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SHIFT into DRIVE · Pete Vs Anxiety!!!!!

• Pete: Ever wish you had someone to talk to anytime, anywhere, matter what you're going through? Meet PsychPAL, your 24-7 AI companion, designed to help you process your thoughts, calm your mind, and keep you moving forward. Chat anytime during a panic attack on a restless night or just when you need to vent. Prefer talking instead of typing? Try voice journaling. PsychPAL listens, transcribes, and truly understands. You can even upload screenshots of tough conversations, and it'll help you unpack how they made you feel. PsychPAL keeps life organized, too. It can add appointments to your calendar, track your mood, and even summarize your sessions for your therapist so you'll never lose progress. Plus, built-in crisis resources are always just one click away. It's a privacy-first, constantly evolving, made to complement your professional care, not replace it. Ready to try it out? Head over to the link in this episode and use my code, Pete, at checkout to get 20 % off your first month subscription to PsychPAL. PsychPAL, because your mind deserves a companion too. There we go. I think that's the one I like. We got it. We got it. Boom. peter: but Pete: went to doing like pre-recordings. Well, Keith, we're at the part of the interview where I'm gonna ask you those two questions. All right, Amanda Landes: that I had been kind of like since head for a while about about writing the story because Mia Mason: you are not the only one that experiences thoughts, Pete "mental Health Champ": Well, Dr. Erica, before we start wrapping up, I'm going to ask you Welcome to another exciting episode of for Excited for it gets started today. Let's give a shout out to my partners from PsychPow, guys. Use the link in the description to go get yourself a seven days free trial. And then if you guys like what you see, you know what? I was a nice guy. got you 20 % off your first month subscription by using my code pete at checkout. With that being said, my guest today is a go go to high performance coach for dyslexia professionals ready to train self out for confidence, clarity and daily progress. Please welcome in the one, the only coach, Willie Blake. Willie, how you doin', man? Willie Blake: Hi dude, I'm doing good. Yeah, today's been a good day and man, excited for this. Pete "mental Health Champ": Well, brother, why don't you tell everybody a more about yourself and then we'll get into this thing, man. Willie Blake: Yeah, for sure. I'm a cool girl dad. Just love I got four girls just love they're awesome been with my wife for nine years. I love helping out people who are dyslexic, especially dyslexic professionals, be able to get more confidence, more clarity and hopefully on the side more income. I'm the host of the podcast light beyond limits, just trying to bring more light into this world. And I'd yeah, I'd say that's a pretty good summary of myself. Pete "mental Health Champ": Nice man. So, okay, so let's get into it then. like when did you start your podcast and what was the purpose behind the beginning of the thing? Willie Blake: Yeah, so first, like first, first episode came out, I think, 2022, 2021, did eight episodes and then left it and then came back to it, changed the name of it. I didn't delete it because I'm one of those guys who's just like, I love to see the beginning of where I was to where I'm at today. So I left the eight episodes on. Episode nine was the whole light beyond limits. That was February of 2024. Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. no. Yeah. Willie Blake: And man, are at episode 162, just came out recently. So just loving it. Pete "mental Health Champ": So what's the show about exactly? So, and then what was your name originally? Then what did you change to? Because I'm kind of curious to know. Willie Blake: Yeah, so Light Beyond Limits, we talk about the breakthroughs and stories that people have with their limitations and the lessons that they learn from it. So it's people who have had limitations, who have challenges, which, hence, everybody does. But I bring people on and I speak to my lessons that I've learned about people who take that and do something with it, who either overcome it to such a degree or are able to manage it Pete "mental Health Champ": Nice, that's really cool. Willie Blake: and actually use that in their career or their life. So they are go-getters, they're the movers. And I don't like prideful people, people with an ego saying, I've done this, you should follow me. I love bringing people on who are just full of heart, full of just love of helping other people out. So that's what the podcast is about. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. my god, So, so well, you know, I'm gonna have to ask you, man, if you have any interesting guests come on the show, man, because you know, that's the next question I've got, because I've had a few on here, where it's like, my God, I can't air this ever to anybody, because it's that bad of like a conversation. Or it's like the way their conversation goes, like we had recently on a side project I did, this woman can't come on in, I just can't even tell you what she was saying was just completely crazy. It's like, I can't post this because like what you're saying is you're telling people Willie Blake: Okay. Pete "mental Health Champ": not to do something that's important. She's like, well, give a context frame. She said, basically, well, you can't, you can't, you can't, don't take your psychiatric meds. I'm like, wait, what are we telling people? Well, hold on, hold on. Wait, wait, wait, wait. She's like, yeah, you know, that's what I tell, I suggest they don't take their, and she kept repeating it. And I'm like, no. So I'm like, I'm trying to get through this interview and I'm trying to like salvage something out. And I just couldn't because she just kept going back to the same rhetoric calls, don't take your psychiatric, I'm like. I can't post this. Like, are you kidding me? I'm gonna get sued in the process. Are you kidding me? This is crazy. Willie Blake: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And you know this as you've been doing this for a bit, like you get those people, you get the people who come in and yeah, I have one in particular who came on the show and we get people who have talked about, taking their lives about a spine epiphada, which is like a paralyzation problem. dyslexia we've had ADHD, autistic people, people who struggle with OCD and bipolar. And so like, Pete "mental Health Champ": yeah. yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Willie Blake: very spectrum, so this one specifically we're talking about taking their suicide and taking people's lives. And so the whole thing was their story about it. And I've had someone else on before who, great advocate for it, is out there trying to raise the, what do you call it, raise the distance, because at the time it was about every 54 seconds someone attempts to take their life. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Willie Blake: And his mission is to make that 55 seconds because in a year's time that saves about 10,000 people. And so like I've had people like that, but this one, he just it's a hard topic to talk about, but it was just so down about it. And it was it felt more like a therapy session than really just a podcast to help other people out. Yeah, there are those people. And to answer your other question, the first part of my podcast, was Car Thoughts. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, that's. Willie Blake: with Willie Blake and no joke, I'd have my phone, I'd put my phone in the visor above me and just like put my head up and talk, share, just riff for like five or 10 minutes. That was the first several episodes. You could hear the blinkers, you can hear everything in the background. Pete "mental Health Champ": no. Oh my God, yes. You said it's still out there. Oh my God, yes. That's awesome. So the next question, obviously, is what got you into coaching, man? mean, like, you're obviously dyslexic yourself, correct? Is that what it was? the basis, the original goal was to help other people like yourself not feel so like so out there? Because I know for dyslexia, it's hard for people to understand. I know one of my daughters is dyslexic. you know. Willie Blake: Yeah, yeah. Pete "mental Health Champ": for her reading certain things was hard and things like that too. Willie Blake: Yeah, it actually wasn't dyslexia that got me to it. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted two things. First was to write my own book. I thought that'd be really cool to be an author. Even though I struggled with reading, I always loved the fantasy world of how magic and how fiction and the adventure, I loved all of it. So I wanted to be one. Exactly, the second thing though was to be a type of teacher. Pete "mental Health Champ": Okay. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, you can just paint it all yourself, Cam. Willie Blake: but I knew I didn't want to go the traditional route because there's so many different rules and how I grew up, some teachers just weren't favorable to me. So I didn't know how I was gonna be, but I always wanted to be like this teacher sense. So back in 2018, 2019, when I saw the statistic that said 95 % of CEOs read 50 or more books a year, I thought, well, that'd be cool to be it, so I guess I'll start. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Mm-hmm. Willie Blake: And it was by reading, didn't reach it. It took me a while to get it. But as I was going through it, I learned about this whole industry of entrepreneurship, of business and finance, and one of it was coaching. I thought coaching was really, it sounded really cool. So I started a side hustle coaching business. And my first year, I had zero clients. Second year though, second year, here we go. One client. Pete "mental Health Champ": I had Willie Blake: And it was my cousin. But after that, just, I was still doing landscaping stuff, still working produce at Walmart, still working my nine to five. But I was building on the side and I was talking with people and some of the, now I call them like reviews and testimonials, but the thoughts that they had back then were just, Willie, you're a master listener. Thank you for sitting at me, with me in this McDonald's. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Willie Blake: to talk about my business idea. You really helped me out. And it was over a decade of time to where now where we're at today, to where that thought and desire of wanting to be somewhat a teacher now turned into being a coach. And it was a friend who was like, you're dyslexic, why don't you help out dyslexic people? And I thought, that sounds like one of the smartest things. I can't believe I didn't think about that years earlier. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Yeah. Willie Blake: So now I help out dyslexic people because I speak off of experience rather than what I read in a book. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah, yeah true very true, you know, it's well for me here It's the same thing like just the stuff I've experienced, you know, and like when I start this show I don't really know much, honestly. And I start learning things from the people that came and then other people told me about the things. I was like, all right, cool. Well, it's using the Internet to my advantage. So I'm looking up new things, checking things out, learning all these different things as people are coming in. You know, and I'm like, I'm like, what is that? I'm wondering what that is. So, you know, and that's how learned a lot of this stuff. So like when I do a lot of these episodes, I don't really prepare too much. And I know it sounds wild to people. It's like I just kind of look and see what we're talking about. And I jump in the conversation. You know, I've done pretty well so far with it. Obviously, what are we an episode like somewhere in the three to 400 range somewhere in there? I've done these things. I've had people from neuroscience all the way down to just average people come on and tell me they're ready to commit suicide. In fact, season three's opener, she told us that she drank bleach, cut her wrists and was waiting there just to die. And I was like, wait, what? What had just happened here? You know, and I've done this for like two seasons worth ahead of time, you know. Willie Blake: Heck yeah. Pete "mental Health Champ": So this conversation was just like, what the hell just happened in this conversation? Wait, hold on. And then the same season last season was we had a girl come on telling us that she was sexually assaulted three didn't know because her memories cut off by her own mind cut it off. So she wouldn't remember it, but her body remembered it, you know, and she was like, sitting there going like, people are making fun of me. I'm like, hold on. And I get so mad at one point, I look at the camera like if you're making fun of this woman, I was pissed. I'm like, this is this is crazy. But You know, so many people gravitated towards it because I was like, when I started, the idea was just like, where's everybody having the conversation about mental health itself? You know, like there's got to be people talking about this stuff, you know, and I'm looking at it's doctor, doctor, doctor, but no, just general conversation of two, like two people talking like somebody just out there just having a casual conversation. And then when this show posted the idea of this out there, dude, this thing exploded. Now it's just like, shit, OK, maybe I got something here. So, you know, Yeah, so I'm that guy working the nine to five now. I work my nine to five now, but this is why I do my free time and I'm trying to make this the other way around. So I've been pushing so hard doing it. It's been great, though. I've enjoyed all the interviews. I met new people, done all these opportunities I've never even thought I'd have a chance to do. I'm going to my third publicity panel for third time in a row. I'm heading over that way in June to do that as well again for the third time. And I started from the beginning and realized this is where I would have been. I wouldn't even begin to tell you the list of people who had global best sellers. All these people, all just because I just had one thought process of, know, hey, listen, man, let's go explore the world and see what happens. Willie Blake: Yeah, that's incredible. We need more spaces like this. I'm sure that's why it blew up because when do we talk about dyslexia or when do we talk about cutting our wrists or giving up our life or when do we talk about like cancer and things like that? It might be like a Facebook post that we post out there one time in a decade. Other than that, it's not like we sit next to our I don't sit next to my friends and be like, yo, I'm dyslexic. Pete "mental Health Champ": It's crazy. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Willie Blake: And they say, cool. No, it's a taboo topic, just like many other things. So having this space to just say the things that no one else is willing to say, it's incredible. Pete "mental Health Champ": Right. you make people understand what it is exactly. So for people that don't understand what dyslexia is, maybe break it down for them too. Because, people hear the term of everything in the world, you know, but why don't you break it down for somebody what it's like for you as a dyslexic to read a book. Willie Blake: Yes, so dyslexia, simple as the simple forms is the way we process information, it's different. So it just, if you think about like driving from your house to Walmart, everybody can go from A to B. Our road from A to B is full of traffic or construction. So we gotta take route C or D or Q to Z, but we eventually get there. It just takes us a little longer. Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. Yeah. Willie Blake: So whenever it comes to things like reading, writing, speaking, and spelling, more of that logistical, analytical mind, it is a little bit harder for us to be able to get to that destination. Now, with dyslexia, how it feels is you open a book and you're expected to... My spouse, we sit in there reading in bed. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Willie Blake: and she can go through page after page after page. after her going through 10 pages, I can maybe get through one page. I have to say in my head what I'm reading on paper. And when I speak it out loud, it's pretty slow, and that's the same in my head. So I'm still reading the sentence of, the black bear went to the forest to get, like I'm literally saying that in my head, which what I've heard from other people, Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Willie Blake: is that they don't do that. They're able to quick read and skim and be able to do whatever kind of things it is. I personally can't do that. So it takes a little bit. And this might relate to a lot of people who are dyslexic or might think that they are. I remember in elementary school, we'd be in a reading line, just kind of a circle. The teacher would call on one person and say, okay, we're gonna start here, go around this way. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. god yes, I hated those, No. Willie Blake: Everybody's gonna read their paragraph. I would literally count how many people it was till I got, till it got to me, count down the paragraphs. And without listening to anybody else, right? I would be reading my paragraph, making sure I could pronounce the big words, that I just say it easy so when I stand up, I don't make a fool of myself. Pete "mental Health Champ": Exactly, you said they're freaking out like, God, God, it's me. Yeah, God, I remember those days, dude. God, I hated that. Peter, can you read out loud? Oh, God, dude, I couldn't hardly read half the time, too, because I originally was diagnosed 80 80 D and now I have 80. He is that actually because I got re diagnosed because I was like, something's not right. Like it like it was similar to where it was, but it was just like. It was the most terrifying thing ever. Can you read? Same thing, I'm counting people like, oh, shit, and my time's coming, man, I better get ready. Brace for impact. Here we go. Start reading your. So you had ahead of time. So like I'd read mine ahead of time. And it was so hard for me. So like I remember when they put me in those special education classes, like people just like make fun of you and things like that. But I'm like, I learned at a different pace than other people did, you know, like they were learning whatever in English. We were learning Harry Potter. I was like, works for me, man, because I couldn't stand I couldn't do Julius Caesar and all that stuff like I like don't disrespect all them. But that was just terrible. I couldn't do it. It was horrible. And, know, it always felt like, you know, you always felt weird because you were in this group, but you had your own little kind of like community of people that understood what it's like to be different than everybody else. You know, and it was it was cool, though, because like it was everything worked at the same rate. And then it was like, you know, I got to do a lot of really cool opportunities. do work studies and things like that. You know, everything I've been learning for high school for me was a little bit different because, you know, I was always picked on all the time because I was a little different because I didn't know. Like, I don't know what's going on. You know, I'm a new kid. I've transferred several schools. I spent my freshman year in one high school and then the rest of the years in another school. So I didn't know a lot of people going in, but then it was nice when you had that sense of community. It's almost like the breakfast club. You have your own little kind of like little community you built there. So, you know, and things like that, too. But it's really cool, though, because you're working with different professionals and CEOs and things like that. So, you know, it's really cool to see that somebody's out there trying to make a difference with these kind of things instead of, you know, making everybody feel weird. Willie Blake: Yeah. Pete "mental Health Champ": you know, and things like that too. So do you have any advice for people at home listening? Like, hey, listen, if you're dyslexic or you have a child's dyslexic, what are some things they can do to better help them? Willie Blake: Yeah, there's always different goals. I guess you could say goals or desires of what they want specific Pete "mental Health Champ": You didn't look really thrilled when you said goals, you're like, there's so many goals. Willie Blake: Like, well, you're like New Year's resolutions, right? And just like, I set this goal and a goal for me is a wish, but then you put some action behind it and put a plan to it. Like that's goal for me. For most people, they just categorize that as a wish. So that's why I kind of threw it out that way, right? Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I get you. Yeah, I know. The way you did it, though, is funny. was like, I'm like, no, really don't like this. Willie Blake: I love the word goal, but it comes back to something that I love with my dyslexia is I break down the words to make them, like, to define them. So discipline being one of the ones I've been looking into is discipline. Everyone seems like, if I just had a little bit more discipline, I can do this. What the heck does that even mean? So I broke down what discipline was, and discipline to me is doing something over and over again for a long period of time. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Yeah. Willie Blake: So I thought, okay, if it's that way, then I am already disciplined because a lot of the things that have made me who I am today, I'm disciplined in those. The good habits and the bad habits. I am disciplined with being with my kids and I'm also disciplined with sitting on my phone for an hour or two scrolling through Instagram and YouTube, watching shorts. So like, now that I know what that definition of the word is, now it's not, I need this fictitious, Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. Yeah. Willie Blake: fictitious thing that is always out of my reach. But now it's, well, I just shift the energy that I have already towards something else. So, I love breaking things down. To answer your question of like what to go with, there's really two types of realms where a lot of people fall into that I work with. First one is the people who are already out there doing something. And that dyslexia hasn't held them back per se, but Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Willie Blake: mentally it more holds them back than anything. And for those people, it really comes down to what is it that you want? Let's create a plan for it. And then while you're still doing everything else, let's figure out tools and systems that work for you rather than doing the thing that everybody says, this is it. No, we're gonna learn, we're gonna teach you how you learn and what systems work for you. So that's the first one. But the one even, Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. Willie Blake: I don't like to say the word behind, but it really is like one of a backstep is people who see and kind of hate dyslexia in that way. It has held me back. It's made me feel broken. I feel overwhelmed overthinking all the time and overstimulated that no matter what I try to do, there's always this reading or writing or speaking or whatever it is involved that Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Willie Blake: Everybody else can do it so easy and for me it at least takes twice the amount of work just to catch up to somebody else. So for those people, yeah, and so for those people I always start with the possibility. Which the possibility is what if dyslexia could be a good thing? Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Yeah, it's very discouraging, Willie Blake: Because now we're not talking about apples and oranges, we're talking about two sides of the same coin. Everyone focuses on the tail side of the negative side of the coin. dyslexia is gonna hold you back, you're gonna be under grade reading level, and everything that you do, you're always gonna have to do double the work, and always have to be on your A game, or else you're gonna make a mistake and everyone's gonna be making fun of you. That's where a lot of people hang out. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Willie Blake: But on the head side, the more positive side, there's creativity. Dyslexics are really great at thinking outside the box and being creative. They're great at recognizing patterns and problem solving. They're great when it comes to empathy and sympathy because they've had to deal with so much, they know what it's like to go through a challenge. And there's this whole realm of things that have come because of dyslexia. Pete "mental Health Champ": know what it's like to through a challenge. Willie Blake: but so many people are focused on the other side. So what I just say is flip that coin, see it on both sides. And then at the end of the day, you can make the decision, but start with the possibility that it could work for you. And I know it can because it's worked for me. It's worked for the clients that I've worked with and the people I've interacted with. And so I give a little example, but it's that possibility of that's how you can start is Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. Willie Blake: Break past that ignorance that's not really their fault because they just didn't know. Learn more about it. Learn both sides. And then at the end of the day, you choose whether you go to the side you've always been at or start shifting that energy toward the other side. And the other side has some pretty cool things to go with. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Yeah, I like how you are reframing it to more positive things because I think that's the problem with dyslexia. Everybody hears it and then the instantly start freaking out. Oh, God, now I'm to be dumb or whatever. You all these negative things you can come up with is probably what they're all dealing with, because that's what they've always heard about. They don't hurt anybody, do anything with it. And then when you start to find out that certain people are very successful, regardless of it, it's like, OK, well, if they can do it, now I can do it. You know, saying like, I like that, though, because you have examples of other people that you work with. I have all these other people I work with. that are just like you are still doing these great things. You know, and I think that's a lot of times what it is. People get on the Internet. And God forbid, the Internet is a very dangerous place to be, especially when it comes to something being different than anybody else. You know, they'll sit there and pick on you and all these, you can't read these. And, know, all these things, I'll say, there's negativity instead of, like you said, just flipping the coin and looking at the direct opposite side of it, I think is really great, though, just shifting that mindset. For me, it was the same thing as because it's like. Willie Blake: Yes. Pete "mental Health Champ": Well, your special education, so you can't do more than everybody else. And it's like, no, I don't think so. It's not really the case. Look at what I'm doing now. I'm doing something instead of nothing, you know, and I love it though. I think it's really cool that that's how you're looking at it, because I think a lot of people end up getting that built up in their head. And then that's what really changes their mindset, because they're so stuck on what people are telling them versus just doing the research and looking into it themselves and seeing that what they could do is more powerful than what what they're already being told. Willie Blake: Agreed. And that's why I love being... There are resources for kids. There's so many resources when it comes to neurodivergence. And teenagers. But once you hit that magical age of 18, there might be some things in college, but unless you pursue it yourself, there's not any resources as adults that are just so readily there for you. Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. Yeah. Isn't that crazy though? like, you know, you get past 18 and it's like, well, you're on your own now. It's like, but no, we still need help. Like we're, you know, we see things from a different light than other people. Where's my, still my help to help me get through these things? Like, you know, apply things so I can learn them better so I can succeed. You know what saying? And to me, that's the biggest downfall I feel in the education system a little bit. It's just like not to pick on them, but it's like, you hey man, we're still here. Like we're 18. We're still going to college and things. I know. Willie Blake: Yeah. Pete "mental Health Champ": Where I was from Illinois, had a university out there that was really good. think it was Eastern or Western Illinois had a special program for people like me that had learning disabilities and things like that that you could go and it was broke structure. You know what mean? it's like, why can't everybody just do that? It doesn't make any sense because it's like now you leave them out there and you're basically up the hill and just, well, there you go. You're done on your own. Now have fun. It's like, okay, well, what do I do now? Well, you know, I don't know. Willie Blake: Awesome. Pete "mental Health Champ": It's like you get tossed aside and you're like, well, hold on, I'm still here. I'm still trying to figure things out. I'm still trying to learn and succeed. And, you know, I feel it's the same thing for everybody. It's neurodivergent as well. A lot of people don't understand that you can't approach them the same way you approach everybody else. You know, and we where I work now, we have a few people that are like that. And I'm trying to explain it them like, listen, you can't approach this guy the same way you're approaching everybody because he doesn't understand the same thing you do. So like, how about ask him what you can do to help him? Hey, listen, what's a better way for you to learn? And you know, that's the scary part is that nobody asks you how to help you better. It's like, everybody has an answer for you. The hero complex of, well, I'm going to go save the day for Willie. got you, man. It's like, but how are you going to help me if you don't know what the hell I'm dealing with? You don't even know what I, you're just saying like, you don't even know what I'm dealing with. And you're over here telling me you're going to come save me. Well, how? Calm down Superman. You can't save the day. You know what I'm saying? It's like. Willie Blake: Exactly. Pete "mental Health Champ": But that's how everybody is these days. It's like, or everybody gets on the internet and then the false rhetoric that gets said, it's just like, can y'all do a little research, like what the credentials of this person are saying to you? Like, TikTok is great and it can be your enemy at the same time. Like you're like, just cause a guy in TikTok told you you can make a million dollars in 20 minutes doesn't mean you can make a million dollars in 20 minutes. You understand these are pyramid scandals and things like that. You know, it's like, dude, just a slight bit of research because... You'll find that, you know, a lot of times, you know, the information you're getting is not as great as you want it to be. But if you look and use the Internet to your advantage, like Willie's saying, go look at look at and understand better what you're doing. think that's the part a lot of people fail at. It's just like they get diagnosed with anything, mental health, whatever you want to put in that category, then they don't go look at the other side and go, hey, listen, let me learn more about what it is so I can better adapt. You know, like people with borderline personality disorder is a very interesting one just to come to mind. You know, everybody gives it a false narrative because it's like, they're horrible people, but they're not. If you go look at the other side of the coin and understand what these people deal with on a daily basis, it's just like being dyslexic and anything else you put in that category. If you go learn what these people are dealing with, you know, it'll be so much easier for you to understand. And that's where we fail as societies that we just don't learn about the other people like, you know, Willie's wife, I'm sure looked up with dyslexia, wasn't getting a better idea. you maybe what it is, but that's just being what you do, you know, I you look up to help each other. We use the internet for other things, but hell, we can't use it to research to save our lives at this point. Willie Blake: Boom, mic drop right there for me. I'm just like, episode's done, that was the best way to end it. No, it's, it's, yeah. Pete "mental Health Champ": But it was like, I'm done. You know I'm saying? But you know what saying? Like, it's crazy, man. It's insanity. Like, you're on TikTok as well, man. I'm sure you get a lot of weird videos that come in and you just sit there going, wait, what? Yeah, you shouldn't do these things. And Billy's like, wait a minute, what do mean? I shouldn't do these things. Hold on, wait. What are you telling me? You know what saying? you were gonna call our Instagram. Instagram is a scary place, man. You go down my Instagram feed, Willie, there's things on there. You're just like, what the hell did just watch? I just spent 10 minutes watching. It's just. Willie Blake: Yeah! Exactly. I have a friend who literally, so I am, I'm an Android user. He's an Apple user. And we have this debate and conversation all the time of like, what's best. And we're like, this, this aspect's better and this aspect's better. But one thing that both of us have in common is that in order for us to start the argument per se, or start the conversation, we both have to say three things that the other side does better. Pete "mental Health Champ": here we go. here we go. Here we go, Willie. Come on, man. Willie Blake: because Pete "mental Health Champ": Ha! Willie Blake: then that puts us in the place of, okay, now we can actually have some mutual like conversation where I have another individual close to my family who is also an Apple. And for the life of her, she's like, no, Apple's supreme. I'm like, well, just like here, here's some great things about Apple. And I'm like, if you want to have a conversation, tell me just one, one thing that Samson does good. And she says, no, I'm not going to. And I think of just back to your point of, We gotta learn how to be curious. We gotta learn, we gotta actually learn how to learn because we've lost that these days. Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Well, I think we're curious. We're just curious in the wrong things, like looking at how to, you know, do some oddball shit on the internet versus actually using it to our advantage. Like don't get me wrong, internet's great. You can entertain yourself. But for the love of God, please use it the other side. And don't WebMD shit, please. Like I cannot stand people that do that and start self-diagnosing themselves. Well, I think I got cancer. I think it goes deeper than that, my guy. I think you need to calm down. Or it's like people that go to Wikipedia, Willie, I cannot, I got to get up to stand. It's like it's all factual, guys. There's all notes. You could literally go on and your own notes into Wikipedia, man. Like it doesn't work, man. You can't stop for the love of God. Quit doing that because it's like then you get these people that post things on the Internet and it's just like they always want to tax them. So I did this thing this morning. OK, so I got I got curious and did something. So I went on there. I typed a message on it and misspelled one word, okay? So I attracted this troll to come talk to me. And we're going back and forth. And I'm not being rude at all, mind you. The whole time I'm just sitting here being very playful. And this guy's like, oh, well, you know how to spell right? I'm like, no, I don't. My mom didn't teach me how to spell right. I'm sorry. You know, my bad, you know? And just kept going back and forth. And it's just like, you're so upset by what I said versus the fact of just like... I made a comment on a video like you're just that attracted to it. It's like it's these these people just like thrive on the stupidest things possible, dude. It's like y'all need some help out there. Like quit, man. Stay off the Internet if you know you're going to like judge everybody. I mean, because regardless, you're still going to get it. get these people to tell you what is depression isn't real. One guy was telling people that if you're not happy, will he go back to when you're 18? I said, what if I hated myself at 18? You know, that is the worst advice you could ever give, you know, and it's just like the constant battle. of those kind of things. So are any of your daughters dyslexic by chance? I know you said you had one. Do you have more than one? Willie Blake: Yeah, I have four daughters, but the oldest one, yeah, no, you're good. She's six years old. She's in kindergarten. So I don't know at this point if they're dyslexic or not, but potentially. Pete "mental Health Champ": that's right. That's you did say for my bad. Yep. get ready, man. It be possible. But at least, you you'll be equipped. But you're going to understand, though, if something is wrong or something like that, you'll be ready and equipped for it you've already been through it and you know, and you're very sympathetic to it, you know, and especially with kids that age, you know, if we can help them early on, it's even better. Like I even I even say like emotionally regulate them at that young age, you know, just so they understand what these feelings are. I like that movie Inside Out for that reason. You like how the characters give like different like meanings to things, you know, and stuff like that as well. So, you know. Willie Blake: Yeah. Pete "mental Health Champ": It gets interesting because I like that one because I think the second one is my anxiety is that little character that shows up. It's like, there you go. You want to my anxiety looks like that's it right there, man. That little. Willie Blake: Yeah, I'm not gonna lie. cried. I cried in that one that the ending scene when she's like Playing the hockey game and anxiety attack and just like this. I'm like, that hits hard that hits so hard Pete "mental Health Champ": Yeah. Right. Yeah, it's horrible, man, because I've experienced anxiety attacks and panic attacks. PTSD has been a thing for me. I've dealt with recently, you know, stuff like, know, you just start experiencing these things and then you hear other people talking about it. It's so interesting to get their perspective of what it's like for them, because the same thing is like, you know, you'll experience something different than I'll experience it. You know, and that's the idea behind the show, too, is just to let people know that just because you have this doesn't mean you're alone. But you may not feel the same way someone else does. But you know, at home, you're going to realize, you know, that, listen, this guy may not be exactly who I am, but he still understands what I'm going through and things like that. So, Willie, we're at the part of the interview where I ask two questions to all my guests. OK, so the first one's kind of a fun one. So the question to you is, is that if your mental health had a song, what would that song be? Now, you could break this down however you like it to be. Willie Blake: Okay, I thought so the song that comes up is is a Hall of Fame by the script that's like my theme song I go with it's like living in the Hall of Fame love the song the one that came up is It's the one that first came up as I thought back to that anxiety and back to years back was it's the final countdown Just like it's going to happen Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Europe. Yep. That's you're thinking too, right? So coming to ask you read Willie's like, it's the final countdown. He's just counting all the people down as it comes down to him. I could just see that too. I get to see it. Willie said he's just like, he's counting them down. It's like that little, you know, like the spotlights are just popping and people and you're like, Oh God, please don't hit me. Please don't hit me. Oh, Willie, whammy. Or you're like, like, what is it? The whammy game? whammy. She's like, whammy, stop. Willie Blake: Yeah, exactly, exactly. Pete "mental Health Champ": And he was like, oh, nope, I'm in trouble now, man. It's all me. Willie Blake: yeah. And then one of the hardest, probably worst things was it be going down the line to me, I'm ready to read. The kid next to me would stop reading and then the teacher would be like, K, let's stop and have a discussion on what was talked about. So I'm sitting there stressing out, I'm just like, wait, I'm ready to read, please let me read, I don't wanna talk about this. And then they might call on you and you're like, crap, I'm not ready for this. Yes, it's the final countdown for sure. Pete "mental Health Champ": my God, Yes. So Willie, the question for you and the final one I have for you is that if you could break the stigma about mental health. Now, when I say this, it's just something you hear that you want people to stop believing. You can apply this to dyslexia as well. What would you say that one thing would be? And this could be anything that you just see on a constant basis that you feel like people demonize that just isn't right in your mind. Willie Blake: I'm gonna explain it a little bit. the saying is this, you're not behind, you're just still in part. Pete "mental Health Champ": Go for it. Okay. Willie Blake: Let me explain it. So many times, I I've fallen in this category many times, we feel behind that we have to be at this certain location in our life where our physical health is a certain way, our mental and emotional health are a certain way, and that everything has to be of this expectation. And weirdly enough, every person I talk with, their reality is always below their expectation of how they thought their life was going to But I've learned this. that if you come with me, think about yourself jumping into a car and you're excited, you're about to go on vacation. Open that car door, you jump in, close that door. Pull up your phone, whether you get on Apple Maps or Google Maps, you type in Disneyland. You're about to take a road trip. Pull it up, put in the address you live at, click directions. Pulls up a map of what you got. Awesome, you put it up on your little phone thing holding there and you press start. and you're so excited for it, but you never take your car out of park. Pete "mental Health Champ": That's it. Willie Blake: How fast are you gonna get? Pete "mental Health Champ": I like that. That's really cool. Yeah, you didn't think of it that way. Yeah, exactly. You can't move at all, honestly. You're in park still. you know, that's. Willie Blake: Not fast at all. and you can put as much effort as you want. You can step on that gas pedal as hard as you can, but if you're still in that park gear, nothing's gonna happen. Doesn't matter if you have the perfect plan right in front of you, the perfect business plan or the life plan, the vision board, if it's right in front of you. Doesn't matter if you have all the wishes just right in there that you're just like, I wish for this and this and this and this, and like if a genie came, you'd have it ready. It doesn't matter. Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. Yeah. Willie Blake: if you don't take it out of park. So with that mental health side of A lot of what we go through is because we're not moving. And so I always tell people, one, you gotta look at the possibility of it happening, especially with dyslexia. But you also are feeling the way that you feel because you're not moving in the way that your body needs to be moving. We are built for action. We're not built for thinking. And of course we think, but we think too much. Pete "mental Health Champ": Mm-hmm. Yeah. Willie Blake: Because if a task takes a shorter amount of time versus the amount of time in which you thought about it, I would consider that overthinking. So it would be what you are going through if you want to change your mental state, change your physical state. Get up, take a walk, do a pushup, do a jumping jack, whatever it is that you can physically do. But if you want to change that mental state and work on the mental health, move physically. And the opposite is true as well. If you want to change your physical health, work on your mental health. Both of those correlate so hard, but both come to, are you shifting out of part? Pete "mental Health Champ": Fantastic point Willie. Fantastic. I love it. I love it Willie. Fantastic. Well, Coach Willie, it comes that time we get ready to start winding down. Did you have any final last words for everybody at home before we start signing this thing off? Willie Blake: Absolutely. Believe in yourself, because you're awesome. Yeah. Here we go. It's the final countdown. We're doing this. First thing, believe in yourself, because you are such an amazing person. The person who is listening to this in their ear, you are an amazing person, and you gotta believe it, because me and Pete both believe it for you, and it's time for you to believe it as well. Then that second thing, get out of partner. Pete "mental Health Champ": Give it to him, Willie. Give it to him, Willie. Tell him. my god. Yeah. Willie Blake: You're not behind. You just haven't started. So take just to shift it into drive. And even if it's baby steps, just go a little bit at a time. Pete "mental Health Champ": Exactly. I love it. I just love it. I love it. With that being said, we're going to wrap up this episode of Peace Society before we do the Willie. Where can everybody find you, man? What socials do you want them to hit you on? What's the website? Give it to them and let them know where the podcast is, especially so they come check it out because I'm going to check out those earlier ones driving with Willie because I'm I'm sure I'm going to be laughing about this one for a little bit. I'll be messing with you. Oh my God, man. I can't believe did this. Willie Blake: Like dude, I heard the turn signal in your thing the entire time. That is awesome. So best thing, you can find it all in one place. My website, coachwillyblake.com. There you'll be able to find the links to my socials as well as the link to the podcast, Light Beyond Limits. I'm primarily on LinkedIn as well as my YouTube channel. I have two of them. One's Coach Willie Blake and I post there a little bit, but I have another one called Dyslexic Achievers Hub. Pete "mental Health Champ": It's... Okay. Willie Blake: And that's where I post most of the videos for dyslexia, leadership, everything we talked about today in there. But all of it can be found on my website. Pete "mental Health Champ": Awesome. Sounds great, Willie. We appreciate you coming, hanging out with us, man. It's been an honor having you here. I'm so happy that you're out there fighting the good fight for the people that have the tux and everything else, Willie, thank you so much again, man. I really appreciate it, guys. And with that being said, we're going to wrap up this episode of Pete First's Anxiety. You know where to find me? Pete First's Anxiety on X. I'll be down to TikTok. I'm on Spotify. I'll be down to Pandora Radio. And as I always say, it costs nothing absolutely not to be kind to somebody. One kind act you can do can save their life or hell, you can make their day. I'm Pete for this anxiety sign off saying, don't ask how your day is today, say, hey, how's your mental health?