Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
Brandon Held
This is a Podcast of perseverance, self-help, self-Improvement, becoming a better man, making it through struggles and not only surviving, but thriving! In this Podcast the first 25 episodes detail my life's downs and ups. A story that shows you can overcome poverty, abusive environments, drug and alcoholic environments, difficult bosses, being laid-off from work, losing your family, and being on the brink of suicide. Either way, I hope anyone can listen and find a place to share life stories and experiences. Allow everyone to learn from each other to reinforce our place in this world. To grow and be better people and help build a better more understanding society.
My podcast is a story of the journey of my life. The start from poor, drug and alcohol stricken life, to choices that lead to success. Being raised by essentially only my mother with good intentions, but didn't know how to teach me to be a man. About learning life's lessons and how to become a man on this journey and sharing those lessons and experiences with others whom hopefully can benefit from my successes and failures. I've led a fairly unique life with some highs and very low low's. I believe listeners would find my experiences worth listening to and learning from and take them with them on their own journey.
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Top 10 Brandon Held - Life is Crazy Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Brandon Held - Life is Crazy episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Brandon Held - Life is Crazy for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Brandon Held - Life is Crazy episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Episode 6: Breaking Formation: How Betrayal Led to a New Beginning
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
04/01/25 • 21 min
Brandon Held recounts his Air Force career trajectory and the pivotal moment that led him to abandon his original plan of military retirement for a completely different path. A false report from a vindictive master sergeant and subsequent lack of support from leadership sparked a series of events that ultimately led Brandon to pursue broadcast journalism after watching Marv Albert interview Michael Jordan.
Please start with Episode 1. Go to my site BrandonHeld.com
• Worked hard to demonstrate value through polished uniforms and professional excellence
• Won Airman of the Quarter for his security police squadron
• Selected as flight security controller despite being significantly junior for the position
• Falsely failed a quality control test by Master Sergeant Danford without actually being tested
• Commander refused to believe Brandon over the master sergeant despite the false report
• Discovered unexpected academic ability after scoring well in a college math class
• Significantly improved ASVAB scores but was denied retraining opportunities
• Made life-changing decision to become a sportscaster after watching Marv Albert interview Michael Jordan
• Left the Air Force in January 1995 and prepared to attend Minot State University
• Enjoyed unexpected transition period playing basketball and golfing while collecting unemployment
Join me next time for episode seven where I'll share more significant incidents from my military career that have stayed with me for over 30 years.
Episode 1: Introduction and My First Memory
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
03/30/25 • 21 min
Brandon Held shares his first memory—witnessing his father's brutal assault on his mother when he was just two years old—and how this traumatic experience shaped his identity as a protector for the next 50 years. This raw, unfiltered introduction to Brandon's life story begins his journey through childhood trauma, abandonment, and finding purpose through protecting others.
Go to my site BrandonHeld.com
• 51-year-old Brandon holds degrees in Mass Communications and a Master's in Business Administration
• Served eight years of military service split between Air Force and Army
• Created this podcast to leave a legacy for his three sons and help others facing similar challenges
• Mother Eva divorced his abusive biological father when Brandon was two
• At age 9, his mother abandoned him and his sister at their grandmother's house for over a year
• When his mother returned with a new abusive husband, she once used Brandon as a human shield
• The birth of his half-brother RJ awakened a deep sense of protection and responsibility
• Plans to release two 20-30 minute episodes weekly with honest, authentic storytelling
Episode 38: Lannette West from MILF MANOR 2 Breaking Generational Curses and Surviving Childhood Trauma!
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
05/20/25 • 51 min
Lynette West shares her powerful journey of recognizing and healing from childhood sexual abuse by her grandfather while growing up in a violent home. Through isolated flashbacks that eventually converged into a coherent narrative, she discovered how trauma shaped her self-hatred, addiction struggles, and relationship patterns with abusive partners.
• Childhood trauma memories often appear as disconnected flashbacks without context
• Trauma survivors frequently gravitate toward familiar but harmful situations that mirror their childhood experiences
• Repressed memories can surface when the brain recognizes you're emotionally ready to handle them
• Hypervigilance and dissociation (like counting lamp tassels) are common coping mechanisms during abuse
• Depression and suicidal ideation are frequent companions of unaddressed childhood trauma
• Children with parents who commit suicide are 70% more likely to commit suicide themselves
• Breaking generational curses requires commitment to healing despite ongoing struggles
• Recovery isn't linear – healing is an ongoing journey that requires persistent effort
• Speaking openly about trauma can bring freedom and help others who are suffering silently
• Finding purpose through pain by helping others can transform traumatic experiences into something meaningful
Follow Lynette on Instagram @Lynette.West to connect and continue the conversation.
Follow me on Instagram @bh_life_is_crazy
Go to my website brandonheld.com. Select Podcast page and Subscribe!
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Episode 35: Boots to Boardrooms: My Unexpected Career Evolution
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
05/10/25 • 51 min
Brandon shares his professional journey from military service to project management and consulting, revealing how early experiences shaped his leadership abilities and career trajectory.
• Joining the Air Force at 17 taught crucial foundations of discipline, resilience, structure, and accountability
• Military experience provided early leadership opportunities as a 19-year-old supervisor of older personnel
• Learned to command respect through consistent behavior rather than demanding it
• Discovered transferable skills from seemingly unrelated jobs like customer service and sales
• Corporate career progression from Raytheon to consulting roles required adapting to diverse personalities
• Mentorship from key figures like Debbie Godwin provided critical professional guidance
• Healthcare consulting represents current career focus with both DOD and VA facilities
• Addition of podcasting and life coaching represents ongoing commitment to growth
Support this podcast by subscribing at Brandon's website for $8 monthly - about $1 per episode - to help offset the time and financial costs of production.
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Episode 34: Six Steps to SEO Success That Anyone Can Follow
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
05/06/25 • 18 min
In this practical guide to SEO for small businesses, Brandon breaks down search engine optimization into simple, actionable steps anyone can implement without technical expertise or large budgets. He explains how SEO works as a digital visibility tool that levels the playing field for small businesses, allowing them to compete effectively without expensive advertising campaigns.
• The three pillars of SEO: on-page, off-page, and technical
• Why SEO is especially valuable for small businesses and startups
• How to implement zero-cost SEO strategies immediately
• Common SEO myths debunked including keyword stuffing and posting frequency
• Six simple steps to improve your website's visibility today
• Tools to help you research keywords and improve site performance
Head over to BrandonHeld.com to connect with Brandon for life coaching or potential collaboration. Your feedback helps improve the podcast – Brandon welcomes both positive comments and constructive criticism to create better content for his audience.
Episode 33: Three Sons, Countless Lessons: The Unexpected Education of Fatherhood
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
05/03/25 • 35 min
Brandon explores the transformative impact of fatherhood and shares the key lessons he's learned raising three distinctly different sons throughout their lives and after divorce.
• Finding balance between being present for your children and maintaining self-care
• Leading by example and creating a judgment-free environment for open communication
• Understanding the true meaning of unconditional love through parenting
• The challenge of co-parenting with different value systems after divorce
• Breaking cycles of addiction, abuse, and poverty to create a new family legacy
• Discovering that providing for your family brings greater satisfaction than self-indulgence
• Learning to respect your children's individual personalities and decision-making as they grow
• The importance of finding your authentic parenting style rather than comparing to others
Whatever fatherhood journey you're on, remember that being true to yourself is the foundation of effective parenting. Your children will ultimately respect you more for your authenticity than any attempt to be perfect.
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Episode 32: The Power of Self-Awareness
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
04/29/25 • 17 min
Self-awareness is the key to unlocking your potential and improving relationships, allowing you to see yourself clearly through reflection and understanding how you impact others. Both internal self-awareness (understanding your inner world) and external self-awareness (understanding how others perceive you) are crucial for personal growth and breaking free from autopilot living.
• Emotional self-awareness helps recognize your feelings and how they influence your actions
• Without emotional awareness, we're often hijacked by feelings, leading to reactive behavior
• Social awareness involves understanding how you come across to others and your impact on group dynamics
• Lack of social awareness leads to misunderstandings when we think we're being direct while others perceive us as insensitive
• Relationship self-awareness helps identify patterns, triggers, and communication styles in our connections
• Understanding attachment styles and personal patterns can transform recurring relationship challenges
• Self-awareness is a continuous practice requiring courage, curiosity, and compassion
Visit brandonheld.com to receive a free starter learning course with practical tools for building a better life. Book a free 15-20 minute initial consultation to discuss your goals, or explore 30 and 60-minute virtual coaching sessions tailored to your needs. Group coaching sessions are available when at least 10 people sign up.
Episode 30: Is Finding Love Abroad Worth the Price?
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
04/22/25 • 51 min
Brandon Held shares his personal journey of finding love internationally and marrying a woman from Brazil, discussing the realities that dating shows like 90 Day Fiancé don't fully capture. He explores the challenges and rewards of cross-cultural relationships with honesty and vulnerability based on his own experience.
• Dating internationally completely reverses American dating dynamics - men receive abundant messages instead of competing for attention
• Video calls are essential to weed out scammers who use attractive photos and eventually ask for money
• Language barriers create misunderstandings even when both people speak the same language due to cultural connotations
• Cultural differences regarding family relationships, financial support, and lifestyle expectations require significant adaptation
• Immigration processes are brutal. Fairly expensive, time-consuming, and stressful with little transparency about timelines
• Finding your perfect match internationally can be worth every obstacle if you're prepared for the challenges
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Episode 29: Divorce: The TRUTH They Don't Tell You Pt. 2
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
04/15/25 • 30 min
Brandon reflects on the lessons he's learned from his divorces, exploring how good communication and understanding are essential for lasting relationships.
• Communication is absolutely critical - especially about your feelings and mental state
• Nobody is perfect, so allowing grace for mistakes is essential for both partners
• Discussing finances openly before marriage can prevent major conflicts later
• People change over time, and relationships need constant nurturing to stay strong
• It's never too late to start over - people fall in love with you, not your statistics
If you haven't listened to any of my podcasts before, start at episode one and go to episode 25 to learn my story. After that, skip around and listen to whatever you'd like. Also check out brandonheld.com to see what I have to offer.
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Episode 37: Hack Your Brain Chemistry and Beat Fatigue and Anhedonia with Andy West
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy
05/17/25 • 35 min
Andy West, author of "Dopamine Mountain," shares powerful insights about rewiring our brains through intentional dopamine management to overcome fatigue, depression, and low motivation.
• Dopamine functions as our energy system, controlling motivation and linking directly to mood
• Challenge yourself first, then get rewarded - this counterintuitive approach creates sustainable dopamine regulation
• Our ancestors followed effort-reward-rest cycles naturally, but modern life provides too much instant gratification
• Depression and fatigue often result from dopamine depletion, requiring baby steps and small rewards to rebuild
• Frame challenges as growth opportunities to activate dopamine instead of stress chemicals
• Morning is optimal for hard tasks because we wake with slightly elevated dopamine
• Discipline isn't inherent - it's simply choosing action over quick dopamine, practiced one step at a time
• Rewards feel better when moderated and earned through effort
• Write down difficult emotions through journaling to process them and engage dopamine pathways
• Never settle for being stuck - even small movements like leg planks in bed can start rebuilding motivation
Find Andy West at DopamineMountain.com and on social media platforms as Dopamine Mountain. You can also find her on Amazon.
Go to BrandonHeld.com/Podcast and subscribe to the Podcast
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FAQ
How many episodes does Brandon Held - Life is Crazy have?
Brandon Held - Life is Crazy currently has 38 episodes available.
What topics does Brandon Held - Life is Crazy cover?
The podcast is about Health & Fitness, Self Improvement, Personal Growth, Story, Army, Fatherhood, Life Coaching, Mental Health, Life Coach, Father, Entertainment, Podcasts, Improvement, Self-Improvement, Education, Journey and Life.
What is the most popular episode on Brandon Held - Life is Crazy?
The episode title 'Episode 34: Six Steps to SEO Success That Anyone Can Follow' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Brandon Held - Life is Crazy?
The average episode length on Brandon Held - Life is Crazy is 30 minutes.
How often are episodes of Brandon Held - Life is Crazy released?
Episodes of Brandon Held - Life is Crazy are typically released every 3 hours.
When was the first episode of Brandon Held - Life is Crazy?
The first episode of Brandon Held - Life is Crazy was released on Mar 30, 2025.
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