What if leadership isn’t about arriving… but about continuing?

In this special return to The Shadows Podcast, Bodhi sits down once again with retired Chief Master Sergeant and author Joe Bogdan to explore his new book, Better Has No Finish Line: Waypoints on the Lifelong Pursuit of Self-Mastery and Leadership. Rather than offering quick fixes or leadership formulas, this conversation digs into the uncomfortable, often unseen work of growth—reflection, humility, ownership, and identity.

Together, they unpack why true leadership is forged through pressure, why progress matters more than perfection, and why some of the most meaningful growth happens at waypoints we never planned to stop at. Joe shares hard-earned lessons from his military and post-service journey, including the cost of unexamined success, the danger of chasing rank or position without purpose, and how empathy and emotional intelligence transformed the way he leads.

This episode isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions:

• What is your brand when you walk into a room?

• What is it really like to be on the other side of you?

• Are you growing… or just moving?

If you’re a leader, an emerging leader, or someone navigating a season of feeling stuck, this conversation will challenge you to rethink progress, redefine success, and embrace the idea that better has no finish line.

🎙️ Listen with intention. Reflect honestly. Keep going.

Website: www.waypointbetter.com
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STRANGER THINGS & EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

What if Stranger Things isn’t just about monsters, portals, and the Upside Down — but about belonging, vulnerability, and the emotional cost of avoidance?

In this episode of The Shadows Podcast, we break down Stranger Things through the lens of Emotional Intelligence and pull out three Life Cheat Codes that apply just as much to real life as they do to Hawkins, Indiana. From friendships that save lives to emotions we try to outrun, this episode explores how our inner world shapes our survival.

🕒 6:26 — Cheat Code #1: Belonging Is a Survival Skill
The Party survives because they stay connected. Isolation makes people easier targets — emotionally and mentally. We unpack why belonging isn’t weakness, it’s protection.

🕒 9:37 — Cheat Code #2: You Can Be Strong and Vulnerable
Hopper, Eleven, Max — strength in Stranger Things isn’t about being fearless. It’s about feeling deeply and still showing up. Emotional strength isn’t the absence of emotion; it’s the ability to carry it.

🕒 13:59 — Cheat Code #3: Avoidance Feeds the Monster
Whether it’s Vecna or real-life emotions, what we refuse to face doesn’t disappear — it grows. Avoidance gives power to the very thing we’re trying to escape.

This episode blends storytelling, humor, pop culture, and practical EQ tools you can actually use — because emotional intelligence isn’t about perfection, it’s about awareness.

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🎄 Gremlins & Emotional Intelligence | Life Cheat Codes 🎮

Is Gremlins really just a Christmas movie… or is it a cautionary tale about emotional discipline, boundaries, and responsibility?

In this episode of The Shadows Podcast, we crack open the 1984 cult classic Gremlins and break it down through the lens of Emotional Intelligence. Beneath the chaos, comedy, and creature mayhem is a surprisingly sharp lesson about what happens when rules are ignored, impulses go unchecked, and responsibility gets outsourced.

This isn’t a movie review—it’s a life upgrade.

Using our signature Life Cheat Codes, we explore how the same mistakes that turn Mogwai into Gremlins are the exact patterns that sabotage relationships, goals, leadership, and personal growth in real life.

⏱ Cheat Code #1 — Rules Are Emotional Guardrails (6:26)
Rules don’t exist to ruin fun—they exist to protect us from ourselves. Whether it’s “don’t eat after midnight” or “no texting when emotional,” boundaries help keep chaos from creeping in. We break down why structure actually creates freedom, especially when emotions run hot.

⏱ Cheat Code #2 — Unchecked Impulses Multiply Problems (10:47)
One small decision. Then another. Then suddenly the whole town is on fire. Sound familiar? This cheat code dives into how impulsive reactions—emotionally, socially, or digitally—rarely stay small. If you don’t pause, reflect, and regulate, problems don’t just grow… they multiply.

⏱ Cheat Code #3 — Responsibility Is the Price of Ownership (14:23)
Ownership isn’t just about possession—it’s about accountability. Whether it’s a pet, a child, a role, or a version of yourself you’re trying to build, responsibility is the cost of entry. We unpack why avoiding responsibility always leads to chaos—and how stepping into it is a form of emotional maturity.

Gremlins reminds us that ignoring rules, feeding impulses, and dodging responsibility doesn’t just affect us—it affects everyone around us. Emotional Intelligence is the difference between managing the Mogwai… and unleashing the Gremlin.

We close the episode with a powerful reflection, a callback to one of the film’s most memorable lines, and a challenge for listeners to check their own “closets and cupboards”—because you never really know where emotional Gremlins might be hiding.

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If this episode resonated, try one cheat code this week and let us know how it goes.

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