Air-Check Your Life

So You Married a Human: Practical Wisdom for Real Relationships with Jackie Kelly

In this episode, Mathew sits down with relationship expert and author Jackie Kelley to explore the ups and downs of marriage through a refreshingly honest and humorous lens.

Drawing from her own 12-year relationship and countless mistakes along the way, Jackie shares actionable strategies for improving communication, tackling conflict, and breaking ...

Explore the real value of sharing your grief journey with Jill McMahon and Mathew Blades in this honest, educational conversation. Learn why opening up matters and how it can help you and those around you.

• The difference between "trauma dumping" and genuine sharing

• Practical ways to start talking about grief, even if it’s hard

• Why sharing your story is crucial for healing and resilience

• How to respond supportively whe...

Discover what it means to "live F.R.E.S.H" with Frank Kitchen and how you can apply this powerful mindset to boost your life and leadership. On this episode, we dig into practical tools and real-life strategies that keep you moving forward, not standing still.

• Why being “fresh” matters and how to avoid feeling stale

• How your inner circle impacts your growth and excitement

• The importance of honest self-reflection and see...

Ever wondered how many Mondays you have left—and what you’re doing with them? In this episode, Mathew Blades and Jodi Wellman break down the “4,000 Mondays” perspective and challenge you to rethink your life’s priorities.

• The surprising math behind how many weeks you’ll likely live

• Why facing death is the ultimate motivator for self-improvement

• How to spot your “pregrets” (regrets waiting to happen) and act before it’s ...

Does grief or loss actually make us better people? In this episode, Matthew Blades and Jill McMahon dive deep into the transformative power of hardship, sharing real stories and practical advice.

• How catastrophic loss can reshape your perspective and personal growth

• The importance of validating your pain and leaning into the grief process

• Why building community and connection is essential for healing

• The myth that tra...

In this episode, hosts Mathew Blades and Cortney McDermott explore sustainability through the lens of personal growth and deep self-awareness. Inspired by Tolstoy’s quote, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, no one thinks of changing himself,” they discuss the power of noticing what’s working, what’s not, and the importance of tuning inward rather than chasing external results.

Cortney shares personal stories on moving from r...

Struggling with anxiety and looking for real solutions that don't involve quick fixes? In this episode, Mathew Blades and Dr. Anna Marie Frank break down the root causes of anxiety and offer practical strategies for calming your nervous system.

• The rising rate of anxiety across all ages and what it looks like today

• Personal stories about turning away from alcohol, pills, and cannabis as Band-Aids for anxiety

• The importa...

Avoiding tough conversations with ourselves is something most people struggle with, but learning to face them can change everything. In this episode, Mathew Blades and Jill McMahon dig into why it's essential to get real, shed old habits, and ask yourself the right questions.

• Why pain, change, and uncertainty are unavoidable parts of life

• The mindset of people who don’t avoid hard conversations and what they know

• How av...

This episode of AirCheck Your Life dives into the Awareness-Control Matrix, showing how metacognition boosts your relationships, decision-making, and emotional intelligence. Join Mathew Blades and Dr. Dave as they break down how to move from reactivity to response in everyday life.

• Quick recap of Quadrants 1, 2, and 3 for understanding automatic vs. intentional behavior

• What it really means to live in Quadrant 4: awarenes...

What sustainability really means

In this episode, Mathew Blades and Cortney McDermott dive into the real meaning of sustainability, beyond the buzzword. Courtney shares her personal journey as a leader in corporate responsibility and reveals why traditional definitions often fall short.

The conversation shifts from environmental policies to a deeply personal perspective: true sustainability begins with the ability to sustain your...

In this episode of AirCheck Your Life, Mathew and Jill dive into why it's important not to comment on things you don't fully understand, especially when it comes to grief. With special insights from Harry Styles, the conversation explores how judgment around grief does more harm than good.

Key topics covered:

• Why people often judge others’ grieving processes and how common this is

• Harry Styles' honest perspective on publi...

In this episode of Dr. Dave and Mathew Blades dig deep into why the need to be “right” can keep us trapped in the same old patterns.

Using their AIRCHECK framework, they break down “Quadrant 3,” a state of low awareness but high control, where rigid thinking and emotional avoidance drive behaviors that damage relationships and stifle growth.

Dr. Dave shares practical insights on spotting unconscious rules and identity defenses th...

In this heartfelt episode, Mathew Blades opens up about the loss of a beloved uncle, and the duo explores what it means to permit ourselves to feel, without compartmentalizing pain or rushing through difficult moments.

Cortney McDermott guides a grounding meditation centered on collective healing, reminding us of the importance of connection and the safety found in shared experiences. Together, they discuss the beauty of honoring...

In this kickoff episode of "Air Check Your Life," the evolution of the long-running "Learn From People Who Lived It" host, Mathew Blades, welcomes returning guest expert Dr. Anna Marie Frank. Together, they introduce a practical framework for self-reflection inspired by lessons from the broadcasting world: What’s working for you, what needs tweaking, and what isn’t serving you anymore?

Dr. Anna Marie Frank dives into the fascinat...

Advance Your Career Without Sacrificing Your Personal Life with Eva

In this episode, Mathew Blades is joined by Eva, a high-performance coach from the Bay Area, to tackle one of today’s toughest questions: How can you advance your career without losing yourself or your relationships in the process?

Eva shares her own story of burnout and the near-loss of her marriage to illustrate why “doing it all” isn’t sustainable for high-ach...

When Someone You Love Is Dying: Anticipatory Grief with Jill McMahon

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The four stages of anticipatory grief and how they differ from conventional grief

• How to navigate the emotions of loss before it happens, from acceptance and reflection to rehearsal and imagining life without your loved one

• Practical advice for mending relationships and preparing for inevitable goodbyes

Mathew Blade...

I Know Better, Why Can’t I Change? with Dr. Dave

In this episode, Mathew Blades and Dr. Dave dive into the frustrating experience of knowing what you “should” do, yet feeling stuck in old habits and emotional responses. Drawing on neuroscience concepts like kindling theory, Dr. Dave explains why our brains default to familiar patterns, even when we want to change. Together, they explore five core reasons for this struggle: emotio...

Join hosts Mathew Blades and Courtney McDermott as they explore the powerful concept of “frequency over force” and why shifting your internal state, rather than pushing harder, is the key to meaningful transformation. Drawing on neuroscience, personal stories, and practical techniques, Courtney McDermott explains how brainwave frequencies impact our stress and fulfillment, and why simply “forcing it” leads to exhaustion and dissa...

Let’s Air-Check Your Life with Mathew Blades

In this solo episode, Mathew Blades invites listeners to “air-check” their lives using a proven framework from his decades in radio. Instead of just making changes at random, Mathew encourages reflection on three core questions: What are you getting right? What’s going okay but could be better with a tweak? And what’s actively holding you back?

With relatable stories and down-to-earth ...