Pockets of Knowledge

#178. Stop Giving Your Power Away: Trusting Your Intuition & Taking Responsibility with Lynn M Bunch

In this transformative conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Lynn M. Bunch, intuitive educator and founder of the Center for Intuitive Education, who has spent nearly 30 years demystifying intuition and teaching people how to trust their inner wisdom without apology.Lynn shares how she built her life's work around making intuition tangible and accessible—not woo-woo or untouchable, but a normalized tool for navigating life's challenges. She introduces the ID Blueprint™, a framework she developed over decades that functions like "the PhD of your own consciousness"—a roadmap covering six core life areas (relationship, wisdom, support, time, health, and finance) that helps you identify your bottom lines, understand your emotional patterns, and stay aligned with who you truly are.Throughout the episode, Lynn gets real about emotional regulation and why most people make their emotions wrong instead of using them as information. She shares why the things you don't confront will become confrontations later. She also tackles the hard truth most people aren't ready to hear: you're responsible for how you navigate everything that happens to you—even the worst things.Lynn opens up about her own journey through cancer, childhood trauma, and life's wounds, explaining the crucial difference between speaking from a wound versus speaking from a scar. And she challenges the victim mindset with fierce compassion, reminding us that our spirit is always bigger than our human circumstances.Whether you're feeling stuck, ignoring your gut instincts, struggling with emotional patterns you can't name, or ready to stop giving your power away to people and circumstances, this conversation offers both permission and a practical path forward. Bio:Lynn M. Bunch is an intuitive educator, spiritual guide, and transformation expert with over 25 years of experience helping individuals connect with their inner wisdom to create lasting change. Through her unique ID Blueprint™ curriculum and one-on-one coaching, Lynn empowers her clients to break free from emotional blocks, align their energy, and manifest their desires with clarity and confidence.   Lynn’s bold, direct approach has helped thousands worldwide overcome emotional obstacles and create real-world results. Whether through private sessions, group events, or her ID Blueprint™ certification program, Lynn offers practical tools and intuitive guidance to help individuals transform their lives, heal emotional wounds, and unlock their full potential.   Known for her no-nonsense teaching style, Lynn is passionate about helping others embrace their intuition as a powerful tool for personal empowerment. She believes everyone has the ability to live a life of purpose and alignment, and she is dedicated to helping her clients achieve that through clear action steps and intuitive insights.   With a mission to help people take responsibility for manifesting their desires, Lynn’s approach blends emotional healing with intuitive practices to create a harmonious, empowered life.  Connect with Lynn:WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeResouces:Intuitive Insights Event———Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.This is not intended to treat any medical condition. I am not a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.

#177. Stop Being the Person Behind the Person: Build Your Thought Leadership Platform with Kelly Schuknecht

In this empowering conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Kelly Schuknecht, founder of Two Mile High Marketing and host of Beyond the Bestseller podcast, who shares her journey from 17 years in publishing and marketing to building her own agency—and helping professional women do the same.Kelly opens up about the two and a half years she spent preparing for a job loss she could feel coming when her company was acquired. Instead of panicking when it finally happened, she went all in on her business dream. Throughout the episode, Kelly breaks down the difference between personal branding (how people perceive you) and thought leadership (what people come to you for expertise on)—and why you need both to stand out, especially in an AI-saturated world. She gets tactical about promoting a book without beating people over the head with "buy my book," leveraging podcast interviews for content repurposing, and building a 30-day content strategy around your expertise. She also shares why authors need to show their human side, not just their work.Kelly explains her unique approach to fractional marketing: starting with a two-hour workshop that results in a go-to-market funnel with actionable tactics, not just abstract strategy. She also discusses her Author Power Circle, writing retreats, and her upcoming book, “The Authority X Factor”.Whether you're an author struggling to promote your book, an entrepreneur who knows you should be "out there" but don't know how, or a professional woman ready to step out from behind someone else and build your own platform, this conversation offers both inspiration and a practical roadmap.Bio:I’ve spent over 17 years in marketing, helping entrepreneurs and professionals elevate their brands and grow their businesses. But my journey wasn’t a straight line—it was shaped by the challenges of navigating leadership, motherhood, and a deep desire to do meaningful work. Like many women, I wanted to build a career I was proud of without sacrificing my family or my values. That’s when I discovered the power of thought leadership: sharing your expertise and story in a way that inspires others and drives real growth. Today, I run Two Mile High Marketing, where I specialize in fractional marketing and thought leadership development. I also host the Beyond the Bestseller podcast, where I empower women to share their stories, build their platforms, and make an impact. I’m passionate about helping professionals—especially women—navigate the messy middle of leadership, entrepreneurship, and visibility. Whether we’re talking about marketing strategy, personal branding, or the nuances of remote work, I love sharing insights that help others take actionable steps toward their goals. Connect with Kelly:WebsiteFacebookInstagramLinkedInYouTubeTikTokResouces:https://kellyschuknecht.com/resources#free-downloadsBooks mentioned:Start Your Second Act: How to Change Careers, Launch a Business, and Create Your Best Life by Shannon Russell - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9798992075403https://amzn.to/477X0ciPodcasts mentioned:Beyond the Bestseller with Kelly Schuknect - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-bestseller/id1780870099Shannon Russell Ep #158 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pockets-of-knowledge/id1647662137?i=1000732973105———Enjoy this Podcast? If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.

#176. Your Brain Wasn't Built for This: Neuroscience, Recovery & Sustainable Success with Dorota Kosiorek

In this brain-science-backed conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Dorota Kosiorek, AI startup leader, brain-based coach, and former management consultant who combines neuroscience and sport psychology to help high performers stop burning out and start winning sustainably.Dorota shares her journey from high-pressure consulting to discovering that working on her own terms unlocked both productivity and joy—but also revealed our brains aren't built for constant information bombardment and always-on culture.After a decade climbing the corporate ladder, she realized the higher she went, the less aligned she felt. When a startup opportunity appeared, she made the leap—discovering that working on her own terms unlocked both productivity and joy. But it also revealed something crucial: our brains aren't built for constant information bombardment and always-on culture.She introduces the "Strategic Off-Season"—borrowing from elite athletes who build recovery into performance cycles—and gets practical with environment design, recovery routines, and visualization techniques for high-stakes situations.Whether you're running on fumes or want to perform at your best without sacrificing well-being, this conversation offers a science-backed roadmap for sustainable success.Bio:Dorota Kosiorek—AI Startup Leader, Brain-Based Coach, and former management consultant (PwC, BCG). My work sits at the intersection of Neuroscience, Sport Psychology, and Hospitality. She combines business strategy with athlete psychology to help you stop grinding and start winning. While most coaches focus purely on "grinding harder," I focus on Environment Design. I help leaders curate a high-performance lifestyle that includes a "Strategic Off-Season"—the intentional recovery required to sustain elite decision-making over the long term. I am currently living a dual reality: By day, I lead international teams at a tech scale-up. By night, I am building a portfolio career and "scouting" the world to launch a future hospitality brand.  Connect with Dorota:Website: https://dorotakosiorek.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorota.kosiorek.56/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindbydorota/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorotakosiorekSubstack: https://thestrategicoffseason.substack.com/Books mentioned:The Power of Systems: How to Create a Life that Works by Steve Chandler Trevor Timbeck - https://amzn.to/3Pva1YgStolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Againby Johann Hari - https://amzn.to/4bgQbXZBooks by  Joe Dispenza Podcasts mentioned:Huberman Lab - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/huberman-lab/id1545953110

#175. Your Story Is Still Being Written: Coming Home to Yourself with Kristan Swan

What if the distance you feel from others actually starts with the distance you feel from yourself? In this reflective conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Kristan Swan, M.Ed., a former business coach turned life and spiritual guide who helps people come home to themselves.Kristan shares her non-linear journey from business coach to spiritual guide, and how the pandemic's depletion led her to ask: what's one small way I could bring people together? Her answer: help people close the gap within themselves first. When we slow down enough to get curious about ourselves, we create space for authentic connection with others.She explores the three buckets of stories we carry—the ones we tell ourselves, the ones we've inherited, and the ones we're willing to share—and challenges the idea that our pasts define us. Every day presents choices to write a new chapter. Kristan tackles why changing your mind isn't a character flaw (it's what thoughtful people do), the practice of non-judgmental observation, and why slowing down is an act of kindness.She also introduces "mapping hope"—the idea that if we're skilled at imagining worst-case scenarios, we owe ourselves equal time exploring best-case possibilities. And she shares her journaling tools like "Spaghetti on the Wall" for daily awareness and "Heart Mapping" for when words fail.Whether you're feeling stuck, exhausted from proving yourself, or disconnected from who you are beneath the noise, this conversation offers permission to slow down, get curious, and remember: your story is still being written.Bio:Kristan Swan, M.Ed. is a business coach turned life and spiritual guide devoted to helping people come home to themselves. After years spent guiding entrepreneurs and leaders to build successful businesses, she now uses that same strategic insight to help people build lives that feel deeply aligned with who they are. Kristan’s work invites you to explore your deepest truths, question the beliefs you’ve inherited, and reconnect with the inner wisdom you may have been taught to ignore. She believes that curiosity is one of the most powerful tools we have — a way to approach our lives with openness, creativity, and compassion.Her work is rooted in the belief that our pasts do not define us — they inform us. And when we learn to honor where we’ve been, we create space to shape where we’re going. Kristan’s mission is simple yet profound: to help you see that your story is still being written — and to give you the courage, clarity, and creativity to write it on purpose.Connect with Kristan:Email: kristan@kristanswan.comWebsite: https://kristanswan.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristan.swan/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristanbrowne/Books mentioned:The Book of Awakening-Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo - https://bookshop.org/a/116550/9781590035009A Year with Hafiz: Daily Contemplations by  Daniel Ladinsky - https://amzn.to/479aAwZPodcasts mentioned:The Treatment with Elvis Mitchell - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-treatment/id73330616

#174. Stop Bullying Yourself: How Your Thoughts Shape Your Biology with Dr. Anna Marie Frank

What if the depression, anxiety, or feeling of "not enough" isn't who you are—but just your body trying to tell you something? In this transformative conversation, host Desiree Stanley sits down with Dr. Anna Marie Frank, the “Mindset Doctor”, to explore how our thoughts literally shape our biology and why healing starts with listening to your body.Dr. Anna Marie shares her journey that moment launched a 20-year journey into holistic health and brain science—leading her to walk away from an 18-year six-figure career at 40 to build Happy Whole You, her thriving wellness practice.She breaks down the science of epigenetics—how your environment (what you see, eat, listen to, touch) tells your cells how to behave—and explains how your brain's "Google search engine" filters reality to validate whatever you're looking for, and why a dysregulated nervous system is behind most struggles with health and decision-making.Dr. Anna Marie gets practical with tools like deep breathing techniques and pressure points to calm your nervous system. She also dives into her book "Stop Bullying Yourself: Identify Your Inner Bully, Get Out of Your Own Way & Enjoy Greater Health, Wealth, Happiness and Success," sharing how that relentless inner voice of "not good enough" can be silenced when you learn to lead with soul instead of ego.Whether you're battling that "not good enough" voice, stuck in a soul-sucking job, or exhausted from proving yourself, this conversation offers hope and a roadmap. You have more control over your biology than you think.Bio:Dr. Anna Marie, known as the Mindset Doctor, is a visionary leader with over two decades of expertise in human health and mindset, committed to transforming lives. Armed with a Ph.D. in Natural Medicine and certifications in Brain Health, Chinese Medicine, Traditional Naturopathy, and Herbology, she is a respected author, keynote speaker, and the host of "The Happy Whole You Podcast." As the founder of Happy Whole You, she leads the charge to destigmatize mental health and guide individuals toward holistic well-being.Dr. Anna Marie's groundbreaking brain-nutraceuticals, mindset rewiring techniques, and holistic practices are reshaping mental health. Her diverse background—from teaching to corporate wellness to CEO and business owner—provides a relatable perspective on how to live an extraordinary life for optimal health and happiness. Anna Marie healed her brain after years of depression and challenges with dyslexia and ADHD. Anna Marie walked away from an 18-year career at 40 years old to pursue her desire to help people become happy and whole by rewiring the mind and body that hold them back.Connect with Dr Anna Marie:EmailWebsite: https://drannamarie.com/https://happywholeyou.com/FacebookInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.anna.marie/https://www.instagram.com/happywholeyou/LinkedInYouTubeBooks mentioned:Stop Bullying Yourself - Identify your inner bully, get out of your own way & enjoy greater health, wealth, happiness and success by Dr Anna MarieBooks by Louise HayDr. Daniel AmenDr. Bruce LiptonDr. Joe Dispenza Podcasts mentioned:Happy Whole You with Dr Anna Marie Frank———If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can also share this with your friends so that they can be educated, informed, inspired and empowered!Questions? Contact me through my website, www.PocketsofKnowledge.com, or find me on Instagram @desireedstanley. Thanks for listening!———This podcast is intended to educate, inspire, and empower you on your personal journey. Please note that individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.This is not intended to treat any medical condition. I am not a medical doctor and do not offer any professional health or medical advice. If you are suffering from any medical conditions, please seek help from a qualified health professional.