Play Beats Fear

Come and listen to our Host, Candace Gish, as she chats with inspiring guest Dr. Michelle Hastie Thompson for our "Victory Over Fear" Podcast Mini-Series.This powerful series explores what it truly means to move forward despite uncertainty, self-doubt, and life's challenges. Through authentic conversations, personal stories, and practical wisdom, we uncover how courage is built one step at a time. Fear may be loud, but it doesn't have to have the final say.Together, we'll discover how healing, faith, resilience, and action can help us overcome the barriers that keep us stuck. Whether you're facing a major life transition, stepping into a new opportunity, or simply learning to trust yourself again, these conversations will encourage you to embrace bravery and move confidently toward your purpose.Join us as we celebrate the strength found in vulnerability, the growth that comes from taking risks, and the victories that happen when we choose courage over fear.Author of The Weight Loss Shift, The Chakra Secret, Have Your Cake and Be Happy, Too, and One Throw at a TimeDr. Michelle Hastie Thompson is a researcher, speaker, and creator of the HUMAN™ framework, a model that helps people understand why connection is essential for well-being, confidence, and sustainable performance. Known to many as “Cornhole Meesh,” she works at the intersection of psychology, play, and human connection, helping individuals and organizations reconnect to what makes them feel grounded, alive, and supported.She commentates professional cornhole, creates courses, leads coaching experiences, and designs team-based connection events that use play and shared experience to build trust, presence, and belonging. Her work focuses on practical, human ways to restore focus, emotional regulation, and resilience in a world that often pulls people away from themselves and each other.Michelle lives in California with her husband, Nick, and their son, Rome, where most of her best ideas still begin in the backyard, one throw at a time. https://www.cornholemeesh.com/ https://www.instagram.com/cornholemeesh/https://www.facebook.com/michellehastiethompsonWe reconnect with Dr. Michelle Thompson and follow her surprising path from psychology and wellness work into the world of competitive cornhole and community building. We explore how play lowers fear, rebuilds belonging after loss, and helps us loosen the grip of control when life feels uncertain.• Dr. Michelle Thompson’s work in cornhole performance psychology• Why cornhole creates belonging through low barriers and easy conversation• What motivation looks like when an activity is genuinely fun• How COVID pushed cornhole into the spotlight on ESPN• The research journey from PhD dissertation to “One Throw at a Time”• Losing a home in a 2018 fire and rebuilding community through tournaments• Simple ways to start playing in your backyard with neighbors• How to find local tournaments through Facebook groups and the ACL• A reminder to stop over-managing life and trust small moment-to-moment choicesFor more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com