The Practical Path - A Podcast for Personal and Spiritual Growth

Our Word of the Week: Intention. Not just setting goals, but bringing conscious direction into everything you do. When we act with intention, we step out of autopilot and lean into purpose. 

Bill is really - shall we say - challenged by intention / motivation and discipline this past week. On the show, he talks about a new project he's intererested in, but the challenges of "following the rules" for what he wants to accomplish. "Intention" is his lesson for the week (grin). 

This week, like the episode title says, it's a very special show with a special interview from a special friend. Too many specials? We don't think so, and we trust you won't either after you listen in.

Our guest is a good friend to both Bill and Vicki, BJ Odom. BJ was Bill's partner on the radio for many years. He underwent heart transplant surgery more than 20 years ago, and he's been an active advocate for organ transplantation since then. 

The big news is that - after years of his friends demanding it - he's finally written a book about his life, his journey of medical challenges and healing, and the love and good energies he's tried to maintain through all of it. We feel he's done a great job of all that, and the book talks about exactly that. We think it's an interview and story you'll want to hear. 

Thanks again for joining us! As always, feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions and comments on our Facebook page. Just do a search for "The Practical Path Podcast," and you'll find out page. 

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

This week's Word of the Week: Resiliance: "At its core, resilience is about bouncing back, but it’s also about holding steady in the face of difficulty, like a tree that bends with the wind but doesn’t break."

Our main discussion this week is based on a blog post by one of our favorite authors here on the Path Podcast - James Clear. He wrote the book "Atomic Habits," which we've talked about a lot. This week, the discussion is based on a recent blog post of Clears - "The Ultimate Productivity Hack is Saying No." 

We hope and trust you're enjoying and getting some benefit from our "Word of the Week." This week's word: Acceptance. From the show this week:

Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up or settling for less. It’s about facing reality as it is, instead of getting stuck in how we wish things would be. When we practice acceptance, we stop fighting against life and open ourselves to peace, clarity, and the energy to move forward.

We're on a roll! Our intention is to start each show with a "word of the week," and we're making it happen. This week's word: Compassion. In our opinion, something very much neded in the world today... but also something very important in our own routines of self-care and self talk. 

Speaking of self-care, the main discussion this week is - as the title suggests - Simple things to do when we're feeling overwhelmed. Jobs, kids, partners, pets, and more! The to-do list just never seems to end. 

We've got a quick list of great ideas to make things a bit more manageable, and to take good care of yourself at the same time. 

Something new - and, we trust, "Practical." The "word of the week." A simple way to kick off each show with a word of mindfulness, meditation, or awareness to get the show started. This week, the word is "presence." 

For the larger disucssion topic of the week, how compliaining really does re-wire your brain and thought process for negativity. Yet again, there's real science to back this up. Importantly, there's plenty you can do about it, to get back into a higher vibrational level, and spread some good energy to the world around you. 

This week, a discussion based on a nice blog post titled, "Emotional Strength Training." Here's the good news, in case you were worried: There's no need to go to the gym for this kind of training! 

This week's step along the Practical Path: Pain is not the enemy. Whether it’s sore muscles, crazy, racing thoughts, or a heavy heart, pain is a messenger. It’s pointing you toward something deeper that needs strength, not just relief.

Instead of asking, ‘How do I get rid of this?’ try asking, ‘What is this pain trying to teach me? What muscle—physical or emotional—needs to get stronger here?’

Join us for some tips on connecting with those signals and finding ways to navigate in a way that creates emotional and spiritual strength. 

Here's the full post if you're interested:

This week, our ideas for a better life come from an interesting blog post that's all about how to feel like you're "doing enough" in life. So often, we can become depressed or just plain bummed out over not crossing off every little thing on our daily to-do list. 

If that's an experience you've had - and you'd like to try "making a different decision," then this show is for you. It's all about reframing how much is "enough," and how to decide what actually belongs on the must-do list. 

This week a very interesting talk about how we all "train" the people around us how they will think and feel about us. Kind of an interesting idea, that we are responsible for the way others treat us, but it's true... at least when it comes to demonstrating out preferences and boundaries.

Here's a quick outline of what we covered: 

1. First Impressions Matter, but You Control Them - People initially see you as a blank slate, forming judgments mostly based on appearance, dress, posture, and demeanor... and guess what? You're in control of all those factors. 

2. Every Interaction Teaches People How to Feel About You - We're talking the stuff beyond words.. non-verbal communication (tone, body language, eye contact) that shows people how they should feel about you.

3. Assume Interest from Others - Begin interactions with the mindset that others already have a level of interest, instead of assuming rejection.

4. Believe in Your “Product” (Yourself!)

5. Sell Feelings, Not Just Facts - Facts alone don’t persuade; people respond to how those facts are framed.

6. Reframe “Flaws” as Features - What you perceive as a weakness may be seen differently with the right perspective.

7. Don’t Chase Non-Customers - Not everyone will “buy your product” (i.e., like or accept you), and that’s normal. Focus instead on those who actually value what you offer.

8. Confidence Comes from Owning the Frame - When you guide how others perceive you—through self-belief, reframing, and ignoring the wrong audience—you naturally project confidence.

👉 Bottom Line: People don’t automatically know how to feel about you—you must teach them. By preparing your presentation, believing in yourself, reframing weaknesses, and focusing only on the right audience, you can carry yourself with confidence in relationships and social interactions.

Thanks again for joining us! As always, feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions and comments on our Facebook page. Just do a search for "The Practical Path Podcast," and you'll find out page. 

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

This week, a fun and intersting discussion of how you can be a "Sunshine Person" for those around you. No matter if it's at work, in your personal relationships, family or friends. How to be better connected, how to be supportive and uplifting. It's important! And thankfully, not as hard as you might think.

This week, a discussion of a list prepared by one of Bill's favorite bloggers, a person who writes about the "minimalist" lifestyle. For those not familiar with minimalism, it's important to remember that it's not about "doing with less," it's more about having exactly what you need in life, and not going overboard with collecting all that "stuff" that can get in the way of of a happy life. 

So this week, a few intersting thoughts, including (minimalistically speaking) how life can be so much better by doing less. Worrying less about what others may (or may not( be thinking of you... Creating more happiness through the process of subtraction, not addition. A little weird? Yes. A lot helpful? We think so...

Thanks again for joining us! As always, feel free to share your thoughts, suggestions and comments on our Facebook page. Just do a search for "The Practical Path Podcast," and you'll find out page. 

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

This week, a fun discussion of good ideas to help you on your path to what we're calling "everday enlightenment." No, it's defintely not an original title, but it's spot-on to our discussion. Ways to stay centered, connected and empowered, even as we go about the business of everyday life. 

Topics in our talk include: 

• Starting your day with presence, not pressure
• Creating a daily routine to ground you
• Respond, don't react
• Use your words as medicine

... and a few more! We hope and trust you'll find something to spark your day in a positive way. If you have suggestions, comments or even more great ideas, feel free to share them on our Facebook page. Just do a search for "The Practical Path Podcast" and our group will pop right up. 

Thanks again for joining us!

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

This week, the question is... are there really "coincidences" in this life? We put the word in quote marks because honesly, we don't think so. For us, those fun, interesting, and often amazing coincidences are a wink, nudge or something else from the Universe, getting our attention... asking us to be aware. Maybe there's a lesson to learn here! 

We mention that because there's a really good story to be shared this week with a friend of the show, and how a "coincidence" showed up on the most interesting (and cool) way! 

Also, this weeks' main disucssion is about a super-intereting idea to help keep yourself in times of - shall we say - challenge. While it's always good to have a friend to share with (and to get good, calm advice from)... that's not always possible. Why not do it for yourself? Easier said than done, you say? Well yes...and that's brings us to the cool idea we've got for you this week. 

This week, a lot of fun with a blog post outlining actor Bill Murray's "Seven Ideas for Living a Happy Life." (Link below, of course.) Ideas like "Stay Weird" and "Forget Chasing Fame." Of course most of us don't really have to worry about being famous, but there are plenty of good ideas and lessons to unpack from that item, and the rest fo the list as well. 

Our favorite on the list is probably the first big "Idea" ... which is, "Chase Moments, Not Meaning." Both Vicki and Bill have good personal examples of what that concept meant to them, and why it's such a powerful idea for living a true happy life. 

First, something new we mentioned on the show this week We'd love to hear from you! No matter if you're a brand new listener to The Practical Path, of you've been with us from the start, you know we talk about all kinds of "real life" experiences, and what they have to teach us about personal and spiritual growth.

So... How about you? Is there anything you'd like to hear more about? Is there any particular question you may have...? We're no experts, of course, but both Vicki and Bill do enjoy sharing and helping and offering whatever wisdom and experience they have have that could be of service to our listeners.

This week, a new quote to kick things off: "If you aren't experienceing failure, then you are making a far worse mistake: You are being driven by the desire to avoid it." 

What does that mean for you? Bill takes some time to "unpack" his thoughts on the topic, as he considers his own actions (or lack of them) when it comes to building his online business... something he says is important to him. Seems the question is; how important? Something to think about in lots of different life-aspects. Relationships, jobs, and more. 

Also, an interesting blog post on "YAMO." What's that? "Youre' Always Mission Out." Kinda like YOLO (You Only Live Once).. it's a way of looking at all the different choices we have - with just about everything! - in life, and making good decisions. Ones based out of what we truly want, not out of a fear of missing something else. 

This week, more about learning patience! Bill is working his way through that lesson when it comes to his eye-surgery recovery. To say it's been a "long and winding road" would be an undertatement. 

More impotantly, Bill and Vicki talk about the differences between "respond" and "react." Hint: one is more proactive, the other is a more emotion-based. One is more "in-the-moment," the other is definitely more thoughtful. 

Also, there's a talk about how to build and develop better "resilience." Here's the link to the post we talked about: 

This week, to paraphrase The Beatles, "life is a long and winding road." In other words, we may have a good idea of where we'd like to go (or maybe not!), but the way we get to that desination very rarely follows the path we first imagined.

On the show this week, a good discussion of taking charge of your own life, following whatever path you choose, and maybe even doing some stuff along the way that scares you!

Along those lines, we talk about a recent Instagram post from popular author and personal development speaker Mel Robbins. It's all about finding the courage to do those scary things, and hopefull have fun along the way.

This week, a little bit more on the great conversation we started last week on "gratitude." There's plenty to talk about on the subject for sure. 

Also this week, a discussion on a new post we found, called "How to walk the path of “everyday enlightenment.” Hint: It's a lot easier than you might think... Second hint, it's not so much about hours of meditation... it's more about your daily actions. 

Thanks again for joining us!

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

This week - a nice, refreshing, deep dive into Gratitude. Whaat starts out as Bill's new idea to have a "moment of gratitude" at the beginning of each episode turns into a full hour's disucssion of the topic...

It's all about spreading good vibes or energies (whatever you choose to call it) around yourself, your family, community, and the entire planet (universe?). No matter how you slice it, there's plenty of good t come from an attitude of gratitude. Also, just for fun, Bill asks ChatGPT - an artificial intelligence app - for more info and "thoughts" on gratitude, and the results were - to put it mildly - mind-blowing! 

Thanks again for joining us!

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

This week... a really, REALLY good discussion and deep-dive, prompted by an Instagram post talking about how to determine if you are living with a "wounded" inner child. Spoiler Alert: You very likely are. Why? We've all had some "interesting" early-life experiences. Where they all bad or negative? No, but we all have some "recovery" to do. 

Listen in for the signs of an inner child that needs love and care, and of course some great ideas, tools and concepts of what you can do to help yourself become a better YOU. 

Thanks again for joining us!

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

This week, we should call it the "Grattitude Episode." It didn't start out that way, but once the conversation gets rolling, that's exactly what it turned out to be! 

It all starts with talk about a mutual friend of Bill and Vicki, and how a recent "milestone" birthday caused a bit of depression. Sounds strange, but when you hear the full story, you'll understand. Maybe it's happened to you, too? Seeing the years go by, perhaps losing family and friends. 

That's how we get to gratitude. While "love" can be a challenging thing to focus on for some, because perhaps of different love-related experiences and relationships, gratitude seems a bit more universal, perhaps easier to embrace. Bill and Vicki talk about how to generate more gratitude in life, and some of the experts that have helped shape our mindset about it. 

Thanks again for joining us!

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

Thsi week, not one, but two great lists of powerful ideas. See if you can put any of these concepts to work (or play!) in your life.

This week, as Bill continues his recovery from eye surgery, there's a good discussin of "patience." Funny how we can suggest it to our friends and family, but when it's our turn to demonstrate some, things can get a little wonky! 

Also this week, and perhaps related to the "patience" talk, a bigger discussion on the power of foregiveness. Not just any kind of foregiveness, but the really important kind, the kind we give to ourselves. 

Thanks again for joining us!

With appreciation;
Bill Sklodowski
Vicki Wagoner 

This week, Bill and Vicki talk about one of the best "cliche" lines of all time, at least in the world of personal development: "It is what it is." Crazy how one simple idea can cover so much ground, and how frustrating it can be when put to work in real life. Still, "it is what it is" is a - we hope! - useful idea for thinking about the ups and downs of life. 

Also this week, a review of a great blog post from Self.com on procrastination. Do you put things off? Yeah, we do to. We've got some simple tips on overcoming and dealing with procrastination. Don't wait on this one... do it now! (grin)