Journey into the Present

Bryan Burrs reflects on four years of sustained stress — legal battles, uncertainty about his children, career shifts, and personal loss — and how choosing presence transformed his experience. He shares the difference between fear-driven 'what if' thinking and faith-filled 'even if' acceptance, explaining how deciding to trust who he would be in the future allowed him to live fully in the present despite ongoing challenges.

Host Bryan Burrs sits down with his mother to discuss three pivotal moments — leaving an abusive relationship, returning to school to pursue a doctorate, and becoming a board-certified energy healing practitioner — and how choosing faith over fear helped her stay present through each challenge. The conversation explores how those decisions built confidence, shaped family life, and offer practical wisdom on finding strength, purpose, and presence when the stakes are real.

Ola Snow spent 24 years at Cardinal Health, ultimately serving as Chief Human Resources Officer for one of the largest and most complex organizations in healthcare. She was the person shaping culture for 50,000 employees — the one people looked to when things got hard. During the pandemic, she was communicating regularly with her audience. Steady. Present. Holding the line. And then she told them she wasn't okay. In this episode of Journey into the Present™, Bryan doesn't ask Ola to explain her philosophy on vulnerability or offer advice on mental health in the workplace. He asks her to go back to the moment — what it felt like to be the steady one, and then decide to crack the door open anyway. This is Presence in Motion. Real moments. Real stakes. Real people revisiting what it felt like when how they showed up mattered.

Welcome to Journey into the Present with Bryan Burrs and guest Leslie Storms, president of Ethos Veterinary Health. In this episode Leslie recounts a raw, recent leadership moment: she had to withhold news of her departure during a major company spin-off and lead her team through uncertainty. The conversation explores the emotional toll of staying present under pressure, the priority of serving a team over personal discomfort, and the lessons in authenticity, courage, and leadership that came from that day.

Host Bryan Burrs reflects on a turning point in early 2023 when he traded lifelong performance and anxiety for presence, asking himself what he truly wants and how to show up honestly for himself and others. He shares how that shift changed his relationships, work, and sense of purpose, and invites listeners to consider whether they've quietly abandoned themselves or can answer the call to be present.

Host Bryan Burrs interviews Kate Masschelein, a former Johnson & Johnson executive and leadership coach, about a high‑stakes product recall that occurred shortly after a major launch. Kate shares the physical anxiety she experienced, how meditation and self‑management helped her stay present, and why choosing honesty and vulnerability when addressing 150 U.S. sales leaders rebuilt trust and informed her leadership going forward.

Host Bryan Burrs welcomes Lori Holt to kick off Season 3 of Journey into the Present to revisit a defining moment: losing her mother while her career and responsibilities were rapidly expanding. Lori shares how she stopped performing and chose to be genuinely present for her daughter, her team, and herself. The conversation explores presence as a practice and a form of strength—trusting your instincts, prioritizing what truly matters, and showing up authentically when the stakes are highest.

In this season two finale of Journey into the Present, the host ties together pressing cultural themes — politics, AI, mental health, community, and natural disasters — and explains how presence can help us respond instead of react. The episode explores how awareness can turn into service, local action, and clearer personal values amid noise and division. The host offers simple practices to try: a mindful media diet, micro-actions like writing to local officials or volunteering, listening sessions with people you disagree with, and increasing offline presence. The invitation is to let presence be an anchor and to focus on small, local acts that align with your values.

Host Bryan Burrs shares a personal story about juggling his phone while talking with his daughter to illustrate how our brains don’t truly multitask. He explains that rapid task-switching steals presence, depth, and joy from important moments and offers simple practices—pause and name your focus, question urges to split attention, and put the phone in another room—to rebuild awareness and connection. Through consistent practice and small habits, Burrs shows how choosing presence over distraction enriches conversations, work, and life, and invites listeners to try giving one thing their whole self this week.

This episode uses an "empty conference room" metaphor to show how we waste life by rehearsing future events that may never happen. It explains the difference between useful preparation and living inside a future that robs us of the present. The host invites listeners to notice when their minds drift forward, to smile at the habit, and gently return to the present—paying attention to breath, laughter, or the simple act of sipping coffee—because the only real meeting is the one happening now.

Bryan Burrs shares a short, quiet story about a post-workout moment when the light on his protein shake, the sound of birds, and the stillness of the kitchen made him notice the gift of simply being present. He reminds listeners that life is made of small, ordinary moments and invites you to pause and notice those fleeting, meaningful details that make life feel full.

In this episode Bryan Burrs explores the simple but powerful practice of pausing before reacting. He shows how one slow breath can shift perspective, quiet impulsive responses, and invite clearer choices in conversations, decisions, and emotions. Bryan offers three practical techniques—three slow breaths, stepping away to move your body, and writing then waiting—so you can create space for the wiser part of your brain and act with intention instead of habit.

In this episode of Journey into the Present, host Bryan Burrs delves into the concept of control and how it impacts our lives. Often, we find ourselves trying to control outcomes, emotions, and even other people's reactions, in an effort to manage our fears. But this gripping need for control distances us from the present moment and ultimately creates suffering. Bryan shares personal insights and invites listeners to explore the power of surrender. Surrendering is not about giving up, but about being honest and open to life as it unfolds. Through this shift from control to presence, we can experience life as it truly is, gaining peace and connection. Join Bryan as he encourages us to notice where we are gripping and offers an exercise to help us release tension and embrace the now. Tune in for a thoughtful journey towards living fully in the present.

Welcome to this episode of "Journey into the Present," where we delve into the depths of human existence and the art of living fully in the moment. In this episode, we explore what it really means to stay present, especially when the weight of life becomes overwhelming. Discover the distinctions between moments of effortless presence and times when it feels like a distant dream due to life's pressures and expectations. Learn to soften into your feelings without judgment and embrace them as a part of your journey. We discuss the importance of pausing, listening to your inner needs, and taking small steps that align with your truth, whether it's having a glass of water, taking a quick nap, or simply being honest with yourself about your feelings. Join us in honoring the struggles we all face and finding worthiness in just being. Let's return to the now, one breath at a time, and continue this journey into the present together.

Welcome back to Journey into the Present, where we delve into living fully anchored in the now with Bryan Burrs. In this episode, Bryan reflects on the personal journey of overcoming the misconceptions of presence. Through his experiences, he unravels how the culture of productivity and overachievement masks the true sources of non-presence. Despite simplifying his schedule, Bryan realized the roots of his non-presence lay in deeper fears and self-doubt. Join us as Bryan invites us to introspect and understand the internal distractions that pull us away from the moment. This episode encourages you to look beyond just the structure of your day and meet yourself honestly to achieve genuine presence. Discover the practice of gently returning to the now and re-evaluate what truly disengages you from the present.

In this episode of Journey into the Present, host Bryan Burrs provides listeners with a practical method to objectively measure and improve their journey into the present. Aligned with the season two theme of sustaining presence, Bryan shares a simple exercise that helps track your ability to stay present. By using a timer and counting your uninterrupted focus, you can chart your progress over time. This technique not only highlights moments of mindfulness but also reveals increasing or decreasing trends in your present awareness. Whether you prefer meditating or incorporating this into your walk, the practice is versatile and adaptable to any lifestyle. Embrace the journey of living in the now, recognizing that progress is about continually guiding yourself back to the present moment.

Join Bryan Burrs as he explores practical ways to cultivate mindfulness in just 60 seconds. In this episode of Journey into the Present, discover four simple yet powerful techniques to maintain your presence throughout the day. From the sensory experience of washing your hands to the flavorful mindfulness of eating, these practices offer quick solutions to bring you back to the here and now. Whether it's performing a sensory check-in or conducting a full body scan, learn how to anchor your awareness and enjoy the benefits of being fully present. Perfect for those moments when you find your mind drifting, these tips will help you embrace the present moment with ease.

This season will be able sustaining presence and how the mind + body together = presence, but one without the other is not.

Brief reminders on how to stay present during the holiday season and the impact it can have on your life.

The last of a 6 part series, describes my journey 2 years in, what I do daily and what present thinking means to me.

Once you begin living more presently, the journey is not complete. Accepting the peace that comes with presence is a critical and life changing step!

Discusses my path and tips to stop reaction and start responding more often.

How do you balance staying present, with the need to plan for the future and learn from the past? I provide some tips and share a bit of my journey.

This briefly talks through the catalyst event that shattered my then, reality and forced me to face reality, perhaps for the first time in my adult life.

This is my origin story about how I began not living in the present and the impact to my life.

This is my first video introducing my passion project. Helping people. 20+ year sufferer of anxiety. Parent's divorce at a young age. Struggled in school. 44 years and I am a senior leader, board member and in the best place I've ever been. Want to learn more? Join me and learn about my journey into the present.