The Life Shift Podcast: Exploring Grief and Growth with AI Perspectives

MacGill Hooley: 00:00:00

Hello my friends.

MacGill Hooley: 00:00:02

I am here on your feed for an episode that is not part of the Life Shift podcast really, but the other day I was playing around with AI and if you follow this show, then you probably know that I play around with AI for some AI developed poems on social media.

MacGill Hooley: 00:00:19

And some of the clips are made using some AI technology where it finds the clips for me just to kind of save me some time with my new job.

MacGill Hooley: 00:00:27

I'm so busy and I'm just trying to find a way that I can pour all the passion that I have for this show into the show to create more assets and things for these lovely guests that are sharing their stories so that more people will hear their stories and maybe feel less alone in their journey.

MacGill Hooley: 00:00:45

But anyway, the other night I was playing around with a new AI tool.

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I don't know how new it is, but it is Google Notebook lm and with it you can upload different things thing.

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So I decided to upload my website to it, or at least just give them the link.

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Upload the trailer on YouTube for the life Shift podcast, give them the link to Apple Podcasts for all the lovely reviews that some of you have given me.

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If you haven't given me a review, I would love a review on Apple Podcast.

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Five stars please.

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And so I uploaded those things and then I uploaded the episode that I recorded about my story way back when, episode 11 with my friend Kristen, who was episode number one.

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And so I uploaded all of that.

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And then with Notebook lm, you can do all sorts of things.

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You can ask questions, you can get a synopsis, you can do all this stuff, but you can also have it create a co hosted audio quote, unquote, deep dive into the content that you're providing.

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So I did that and it kind of freaked me out.

MacGill Hooley: 00:01:54

And I'm gonna share the 11 minute or so clip with you of these two AI hosts talking about the Life Shift podcast and talking about my personal journey through losing my mom and then losing my grandmother and how the Life Shift podcast came to be.

MacGill Hooley: 00:02:13

So with that being said, you're gonna hear a totally AI developed conversation between two AI hosts.

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And I think actually there's some really crazy and interesting value from it.

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And I liked hearing it because it was interesting hearing how technology kind of assessed some of the conversation that I had about my story and what other people have said about it through the reviews.

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So without further ado, here is a quote, unquote, deep dive from the AI hosts from Google Notebook LM talking about the Life Shift podcast and My personal journey.

MacGill Hooley: 00:02:59

I hope you enjoy it and aren't too freaked out.

MacGill Hooley: 00:03:04

I'm MacGill Hooley and this is the Life Shift.

MacGill Hooley: 00:03:07

Candid conversations about the pivotal moments that have changed lives forever.

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Hey, everyone.

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Welcome to another Deep Dive.

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Know how much we all love digging into fascinating stories.

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And today we're going to be unpacking some pretty powerful stuff.

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The kind of stuff that makes you think differently about life.

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Yeah.

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And I think everyone listening knows that we're talking about those pivotal moments.

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Right.

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Those events or experiences that completely shift your perspective.

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Those forks in the road that lead you down a whole new path.

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Exactly.

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Yeah.

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And today we're going to be diving into the story of Matt Gilhooly, host of the Life Shift podcast.

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Ah, yes, I've heard of that one.

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It's all about those life altering moments told through interviews with folks from all over.

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Right, right.

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Over 200 episodes and a five star rating on Apple Podcasts.

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So clearly Matt's tapped into something that resonates with people.

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And what's really cool is that he doesn't just interview others.

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He shares his own story too.

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And it's a pretty intense one.

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Starting with the loss of his mother when he was just 8 years old.

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Yeah.

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His mom's death is a huge part of his story, but he also experienced another significant loss later in life.

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His grandmother.

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We'll get to that later.

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But for now, let's rewind a bit to Matt's childhood.

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His parents were divorced and he was splitting his time between Massachusetts and Georgia.

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So already a bit of a back and forth life.

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Right.

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Lots of change even before we get to the big stuff.

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Yeah.

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And then his mom decides to embark on a cross country motorcycle trip, which he vividly remembers resisting at the time.

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You know how kids get that feeling of not wanting a parent to leave?

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Oh, totally.

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I get that.

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It's like an instinctual thing.

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Exactly.

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And looking back, that resistance feels even more significant.

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Knowing what happened next, it's almost like a premonition.

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Right.

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Even at 8 years old, there's this sense of knowing, of not wanting to let go.

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And then for that fear to be realized in such a sudden, tragic way.

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It's heartbreaking to think about.

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It really is.

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His dad had to break the news to him that his mom had been in a fatal accident.

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I can't imagine the weight of that moment for an 8 year old.

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Absolutely.

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And I think that was just the start of a whole domino effect of changes for Matt.

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His entire world got flipped upside down.

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He had to move to Georgia, start a new school midterm.

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You know, being the new kid is tough enough, but with a Boston accent on top of it.

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And all while dealing with his huge loss alongside his grieving father.

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It wasn't just one pivotal moment.

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It was like a series of them, each one compounding the last.

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Wow, that's a lot for anyone to handle, let alone a child.

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Yeah.

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And I think it speaks to the fact that pivotal moments aren't always isolated incidents.

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They can create these ripple effects that change the course of your life in ways you never anticipated.

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Absolutely.

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And it's fascinating how Matt responded to all this upheaval.

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He went from being this carefree kid who wasn't all that interested in school to becoming super driven, high achieving, a real stickler for the rules.

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It's like he flipped a switch.

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Almost like something inside him said, okay, I need to take control here.

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I wonder if it was a way of coping.

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Right.

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Trying to regain some sense of order in a world that had suddenly become so chaotic and unpredictable.

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It definitely makes you think about how we develop coping mechanisms, especially at a young age, you know, trying to understand why we do the things we do even years later.

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Right.

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Like, was this drive for perfection a way for Matt to protect himself emotionally, to maybe even subconsciously try to prevent any further abandonment?

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It really makes you think it does.

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And it leads us to another really important person in Matt's life.

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His grandmother.

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She really stepped up after his mom died, became this pillar of support and love for him.

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Yeah, their bond was so strong.

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And I love this story about his grandmother's obsession with Josh Groban.

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It might seem like a small detail, but it really illustrates the kind of warm, playful relationship they had.

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It does.

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Those little things.

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The poster in the bathroom, the DVR recordings, they all add up to this image of a really loving and fun relationship.

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Exactly.

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And I think it's important to remember that Matt's life wasn't all doom and gloom after his mom died.

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Yes, he experienced a tremendous loss, but he also had these positive connections and experiences that helped him navigate those tough times.

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And it's a good reminder for all of us that even in the midst of hardship, there can be joy, there can be those bright spots that remind us of the good in the world.

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Couldn't have said it better myself.

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And speaking of those bright spots, there's this amazing story about Matt and his grandmother going to a Josh Groban concert.

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Oh, yeah, Tell me about this one.

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I've heard it's a good one.

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So picture this.

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Matt's at this concert with his grandma, and he's wearing a custom made shirt that says, my grandmother loves Josh Groban more than she loves me.

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Oh, my gosh, that is hilarious.

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I love that.

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They sound like they had so much fun together.

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They really did.

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It's just a small snapshot of their relationship, but it speaks volumes about their playful dynamic.

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It really does.

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But as we know, life is full of twists and turns.

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And unfortunately for Matt, a new challenge was on the horizon.

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His grandmother's health started to decline, and he was faced with the difficult realization that their time together was limited.

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Oh, man, that must have been so hard for him, especially after Ari losing his mom.

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It was.

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It was another huge turning point in his life and one that would ultimately lead him down a path of profitability.

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Profound self discovery.

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This transition in Matt's story is particularly poignant.

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You know, given their close bond.

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Facing the potential loss of another central figure in his life must have been incredibly difficult.

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It's like reliving that fear all over again, but this time with a deeper understanding of what loss really means.

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Exactly.

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And this highlights this really profound moment where Matt and his grandmother had a final conversation, you know, expressing their love and gratitude for one another.

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That idea of a final conversation is so powerful.

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It speaks to the importance of open communication, of expressing those deep feelings while we still have the chance.

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Absolutely.

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It's like a gift both to yourself and to the person you're sharing with.

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And, you know, Matt actually believes that having this conversation allowed his grandmother to let go peacefully.

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Wow, that sends chills down my spine.

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It's like that conversation gave her a sense of closure and allowed her to transition with a sense of peace.

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And it's worth noting that Matt stayed by her side for her final 96 hours in hospice care.

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He was there to witness her peaceful passing.

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It's amazing how he chose to be present in those final moments, even though it must have been incredibly difficult.

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It speaks to the depth of their bond and the transformative power of those final moments.

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You know, we often talk about pivotal moments as these big life altering events.

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But sometimes the most profound moments are the quiet, intimate ones, the ones that happen behind closed doors.

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That's such a good point.

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It's not always about the grand gestures, but about those raw human connections that shape our lives.

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Exactly.

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And this is where we really see the culmination of Matt's journey with grief.

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Approach to his grandmother's death was so different from how he coped with his mother's passing.

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Right.

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He was only eight Years old when his mom died.

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So he didn't have the emotional maturity or the tools to really process that grief.

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Exactly.

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He kind of shut down and channeled his energy into achieving and striving for perfection.

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But with his grandmother's death, it seems like he'd learned to embrace his grief, to allow himself to feel those difficult emotions.

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He took time off work to grieve fully instead of just trying to push through it or distract himself.

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It's like he finally allowed himself to be vulnerable.

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I think that vulnerability is a sign of real strength.

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It takes courage to face those difficult emotions head on.

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Absolutely.

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And this transformation seems to have been deeply influenced by something his grandmother said.

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You know, her words of wisdom.

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Oh, yeah, what was that again?

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Something about not worrying so much.

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I wish I hadn't worried so much because all that matters is love in the end.

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Powerful stuff, right?

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It really is.

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And you can tell those words became a guiding principle for Matt.

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He started making different choices, choices that prioritized his well being and authenticity over external expectations.

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He left a toxic work environment, moved to Colorado for a fresh start, started taking risk without the fear of failure holding him back.

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It's like he finally gave himself permission to live a life that was true to himself.

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It's inspiring to see how those pivotal moments, those losses, ultimately led him to a place of greater self awareness and fulfillment.

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It's like the saying, sometimes you have to lose yourself to find yourself.

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And that brings us to the Life Shift podcast itself.

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It's almost like an embodiment of his grandmother's wisdom, encouraging others to let go of worry, embrace their experiences, and connect through shared stories.

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It's a beautiful tribute to her and to the power of storytelling.

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You know, this idea that by sharing our experiences, we can help others feel less alone.

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Right.

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Because at the end of the day, we're all in this together, navigating life's ups and downs, the good, the bad, and the everything in between.

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And I think that's what makes Matt's podcast so relatable.

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The stories are diverse, but the underlying themes resonate with everyone.

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It's like he's created this space where vulnerability is not just accepted, it's celebrated.

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It's a reminder that we don't have to go through these things alone.

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And that's a powerful message in a world that often tells us to hide our struggles and put on a brave face.

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Absolutely.

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It's a reminder that it's okay to not be okay.

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And that by sharing our stories, we can connect with others, find support, and ultimately Heal.

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So I guess the question is, does Matt's podcast only focus on those difficult, life altering moments, or does he explore a wider range of experiences?

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Well, that's a great question and one that we'll dive into in our next segment.

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You know, it's not just about the heavy stuff like loss and grief.

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He has guests on who talk about all sorts of things like career changes, starting families, overcoming challenges, even just those little aha moments that shift your perspective.

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You know what I mean?

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Yeah, totally.

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Like those moments where something clicks and you see the world a little differently.

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Exactly.

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It's all about how these transitions, big or small, shape us, who we become, how we see the world.

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It's really fascinating stuff.

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So it's about finding the meeting, the growth, even the beauty in those moments, no matter how challenging they might be.

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Exactly.

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It's not about sugarcoating things or pretending that life is always sunshine and rainbows.

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It's about acknowledging the full spectrum of human experience and finding the lessons and the growth opportunities within those experiences.

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And I think that's what makes Matt's podcast so relatable.

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Right.

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The stories themselves might be different, but the underlying themes resonate with everyone.

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Totally.

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And I think a lot of the positive reviews talk about how the podcast helps people feel less alone in their own struggles.

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It's like they're part of a larger conversation about what it means to be human.

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Yeah.

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Like they're not the only ones going through these things, which is so important because we live in a world that often tells us to hide our struggles and put on a brave face.

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Totally.

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And it can be so isolating to feel like you're the only one who's struggling.

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Right.

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And I think Matt's podcast is kind of like an antidote to that.

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Like, he's created this space where vulnerability is not just accepted, it's celebrated.

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It's like he's saying, hey, it's okay to not be okay.

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And in fact, sharing your story might actually help someone else who's going through something similar.

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And that's such a powerful message because when we share our stories, we connect with others, we build empathy, and we realize that we're all in this together.

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It's like that old saying, a burden shared is a burden halved.

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You know, sometimes just talking about things can make them feel a little bit lighter.

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Absolutely.

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So as we wrap up this deep dive, I think the big takeaway here is that even though pivotal moments can be tough, they can also be incredibly transformative.

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Totally.

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They can challenge us, push us out of our comfort zones and ultimately help us grow into the people we're meant to be.

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And who knows, maybe by sharing your own story, you'll inspire someone else to embrace their own pivotal moments and find the meaning and the growth within them.

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It's like creating a ripple effect of positivity and connection.

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Exactly.

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So to everyone listening out there, keep exploring, keep connecting, and keep living your story.

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Because you never know whose life you might touch along the way.

MacGill Hooley: 00:15:09

For more information, please visit WW the Life Shift podcast.com.