

The Mark Groves Podcast
Mark Groves
The Mark Groves Podcast is for heart-led humans eager to expand perspectives, explore HARD truths, and break old patterns while cultivating deeper, more honest connections with self, our relationships, community, and the world. Tune in twice a week for powerful guest interviews and solo episodes that deliver real talk, fresh insights, and practical tools to transform (y)our relationships — because relationships are how we truly connect — and supercharge (y)our personal growth.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 8, 2023 • 1h 10min
#282: Unlock Your Life Purpose Through Heart Healing with Dr. Kevin Preston
Themes: Health, Traditional Medicine, Healing, Transformation, Alignment, Belonging, Spirituality, Self-Worth, Self-Love, Mental Health, Grief
Summary:
Today I’m jamming with Dr. Kevin Preston, a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbalist and acupuncturist, trained in biological medicine. Known for his experience treating toxicity, chronic illness, and mystery syndromes, Kevin has served thousands of patients across North America, by combining extensive education and experience with intuition and heart connection, letting compassion rise to the forefront of all he does. He’s passionate about activating the inherent medicine within each of us, unlocking the true potential of the DNA and cellular network.
Kevin shares his fascinating journey through Traditional Chinese Medicine and breaks down the mind-body connection to show how our emotions (especially stored/unprocessed ones!) play a massive role in our health. Kevin also talks about the intuition and heart connection and how our heart center often stores the greatest potential for setting us free, and how we can gain greater clarity around our life purpose when we create more awareness around the energy in our body and our environment.
Discover:
The importance of identifying the root cause of pain for effective healing
How our emotions impact our health
How our environment(s) impact our overall well-being
The transformative power of processing our emotions and how it creates greater clarity in our lives
00:00 Intro
01:14 Getting into Traditional Chinese Medicine
05:54 Importance of identifying the root cause of pain
09:51 The connection between physical pain and emotions
15:21 How do autoimmune diseases start?
20:12 Toxicity in our environment
28:42 Connection between environment and health
34:21 Creating change and transformation
36:51 Frequency and energy
43:25 Being disconnected to your intuition
47:11 It’s okay to not be okay
51:55 Living the heart path
55:07 Alignment with yourself
59:22 The transformation after pain
Links:
The New Human Event: https://drkevinpreston.com/the-new-human/
Website: drkevinpreston.com
Instagram: @drkevinpreston
Sponsors:
Organifi | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off sitewide at organifi.com/createthelove
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

May 4, 2023 • 13min
#281: Don't Give Up on Great Love – Solo Episode
Themes: Relationships, Dating, Personal Values, Beliefs, Transformation, Authenticity, Boundaries, Codependency, Conflict
Summary:
Have you ever found yourself in a relationship where you feel like you're constantly sacrificing your true desires to meet your partner at their level? Mic drop: you shouldn’t have to compromise your own happiness to make a relationship work. Join me in this solo episode as I talk about the importance of prioritizing your desire for great love and how to communicate your deal breakers effectively in dating and relationships.
Discover:
The most common misconception in relationships when it comes to shared desires
The importance of choosing what you really want and why we don’t often know what that is
The biggest deal breaker in a relationship
00:00 Intro
01:25 Why doesn't everyone seek great love?
03:27 Navigating differences in a relationship
04:41 You must question the system
06:47 We choose lives and circumstances that we don’t actually want
07:31 Prioritize your desires in a relationship
11:25 The biggest deal breaker in a relationship
Links:
How to Be a Better Partner with Jillian Turecki
Hilary Jacobs Hendel – Why You Can’t Just “Get Over It”
Sign up for my newsletter here
Follow me on Substack here
Create The Love Instagram | @createthelove
Mark Groves Instagram Instagram | @itsmarkgroves
Facebook | @createthelove
Sponsors:
Cymbiotika | Use code GROVES at checkout for 15% off your first purchase at cymbiotika.com. (Save up to 45% off when you buy a bundle!)
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

May 1, 2023 • 54min
#280: How to Use Manifestation in Parenting, Love, and Money with Lacy Phillips
Themes: Manifestation, Authenticity, Parenting, Nervous System Regulation, Boundaries, Transformation, Money, Relationships
Summary:
Today I’m welcoming back Lacy Phillips, a global manifestation expert and speaker specializing in unblocking beliefs of unworthiness and expanding into alignment with what one is calling in.
As a manifesting bad*ss, Lacy shares her parenting journey and how consciously raising an emotionally healthy child has informed her work through integrating shadow and inner child using somatic experiencing and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) as regulation tools. We also discuss the connection between love and money, and Lacy shares three important steps to manifest the relationship, health, money, love, and any other common human desires we’ve always wanted.
Discover:
Parenting methods to raise an emotionally healthy and self-regulating child in a technology and trauma-driven world
Why we need to do shadow and inner child work in order to attract the life we want
Three important steps to manifesting your desires
00:00 Intro
02:59 How children help us to become integrated adults
06:24 Raising emotionally healthy children
13:37 Navigating analog and digital worlds in parenting
18:20 Lacy’s process of manifestation
26:27 Love and money are always connected
37:06 The power of saying NO
49:38 Freeing yourself from old patterns and automation
Links:
Website: https://tobemagnetic.com
The Pathway - Membership: https://www.howtomanifest.com/p/the-pathway
Instagram: @tobemagnetic
Mark’s Substack on Technology: They’re Coming for Every Second
Sponsors:
Cured Nutrition | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off all products at curednutrition.com/createthelove
Cymbiotika | Use code GROVES at checkout for 15% off your first purchase at cymbiotika.com. (Save up to 45% off when you buy a bundle!)
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Apr 27, 2023 • 1h
#279: Living On Purpose: Unlocking Your Full Potential with Amy Wong
Themes: Self-Worth, Self Discovery, Happiness, Limiting Beliefs, Authenticity, Belonging, Self-Love, Transformation, Purpose
Summary:
Today, I’m jamming with Amy Wong, the founder of Always On Purpose®. Amy is an executive leadership coach, author, speaker, and facilitator working with organizations such as Airbnb, Salesforce, Roku, LinkedIn and more. She offers transformative leadership development and cutting-edge communication strategies to executives and corporate teams around the world, as well as institutions including Stanford University and the University of California at Berkeley.
In this episode, we break down her latest book, Living on Purpose. Join us as we discuss the true benefit behind knowing your self-worth and value, and how you can make small but profound shifts in your thoughts, actions, and words to live a life completely aligned with your purpose. If you’re someone who is always worried about what other people think about you, this episode is one you won’t want to miss!
Discover:
How resisting doing what you hate turns you away from what you truly want to do
Learning the skill to be more in-tune with your feelings
How our personal stance affects how we communicate
How to organically shift the focal point of conversations to be more present and aligned with others
The truth about rejection and the physical form it takes in our body
Why you need to stop trying to prove your worth to others
00:00 Intro
01:03 What does living on purpose mean?
02:49 Choice at the state of perception
07:08 Making choices that align with the concept of thriving
12:13 Ways to make decisions that will truly make you happy
24:27 Your feelings about things is what matters the most
27:29 What we focus on determines everything
33:43 Being positional actually create more disconnection
36:06 What happens when we always try to make it about ourselves?
40:02 What rejection does to our body
45:54 Getting stuck in the paradigm of constant validation
51:37 Shifting from believing to knowing who we are
54:56 The ultimate paradox: from belief, to knowing
56:42 Transpersonal psychology
Links:
Website: https://www.alwaysonpurpose.com
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Purpose-Deliberate-Choices-Fulfillment/dp/1956072020/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1635792712&sr=8-1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyelizawong/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyelizawong/
Free Workshop: Buy Amy's book and send the receipt to info@alwaysonpurpose.com to receive a promo code to attend her virtual Conversational Intelligence workshop for free ($150 value)!
Sponsors:
Open | Try Open for 30 days free! Go to withopen.com/createthelove and use code CREATETHELOVE to sign up
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Apr 24, 2023 • 1h 4min
#278: The Ultimate Comeback: Rebuilding Life After Addiction with Donny Starkins
Themes: Addiction, Comeback, Recovery, Healing, Sobriety, Personal Development, Transformation, Authenticity, Self-Love, Purpose, Grief
Summary:
In this episode, I’m joined by my good buddy Donny Starkins! As a former Division I baseball player, Donny’s journey into Yoga, Personal Development, and Mindfulness began after seven operations on his left knee and an addiction to painkillers. Fast forward to today, Donny has a decade of sobriety under his belt and has become one of the most dynamic leaders in his industry. He is a professional speaker, teacher, podcast co-host of Comeback Stories, and a personal development coach leading classes, workshops, and seminars all across the world. He’s the creator of “The Shift” Transformational Coaching, a 90-Day Personal Development Private Coaching program, and works one-on-one with some of the top professional athletes in the world on mindset, yoga, life coaching, and mindfulness.
Join me for a powerful conversation with Donny about his battle with addiction, his comeback journey, and how he uses his experiences to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. So much more than just an inspiring story about addiction and recovery—you'll be surprised at how many gems of wisdom are in here that you can apply to so many areas of your life!
Discover:
Donny’s 6-year battle with addiction and how he was able to take ownership of his pain, fear, and anxiety even after relapsing
The mind and body connection and how important it is in the recovery journey
The power of sharing and vulnerability in healing
00:00 Intro
00:56 The power of making a positive impact
02:32 Donny’s comeback story
07:17 Overdosing and AA meetings
13:45 Surrendering to recovery
17:48 Loss of athletic identity
20:41 Taking ownership of pain and addiction
26:03 The hardest step in recovery
28:31 The power of sharing and vulnerability in healing
34:46 Mind-body connection
41:05 Relapse and Sobriety 2.0
48:13 Finding freedom in sacrifice
52:16 Creating safe spaces
55:34 Tech addiction
59:26 The power of honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness
Links:
Instagram: @donny_starkins
Website: donnystarkins.com
Comeback Stories: comebackstories.com
Sponsors:
Cymbiotika | Use code GROVES at checkout for 15% off your first purchase at cymbiotika.com. (Save up to 45% off when you buy a bundle!)
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

6 snips
Apr 20, 2023 • 19min
#277: Hot/Cold Dating: Decoding Emotional Distancing – Solo Episode
Themes: Relationships, Attachment Theory, Dating, Emotions, Breakups
Summary:
In relationships, we all crave connection and intimacy. But what happens when someone we’re dating suddenly becomes emotionally distant? Let’s talk about emotional distancing and how we can increase our ability to love and be loved.
Whether you're struggling with your own emotional availability or trying to connect with someone who is emotionally distant, this episode will leave you with a new perspective on the hot/cold dynamic.
Discover:
The connection between distancing tactics and attachment theory
How to stop the hot/cold dynamic from repeating in your relationships
00:00 Intro
01:51 Distancing tactics and attachment theory
05:38 Why do people distance themselves?
09:07 How to date emotionally avoidant people
16:33 How to increase your availability to love
Links:
Lexie Herod’s Tik Tok Video
Attachment Theory 101 with Silvy Khoucasian
All About Ghosting
The Nervous System Explained with Sarah Baldwin
The Attachment Theory & Nervous System Connection with Sarah Baldwin
Join me on Felt!
Sign up for my newsletter here
Follow me on Substack here
Create The Love Instagram | @createthelove
Mark Groves Instagram Instagram | @itsmarkgroves
Facebook | @createthelove
Sponsors:
Cozy Earth | Use code GROVES for 40% off sitewide at cozyearth.com
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Apr 17, 2023 • 1h 1min
#276: How to Intentionally Create a New Reality with Dr Joe Dispenza
Themes: Meditation, Mindfulness, Healing, Self-improvement, Empowerment, Beliefs, Health, Transformation
Summary:
In this podcast episode, I had the privilege of talking with Dr Joe Dispenza, a New York Times best-selling author, researcher, lecturer, and corporate consultant, whose research has led him to develop a practical formula to help people transform their lives. Dr Joe’s passion can be found at the intersection of the latest findings from the fields of neuroscience, epigenetics, and quantum physics to explore the science behind spontaneous remissions. He integrates that knowledge to teach people how to heal their bodies of health conditions, make significant changes in their lives, and evolve their consciousness.
Tune in to hear Dr Joe speak to the power of the mind and how we can reframe our thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and feelings to change our reality. Whether you're looking to overcome limiting beliefs, increase your resilience, change your health, or create a different life for yourself, this episode has something for you. Tune in to this thought-provoking conversation and learn how you can harness the power of your mind to create the life you've always wanted!
Discover:
The transformative effects of meditation and intentional thinking on one's mental and physiological state
How we can shift our fear-based thinking, which is hardwired in us as a species that has lived in survival for thousands of years, to an elevated state of consciousness
The importance of thinking differently, making different choices, and creating different experiences to bring about positive changes in our biology
The amazing healing potential that humans possess when they connect with an invisible field of frequency or energy
00:00 Intro
00:38 The power of reframing your reality
04:58 How positive thoughts affect your biology
11:57 We’re addicted to fear
16:59 How your thoughts shape your health
21:24 Your nervous system is a pharmacy
27:49 Healing frequency and the healing potential of the human body
37:52 We’re changing the science
43:48 The brain thinks, but the heart knows
48:16 Changing your state of being to achieve lasting transformation
54:44 Meditation for physical and mental well-being
Links:
Dr Joe’s Meditation of the Month: Walking Meditation 4
Unlimited Website
YouTube: @drjoedispenza
TikTok: @official_drjoedispenza
Twitter: @drjoedispenza
Facebook: @DrJoeDispenzaOfficialNewsFanPage
Instagram: @drjoedispenza
Sponsors:
Organifi | Use code CREATETHELOVE for 20% off sitewide at organifi.com/createthelove
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Apr 10, 2023 • 1h 8min
#275: Cracking the Code of Successful Relationships with Elizabeth Earnshaw
Themes: Dating, Relationships, Communication, Vulnerability, Boundaries, Marriage and Family Therapy, Marriage, Premarital Counseling
Summary:
Join in the conversation with Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT + Gottman therapist. What are the benefits of premarital counseling? How can we best deal with our partner's differences? What is the science behind flooding and its effects on emotional communication? Elizabeth shares how you can have a long-lasting relationship by consciously navigating the relationship obstacles we all experience.
Elizabeth is a renowned Gottman therapist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Clinical Fellow of The American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (MA), author, and influential Instagram therapist who has helped transform countless relationships. She is a co-founder and the Head of Relationship Health of OURS, a virtual premarital counseling service that provides accessible and destigmatized couples counseling for the young, modern couple.
Grab your journals and soak up new skills that you can immediately implement to take your relationship to the next level!
Discover:
The benefits of premarital counseling
How to deal with your partner’s differences
The science behind flooding and its effects on emotional communication
The Four Horsemen of conflict communication that most often destroy relationships and how to avoid them
00:00 Intro
01:11 Redefining traditional premarital counseling with OURS
05:41 Navigating perpetual differences in relationships
09:19 Finding richness in our differences
12:49 Overcoming resistance to premarital conversations
18:22 Flooding and its effects on emotional communication
22:15 How to have difficult conversations
27:52 Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling
51:21 The silent killer in relationships
55:35 Can a fractured relationship be healed?
1:01:47 The Imago Framework
Links:
OURS premarital counseling: https://www.withours.com
Website: https://elizabethearnshaw.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizlistens/
OURS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ours.wellness/
Sponsors:
Cymbiotika | Use code GROVES at checkout for 15% off your first purchase at cymbiotika.com. (Save up to 45% off when you buy a bundle!)
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Apr 6, 2023 • 1h 26min
#274: Finding Your Voice and Living Your Truth with Christine Chang
Themes: Parenting, Relationships, Personal Development, Marriage, Interracial Relationships, Authenticity, Boundaries, Transformation, Purpose
Summary:
Today I’m jamming with my long-time friend, Christine Chang, a serial entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. Her book "Show Up: Finding Love for Independent Women" has helped professional women all over the world create the relationship of their dreams.
Tune in to hear Christine share her experiences growing up as an Asian American and how she handles comments about her interracial marriage, how she has navigated healing from generational trauma and finding her voice, and the importance of listening to your soul’s desires to figure out how you want to show up in this world. As an entrepreneur having explored different paths (professional photographer, dating mentor, and branding specialist to name a few!), Christine drops her tips for branding and rebranding without relying on social media.
Discover:
How Christine went from being a celebrity wedding photographer to helping inspire women all over the world
The importance of adding joy into your life and only doing the things that light you up
Finding your own voice and identity without buckling in the face of codependency
00:00 Intro
01:35 The impact of negative online conversations
06:20 Finding your identity
10:19 From certainty to uncertainty
18:23 Importance of adding humor in parenting
21:54 Allowing kids to learn resilience on their own
26:51 Confronting stereotypes in interracial relationships
30:20 Having a voice through media representation
34:49 Start something new & be ok with sucking at it
39:02 Healing from generational trauma
42:22 The responsibilities that come with marriage
47:37 Negotiating boundaries in relationships
49:37 Effect of news and social media on your mental health
53:55 Bridging the divide
56:42 Disagreements and differences in relationships
58:53 When extroverts need introverts
1:00:32 Creating boundaries around technology
1:05:11 How to rebrand without relying on social media
1:12:43 What’s next and trying out new things
Links:
Instagram: @cchangandco
Website 1: www.christinechangphoto.com
Website 2: www.christinechang.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyv2WHLUch8m66QoKT2lZ0w
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Show-Up-Finding-Independent-Women-ebook/dp/B08BBB446J/
Sponsors:
Cymbiotika | Use code GROVES at checkout for 15% off your first purchase at cymbiotika.com. (Save up to 45% off when you buy a bundle!)
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Apr 3, 2023 • 1h 1min
#273: Overcoming Challenges and Birthing a New You with Christine Hassler
Themes: Parenting, Coaching, Therapy, Personal Growth, Healing,, Authenticity, Belonging, Transformation, Career, Mental Health
Summary:
Today I have the pleasure of hosting coaching OG and powerhouse Christine Hassler on the pod! Christine is a master coach, facilitator, and speaker with over 20 years of experience.
In this episode, Christine and I jam on everything from becoming a new parent, to the evolution of the coaching industry and the rise of young influencers, to the collective trauma we currently face and the need to deconstruct broken systems. We also dive into the importance of nervous system regulation (especially for educators), the power of somatic and talk therapy when combined, and Christine’s recommendations for daily regulation, integration, and empowerment. A fascinating talk you’ll gain so many insights from!
Discover:
Christine’s story on how she transitioned from a career-focused woman to a new mother and how she dealt with the overwhelming change of caring for a child
The season of early parenthood and why parents shouldn’t put so much pressure on themselves
The evolution of the personal growth industry, including its expansion into mainstream media and the corporate world and the acceptance of therapy and coaching
The impact of social media, on young influencers
How we’re living in a time where nearly everyone’s nervous system is dysregulated and why it’s so important for us to recognize that, plus tools you can use for regulation
00:00 Intro
01:09 Transitioning from working woman to new mother
09:02 The season of early parenthood
12:15 What makes happy and well-adjusted humans
19:31 The evolution of the coaching industry
27:38 Rise of young influencers (“iGen”)
37:18 Importance of nervous system regulation for educators
43:59 Somatic and talk therapy
46:42 Collective & individual trauma and deconstructing broken systems
51:03 Tools to help regulate your nervous system and feel more integrated and empowered
Links:
Website: www.christinehassler.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christinehasslerpage/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/christinehassler/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/over-it-and-on-with-it/id1050321415?mt=2
Sponsors:
Open | Try Open for 30 days free! Go to withopen.com/createthelove and use code CREATETHELOVE to sign up.
Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards
Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands


