The Breakout – Unleashing Personal Growth
A #1 Self-Improvement podcast, The Breakout tells incredible stories of personal growth with the smart, hilarious thought leaders from Abbracci Group.Every day, in big and small ways, we put ourselves in boxes. From jobs to relationships, to entire belief systems, many of us are living by rules that someone else wrote for us. On The Breakout, talent specialists and the founders of Abbracci Group, Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, dive into the extraordinary stories of people overcoming self-doubt, pushing boundaries, and finding the courage and confidence to get what they want and achieve the success they were destined for. Every two weeks, our hosts sit down with inspiring change makers and experts who share ways that you can break through boundaries and shift your life into bold new territory, fostering personal development and a growth mindset. With a ton of humor and lots of care, Keri and Kelly also bring their own insights as change experts to every conversation. Their number one desire is that you do whatever the hell you want, and on The Breakout, Kelly and Keri prove you can escape expectations; best of all, they show you how.Each episode is a lesson in living courageously. The show covers topics on self help, leadership, personal development, building success, setting boundaries, growing confidence, mindset change, overcoming self doubt, and knowing your worth. From huge transformations to quiet shifts, The Breakout highlights why every change matters.The Breakout has charted #1 in ‘Self-Improvement’, #1 in ‘Education’, and #7 in ‘All Podcasts’ for good reason. It’s chock full of impactful guests. From awe-inspiring change-makers and innovative leaders to renegade rule-breakers, Celeste Headlee, Robin Landa, Erica Rooney, Tyler Nehila, Maximina Juson, Liz Alterman, Danielle Cobo, Clint Hatton, , Rob Cross, Jennifer Pestikas, Dr. Brian Davidson have all graced the mic.Our Hosts:Meet Dr. Keri Ohlrich. With 20+ years on the front lines of the HR field, it’s safe to say that Keri is considered an expert. As co-founder of Abbracci Group and the co-author of ‘The Way of the HR Warrior’, she continues her mission to share insights from these experiences with others whose passion is to be the best in the HR arena. Keri’s professional roles have led to deep insight and expertise in: leadership and organization development, strategic talent planning and programs, defining and developing culture, change management, team building, employee development, engagement and retention and HR department diagnostics.And, meet Kelly Guenther. Co-founder of Abbracci Group, Kelly brings a holistic approach to the table when it comes to HR, focusing not only on the organization but on the individuals who create the team. Her unique leadership style allows for opportunities to diagnose needs and offer solutions through a deep understanding of the people, processes, and practices involved. So, who is Abbracci Group? Abbracci Group is a boutique, results-driven, unconventional coaching, HR management and consulting firm focused on getting the best out of people. The company is on a mission to improve the environment of organizations which in turn improves the lives of employees. We help leaders and teams develop increased self-awareness, strong leadership and team-building skills. We transform HR professionals into HR warriors who thrive on creating happier, healthier organizations. We apply a holistic approach when developing sustainable practices and nurturing organization culture. Connect with Abbracci Group at https://abbraccigroup.com/Keri and Kelly’s new book, Whatever the Hell You Want – An Escape Plan to Break Out of Life’s Little Boxes and Live Free From Expectations, is out now! Find it on Amazon by copying and pasting this link: https://www.amazon.com/Whatever-Hell-You-Want-Expectations/dp/1637560400Dr. Keri Ohlrich’s book, The Way of the HR Warrior is available now.Do you have a story our listeners will love? Apply to be a guest on The Breakout at: https://abbraccigroup.com/podcast/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Renowned neuroscientist, sex therapist and relationship specialist, Dr. Nan Wise believes we're in the middle of a pleasure crisis. Whether it's the “sexual recession”, or the rise in anxiety and depression, Dr. Wise says that joy and pleasure are on the decline, and that’s signalling a greater problem. “If we're losing connection with sex, which is one of life's greatest pleasures for most people”, she tells us “ there's somethin...
Some people can see things that no one else can. Artist Heather Eck is one of those people. Heather has synesthesia, a fascinating neurological condition where a person experiences sight, touch, taste, or sounds in a second unrelated sense. They might see music or taste words.
For Heather, this extraordinary ability means she can see people's energy and emotions as vibrant colors. When she realized her gift, Heather began to pai...
Let’s be honest, 2025 has been tough. There’ve been some scary, challenging times both at home and around the world. So, here at The Breakout, we decided that heading into the holidays and the end of this often difficult year, we need some warmth. Right now, we need to hear from strong people who've done amazing things.
That’s why, on this episode we're bringing you some of our most inspirational guests from 2025. These are the ...
“I found myself at the kitchen table, with a Glock in my mouth trying to end my life.”
Eric Donoho’s story isn’t easy to hear, but thankfully it does have a great ending. A highly decorated US Army veteran, he served a grueling 14 months in Iraq, experiencing intense trauma and grief along the way. But when Eric hit rock bottom, and sat down ready to take his own life, something got in the way. Today, he tells that s...
For years, Dr. Deborah Heiser studied the pathology of aging, immersed in the nitty gritty of everything that can go wrong with your body as you get older. Until one day someone challenged her to find out what on earth we have to look forward to.
And what she found surprised her.
”Honestly, there was a huge amount of research that was out there showing what we have to look forward to, but nobody was talking about it.” That’...
Before sports broadcaster Jen Mueller could break into sideline reporting with the Seattle Seahawks, win her Emmy, and score a Super Bowl ring (yep, she’s got one), she had to bust through some significant gender barriers.
She pushed past that male-dominated world and into a pretty hostile locker room, and it taught her some things. “You learn how to stand your ground, how to speak up, but more importantly, how to make the mos...
Sometimes making lasting change means stripping everything back to the core, and Shelly Lefkoe knows all about that.
Shelly’s work at the Lefkoe Institute has helped tens of thousands of clients make profound life changes. Her method is all about identifying and then eliminating the beliefs that hold people back.
“Beliefs are like a box”, she explains, “They shut out possibilities. When you eliminate that box or th...
This week we have a bonus episode for you. It's a great big gift from Dr. Keri and Kelly: an audio chapter from their book Whatever the Hell You Want: An Escape Plan to Break Out of Life's Little Boxes and Live Free from Expectations, where they introduce their BREAK model for change. So sit back and enjoy some of this fantastic guide for Breakouts of all kinds!
About The Breakout
“The only one that cares about the extra five pounds you put on is you…Everybody in your life…should want to enjoy your presence and your photos.” For many women, having their picture taken is an excruciating experience; it’s something they’d do anything to avoid. That intense self-criticism is something that portrait photographer Elizabeth Snyder wanted to address. So, a few years back, she shifted to a unique speciality. Wo...
Join us for a bonus episode this month, as we share Keri and Kelly's appearance on Notes on Resilience, hosted by Manya Chylinski!
What if the secret to effective leadership wasn't having all the answers, but rather creating space for genuine human connection? In this enlightening conversation with Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, co-founders of the Abbracci Group, we explore the transformative power of compassion in th...
Trystan Reese is a dad to three great kids, he has a loving partner, and a fulfilling career. It's a beautiful, somewhat typical life. But as a transgender man, there's nothing typical about how he got here.
How he grew his family – from an unexpected adoption, to his very public trans pregnancy – is a huge part of how Trystan does his LGBTQ+ advocacy work. And in this episode, we hear Trystan’s family story, how he pu...
Join us for a bonus episode this month, as we share Keri and Kelly's appearance on Season of Stuck, hosted by Deanna deBara!
Summary
In this episode of Season of Stuck, Deanna sits down with Kelly Guenther and Dr. Keri Ohlrich, co-hosts of The Breakout, authors of Whatever the Hell You Want, and co-founders of the Abbracci Group. They'll discuss what it means to get unstuck and how to navigate the fear, resistance, and c...
I had a budding career as an attorney. I was making more money than I knew how to spend. I was living in the Upper East Side. Everything looked promising.
On paper, it seemed like Justin Maffett had achieved the life he'd always wanted, but instead of enjoying it, he felt trapped in a career that was making him miserable.
Then in 2020, COVID lockdowns forced Justin into a state of physical and emotional isolation, and that ...
Join us for a bonus episode this month, as we share Keri and Kelly's appearance on Hotter Than Ever, with Erin Keating!
Summary
Is entrepreneurship truly a solo journey, or would you rather start a business with a friend? For Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther, co-founders of the leadership and HR consultancy the Abbracci Group and co-hosts of “The Breakout” podcast, the answer is clear: collaboration is key. Toget...
“I often say that creativity is rooted in refusal. That you refuse to accept that the world as it is, is just fine as it is, because you recognize that the world as it is can be altered”.
Dr. Tasha Golden wants everyone to see the extraordinary power in creativity. Tasha is a behavioral scientist, and a leading expert in how creativity drives transformative change. And she should know.
Because before Tasha became...
“I really fought against this identity of being a patient - being someone who's just expected to wither away and to rely on doctors”.
When Kim Rahir was hit with a life-altering diagnosis, she knew she needed to take control. After a terrifying episode of paralysis, she learned that she had Multiple Sclerosis - and her life changed dramatically. But, facing frightening changes in her body, and lifelong drug treatments, K...
“You can't think your way out of a body problem…You have to address what's happening in the body and the brain before you can actually take those steps forward”. Deanna DeBara knows all about feeling “stuck”. And, if you're a human navigating life right now, you probably do too. Being stuck is that odd sense of not wanting to stay where you are, but not being able to – or knowing how to – move forward. It’s something that man...
“While I was in the hospital…people started sending flowers and the biggest bouquet of flowers was from my work. And that is a metaphor for how my life was going”. The week before she turned 50, Erin Keating ended up in the hospital, and nearly died from COVID. That’s when a lot of things in her life became crystal clear.
At the time, Erin was the picture of success – but she was also telling herself a lot of lies. It...
“It's very easy to say Gen Z’s and millennials are demanding, they're needy, but if you really look at the core of what they want, they're basic human needs that we all want.”
There's a generational divide in the work place that Madeline Miller wants to change. Madeline is a career coach who focuses specifically on Gen Z and millennial clients, who she says are entering the workforce with an entirely novel set of challenges.
Madeline...
“We can look at fertility, we can look at cognition, memory, the nervous system, sleep, really there’s not a single system of the body that yoga and meditation don’t have have evidence to support for helping you function.” Ann Swanson has written the book on the science of yoga. Literally. After dealing with chronic pain and anxiety throughout her life, Ann tried yoga and meditation. Reluctant at first, once she started seeing real...
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