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Transcript

Jasna Burza
beyond beyond excited to talk to you today for multiple reasons, and I’m just going to say them. So everyone, welcome to Business Spotlight here on Wednesdays where we feature the most incredible business owners here locally in the twin cities who are doing influential, impactful work that we need to support. And I was telling you earlier, my husband is listening to your podcast is like, I God, like what a testament to the work that you have been doing?

Bryan Piatt
Oh, well, I was telling you, it can feel sometimes when you’re doing this kind of work, like, is anybody listening out there when you put things out like that into into the world. And so it always means so much to hear that, indeed, somebody is actually listening. So, so I appreciate that from that’s awesome. I

Jasna Burza
love that. And we’re hoping that there’s going to be a lot more people listening after this, because you are consistently putting out such an incredible conversations that are so timely right now. Because in anxiety is off the charts, our mental health has never been more of a concern because of the world affairs and everything else. But you also are, you know, a leader in meditation and breath work and just mindfulness. And I would love to take us a little bit back. And how did you how did you get here, because I know you had a really cool career. It’s how we know you before this,

Bryan Piatt
yeah. Such a journey, such a journey to get to this point. And so I here in the Twin Cities worked for almost 10 years at Kara 11 here in the Twin Cities as did a number of different things there from anchoring to reporting to producing, and really had a just a beautiful opportunity to do some pretty, pretty fun, meaningful work in the community through that job. And it’s, you know, kind of going back to, you know, pre, as a kid, and that sort of thing. Anxiety and mental health is something that I really, really, really started struggling with when I was in middle school. And so it’s always been kind of a big thing that’s been a part of my story. And something that has been, you know, something that I’ve had to learn a lot about and work through and developed tools to kind of manage my mental health. And I’ve had a lot of struggle along the way. And that, you know, I’ve definitely hit some points that have been really, really hard. And having the the platform of care 11 And kind of allowing that to intersect with my own personal story, had the opportunity to really sit down and share my story and kind of a bigger way through that platform and talk about things like anxiety and some of the OCD stuff that I’ve struggled with. And so I really feel very much like my platform kind of met my purpose and that and then that moment, you know, to really, like be able to do that. And so it’s, it’s launched me in this direction now have I left kare 11. I’m currently in grad school for mental health counseling with plans likely down the road to become a therapist, what kind of see how that how that path all plays out. But I feel like, you know, I’m having the opportunity now to just do a lot of work around mental health, I have a podcast that focuses on it, I still do a lot of speaking and just trying to trying to show up the best that I can in the world, being as authentic as I can about my own experience, really, with the intention of just letting other people know that they’re not alone. I think that’s kind of like the crux of everything that I do, it really comes back to that, you know, like, how can I share in an authentic way not to make it all about me, but to you know, just pull back the layer a little bit on what it really means to be human. Sometimes it can be really hard. And I don’t think we talked about it enough.

Jasna Burza
We don’t while you’re doing it through your story. So the power of telling the story. Otherwise, how do we connect on that emotional level? Because who hasn’t had a moment in the last three years? Right is very difficult, very unstable and uncertain. So I mean, there’s just so much there. I’m curious how right now we want to talk about the you have a podcast where you interview people around, you know, for all things mental health and mindfulness and living a better life. What is the podcast called? And then on? Of course, they can find out all the other things and we’re LCU you know, where you interact with the audience and how can they kind of be in touch with you and things like that.

Bryan Piatt
So the podcast is called the take what serves leave the rest podcasts and so You can find that on most platforms where you where you podcasts. So Apple podcasts, Spotify. I know there’s like a bajillion other ones out there. I don’t even know where it ends up. Sometimes when I log on to pod bean and put it out there. And then you you can also follow me on Instagram at Brian Pyatt. Brian with a why I do a lot of try to do a lot of work on they’re kind of on this, in this place right now with finding that, that balance of how much do I really want to be on social media for my own mental health, but also trying to do the work and put it out there. And then I another really big thing that has come to fruition throughout the COVID 19 pandemic was myself and a dear friend of mine by the name of Kelly Grace LA. She’s a grief therapist here locally, who does just incredibly powerful work around grief and loss. We started doing some some Facebook Lives right at the beginning of the pandemic, just to get on and kind of talk about life and different topics. And again, kind of going back to that idea, just letting people know that they’re not alone. And it’s we’ve been doing this now pretty regularly, started out like two times a week, then went down to one time a week, we do it once a month now where we get on Facebook. And and it’s been a really beautiful community of people that have literally, we feel like we’ve all kind of gone through the pandemic together. Some of these people have never actually met, but they log on every month when we do these and just kind of lift each other up. And it’s a nice, like safe space to, to just kind of be open and real and honest about life and what’s hard, and what’s joyful, and everything in between. And so that’s through, I would encourage you to go follow conversations with Kelly is the name of the page that we do that on. It’s the usually the first Monday of every month.

Jasna Burza
Okay, well, that’s powerful, you really have a feel is you’re on the pulse of what is happening nation. And the conversations right now that we’re hearing over and over and over again, everywhere, that we really are struggling. And I think for the longest time there was such an incredible stigma as if something is wrong, man. And I know that I was guilty of that. Because I’ve never been to a therapist. So unless you’re struggling, it’s very, very quick to dismiss, like, well, I can do just pick yourself up. For sure. Right. And there is there’s an incredible, it’s very nuanced, but really understanding how what, what’s what’s at hand and what causes it, and how can we how can we be better? That’s very interesting. I’m curious, you spoke a little bit about social media. Yep. It’s such a beautiful tool for an opportunity like this podcast and sharing in the conversations. But there is that downside, right. It’s how we use it. Have you noticed with people that you talk to the correlation of mental health struggle, and the amount of time that we spend on social media?

Bryan Piatt
Yes. End of story right there. Yeah, I mean, I, and especially, I can really just speak from like, my own personal experience with it, too, is exactly what you just said, it’s an incredible connector. I think there’s such beautiful things happening on social media. And I also found that I need to have boundaries around it in my life in order to not fall into that trap of comparing myself to other people, or, like, what I find with with social media consumption is that it’s, it’s always, it’s like, it’s always trying to tell me that I shouldn’t be somewhere else other than right here in this moment. You know, like, like, like, I think we’ve kind of like lost touch with kind of just what’s what’s truly happening in front of us and everything, in each and every moment. And I don’t think I don’t think we’re meant as human beings to be bombarded with the amount of information that this wave of technology kind of does to us every day, I don’t think our minds are meant to absorb all that. And so

Jasna Burza
in process, it is impossible a

Bryan Piatt
lot, you know, I mean, it’s always, you know, oh, so and so’s doing that, and they’re doing that, and no, I should be doing that, instead of just being like, Hey, I’m sitting right here, and I’m talking to you, and then my dog is laying to my left, and I have a little water here that tastes good. You know, it’s like, just coming back to the moment I think that’s really at the core of so much of the things that we struggle with is just not being present for the moment. And I just find that social media can be such a pull from that. And yet, I also acknowledge that for me, I mean, it borders on addiction for me, you know, I mean, it’s, there’s an addictive quality to the apps and everything. And so it’s really, I have I’ve really tried to make that a priority in my life. And I’m really good at it some days about having those boundaries, and then I’m having I have other days where I spend all day swiping on this thing, and I’m like, I know this is out for me, but here I am doing it. But you know, so it’s just really trying to be gentle with myself. However I’m showing up with that.

Jasna Burza
Well, it’s designed that way. It’s designed to induce the the, you know, the dopamine and it creates that imbalance in the brain. And I had recently I’m writing a book right now through Georgetown University. That’s about the anxiousness in the world feeling the overwhelm and why that is the case. And I talked to a meditation teacher, I don’t know if you know her, Betsy whiner? I don’t know. She said, she said, there’s no pause. So you just reaffirm beautifully what you just said, like, there’s just no pause to reflect on what happened earlier in the day yesterday, a moment ago, we’re constantly on to the next thing. And when it’s not on to the next thing, when we have a minute, we have the instinct to pick up the phone. And for that, and I think it is it is everyone um, I have to block my I blocked my phone. So my all my apps turn off after 10 minutes. Beautiful. I have to just like it’s everyone’s just as an addictive and one thing that was very harmful for my presence was that, but very good for my mental health. I unfollowed, everyone in 2020. And that was just like a moment that just they just did it for me. It’s incredible. So I’m curious, what are other services that you, you know, in your business? I know that you work with people one on one? Or is there any group work? How else could people interact with you so we can support your business, apart from the fact that we’re going to talk about your podcast and promote it, and follow you? What else can we do?

Bryan Piatt
Yeah, that’s a great question. I think I really I do think the two main avenues right now for me are the podcasts and and joining that, that kind of that conversations with Kelly community, I’m kind of still building the foundation as far as being able to work one on one with people through going to grad school and doing that stuff down the road. But I’m always putting out new opportunities when it comes to breath, work. And meditation, those are two things that I have, I teach and guide both of those things, and have been both very, very instrumental in my own life. And so particularly lately, breathwork has been just like this deeply healing tool for me. And so I don’t have anything tangibly coming up right now when it comes to that, but those are our offerings that are on the horizon. And I would just encourage people to kind of follow me and, and look for when you know, when we have some some breathwork events coming up,

Jasna Burza
well, invitation to you, whenever you have an event, please send me a note. And we’re going to moderate all our channels for you. Because this is, I am so passionate about this conversation right now. Because in the work in the last decade, I have never seen anything like this. And we’re like, what, what is it and it’s like some kind of a transition. They’re saying we’re going to Aquarian Age, I’m like I’m here for it. Cuz I we’re all just feeling feeling that shift. So if because people are really looking up to you right now, I know that is that is the reason my husband is looking up to you and listening to what you have to say. So in because of the overwhelm, and really difficulty to sit and be with all of these things. Yeah. If people are struggling right now, why? to you as as the the sought after expert? Why do you think we’re struggling so much? And what can we do today? To just kind of feel a little bit a little bit better that you have discovered in your own journey?

Bryan Piatt
Yeah. I’ll preface this by saying that I think it’s, I think it’s obviously every person has their own unique story and their own unique reasons why things might be feeling really, really hard. And I also, a few things come to mind with this. I think that we are, you know, kind of in line probably with the social media discussion, I think we were like, very, very, very disconnected in many ways. You know, I don’t think that there’s we might be really hyper connected with our screens or our phones, but, you know, particularly when you’re when you’re really struggling with your mental health and you’re having a hard time, it can be really, really hard to like, reach out and ask for help or, you know, tell somebody, Hey, I’m having a hard time and things are really, really difficult. And so something that I always like to talk about is there is a lot of power in having one person it only has to be one person in your life that you can send a text message to and just be really honest about what is coming up for you so, and not to have to share all the details or you have to go in detail, you know, everything, that’s fine. I just wanted today sucks. And or I’m really sad today and I’m having a hard time. And that’s not you being a burden, that’s you reaching out and just letting another human being on the planet know that things are hard. And I find that, at least for me, that can really help to like, almost release the pressure valve a little bit. And so I would really encourage people to lean in that direction, if if they can, is just to know that it because mental health struggles, I’m convinced of this, I’ve seen this play out so many times with myself and with other people, it starts to make us feel like we’re the only ones that are struggling and that everybody else has it all pulled together. Like everybody’s like, everybody’s got it, you know, this person over there looks perfect, and they look perfect. And you know, everything’s easy for them. But like, I’m the only one that’s struggling, there must be something wrong with me. And it’s very easy for us to turn against ourselves. And so I would also just want to like name that, that there’s nothing wrong with you for having a hard time. It’s part of the human experience in many ways. And we all struggle with varying degrees of maybe diagnoses and things like that when it comes to mental health. But we just we need to know that we’re not alone. And we’re not meant to live this thing called life alone. Like we need our people.

Jasna Burza
Amen. community and also that we don’t even have to unnecessarily we don’t need to fix it. Sometimes I tell my husband, like, you know, like, I’m feeling blue. And he immediately starts I’m like, I don’t need you to fix it. I can sit with this. I just want you to hear it. Know that why is it so there’s the power and just letting that letting it flow through me? I don’t know, am I doing your?

Bryan Piatt
Oh, like, Oh, it’s so true. Yeah, I hear that. That’s one of the I hear that all the time from people like how can I? How can I show up for somebody in my life or help them? And it’s, it’s usually the number one answer is like, you don’t have to fix anything. You know, it’s it’s not about trying to solve something for another person. It’s really, I think some of the most beautiful ways that we can show up for people is just to be there with them. And let them know that they’re not alone through what it is that they’re going through. And I also something that came to my mind, too, as you were talking was one of the more pivotal things for me in kind of my own mental health story is really kind of getting a little bit less in this direction of I need to get anxiety or doubt or shame or rumination or like whatever is going on, in that moment to go away and a little bit more in the direction of how can I show up for my life like with those things along for the ride? Like how can we create some space to feel uncertain or overwhelmed and, of course, do some things that are going to help us kind of ground and settle ourselves a little bit, but also recognize that those things might just kind of be there. And we don’t, I was starting to sit around I think a lot in my life like waiting to feel like I’m in the perfect space to show up and do the thing. And I think he missed out on a lot of life when you sit around and trying to wait for everything to feel perfect. And there’s there’s a lot of power in like, if right now you’re listening to this and you’re feeling overwhelmed and you’re feeling down. It’s possible to feel those things and take little steps towards things in your life that you’re trying to cultivate and create.

Jasna Burza
I love that it was so beautifully since if you’re listening to this, whether it’s on this live or replay or any of the 15 channels that this is going to later on, I think really pick up your phone and start following Brian because one of the things that I know and that’s the benefit of social media is what we consume affects our life. So if I’m consuming the conversation around normalizing this, I’m going to become more kind. So instead of following the, you know, those with such crazy expectations, those who don’t make me feel good inhaling and consuming content, it’s really going to help me live a constructive life, which is really, which is beautiful. So, Brian, what is the, you know, I know you’re working to become a therapist, but if what’s the long shot? What’s the highest expression of who you are in this world in terms of in terms of you individually, personally, but also business wise?

Bryan Piatt
Yeah. You know, what, be very transparent that I think a lot of the early part of my career was was so focused on career and achieving and, you know, just go go go go go all the time. And I really actually feel like personally, the highest expression of myself is learning how to love the people in my life and learn how to beat loved, those are, are things that almost kind of make me emotional to say those, I am recognizing the importance of just that foundational having our people be the number one thing in our lives, and I’ve really taken me, it’s been a journey to get there, you know, I always kind of want to default to like, I have to do more, and I have to achieve more. And I have to prove myself and like that, that can sometimes almost become like a mask for deeper seated insecurities for myself. And so I think number one, personally, it’s just really, you know, what’s get in the way of me being able to show up and like love others and except love. As cheesy as that sounds, I think that’s something that I’m really trying to work on. And I think, professionally, you know, I just want to do work that creates a safe container for people to be with in a gentle way, whatever it is that they’re experiencing. So, you know, if you’re having if you’re sad, or you’re, you’re anxious, I always want to create spaces, whether that’s through the podcast, or that’s through. At some point, maybe working one on one with people or guiding meditations or doing breath work is just to give people a safe container to just like, Be human. So I think that’s really kind of the, at the core of what I’m trying to cultivate. And I have no idea what that’s gonna look like, tomorrow, or the next day. But trying to just kind of take it one step at a time.

Jasna Burza
I think you tapped into the most fundamental need for all of us as humans, because at the end, no matter what we try to achieve at the end is like am I loved? Yes, mastery of love. Because you don’t do that. And the Heart Math, I don’t know if you know of their work that they’ve, they’ve studied the frequency of the heart. It’s much greater, it has more impact in quantum physics, and then the brain like that’s, that’s incredible, mind blowing. So you’re such a beautiful human. Thank you. Thank you so much for taking the time to share who you are and how people can support you. Because I love that. And I think that in I’m such a big believer that in this new world, we need voices who are going to radically shift the narrative. Yeah. And you’re certainly one of them. So thank you for taking the time. And folks, please, if there’s one call to action, today’s and make sure that you support those that are doing incredible work, and I don’t i i cannot meet it. I have not met a single person who hasn’t had a day. So we need to continue this conversation and follow and support people like Brian. So I look forward to seeing what evolves. And I’m just so excited that we’ve had a chance to connect. Thanks for

Bryan Piatt
creating this space and for asking me to be a part of it. super grateful. And hopefully chatting again soon.

Jasna Burza
What a pleasure. Thank you. I hope you have a beautiful beautiful day. You too. Thank you so much. I’ll talk to you soon.

Bryan Piatt
Bye. See ya