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In this episode, Jackie is joined by Dr. Cody Vest, a popular BookToker in New York City. Dr. Cody got his start as an AP English teacher in Arkansas while also earning a Ph.D. He then pivoted into the corporate world and began a new career working as an instructional designer for Walmart. When he started making videos about burnout, teaching, and his disdain for Where the Crawdads Sing, his content went viral! Dr. Cody continues to work full time in the corporate world while also enjoying notoriety as Jackie's favorite BookToker (and she's not alone, he's widely popular!).

Jackie and Dr. Cody cover a lot of ground on ... all the books! Elder millennial reads, why the high school curriculums should change and why there's pushback, finding meaning and healing in books, and how Dr. Cody began his BookToker side hustle to achieve 2.5 million likes and over 100K followers on TikTok alone. If you're new to reading, hope to get back to reading, or wonder what it's like to meet Dua Lipa, you don't want to miss this episode of Brain Fever!

Find and follow Dr. Cody:

On TikTok

On Instagram

On LinkTree

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Calling all stressed out lawyers (dare I repeat myself) AND stressed out humans looking to find that inner feeling of balance. In this episode, Jackie is joined by Dr. Amy Wood, a clinical psychologist, executive coach, person who deals with stressed out lawyers extraordinaire, and author of "Lawyer Like an Athlete." While this show focuses a lot of energy on how quickly lawyers seem to expend the energy of their professional lives, any and everyone can benefit from Dr. Wood's generous knowledge and wisdom. Want to know more about mental health--listen to this show. Want to know about the true definition of burnout--listen to this show. Want helpful tips on how to reduce stress, find what nourishes and enriches your life, live better, and begin the daily striving for that inner balance--listen to this show.

And to hear the one piece of concrete advice, for anyone looking for some self or professional improvement ... Dr. Wood's answer is: ___! You can do it. You can start small and see big benefits. But first, you'll have to--listen to this show!

Spoiler alert: Jackie did next to nothing that Dr. Wood offers in her work to help lawyers. She also admits that if she could go back, she'd work with a counselor AND Dr. Wood. This really is life-changing material for practicing attorneys (and stressed out professionals).

Learn more about Dr. Amy Wood HERE.

Purchase her book, "Lawyer Like an Athlete," HERE.

Happy Holidays & Happy New Year, Brain Fever friends!

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In this episode, Jackie is joined by special guest and longtime friend, Jamie Selzler. Jamie is a brilliant businessman and political strategist. Through their work in politics, Jamie and Jackie met while Jackie was still in college at the University of North Dakota. Jamie is the kind of friend who finds out you have autoimmune encephalitis and walks a personal letter to Elton John's record label in London (true story). He's also tearing up the internet with his profoundly personal and courageous story about losing over 350lbs.

Over the past few years, Jamie's been on a health journey to reclaim his life, health, wellness, and spirit. Jamie has taken his hard-won lessons, victories, and struggles and turned them into inspirational content to help better everyone's health and wellness. *His speaking and videos should come with a warning for tissues.* Jamie's story is perfect for Thanksgiving gratitude.

Listeners will be moved by Jamie's honesty, vulnerability, thankfulness, and wisdom. He's perfect for Brene Brown, but Jackie got to him first!

This summer, Jamie catapulted into internet fame when he joined the Mind Pump podcast. You can listen/watch HERE. (And get those tissues out!)

Follow Jamie's inspirational journey and helpful content on TikTok @jamselz Instagram @ jselzler Facebook @Jamie Selzler

And if you're really in the mood, ask him about Phil Collins!

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In this episode, Jackie is joined by David Gerken, a lobbyist turned writer turned "mindfulness guru" (Jackie's words). David, a California native, is a graduate of both Princeton and Georgetown. In his first act of life, he worked on the Hill and ran a lobbying firm in D.C. Called to a more creative life, he headed west to Hollywood and eventually landed the greatest job on earth (Jackie's words) as a writer for the Emmy Award winning "West Wing." David's now entered his third act by writing and sharing the beauty of mindfulness and meditation from California to the hinterlands (his words).

David explains how his practical and consistent meditation practice helps manage the stress and chaos of everyday life. He also shares the science behind the practice and challenges Jackie to be less wired and anxiety stricken (her words). People in all walks of life will appreciate how developing their own meditation practice can help let go of their ego and lead a more calm, peaceful, and fulfilling life.

David also takes a surprise expert question from former U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan! Leading up to the show's taping, Jackie and David learned they had a wonderful friend in common. Sen. Dorgan asks about the effects of social media on mindfulness and David answers ... well ... you have to listen to hear.

You can find David's work on his website at http://www.davidgerken.net/ and where Jackie found him, on Substack @davidgerken, where he's "Helping regular people use the basics of spirituality to do better in every facet of their lives in a fun, non-woo woo way (his words). Jackie is a bit woo woo, but she enjoyed this interview and loves David's writing!

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In this episode of Brain Fever, Jackie is joined by all-around badass, Jodene Weber, who is a former journalist, twenty-two-year veteran of the FBI, true crime sleuth and podcast host, and debut novelist. Jodene recounts her early days reading Nancy Drew (to Jackie's Hardy Boys), to her intense days joining and working for the FBI (Jackie's dream), to the terror of 9-11, and the terrifying health challenges she then battled from 9-11 toxin exposure. She also discusses why she chose to write a novel instead of a memoir, how she's built her online podcast and true crime community, and how it's felt to reclaim her health and wellness. For anyone who desires to turn their mess into a message, you don't want to miss this show!

To learn more about Jodene:

Shop her novel, "The Bald-Faced Deception," where you buy books (Bookshop.org, Amazon, Barnes & Noble).

Follow her on Instagram @weberjodene.

Subscribe to her podcast, "Caught in My Web," on Patreon.

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Annnnnnnnd ...we're back!

You asked - and we've answered! The Brain Feverpodcast has returned and sports a fabulous lineup!

In this episode, Jackie (in solo mode, God help us) shares why she and Sean have been MIA, what she's been up to (Unwillable, speaking, her new WillableSubstack - pass it on!), why Elton's great, and some Easter Eggs about the upcoming guests!

Send us your questions at: jms@jmstebbins.com

Find and follow Jackie on Facebook at JM Stebbins, Instagram and Threads at jmstebbs84, LinkedIn at Jackie Stebbins, and TikTok at jmstebbs.

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To kick off another season of the Brain Fever podcast, Jackie welcomes special guest Jeremy Norton. Jeremy is the author of Trauma Sponges: Dispatches from the Scarred Heart of Emergency Response. Jeremy has an MA in creative writing, was a teacher, and has served over twenty years with the Minneapolis Fire Department where he is currently a captain. Jeremy was also the firefighter/EMT who first responded to aid George Floyd in May 2020.

Join Jackie and Jeremy for a discussion about trauma, mental health, burnout, and a behind the scenes look at what it means to be a firefighter in a metropolitan area. The two also discuss thought provoking ideas from Jeremy's essays in Trauma Sponges, including issues such as race, class, healthcare, and emergency services in America. Jeremy also explains the story behind his Station's unicorn mascot (and Jackie pathetically begs for one of the Station's unicorn shirts ...).

*This show is aimed at an adult audience and contains mature language.*

Jeremy can be found doing right and being kind HERE

You can find Trauma Sponges where you buy books HERE

You can watch Jeremy's testimony in the Derek Chauvin trial HERE

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In this episode, Jackie hosts a dear old friend from law school, Amber Gustafson. Amber just happens to be a former lawyer turned judge, mother of three, Iraq veteran, and avid walker. She also happens to be a young widow. In 2021, on what started as a routine Tuesday morning for their family of five, Lieutenant Adam Gustafson suffered a massive heart attack and completed his end of watch. Amber and her children lost their husband, father, and the States of North Dakota and Minnesota lost a devoted veteran, patriot, and emergency services officer. Adam also left Amber a vast whiskey collection, which led her to begin "The Whiskey Widow," blog.

You can now find Amber praying, walking, working, taxiing kiddos to all the sports, blogging, and guesting on a regional radio station. Amber and her family are also the founders of the Lieutenant Adam Gustafson Memorial Fund whose mission is to provide scholarships and other donations to law enforcement students and emergency services personnel.

Join Jackie and Amber as they discuss how to move forward when it feels like life lied to you.

You can find Amber's blog @ thewhiskeywidow.com ~ "Pour yourself a sip. Stay for the stories."

You can also find Amber on Instagram @ thewhiskeywidow

You can find and donate to Adam's Memorial Fund @ adamgustafsongive.com