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

Today's The Day Inspiration and Encouragement for Becoming Unstuck

Practical Wisdom to Live an Extraordinary Life

"If you're not willing to fail, you're never going to succeed."

The continuation Reading from Today's the Day Starting with "If Only..."

That needs no introduction because we all struggle from what if and if only in the negative sense. What if we flipped the script to what if we succeed rather than what if we don't.

This entire book and most of what I write about and teach is designed to encourage and inspire you to not be handcuffed by fear and doubt but to embrace them and learn to start making the mental shift from "I can't" to "How can I?"

Others have referred to this as Possibility Thinking or as Zig Ziglar used to call it, PMA: Positive Mental Attitude and Pays More Always.

This book and others as well as my coaching style is not predicated on rah rah empty promises.

It's founded on what works for me and those I help.

Enjoy this short episode and the rest of the series.

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

Today's The Day Self-Esteem and Living Your Dream

Practical Wisdom to Live an Extraordinary Life

"If you're not willing to fail, you're never going to succeed."

This is the third in a series of episodes based on my recent personal growth book, Today's the Day.

In this episode, I discuss the mindset behind the book and how I implement what I teach others about on a daily basis.

Specifically, I cover issues of self-esteem, belief, self-confidence; finding your what and why; becoming bold enough to get off your butt and get to work. I also talk about the role gratitude and humility play in staying grounded along the way. The biggest takeaway for me, after listening to my own show, is this: I know where I want to go and I am figuring out how to get there.

Here's the truth: focus on what you can control — your attitude and work habits. Let go of everything else!

 

The Download/Backstory:

After completing the audiobook of Ten Seconds of Boldness, I woke up one morning and had what I call a God shot. The download was this book.

I knew in my heart of hearts that I needed to take everything I'd learned and written about over the past 14 years and put it into a simple, easy to read book that anyone can read anywhere, anytime, for a little inspiration, encouragement and motivation.

I started where we all do, at the beginning. One morning I brainstormed the key ideas and concepts I have been practicing for decades with respect to goal setting, productivity, self-talk, affirmation and creative visualization, and wrote down all I could in about an hour. From there the story and this book wrote itself.

Because life is like that — when we stop trying to find all the answers to living a life of meaning and purpose elsewhere, and take a moment to sit with what we already know, we are usually amazed at how much we already have and how much we already know.

The problem is we don't believe it. We don't, because 85% of us suffer from some form of low self-esteem, and according to many studies, 90-95% of the things we think and believe about ourselves are negative and false.

This book is your pocket muse, here to encourage you to become more self-aware.

More importantly, it's here to help you use the concept and process I uncovered in Ten Seconds of Boldness to reclaim control of your own destiny — by practicing Ten Seconds of Boldness whenever you feel anxious or afraid, or start overthinking or second-guessing what you think you can or cannot do.

For my spiritual friends, this book is a download from my higher power through me that flowed so easily it was as if I was simply the messenger of what God wanted to say through me.

I hope it reaches into the dark recesses of your own broken beliefs and sheds some light and encouragement into your dusty dreams that you've had locked inside for far too long.

This book and the podcasts that follow are my teaching, coaching and consulting philosophy distilled into one small but incredibly impactful book.

I hope you find yourself in the pages and recordings that follow.

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

Milkshakes in Heaven: Love and some Father's Day Forgiveness

Happy Father's Day!

 

Folks,

This is one of the hardest episodes I've ever recorded.

It's a retelling of a story from my memoir Beyond Recovery: A Journey of Grace, Love, And Forgiveness. It's a story about healing my relationship with my dad. It's also about finding the courage to get and stay sober.

This episode is me reading a 10 minute play contest for a short story I adapted from Beyond Recovery entitled, Milkshakes in Heaven. This play was one of six winners and was performed live in front of a packed house in Santa Rosa, CA in 2023. Around the same time as I finished Today's the Day.

In hindsight, I see how everything we do is preparing us for the next bold leap forward.

Facing my fears and anger and being present to have a final conversation with my dad was one of the greatest gifts of my life.

May this meet you wherever you are and may all the dads or those who have a strained relationship with their own fathers find the same peace in this episode that my own dad was trying to teach me but I was still too hurt to listen.

Here is Milkshakes in Heaven:  

 

“MILKSHAKES IN HEAVEN”

SCENE ONE.

 

SHAWN  in car singing Santana’s “Oye Como Va!” on a windy road in Santa Rosa. Cell phone rings. It’s JOAN (mom) with bad news—Dad (JIM) has been admitted to the hospital and it’s not looking good. 

 

NARRATOR

SHAWN  in car singing Santana’s “Oye Como Va!” on a windy road in Santa Rosa. Cell phone rings. It’s JOAN (mom) with bad news—Dad (JIM) has been admitted to the hospital and it’s not looking good. 

 

(SONG BLASTING)

Oye como va! 

SHAWN

(Pounds steering while singing loud)

Oye como va!

(CELLPHONE BUZZES)

 

SHAWN

(Turns down music)

Hey Mom, how are you? What’s new?

JOAN

I’m OK… I just got off the phone with your aunt.

SHAWN

How is Aunt Nellie? You guys gonna go to the casino with Grandma again for your birthday?

JOAN

 She’s good…yeah, we’re planning to go in a couple weeks, but that’s not why I’m calling… It’s your dad…he’s in the hospital.

SHAWN

Wait what? What happened? 

JOAN

(swallows hard)

Your aunt says he’s got some kind of infection…it’s not good.  I know you’re busy…he’s at Community, I think you should go visit. 

SHAWN

Of course, Mom. I’ll drop by tomorrow. I still have to stop by the store and make dinner…

JOAN

I’m sorry, Honey. I know you tried to get past your anger at your dad and forgive him… I never could. I guess I never really got over him leaving… 

SHAWN

(Gripping the steering wheel, knuckles white. Lights a cigarette and

 parks in front of Jack-in-the-Box)

(SIGN IN WINDOW: REAL ICE CREAM MILKSHAKES)

Mom—I did the best I could, but I’m still pissed at him. He abandoned us all and didn’t even

have the balls to—never mind…  

JOAN

Can you do me a favor? 

SHAWN

(Takes a deep drag off cigarette and exhales)

Sure Mom, what do you need?

JOAN

Oh, never mind…you have enough to worry about.

SHAWN

(Sighs)

Mom—c’mon. I hate it when you do that.

JOAN

It’s just that after Seth—

 

SHAWN

Mom, I know. I still can’t… never mind, I don’t want to go there. What were you going to ask

me?

JOAN

Just in case this is the last time you get to see him…

SHAWN

(Blows smoke)

Mom, seriously, I don’t even know how bad it is.

JOAN

Tell him…tell him that I’ve never stopped…never stopped loving him. Will you do that for me?

SHAWN

Of course, Mom. We’ll talk later, K?  I gotta go now. Love you, bye.

(Hangs up and begins to sob)

NARRATOR

In 1999 Shawn lost his younger brother Seth, in a car accident. The police report said he fell asleep at the wheel and was found curled up on the passenger side floorboard. This coupled with years of pent-up anger from his dad leaving when Shawn was only twelve-years-old brought all that old pain back to the surface. Chain-smoking in the car, he recalled the conversation with his dad before Seth’s celebration of life. The one when his dad said he wasn’t going to show up for Seth’s memorial…

JIM

I’ve made my peace…I don’t need to be there for Seth. He’s in a better place. 

SHAWN

Are you fucking serious?  

JIM

I’ve made my peace. 

SHAWN

What?! What the fuck, Dad?! He’s your son and he’s dead! Seth is dead!

(A SILENCE)

SHAWN

You’re a fucking yellow-bellied coward! I can’t believe you won’t even show up for Seth’s service. You left us years ago and you still don’t care about us! Did you ever love us?!

JIM

Of course, I love you. I’ve always loved you boys. Like I said, I’ve made my peace.

SHAWN

What the fuck does, ‘I’ve made my peace,’ mean? Is that born again speak for you prayed and now are absolved of your sin? I don’t fucking get it. 

JIM

I don’t need a reason and I don’t need to listen to your profanity. I love you and am going to go now.

SHAWN

I FUCKING HATE YOU! 

(Slams phone then rips it out from the wall and throws it across the room, barely missing his four-year-old son and wife)

 

SCENE TWO.

NEXT DAY AT HOSPITAL

 

NARRATOR

Shawn enters the dark corridor of the hospital. Wood paneling lines the walls. White linoleum— probably made with fire-retardant asbestos—covers the floor. He approaches the nurse’s station at the end of the hall.

SHAWN

Hello. My name’s Shawn and I’m here to visit my dad, JIM— JIM LANGWELL. 

NURSE

Oh...Yes…Um…he’s in room 323. That way, down the hall and on your left.

 

NARRATOR

Shawn enters the dimly lit room. His jaw drops at the sight of his emaciated father who lays in a spotted gown, salt and pepper stubble on his gaunt face, his eyes distant and turned toward a gnarled oak outside the window. It had been several years since their last visit—Christmas, two years after Seth had died.

 

SHAWN

Hey Dad! What’s going on? Long time no see.

JIM

(Turns toward Shawn)

Ha! Shawn! I’ve missed you! How are you?

SHAWN

You don’t look so good, Dad. What happened? What’s going on with you?

JIM

It all caught up with me, Son…The years as a firefighter…the partying…living fast and hard. I guess it finally took a toll on me. 

SHAWN

What did the doctors say? How bad is it?

JIM

They say it may be a staph infection, but I’m at peace. 

SHAWN

(Swallows hard. Says to himself)

He’s letting go. Now I know what he meant way back when…he really is at peace.

(Takes deep breath)

Dad, I want you to know I love you and it really hurts me to see you like this. I’m sorry for being mad at you for all these years. I wish I could take it back. I wish it could’ve been different.

JIM

(Extending his thin arms)

Aww, Shawn. Come here.

 

SHAWN

(Fighting back tears, Shawn leans in to hug JIM, and starts rubbing his head)

I always remember the times when you used to dry my head with a towel after a bath as a kid…

I loved that when you did it super-fast… like this…Or later when you me, Kelly and Seth would wrestle in the living room at the Woodacre house, and mom would get upset at first, then finally give in and join us…We had some good times, Dad…Fishing…sliding down the firepole at your job… and that time you got called away to save somebody’s home with sirens blaring! Plus, all the camping trips and visits to Grandma and Grandpa’s cabin in Mariposa...The Land…all of it. I wish we had more…

JIM

I know, Shawn, me too—I’m sorry about Seth—I really am…I always thought of you boys. Even though we never got to see each other much…I never stopped loving you. 

SHAWN

I know, Dad. I know. It was just really hard to accept it after you left. But I’m so glad I’m here now before it’s too late…

JIM

(JIM’S eyes drift back to the mighty oak outside)

Me too, Shawn. Me too.

SHAWN

I’m not ready for you to go, Dad. Your still so young. Is there anything I can do? Anything you’d like?

JIM

(Grins)

A milkshake.

SHAWN

A milkshake? OK—What kind? 

JIM

Chocolate! 

SHAWN

(Chuckles)

You got it! I’ll bring one next time I come back, OK? 

JIM

I’d like that, a lot.

SHAWN

(Leans in to hug JIM)

Bye dad…I love you! See you soon.

JIM

I love you, too, son.

 

NARRATOR

Three days later JIM passed.

(Beat)

SHAWN

(Looking out the window beyond the oak trees, toward the sky)

Dad, I’m so sorry I never got you that chocolate milkshake… I hope you can forgive me… I promise, when my time on this earth is done…we can share all the chocolate milkshakes we want in heaven. OK?

JIM

(Flashes a wide-tooth grin and nods,

then sips a milkshake—chocolate of course)

 

FADE TO BLACK.

 

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

Copyright Northstar Comunications.

Please direct any inquiries to me personally at shawnlangwellwriter@gmail.com and include "Milkshakes" in the subject line.

Today's The Day 2- Worry, Procrastination, Never Enough,Someday I'll

Today's the Day:

Practical Wisdom to Live an Extraordinary Life

This is the second in a series of episodes based on my recent personal growth book, Today's the Day.

In this episode, we cover the following topics:

Worry, Procrastination, Never Enough, Someday I'll.

 

The Download:

After completing the audiobook of Ten Seconds of Boldness, I woke up one morning and had what I call a God shot. The download was this book.

I knew in my heart of hearts that I needed to take everything I'd learned and written about over the past 14 years and put it into a simple, easy to read book that anyone can read anywhere, anytime, for a little inspiration, encouragement and motivation.

I started where we all do, at the beginning. One morning I brainstormed the key ideas and concepts I have been practicing for decades with respect to goal setting, productivity, self-talk, affirmation and creative visualization, and wrote down all I could in about an hour. From there the story and this book wrote itself.

Because life is like that — when we stop trying to find all the answers to living a life of meaning and purpose elsewhere, and take a moment to sit with what we already know, we are usually amazed at how much we already have and how much we already know.

The problem is we don't believe it. We don't, because 85% of us suffer from some form of low self-esteem, and according to many studies, 90-95% of the things we think and believe about ourselves are negative and false.

This book is your pocket muse, here to encourage you to become more self-aware.

More importantly, it's here to help you use the concept and process I uncovered in Ten Seconds of Boldness to reclaim control of your own destiny — by practicing Ten Seconds of Boldness whenever you feel anxious or afraid, or start overthinking or second-guessing what you think you can or cannot do.

For my spiritual friends, this book is a download from my higher power through me that flowed so easily it was as if I was simply the messenger of what God wanted to say through me.

I hope it reaches into the dark recesses of your own broken beliefs and sheds some light and encouragement into your dusty dreams that you've had locked inside for far too long.

This book and the podcasts that follow are my teaching, coaching and consulting philosophy distilled into one small but incredibly impactful book.

I hope you find yourself in the pages and recordings that follow.

 

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

Today's The Day With Shawn Langwell -Gap Mindset Coach

 

Today's the Day:

Practical Wisdom to Live an Extraordinary Life

 

This is the first in a series of episodes based on my recent personal growth book, Today's the Day.

Rather than spending thousands of dollars on a professional audiobook, I'm reading sections of the entire book over the next few months — and sprinkling in episodes about my own experience with this material and my process for creating success and accomplishing my goals.

Raw, uncut, unedited. Imperfect — just like us. That's by design.

In the first episode I stumbled over my words a few times. I noticed it, regained my composure, and kept going — because you don't need a perfect plan or a guarantee before you start. Confidence is not a prerequisite for success. Failure is. When we fail we learn, and when we learn we move closer to what we're actually trying to accomplish.

This book isn't designed to give you a formula. It's designed to inspire you to take an honest look in the mirror and believe again that you have what it takes.

My mission as a coach and author is to encourage others to find the courage to dare to be great and dare to be themselves. This podcast is one of the ways I do that — along with coaching and consulting, where I come alongside growth-minded individuals to help uncover: a) what you want, b) why you want it, and c) what's preventing you from going to get it.

I use a simple Five Step Method I codified while writing Ten Seconds of Boldness. Not rocket science — but a practical, proven method for moving people from where they are to where they want to be, in a way that honors your skills and talents and challenges you to try new approaches, especially if what you've been doing is keeping you stuck.

So let's dive in and stumble a little together. The proven path is messy. Messy is good — neat means you're playing it safe. And it's equally insane to keep doing the same things expecting something to magically change.

If you dare to be great and dare to be you — this show is for you. What you'll get here for free would cost you thousands in coaching elsewhere. Or you only twenty bucks if you buy the book.

📖 Grab your copy of Today's the Day on Amazon: https://a.co/d/06mMicYV

Stop playing it safe. Let's do this.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and Gap Mindset Coach & Consultant. He has written several transformational books including, Beyond Recovery, Ten Seconds of Boldness and its companion workbook, Today’s The Day, Morning Motivation, and Chill. He’s also the Past President of The California Writers Club (CWC), Redwood Writers, Past President of Toastmasters of Petaluma. Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

 

Anthony Amunategui: Founder of CDO Group, a National Commercial Construction firm

Embracing the Joy of Life without the Ankle Weights of Shame or Guilt

 

Join me for another honest, open and vulnerable conversation about business, life and emotional sobriety with my friend who's got a heart for service.

 

About Anthony:

Anthony Amunategui is the Founder of CDO Group, a National Commercial Construction firm he started almost 25 years ago with a small group in his basement. Today CDO group has worked with some of the world’s largest brands to build an estimated one million square feet of retail space per year.

His podcast Future Factory explores fascinating topics that are shaping the world as we know it. He loves discussing the advancement of Artificial Intelligence and the game changing technology that is developing before our eyes.

Anthony has a true passion for finding out what makes people successful in business and in life. He loves diving into conversations about what the future holds for us personally and professionally, and the adventures that shape that journey.

 

About the host:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher, and Gap Mindset Coach/ Communications 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.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

Franco Finn — Warriors Hype Man, San Francisco Filmmaker, and a Son Who Hasn't Stopped Looking

24 seasons. 20,000 fans. One unforgettable voice.

And a story you never saw coming.

If you've ever been inside Chase Center when the Warriors take the floor, you've heard Franco Finn before you ever saw him. That voice — electric, commanding, unmistakably Bay Area — has been the heartbeat of Dub Nation for 24 seasons. And full disclosure? I'm one of those fans. I love this team. I love the sport and everything it represents about life.

Getting the opportunity to sit down and have a real conversation with the man behind the mic was a huge honor. But what I didn't expect was how deep this conversation would go — past the championships, past the crowds, past the hype — into the story of a son on a quiet, determined search for his father. Franco Finn is so much more than a hype man. And this episode proves it.

About Franco:

Franco Finn is a San Francisco native, small business owner (Franco Finn Productions, LLC), and member of the San Francisco Film Commission. He is best known as the In-Arena MC and TV Personality for the Golden State Warriors, now in his 24th season, where he energizes 20,000+ fans each game as the iconic “Warriors Hype Man.” Franco has appeared on ABC-7 KGO-TV, KRON 4, and serves as an MC/host for Cal Bears Football & Basketball. His hosting career spans major national and international sporting events, including NBA All-Star, FIBA World Cup, Major League Cricket, SailGP, Rugby World Cup, and EuroBasket.

A professional benefit auctioneer, Franco is a graduate of the prestigious Mendenhall School of Auctioneering and holds the Benefit Auctioneer Specialist (B.A.S.) designation. He has helped raise millions for organizations such as the American Red Cross, March of Dimes, Ronald McDonald House, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

More Images: Finn@ City Hall

 

Finn with Fitz & Buike

Find him here:

https://www.instagram.com/francofinn/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/franco-finn-07a9524/

https://www.facebook.com/franco.finn/

Articles:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4218492/2023/02/17/nba-all-star-warriors-hype-man-franco-finn/

 

 

About the Host:

Shawn Langwell is an Inspirational Author, Speaker, Teacher and 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.

Find him at www.shawnlangwell.com.

 

Raven Divito- State Basketball Champion, Electrician, and Concert Photographer who beats to her own drum

Grit, guts, tenacity, and humble boldness.

These are a few words I would use to describe Raven Divito.

She's a self taught photographer who broke the gender barriers starting in little league. She went on to become a union electrician in a male dominated industry, and was a key player leading the Sir Francis Drake High School (Now Archie Williams) Womens Basketball team to a state Championship in 1982.

Her whole life exemplifies the title of this podcast.

Join us as we dive into her recent solo journey to the Far East and talk about what shaped her to become the confident, kind and compassionate woman she is today.

Here's a little more about Raven in her words:

Fearless, relentless, and always evolving—at 61, I’ve spent a lifetime rewriting the rules. From one of just three girls who fought Marin County’s system to play in boys’ Minor League, and Little League baseball, to defying my 1978 West Marin Elementary dress code in a bold blue suede suit, I’ve never waited for permission.

 

A 1982 state champion in basketball, I carried that same fire into the trades as an IBEW union electrician in 1989—one of the few women in a gritty, male-dominated field. I also became a self-taught concert photographer in 1999, capturing the music scene with a Pentax film camera before going digital, contributing to magazines, and exhibiting my work in a San Pedro gallery.

 

In 2026, I retired from both the trades and the music industry to chase new horizons. Now I’m a solo backpacker, avid nature lover, and perpetual adventurer—embracing reinvention and the thrill of the unknown.

 

Social Media - Facebook @ravendivito 

 

About the host:

Shawn Langwell is an Author, Teacher, Speaker, Gap Mindset Coach/Sales & Marketing Communications Consultant. He's written several transformational, self-improvement books. He's served as president of Redwood Writers (CWC) and is currently on the board of directors as vice president, speaker and conference chair, as well as pr director. Find him at shawnlangwell.com.