly controlled him for decades.

He came out with something he hadn’t been able to find through professional success:

Peace.

Today, at 68, Bob is a retired attorney and certified mediator, the writer behind Better Decisions, Better Lives, and someone focused on using his experience to help others navigate conflict, relationships, fear, and major life transitions.

Subscribe to Bob’s Substack — Better Decisions, Better Lives

To Support and his wife, check out their business, Ritual Organics! It is a product I have been using for over a year and I love it! Hear more about his product in Episode 4 of The Personal Freedom Podcast.

Don't Let Fear Make Your Decisions | Retired Attorney Bob Lewis

Mac Dohm — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:49:43 GMT

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What if the thing keeping you from freedom isn’t your circumstances, but your fear of what other people think?

spent decades building what looked from the outside like a successful life. He became a highly accomplished trial attorney, rarely lost in court, and built a reputation as one of the busiest attorneys around.

But internally, Bob was fighting a very different battle.

Behind the success were imposter syndrome, perfectionism, workaholism, alcoholism, anxiety, and a constant fear that people would eventually discover he was a fraud.

One of Bob’s greatest turning points came from one of the darkest chapters of his life, receiving a second DUI and spending four months in an Arizona state prison.

What Bob once feared would destroy his life became, in his words, “the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Inside, he found a recovery community, developed a deeper spiritual life, and began confronting the fear that had quietly controlled him for decades.

He came out with something he hadn’t been able to find through professional success:

Peace.

Subscribe to Bob’s Substack — Better Decisions, Better Lives

In This Episode

Mac and Bob discuss:

What personal freedom actually means
Why fear of other people’s opinions can quietly control your life
Bob’s battle with imposter syndrome despite tremendous professional success
Why over preparation and perfectionism became both strengths and weaknesses
Becoming a workaholic and alcoholic while building a legal career
How addiction creates a hidden life and erodes your identity
Why trying to get sober alone didn’t work
The second DUI that ultimately sent Bob to prison
Why prison became an unexpected turning point in his life
Recovery, community, faith, and developing a relationship with a higher power
Learning to stop catastrophizing every mistake
Leaving trial law and taking risks on new opportunities
Building a digital billboard business during the North Dakota oil boom
How mediation taught Bob the importance of listening before reacting
Why pride can make conflict dramatically worse
The power of taking an honest “personal inventory”
Comparison, social media, and the pressure to prove yourself
Why accomplishments need to be acknowledged rather than explained away
Gratitude as a practical tool for changing perspective
Setting small, achievable goals to rebuild confidence
Finding purpose in retirement through writing, teaching, and helping others

What Does Personal Freedom Mean to Bob?

For Bob, personal freedom is learning not to let fear make your decisions for you.

It means becoming willing to take risks, refusing to define yourself through other people’s opinions, and accepting that mistakes are part of living.

As Bob puts it:

“You can’t be concerned about what other people think of you in defining yourself.”

That lesson took decades to learn.

But once he stopped allowing fear, insecurity, and the imagined judgment of others to dictate his choices, Bob says he finally experienced freedom and peace.

From Imposter Syndrome to Confidence

One of the most striking parts of Bob’s story is the disconnect between his external success and internal perception.

He went roughly 12 years before losing his first trial. He was respected, heavily sought after by clients, and once had a judge describe him as the busiest attorney he had ever seen.

Yet Bob would drive to work believing:

“Today, people are going to find out what a fraud I am.”

Success didn’t automatically cure his insecurity.

In some ways, it intensified it.

Bob explains how imposter syndrome fueled his perfectionism, overpreparation, workaholism, anxiety, and eventually his dependence on alcohol for “liquid courage.”

His story is a reminder that achievement and confidence are not the same thing.

When Rock Bottom Becomes a Turning Point

After years of struggling with alcohol, Bob received his second DUI in Arizona and spent four months incarcerated.

It was something he had feared for years.

Yet when it finally happened, something unexpected occurred.

Instead of ending his life, it helped begin another one.

Bob connected with other men in recovery and befriended the son of a pastor who helped him develop a deeper spiritual perspective.

He began putting his life, mistakes, fears, and identity into a different perspective.

Bob eventually returned to practicing law, entered the billboard business, continued his recovery, and discovered that he could make decisions without constantly wondering how they would appear to everyone else.

He had lost a great deal—but came out of that season more at peace with himself than he had ever been before.

Bob’s Advice for Anyone at a Crossroads

If you’re struggling with fear or imposter syndrome, Bob recommends beginning with an honest personal inventory.

Talk to someone you trust who will tell you the truth.

Write down what you’ve accomplished.

Stop immediately explaining those accomplishments away as luck.

Practice gratitude.

Set achievable goals and break larger ambitions into smaller steps.

And most importantly:

Don’t allow fear of other people’s opinions to make your decisions for you.

Every small promise kept and every achievable goal completed becomes evidence that you are capable of taking the next step.

Because the greater risk may not be failing.

It may be reaching the end of your life wondering what would have happened if you had tried.

About Bob Lewis

Bob Lewis is a retired trial attorney and certified mediator based in Rapid City, South Dakota. After decades in law, mediation, business, and recovery, Bob now writes Better Decisions, Better Lives, sharing lessons drawn from his experiences with relationships, conflict resolution, personal growth, recovery, and decision-making.

His next chapter is focused on helping others through writing, workshops, courses, webinars, coaching, and potentially online mediation.

Connect with Bob:
Better Decisions, Better Lives on Substack

The Personal Freedom Podcast

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Find Your Passion, Find Your Freedom | Peter Mukherjee

Mac Dohm — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:51:21 GMT

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Leave a comment

What if the life you’re meant to live is waiting on the other side of one curious decision?

In this episode of The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm sits down with Peter Mukherjee—author of A Few Wise Words, internationally acclaimed photographer, entrepreneur, and founder of the upcoming Soft Skills Academy—to explore what it truly means to live a life of purpose.

Peter shares his remarkable story of nearly becoming a doctor against his will, losing a successful business during the 2008 financial crisis, rebuilding his life through photography, and discovering that personal freedom isn’t about having more money—it’s about creating more choices.

Subscribe to Peter's Substack

Together, Mac and Peter discuss:

Why curiosity is the foundation of success
How passion fuels extraordinary work
Why today’s young people need soft skills more than ever
The hidden cost of social media and constant distraction
Building a life around family instead of work
Why saying “yes” can completely change your future
Lessons from interviewing Olympic champions, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, and world-renowned thinkers
How nature, travel, and photography reconnect us with what matters most
Why the greatest investment you can make is in becoming the best version of yourself

Peter also shares unforgettable stories from photographing around the world, rediscovering his passion after business failure, traveling America’s national parks, and the philosophy behind his bestselling book, A Few Wise Words.

If you’re standing at a crossroads, searching for purpose, or wondering what freedom really looks like, this conversation will encourage you to keep exploring.

Because sometimes...

One curious decision changes everything.

Photos from Peter’s adventures visiting The Wheeler Geologic Area in Colorado and the Grand Teton view over the Snake River where he heard the wolves, and then the grizzly bear family that he bumped into!

Wheeler Geologic Area - Colorado

Grand Tetons Trip

Connect with Peter Mukherjee

If this conversation resonated with you, be sure to connect with Peter Mukherjee and explore his work.

📖 Book: A Few Wise Words: Stories of Success and Inspiration from 22 Extraordinary People

✍️ Subscribe to Peter’s Substack: A Few Wise Words
Follow Peter for thoughtful essays on purpose, curiosity, leadership, photography, personal growth, and the wisdom he’s gathered from interviewing some of the world’s most accomplished leaders.

🌐 Connect with Peter:
If you’d like to learn more about Peter’s photography, writing, speaking, or upcoming Soft Skills Academy, visit his website and follow his work online.

The Personal Freedom Podcast

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Build Your Foundation, Keep Your Promises | Dr. Gregory Borse

Mac Dohm — Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:51:34 GMT

What does it actually mean to be free?

For Dr. , it begins long before success, titles, or achievement. It begins with the habits you practice, the virtues you cultivate, and whether you’ll keep your promises when life becomes difficult.

In Episode 10 of The Personal Freedom Podcast, I sit down with English and Philosophy professor Dr. Gregory Borse for a conversation that spans Aristotle, courage, education, AI, literature, travel, and the unexpected adventures that shaped Dr. Borse’s remarkable life.

From traveling the world with almost no money, sleeping in airports, navigating impossible situations through sheer boldness, and eventually earning a Ph.D., Dr. Borse shares how seemingly small decisions, and a willingness to move when others remain comfortable, opened doors he never could have planned.

The discussion also explores the future of education in the age of artificial intelligence, why universities are facing enormous challenges, and why character will matter more than ever in a rapidly changing world.

If you’ve ever wondered how to build a life of purpose rather than comfort, this conversation is for you.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

In This Episode

What Aristotle meant by the “Golden Mean”
Why courage exists between cowardice and recklessness
Building habits that create lasting character
The importance of keeping promises to yourself
Why integrity matters most when life becomes difficult
Dr. Borse’s unlikely journey to becoming a professor
Traveling with almost no money and why it changed his life
The role of boldness in creating opportunity
Lessons from sleeping in airports, missed flights, and trusting strangers
Why moving toward opportunity changes your life
AI’s impact on education and higher learning
Why face-to-face learning still matters
Literature, philosophy, and storytelling as tools for understanding life

Memorable Quotes

“What are the virtues that I want developed? What are the habits that are going to develop those virtues?”
“Do I possess the kind of personal integrity that will cause me to follow them even in situations that are not good?”
“A deficit of courage is cowardice. An excess of courage is rashness.”
“Don’t panic. There’s a way to figure out how to fix whatever this little thing is.”
“My willingness to get up and go... constitutes a certain kind of boldness.”

About Dr. Gregory Borse

Dr. Gregory Borse is an English and Philosophy professor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello and earned his Ph.D. in English from LSU. Throughout the conversation he reflects on decades of teaching, his passion for literature and philosophy, and how an unconventional path—filled with risk, persistence, and curiosity—ultimately led him into academia.

You can find him on Substack and X.

Why This Conversation Matters

In a culture obsessed with shortcuts, instant gratification, and external success, Dr. Borse argues that lasting freedom comes from something much deeper:

Character before comfort.
Habits before outcomes.
Integrity before achievement.

Whether you’re rebuilding after hardship, pursuing a new career, or simply trying to become a better person, this episode is a reminder that the strongest foundations are built one decision at a time.

Books, Thinkers & Topics Mentioned

Aristotle
The Golden Mean
Virtue Ethics
Plato
Shakespeare
Literary Theory
Artificial Intelligence
Higher Education
Philosophy
Classical Literature
Personal Responsibility

The Personal Freedom Podcast

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Subscribe now

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Leave a comment

How to Build a Life You Don't Want to Escape From | Josh Woll

Mac Dohm — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 16:40:56 GMT

What if personal freedom isn’t about changing your circumstances—but changing your relationship with yourself?

In this episode of The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac sits down with Josh Woll, filmmaker, sobriety coach, and creator of The Sober Creative, for one of the most thoughtful conversations yet about addiction, recovery, mindfulness, and what it truly means to live with an open heart.

Josh shares how alcohol slowly became woven into everyday life—not through dramatic rock-bottom moments, but through culture, stress, and emotional avoidance. After years of trying to quit, failing, and trying again, he publicly committed to one year of sobriety in 2020. Today, more than five years later, he helps others change their relationship with alcohol while building a life they no longer want to escape from.

Together, Mac and Josh explore why cravings aren’t the enemy, how meditation helped Josh survive panic attacks and depression, why so many of us struggle to sit with uncomfortable emotions, and how technology is quietly stealing our attention—and our peace.

If you’ve ever felt trapped in a cycle of addiction, anxiety, distraction, or simply wondered what real freedom feels like, this conversation is for you.

Leave a comment

In This Episode

Why Josh believes personal freedom begins with feeling at home inside your own body
How alcohol quietly became normalized in everyday life
The emotional roots of addiction and why recovery is about far more than quitting a substance
Why meditation became one of Josh’s greatest recovery tools
Building the ability to sit with cravings instead of running from them
The difference between reacting to emotions and observing them
The connection between nervous system regulation and lasting freedom
Why technology, algorithms, and constant stimulation are making stillness harder than ever
Creating a life you don’t need to escape from
Josh’s vision for The Sober Creative documentary series
Lessons learned hiking to Machu Picchu while sober (see the full video here)

Memorable Quotes

“Personal freedom is being anywhere in the world with your heart open.”
“How do we create a life we don’t want to escape from?”
“You don’t have to feed every craving.”
“The more you sit with discomfort, the stronger you become.”
“Real freedom is learning to be present with yourself.”

Books & Resources Mentioned

This Naked Mind by Annie Grace
Headspace
Insight Timer
Transcendental Meditation
SMART Recovery
Recovery Dharma
Wim Hof Breathing Method
Athletic Brewing Company
Capsule Adventures
Alpaca Expeditions
Ryan Leveck’s upcoming book Return to Real

Connect with Josh Wall

The Sober Creative

The Personal Freedom Podcast

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Subscribe now

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Leave a comment

I Quit My Job and Moved Onto a Sailboat | Cory Gerlach

Mac Dohm — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:02:46 GMT

What if personal freedom isn’t about having zero constraints, but about choosing the right ones?

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

, author of Radical Paths, walked away from a federal government job advising Congress to live on a sailboat with his husband and cat — despite having almost no sailing experience.

Most people spend decades waiting for the “right time.”

Corey Gerlach decided not to.

In this episode, Corey shares what it’s really like to trade comfort for uncertainty, why freedom isn’t the absence of responsibility, and how every meaningful life requires choosing the right constraints.

Corey and I explore the hidden costs of corporate success, why adventure builds resilience, how identity evolves through life’s crossroads, and why personal freedom looks different for every individual.

From surviving storms 100 miles offshore to redefining success beyond money, this conversation is an honest look at what happens when you stop asking for permission and begin designing your own life.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s more waiting beyond the life you’ve built, this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights

Leaving a prestigious government career
Learning to sail from scratch
Living aboard a sailboat full-time
Freedom versus financial freedom
Choosing your own constraints
Building resilience through uncertainty
Why adventure changes your identity
Mission vs. goals
The role of serendipity in life
Why there is no “happily ever after”

Memorable Quotes

“Freedom isn’t the absence of constraints. It’s choosing the constraints you’re willing to live with.”
“You don’t have to wait 25 years before asking what kind of life you actually want.”
“Money is a tool—not the destination.”
“There is no happily ever after. There’s only the day after.”
“Sometimes the hardest path is the one most aligned with who you are.”
“Adventure isn’t about escaping life. It’s about becoming more alive.”

Connect with Corey

Substack

Coaching

The Personal Freedom Podcast

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

19 Years in a Van: The Truth About Freedom No One Talks About | Sarah B

Mac Dohm — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:34:39 GMT

What does freedom really look like?

For Sarah B, it meant buying a van, traveling the world with her dogs, and refusing to settle for a life that didn’t feel like her own.

In this episode of The Personal Freedom Podcast, Sarah shares her incredible story of spending 19 years living in a campervan across Australia, the Canary Islands, and Europe while building a life centered around adventure, simplicity, and intentional living.

We talk about overcoming fear, redefining success, traveling with dogs, minimalism, remote work, entrepreneurship, and why slowing down may be the key to living a richer life.

Sarah also shares what she’s learned after nearly two decades on the road—including why she’s now preparing for her next chapter: building a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature.

If you’ve ever dreamed of van life, traveling the world, escaping the rat race, or simply living more intentionally, this conversation is for you.

In This Episode

Why Sarah left conventional life behind
Living in a campervan for 19 years
Traveling through Australia, Spain, Portugal, and Europe
Van life with dogs
Minimalism and intentional living
Building an online business while traveling
Freedom versus comfort
Why slowing down creates a richer life
Entrepreneurship and remote work
Living close to nature
The psychology of owning less
The future of van life and Sarah’s dream of building eco-retreats

Memorable Quotes

“Freedom is choosing how you spend your days.”
“The van was never the destination—it was the vehicle to build the life I wanted.”
“The less I owned, the lighter I felt.”
“Home isn’t a place. It’s a feeling.”
“You don’t have to wait until retirement to start living.”

We Also Discuss

Van life myths
Traveling solo as a woman
Traveling with dogs
The Canary Islands
Australia
Finding community while traveling
Digital nomad life
Working remotely
Simplicity versus consumerism
Living intentionally
Personal growth through travel

Connect With Sarah

Sarah B on Substack

Vanlife with Dogs Substack

Just Being Authentically Me Substack

If you’re enjoying The Personal Freedom Podcast, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing the show with someone pursuing their own version of freedom.

Every share helps us tell more stories of people who chose a different path.

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,
The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

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Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Subscribe now

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Leave a comment

She Gave Her Inner Critic a Name—Here's What Happened | Ilham

Mac Dohm — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:03:29 GMT

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Freedom From Your Inner Critic

Sometimes the greatest prison isn’t external.

It’s the conversation happening inside our own minds.

This week on The Personal Freedom Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with , author of the 1% Wiser Substack, for one of the most thoughtful conversations we’ve had on the show yet.

Born in Morocco and now living in Spain, Ilham shares how moving to a new country, changing careers, and stepping into a high-pressure role exposed an inner voice that constantly questioned her worth.

Rather than accepting that voice as truth, she learned to recognize it, challenge it, and replace it with something far healthier.

Her story isn’t about surviving extraordinary tragedy.

It’s about something almost all of us experience:

Anxiety
Self-doubt
Imposter syndrome
Perfectionism
The pressure to constantly prove ourselves

And because of that, I think this conversation will resonate with almost everyone.

In this episode we discuss

Why personal freedom starts inside your own mind
The surprising power of naming your inner critic
How moving to a new country challenged Ilham’s identity
Finding mentors through podcasts and books
Why self-kindness is not arrogance
Emotional intelligence and resilience
The relationship between nutrition and mental health
Learning to become your own ally instead of your own enemy
Why happiness often looks more like peace than excitement
Practical ways to build confidence one small step at a time

Memorable Quotes

“Freedom from self.”
“Happiness is calm.”
“We are not our thoughts.”
“Treat yourself like you would your best friend.”
“Every time you challenge that voice, you’re winning.”
“Never waste your suffering.”
“You’re not alone. Someone has gone through this before and found a way through.”

Books, Podcasts & Resources Mentioned

My Biggest Takeaway

One thing Ilham said stayed with me long after we stopped recording:

“Freedom from self.”

We spend so much time trying to gain freedom from circumstances, jobs, money, or expectations.

But perhaps the greatest freedom is learning not to believe every thought our minds produce.

When we become kinder to ourselves, we naturally become kinder to others.

That ripple effect might be one of the greatest forms of personal freedom there is.

The Personal Freedom Podcast

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Signing Off,

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

From Corporate Burnout to Hawaiian Freedom | Co-Founder of Ritual Organics, John Caliguire

Mac Dohm — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 21:01:02 GMT

What happens when you realize the life you’ve built no longer aligns with who you are?

In Episode 5 of The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac sits down with John Caliguire—founder of Ritual Organics, creator of Friendology, entrepreneur, surfer, and social media strategist.

John shares how a growing sense of burnout inside the corporate world led him to a life-changing backpacking trip in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. What began as a simple 30-day challenge—waking up early, running every day, quitting alcohol, posting daily videos, and reconnecting with what mattered—set off a chain reaction that changed the course of his life.

A viral video reaching over 60 million views opened unexpected doors, allowing John to leave the corporate world, build a thriving freelance business, move back to Hawaii, and eventually launch Ritual Organics alongside his wife.

But beneath the business success and lifestyle changes lies a deeper story about identity, faith, friendship, purpose, and discovering that true freedom isn’t found in achievement alone—it’s found in knowing you already have everything you need.

In This Episode

Growing up between Illinois, Colorado, and Hawaii
Why corporate life left John feeling stuck
The backpacking trip that changed everything
The power of nature, solitude, and reflection
The 30-day challenge that transformed his future
Quitting alcohol and improving physical health
How a single video reached 60 million people
The reality of going viral
ADHD and entrepreneurship
Leaving a safe career to bet on yourself
Building a business from the ground up
Starting Ritual Organics with his wife
The lessons learned through failure and uncertainty
Friendship, community, and meaningful relationships
Faith as the foundation of personal freedom
Why freedom starts with identity, not achievement

Memorable Quotes

“Who I am is already enough. I already have everything I need.”
“The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.”
“I just knew there was something there. I was not living to the potential that I knew I could.”
“Freedom really comes in the awareness of those things and in the here and now.”
“As long as freedom is something that you feel is only in tomorrow, I think that’s a trap.”
“I think a lot of freedom is just sitting on a couch in the morning and connecting with God.”
“You already have everything you need.”

Resources Mentioned

Friendology

John’s Substack focused on friendship, community, and building meaningful relationships in a disconnected world.

Ritual Organics

Natural beef tallow-based skincare and sunscreen products created by John and his wife in Hawaii.

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Inspirations Mentioned

David Attenborough
Andrew Huberman
Tim Ferriss

Scripture Mentioned

Psalm 23

“The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.”

Connect With John

Friendology:

Ritual Organics: Use my affiliate link to support Jon’s business, I have been using his product now for over a year and love it!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joncaliguire

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ritualorganics

Final Thoughts

Many people dream about changing their lives.

Few are willing to slow down long enough to listen to what their soul is trying to tell them.

John’s story is a reminder that freedom often begins with a pause—a hike in the mountains with family, an honest conversation with yourself, a new habit, or a simple decision to move in a different direction.

Sometimes the biggest transformations don’t start with a grand plan.

Sometimes they start with a 30-day challenge and the courage to take the first step.

The Personal Freedom Podcast

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

How You Can Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Escaping the Heart of Darkness

Mac Dohm — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:01:33 GMT

There is a kind of darkness that doesn’t appear dangerous and yet is seemingly ubiquitous across our modern culture.

The kind that arrives softly.

The kind that nestles itself into the fabric of our consciousness and daily lives.

A comfortable chair.

A glowing screen.

A steady stream of entertaining distractions.

A quiet hum of isolation in a room full of people.

A sudden realization that you’ve drifted somewhere you never intended to sail.

That was one of the biggest takeaways from my conversation with on Episode 4 of The Personal Freedom Podcast.

Follow/Subscribe to Will

William graduated high school during the COVID lockdowns. Like many others, the normal rhythms of life disappeared almost overnight. School became virtual. Community faded. Plans were canceled. The future became uncertain.

The world got smaller, and the human engine fueled by connection, community, and creation slowed to a crawl. Gears shifted as the machinery of the world received new orders in lockstep.

Stay at home.

Consume.

Retreat.

Avoid.

What struck me most about my conversation with young Will was that I had never really taken the time to sit down with someone his age and understand what they experienced during that pivotal stage of life.

I remember my own high school graduation being a blissful experience filled with optimism and excitement.

The world felt open and possibilities felt endless.

Hearing Will describe having plans for the future only to watch those plans dissolve as the world came to a halt—that’s an entirely different story.

I feel like his generation gets such a bad rap for playing video games, staring at screens, and living online.

But can we really blame them?

Many of them were handed a world that suddenly removed community, routines, sports, social gatherings, church, and countless opportunities to build meaningful real-world connections. What remained was often a screen.

As Will stated in our discussion, when meaningful avenues for creation disappear, consumption tends to fill the vacuum.

That is where the real danger begins and the heart of darkness starts to pump sweet poison into the daily routine.

Too much comfort can become its own form of misery.

You can have unlimited entertainment, unlimited distractions, unlimited convenience, and still feel completely lost.

Perhaps especially then.

This strikes at one of the central themes we discussed, the difference between consumption and creation.

Consumption is easy.

Scroll.

Watch.

Click.

Repeat.

Creation requires effort.

Reading a book.

Building a business.

Writing a story.

Serving a community.

Strengthening your faith.

Developing a skill.

Creation asks something of you, while consumption asks almost nothing beyond your valuable time.

One leaves you empty and the other leaves you transformed.

The older I get, the more I believe that personal freedom isn’t found in avoiding responsibility and sitting in comfort.

I think it is found in embracing the right responsibilities.

The fisherman who wakes up before dawn to experience a full day on the water.

The mother and father raising children.

The entrepreneur building something meaningful.

The friend who shows up big when no one else does.

The believer pursuing God and their divine purpose.

The creator who sits down and provides a service to others.

The person who chooses worthy obligations that require effort and hard work because the byproduct is something meaningful.

That is why I connected so much with William’s story.

That journey didn’t happen overnight.

Will didn’t wake up one morning with a five-year plan and perfect clarity.

He started taking small steps back toward creation.

He taught himself how to read differently—not simply for entertainment, but for understanding. Instead of passively consuming content, he began wrestling with ideas, asking questions, taking notes, and learning from people who had walked difficult roads before him—as well as learning from the ancient epics like Gilgamesh and The Iliad.

He started a book club with his younger siblings that still goes on til this day and reconnected with something many people his age were desperately missing during that season—community.

He started building a small eBay business. Nothing glamorous. No overnight success story. Just the simple act of creating value, solving problems, and taking responsibility for something that was his.

He began writing.

He began serving.

He began investing in his faith.

And perhaps most importantly, he began looking outward again instead of inward.

Those actions may seem small on the surface, but they represented something much larger.

They were acts of resistance against passivity, isolation, and comfortable misery.

Books.

Ideas.

Family.

Community.

Faith.

Purpose.

One small decision at a time.

One step down the trail.

One page turned.

One conversation.

One responsibility accepted.

Will’s story tells a series of decisions, one at a time.

The interesting thing about darkness is that it rarely disappears all at once, but light works the same way.

One candle can illuminate a room.

One purpose can redirect a life.

One decision can change a trajectory.

One conversation can plant a seed.

Perhaps that’s what this podcast is really about.

Not the “perfect” people living the “perfect” lives.

Not the “influential” people with “all” the answers.

Just people who reached a crossroads and chose a different path.

People who escaped their own version of the heart of darkness.

People pursuing freedom.

Freedom has many faces and maybe yours is still waiting to be discovered.

Big shout out to William, I am proud of you and I’m honored that you shared your story with us.

Signing Off,

RV Life • Digital Nomad • Fisherman Trying To Be A Better Hunter • Lover of Poems and Songs • A Man Rebuilding Something Greater

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

There are rainbows in the storms.

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Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Next Up On The Personal Freedom Podcast…

What happens when the life you’re living looks good on paper, but your soul knows something isn’t quite right?

In Episode 5, I sit down with —social media strategist, entrepreneur, co-founder of Ritual Organics, and author of Friendology—to discuss leaving behind a corporate career that no longer fit, rebuilding life around purpose, and creating a business that supports the life you actually want to live.

We talk about Hawaii, entrepreneurship, friendship, faith, social media, nature, and the life-changing backpacking trip that helped Jon reset his priorities and ultimately led him down a completely different path.

Episode 5: From Corporate Burnout to Hawaiian Freedom

Coming this afternoon on The Personal Freedom Podcast.

To Support Jon and his wife, check out their business, Ritual Organics! It is a product I have been using for over a year and I love it!

Escaping the Heart of Darkness | William Ezell

Mac Dohm — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 01:27:03 GMT

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Leave a comment

What happens when the world shuts down just as you’re stepping into adulthood?

In this episode, Mac sits down with writer, amateur historian, and Substack creator to discuss how the COVID lockdowns disrupted his transition into adulthood and sent him into a season of isolation, stagnation, and what he describes as his own personal “Heart of Darkness.”

Fresh out of high school when the world suddenly closed its doors, William found himself trapped in a cycle of endless news consumption, YouTube documentaries, movies, and video games. What initially felt like freedom slowly became what he calls a comfortable misery, a life filled with entertainment but lacking purpose.

The conversation explores the psychological effects of isolation, why consumption alone can never satisfy us, and how creativity, community, and meaningful work helped William chart a new course.

William shares how reconnecting with family, developing a love for writing, building an eBay business, taking online classes, reading great books, and creating stories transformed his life and helped him find a way out of the wilderness.

This is a conversation about purpose, creation, faith, technology, personal responsibility, and what it means to choose your own path when life doesn’t go according to plan.

About William

William Ezell is a Christian writer, amateur historian, Sunday school teacher, and creator of The Old Northwest on Substack. He currently works at a Christian camp in New Mexico and publishes both nonfiction and fiction, including his serialized fantasy adventure A Cop in Camelot.

Subscribe to William!

In This Episode

Graduating high school during the COVID lockdowns
The mental and emotional effects of isolation
Endless entertainment and the trap of comfortable misery
Video games, YouTube, documentaries, and passive consumption
Why knowledge is not enough without action
The lessons of Heart of Darkness
Technology, isolation, and modern society
The importance of structure and responsibility
Reconnecting with family during difficult seasons
Learning to write despite struggles with spelling and dysgraphia
Building confidence through small victories
Creating stories instead of merely consuming them
Starting an eBay business
Reading, history, and lifelong learning
Faith, purpose, and finding direction
Why personal freedom means choosing your master before your master chooses you

Memorable Quotes

“Personal freedom is picking your master, not having your master pick you.”
“Finding my way out of the wilderness.”
“The isolation situation doesn’t cause you to do those things. It amplifies what you’re already doing.”
“Hell is where you have nothing to do but amuse yourself.”
“Knowledge isn’t power. Applied knowledge is power.”
“Comfortable misery.”

Books Discussed

📚 Heart of Darkness — Joseph Conrad

📚 Ender’s Game — Orson Scott Card

📚 The Chronicles of Narnia — C.S. Lewis

📚 A Cop in Camelot — William Ezell

Connect with William

Substack: The Old Northwest

Fiction Series: A Cop in Camelot

The Personal Freedom Podcast

The Personal Freedom Podcast shares the stories of people who chose a different path—overcoming adversity, rebuilding their lives, pursuing purpose, and defining freedom on their own terms.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may be looking for their own way out of the wilderness.

There are rainbows in the storms.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Share The Personal Freedom Podcast with Mac Dohm

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

Subscribe to The Personal Freedom Podcast

New episodes every week featuring conversations about:

Purpose
Adventure
Creativity
Faith
Relationships
Recovery
Rebuilding
Mindset
And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

Where to Find PFP

Watch on YouTube

Watch & Listen on Substack

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

The Modern Renaissance Man & The Gamer Who Refused to Quit | Sir Silver Star

Mac Dohm — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:46:07 GMT

What if the very thing the world says makes you weak becomes the platform God uses to impact thousands?

In Episode 3 of The Personal Freedom Podcast, I sit down with Ross Arcemont — Sir Silver Star Games & Broken by Design YouTuber, Christian gaming streamer, software engineer, content creator, and author living with congenital muscular dystrophy.

Born with congenital muscular dystrophy, Ross shares his remarkable journey from isolation and adversity to building a thriving online community through gaming, faith, and service. We discuss overcoming discouragement, finding purpose in difficult circumstances, trusting God’s plan, and refusing to let limitations define your future.

Along the way, Ross shares the powerful story of a guidance counselor who doubted him, the life-changing moment he encountered Jesus Christ, and how God transformed some of his greatest challenges into opportunities to impact others.

This conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, hope, and one of the most powerful testimonies I’ve heard on the podcast.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, isolated, or uncertain about your purpose, this episode is for you.

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

Growing up with congenital muscular dystrophy
Finding friendship and purpose through gaming
Overcoming isolation and discouragement
Faith, perseverance, and trusting God’s plan
Using your story to encourage others

Memorable Quotes

“If God can give me the opportunities and abilities to do these things, why can’t you?”
“People didn’t just accept that I was different. They celebrated the fact that I was different.”
“The world may say, ‘Go away, we don’t want you here,’ but the God of the universe calls us by name.”
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Therefore, speak life.”
“Any good that you see in me is Jesus working in me.”

Let me know in the comments:

What obstacle in your life has ultimately made you stronger?

Sir Silver Star Social Media

Search SirSilverStar across YouTube, X, Twitch, Instagram, TikTok, and other major platforms.

YouTube: @SirSilverStarGames & @BrokenByDesign7

X: Sir Silver Star

Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery:

https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.

Try this link for a limited 14 day free trial and 20% off after that 14 day trial expires.

Want to promote your business?

Email contact@personalfreedompodcast.info and/or book some time to chat.

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And the ongoing pursuit of personal freedom

If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who may need the reminder to keep pursuing freedom in their own life.

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My RV is My Spaceship

Mac Dohm — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 05:04:35 GMT

Photo Taken 3/25/23 - Divorce Date & New Life Date

I have been doing the RV life thing for about 3 years, being in and out of my parent’s house when it gets cold.

Sometimes I feel like people judge that, and that is okay.

But the funny thing is, I was a millennial homeowner before the age of 30 and I worked my ass off for it. I had a big yard, built my own garden, two car garage, deck overlooking the mountains, deer in the yard, bears across the street, a crawlspace big enough to walked hunch enough to find a haunted Edgar Allen Poe doll stuck to a sticky rat trap in the far dark corner, the whole shabang.

I broke 6 figures, got top mark business reviews, hustled, grinded, was in great shape running 3 5ks a week for almost a year, could dunk a basketball, started Bible Study, got promoted into leadership, the whole enchilada.

But then, an unresolved childhood addiction reared its head (see my publication, PFM for more), and nearly wrecked my complete existence — almost no more Mac.

The marriage ended. My sense of self fractured into a million cutting pieces. My ship was sinking fast with little to nothing that floated.

But I made through and I am here now to talk about it.

I chose to listen to a lifelong whisper. Something I remembered back to my summer roadtrip with Blue Grandma, Grandpa Bud, and my older and incredibly tall cousin Sam (also great at basketball — think Obi-Wan v Anakin) in their motorhome. We started in Colorado and made it all the way up to Wisconsin, stopping by family farms along the way (Grandpa Bud I think had 10 siblings — Catholic from Iowa).

I remember fondly catching snakes, frogs, and some big fish with Sam — with the perfect dose of familial competition. His dad younger than mine, but Sam older than me. We also had some great 1 on 1 pick up games if the campground had one handy, testing each other before I started high school, him starting his sophomore year. I was crafty, he was hard to guard and hard to score on, but I was crafty mixing Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Larry Bird, and Steve Nash. The games always came down to the wire and we both respected the outcome.

I remember cautiously testing our resolve against a variety of electric fences along our voyage, ultimately with our destination being a massive firework show.

Those memories began to speak with more force when things got hard. Life on the open road. Family visits. Seeing old friends. Visiting famous monuments of American culture. Making new friends. Conserving energy and space in a tight living quarters. Problem solving the detours, road bumps, and flat tires.

Thinking about this way of living as I was approaching my crossroads was exhilarating and unwavering, something I needed like a lifeline.

That’s why I am still doing this. I’m still figuring it out. Make no mistake, I yearn to own a home again. But this time, it will be a home on a firm foundation — not just physically, but spiritually/relationally/mentally. It will be a home full of life, laughter, and love. A home to be shared for the rest of eternity.

So I’m working on it.

This is a noble quest.

This is an exploratory mission that sometimes feels more like a survival one.

This is my spaceship to find that place to land in a new world.

RV Life_Digital Nomad _Fisherman that is trying to be a better Hunter_Lover of poems and songs_An enjoyable drinker, eater, and breather_A man who is rebuilding something greater

Signing Off

The Personal Freedom Podcast, Mac Dohm

There are rainbows in the storms.

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Next Up On The Personal Freedom Podcast

What does personal freedom look like when life gives you every reason to quit?

In Episode 3, I sit down with Ross Arcement, better known as Sir Silver Star—Christian gaming streamer, software engineer, content creator, and founder of the YouTube channels Sir Silver Star Games and Broken by Design.

Born with congenital muscular dystrophy, Ross shares how he transformed isolation into community, adversity into purpose, and limitations into opportunities to impact others through gaming, faith, and perseverance.

It’s a conversation about resilience, identity, creativity, and trusting God’s plan when the road ahead looks uncertain.

The Gamer Who Refused to Quit: Living Beyond the Labels Others Give You

It can be argued that the greatest freedom is refusing to let your circumstances define your future.

Mac on the Water #1

Mac Dohm — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 01:57:29 GMT

Available for iOS and Android

Why Confidence Matters | Sue Reid

Mac Dohm — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 23:01:39 GMT

Subscribe now

Leave a comment

In this episode of The Personal Freedom Podcast, I sit down with confidence coach, writer, and podcast host for an honest and deeply moving conversation about adversity, healing, self-worth, and rebuilding confidence after years of emotional pain and abusive relationships.

Sue shares her powerful personal freedom story — from growing up shy and feeling unloved, to surviving abusive relationships, struggling with self-worth, and eventually finding the courage to rebuild her life from the inside out. What followed was a journey into self-development, coaching, hypnotherapy, writing, and helping others rediscover their confidence and personal freedom.

Together, we explore:

The connection between confidence and personal freedom
How childhood experiences shape self-worth
Emotional abuse vs physical abuse
Self-love and rebuilding identity after toxic relationships
The role of gratitude, compassion, and forgiveness in healing
Hypnotherapy, NLP, and uncovering limiting beliefs
How confidence impacts relationships, creativity, and purpose
The importance of failing, growing, and trying again
Why many people feel stuck — and how to start moving forward

Books discussed that helped Sue:

This episode is a reminder that healing is possible, confidence can be rebuilt, and your past does not have to define your future.

Memorable Quotes From The Episode

“Living with no guilt or shame and not having to prove myself to anybody anymore.” — Sue Reid
“I cannot go through life going from one crazy relationship to another. I have to sort myself out.” — Sue Reid
“I’ve got to commit to loving myself before I can love anybody else.” — Sue Reid
“Every time you try to do something different, your brain will try and pull you back because it thinks change is dangerous.” — Sue Reid
“You raise your vibration so you’re no longer a victim.” — Sue Reid
“Everything I do now is rooted in love, kindness, and gratitude.” — Sue Reid
“Confidence grows because you are taking the courage to take that step forward.” — Sue Reid
“Be grateful for where you are now and move forward from there.” — Sue Reid
“If you’re happy with who you are, you don’t compare yourself.” — Sue Reid
“You have to fail. You have to try new things.” — Sue Reid

Connect with Sue Reid

✍️ Confidence Matters Substack

🎙️ Confidence Matters Live Streams

Check out my podcast appearance on Sue’s Show here:

Confidence Matters by Sue Reid

Porn Free With Mac Dohm

Listen now

7 months ago · 11 likes · 4 comments · Sue Reid and Break Free With Me (Mac)

Confidence Matters by Sue Reid

Porn Free Part 2 with Mac Dohm

Listen now

7 months ago · 13 likes · 2 comments · Sue Reid and Break Free With Me (Mac)

📘 Sue’s Book — Building Confidence: How to Thrive as a Shy Person

💬 Coaching / Work with Sue in The Confidence Circle

Confidence Matters by Sue Reid

The Confidence Circle

When you want to go deeper, you might like to join The Confidence Circle, part of my paid subscriber tier…

6 months ago · 3 likes

▶️ Sue on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@suereid1905

Want to Share Your Personal Freedom Story?

Almost everyone has a personal freedom story.

Maybe yours involved rebuilding after heartbreak.

Maybe it meant leaving behind a toxic environment.

Maybe it involved taking a risk, changing direction, rediscovering your faith, starting over, pursuing a dream, or simply waking up to the realization that you were meant for something more.

If you have a story you feel called to share, I’d love to hear it.

You can apply to be a guest on The Personal Freedom Podcast by booking a 1-on-1 Personal Freedom Story Pitch conversation with me.

Book Your 1 on 1 Freedom Story Pitch

This podcast is about real people, real crossroads moments, and real stories of growth, resilience, and freedom.

Support the Show

Check out my nomadic art gallery for pictures, posters and prints showcasing my life on the road! Use the Code FREEDOM for 20% off.

Art Gallery: https://macnomadicfineartfromtheroad.pic-time.com/

Ritual Organics

Sun Tallow – Whipped Beef Tallow Face Cream with Non-Nano Zinc

Click Here To Purchase!

Product Description from Ritual Organics’ website:

Grass-fed tallow meets mineral zinc in one whipped, do-it-all balm. Six ingredients. Zero white cast. Zero nonsense.

Why people are obsessed:

One step. Done. Moisturize, nourish, and shield from UV in a single swipe.

Clear Zinc Tech: real UV defense, no chalky ghost face.

6 ingredients. Grass-fed whipped tallow, organic jojoba, non-nano zinc, vitamin E, organic rosehip, organic lavender. The end.

Non-greasy, non-comedogenic, all skin types, including the dramatic ones.

Skinimalist & non-toxic: no fragrances, parabens, preservatives, or mystery chemicals.

90 days to fall in love. if you don’t, email or DM us for a full refund. No returns. No questions.

Ever Accountable

If you’re trying to build a more intentional life and create healthier digital habits, I’ll leave a link to a tool I personally use called Ever Accountable.

This is a great tool also if you are a parent and want better protection for your kids online.