Most of us have “squirrels” (those jumpy distractions of self-doubt, negative emotion, or old programming) that scatter our focus and peace.But what if, instead of trying to get rid of them, we learned how to listen to them?

Today, I’m joined by Stacy Braiuca, affectionately known as The Squirrel Wrangler™, who’s spent over 30 years helping ambitious humans wrangle their inner chaos, release burnout, and reconnect with purpose.

She’s a social worker turned coach who believes our “squirrels” are not enemies—they’re teachers. Together we explore what happens when you stop fighting your mind and start partnering with it.

In This Conversation

* 🐿 The Origin of “The Squirrel Wrangler™” - how blue hair, puppets, and productivity hacks turned into a life-changing metaphor.

* 🧠 Why You Shouldn’t Kill the Ego (or the Squirrels) - reframing limiting beliefs as inner messengers, not monsters.

* ⚙️ NLP & Mind Programming - the intersection of technology, neurolinguistics, and human re-patterning.

* 🔥 Burnout to Breakthrough - how Stacy turned her own anxiety disorder into a living laboratory for healing.

* Identity Leakage & The Imposter Monster - why “imposter syndrome” is really just identity in transition.

* 💡 No FRAPPES Allowed - a memorable acronym for holding space without Fixing, Rescuing, Advising, Projecting, Patronizing, or Evaluating.

* Generational & Genetic Memory - what science is finally proving about ancestral trauma and intuition.

* 🌀 The Role of Storytelling in Healing - how ancient teaching through story still shapes our emotional wiring.

* 🧩 From MTV to AI - the repeating pattern of human innovation, and why tools aren’t the problem. Our relationship with them is.

Key Moments

00:00 – Meet Stacy Braiuca, The Squirrel Wrangler™01:35 – The blue hair and squirrel puppets origin story05:10 – Why you shouldn’t get rid of your squirrels07:40 – Identity leakage and taming the imposter monster10:45 – Programming your mind vs programming technology15:30 – MTV, disruption, and the truth about tools20:25 – The unconscious belief that ran his whole life23:40 – No FRAPPES allowed: holding space without fixing28:00 – How Stacy put anxiety in remission using NLP33:15 – Burnout doesn’t care who you are37:40 – Teaching emotional awareness to kids through story42:10 – Healing generational trauma and genetic memory47:55 – The Bruce Lipton connection: science meets spirit50:30 – From NLP roots to modern coaching lineage55:40 – Why therapy borrows from NLP without naming it59:00 – Stacy’s no-cost course: Unlock Your Potential1:01:10 – Final reflections: your squirrels are your teachers

✦ Reflection Prompts

* What “squirrels” (distractions, doubts, emotions) have I been trying to exile instead of understand?

* Where am I still running an old identity program that no longer fits?

* Which of my patterns might be inherited, not chosen, and ready to be re-written?

* How could I practice No FRAPPES in my next meaningful conversation?

✦ Action Steps

* Pause Before You Pathologize.When self-doubt or distraction shows up, ask what it’s protecting instead of what’s wrong with you.

* Notice Identity Leakage.When you feel “off,” check if you’re acting from an outdated self-image.

* Try Stacy’s Free Course:👉 Unlock Your Potential: The Big 7 ChallengesFourteen self-paced modules designed to reconnect you with your purpose and calm the burnout cycle.

* Watch “Show Me Your Nuts.”Stacy’s YouTube show uses humor and heart to break stigmas around mental wellness. Watch here: https://showmeyournuts.online/

If you’re ready to stop wrangling everyone else’s expectations and finally decode your own patterns, reach out to me or Stacy and let’s explore what’s driving you beneath the surface.

✦ Engage With Us Online

* Shawn Michael - https://shawnmichael.link

* Stacy Braiuca - https://squirrelwranglercoaching.com/link-in-bio

With strength & heart,

❤️🔥 Shawn Michael

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