Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You Hosted by Shawn Langwell

Michelle Leopold, Emmy-Award winner for One Pill, Mom, and Business Owner of Five Ace Hardware Stores

Michelle and Trevor Leopold (Michelle Leopold / Fox News)

One Tough Momma

 

No words can ease the pain of a mother who's lost her son. 

I know what this is like having lost my brother in 1999.

Please join me and Michelle in this hopeful heartache of a story that has given her a new purpose worth fighting for: Love and Life

Michelle shares about her beloved son honestly and completely, to prevent other parents from joining this horrific club none of us chose to be in.

Sadly, Michelle is now her son Trevor’s voice, and often shares this quote when she speaks publicly:

 “I thought I’d be teaching my son about the world. I never imagined I’d be teaching the world about my son.”

Michelle Leopold is a Mom in all her efforts – and a tough mom at that.

She is the Mom and CMO/Charitable Contributions at six Mom & Pop Ace Hardware Stores in the SF Bay Area.

She’s been a serial Mom Volunteer in everything from Mother’s Club to Cub Scouts, Little League, and especially the PTA.

She’s the Dog Mom to two furbabies, Marley and Maverick, who insist they are smaller than 225# combined.

Most importantly, she’s the Mom to Parker (who just graduated from CSU Channel Islands), age 23, and his older brother Trevor, forever 18. 

And Michelle even had “One Tough Mother” tattooed recently on her ankle.

 

Additional information:

When Michelle realized Trevor had become addicted to today’s high-potency THC, she put all she learned about today’s cannabis in an anonymous website she created in 2016:  My Kid Smokes Pot – now what?

When Trevor died, she and her husband immediately decided not to hide behind the shame and stigma usually reserved for substance use deaths – especially since Trevor’s death was likely fentanyl poisoning (confirmed, he had taken a Blue M 30 Oxycodone – not knowing it was a “Dirty 30” laced with what proved to be a lethal amount of fentanyl. This was a poisoning, not an overdose.)

Since then, Michelle has been an outspoken activist, especially in two areas:

1. It’s not “just pot”: today’s high-potency THC is dangerous, especially when regularly used by young adults.
2. #OnePillCanKill - The danger of today’s street pills to teens, many of whom don’t know about the harms of fentanyl in today’s street drugs, and/or think they are invincible. 

Michelle’s efforts have resulted in an emmy-award-winning mini-documentary, One Pill 

She started a website in 2021, WeAreNotAlone.Community focusing on education and support for families with similar stories to Trevor’s, but she has been too busy advocating and speaking in these areas to complete & keep the website updated as she’d like. 

Additionally, five months after Trevor’s death, Michelle spearheaded the Nar-Anon online family group Hope After Loss, specifically for those who have lost a loved one to the disease of addiction. Almost six years later, over 1,200 Nar-Anon members have come through the virtual Zoom doors of this international support group, currently offering four meetings a week. Michelle recently received her 9-Year Virtual Chip in Nar-Anon.

 

Trevor London Leopold: Sunrise 1/30/01 – Sunset 11/17/19 – Forever 18 from a fentapill

 

Find Michelle Here:

Facebook: Michelle Saevke Leopold

Twitter: @50RandomActs

IG: @Michelle94904

BlueSky: @Michelle94904

Resources/Links:

NarAnonHopeAfterLoss.org 

WeAreNotAlone.community

StansHardware.com

Also visit Michelle’s Emmy-award winning documentary One Pill and her Ace Heartware video Ending The Stigma.

____________________________________________________________________

About Shawn Langwell:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers Branch, and Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

Lauren Scott, Pushcart Prize Nominee, Poet, Author, and lover of dogs, especially chocolate labs

For the love of dogs!

From my first conversation with Lauren as a client, to this podcast, I knew Lauren had something profound to share.

Writing though our grief is one of the most cathartic things we can do whether we wish to be published poets, memoirists, or just want to use writing as a tool to process deep emotions.

If you love dogs and poetry and writing/journalling, or have recently expienced loss, this podcast and Lauren's recent book, King Copper, is an ideal prompt for deep refelection through heartfelt poetry.

Find it at Amazon or at Copperfield's Books in San Rafael, CA.

About Lauren:

Author and poet, Lauren Scott, enjoys small-town living in the Bay Area with her husband, Matt, of thirty-seven years. Their adult son and daughter live out of state, and with frequent visits and technology, the family of four remains close. Lauren has published four poetry collections, a memoir, and her first children's book. Her latest poetry collection is a tribute to her family’s Chocolate Labrador who crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in spring 2025. Lauren is a recent Pushcart Prize Nominee and has been a guest on several podcasts. Her writing is featured on Spillwords Press where she was voted Author of the Month and garnered Publication of the Month awards. She is a contributing author in several anthologies, and her work is shared bimonthly on Gobblers and Masticadores. Her muse discovers inspiration from her family, spending time outdoors, reveling in simple things, and marveling at the mysteries of life.

Find Lauren at: 

https://baydreamerwrites.com/

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Lauren-Scott/author/B08NCRH4MK

 

About Shawn Langwell:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers Branch, and Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

John Crowley, Owner, Aqus Cafe, and Connector/Social Capital Catalyzer

 

From Lonliness to Connection

John Crowley builds community wherever he goes. As founder of Aqus Café and the Aqus Community in Petaluma, he creates spaces where neighbors meet, talk, collaborate, and belong. He leads initiatives like Cool Petaluma, the Joiners movement, social crawls, mixers, and community dinners—each designed to strengthen local connection and resilience. John focuses on practical ways people can rebuild social capital in everyday life.

I invite you into a rich conversation with John about building community and shared bonds that enrich the lives of all.

Articulate, thoughtful, and humble, John leads with compassion because he truly cares about people.

Join us in another real and unscripted conversation about bridging the divide bewteen isolation and belonging—especially for the younger generation that is feeling more alone than ever before. 

Find John here:

Website: Aqus.com, Aquscafe.com, CoolPetaluma.org

Social Media links: FB: Aqusnews

 

About the Host:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers and Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

 

 

 

Mindi Levine, Award-Winning DJ, Mindi in the Morning Show Host / Program Director / 95.9 KRSH / The Krush

Mindi Levine is a winner!

 

Recently Mindi Levine of Mindi in the Morning won the Best Radio DJ in the 2025 North Bay Bohemian Music Awards and “Best Media Personality: Radio/Print/TV” 2016 by readers of The Bohemian.

Join us as she gets to be in the guest seat for a change, on this Podcast! 

We talk about her early years as a relationship marketing guru, what drove her to become a DJ, and her humble beginnings and advice for anyone else looking to get into radio or Marketing or PR...

 She even shares a vulnerable moment from her "other life" as a Teacher / Advisor / Garfield HS / East Los Angeles, CA. 

Like most of my guests, Mindi is a delight. I'm honored to have her as my guest... Enjoy the show.

Be sure to tune into Mindi in  the Morning from 6-10 weekdays, and listen in on Tuesdays at 8:45 am through January 2026, for Get lit- a partnership with Copperfield’s Books and Redwood Writers.

Find her here:

krsh.com Mindi in the Morning
Social Media links: https://www.facebook.com/mindi.levine/
https://www.instagram.com/mindiinthemorning/

______________________________________________

About Shawn Langwell:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers and Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

 

 

Natalie Gould, Coach, Storyteller, and Retreat Leader - Transformation and Healing From Long - Covid

What a delightful human and living example of resilience!

Join me and Natalie in this inspiring episode where we discuss her challenges of a three-year journey from severe cognitive and physical disability to recovered health. 

She is living proof that subtle shifts—mentally, phsyically, emotionally, and spirtually—can have a profound impact on our health and well-being. 

She shares her insights on how she assists others in transforming their situation, whatever it may be.

This episode is gold!

About Natalie:

Natalie Gould is a coach, storyteller, and retreat leader who guides people and organizations through transformation using embodied practices rooted in nature, narrative, and nervous system regulation.

After a post-viral condition left her disabled, Natalie recovered using somatic and mind-body approaches. This journey transformed her work—she now helps people make change in their lives—particularly learning to live more sustainably and with greater purpose.

Her approach integrates her background in theater and outdoor education with extensive training in spiritual formation and leadership development. She spent over a decade in corporate leadership, including as CFO of a small multinational software company, before dedicating herself fully to coaching and retreat work.

Natalie is writing a memoir about her farm and healing journey and publishes a free monthly newsletter on Substack where she weaves farm stories with practical teachings on nervous system regulation and living with greater presence and wholeness.

Website: www.sparrowcrowfarm.com

Social Media links:
• https://www.instagram.com/sparrowcrowfarm/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-gould-20b7b3155/
• https://sparrowcrowfarm.substack.com/

 

_________________________________________________________

About Shawn Langwell:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers and Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

Kevin Miller, Facilitator of Philosophical Discussions & S.A.G.E. Guidance On The Path To Inner Peace

80 million downloads and humble enough to have a real conversation with me.

There is a great sense of joy and accomplishment when we make a decision and take a bold step forward to face our fears. I did that 10 years ago when I started following Kevin Miller on the Ziglar Show- yes that Ziglar. He had conversations with best-selling authors and thought leaders from a broad spectrum of back grounds. We connected on social media and occasionally he read some of my answers to prompts from his show on air, some with Zig Ziglar’s son Tom Ziglar. I felt heard. I felt like I had something valuable to contribute to a meaningful conversation about success or goal setting.  

Later, while working on Ten Seconds of Boldness I reached out to him for an interview to discuss drive, desire, and motivation. That was a key part of adding credibility and a fresh voice to support what I had known most of my adult life-- that motivation is an inside job.

We stayed in touch over the years and recently I reached out and invited him to be my guest on the Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You Podcast.

"I'd be honored." He replied without hesitation.

And in truth it was an honor for me to have a real conversation with someone who's experienced tremendous success as a pro cyclist,  podcast host for the past 10 years, and a perpetually curious seeker of self-improvement. 

His 1,650 podcast episodes have more than 80 million downloads!

Our vulnerable and unedited conversation isn't about all the external shiny objects and accolades most of us equate with our identity and success. 

It's richer, deeper, and more meaningful than that. It’s about digging into the stuff of the heart and soul of motivation. Asking the question: what drive us to want to lead lives that matter?

I am privileged Kevin was kind enough to spend time with me and that we get to share our hour-long conversation about life with the rest of the world.

Enjoy the show!

 

About Kevin:

 

Facilitator of Philosophical Discussions & S.A.G.E. Guidance On The Path To Inner Peace

 

Kevin spent a lifetime pursuing achievements. He did it all. Until he couldn’t. Thus began his journey from high performance, confidence, and capability to the pursuit of inner peace. He now savors a contemplative life, researching what provides true fulfillment to himself and humanity. He shares this in his Kevin Miller Podcast, his writings, and now through the S.A.G.E. psychological model (sageprocess.com) where he works directly with people desiring inner peace through increased personal agency. Connect with Kevin on his podcast and at kevinmiller.co

 

The numbers people like to see, but fail to tell the real story:

• Former pro cyclist competing for 20 years in over 1,000 races 
• 19 Business start ups
• Almost 32 years of marriage (now divorced)
• 9 children, 2 adopted
• 10 years podcasting, 1,650 episodes, and over 80 million downloads
• Deep conversations with over 300 of our world’s most influential educators in human potential 
• Worked directly with 1,000s of people pursuing more fulfillment in their lives
• Author of What Drives You (McGraw Hill Publishing)

https://www.kevinmiller.co/media

 

 

About Shawn Langwell: 

 

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

This show continues to reach people where they are.

Please like, share and follow.

There are many more wonderful conversations watong to be shared.

 

Shawn Langwell, Author, Speaker, Gap Mindset Coach- Beyond Recovery

Is your life out of control?

Tired of feeling stressed out and burned out of trying to hold it all together only to still feel like you're not good enough?

I know what that’s like and it sucks.

I've spent most of my adult life striving for perfection, trying to live up to the expectations of others. Trying to be the man I thought my dad should've been when he left me, my mom, and two younger brothers when I was twelve. 

That led to a series of self-destructive behaviors and addictions that nearly cost me my life. Along the way though I had many wins-- getting sober, going to college, getting married and having a son, and buying a home that I still live in today. 

In my teens, my quest for success was fueled by inspirational authors and speakers like Earl Nightingale, Wayne Dyer, and Tony Robbins. I had grand hopes and dreams to one day be an inspirational author and speaker. For the past few years, I have been living that dream.

Recently, I led a session called the Art of Presence: Pro Marketing and Self Promotion Tips for Authors and Entrepreneurs  for the Elk Grove Writers Conference. And last weekend I co-led an all-day workshop with Audrey Kalman entitled the Book and Beyond. 

I’m sharing this because a lot has happened in the past ten years since I wrote and published Beyond Recovery. I’ve written five more books, taken on more leadership roles, and had the opportunity to share my recovery story to thousands of people around the world.

I just celebrated thrity-nine years of continuous sobriety and am finalizing the updates for a ten-year anniversary edition of Beyond Recovery and at least two more books to that series.

Additionally, I have invested the past three months mapping out a blueprint and strategy for the next thirty years of my life. 

In the process, I found myself chasing all the bright shiny objects like many of us do. Ultimately, I came back to earth, back to center, back to my roots.

Earlier this week I had an epiphany that brought me to tears. It is the missing link - the cotter pin or keystone to making all of these dreams to inspire others and help them believe in themselves come true.

This episode is the first of many that will kick off the next phase of this incredible life I have been blessed to live, sober.

I cannot hide from my faith and belief in a power greater than myself and I must keep sobriety at the center of who I am. 

Today, I choose to embrace the space between fear and freedom and boldly step into the life I believe I was called to live- as a Messenger of Hope.

I invite you to have a listen to this deep and vulnerable episode and join me as I progress in the direction of my dreams, trusting that I do not have to walk it alone.

 

About Shawn Langwell:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, and Sales & Executive Gap Mindset Coach/Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers and Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Shawn lives in Northern California with his wife Crissi, and Maine Coon cat Cleo.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

Melanie Larson, Behavior Nutritionist and Coach - Reconnecting with Who You are

Helping Middle-Age Women Move from Who and Where They Are to Who and Where They Want to Be

 

Sometimes the best gems happen after we open up, let our guards down, and become a little more vulnerable. As we become bold enough to step into our fears, reflect on our past, and become willing to want to make a few changes, that's when the magic happens...

When Mel and I start talking about processing grief and forgiveness, the whole show comes full circle. Don't miss it.

If you are a woman in midlife and trying to balance menopause with caring for aging parents, while still making time to honor yourself and your body, this show is for you.

It's a teaser into increasing self-awareness and self-love so you can start living a richer fuller life and begin to embrace who you already are: a beautiful, caring, and compassionate, driven woman who wants the best for yourself and those you love.

That's it. 

If you are struggling with a myriad of compulsive behaviors, including your relationship with food and body image, Mel can help guide you through the mental minefield of outdated beliefs and emotions and patterns around your past to help you feel more alive and comfortable in your own skin.

About Mel:

Mel is a Behavioral Nutritionist who integrates clinical knowledge with behavioral psychology and education to help individuals create lasting, meaningful change. Her approach goes beyond food choices—she helps clients uncover the emotional, cognitive, and environmental influences shaping their habits. By combining evidence‑based nutrition guidance with insights into behavior, emotion, and memory, Mel empowers people to transform their relationship with food and their well‑being.

She specializes in guiding individuals who have struggled with traditional diet culture or inconsistent habits to build a sustainable foundation for health and happiness. Through personalized strategies and compassionate support, Mel helps clients implement realistic changes that improve energy, balance, and confidence in everyday life.

Her mission is simple: to help people nourish their bodies, rewire unhelpful patterns, and thrive—not through restriction, but through awareness, connection, and empowered choice.

Find Mel here: motivatewithmel.com

 

Holiday Season Preparation Special

Tis the season…to have a strategy!

Stop the cycle of holiday chaos and the January 'do‑over'.
This year, head into the season prepared, empowered, and ready to enjoy.

Comprehensive medical + behavioral assessment
Three (3) private 50‑minute sessions
Your personalized Holiday Survival & Thriving Plan

 ALL for just $399

Reserve Your Spot Today by booking a complimentary Momentum Builder Call Here. 

 

 

Downloads of the Dare to Be Great, Dare to Be You Podcast continue to skyrocket—recently downloads were up 300%!  I have to assume it's because people are liking we talk about on the show.

If you liked this episode, please share it with friends and colleagues or leave a review and follow the show. 

If you want to learn more about what I have going on, including events, my latest books, and more, please visit: www.shawnlangwell.com.