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LIVE with The Famous Dr. AL

LIVE with The Famous Dr. AL

By: Dr. Allen Steven Lycka
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Brushwood Media Network is thrilled to congratulate Dr. Allen Lycka on reaching a remarkable milestone—his 500th episode of the popular series "How To Live a Fantastic Life." Dr. Lycka's inspiring show has become a staple for listeners seeking advice on living their best lives, and this milestone is a testament to his dedication and the impact of his work.

“LIVE with The Famous Dr. AL” will offer a dynamic blend of features, ensuring that each episode provides something unique and exciting. Listeners can look forward to intriguing conversations with authors, captivating lifestyle stories, travel and food adventures, exclusive celebrity insights, and the latest in beauty secrets.

Dr. Lycka has an incredible ability to connect with his audience and provide valuable insights that inspire and uplift. Don't miss out on the fun and inspiration.

2025 Brushwood Media Network Economics Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Lana Starchuk

    LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Lana Starchuk
    Sep 5 2025
    Living Boldly with Lana Starchuk From Theater to the Skies In this inspiring episode of How to Live a Fantastic Life, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Lana Starchuk, a five-time formation skydiving record holder with two gold medals and more than 1,000 jumps to her name. Lana’s story begins in an unexpected place—while studying theater in Montreal, she agreed to accompany a friend’s son on a skydive. That first leap in the late 1990s ignited a passion that would later grow into a pursuit of competitive skydiving and personal transformation. After an 11-year hiatus, Lana returned to the sport, earned her solo license, and went on to set records, blending her daring athletic feats with a creative career as a writer, producer, educator, and speaker. Embracing Fear and Redefining Failure Dr. Lycka and Lana dive deep into the idea that growth and comfort cannot coexist. Lana shares how fear can be reframed as possibility, potential, and opportunity rather than something to avoid. Drawing parallels between skydiving and business, she explains that risk-taking, trust, and resilience are essential ingredients for innovation and success. Lana is candid about setbacks in her career, including being let go from full-time positions, and how these moments became springboards for reinvention. Instead of seeing failure as defeat, she views it as valuable data—information that can guide the next steps. This perspective forms the foundation of her upcoming book, What Happens When Your Parachute Doesn’t Open and Other Successes, which encourages readers to see failures as stepping stones toward growth. Living a Fantastic Life Throughout the conversation, Lana and Dr. Lycka explore the stages of survival, stability, success, significance, and legacy. Lana emphasizes authenticity, kindness, and trust in the process as keys to living fully. She reminds listeners that impermanence is part of life—both joy and hardship are temporary—and that courage often comes from taking small, consistent steps. Whether in skydiving, creative pursuits, or leadership, Lana champions starting before you feel ready, embracing change, and choosing to lead with kindness. Her insights resonate as a powerful reminder that everyone has the tools within them to thrive, give back, and live a truly fantastic life. Connect with Lana Starchuk Lana’s forthcoming book is scheduled for release in 2026. To join the waitlist, sign up for her newsletter, or read excerpts as they’re released, visit www.lanastarchuk.com. There you’ll also find her monthly Resilience Reset newsletter, offering fresh perspectives on the inner strengths we all possess. Connect with Dr. Allen Lycka For weekly pearls of wisdom and more resources, visit www.drallenlycka.com. You can also support the show at Patreon.com/Dral99 or BuyMeACoffee.com/Dral99 BIO: Lana Starchuck is a five-time formation skydiving record holder, including two gold medals, and has over 1000 skydives. She has a portfolio career as a writer, editor, producer, and speaker with a background in theatre, journalism, education, communications, and creative writing. Her next book, What Happens When Your Parachute Doesn’t Open and Other Failures Successes is a self-help book to help you confront your fear, reframe failure, and get moving in a new direction. More at http://lanastarchuck.com/ Social Media Links: https://lanastarchuck.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanastarchuck/ https://www.instagram.com/lanastarchuck/ https://substack.com/@lanastarchuck https://www.youtube.com/@LanaStarchuck https://www.facebook.com/lana.starchuck/ https://substack.com/@lanastarchuck
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    28 mins
  • LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Peter Samuelson

    LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Peter Samuelson
    Sep 5 2025
    Peter Samuelson: Finding Happiness Through Film, Philanthropy, and Life Lessons Guest: Peter Samuelson Host: Dr. Allen Lycka Introduction In this episode, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Peter Samuelson, a Cambridge-educated film producer with over 20 major films to his credit, including Revenge of the Nerds, Tom & Viv, and Arlington Road. Beyond filmmaking, Peter is a visionary at the intersection of media and social impact, co-founding the Starlight Children’s Foundation with Steven Spielberg and launching multiple nonprofit initiatives for vulnerable communities. Peter blends storytelling with purpose, showing how entertainment can drive meaningful change. Career Journey and Early Life Peter shares his early life in London, where a dedicated English teacher encouraged him to pursue higher education despite coming from a family with no university history. Earning a scholarship to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, he studied medieval English literature, then leveraged his language skills to interpret for visiting Americans. One connection led to a career opportunity in Los Angeles, marking the start of his film-producing journey. He reflects on becoming a proud American and embracing the opportunities afforded by the American dream. Blending Film and Social Impact Peter discusses how, 25 years ago, he realized films could move society forward beyond entertainment. As a producer, he discovered he could use his entrepreneurial skill set to raise awareness about social issues while creating impactful stories. He emphasizes the toolkit of leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving that filmmakers carry from project to project, which applies equally to nonprofit work. Nonprofit Initiatives and Mentorship Peter highlights his work with First Star, a program that supports foster youth by providing housing, education, and mentorship, helping them access higher education opportunities. He explains that his book, Finding Happy, grew from this experience, aiming to guide young adults through challenges of adolescence, risk-taking, relationships, and personal growth. Peter shares vivid examples of youthful mistakes and how learning from them shapes resilience and decision-making, including stories from Morocco and his teenage years. Lessons on Happiness and Meaning Drawing from his life, Peter emphasizes that happiness comes from helping others, using one’s talents, and taking meaningful action. He advises Gen Z and young adults to engage in volunteer work, seek mentors, and approach life thoughtfully. Peter also recounts the origin of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, illustrating how collaboration, generosity, and creativity can bring ideas to life while impacting countless lives. Book and Resources Peter’s book, Finding Happy: A User’s Guide to Life, is available in paperback, e-book, audiobook, and at retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Target. Designed for ages 15–30, it provides guidance on building resilience, finding love, and navigating life’s challenges. Peter’s hands-on approach encourages readers to apply lessons from his experiences to their own journey. BIO: Peter Samuelson is a Cambridge-educated film producer whose career spans over 20 major films, including Revenge of the Nerds, Tom & Viv, and Arlington Road. A visionary at the intersection of media and social impact, he co-founded the Starlight Children’s Foundation with Steven Spielberg and launched multiple nonprofit initiatives supporting vulnerable communities. Peter continues to blend storytelling and social purpose through his work in film, innovation, and philanthropy. Social media Links https://www.samuelson.la/ https://www.instagram.com/petergsamuelson/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersamuelson https://www.facebook.com/petergsamuelson/ https://www.simonandschuster.ca/authors/Peter-Samuelson/236619367 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A4EgCG1Zyg
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    31 mins
  • LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Tim Lupinacci

    LIVE with The Famous Dr AL and Tim Lupinacci
    Sep 4 2025

    Leadership Without Limits: Tim Lupinacci on Influence, Courage, and Living a Fantastic Life

    Introduction

    In this episode of the Celebrity Edition Podcast, Dr. Allen Lycka welcomes Tim Lupinacci, CEO and Chair of Baker Donelson, one of the 100 largest law firms in the United States. Leading over 1,300 team members across 24 offices, Tim is a passionate advocate for practical leadership and founder of the nonprofit Everybody Leads. His podcast of the same name highlights changemakers from boardrooms to the front lines, sharing personal journeys shaped by resilience, ownership, and growth. Today, Tim empowers listeners to lead regardless of title or background.

    Tim’s Leadership Journey

    Tim’s path began as a young lawyer without role models, where a critical early mistake taught him the importance of ownership and responsibility. That experience sparked a decades-long journey to understand what it truly means to lead. He emphasizes that leadership isn’t about titles; it’s about influence, impact, and helping others achieve their goals. Drawing inspiration from the ancient Roman concept of anti ambulo—clearing the path for others—Tim believes leadership is about enabling others to succeed while fostering purpose and growth.

    Defining Leadership and Courage

    Tim and Dr. Lycka explore the qualities of unshakable leadership: having a compass instead of a map and inspiring others to follow. Tim shares his daily acronym for COURAGE: Confidence, Out front, Unshakable, Resilience, Adaptable, Growth mindset, and Encourager. He explains how each principle guides his leadership style and daily decision-making, including practical habits such as journaling successes, setbacks, and tomorrow’s priorities to maintain focus and growth. Encouragement, he notes, is often the most overlooked yet critical component of leadership.

    Living a Fantastic Life

    Beyond professional success, Tim emphasizes daily disciplines to nurture mental health and personal fulfillment. Morning reading, journaling, walking, digital sabbaths, and immersion in creative arts help him show up fully. He encourages listeners to identify activities that energize them, prioritize relationships, and maintain intentional habits. Tim also highlights the value of regular conversations with a therapist as a tool for reflection, mental wellness, and sustained leadership effectiveness.

    Resources and Closing

    Tim’s book, Everybody Leads: How You Lead and Why It Matters, offers practical strategies for leadership, resilience, and influence. Available on Amazon and via everybodyleads.org, it complements his nonprofit’s mission. Connect with Tim on LinkedIn and Instagram, or visit bakerdonelson.com to explore his work. Dr. Lycka encourages listeners to visit drallenlycka.com and subscribe to Golden Pearls for weekly insights to live a fantastic life.

    BIO:

    Tim Lupinacci is the CEO and Chair of Baker Donelson, one of the 100 largest law firms in the U.S., where he leads over 1,300 team members across 24 offices. A passionate “leadership junkie,” he founded the nonprofit Everybody Leads to bring practical leadership training to underserved communities and hosts a podcast of the same name featuring changemakers from boardrooms to the front lines. With a powerful personal journey shaped by lessons in ownership, resilience, and growth, Tim empowers others to lead—regardless of title or background.

    Social Media Links:

    www.bakerdonelson.com

    www.everybodyleads.org

    https://www.instagram.com/timlupinacci/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-lupinacci

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1XpDFby2pE

    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
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