Life Beyond Labels

In this episode of Life Beyond Labels, Kelsey sits down with Tom Smalley, MS, CMPC, for a candid conversation about mental health, OCD, and turning pain into purpose. Tom opens up about his diagnosis with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the impact it’s had on his life, including a time when he faced a toxic environment and bullying from coaches. Tom shares how he took that struggle and turned it into strength: launching his own mental performance coaching practice, pursuing Olympic weightlifting, and becoming a successful speaker and advocate. Kelsey and Tom also dive into topics like therapy, fa...

In this deeply heartfelt episode of Life Beyond Labels, host Kelsey O’Connor sits down with longtime family friend, Michele Doty. Michele shares how her world shifted when she was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer, but how she continues to show up with honesty, gratitude, and joy. Rather than being defined by her diagnosis, she talks about holding onto her identity, finding meaning (and movement) in each day, and more about who she is as a loving mother, business owner, and radiant human being.

What to Expect in 'A Sunshine State of Mind':

Just because it ended differently than you expected doesn’t mean you failed. In this episode, we’re diving into navigating unexpected endings, especially when the ending feels like a failure. It’s hard to talk about what happens when the door shuts on a dream, goal, career, or relationship. What happens when you’ve done everything you can, but there’s no more pushing to be done? There is shame that can come with perceived failure, but this episode talks about radical acceptance and believing in the meaning of the journey, even when we don’t see it yet. With re...

You know that feeling when you kick off the New Year with ambitious goals and an endless to-do list? Everything feels possible until life happens. One skipped step turns into two, and suddenly, you’re off track, wondering where the spark went. In this episode, Kelsey shares her personal New Year’s Eve practices, including TWO types of resolutions: writing vision letters to herself and creating ‘to-be’ lists alongside her SMART goals. She emphasizes that it is important to take action, but it helps when we can re-inspire our ‘why’ at any given time to stay motivated long after January. If...

In this episode of the Life Beyond Labels podcast, host Kelsey O'Connor interviews Rob Finkelstein, CEO and founder of Alumni Direct. Rob shares his journey from being a collegiate athlete to an entrepreneur, the challenges of transition when your kids no longer play sports, and the importance of building community through alumni connections. Rob shares insights on networking, the value of relationships, and the impact of his podcasting journey. Join us for an episode that will inspire you to be bold and expand your circle! 

Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction to Rob Finkelstein and His Journey

Hi friends, in this episode, we will talk about a common topic that sounds easy and seems simple but can be hard to implement into our lives: staying present. In this episode, I’ll share personal anecdotes and strategies I use to appreciate the moment and incorporate mindfulness into my day when life seems to race by me. Categorizing these into 8 specific practices, I encourage you to listen, try one of these practices, and take or leave what works for you. These tips will hopefully enhance your emotional well-being, improve your connections with others, and increase your awareness and ap...

The internet is filled with “how to” guides, but what if it isn’t that simple? In this episode, we’ll talk about why it’s important not to be discouraged by how-to advice that seems to hand all the answers on a silver platter. We’ll discuss the importance of recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to personal growth and success. Through a few personal examples, we’ll highlight the need for individualized strategies and difficulties that arise with of oversimplifying complex topics into 'how-to' guides. This episode will include my experience with various self-help methods and encourage list...

In this episode, Kelsey sits down with Sydney Supple. Sydney is infectiously energetic, strong, committed, and generously kind. She empowers others through her work in sports and storytelling.
 
Sydney Supple is a former D1 Softball player at Northwestern University and a current sports broadcaster. Kelsey and Sydney talk about Sydney's journey in sports, the importance of community and giving back, navigating confidence and self-perception, and the role of strong female figures in her life. Sydney shares her experiences transitioning from college sports to broadcasting, the challenges of maintaining confidence, and the valuable lessons learned from her family. T...

In this episode, Kelsey sits down with Marques Ogden. Marques is hardworking and motivated — he strives to inspire people through his positive mindset and powerful story.

Marques Ogden shares how he went from living the dream as an NFL player and building a multimillion-dollar business to losing it all and rebuilding his identity and career. After overcoming failure and ego, Marques learned to embrace his authenticity, which has turned him into a renowned motivational speaker and podcaster. You won’t want to miss this authentic episode.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Marcus Ogden
03:15 The Journey from...

In this episode, we dive into the idea that labeling our experiences can sometimes make us wonder if our best days are behind us. We challenge the whole concept of "the best years" by chatting about how we can look at our lives through a more balanced lens rather than just a lowlight or highlight reel. Your best days are not behind you, and, no, you’re not missing them!

What to Expect:

In this episode of Life Beyond Labels, we’ll talk about 10 practical ways to be kind to your mind, let go of the need for external validation, and improve your self-talk to improve your life.

What to Expect:

10 Tips to Improve Self Talk

Welcome to Life Beyond Labels
In our VERY first episode of Life Beyond Labels, we’ll explore what it truly means to be defined by more than just our external accomplishments, roles, jobs, or titles. While we often find ourselves influenced by things like our careers or relationships, this episode will focus on embracing our authentic selves and building our identity from the inside.

What to Expect: