Are you feeling stuck or stagnant in your life? Do you envision yourself living differently but have no idea how to start? The answer might lie in a shift in your mindset.
Hosted by Amanda Russo, The Breathing Goddess, who is a Breathwork Detox Facilitator, Transformative Mindset Coach, and Divorce Paralegal.
Amanda's journey into mindset and empowerment began by working with children in group homes and daycares. She later transitioned to family law, helping people navigate the challenging emotions of divorce. During this time, Amanda also overcame her own weight and health challenges through strength training, meditation, yoga, reiki, and plant medicine.
Amanda interviews guests from diverse backgrounds, including entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and wellness experts, who share their incredible journeys of conquering fears and limiting beliefs to achieve remarkable success. Hear real people tell how shifting their mindsets—and often their words—has dramatically changed their lives.
Amanda also shares her personal journey, detailing how she transformed obstacles into opportunities by adopting a healthier, holistic lifestyle.
Discover practical strategies and inspiring stories that will empower you to break free from limitations and cultivate a mindset geared towards growth and positivity.
Tune in for a fun, friendly, and empowering experience that will help you become the best version of yourself.
This episode of Manders Mindset dives into a story of resilience, growth, and unapologetic self-expression. Featuring the host of Autism Rocks and Rolls, Sam Mitchell. The conversation explores what it looks like to own your story, push past societal expectations, and build something powerful from a place of personal truth.
From overcoming bullying in school and navigating early diagnoses to launching a podcast and nonprofit as a teenager, Sam Mitchell opens up about the pivotal moments that shaped his path. Hear how a love for media, a refusal to people-please, and a strong sense of purpose turned challenges into motivation. It's a raw and honest look at what happens when someone decides to stop fitting in — and start standing out.
⏳ Episode Timeline & Highlights
[1:25] Early childhood experiences with ADHD, autism, and sensory sensitivities
[4:17] Discovering rock music and changing the relationship with sound
[7:41] Dealing with school bullying and the impact of one true friendship
[10:56] Launching a podcast in high school and learning through experience
[14:38] Avoiding burnout by expanding into speaking, events, and nonprofit work
[18:12] The powerful mindset shift away from people-pleasing
[23:10] Asking boldly, handling rejection, and the value of persistence
[27:20] Editing as a creative outlet and the joy of structured focus
[36:44] Prioritizing experiences over possessions and redefining what matters
[41:01] Legacy, leadership, and the law this guest would create for the world
If this episode moved you, don’t forget to rate, review, follow, and share Manders Mindset. Every listen helps spread the message of growth, authenticity, and shifting mindsets to shift lives.
Welcome to the Manders Mindset Podcast. Here you'll find both monologue and interviews of entrepreneurs, coaches, healers and a variety of other people when your host, amanda Russo, will discuss her own mindset and perspective and her guest's mindset and perspective on the world around us. Manders and her guests will help explain to you how shifting your mindset will shift your life.
Speaker 3:
Welcome back to Mandander's Mindset where we explore the power of shifting your mindset to shift your life. I'm here today with Sam Mitchell and he is the host of the podcast Autism Rocks and Rolls and I am so excited to be here with him today and we are going to delve down his journey. Thanks for joining me, sam. I ain't to be here with him today and we are going to delve down his journey. Thanks for joining me, sam.
Speaker 4:
I ain't gonna be here, buddy.
Speaker 3:
So can you take us down memory lane a little bit? Tell us about childhood upbringing.
Speaker 4:
Childhood, was getting born on July 21st 2002, and then pretty much getting diagnosed with ADHD off the bat. And then, also at four years old, I was diagnosed with autism just because I was showing the classic symptoms, such as not making eye contact when my name was being told and also not liking loud noises such as fireworks. But now I'm a pyromaniac, so it works well for me.
Speaker 3:
You're a? What maniac now, pyro, what is that? Just a guy who likes fireworks. Now, you didn't like fireworks before, but you do now.
Speaker 4:
Yep, just because of the noise level. I had sensory issues back then. I still do, to a point Now it's just mainly in the t-shirt format. I like my clothes getting wet because of the way it feels.
Speaker 3:
When did you notice the change in the sensory?
Speaker 4:
The change really came after I liked rock and roll music when I was growing up. That's what really helped me get the shift out of okay loud noises are really bad to oh loud noises are really cool.
Speaker 3:
So you started looking at it differently after enjoying hearing rock music.
Speaker 4:
Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 3:
And how did you discover rock music? When did you get into that?
Speaker 4:
I think I was listening, trying to find music to listen to on my headphones, and that's how I discovered it was just scrolling through the channels.
Speaker 3:
Can you tell us a little bit about schooling for you?
Speaker 4:
How education was. Well, let's see, the staff was great. The students stunk because of dealing with exclusion. I got bullied a lot, got signed back with pencils for no reason, so yay on that. And then I also wasn't really placed in a special education classroom. It was more of all right. I'm going to go to the resource room, which is a float pass, which means you would do the thing for the day, such as a lecture, a note taking. Then go to the resource room to get help for what you're doing, like help with your math homework.
Speaker 3:
Do you feel like that helped you?
Speaker 4:
Mm-hmm, I wouldn't make it through school if I didn't.
Speaker 3:
And now you said you dealt with a lot of bullying. Was there anything that helped you push through that?
Speaker 4:
The way I got through. It was just trying to ignore them and go through the day and trying to be around the one friend I didn't have. As much as I can.
Speaker 3:
The friend you said that you did have. How did you make that friend?
Speaker 4:
Kindergarten School. It was literally. He dropped his backpack. Let me friends, okay. And at the time, when he was a kid, we didn't have that social awareness of, oh, this might be a dangerous person.
Speaker 3:
And he wasn't.
Speaker 4:
And then you guys became friends and was he somebody you were friends with for a lot of time in school? Yeah, we still are. That's awesome. Uh, he's now a brother to me, so he's been sticking around me my whole life, shockinglyingly.
Speaker 3:
That's amazing, though, that you had support that you could lean on while in school.
Speaker 4:
It is amazing. I find it helpful.
Speaker 3:
Now I'm curious when did you start the podcast?
Speaker 4:
It started after I joined my high school's media club and I fell in love with it so much I decided to start my own podcast. I didn't wait until college to expand my media skills, so I decided to start my own, to learn on my own, and that was when Autism, Rocks and Rolls was born.
Speaker 3:
Great example is I never heard of Stream, yard or Riverside until I started the podcast.
Speaker 4:
Okay, and now you started the podcast. Were you still in high school? Yes, ma'am, I was let's see a junior.
Speaker 3:
So you were young.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, young blood, I guess.
Speaker 3:
And how long ago was that?
Speaker 4:
Well, I'm not a math guy, so you might do the math. So it was in 2019, so I guess I can do the math real quick.
Speaker 3:
About five years.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, I think I was about either 16 or 17.
Speaker 3:
So that's a long time Now. Not everybody does podcasting for that long. How have you been able to stick with it?
Speaker 4:
I've been able to stick with it. I've been able to stick with it because there's more to it. So it's not just a podcast, it's a nonprofit with a 501c3 federal corporation. There's a board member of four members of six. I'm an event planner in Indiana, which is where I'm from. We just got done with our breakfast with Santa last month. I'm also a keynote speaker done motivational speaking. I've spoken at Oklahoma, orlando, three times. One of the times actually is an event you're familiar with, podfest, and I've also spoken in Canada, stewart Florida and Washington DC. I think I've done keynote speaking in Daniels, west Virginia.
Speaker 3:
That's amazing. That's amazing. So you've been doing the podcast. You've been doing all this about five years now. As a podcast host myself, I know there's pod dating, so has anything helped you not give up on the podcast? Like you're also doing keynote, you're doing other opportunities. What made you keep up with the podcast? I think're also doing keynote. You're doing other opportunities. What made you keep up with the podcast? I?
Speaker 4:
think that's part of it is doing other opportunities, because it would be boring if I just did a podcast for me. I think we get a little old. So I think too is just coming up with innovative ideas and coming up with comparing stuff to autism that I know would have thought of, and I think with just me in particular, there's a lot of directions you can go with that topic.
Speaker 3:
That's true. Would you say you dealt with any difficulties with stoning the podcast?
Speaker 4:
Well, audio engineering is one. I'm not no audio engineer. So, trying to pull on the plugs and trying to figure out where the portals go, I had to call on my advisor from media club to be like hey, I want to come over here and set this up because I have no idea what I'm doing. I mean, I'm smart, but not that smart.
Speaker 3:
I gotcha, but again, you had that support system that you could lean on for support and to help you. That's really awesome. You know you mentioned on your podcast. I listened to an episode but you mentioned something about a pivot point in your in life and how we often have those yes, that was the fishing one, I remember that one.
Speaker 4:
Hey, I like fishing. You can't go wrong fishing in in the sea Not in the sea mainly, but right.
Speaker 4:
So I think, in life. What I was trying to say is we all have pivot points, which to me is moments where you have an aha. It's different for everybody. Yours could be when you realize you don't have to please someone to live a good life. That was mine. But then there are others. Your epiphany of my life is maybe it could be the simplest time of oh, you got to shape it this way and make a Mickey Mouse shaped pancake.
Speaker 3:
Now what helped you realize you don't have to please somebody.
Speaker 4:
Because it wasn't working for me and after 16 years of trying it I got fed up. So I said I'm going to change and I'm not going to please people. If you don't like it, the door's right there, I'm not going to block it. It's an enter and exit your choice.
Speaker 3:
I love that. It's an enter and exit. I love that, and did something happen for you to realize that it wasn't working?
Speaker 4:
I think it was just. As time goes on, it's like why am I doing this? There's no results from it, no happiness, it's just pure sad depression. And after 16 years of it, that's not to make a human go berserkers.
Speaker 3:
That makes a lot of sense. So you made that shift to stop people pleasing, just because it just wasn't working. A lot of people aren't able to make that shift that easily.
Speaker 4:
It wasn't easy. I mean it took 16 years. So of course it wasn't easy. But I had to took 16 years, so of course it wasn't easy, but I had to do something or I wouldn't have made it.
Speaker 3:
Makes sense, and what would you say that that helped you with the most?
Speaker 4:
Well, what's the question?
Speaker 3:
Like what did that help you with? Like stop stopping people pleasing. What did that help you with in your life? The question Like what did that help you with? Like stopping people pleasing what did that help you with in your life the most?
Speaker 4:
Oh, it helps me with my life because I can go on and do things and not sort of think of, oh, what's their thought of me? It's odd because, as much as I don't care, I do like to know Once upon a time, because I posted what you think of me on Snapchat and this was when I was Reminding you a High schooler, so Probably shouldn't have done that or Was wanting to know. It's really bad. I hear from someone who Didn't like me. Regardless, you're done ASF and it was like okay, because I got many things to worry about. Do you think I have time to worry about that one comment?
Speaker 3:
no, I, I like how you mentioned, like you don't care, but you, you know, I think a lot of us have that that intrinsic like, even when we we step away from the people pleasing, like that mindset, some of us still have that curiosity of like, what do people think? You know, like we're, we're human beings, you know.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, it mind blows me. People are scared to ask it really does mind blow me. Why does it mind blow you, that people are scared to ask.
Speaker 3:
It really does mind blow me. Why does it mind blow you that people are scared to ask?
Speaker 4:
Because the least thing I can say is no, I don't like you or I got called at DAF, but what happened from it? Nothing, that's true. Nothing literally happens if you get called dumb AF. Nothing happens, other than you made one enemy. Who cares? There's a whole other people who say you're smart AF.
Speaker 3:
That's so true. I love that you know something. I say that's a little similar, a little different, but like, if you don't ask, the answer is always no. You know, sometimes I like even people pleasing. I struggled at times in my life with asking for time off requests or at a job, or asking for certain things, and I heard somebody once say, like if you don't ask, the answer is automatically no because you, you don't, you didn't give the person the opportunity to tell you know.
Speaker 4:
Right, I agree. That's why I think it's because I became so successful with this show. Successful with this show, I mean, that's why I got these guests I've had, like Mick Foley, kane, jake the Snake, amanda Mamahanna from AGT, and the others are wrestlers. I forgot to mention that because I literally was probably one of the most persuasive people you ever met on it, but also had the guts to literally ask do you want to come on?
Speaker 3:
And so many times people don't. Is there something that helped you have that courage?
Speaker 4:
I think it was the fact of in sophomore year of school I was kind of an arrogant person and if you didn't like me I would have said screw you, screw you. A lot of it has left me. Believe me, I'm not as arrogant as I was. Not as much anymore, maybe like 2% still there, but not bad. But I'm still not afraid to tell you screw you.
Speaker 3:
I gotcha. Okay, no, that makes sense. You know, I think it limits a lot of people when they don't, you know, because the answer is going to be no if you don't say anything. Well, if you don't ask, or if you don't tell somebody your thoughts, you know, like you don't know what they have to say, like it's not going to allow you to develop anything further, you know.
Speaker 4:
Right, I mean the worst the person can say is no and nothing happens. Literally no one dies, no one's behind bars, no one's bleeding, so why not?
Speaker 3:
No, that's, that's so true. That's so true. Now you've won and you made it to the top 10 in the People's Choice Podcast Awards, which is so cool. How was that?
Speaker 4:
Well, I just learned about it through my mom telling me she was like hey, you made the top 10 in the People's Choice Podcast Awards. Okay, I didn't realize how big that was, though. I didn't realize it was a big accomplishment because I thought a lot of other people made it. I didn't realize there was just a certain amount of people making it oh okay, yeah, I don't, I don't think that's a big popular thing my bad no, but that's amazing.
Speaker 3:
That's amazing. Congratulations on that. Thank you that amazing.
Speaker 4:
Oh, do you want me to say that Mom? She's making me say I made the Dean's List. My mother's saying that, not me, that's amazing.
Speaker 3:
You made the Dean's List. Where do you go to school?
Speaker 4:
I'm in VU. I'm in my last semester, though Currently I'm on break. I'm going back next year and I'll be finishing up broadcasting to get an associate's degree.
Speaker 3:
That's amazing. That's amazing. Congratulations. Now. Did you always know broadcasting was what you wanted to go into?
Speaker 4:
No, oddly enough, before it was hospitality For our travel agency. One of my hobbies is traveling, so for vacation I've been to Texas, florida, washington DC, once on a class trip, fishing trip in Mississippi and then, because I'm from the Midwest, I've obviously been around the Midwestern states like Ohio, kentucky and Tennessee.
Speaker 3:
OK. So how and when did the switch come from hospitality to broadcasting?
Speaker 4:
Well, the switch came from during the media club because I found something I was better at. But now, looking back at what my life was like as a child, I think I realized back in fifth grade there was a school news program we had at the school, which is actually where I'm at now. I'm at my old school because my mom's a teacher and our internet is not cooperating with us sometimes currently when it comes to this platform in particular. But we had the school program called Eastern Green Middle School News and we always did parts of broadcasting in that area and I didn't realize it until looking back on it.
Speaker 3:
Okay, and the media club when did you get involved in that?
Speaker 4:
High school year sophomore.
Speaker 3:
Okay, gotcha, and so then you realized you were interested in that. Was there something about media and broadcasting that you enjoyed?
Speaker 4:
It was the editing and the fact that it was so cool that you could take away a sound that is unnecessary. I mean, it's going to sound really funny and maybe disgusting at the same time, but it's hilarious in my view, and you can tell, you'll see, because my child sense of humor is coming out. But if a fart noise was to happen right now on Zoom, basically that could be edited out. And I find that mind-blowing that you can edit it out, because in videos you clearly can't do that.
Speaker 3:
That's true, that's true, and so you were fascinated by that. Okay, wow, was there anything else about the editing process that you really enjoyed?
Speaker 4:
that's one, but then also the steps. It made sense and it just clicked. The only thing I can say about it is how much sense it made, and I have ADHD too, so I have the chance to focus on something to me that is logical, okay, and you can actually finally sit still for once. Let's put it that way.
Speaker 3:
Okay, because you were following the steps.
Speaker 4:
Mm-hmm and one of the steps is sitting still, and it's something I can manage. I have terrible ADHD.
Speaker 3:
So it's a rare occasion you see me sitting still. Wow Okay, was there anything you didn't like about media and broadcasting?
Speaker 4:
Well, technology is an ass that I get. Because sometimes it's completely out of our control and it works with you or it doesn't. That's the one part I still do not like about broadcasting Is when technology does not want to cooperate with you.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, no, I know I want to cooperate with you. Yeah, no, I know I want to transition a tad. And now you mentioned, when we talked off air, that somebody will find you interesting. Is there something that made you realize this?
Speaker 4:
Well, I mean, I think it just came true, because at first I was one of those people who thought well, it seems in my life only a few people are going to find me interesting. One was a friend in school that I told you about previously, and the other was my cousin, who we're still friends and buddies today, despite the fact he's in Tennessee. I wish I could see him more, but we still keep in touch. But then turn 16, more people found me interesting. Okay, I'm thinking, well, that's it. I'm going to Ivy Tech now to start general studies. Not as much people found me interesting, but there were that did. Okay, now we're going to Vincennes University. Whoa, holy moly. Now people really do find me interesting A lot more in college compared to my other times in my lifespan.
Speaker 3:
Okay. So when you went to college, you started noticing that and experiencing that, so you felt that shift.
Speaker 4:
Yeah, mostly in college. I had that through my whole life. But if we're talking about numbers, it was more college, more school, and then just dims down From Now to you know being broke. We're reversing the order a little bit.
Speaker 3:
But I gotcha, I gotcha. And now you also mentioned to me how those with autism are just as capable as the person to your left or your right. Was this a specific moment that made you realize that?
Speaker 4:
well, I just think it's the truth. I mean, it's so stupid that there are people with autism who get ridiculed for doing nothing and yet society even hasn't given them a chance. Are you kidding me? That's not fair nor right. I don't care who you are, everybody should have a chance period yeah, no, I, I completely agree you don't come out of the womb and say, oh, this person doesn't get a chance. That's not how this role works, or at least america no, that's so true.
Speaker 3:
Have you heard of a man named jay shetty? No, ma'am, I'm not he's a motivational speaker, he's an author, he's got a podcast. His podcast is called on purpose. He ends his podcast with two segments and I end my podcast with those as well okay the first segment is the many sides to us, and there's five questions that need to be answered in one word each.
Speaker 4:
One word each. Well, because I'm talking that?
Speaker 3:
might be a little hard, but I'll try. What is one word someone who was meeting you for the first time would use to describe you as?
Speaker 4:
Mysterious Interesting.
Speaker 3:
What is one word someone who knows you extremely well would use to describe you?
Speaker 4:
Maybe a thinker.
Speaker 3:
What is one word you'd use to describe yourself?
Speaker 4:
I would say a kind guy. That's what I try to do.
Speaker 3:
What is one word that if someone didn't like you or agree with your mindset would use to describe you as?
Speaker 4:
Probably. Hmm, that's a good one. I'm going to have to play a Jeopardy theme song for that one for a little bit. I would say probably Not nice words, but the un-nicest word I can think of, if that's even a word, is scared probably.
Speaker 3:
What is one word you're trying to embody right now?
Speaker 4:
Leader.
Speaker 3:
I like that. The second segment is the final five and these can be answered in a sentence what is the best advice you've heard or received?
Speaker 4:
The best advice I've heard or received. Well, let's see, it's honest. I think it's just true. It's from a song. Let it die by three days, grace. It's not fair when you see I didn't try and it's so aggravating to experience it over and over again, but I can only do what I can do so why is that the best advice?
Speaker 4:
I think it's just true, really, and I believe it's probably the best advice I've got, because I think it was back to finding someone interesting, because it's not fair. But then, as a second part, it's like I just don't care about you anymore. It's saying, okay, I hit the brick, but do I care? No, I just don't care about you anymore and I'm moving my butt on. Am I hurt? Yeah, but I'm going still. Who cares? Yeah?
Speaker 3:
I get that. What is the worst advice you've heard or received?
Speaker 4:
Well, that's from people in general in society next to me, when I was having meltdowns. Because of sensory noises, he needs a spanking. Hmm, of sensory noises, he needs a spanking Mmm.
Speaker 3:
What is something that you used to value that you no longer value?
Speaker 4:
I would say this might be a cliche one, but items Like if it was Christmas time right now, if it was today, december 25th 2024, for Christmas gifts. I always like to have experiences instead of items.
Speaker 3:
Okay, was there a certain time when you shifted and you wanted experiences versus items?
Speaker 4:
I think it's just not a certain time, it's just as I've gotten older.
Speaker 3:
I gotcha, if you could describe what you would want your legacy to be, as if someone was reading it, what would you want it to say?
Speaker 4:
I would say my legacy could be just a helping hand. That's the goal of this podcast. At the end of the day is really my head down still. It's not about money. It's all about trying to change a population that, in my view, gets ignored way and I mean way too much.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, if you could create one law in the world that everyone had to follow, what would it be?
Speaker 4:
The law would be don't share a coke the truth. Tell it how it is.
Speaker 3:
Why would that be the law?
Speaker 4:
Because I feel like the rule, despite it being maybe people's feelings getting hurt, I'd rather not. I'd rather have their feelings get hurt Because, from my personal perspective, you shouldn't hide what you're thinking. The truth needs to come out at some point Because, let's be honest, if you don't tell it, it's going to come out eventually. It usually most of the time does.
Speaker 3:
That is so true. It's really true. Do you have any final words of wisdom, anything else you want to share with the listeners? No presser, I do just like to always give it back to the guest to have the final word oh, that's fine, you're good.
Speaker 4:
I think that the world could just be nice and not act so stupid. I think we get along so much better, don't you think?
Speaker 3:
I do, I do. You know, something my grandma used to always say to me was if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
Speaker 4:
Well, I've heard that too.
Speaker 3:
Thank you so much for speaking with me. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 4:
You're welcome. Thank you for your time.
Speaker 3:
Of course, thank you for your time. Of course, thank you for yours, and thank you guys for tuning in to another episode of Mander's Mindset.
Speaker 2:
In case no one told you today, I'm proud of you, I'm rooting for you and you got this, as always. If you enjoyed the show, I would really appreciate it if you would leave me a five star rating, leave a review and share it with anyone you think would benefit from this. And don't forget you are only one mindset. Shift away from shifting your life. Thanks, guys, until next time.
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