The conversation this week is all about connection to ourselves, others, and how to be of service with the time you've been given, and lending his perspective is strength coach turned personal development coach, Eric Bedell.
The conversation took us through topics of disordered eating and body image, to the importance of goals, accountability, and all the odd jobs along the way. From his punk rock roots to his casual candor - we have to say this conversation with Eric left us smiling and ready to take on whatever is next!
Connect with Eric 👇
Conversation with Eric Bedell:
*Text has been edited for clarity
Calla: We're big on connection and quality of life. And I know that you are too. We believe that kind of pushes us all towards a greater good, right? When we operate out of good, good connections and quality of life. So what is it about connection that you're drawn to? I'm curious, and how did it lead you kind of here today?
Eric Bedell: Yeah. Well, I mean, there's like 100 layers and 10 million different ways I can approach that, but yeah, connection central to, it's central to my life, it's central to my work. It's what has brought me to becoming a full-time, personal and professional development coach, it's what brought me to become a trainer. Leanne, I know you're a NASM trainer, I'm an ace certified trainer. And yeah, so I know, we share like that sort of, at least, you know, in our own ways, we share those things. And I think just connecting let's see, I'll try to do my best to summarize here. Connection became very central to me from a very young age. I was the middle kid, older and younger sister, the only boy in the family.
Leanne: Sorry.
Calla: Like, that's a challenge in itself.
Leanne: I was the only girl so I understand.
Eric Bedell: Huge challenge, I give you a lot of credit. But I think just like growing up I had, I would deal with a lot of childhood bullying, I dealt with childhood obesity, took matters into my own hands, battled a bout of anorexia for about two years when I was a kid. And that's actually what like, pushed me into health and wellness. I didn't realize it was very, very unconscious, very subconscious at that time. But it led me down this path of learning that actually the most meaningful thing I could do with my life was learn how to connect with people on a level that's far beneath surface. Because my, my like origin story is this, like very surface-level outer exterior thing. And so that's sort of the pathway that I got set on. And I bounced around all over the place in search of really like what satisfied that and I find myself here now. But I think what's interesting is that through the process of it, I learned the greater importance of connecting is learning to connect more deeply with yourself. Because if you if you're unable to do that, a lot of those external or like secondary connections become less important, less meaningful, and less honest. So yeah, I don't know. Hopefully, it's a decent summer.
Calla: This is gonna be fun. No, I'm excited. I'm like, Okay, we're gonna go there today. I like it.
Eric Bedell: Oh yeah.
Leanne: I love how open you are about your eating disorder and how it did affect you. It's, it's actually crazy. You say that because I have a very similar story.
Eric Bedell: Really?
Leanne: Yeah, I dealt with an eating disorder. Starting like 1312 13 Being a swimmer didn't help. But uh, so I think I subconsciously found myself drifting towards the personal training profession. And I hated to admit this to myself, but I think it was a very selfish drive to make sure I'm in the gym. And I'm always focused on fitness. And I'm always talking about weight loss and nutrition. And it really was the deep connections that you get one on one when you're working with people, and the psychology behind it, that kept me like, alive in this profession. Like, I don't love writing strength workouts for people, I love meeting them and talking about how their day is going and why they ended up where they are and what's holding them back. And I know that you got a degree in psychology, which is super interesting. So we have a lot in common. A lot.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, I mean, your story is really, I mean, I feel for you like and what a testament to like, what's possible for you to also have gone through that and, and have like, converted that pain into something that's useful for other people. Regardless of the intention initially, if it's selfish, I would also make the argument that like it, it probably always should start from a selfish place because if we're not for not taking care of this thing, it's very difficult. Everything else becomes very trite. But anyway, that's this whole but really interesting to hear.
Leanne: It makes me thankful for it, you know, like because I don't think I would have gravitated as much into the fitness industry. If it weren't for my obsession, you know, within myself, even though it was very unhealthy. I can't really see myself doing anything else. I mean, other than this, you know, and this is all about mental health. So you know, it all runs together.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, definitely. Definitely
Calla: I'd love to hear more about kind of your struggle with anorexia. I've never really talked to a man that's gone through that. And so I would love to kind of hear how that developed for you and how you navigated it.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, absolutely. And like, Leanne what you were saying, like, you know, that it's, I'm so out open with it is for that reason. Body image issues, even still, I think people understand that men are challenged by them. But even still in 2022, it's, I think it's way more under the, under the rug for guys. And so I, I think part of my responsibility is to, like, bring to light the fact that, yes, there are, there are these like, you know, masculine traits that, that like, are part of this culturalframework, but every human is still human, and has their sensitivities and vulnerabilities
Leanne: And almost as men, it's like, you're not supposed to show those.
Eric Bedell: Yeah. Right. And the irony is that, you know, I mainly work with men in my coaching practice, and men are attracted to men that are willing to speak honestly about themselves and tell their dark secrets. And so it's really interesting that we have this like, cultural thing about like, not revealing things and not talking about that stuff. And yet, we crave it. Like men, we crave it. And so it's really so interesting. So I like I love to, like, bring that up. So anyway, I guess to answer your question. Yeah, like, you know, I dealt with a lot of bullying was like, kicked off sports teams like team sports, because parents were afraid I was too heavy. I was gonna injure their kids in contact football. I changed my bus route.
Calla: WHOA! That's a lot just to even unpack!
Leanne: At the time, you knew other parents were talking that way?
Eric Bedell: Yeah. But I don't think I was more focused on the real thing right in front of me, which is like, I can't play sports with my friends. I didn't really like to think about the multiple levels of how insanely screwed up it was. But that was one of the bigger things that happened. I changed my bus route a bunch of times. I often I would get off on the bus further away from home than when I got on the bus leaving school because of like, where the bully sat on the bus and my exit from it and just things like that. And they accumulated and I, you know, in your limited level also share a similar like, timeline with you Leanne
Leanne: Really?
Eric Bedell: Yeah, I was 12. And so when you're like limited level of logic and reasoning, and you're like, Okay, heavy bad thing. Good. I won't be the butt of jokes and I won't be
Calla: Survive.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, yeah, literally. Yeah, it wasn't about thriving. It was just about like, How can I be unnoticed? Which is like, right, took a long a long time to, like, work through that to the other side of like, being, you know, being proud of who you are. Despite and in spite, like, because of all of those difficulties. But so yeah.
Calla: I'm still trying to figure that out and I'm 36! I still am trying to work through some of that, for sure.
Eric Bedell: Same. And honestly, I think anyone that tells you that they figured it out. Is full of shit. They're full of shiiiiiit. Hopefully, we can swear I said, like,
Leanne: Yeah, you're fine. I'm just glad I'm not the first one.
Eric Bedell: I was looking through the details of like, okay, this is what's the language sort of
Calla: Come as you are. That's our vibe you're good. You're good. So you work through some of that stuff. But you said it was around the age 12 That, that your eating disorder really started to kind of just run away from you a little bit.
Eric Bedell: Yeah. And I had no like, breakdown of what I was doing. I had no plan. I had no words for it. I didn't call it an eating disorder. I, you know, I just I ate the meals with my family that I had to so no one would raise an eyebrow. And I didn't eat any other time. And I started dropping weight like rapidly. And finally, you know, my parents caught on and stepped in and got me the help that I needed to level out at that point. And then it was like all of the rest of high school was just really focused on maintaining thinness. You know, at all costs. I ran, like, ran so much that because like that was what I, you know, that was what I could like, get my head around. I played soccer, I played football. I played baseball. So I was a sports guy. So like, sign up for more sports. How active can I be? This seems to maintain his thinness. And the really difficult part is on the thing that I thought would happen actually did, which was like, I became more popular. People liked me. I got my first girlfriend. I like this stuff started to happen. So it cemented this like very this distorted approach to like,
Calla: Worth really? That's what it sounds like to me.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. So it was really wasn't until college that I discovered weight training. And that's really where I was like, Whoa, here's this whole and it was resistant to it.
Leanne: So they didn't have you doing weight training in the sports that you were in high school?
Eric Bedell: No, We weren't like the best sports teams.
Calla: Were all there. We showed up a collective thing.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, we did. You know, we had good seasons. All right. Coach DiJacimo! Shout out Coach DiJacimo if you are listening man. Loved my time there.
Calla: All it takes is one good coach.
Eric Bedell: There were some weight room prescriptions on there. But they were minimal and it was like, you know, played all running sports. It wasn't about upper body strength. And so like, it was just learning how to squat and lunge and jump. And so yeah, but yeah. College, I discovered that it was really clicked, I was like, wow, this is something I can do to manage my, my physical health in a way that seems like it's actually just benefiting me. Like, it's actually it's improving everything. It's not sabotaging. And so that's really took off. In college, I went to school for music industry. And when I was there, like, two months in, I was like, What the hell is this? Like, I've been booking shows for like five years in high school, I need to do something that like, feels more fulfilling, and like it's going to, so I became dual psychology, sociology major, and everything just started to sort of like, integrate, at that point.
Leanne: Where did your interest in psychology come from?
Eric Bedell: I think just like you said earlier, like, I'm grateful that I went through that, that sort of bout of I mean, you know, body image struggle, and food and disordered eating because it made me search for something beneath that, because then I got thin, and it will I didn't have the thing that I thought I had to, I had the things, but I didn't have what I really thought I was after. So I was always thinking about the mind. And I was always reading. I was always really interested in like, very philosophical movies and books and yeah, just I don't know exactly where it came from. But
Calla: It got you there.
Eric Bedell: I got there!
Leanne: got there. Yeah. Was it the waitlisting that kind of transitioned your, your thoughts around food, like to feel your body? Or like, how did you gain a healthy relationship with food?
Eric Bedell: That's a really good place to explore. No, it was years after that. Because simultaneously, right, like, I think, I think a lot of people go through these sort of like, college being- I was already very, very counterculture. I grew up. Also part of the story that's really important because it's parallel the whole time is like, I grew up in punk rock and hardcore.
Leanne: We heard.
Eric Bedell: It was like, super important to me. And and I found that community as a place that like, Come as you are, we accept you, you know, it doesn't matter your weight doesn't matter. It was in a very inclusive sort of environment. And so I like, like, poured myself into it. You know, I started playing drums. I like I did everything. So I was already very counterculture. I was like, against sort of mainstream culture, even throughout high school but then college
Calla: We would have been friends!
Leanne: Calla would have been at your shows.
Calla: Yeah, we would have been really good friends.
Eric Bedell: There's still time.
Calla: We're friends now.
Eric Bedell: Yeah. I don't even know where I was going.
Calla: So you sought the community and then-
Eric Bedell: Yeah, I was going to answer Leanne's question I was just gonna say that was context. Normally, for most people, their first exposure to like, really figuring things out and testing limits is college. I had already been doing that, but it went into high gear. And I went vegan. I was vegan for six years, you know, in like, in like very political punk, like Morrissey fashion like very, you know, it wasn't about health. I was like, but then I discovered, you know, so I thought at that time for myself, I was like, oh, and it's a better way to control my weight.
Leanne: Yeah. And there's always that in the back of your mind when
Calla: Interesting! I wouldn't have even thought of that.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, fewer calories. You know, like, a lot of the items I was eating were like, way less dense. And so yeah, like, I didn't really, it took me a while to figure out what I was doing. But I did it. I was vegan for six years. So it was only after that, that I started to go like, well, I don't feel good as a vegan, I just don't feel good. I was getting sick all the time was taking supplements, I worked in the supplement department. So I had access to everything. I was like eating like, oh man, it was crazy. It still didn't work. So I started reintroducing like eggs and some fish and things like that and just started paying better attention to my body. And that's where it started happening. When I started really listening to how I felt. So like, honestly, like the mid to late 20s is the first period where I was like, Wow, alright, I think I'm starting to like, get the hang of how I should eat.
Leanne: That's so empowering too.
Calla: Yeah, that's such a lesson and a gift to kind of give yourself when you get to that point where like, you've tried all these things and you think you're doing the right thing. And then all of a sudden, you're just like, I'm still not reaching that that feeling that I'm chasing you know, and to be able to add stuff in was that hard for you? Especially being from like that counterculture. And then to be like, Oh, shit, I was wrong. To something different, like I've dealt with that in my life and it sucks.
Eric Bedell: Oh man, Yeah, cuz it sinks down, right? It goes from goes from behavioral, like "I eat vegan" to like identity. I'm a vegan. And once it enters the identity level, you're like, Yeah, I was, you know, I was betraying this thing, too, you know? But after a while, I was just like, You know what, I have to, something has to bend and I just want to feel better. And the irony is now and I say this to like my clients that are our veggie or vegan, or like, I'm, I'm like, probably as close to animal-based, like, pure like I eat very few. I eat a small assortment of vegetables at this point fruits, mainly meat, and that I've just arrived here through listening to myself and going to the doctor and listening to my body. And so yeah, really interesting how it can take you all over the place.
Leanne: Literally, yeah, vegan to animal base. And I do want to talk about that. But I wanted to ask for our listeners, but also just so we have a full understanding. How would you define like a holistic personal development coach? How do you define what you do for people?
Eric Bedell: Yeah. I think the hardest thing in the world is as a coach to say, what a coach does. I try to like I say, like, well, you know, do these things sound like you? If so, like, let's have a two-hour conversation. And then you'll know. Then you'll experience it and then it's not words on a page.
Calla: That's so punk rock! I get it.
Leanne: You're speaking her language. We just need some bass in the background.
Eric Bedell: Oh, yeah. I could break out the drum pad. I can't fit a drum set in Brooklyn, but -
Leanne: She's not saying no.
Calla: Open to it all.
Eric Bedell: Yeah. Um, but yeah, um, let's see. Remind where we - I lost my track ready?
Calla: Because I keep interrupting, I'm sorry. I feel seen that's what it is.
Leanne: Calla's just like praise hands!
Calla: We were talking about trying to explain what you do to help people and how it really it's like, you know, you have to get in know their story and see if you can help them essentially is what I took from from your answer.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, no, I think it's, well, that's great. Because that means that like how I'm trying to speak about is what's landing. At least here. Okay to not be like a smartass. And to instead answer it as honestly as I can. I mean, I just I treat the whole person, a coach the whole person, and people often present challenges that they think are their challenges. But number one, I've learned that boldly, I never believe them. Because it's never the challenge that presents, there's always right, that's a symptom. And there's always something deeper. And so we get there, and we explore how, you know, what really is at the bottom of the challenge? Like? How is that interconnected with all the other parts of your life? And if you were to improve this actual dark area, difficulty, what would that do to the rest of your life? So I'd really try to work with people in a very, like, that's what I why I use holistic, I try to treat all aspects that are relevant to the individual. That's why I always go like, let's have a conversation. And that's also I mean, it's funny. That's why I was attracted to the podcast is because I mean, really,
Leanne: that sounds familiar? I've heard that one before.
Eric Bedell: that's where you hit like, the the, like the cool like bell button or something and an ad rolls in?
Leanne: Don't give here ideas!
Calla: I've got to calm down on my down on my use of technology. I don't need any more things to do.
Eric Bedell: It's so good, though. I mean, but in all seriousness, I was attracted to having the conversation with you both, because that's why I really got into coaching work is because I, I believe that, that the planet can be made a much more meaningful place, one conversation at a time. I really believe that because conversation, I mean, it goes back as far as like, like, like ancient Greek culture, and like, just the importance of having dialogue, where like dialogue is where we figure out the world, we test our ideas, we see how other people interpret them. We can either, reaffirm our belief in something, or have it shifted. It's a very vital thing. And I'm a little weary that like, as I'm sure you've noticed this in your own ways, but like our American culture, right now, it feels like so polarized in so many areas that it's hard to have the conversation and having the conversations actually, is the solution to all of the polarization all of those challenges. Sorry, I took it like very macro,
Leanne: Very philosophical.
Calla: I like it. I like it. I can relate to that. That's why it started. So when you went from coaching, like strength to personal development, was that a seamless transition? Do you still do both? Or how did that kind of segue into one another?
Eric Bedell: Um, yeah, it was definitely not seamless. It was very bumpy. I had the vision that I wanted to combine them from the get go when I started the business. But I mean, I'll be honest, I was just not as confident in my coaching skills. And so I really doubled down on my, on my training, because I've been a trainer at that point for 11 years. So I was like, Okay, I'm just gonna get clients and just train my ass off and be in the gym. Right? Yeah. And I did that. And I tried to like, in my intakes, in all my conversations, and all my interactions, I tried to like, integrate some coaching stuff. Yeah, like you were saying because it's all connected. And you see that like having a conversation? Like, oh, I can't just do the reps today. What's under that? Yeah, I had a fight with my mom. Okay. Right. And having a fight with your mom makes you feel like and there's like levels of, oh, we come back to training. And now, hitting 20 reps is hilarious. I can do 100. And so I started to do that. But it was challenging with my clients that I signed on to just personal training.
Leanne: Yes, they're like, Who's this guy? Why do you want to know about my mom?
Calla: Do you deal with that Leanne?
Leanne: Honestly, I'm, I'm so I guess curious. Curious would be the best way to describe it. I have always started with...
Calla: You just go there.
Leanne: Yeah, I do. I can't help it. And so they're all used to it. If they've stuck with me, they know they're going to be talking about their problems. And I'm going to be talking about mine. Right back. It's therapy both ways.
Eric Bedell: It's a good relationship. It's smart. And they get to know they like everything's much more real.
Leanne: Yes. And how far can you take them into making a sustainable change? Unless you know those things?
Eric Bedell: That's so true.
Leanne: Anyone can change up their entire diet and workout regimen for three months? And then it's like, Ah, I don't have the bandwidth. Well, why like, why don't you have it anymore? It never goes past that, you know?
Eric Bedell: I mean, just like a little add on there is like, you know, as a trainer and as someone who and that's why I think people are more open now to getting personal training into fitness they understand because it's something that like keeps them an arm's length from like the real deal. But we know, right, like, you can't just treat a final resulting behavior and expect, like sometimes, right, you get someone on a nutrition plan on a training program. And then over time, the back end that had them like not hitting their goals in the beginning starts to be replaced organically, but I think that's way more that's much rarer than working with someone to be like, Well, why is it so hard for you to stick to the foods that you know, are best for you? Like, I think you gotta like go back?
Leanne: You do because what brought you here? It's probably your last five to ten years of experiences and thoughts like, where are they doing you wrong? And how can we replace them? Like you just said.
Eric Bedell: Yeah.
Leanne: Does fitness play into your coaching now at all with your clients?
Eric Bedell: It does. I emphasize it way less. I encourage all my clients like, I have some clients, just one client that works at Google that like every time we have a coaching call. So he did it once as like an experiment. And now he has to do our calls while he's walking.
Calla: Oh, I like that.
Eric Bedell: Yeah. And well, there's a lot of like, really nerdy neuroscience for like, why actually, that's so powerful. Right, like Dr. Andrew Huberman, if you're familiar with him super interesting. I mean, obviously, he's a neuroscientist, but he does a lot of work around the eyes. Because right there is an extension, the optic nerve is actually part of the brain. It's really fascinating. You can really think about like your eyes or your brain on the outside of your body. It's kind of weird.
Calla: Oooh that creeps me out!
Leanne: Oh, yeah, I know what Calla's next drawings gonna be!
Calla: Yeah, that gives me an idea.
Eric Bedell: I love that. But yeah, so when you're moving forward, the tracking patterns that your AI makes, actually generates greater self-belief, greater resourcefulness. Like physiological. And so it's really fascinating to pair that with coaching work, which is physically moving forward. The way your eyes track. And the way they shift from focus generates a physiological effect in terms of like, a hormonal release. It dials up, I'm gonna say the wrong hormones. So please don't do a check. Check me,
Leanne: We're not scientists here.
Eric Bedell: Go to Andrew Huberman, and he'll tell you the real deal. But yeah, basically just puts you in much more resourceful state as like as humans, right? We're like, designed to find solutions, by walking to them, like by getting by navigating, by locomoting, right and like, so when you do that, and you're trying to solve a problem, you're way more effective, way more creative, way more resourceful, way more self-assured. It's really fascinating. So I that like happened with my client. And now I encourage all my clients like, Hey, have you like moved around to like, please take the if we're gonna take do a remote one, take the call, you don't have to look at me. We don't need video. We could do everything with audio, just take a walk in the neighborhood. So like, that's like the short-hand way of how I incorporate physical activity into my coaching work. But I also do, I still do training programming for some clients that like really want the extra assistance, more or less, I just encourage all them to like, create some type of movement plan, some type of nutrition plan that's going to benefit them because it just keep coming back to that. It's all hand in hand.
Leanne: Yeah. Do you think that would work on a treadmill as well? Just I'm just curious.
Eric Bedell: I've tried that. It's a little. It. I don't think it totally recreates how your eyes work, I think it would still generate some neuro-chemicals for moving as I'm experimenting here. Yeah. It might work. Yeah. Yeah.
Leanne: I don't know. Like, oh, crap. I've been doing it wrong.
Calla: No, I think it does. I think it does. I run on the treadmill a lot. And I feel like that's been that I do like my ideas and I can I can Go there like I would on a walk.
Eric Bedell: What do you do when you are on treadmill? What do you what do you notice?
Calla: A lot, I mean, it's just creative downloads constantly, that's I just see big picture things of how we can get to certain places by doing things, essentially, that's kind of a superpower that I possess.
Leanne: Truly
Calla: But it's also a curse, because they come out of everywhere. What are we gonna focus on? But yeah, I do think that for most, I never put two and two together that we are constantly in motion to get to a solution or to an end result or whatever. But I do think that the treadmill kind of can, can get you there.
Leanne: I have heard like a moving body can create like a calmer mind, like if your bodies and you're just sitting there and then your mind can be going a million miles an hour. And so I have heard it that way. But I haven't heard about forward motion and eye movement. That's so interesting to me.
Calla: Yeah, that was really, really cool.
Eric Bedell: I bet you could probably achieve the eye movement part. It doesn't I don't think it necessarily has to be like a walk or a jog. This is a good reason to go back and dig into the research a little more, because maybe it's just pure physical movement and it doesn't have to be directional, you know,
Calla: Just fall off the treadmill and have a headache.
Leanne: The treadmill at the gym that I go to are on the second level and I just sit there people watch the whole time. So my eyes are definitely moving. I mean,
Eric Bedell: Watching who's coming in,
Leanne: Yeah, who's doing the you know, the leg press wrong, etc.
Calla: So who are some of your typical clients? I'm always so curious, you said that you help a lot of men, what are some of the things that they're coming to you for?
Eric Bedell: Um, it's shifted. It's shifted quite quite a bit. I've sort of it's funny when you go to like, you become a coach, like a certified coach. And they're like, Okay, you're off. Go do your thing.
Leanne: Yeah, terrifying.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, right. You're like, I want to work with everyone. But then you realize, like, by doing that, you end up working with no one. So I started just like testing very specific groups of people that I've worked with in my past. Like, I ran a music venue for seven years. So I worked with a lot of yeah I have a weird...
Leanne: Career path?
Eric Bedell: Yeah, definitely, I have explored quite a few job opportunities. And so I worked. I've worked with like service industry folks, for many years. It happened to be a music venue. So I worked with a lot of people that were musicians, a lot of creative types, creative professionals. I also worked, I volunteer for an underserved community, like tutoring and mentoring organization, that's like, really awesome. So I work with all sorts of, young, young kids in that realm between like 1823. And then but I also have, like, some corporate clients that are at Google and at tick tock, and, and they all present like different challenges, but the things that unify them are like, they're very creative. They're very, they have like a very strong imagination. They're extremely hardworking, they're passionate, they put everything into, into their projects, whatever they are
Leanne: Calla Walshe! I'm like Check, check,
Eric Bedell: As she was explaining, the sort of, and with the visual, I don't know if we'll, you'll use video of this for anything but right with the visual hand pulling ideas down. It is, that's something that a lot of my clients do present like. So there's such an influx of creativity, that the challenge with that is like, Well, how do we bring the abstract into reality? How do I not you know, stay in the romantic possibility world and bring some things to touch reality? Yeah, gotta
Calla: Yeah, gotta get to work at some point.
Eric Bedell: Yeah. Oh, super. And all I mean, the other thing that, like a lot of my clients also come to the table with is, you know, also wanting to be in service of other people. And that's, I think, where the creative project, they want to deliver something to people. And sometimes the dark side of that is like, you know, they've, if they don't get the validation from the outside, they can feel inadequate. They can be really challenged. So those are signs that walk.
Leanne: Walking currently.
Calla: Oh, no, no, no, we're on our way!
Eric Bedell: We're having the conversation.
Calla: Exactly. That's right. We're gonna move right past it.
Leanne: Oh, sorry. What were you going to say?
Eric Bedell: I was just gonna make a dumb joke? It's
Leanne: Oh, please. Those are welcome here.
Eric Bedell: We've had the conversation.
Calla: Yeah. Like I said that works. Yeah, to go into motion at some point. So funny.
Leanne: Yeah, as I was listening to another podcast that you were on, and you said that you actually had like over two dozen jobs in your lifetime? Yeah. And you're not like 50 years old. So yeah, that's quite an accomplishment. Do you have any, like, any favorites or any least favorites? And like, have had some of them developed you into, like, realizing that this is the path you are going to take? Oh, great.
Eric Bedell: Question. Yeah, it's, uh, you know, it's interesting is, and this is another thing that also, you know, once you start coaching enough, you find the clients that really like, the light you up and like, really, like, just check all the boxes, you realize that you're really just working with like, a different version of yourself? Yeah, that's so true. Yeah, it's really right. I'm sure you, I'm sure you experience it when you like, find clients that you love working with?
Leanne: Oh, my God, I feel like yeah, I'm like, I listen to a fitness podcast. And they joke about how personal trainers have to be chameleons. Because, yeah, it's like, you have to kind of meet everyone where they're at. And also, like, there's the more laid-back personalities where you have to chill out a little bit. And that's not my forte, but there's, you know, and then there's the high energy ones that you're just like, wow, the whole time just chatting. And yeah, yeah, I do. I feel like I'm at five different people every day. Don't be alarmed.
Eric Bedell: Oh, that's, that's that would be, that would be a great thing to talk through. It's just that chameleon aspect. No, totally. Yeah.
Calla: Let's talk about it. I'm curious. I don't I don't have anything in that realm. But why do you have to adapt so much to clients? Do you think just for their comfort? Or for yours? Yeah.
Leanne: Well, I'm very Yeah, aware of, you know, I want this person to feel comfortable. I think I did one of those personality tests that Chad gave us. He's our business coach. And so I took a personality test and empathy was my, my top one. And so I think it's, it's a strength, but it's also it's definitely a strength in when you're working one on one with people and you would probably rank very high on there as well, Eric, but you to Cal, not leaving you out.
Calla: Empathetic, me?
Leanne: But it can also be kind of a downfall because I'm always like, Are they okay? Am I making them comfortable? And so that's always kind of at the top of my, you know, radar. And so if they're having a bad day, I want to like kind of chill out and be more comforting. Whereas if they're like really killing it, then I want to like push push that and so I guess it's not like, different. I'm not being different people. But like Eric said earlier, like different versions of me based off the energy I'm getting, you know, from them.
Eric Bedell: Yeah. That's that, that that explanation makes that lands with me quite a bit. I'm curious. Was it was the personality test? Was it Myers Briggs? Or was it
Leanne: It wasn't.
Calla: I did so long ago. So we're, we get to do a podcast where she hears mine and I hear hers with our coach, and it's gonna be interesting.
Leanne: It was Gallup to give you your five strengths.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, I've heard that. Yeah, it's Yeah, I mean, there's, there's so many, and they're really useful. They can also be, they can also be detrimental because then you start focusing, you know, you're disproportionately you start focusing on strengths and weaknesses, like, in a way that isn't useful now, if you approach it the right way, but also write some personality types. Once they take the test, it's going to be very hard to integrate, just based on their personality type. So there are some challenges with that, but I because I work when I work in like, corporate organizations, right, that everyone comes to the table like Googlers, like I'm a red, and I'm like, Oh here we go.
Leanne: I'm an INFP.
Eric Bedell: Right. And I'm like, well, that's your default. Right? But like there is there's expansion possible,
Calla: actually, that's why I like doing people right. Yeah. There's a lot that happens in between those letters or,
Leanne: I wonder too, like if you took that test on a good day versus a bad day, what would come out the same you know, like back to the multiple brains
Calla: From hormone replacement therapy to now I think, I mean, my letters are gonna switch up I really truly think so.
Leanne: I agree.
Eric Bedell: Undoubtedly, yeah, really shifting. I don't even remember I don't remember how many Oh, it was we were talking about different positions, like my jobs, anything that stuck out. The reason I I think I think how we got down this route at all is like I've always been seeking sort of this like magic, combination of creativity and service connection. And it's taken me like a lot of different places and I always like if I held that as my mission statement, my personal mission statement, it brought me wherever and, and again something and like I did, I was an umpire for little league ball. I worked in a health food store and I ran the supplement department. I have obviously been a trainer for many years, I worked in catering halls. I helped a friend open a raw vegan juice cafe. I ran a concert venue for seven years. I worked in craft beer, I sold craft beer for two years. I've been
Leanne: I could see it. The man bun screams craft beer to me.
Eric Bedell: The bun, the beard and I live in all the B's I live in Brooklyn. I got a beard and a bun. That's like,
Leanne: Just add beer to that and you're good.
Eric Bedell: Alliteration required to be a crack salesman. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's, but every one of those jobs. And there's, there's more than I'm leaving off. I was a public school substitute teacher, I was a librarian every one of them brought me something really useful. And I judged myself for many, many years until I started going to therapy myself and getting coaching myself. And I started realized that actually, that's Yes, there's always two sides to every coin. Like, one of the things I judged myself on is that like, because I was so like, bouncy, I'm not like my girlfriend is an HR professional and has done it for a decade-plus, and she's excellent. And she's like, and I've never had that. But the other side of that reality that judgment is also that like, and probably the biggest parallel that I always leave out is that I have been a musician and I've toured and I'd like to play music took me to Europe three times took me to Canada took me all over the US. And when I look at them, and I don't put it through the judgment lens, and I look for the strength of it. It's like I'm really adaptable.
Calla: I'm like, What a life well lived here. I don't see sporadic or anything like that. I see adventure. That's what everybody wants out of life. The rat race sucks.
Eric Bedell: It has its perks. It has its perks.
Calla: It does.
Leanne: What are they?
Eric Bedell: Steady pay is probably the number one. Okay, that's also what I imagined though. So you could correct me if
Calla: Yeah, you could work a lot and not have anything to show for it too. I mean, there's that component that's what you bring to the table. That's so cool. Well, like for when you were a kid were your interest very like all over the place was it always comes back or how did you find music? I want to know about that.
Eric Bedell: Um, I don't remember the first time that I was like I have to play but like I grew up in a very musical household like my dad, you know? My dad is from like, being a little kid would tell me you know, he tried to go to Woodstock got stuck in the traffic sat on top of his car smoked a joint and like that's awesome. Yeah, music was always part of growing up. A lot of classic rock. A lot of soul. A lot of pop. Like big like all that kind of stuff. And then somewhere something somewhere like the end of elementary school beginning of like middle school. I started discovering alternative music and that's what really was this like pull. Like grunge other alternative punk. Her 80s Hardcore, new wave-like, and I just started getting like sucked into it. And I remember like my aunt, my aunt Lil she's, she's the best she she we were like a visiting. They lived in like Central New York and we are a bit my family's visiting. And she just slams my hands down on the table. Right because I was just like, yes, my
Calla: I have a child like that.
Eric Bedell: With this might be useful. It might also this might be you don't want to show them this podcast.
Leanne: Did you steal your sister's jeans in middle school?
Calla: Yeah, of course. Yeah, sure. It was like being alternative. I did whatever. Yeah.
Leanne: I've been around a couple of those my whole life.
Eric Bedell: Oh, just pesky. Yeah. Anyway. Yeah, my aunt holds my hands down stops him from tapping. And she's just like, what you get the kid drum set, please. So, my parents, they, you know, they allowed it to happen and I'm so grateful they like, you know, I grew up in like the burbs of Long Island and we had a basement. And so I had a space to like, put a drum set. We didn't have a lot of money. So I got you to know, the drum set fell apart all the time. But it was a no, that was
Leanne: That was your first job, a mechanic?
Eric Bedell: Yeah. Had to figure that thing out. And then once I, once I started playing drums, that was that was it, it offered. I remember being a kid and going through, like, I started playing drums around the time that I was exiting the period of anorexia. And it just, I remember thinking like, ah, if I could just live in this state, you know, in this feeling of creating music, and you know, just express myself like this all the time. I could just do this all the time. That would be enough. And so that drew me for years. Just want to chase that. I still play. I still.
Calla: I was going to say, Do you still play? Yeah, that's cool. Yeah, you miss touring?
Eric Bedell: Yeah, COVID Definitely. Oh, that down real. We are gonna we have a record. I'm still in this. This is crazy. I'm still in the same band. We've been together for 11 years.
Leanne: Yeah?
Eric Bedell: The band is called Timeshares.
Calla: Oh, nice, I like it.
Eric Bedell: We have a record come out. And I think like, June July. I can't Don't nobody hold me to that. It's gonna be sometime this year, late, late summer. We have a couple of like, in two weeks, we're playing a show in DC, one in Richmond, and one in western Pennsylvania. We're kind of bouncing around a little bit just here and there. You totally
Leanne: You downplayed that. I had no idea.
Calla: Yeah, Mr. Cool guy? Yeah. friend Ron, like for sure. You guys have a blast. He he's in Pennsylvania, you guys.
Eric Bedell: Well, maybe, maybe. Maybe you can convince him to come to the show.
Calla: I will. I will do my best.
Eric Bedell: It's in Harrisburg.
Calla: So oh my gosh, I lived in Harrisburg for like 13 months. And he's not far from there.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, that's awesome.
Calla: Ehhhh
Eric Bedell: She's like, I don't know about Harrisburg.
Leanne: That's why it was 13 months.
Calla: It was a quick, quick stop.
Eric Bedell: A flyover. I don't, I don't write much. I've only written a couple of songs that have made a record. In this band, um, I'm like, and it used to frustrate me. But now I just I love that checks all the boxes, I get to be physical playing drums, a very physical instrument, I get to be really physical. I get to be really creative. I get to hold structure and support for other people. You know, and like, that gives me like a lot. So now these days, like I don't, I've dialed back my like, you know, like, oh, let's like, see how many notes we can put in this thing? And now it's like, let's see how few like, yeah.
Leanne: Oh my God, we are on the same page.
Calla: Simplicity!
Eric Bedell: How is that showing up for you?
Leanne: Cal, You want to take it?
Calla: No, go for it.
Leanne: Well, it's so funny because we will Cal started this podcast three years, four, Cal?
Calla: Hell, I don't even know anymore. I'm just here.
Leanne: Between three and four. It all runs together as a whole or season on her own. And then took a break because it was too much. And so she asked if I wanted to be a part of it. I was like, absolutely. So last year was the first year that we like really started this thing together and had a plan and we're excited. So we just went balls to the wall. I mean, we did you kind of 54 episodes.
Calla: Yeah, we did.
Eric Bedell: I scrolled back there are quite a few.
Leanne: There's quite a few. Right? And you're super proud of that. But we realize this year, like that's not sustainable, long term. And we would rather quality over quantity. And so our whole year. I mean, it's only been less than a month. But so far this year, it's just been talking about just like slowing down, simplicity, the quality over quantity thing and just seeing you know, we've we found our upper threshold, and we're proud of that we're happy, but like how do we keep this going sustainably and Cal's got three kids like I'm getting married this year. So it's like it's a lot of juggling. And so we're trying to find that balance.
Eric Bedell: So far with what you're doing to slow it down? To do this in the simplicity approach? What are you noticing so far in like the results?
Calla: We're having fun again. I mean, that's what it is, it's always come back to that. We're having fun again, we're not prepping in running ourselves crazy trying to make sure that... it kind of goes back to like what you guys were talking about with your coaching, making sure people are comfortable and showing up for them, and doing that. And it's like, we too need to come as our best selves. And when we're burnt out, we can't right?. So we can't enjoy this. We it feels like work. And we're starting to just have fun again, not that all the conversations haven't been fun. But you look back 54 episodes, that's a lot of time behind screens and in prepping and editing. And I mean, we are a two person shop, like we do it together. And like you said, we have lives so the burnout aspect of it. Bring , that's stuff back in and finding the joy in it again, has really made all the difference. For me personally.
Leanne: Yeah, same, and it's hilarious to like if you listened back on our last year at how often we talked about burnout.
Calla: Yeah, It's awful. I listened to that damn episode yesterday, because we were doing we go live sometimes on Instagram for coffee and with our community and stuff. And we talk through like the conversations that we're having with our guests and all that. And last year, we did our goals episode, and we're doing the new one for this year tomorrow. And I'm so full of shit. I'm so nervous to show up tomorrow and have to like tell people didn't do that then. But you know what, that's the reality of it.
Leanne: It's relatable. everyone they know you, you have all these lofty goals at the beginning of the year. And you're like, Okay, how can I make this more realistic?
Eric Bedell:Yeah.
Leanne: Do you take the new year's resolution approach with clients? Or are you just kind of like we as we go, we'll create new goals and small small wins type of thing?
Eric Bedell: I think you're probably asking, Do I take the new year's resolution like approach? Not necessarily new years, but like,
Leanne: Yeah, sorry.
Eric Bedell: No, I got it. I was like, I was like, I thought he had two clients crossover New Year's in the beginning. So like, trying to know, but we, I mean, definitely, I mean, in all of them, in all of like, my co-training, psychology background, all of, the education that I try to do, whether it's accredited or not, like I'm constantly working in the mind and I'm trying to, like figure out additional ways to support people and what I have found. And this I don't think has changed for 1000s of years. At least, I can't tell, if it has, is that the recipe to a deeply, deeply rich, and meaningful life is to have a really important goal, to have a really, really important goal. That means something to you that like, if you were to achieve it would like to bring you to like, achieving the best level version of yourself that you could imagine. And then taking really, really pragmatic daily steps. Like, I like the metaphor I use often is like, like Michael Phelps, or like whatever, an Olympic swimmer, right? Like, you can't swim, staring at the wall. Like it's, you're gonna never make it faster than the guy next year. So your head is down for 80% of the time and every, whatever, three to six breaths, you pop up, instantaneously check back to routine or back to like, the grind. And I think like that's like a really good way to think about goal setting and approaching your life. Because if you take you to like really think about what's the, what's the thing that would like, be the best for me. Like, if I were to achieve it would be the best thing I could imagine. Realistically. And then take daily, right head down swimming daily strokes towards it, and periodically pop your head up, check where you are on your path back to because I think doing that not only gives you it gives you something to work for, which is like really, really important. But it is also like when your day is comprised of meaningful steps towards a big meaningful goal like every moment becomes more meaningful and right like I'm sure you hear this all the time. Like, everyone, these days is like looking to be more present. And I can't think of a better way to do that to achieve it than by being fully engaged in everything you do in your day, because it leads to this thing that really is important to you. So yeah, definitely. I mean, I think setting goals are really important. I think it's just about like, how you frame them, and how you act towards them.
Calla: Yeah, I tend to overdo it, surprise. Gonna do this and then I'm like, Okay, we got like two things done. That's all right. We got stuff done. It's done.
Leanne: Yeah, time to re-evaluate?
Calla: That's exactly it.
Eric Bedell: I can. I can relate. I can. Yeah, I can. Yeah.
Calla: How do you help? Um, well, I actually have two questions. My first one is how do you help your clients stay accountable? And then I'll ask the other one after you answer that, I guess?
Eric Bedell: Well, it really doesn't matter if they're accountable to me. It matters if they're accountable to themselves. I always try to set the ground rules. Like when we start coaching work, I just tried to be like, this thing only works if you're bold, in who you are, and honest. And when you can do that you can, you can stop the bullshit, you can really be accountable to yourself. Like, I think one of the most powerful things you can do is keep your word to yourself. And so I just remind clients that and I tested, and like right there, like, you know, I want to, like I have a client that's like a, like a really an excellent musician. And he's on like, a very well-performing band. And he's like, freaking out. He's trying to put together a record. It's their fifth record on this label. It's really like people are, there's a lot of pressure, externally, and he feels it. And he's like the major, one of the major songwriters. And so he clams up, he's, like, terrified to write. And so like, he's always thinking about, like, I have to write the best, the best record the best record the best record. And so I'm like, Well, how do you write the best song? On the best record? Okay, how do you write the best verse on the best song on the best record, and bring it to like almost such a fragmented thing that like nothing matters. And like that, that reinstates his competence in the process. And so like, the accountability piece comes in where it's, like, getting people to believe that they will follow through on this thing they say they do, they will. So like, make it so small, that it's harder to not follow through, and then they're immediately accountable to themselves, and they don't even realize what's happening. Like, something feels insignificant. Okay, I'm gonna play guitar for five minutes today. Like, that's like laughable. But you do it. And because it's so easy, you sit with a guitar for five minutes. Right? Like, it's, like, bored, and they don't believe you. But like, it builds self-accountability. Just innately.
Leanne: Do you have your second question, Cal?
Calla: I do but if you wanted to follow up on that you can because it's a different direction.
Leanne: Okay, Well, you just mentioned briefly that you help people become more honest with themselves.
Eric Bedell: Yeah.
Leanne: That has to be very challenging. Like, what is your approach to doing that?
Eric Bedell: Well, it's, I mean, it certainly starts with building like a really strong rapport and trust. It has to be like an airtight container. Like nothing you say, leaves, you know, this conversation.
Calla: It's a trust fall exercise.
Eric Bedell: Definitely. Yeah. Cuz, who wants to like air honesty, where they don't feel safe and like they can.
Leanne: Right.
Eric Bedell: It's horrifying. So I think it's essential is like create that connection and that real deep trust and report first and then. I mean, that's one of the powerful benefits of coaching. Coaching is all about questions. It's all open-ended questions and with no judgment, and just trying to cater to the relevance of the person so like, honesty, you know, I really want to leave this job because I'm not being paid enough. Right? Like, like trying to get to the bottom of like, is that actually true? And you leave the job and then like, and then what happens? Right, like walk me through it like,
Calla: Now you have no money like you gotta sit with that Yeah.
Eric Bedell: It's an iterative process to like just continue to just remind people that like the space of the coaching, like the partnership is, like sacred and you know, just like getting them to experience like little bits of honesty and what that sensation is like, because like almost everyone I've ever spoken with, like, just airing even though a little bit of honesty, like, what have you been avoiding?
Leanne: Ooo that's the question?
Eric Bedell: Oh, yeah, what's the what's the? Like? What's your what is the greatest fear that you have in this area? What is getting people to like, give you little bits? And just like asking them what they notice like it just unanimously like, across the board people are like, I feel lighter, I feel freer. I feel more myself. when the momentum catches. So it's like, I think it's really it's about being gradual, as gradual as possible. And like letting people experience it. Right, coming back to like, my smartass response about like, how do you tell people like, hey, what do you do as a coach? It's like, well, you should experience it. I think that's it. Like, we can all hear all this stuff we should do. And we hear like all the good advice, and it's like, yeah, okay, cool. But like until you experience what being honest with yourself feels like, man. It's impossible to describe.
Calla: Yeah, no better feeling
Leanne: That takes a lot of patience on both ends, though, because like, I'll say, from my experience, like, the clients only going to get to their goal, if they are honest with me about what they're doing in the hundreds of hours a day that they're not with me. And if they aren't willing, to be honest with me or themselves, that can create a lot of frustration, and maybe giving up or maybe just getting really negative for a while. That's really hard, because that's kind of dependent upon how honest your client is willing to be with you.
Eric Bedell: Totally. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I mean, if they're not ready, they're not ready.
Leanne: Yeah. Would you tell someone that?
Calla: I was going to you say, Have you turned clients away from that it's not a good fit for you?
Eric Bedell: Yeah, I was terrified, terrified to own that in the beginning. But what I realized is that I'm not being honest. And if we're expecting that for one another like I have to, I just don't know, if you're ready for this, I don't think you like and what's amazing, like in whatever coach terminology that's called like mismatching, but it's like a challenge. And clients are like, you know, I've had clients that are like, you know, forced to work with a coach, because their corporate headquarters, you know, direct them to that.
Calla: Yeah, that's what they got, yeah.
Eric Bedell: What am I gonna do here? It's like, maybe nothing. Maybe, maybe there, maybe you don't want to think maybe you don't want to improve? I don't know. And like, sometimes, like challenging, someone that says they're not ready or is really resistant there. I think what's really fascinating is that most people that are really, really resistant to opening up to trusting the process and being honest, they want it so bad, but they're so scared. Yeah. And so sometimes challenging it and coming from a place you're meeting them on their level. I'm not gonna Yeah, of course, I ate all my meals. Like, what do you mean? Like, yeah, I hit my two cardio workouts programs like, okay, it's like, well, like, listen, it doesn't affect me, whatsoever. Maybe you don't really want to get into the best health that you're capable of.
Leanne: God, I don't even know if I could say that to someone. I am sweating.
Eric Bedell: Oh, yeah. Makes you feel terrible. But I think something that I realized that like, changed, everything for me is it's my responsibility as a coach to ask bold questions. Because no one else is doing that. And that's why they're paying is to, to like, be the person that's willing to say something that no one else is willing to say, or to challenge them how no one else is willing to. And we leave all our other identities outside. And now we're just two people. And I just and the only thing you need to know is like, all I want is what's best for you. That's all I want is what you think is best for you. That's it. And so when you tell me what it is, I'm going to hold you to that. And
Calla: That's beautiful.
Leanne: I'll send a memo to all my clients.
Calla: Eric's got a message to you from me. There you go. I see a collaboration. We talked a little bit earlier about how everyone's main focus right now is being present and being in the moment. Do you have practices that you fall upon for yourself that allow you to be in the moment better?
Eric Bedell: Yeah, I think, great question. Because it like, yeah, it's super relevant right now. Like, I guess I'll just reiterate like, creating a plan for yourself, like creating a goal and like, we're like bringing that into play, whatever that looks like, it doesn't have to be crazy, but like, Okay, what's the best thing that could happen to me this year, realistically, that I could do if I put work into and then okay, what's one thing I could do today, such that if I follow through on it puts me one step closer to this thing, right? That's one way of presence. It's counterintuitive because a lot of times presence is, I think, thought of as stillness and lack of busyness. But, actually, presence is, I think, is just is being fully engaged in your life. In everything that's happening in your life, sometimes it's appreciating stillness for sure. Which I guess leads me to my other practice, which is, like I fell in love with breathwork. Not a meditator can't do it. Like it was like I'm such a kinesthetic person I need to move and breathing offered me a physical. So I always recommend that I have a number of like,
Leanne: What type of breath work do?
Calla: Look at her leaning in, like tell me.
Leanne: Well, I discovered Wim Hof last year. So his breathwork every morning I meditate, which is a partial snooze. And then I do my breath work after that. And I feel so alive.
Calla: There's that honesty!
Leanne: I can't lie about it.
Eric Bedell: We're having an honest conversation. Yeah, no, that's, that's huge. Yeah. Wim Hof is great. Because once you start studying that, and you go back his practices are based off of a lot of Tibetan monk practices, just adapted and he has a really good way of just making it simple and digestible, for like, modern consumption, I guess. But Wim Hof is great. I always think about Brian McKenzie is an ex CrossFit athlete that has gone into a sort of like tactical breathwork training and his website is called shift adapt. And that's really great. Because you can there's like some practical tests that you can, you can undergo, and then there's, and then there's specific, like breathwork patterns, based on where you fall in this test. So that's really cool. I always recommend that because, because then it's like a little more catered to the individual. But honestly, the simplest thing that I always recommend to anyone that's unfamiliar with breathwork, or looking even to go further only uses your nose, close your mouth, make your inhales full, but not forced. And then release your breath. You can use your mouth or your nose to release your breath as slow and effortlessly as possible. And, and really try to lengthen the exhale. I find that sometimes making a protocol too strict and specific, has people focus too much on the cognitive part of the breathwork than the experience.
Calla: Trying to get through it.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, it's like, oh, 123. That's it can be useful. But I think it's just like, learning to sit and pay attention to your breathing even if you don't modify it is like a really excellent thing. It seems like a cop-out. But that's what I suggest.
Leanne: why do you just do it, like five minutes a day? Or how do you like to do it?
Eric Bedell: I do. Like, I actually I love that your, your prep in the invite for the conversation is like, hey, we try to do this without pressure. Take a breath. Right and, and I was like, that's great, because actually what I do before every call coaching interview, you know, podcast, the new client doesn't matter is I just do three, extended exhale, breaths. So I'll take I'll just take a full inhale through my nose and I'll and I'll blow out as slow and controlled like with like a, like a whistle shape with your mouth. Like a silent whistle because no one wants to hear a whistle.
Leanne: He's whistling again, here he goes.
Eric Bedell: And just go as long and as slow as you can. No force. And I'll do three of those before every call and the physiological changes in the body. We get again, we get like nerd out on this stuff, but it's it is just the perfect amount of like deceleration so that you can enter whatever it is that you're nervous about. And obviously, you could do it in the reverse. If you're really exhausted, and you need excitation, right, then use your mouth, make the inhales, and exhale rapidly. And almost like jarring. Like Breath of Fire. So there's, depending on the goal, there's a different technique you can apply. So if you need to slow down, right, if you like to hyped up, bring it down with long, slow exhale, exhales if you need some excitation, if you're like, you know, you got to power through this day, you got a big meeting, and you're so shot. You know, whatever, it's gonna sound weird, go into the bathroom, and do like three minutes of breathing exercises.
Leanne: What's he doing in there?
Calla: Excuse yourself and go get your breath.
Eric Bedell: I had a coach, I had a coach that was like, that was hosting breathwork class on Zoom, while he was at his shared office space.
Calla: What a nightmare.
Eric Bedell: Yeah, can you imagine like the other people in that office space there?
Calla: What the hell is going on in there?
Eric Bedell: The Property Manager, like the office manager pulled him aside and was going to delete his credentials, like, kick him out.
Leanne: That bad huh?
Eric Bedell: Because they thought he was having sex in his office room. And he was like, no, no. It was just breathwork. When no one in the office believed him. So
Calla: That reminded me of that Adam Sandler thing. Do you guys ever hear that Adam Sandler had a bit? Where is it? Like, is it sex or weightlifting?
Eric Bedell: That's like, like, the 90s?
Calla: Yeah, the 90s like my brother had it.
Eric Bedell: Oh, yeah. Was he part of Jerky Boys? No, it wasn't him?
Calla: No it wasn't him but same era.
Eric Bedell: Same era.
Leanne: We touch on just real quick, since we talked about it a little bit in the beginning. I'm your philosophy on animal based nutrition. And is that just for you specifically? Or do you kind of tried to push your clients? I don't wanna say push, but, you know,
Calla: Stear the ship maybe?
Leanne: Yeah, towards that?
Eric Bedell: That's a good question. Yeah. I don't try to definitely I don't try to push any sort of nutrition principles on people outside of
Calla: Why is that just because it's unique to everyone?
Eric Bedell: Some clients ask for it, right? Like, some are open. Most people, even if they present as being open to it, have some resistance. And so I found it's much better for people to experience something, and I'll offer some suggestions. And then I have them, I have every client, whether they're just a coaching client, where they do coaching and training with me, I have everyone keep a food journal, for at least the first two weeks. And that's not for calories. That's not for it's checking in becoming more self-aware of the vehicle. And like, how do you feel when you eat certain things? And like, really, and then, like, trying to implement some of those suggestions? Like I say, like, you know? I think it's right, like one thing that I could say with, with, like, tremendous competence, is that it's directly proportionate, are increasing Nationwide obesity epidemic is going up at the same rate that the consumption of seed oils has gone up, and the consumption of processed foods, but including other additionally, processed sugars, specifically, so fat, those seed fats, and sugars are like, I don't think there's any research that could convince me it's otherwise at this point, right? So those are things that I'm like, Hey, here's two things that I'm fine recommending. Here's so much research. Here's like, blah, blah, blah, try to reduce these things as much as possible.
Calla: Good starting point.
Eric Bedell: Yeah. Right. And then pay attention to how you feel. Don't do a million changes at once. Pay attention to what happens. Try not to replace it with something just notice what happens when it's not there. And then eventually, I try to work people into increasing animal protein. That's, that's usually the first place I'll go.
Leanne: Do you have resistance with that?
Eric Bedell: Sometimes. Yeah, I think a lot of pop culture is so like, anyone can choose whichever approach they like, but I think there's a lot of corporate incentivized movement towards plant-based diets
Calla: There's a lot of noise out there.
Leanne: Beyond Meat and all that.
Eric Bedell: Right for like climate reasons for animal cruelty reasons, you name it.
Calla: Yeah. I'm sorry I'm getting angry!
Eric Bedell: I'm with you. I mean, this is and this is an ex-vegan be like,
Leanne: Totally
Eric Bedell: But here's the thing, right? The real truth is that if you want to if you actually want to help the environment, it's to eat regenerative animal agriculture. Like, that's the best thing you can do. It's actually carbon negative, the soil, sequestering more carbon when you purchase and consume animals that were raised on a pasture in a regenerative process.
Leanne: Sustainably, yeah.
Eric Bedell: You cannot beat it for the planet. And for the experience of the animal that you are going to consume and a million others, I can go on. So I have places that I recommend people go check out like White Oak Pastures, Savory Institute is a really great organization that has a lot of cool research around it. Force of Nature Meats is a great sort of like Butcher Box, but it works only with regenerative farms. That's the other thing like when my clients are like, okay, cool. I've done these steps. What's next? I'm like, okay, organ meat. We got to go to organs and they're like, Ah, why? Like um, but so I
Calla: Actually eat liver and onions now.
Eric Bedell: Yeah?
Calla: Almost every Sunday my husband makes it because he was he did the vegan thing for a while and he's always like changed then it went keto then straight carnivore and now he's kind of just He's found his balance of what he knows his body can handle but organ meats are top of the list for him.
Eric Bedell: That's amazing. Oh, we can have a whole conversation just around
Calla: Yeah, I'm going to have to connect y'all. For sure.
Leanne: I'll message you later but I would love to know some of your favorite psychology books and stuff that you've been reading that yeah, spark your interest and stuff.
Calla: Eric, would you be open to coming back and just having Yeah, doing this because this was a lot of fun time but I don't want it to end so
Eric Bedell: Likewise, I super appreciate it. I'm like really grateful for the chance to meet you both and to chat and I just hope you continue to keep fighting the fight of like people having dialogue and talking through ideas and it's been the most crucial part in my personal development is learning how to have better conversations and connect with people. And I think it could be everyone's. I really believe it.
Leanne: Amen
Calla: Well I found my soundbite. I appreciate you so much. Where can people get in touch with you and where can people find you?
Eric Bedell: Yeah, the best place at this point is my website EricBedellCoaching.com shoot me an email thisiseric@ericbedellcoaching.com. I'm much more distinct from social media these days.
Leanne: Probably for the best. It's brutal out there.
Eric Bedell: Its pros and cons for sure. But just for me right now. It's been tough. So yeah, website, email. Follow my band TimeShares -please check that out.
Calla: Oh I will. I can't wait.
Eric Bedell: I'm just super appreciative of being able to be here.
Leanne: Thanks for your time, Eric.
Calla: Thank you so much. We'll talk soon.
Eric Bedell: Sounds great.
Leanne: Bye Eric.
Eric Bedell: Bye