Helpful episodes

Every year I create a list of the top, most useful and helpful episodes of the previous year. This year because there has been a lot of interaction on current episodes. I’ve decided to do a midyear pause and reflect if you will.

Here are the top episodes in 2025 so far

Manuel Rendon of Timeplast and 4d programmable matter [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/01/12/manuel-rendon-of-timeplast-and-4d-programmable-matter/]Meet Manuel Rendon, certified polymer science inventor and CEO of Timeplast, Inc. My first interview episode of 2025. Manuel joins the ranks of Scott Adams, the late John McAfee and others. 4d matter In the world of plastics, everything pretty much repels water. But what if you could create a plastic that truly dissolves in water …

Teacher, Teach Thyself [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/02/02/teacher-teach-thyself/] Q&A and the answer (That’s so meta) Have you ever helped a friend who has a question or a conundrum, and the answer was so obvious to you that you easily spelled it out for them? You felt pretty smart. You noticed at some point that when you’ve had issues you turn to others for …

What I learned writing a screenplay [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/02/09/what-i-learned-writing-a-screenplay/] (and how it might help you tell your own story) Telling a story in an unfamiliar medium with constraints you’re not accustomed to is a common theme in business. You may be the best story teller in your circle/medium/genre but if you need to tell your story outside of that it can be a challenge, …

The Anatomy of Ghosting [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/04/06/the-anatomy-of-ghosting/] We all know what it is. We have all done it. We’ve all had it done to us. Let’s talk about when it’s appropriate when it’s not, and why it can be so frustrating.

Non-Local Consciousness [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/05/11/non-local-consciousness/] Let’s talk about non-local consciousness, who you’re really talking to when you’re on the phone, what happens to me and possibly you when something is put on the back burner.

Hypnosis and speaking to your manager. [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/06/01/hypnosis-and-speaking-to-your-manager/] Speaking to the manager I want to speak to the manager. Rather, I want to speak to your manager. What do you think of when I say that? Do you think of the structure of your current employer? Do you make a joke that it’s your cat? Is there a spouse joke in there for you?

Good or Evil? [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/05/22/good-or-evil/] A philosophical question for you. Don’t forget you can pause the episode to consider the question(s) as you move forward. How would you answer? Alchemy for Life™ podcast explores themes of experimental psychology, relationships, cognitive science, human behavior, mental models, consciousness, and psychological insights. We uncover hidden truths and ways to improve your life and get .

Which one is your favorite and why? Was it one I missed?

What episodes are notable in 2025 so far?

Speaking to the manager

I want to speak to the manager. Rather, I want to speak to your manager.

What do you think of when I say that? Do you think of the structure of your current employer? Do you make a joke that it’s your cat? Is there a spouse joke in there for you? Or are you immediately defensive?

There’s a reason you may be defensive, and rightly so.

Hypnosis, logging in as administrator, and reaching the manager

Have you ever been hypnotized? Have you ever had administrative access to a computer? Have you ever asked to speak to someone’s manager or been witness to someone else doing that?

Let’s talk about how all of these things are related, why it’s normal to be defensive, talking to someone else’s manager, and talking to your own manager.

Alchemy for Life™ podcast explores themes of experimental psychology, relationships, cognitive science, human behavior, mental models, consciousness, and psychological insights. We uncover hidden truths and ways to improve your life and get things done, or reduce stress and relax.

The latest book is BeCAUSE! [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733662286/] The fundamental psychological building blocks that enable you to, or prevent you from, accomplishing anything, everything, and nothing.

The post Hypnosis and speaking to your manager. [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/06/01/hypnosis-and-speaking-to-your-manager/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

Hypnosis and speaking to your manager.

A philosophical question for you.

Don’t forget you can pause the episode to consider the question(s) as you move forward.

How would you answer?

Alchemy for Life™ podcast explores themes of experimental psychology, relationships, cognitive science, human behavior, mental models, consciousness, and psychological insights. We uncover hidden truths and ways to improve your life and get things done, or reduce stress and relax.

The latest book is BeAUSE! [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733662286/] The fundamental psychological building blocks that enable you to, or prevent you from, accomplishing anything, everything, and nothing.

The post Good or Evil? [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/05/22/good-or-evil/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

Good or Evil?

Let’s talk about non-local consciousness, who you’re really talking to when you’re on the phone, what happens to me and possibly you when something is put on the back burner, and wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in the United States, Brazil, Germany, India, China and Japan.

The post Non-Local Consciousness [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/05/11/non-local-consciousness/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

Non-Local Consciousness

Getting energy and giving energy

One of the things I’ve said from the very beginning is that a thing can give one person energy and take energy from another. in other words, one person’s activity that energizes them could also really be draining for another.

But that giving of energy is also taking energy. Nobody engages in meaningful receiving of energy without also giving energy.

Simultaneous

And this energy going both ways at the same time can be confusing, especially if you think that your energy is like a glass of water you spill out. It’s not.

What gives you purpose? What gives you meaning?

You will find that the things in your life that give you meaning are the things that can potentially exhaust you, because of the energy transfer. For some people, it’s misleading because we are not taught that exhaustion is a good thing. For others it can be addicting to the point that someone is drained beyond healthy levels in this pursuit (common for some people in healthcare—nurses, therapists, even some coaches).

Episodes referenced:

 * Job Career or Calling [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2017/11/19/job-career-calling-afl-podcast/]
 * Is Positivity Just Oblivious Contentment? [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2024/11/10/is-positivity-just-oblivious-contentment/]

Books:

 * Three Voices [https://www.amazon.com/Three-Voices-languages-communicate-yourself/dp/173366226X/]
 * BeCAUSE! (out soon!)

The post Meaningful Exhaustion and the energy transfer [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/04/27/meaningful-exhaustion-and-the-energy-transfer/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

Meaningful Exhaustion and the energy transfer

The normal format for this show is to introduce you to something and raise your perception. Then we discuss it and you typically leave with homework.

This time you are giving me homework. Let’s talk about the importance of feedback and how each and every one of us has a struggle. What’s yours?

The post Question Mark – Oh how the tables have turned [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/04/15/question-mark-oh-how-the-tables-have-turned/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

Question Mark – Oh how the tables have turned

We all know what it is.

We have all done it.

We’ve all had it done to us.

Let’s talk about when it’s appropriate when it’s not, and why it can be so frustrating.

The post The Anatomy of Ghosting [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/04/06/the-anatomy-of-ghosting/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

The Anatomy of Ghosting

Time is money

You’ve heard that phrase and it is often accompanied by someone clapping, tapping their foot, or some other show of impatience.

Chop chop, time is money.

In our world of Time, Energy and Resources as separate entities, they are saying time is resources, aren’t they?

But it’s actually more accurate to same time is energy.

Let’s discuss, and see if you agree. This just might help you plan your time in a way that makes more sense.

👂If you would like to delve deeper, consider a quick 15 minute call [https://calendly.com/mark-afl] with me. You can tell me what you are up against, and I can tell you about how the coaching system can help, and how I can help you.

The post Time is sometimes money but is always Energy [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/03/30/time-is-sometimes-money-but-is-always-energy/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

Time is sometimes money but is always Energy

Here are the rules of the square and triangle universe.

 * Squares sell things to and help that are both squares and triangles.
 * Most triangles gear their products and services for only triangles.
 * Most squares buy from squares and triangles.
 * Most triangles will buy from both squares and triangles but will choose a triangle over a square, especially if the triangle says their product is exclusively for triangles.
 * Triangles have a number of large companies that use them to market their product to other triangles, using social coercion, exclusivity, personal connections and even guilt.
 * Squares do not have these kind of large corporate connections, and although there are some activities that the squares tend to enjoy they always welcome the triangles.

There are other rules but these are the most obvious.

Listen to the podcast and tell me what you would do as a square. I’m looking for an answer…

So what would you do?

The post The amazing, frustrating, daunting world of squares and triangles [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/03/23/the-amazing-frustrating-daunting-world-of-squares-and-triangles/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

The amazing, frustrating, daunting world of squares and triangles

A while back we talked about the importance of a catalog [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2023/08/13/the-importance-of-a-catalog/] and your awareness of that. By revisiting that we are demonstrating (in a rather meta way) the importance of revisiting it. And let’s add how that affects your facets too.

Catalog

A catalog covers anything and everything you do. This then gets distilled down into your nice brochure and your website. That gets distilled down further into your line card. Even further, this turns into your tagline and then your business card.

Revisiting and refreshing

if you truly review your catalog, you may find that there are things listed on one of the things mentioned above that you simply do not do anymore. Your role may have grown (business owner to consultant, direct participant to manager, etc) or your role may get honed and change over time

Facets

We all have facets and what we think we do for a living. Those facets may be within our job description or genre. But some of us may also have facets on the opposite side of our lovely gemstone, and when you do, It can be a bit confusing when it comes time to market yourself.

Let’s talk about refreshing your catalog, and what to do about your facets and your message.

The post Your Catalog and Your Facets [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching/2025/03/17/your-catalog-and-your-facets/] first appeared on Alchemy For Life [https://www.alchemyfor.life/balancecoaching].

Your Catalog and Your Facets

Recover time energy and resources in your life. Have fun. Understand.