170: New Life Perspectives with Liz Larson and Bill McKenna - Episode 170

170: New Life Perspectives with Liz Larson and Bill McKenna - Episode 170

What drives someone to seek a life without turning every setback into a disaster? This episode of UK Health Radio’s "New Life Perspectives" brings Liz Larson and Bill McKenna together to chat about how controversy can become a springboard rather than a stopping point.

You’ll hear them ask a bold question: "Is it possible to let your controversy be your catalyst and not your catastrophe?" From there, they share stories of people who’ve faced intense hardship, including Damian Echols, who spent years on death row and described his time in prison as "an expansive experience" that led him into spiritual practice and teaching.

Tony Robbins’ difficult childhood and his famous 16‑mile run in worn-out trainers also pop up as examples of using pain as fuel for growth. Liz and Bill keep things conversational and practical, focusing on how everyday patterns – like always complaining at restaurants or panicking over small mistakes – are driven by the limbic system and old survival settings in the nervous system.

They talk about the idea that "the subconscious is the nervous system," and how those automatic reactions can lock you into a life that feels stuck and chaotic. A key part of their chat is the Cogno Movement approach: using physical exercises and eye positions to access different "opinions" of the brain. Simple shifts in where you look, they say, can change how you feel about a problem and open up more useful responses.

They link this to David Hawkins’ levels of consciousness, suggesting that awareness plus choice can lift you from fear and reactivity into neutrality, acceptance and even genius-level creativity. If you’ve ever felt trapped in old emotional patterns, this conversation offers a fresh angle on how your body and brain might be holding you there. Could changing your perspective on controversy be the first step towards real change?