Empowered Learning Podcast

Leadership Is Responsibility with Lieutenant Colonel Richard Crossley Jr.

What does real leadership look like over the course of a lifetime?
In this episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, Andy Bennetts sits down with retired Lieutenant Colonel Richard Crossley Jr. to explore leadership through the lens of military service, education, and mentorship.
Colonel Crossley began his career as an enlisted soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division, eventually rising through the ranks to serve in multiple leadership roles across the U.S. Army. But some of his most meaningful leadership work came after his military career—mentoring young people through JROTC programs in Fort Worth, Texas.
Throughout the conversation, Colonel Crossley shares how his understanding of leadership evolved—from commanding soldiers as a young officer to helping thousands of students develop character, discipline, and purpose.
This episode explores:
Why leadership is about responsibility, not rank • Lessons from military leadership and the Desert Storm era • How JROTC helps students develop discipline and executive function • The role mentorship plays in shaping future leaders • Why character development is essential for long-term success • How leadership continues even after retirement
Colonel Crossley also discusses how he continues serving others today—through veteran organizations and by writing a book that captures the lessons, mistakes, and leadership principles he’s learned throughout his journey.
If you're interested in leadership, mentorship, education, or public service, this episode offers timeless wisdom from someone who has spent decades helping others grow.

Posture Is Brain Health with Dr. Brett Hill

What if posture wasn’t about appearance… but about your brain?
In this episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, Andy Bennetts sits down with Dr. Brett Hill to unpack one of the most misunderstood concepts in modern health: posture.
Dr. Hill explains that posture isn’t about pulling your shoulders back or “sitting up straight.” It’s a neurological function that develops in early childhood—through crawling, balancing, and learning to stand against gravity. When that system becomes disrupted by modern lifestyle habits, the body compensates. Over time, those compensations show up as migraines, vertigo, lower back pain, plantar fasciitis, chronic tension, and more.
This conversation dives into:
Why posture is controlled by your brain—not your muscles
The connection between the visual system, inner ear, and upper spine
How chronic pain often stems from neurological miscommunication
Why symptom-based medicine misses the root cause
How small posture corrections can unlock long-term health
Dr. Hill also shares his personal journey—building a clinic from scratch and later creating an online program that brings neurological posture correction to people worldwide.
If you’ve struggled with recurring pain or unexplained tension, this episode will challenge how you think about your body—and give you hope that real correction is possible.
Connect with Dr. Brett Hill:Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/XperienceLifeChiropractic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xperiencelifechiro/
Website:  https://www.yourpostureprogram.com/
CTA (Podcast Offer): https://www.yourpostureprogram.com/videos 

Curiosity Is the Fountain of Youth | Andrew Panella

What if curiosity—not supplements, not shortcuts—was the real fountain of youth?
In this episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, Andy Bennetts sits down with Andrew Panella for a practical and deeply personal conversation about health, discipline, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning.
After battling chronic inflammation and undergoing five surgeries, Andrew spent nearly a decade searching for answers within the traditional healthcare system—with little success. Frustrated but determined, he turned to books. Hundreds of them. What started as desperation became transformation.
Now a Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and Corrective Exercise Specialist, Andrew runs a full-time coaching business and shares daily health insights with a community of over 130,000 followers. His philosophy is simple but powerful: health is the foundation of everything.
In this conversation, you’ll discover:
Why Andrew organizes his life into “buckets” instead of chasing balance
How discipline is really about alignment—not restriction
Why health fuels leadership, business, and family
How curiosity compounds into transformation
The trade-offs required to live intentionally
This episode is a refreshing reminder that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It happens by design.
If you care about longevity, leadership, and living fully engaged—this one is for you.
 
Connect with Andrew Panella:
LinkedIn: ⁠in/andrewpanella⁠
YouTube: ⁠@Longevity_EDU⁠
Instagram: ⁠@Longevity_EDU_⁠
TikTok: ⁠@Longevity_EDU⁠
X: ⁠@Longevity_EDU

Write, Fail, Repeat: The Creative Discipline of Caleb Stephens

What does it take to become an award-winning author? Talent? Inspiration? A lightning-bolt idea?
According to thriller author Caleb Stephens, it takes something far less glamorous—and far more powerful: discipline, humility, and the courage to fail.
In this episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, Andy Bennetts sits down with Caleb to unpack the real story behind his success. Caleb shares how he spent five years writing his first novel—only to realize it wasn’t good enough. That humbling realization became the turning point that shaped his career.
Together, they explore:
Why starting small builds stronger foundations
How to separate ego from your work
Why revision is where real growth happens
The power of consistency over inspiration
How to balance creativity with family life
Caleb’s journey—from early missteps to becoming a two-time Colorado Book Award finalist—offers powerful lessons not just for writers, but for anyone pursuing mastery in their field.
If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, creative frustration, or the slow grind of improvement, this conversation will remind you that skill compounds—and perseverance wins.Connect with Caleb Stephens:Website: www.calebstephensauthor.com
Tiktok & Instagram: @calebstephensauthor 

The Energy of Money & Power of Connection with Chella Diaz

What if your money story isn’t just about dollars—but about energy, beliefs, and inherited patterns?
In this empowering episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, Andy Bennetts sits down with Chella Diaz, a money mindset coach and spiritual entrepreneur, to explore the deeper layers of how we think, talk, and feel about wealth.
From her entrepreneurial childhood and early real estate wins to guiding women into confident, abundant pricing today, Chella shares how personal experiences and subconscious beliefs shape our financial lives. She challenges listeners to reframe limiting beliefs as gifts, build confidence around value, and reconnect with their innate strengths.
You’ll also hear Chella’s take on:
Why many women underprice—and how to fix it
The energy of money and its hidden influence
Building real relationships through intentional networking (like on the OWL app)
How simplifying and staying curious helps future generations thrive
A practical, spiritual, and motivating conversation—perfect for entrepreneurs, educators, and anyone ready to shift their money story.
 
Connect with Chella Diaz:Website: chelladiaz.com 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chelladiaz/
Facebook: facebook.com/abundancefrominside/ 
Email: info@chelladiaz.com 

Hats, Ladders & Lifelong Learning: Scott Brewster on Rethinking Career Readiness

What if career readiness wasn’t just a checklist—but a journey of curiosity, identity, and lifelong learning?
In this episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, host Andy Bennetts sits down with Scott Brewster, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Hats & Ladders—an edtech platform empowering youth (ages 14–24) to explore careers, build essential skills, and confidently navigate their future.
Scott shares how gamified learning, backwards design, and "trying on hats" help students develop not only job skills, but durable power skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and systems thinking. He opens up about missteps, pivots, the growing role of AI in learning, and what it takes to help students thrive in an ever-changing world.
✅ Career readiness reimagined 🎯 How game-based learning changes engagement 🧠 The “power skills” that truly matter 📊 Balancing data with human agency 🚀 What education could look like 10 years from now
Whether you're an educator, leader, or lifelong learner—this conversation will challenge how you think about careers, school, and success.
 
Connect with Scott Brewster:
Website: https://hatsandladders.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mscottbrewster/ 

Breaking Cycles & Becoming Her: Kylie Schneider’s Story of Transformation

In this heartfelt episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, Andy Bennetts is joined by Kylie Schneider, a transformational leader and founder of Becoming Her and YANA, to explore the power of emotional healing, identity, and faith.
Kylie shares her personal story with honesty and vulnerability—growing up with fractured family dynamics, wrestling with abandonment, and questioning her place in the world. Rather than remaining stuck in pain, she leaned into transformation, allowing God to reshape her identity from the inside out.
Throughout the episode, Kylie introduces her signature methods—Emotional Transfiguration™ and Generational Transfer™—and explains how they help individuals break long-standing emotional and spiritual cycles. Together, Andy and Kylie unpack what it truly means to surrender, persevere, and trust God’s timing—especially when healing feels slow, uncomfortable, or messy.
Listeners will walk away with renewed hope, deeper clarity, and the reminder that even in seasons of isolation or confusion, they are never truly alone. Healing is possible. Identity can be restored. And God’s purpose is never wasted.
Connect with Kylie Schneider:
🌐 Website: www.kylieschneider.com
📸 Instagram: @IamKylieSchneider
🎵 TikTok: @iamkylieschneider
📘 Facebook: Kylie Schneider
🎙 Podcast: Lifeline Podcast (available on Amazon Music)
🤍 Movements & Communities: Becoming Her, YANA, and Profitable Christian Business

Reset Your Wealth, Rethink Your Life: Bonus Episode with Rich Schaffer

Rich Schaffer
BONUS EPISODE In this final bonus installment of the 2026 Wealth Reset Series, Andy Bennetts sits back down with veteran financial educator and strategist Rich Schaffer for a deep, unfiltered, and hope-filled conversation.
Together, they unpack the root reasons so many people feel stuck—financially, emotionally, and mentally—and why New Year's resolutions like "getting out of debt" are so hard to keep. Rich uses simple analogies (like the "magic fork") to explain complex ideas, from why budgeting often fails to how banks profit off consumer habits.
You'll hear practical strategies for building daily momentum, understanding how debt really works, and using real-time decision tools—like Financial GPS—to break free and build lasting wealth.
This isn’t just another finance talk. It’s a rally cry for personal transformation, a peek into future collaboration, and a powerful reminder:
“It’s not about being perfect—it’s about taking the next step with purpose.”

Debt, Discipline, and Doing the Work: A Conversation with UFF Founder John Washenko

This episode is part of the 2026 Wealth Reset Series.
Join host Andy Bennetts for a rare and powerful conversation with John Washenko, founder of United Financial Freedom and the architect behind the Money Max Account strategy. But this isn't just about money.
John shares how early financial hardship shaped his mission—and how he went on to disrupt traditional banking mindsets by creating real-world, measurable solutions for debt elimination and cash flow mastery. In this episode, John and Andy dive deep into leadership, mindset, emotional intelligence, and the patterns that keep people stuck. They explore how fulfillment doesn't come from titles or income alone, but from alignment—when your values, vision, and daily choices match.
This is a heartfelt, challenging, and wisdom-packed episode for anyone ready to stop surviving and start leading—financially, personally, and professionally.

From Survival to Security: Diana Glenn on Healing Your Money Story

What if your biggest money problem isn’t just about math—but about mindset?
In this powerful episode, Andy Bennetts sits down with financial educator and entrepreneur Diana Glenn to talk about the hidden emotional weight of money. Diana shares how she broke free from old financial patterns and now helps families reclaim control, eliminate debt, and build wealth using smart, safe, and congressionally approved strategies most people have never heard of.
They explore how financial shame, fear, and confusion keep people stuck—and why real freedom starts with education, courage, and a willingness to think differently. Whether you're drowning in bills or just ready for a smarter way forward, Diana’s story will inspire you to believe that financial peace is possible.
🎧 Listen in for real talk, eye-opening insights, and a fresh perspective on money that could change everything.
#FinancialFreedom #MindsetMatters #DebtFreeJourney #SmartMoneyMoves #EmpoweredLearningPodcast

Faith, Family & Finances: A Conversation with Lynn Spencer

In this heartfelt episode of the Empowered Learning Podcast, host Andy Bennetts sits down with Lynn Spencer — a father, grandfather, Christian author, and lifelong entrepreneur — to talk about the intersection of faith, finance, and legacy.
From owning a radio station and ad agency to leading a nationwide team of financial professionals, Lynn’s journey is anything but ordinary. But at the heart of it all is his unwavering commitment to serving others, spreading biblical truth, and helping people become better stewards of their time, money, and influence.
Together, Andy and Lynn unpack how spiritual values shape leadership, why financial literacy is an act of service, and what it means to live a purpose-filled life in today’s world. You’ll hear powerful reflections on identity, stewardship, calling — and how faith, when rooted in truth, can transform everything from your bank account to your family tree.

From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Financial Truth with Sandy Northup

Real results come from real truth.In this powerful episode, host Andy Bennetts sits down with Sandy Northup—Executive Director at United Financial Freedom and leader of UFF’s top-producing team—for a candid conversation about debt, clarity, and financial transformation.
Together, they dismantle the lie that debt is a life sentence and unpack the emotional toll of living without a plan. Sandy shares how most people don’t need more income—they need visibility and structure. She explains how simple changes, like seeing your full financial picture or following a proven system, can restore peace of mind and unlock wealth-building habits.
This isn’t about budgeting harder. It’s about trading confusion for clarity… and fear for confidence.
Whether you're drowning in debt, building back from setbacks, or just ready to take control, this conversation offers hope, strategy, and a path forward.
🎧 Tune in and learn how truth + structure = freedom.