Straight Talk with The Change Mastery Host John J MurphyStraight Talk with The Change Mastery Host John J Murphy
Recovery Recharged with Ellen Stewart Pushy Broad from the Bronx
What does it really take to change—and why do so many of us struggle to make that change last? Ellen Stewart, the Pushy Broad from the Bronx, sits down with internationally recognized leadership and transformation expert John J. Murphy, host of The...
28:52•23 Sept 2026
Straight Talk on Change, Ego and Recovery with John J. Murphy
Episode Overview
- Change is constant, and peace comes from choosing how to think rather than resisting what’s happening.
- Ego creates fear, stress and us-versus-them thinking; recovery and growth require shrinking ego and growing humility.
- Shifting compulsive energy into "positive addictions" like learning and peace can support healthier behaviour in recovery.
- Let be, let go, let see, let flow offers a practical framework for moving from resistance into a state of inner peace and flow.
- We can’t control other people, only our own mind, and practising new thought patterns over time reshapes deep-seated beliefs.
“"Why would you want to manage something you can eliminate? That's a whole different paradigm."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol and embrace real change? Recovery Recharged brings together Ellen Stewart, the Pushy Broad from the Bronx, and change mastery expert John J. Murphy for a straight-talking conversation about why change is so hard—and how it can become easier. This chat blends organisational transformation with addiction recovery, showing how the same principles apply whether you're dealing with a boardroom or a bottle.
John explains that his work is about helping people choose how they think and respond to a constantly shifting life: "We can't stop it.
Everything's changing all the time… so the Change Mastery Show is really about what we choose to think, what we choose, and how we choose to go through life knowing everything's changing." You’ll hear John challenge the idea of ego as a helpful guide, calling it "a fear-based, dualistic thought system" that keeps people stuck in us-versus-them thinking and stress.
Instead of stress management, he talks about "stress deletion" and suggests becoming "addicted to success… addicted to learning… addicted to positivity" as a way to redirect compulsive energy into something healthier. For anyone in recovery, the overlap is striking. Ellen connects John’s ideas to core recovery tools like the serenity prayer and the concept of humility, pointing out how ego wants to keep people "isolated, drinking up a storm" while spiritual principles invite surrender and growth.
John’s four-part practice—"let be, let go, let see, let flow"—lines up closely with "let go, let God" and offers a practical way to move from resistance to peace. This episode speaks to people wrestling with fear, relapse worries, or constant stress, and to those who’ve swapped substances for work, achievement, or even social media. It’s thoughtful, direct, and gives plenty to reflect on.
If change feels exhausting, could a different way of thinking make it feel like flow instead of a fight?
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