Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 17 and told he’d be lucky to reach 50, Jim Stavis went on to receive a first-of-its-kind triple organ transplant (heart, kidney, pancreas). Now 71, he’s an author, speaker, and CEO sharing his story of hope, gratitude, and resilience.

On this episode of Real Things Living, Jim talks with Brigitte Cutshall about the transplant, the bond with his donor’s family, grief and caregiving, and why he calls hope an action verb.

Get "When Hope Is Your Only Option" (book and audiobook): https://www.jimstavis.com

3 Takeaways

1. Hope is an action verb. It’s something you do, and it can change how you get through hard times.
2. You can’t know tomorrow, so enjoy today. Uncertainty is easier when you stop waiting for certainty.
3. Adversity can become your purpose. Jim’s story is now a roadmap for others facing health, business, and family struggles.

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Lifelong learning isn't just a career tool; it's the ultimate survival guide for an unpredictable world.

Hussein Rifai has lived in a dozen places, visited 85 countries, and reinvented himself more times than he can count. Born in the West Bank and now based in Australia, he is an entrepreneur, investment banker, and author of "The Chaos Theorem."

He joins Brigitte Cutshall to talk about resilience, never pausing your curiosity, and finding humor in the absurd. They also cover the AI-writing debate, lessons from loss and betrayal, and why scars are worth showing.

3 Takeaways:

(1) Don’t resist the wave. Accept the change, study it, and find your place in it.

(2) Never press pause on learning. Curiosity keeps your mind (and life) moving at any age.

(3) Be the bamboo. Gather input, step back, analyze honestly, and stay flexible instead of rigid.

Visit Hussein’s website to read his articles and follow his book launch, "The Chaos Theorem"

Website: https://www.husseinrifai.com/

LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/bpa3jsf6

Subscribe to Real Things Living and share this episode with someone who needs a positive perspective today!

One breath can change how you handle stress, conflict, and your whole day.

Breathwork teacher Anthony Abbagnano, founder of Alchemy of Breath and the ASHA retreat center in Italy, shares simple breathing practices for nervous system regulation, stress relief, and calmer relationships.

Host, Brigitte Cutshall, and Anthony talk about the 10-breath reset, the 5-in/5-out coherence breath, listening to your body, nature, dogs, and aging with curiosity.

Join Anthony’s free Sunday group breathing session, Breathe the World, at alchemyofbreath.com.

🔗 LINKS

Alchemy of Breath: https://alchemyofbreath.com/

ASHA: https://www.asha.global/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alchemyofbreath/

Book: "Outer Chaos, Inner Calm"

Texas singer-songwriter, Ezra Vancil, joins Brigitte Cutshall to talk about music as “another language.”

Ezra shares how he rebuilt his life after a collapse in his 30s, why he walked away from chasing fame, and how writing and touring with his daughter became the best part of his career. It’s a warm, funny conversation about resilience, small moments, and making memories that last.

3 Takeaways:

(1) Small moments beat big stages. The song that changed a couple’s night was played to a nearly empty park.

(2) Nothing has to come out of it. Play music for joy, and write plenty of bad songs to get to a good one.

(3) Make memories on purpose. Try new places and new routines, and create something with the people you love.

Pick up an instrument you’ve neglected, or press play on a song that takes you back, then tell us in the comments what it is. Find Ezra on Spotify, Apple Music.

Check out his website - https://ezravancil.com/

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Wesley Warshawer went from studying abroad in India and Korea to a career in tech.

When COVID made his job remote, he left his comfort zone and moved to a new U.S. city every four to six weeks, meeting his neighbors one conversation at a time.

He joins Brigitte Cutshall to share how stepping outside our bubbles reveals shared values, why ignorance isn’t the same as malice, and how small, uncomfortable steps can spark real growth, no passport required.

Wesley’s Substack: https://substack.com/@wesleywarshawer

Wesley’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesley-warshawer/

Wesley’s website: https://wesleywarshawer.com/

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Dr. Olaf Kroneman trained at Mayo Clinic, the University of Virginia, and Mass General before bringing his medicine home to Detroit.

He treats patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue condition that can bring POTS, mast cell reactions, and pain that is too often dismissed, especially in women.

Brigitte Cutshall and Dr. Kroneman also talk about his novel "Detroit Heroic", doing the right thing when it's hard, and why hope and optimism matter in healing.

3 Takeaways:

(1) EDS is easy to miss. Hypermobile EDS has no genetic test, so diagnosis depends on a doctor who knows the signs.

(2) Speak up and keep looking. Tell your doctor everything, and if you don't connect, get a second opinion.

(3) Hope plus action. Meaning comes through action, and "the secret in the care of the patient is in caring for the patient."

Know someone who's been told "it's all in your head"? Share this episode with them.

Connect with Dr. Kroneman - https://www.drkronemanconfidential.com/

Check out Dr. Kroneman's new book, "Detroit Heroic" - link included on his website.

Does a "high-risk pregnancy" mean something will go wrong?

Fetal medicine specialist, Panicos Shangaris, of King's College Hospital speaks with Brigitte Cutshall; he explains how the label works, why preconception counseling matters, and how AI is changing prenatal care.

3 Takeaways

(1) "High risk" means more support, not bad news. It brings in the right specialists and a plan built for you.

(2) Start before the positive test. Preconception checks like iron, vitamin D, thyroid, and weight help you begin pregnancy healthier.

(3) AI buys time for the human part. Faster scans and letters leave doctors more time to counsel and comfort.

Connect with Dr. Panicos Shangaris:

• Website: https://shangaris.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonpregnancyob/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/panicos-shangaris/

📌 Subscribe to Real Things Living for more insights on health, curiosity, and intentional living!

Wall Street Journal columnist and author, Meghan Cox Gurdon, joins Brigitte Cutshall on Real Things Living to talk about her new memoir, "Free Range Girl." The true story of the year she spent as a 12-year-old living off-grid on a homestead her father built with his own hands in rural Maine.

They talk overparenting vs. freedom, the "anti-fragile" child, why reading aloud is one of the most powerful things a parent can do, and what got lost when childhood moved indoors. Her previous bestseller, "The Enchanted Hour," is also referenced.

"Free Range Girl" releases October 20th — pre-order now wherever books are sold. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTTQTD77

Connect with Meghan Cox Gurdon:Website: https://www.meghancoxgurdon.com

👉 Subscribe to the Real Things Living channel for more inspiring discussions on resilience, healthy living, and personal growth!