Needy and Normal Podcast

Boxing (champ), Business and a Book, the unstoppable, Tony Mack!

EP 70 | Needy and Normal welcomes USA National Champion boxer, a six time Dallas Golden Glove Champ (the achievements go on and on), entrepreneur who trains NFL players out of his own boxing gym, TMACK Elite Training in Dallas, my high school class president, and now author, THE Tony Mack!
This episode will help you adjust your own mindset, collecting verbal keepsakes, one after another from Tony. This is a vulnerable episode walking us through his potentially life ending past, to seizing one life changing opportunity after another to become who he is today.
Tony's philosophies on mental toughness, success, and attitude will help you tap into your own confidence.
Collect Tony's words to live by including:
1. "Faith without work is (like being) dead."
2. "Give people something to respect and give God something to work with." (on success)
3. "Failure is just as important as success."
Listen until the end for a healthy dose of encouragement from Tony on finding success, trusting God and your own intuition, saying NO, and not stopping!
Buy Tony's book, Defeat to Destiny, and learn about his vulnerable past and of his outstanding achievements from having passion and continuing to show up!
BIO: Tony Mack is a retired professional fighter and current business owner of TMACK Elite Training in Dallas. With a professional record of thirteen wins, one loss and one draw, Tony knows how to WIN! Tony retired from boxing after a retinal detachment injury and remains passionate about boxing through training and mentoring. Tony is married to his wife, Ashley, and recently wrote his first book, Defeat to Destiny.
Your needs matter, because you matter!
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal podcast. Follow the show on IG @needyandnormal pod and rate and review the show before you go!
For information about coaching, visit ABLlifecoaching.com to inquire about a free initial session. New clients will be accepted come September 2025.

Party Animal, Nathanael Reyes, of the Reyes Reflection podcast, my guest and pod takeover!

EP 69 | He says “I can do it sober!” In this unique guest episode, Nathanael Reyes shares his podcast, The Reyes Reflection, with the Needy and Normal podcast. Literally, I take over! Listen to this gem for relatable and entertaining stories, along with deep insightful life lessons and tools.
“Party animal”, Nathanael, shares how he uses his resilience and mental strength (from overcoming his past), to stay positive and focused no matter what life throws his way. Learning how to "find the light in things”, even during struggles and setbacks, has made him who he is today.
Enjoy my "digging" for the vulnerable details! And you might want to take notes…this dude is QUOTABLE! Take away all you can from this episode.
Your needs matter, because you matter!
Big thank you to Nathanael for letting me take over and understand more about you for both of our audiences. Please check out the Reyes Reflection podcast and follow Nathanael everywhere @imnathanaelreyes.
BIO: Nathanael Reyes is a podcaster, actor, personal trainer, educator, “the party animal”, with terrible knees and ankles, once rejected in middle school for having too big of a nose, a New England native, and a big hearted personality.
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal podcast. Please follow the show and rate and review it before you go. Share your favorite episode with a friend and follow @needyandnormalpod on Instagram.
For information about coaching, visit ABLlifecoaching.com and follow @ABLlifecoaching on Instagram. Accepting new clients for September 2025.

"Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?", with author and guest, Dr. Robert Smith

EP 68 | Dr. Robert Smith, or Bob as he prefers in his well earned retirement years, is a bit of a whistle blower. Not aiming for controversy as much as he’s aiming for change, Bob has written “Has Medicine Lost Its Mind?”, to inform the public of what needs to change in the medical industry around mental health. 
His extensive research reveals that only 2% of medical school requirements focuses on mental healthcare. He claims, backed by his decades as a practicing and educating doctor, that we need that number to change to 30%.
Why? To be as direct as Bob, people are dying. People are being misdiagnosed. Patient care is rushed, and things are being missed and mistreated.
While Dr. Smith could be traveling and kicking his heels up in retirement, his mission is grand and unfinished. From our conversation, there is much action to be taken, first by spreading awareness and hope.
Listen for what you can do NOW, including ways to self advocate, and increase personal wellbeing. Bob encourages awareness for yourself and others, especially if this matter affects you or someone you care for in your life.
YOUR NEEDS MATTER, BECAUSE YOU MATTER.
To fetch your own copy of Bob’s book, Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? Why Our Mental Health System is Failing Us and What Should Be Done to Cure It, and to be apart of bringing light and awareness to this massive issue, visit www.robertcsmithmd.com.
BIO: Robert C. Smith, MD, MACP is a retired University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University and a pioneer in patient-centered communication and primary care mental health. He is the author of Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? Why Our Mental Health System is Failing Us and What Should Be Done to Cure It.
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast. Please rate the show before you go, and share your favorite episode with a friend! Follow @needyandnormalpod on IG, and also find Ashley Levering on Linked In and IG @abllifecoaching.
Visit www.abllifecoaching.com to learn about transition life coaching, and to inquire about your own (FREE) discovery session. Accepting new clients for Fall 2025.

Game changing tips for getting results!

EP 67 | As promised from episode 66, tough love, this short listen is an extension of HOW to get results.
Work harder. Effort matters. We don't usually love the hard work required for results, but it needs to happen. Otherwise, why bother? It's a dream you'll look at, but without action, it's not achievable.
Listen for the TWO game changing tips (plus a bonus tip), proven to work for anyone who applies themselves. 
Ready to dedicate and commit to the things you want, for real this time? This could be the push you've needed.
Your needs matter, because you matter.
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast. Follow on IG @needyandnormalpod and review the show before you go! Share your favorite episode with a friend, and DM me which one it is! I'd love the feedback!
For information about life coaching, visit abllifecoaching.com and follow @abllifecoaching on IG. Accepting new clients September 2025.

Do you need some tough love?

EP 66 | Admit it! That thing you want so badly is on the back burner, because you will need to put in the uncomfortable work. So you procrastinate, push it out, ignore it. Or perhaps you are avoiding the thing that NEEDS to happen, but it's scary as hell! The "easy way" is often worse than taking a deep breath and doing the hard thing!
Choose your own adventure! As I move through this list of scenarios, you will relate to one or more.
Towards the end, this list will be reviewed and you'll leave with encouragement. We all need that.
Episode 66 is about self love, which in this case, is about discipline. This could be the dose of tough love you really need right now.
Your needs matter, because you matter!
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast. Please rate and review the show before you go, and share it with a friend!
Would you like to be my guest? Do you have an extraordinary story or your expertise to share with the Needy community? Email me at ashley@abllifecoaching.com or DM me on IG @needyandnormalpod.
To learn more about transition life coaching, visit abllifecoaching.com. New clients will be accepted come September 2025.
 

Life balance is BS, here's the comforting truth

EP 65 | I call BS on the “story” we tell ourselves about finding “balance” in our lives. No, this life coach does not think it’s impossible to achieve balance, but I do believe there is a healthy dose of reality we can all tap into to help us feel better. 
You can find balance in small moments or big moments. But when the balance doesn’t come by way of what society tells us balance is, or how you set out to overachieve beyond your own capacity, you feel like a failure. 
Let me connect you to different perspective, where you can feel balanced every day, no matter what.
Listen for comforting content, such as:
Deciding what balance actually looks like for you
Positively accepting reality
Mindset and perspective shifting
Making healthy decisions for yourself
Resetting your priorities (story time)
Reflection check
“Positive survival” rather than “survival mode”
Tending to essential routines no matter what
Taking the wins now
Staying positive for yourself
Your needs matter, because you matter.
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast. Please rate and review the show before you go, and follow it so you don’t miss an episode. Please pass this or your favorite episode on to a friend and follow @needyandnormalpod on Instagram. 
For information about coaching together, visit ABLlifecoaching.com. Currently accepting new clients this September 2025. Get to know me more @abllifecoaching on IG.

Abuse, powerlifting, and life changing decisions with guest, Tracey Quast

EP 64 | This week on Needy and Normal, we welcome Tracey Quast, my amazing client and friend who made massive changes in her life. If you can't relate or find inspiration by the end, I will buy you a cup of coffee.
In this episode, Tracey shares her journey from an abusive marriage of over 30 years, to finally building the courage to end it in divorce, and breaking patterns that no longer served her.
Listen for:
How to take control (the powerlifting story)
The power of advocating for yourself
Finding self worth
Owning your confidence and strength
Being grateful
Being authentic
Doing hard things
Being okay with wanting more and better for your life
I hope you take from this conversation, that saying yes to your wants and needs is a good thing. Taking care of you is important, and you deserve a good life.
Your needs matter, because you matter.
BIO: Tracey Quast is a personal trainer and teacher of the Livestrong cancer survivor class. She is a badass who is full of heart. Tracey's been a competitive (and record holding) powerlifter since 2017, the year she became a grandmother. She now has eight grandchildren and is living in her dream home being loved well and owning her worth.
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast, please rate and review the show before you go and follow us on IG @needyandnormalpod.
For information about coaching together, and to feel the power of coaching like Tracey did, visit abllifecoaching.com. Initial sessions are complimentary.

REPLAY - Negative vs Positive Thinking and Reactions (EP 22)

EP 63 [REPLAY of EP 22] | This topic follows us around. In a time where negativity can seep in easily, let's be reminded of the control we DO have over our own reactions and thoughts.
Living in a negative headspace is not helpful. I am not discounting that difficult times happen, nor am I encouraging false positivity.
I am, however, encouraging the right we have to live in a safe headspace. I am challenging you to learn how to recognize your thoughts and behaviors as they lean towards the negative. I am challenging you to logically respond rather than emotionally react.
Listen for stories, tips and tools from episode 22, to help you move through negativity.
You may need just what this episode has to offer.
Your needs matter, because you matter.
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast. Please share the show and rate and review it before you go! Follow @needyandnormalpod on IG.
For information about coaching together, book a free consultation at www.abllifecoaching.com and follow @abllifecoaching on IG.

Is it time for your comeback, to yourself?

EP 62 | Have you gotten into the rhythm of life, where you're going through the motions? Or have you arrived at the place in your career where you're not feeling fulfilled? Are you having a full-on identity "crisis"? This episode is for you!
I'll walk you through how NOT to feel badly about feeling lost or disconnected from yourself. Rather, I encourage you to feel brave for finding the awareness.
Now, what is next? What's first? How can you take action to reconnect to yourself and do what matters to you? Is it your turn? Is it time to COMEBACK to yourself?
Listen for helpful tips and tools directly from a certified life coach. Jot down some notes on the how-to's in this episode, and take the encouragement and comfort with you.
Your needs matter, because you matter. 
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast. Please share, rate and review the pod before you go, follow the show and add it to your IG follows, @needyandnormalpod. 
To learn about coaching together, follow @abllifecoacing on IG and visit www.abllifecoaching.com and book a complimentary discovery session! ABL Life Coaching was founded in December 2019, and has successfully helped hundreds of clients reach goals and transition into new phases of life. 

Is it Friday yet? Burnout sucks!

EP 61 | You've probably said it: Is it Friday yet? I need a nap! I want to quit! I need a drink! I'm so busy, life is crazy! And if you're in my shoes, over 35, you might even be dealing with physical burnout. In this episode, I share my "over 35" ailments and how in real time I am trying to heal from overdoing it! You too?
Listen for:
1. How to recognize burnout,
2. how to create and use go-to's for preventing and conquering burnout,
3. some undeniable facts,
4. tips on mindfulness of your own behavior,
5. and how to listen to your higher self and use your intuition.
Stay until the end for some memorable burnout quotes for you to takeaway from this episode.
Your needs matter, because you matter.
Thank you for listening to the Needy and Normal Podcast, for sharing the show with a friend, and for leaving me a review and a rating before you go!
Follow @needyandnormalpod and @abllifecoaching on IG, and book a free discovery session on abllifecoaching.com!