The Shadows Podcast: Emotional Intelligence Through Pop Culture
The Shadows Podcast blends powerful guest stories with deep dives into emotional intelligence. Hosted by a United States Air Force veteran, we explore the emotional triggers, challenges, and breakthroughs that shape our lives. From raw, real-life experiences to pop culture breakdowns, each episode helps you grow through what you go through—shining light on the shadows we all face.
Episodes
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...
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 th...
🎄 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 ...
🎄 Elf & Emotional Intelligence 🎄
What if Elf isn’t just a holiday classic—but a surprisingly honest lesson in emotional intelligence?
In this episode of The Shadows Podcast, we explore Elf through the lens of avoidance, emotional safety, and the courage to choose joy. Beneath the humor and nostalgia is a story about how people shut down, what helps them open up, and why staying emotionally available is harder—and braver—than it...
🎄 CHRISTMAS VACATION & EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Why do the holidays push our buttons more than any other time of year?
Why do expectations explode, emotions boil, and perfectly good people end up snapping like Clark Griswold under 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights?
This week, The Shadows Podcast dives into the timeless chaos of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation through the lens of Emotional Intelligence, uncovering why...
The holidays are here, and there’s no better way to kick off the season than revisiting one of the greatest Christmas movies ever made — Home Alone. But this time, we’re not just watching Kevin defend his house with paint cans, micro machines, and blowtorches. We’re diving deep into what this classic can teach us about Emotional Intelligence, resilience, family dynamics, and how to navigate chaos with clarity.
In today’s 20-minute e...
Scrooged and Emotional Intelligence | The Shadows Podcast
The 1988 holiday classic Scrooged isn’t just a funny, chaotic, Bill-Murray-fueled Christmas movie—it’s one of the most emotionally rich, psychologically layered holiday stories ever put on screen. Behind the sarcasm, the ghosts, the TV-network chaos, and the unforgettable final monologue is a message that hits deeper than most people ever realize: emotional intelligence is th...
In this special Thanksgiving-season episode of The Shadows Podcast, we break down the emotional intelligence inside Planes, Trains & Automobiles through three powerful lenses: gratitude, grief, and those unforgettable shower curtain rings.
What begins as a holiday comedy becomes a masterclass in human behavior — from emotional outbursts and ego clashes to empathy, perspective, and the quiet grief people carry behind the scenes. ...
The beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has dominated hip-hop headlines for years — but beneath the diss tracks, viral moments, and lyrical chess moves lies something much deeper: a story about persona, pride, emotional triggers, and the masks we all wear.
In this week’s episode of The Shadows Podcast, Tripp “Bodhi” Bodenheimer and Miguel take a psychological deep dive into the most dissected feud of our generation — breaking down...
In this episode of The Shadows Podcast, host Tripp Bodenheimer unwraps the timeless lessons hidden within Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Through the lens of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), we explore how this stop-motion classic mirrors our own struggles with purpose, awareness, and balance.
💀 Jack Skellington’s search for meaning reflects our tendency to chase reinvention—whether through new jobs, roles, or relationship...
🎙️ The Shadows Podcast welcomes a special guest — US Air Force retired and host of the Passing the Torch Podcast, Martin Foster.
In this powerful conversation, Martin reflects on his journey through military service and life after the uniform. From leading in high-pressure environments to finding purpose in transition, he shares stories that shaped his character and lessons that continue to inspire others. We also discover the ...
🎙️ Shadows Podcast – Chris Ferrell: Resilience in the Face of Adversity
In this powerful episode, we sit down with United States Air Force veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Chris Ferrell. From his early days answering the call to serve, to the life-altering blast that changed everything, Chris opens up about his journey through trauma, recovery, and the rediscovery of purpose.
This episode is more than a military story—it’s about ...
🎙️ Episode 182: Gridiron Gang & Leadership
What does Gridiron Gang teach us about leadership, emotional intelligence, and second chances? In this powerful episode of The Shadows Podcast, Miguel Estrella steps up for his first solo breakdown, using the story of Coach Sean Porter (played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and his juvenile football team as a blueprint for leadership under pressure.
Through the lens of four “downs,” Migu...
🎙 New Episode: “Any Given Sunday – Inches of Emotional Intelligence”
What can a late-90s Oliver Stone football classic teach us about leadership, ego, and self-care? A lot more than you think. In this Audible Series installment of The Shadows Podcast, we break down the Emotional Intelligence lessons buried in the chaos, drama, and famous locker room speeches of Any Given Sunday.
🏈 Play #1 – The Leadership Balancing Act
When your...
🎙️ Episode 180: Rocky Bleier – You Couldn’t Script This
What happens when life calls an audible you never saw coming?
In this powerful kickoff to our Audible series, we’re joined by one of the NFL’s most inspirational figures—Rocky Bleier. A 4x Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, and a national champion at Notre Dame, Rocky’s story goes far beyond the field.
📍 From being drafte...
Why does being left on read trigger you?
Why do you feel drained after “just five minutes” of scrolling?
And why do you compare your real life to someone else’s filtered highlight reel?
This isn’t just another episode about social media—it’s an emotional intelligence wake-up call.
In this episode, we break down:
The emotional impact of being unfollowed
The grip of comparison culture
The cycle of doomscrolling
The silent weight ...
This isn’t a wrestling story.
It’s a story about you.
About the expectations others place on us.
The roles we’re told to play.
And the emotions we bury just to keep going.
In this episode of The Shadows Podcast, we take a powerful, emotionally intelligent look at the legacy of the Von Erich family—not through the lens of tragedy, but through the pressure of persona.
We explore:
The danger of conditional love and perfor...
This week on The Shadows Podcast, we rewind to one of the most controversial acts in music history — Milli Vanilli — but through a very different lens: Emotional Intelligence.
They were global superstars… until they weren’t.
Vilified for lip-syncing, stripped of awards, and mocked by the same public that once praised them.
But here’s the twist:
Everything they were crucified for in the early ‘90s — carefully curated image, polished per...
🎙️ Iron Man and Emotional Intelligence
📅 Episode 175 | The Shadows Podcast
🧠 PERSONa Month Series
Who has higher emotional intelligence: Tony Stark or Iron Man? 🤔 Suit up for an in-depth emotional intelligence breakdown of one of the most complex heroes in the Marvel Universe.
In this episode, host Tripp Bodenheimer takes you on a journey from the cave to the gauntlet—exploring how Tony Stark transforms from a narcissistic billiona...
🎙️ EP175 - Emotional Intelligence in Labyrinth: Lessons from the Goblin King’s Maze
This week on The Shadows Podcast, we step into the glittery, twisted, and emotionally rich world of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. What looks like an ‘80s fantasy cult classic with goblins, puppets, and David Bowie’s glam-rock charisma is actually packed with timeless emotional intelligence lessons.
Through Sarah’s surreal journey to rescue her baby brother...
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