Advertise on podcast: Motivation, Inspiration, and Self Improvement from The Space Between with Sean McClellan

Harland and Barbara live in DeLand, Florida in the restored home in which Barbara grew up. They both lived in DeLand in the 1950s and 1960s, and have known each other since Kindergarten. They lived down the block from each other during their childhood and youth. While at Stetson University, they developed a deep friendship. Barbara majored in Education and Physical Education. Harland majored in Mathematics and Physics. They married just before their Senior Year at Stetson, in a wedding on a Sunday morning as part of worship at First Presbyterian Church. After graduation in 1972, they moved from DeLand to Princeton, New Jersey to explore a call to ministry. Barbara began teaching preschoolers while they were in Princeton. Through the years she has continued to teach young children, culminating her career teaching 3 and 4 year olds in a lab school at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Harland served as Minister in the Presbyterian Church with congregations in Martinsville Virginia, Raleigh North Carolina, Dallas Texas, and Beaumont Texas. He also accepted responsibilities in the Army Chaplain Corps, serving both Army Reserve and Active Duty units. He achieved the rank of Colonel and finished his military career serving as Division Chaplain in the 90th and the 75th Divisions. These days, after returning to DeLand in 2015, after being away for 42 years, Barbara and Harland are enjoying their neighbors, providing leadership in several organizations, growing lots of plants, and being able to sit next to each other in worship again. Barbara works with others in the local Garden Club attracting Butterflies and promoting the choice of Florida native plants for the garden. She has helped to certify over 200 local Monarch USA gardens. Harland continues to hybridize dalylilies. He has about 600 seedlings in the garden. He crosses one flower with another in search of certain qualities in the seedlings. He gives away scores of plants every year and has created (with God’s help) a few excellent cultivated varieties. Here is one of them. Harland continues to teach dozens of adults in our local church a couple times a week. He also preaches about once a month. His work these days includes real estate investing, including managing a local portfolio of rental properties, and managing a syndicated 129 unit apartment complex in Tallahassee. He leads a monthly meetup group of local investors, helping them learn how to invest wisely and ethically. He recently served as University Chaplain for a year at Stetson during an interim vacancy there. One of his favorite activities is facilitating small masterminds of successful business and professional leaders. The goal is to create a container in which the members can get support, achieve breakthroughs at work and at home, have access to the experiences and knowledge and connections of others… https://www.harlandmerriam.com/ linkwithsean.com https://www.skool.com/speak-before-your-ready-2135

The Kentucky Derby reminded us of something most people forget. The horse that crossed the finish line first wasn’t leading the race. It was dead last before making one of the greatest comebacks in Derby history. Podcasting feels the same way. You scroll through charts, compare download numbers, and wonder if you’re too late. You see creators who seem miles ahead while your audience grows one listener at a time. It’s easy to believe you’re losing. But callings aren’t measured at the first turn. The people who leave the biggest legacy are rarely the ones who start the fastest. They’re the ones who keep running when no one is cheering. Every episode you publish sharpens your voice, builds trust, and prepares you for the moment your message reaches the people who need it most. Don’t mistake your current position for your final destination. Stay in the race. Your breakthrough may be waiting around the next turn, and the finish line has a way of rewarding those who refuse to quit. linkwithsean.com https://www.skool.com/speak-before-your-ready-2135

Motivation: Stop Selling. Start Creating Something People Can’t Stop Talking About. Too many people focus on the sale before they’ve created something worth falling in love with. The truth is simple: people rarely buy because they’re pressured. They buy because they’re convinced. When your message solves a real problem, when your service creates a genuine transformation, and when your audience feels seen, heard, and understood, price becomes a secondary conversation. Value takes center stage. Don’t obsess over closing more deals. Obsess over serving people so well that they can’t imagine not working with you. Build trust before you ask for a transaction. Create an experience that people remember long after the purchase. Revenue is often the byproduct of remarkable value. Make your audience love what you do because it changes something in their lives, not because your sales pitch is clever. When people believe in the transformation you provide, paying isn’t the hurdle. Finding a way to be part of it becomes the priority. linkwithsean.com

Motivation: Not Everyone Who Smiles at You Wants the Best for You. When you’re excited about a dream, your guard naturally comes down. You want to believe the promises. The shortcuts. The guarantees. The person who says they can get you there faster. But here’s a hard truth: not everyone in your corner is on your team. One bad decision can cost you money, time, confidence, and momentum. Worse, it can convince you that your dream wasn’t worth pursuing when, in reality, you simply trusted the wrong voice. That’s why discernment is just as important as determination. Ask questions. Do your homework. Seek wise counsel. Look for people whose actions match their words and whose character matters more than their marketing. Don’t let one painful experience keep you from your purpose. Learn the lesson, make the adjustment, and keep moving forward. Your message is too important to place in the hands of someone who values your wallet more than your calling. Protect your purpose as carefully as you pursue it. linkwithsean.com

Motivation: Your Purpose Needs a Garden, Not Good Intentions. Walk outside and you’ll notice something interesting. Weeds don’t ask for permission. They don’t need encouragement. They don’t require attention. Left alone, they take over. Dreams are different. Purpose doesn’t grow by accident. It grows through intention. It grows when you invest your time, protect your mindset, learn new skills, and keep showing up even when progress is slow. The same is true in life. Negativity, fear, excuses, and comfort will flourish if you ignore them. But your calling? Your message? Your potential? Those require daily care. What are you watering today? If you spend more time feeding your doubts than your dreams, don’t be surprised when weeds fill the space where purpose was meant to bloom. The harvest you experience tomorrow depends on what you cultivate today. Pull the weeds. Water the vision. Stay faithful to the process. One day you’ll look back and realize your purpose didn’t appear overnight. It grew because you never stopped tending the garden. linkwithsean.com

Motivation: Your Podcast Isn’t About Perfect Content. It’s About Human Connection. At their core, podcasts have never been about microphones, downloads, algorithms, or fancy editing. They’re about connection. Every person longs to be seen, heard, understood, and reminded they aren’t walking through life alone. That’s why stories matter. That’s why voices matter. That’s why your message matters. People don’t connect with perfection. They connect with honesty. They connect with the cracks, the lessons, the failures, the victories, and the moments that shaped who you are. Your raw, imperfect, beautifully unique story carries a power that polished performances never will. If you’re waiting until your message is flawless, you’ll spend your life waiting. Someone needs the version of you that exists today, not the imaginary version you’ve convinced yourself you must become. The only reason we’re here is to love, serve, and connect with one another. Your podcast is simply the vehicle. Your voice is the bridge. Don’t let fear keep someone from crossing it. linkwithsean.com

Motivation: What If Everything You’ve Been Through Was Preparing You for This Moment? The victories weren’t random. The failures weren’t pointless. The heartbreak wasn’t wasted. The setbacks weren’t the end of your story. Every lesson, every disappointment, every unexpected detour has been shaping you into the person you are today. What once felt like pain may actually become the very proof someone else needs to keep going. We often spend years asking, “Why is this happening to me?” when the better question is, “What is this preparing me for?” Your experiences have given you a perspective no one else possesses. Your scars carry wisdom. Your struggles have produced strength. Your story has the power to create hope. Don’t keep waiting for another sign that you’re ready. This moment may be the one your entire life has been leading toward. Step into it with courage. Share your message. Someone else’s breakthrough could be waiting on the other side of your willingness to finally say yes. linkwithsean.com

Steve Spencer Barton is a native to Maine. He is a resident of Westbrook. Steve was born on Labor Day, September 2, 1956. After receiving his BA in business management from The University of Southern Maine, Steve went into the family flower business, Barton’s Flowers of Westbrook. In 1979, When Steve was twenty-three, his father had a major stroke and Steve accepted the position to manage the family business. In 1985, he and his father purchased Harmon’s Flowers of Portland. Merging the two companies to what is now Harmon Floral Company. In November 2007, he and his father sold the company. With an enduring love of business and a strong desire to help people personally and professionally, he began coaching individuals and business owners based on his backgrounds in mindset and company management. Steve is a passionate seeker of truth regarding human behavior and psychology. He is particularly experienced in helping individuals and teams to connect with their innate awareness. He calls this a commonsense approach to what is not all that common. In May 2015, Steve graduated the eight-month intensive coaching program from the Gestalt International Study Center in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, giving him a foundation in the Gestalt model and the Gestalt Core Concepts and Behaviors to work from. In September 2021, Steve graduated from Miracle Minded Coaching with Marianne Williamson and the team at Difference Press, giving him an even wider range of coaching skills to use with his clients. Currently, Steve is the owner of Steve Barton Coaching, which provides coaching for individuals, businesses, and groups. Steve has registered with the United States Trademark Office, a process that he uses in his coaching practice. It is in the format of a psychological game and mindset practice. It is called The Game of Ten ®. His hope is to train others to teach this process to the psychological, coaching, and wellness community. His website is Over the Looking Glass. https://thegameof10.com/ linkwithsean.com

Can You Have a Saved Soul and a Wasted Life? It’s a question that deserves an honest answer. What if you’ve accepted God’s gift of salvation, but you’ve buried the gifts He entrusted to you? What if you’ve spent years playing it safe instead of living on purpose? Salvation secures your eternity. Obedience shapes your legacy. Too many people settle for comfort when they were created for calling. They silence the message that could encourage someone else, postpone the dream that was placed in their heart, and convince themselves there will always be more time. One day, we’ll all give an account of how we stewarded what we’ve been given. The greatest regret may not be what we did wrong, but what we never did because fear, comfort, or doubt kept us standing still. Don’t just prepare for heaven. Live in a way that leaves fingerprints on earth. Your life is more than something to preserve. It’s something to invest. The time to answer your calling is today. linkwithsean.com

Dr. Sinclair N. Grey III is a transformational global speaker, leadership and mindset strategist, author, preacher, and business trainer committed to helping leaders think clearer, perform stronger, and rise to their next level. Known for his dynamic delivery and practical insights, he equips professionals, entrepreneurs, and organizations with the clarity, confidence, and mindset needed to grow with purpose. Drawing from years of experience in business development, leadership training, and personal transformation work, Dr. Grey helps audiences master communication, elevate their thinking, strengthen their decision-making, and build meaningful relationships that drive success. His approach blends real-world strategy with timeless principles — creating messages that resonate across corporate, educational, nonprofit, and faith-based environments. As the author of seven books — including Fear Doesn’t Get a Vote: How to Overcome Doubt, Jealousy, and Everything That Holds You Back and The ABC’s of Making Business Networking Work For You — he has inspired readers around the world to overcome fear, embrace discipline, and take decisive steps toward their goals. His writing and speaking consistently empower people to rise above doubt, shift their mindset, and lead with intention. Dr. Grey’s influence extends into the media as well. From 2015–2016, he hosted The Sinclair Grey Show on WAEC Love 860 AM in Atlanta, a weekly program dedicated to promoting local businesses and spotlighting entrepreneurial success. This platform strengthened his commitment to helping small business owners grow, connect, and thrive — a mission that continues to shape his work today. A gifted preacher as well, Dr. Grey brings a grounded spiritual perspective to his work, offering encouragement and wisdom without being heavy-handed. His ministry background deepens his ability to connect with diverse audiences, merging faith, purpose, and personal development in ways that strengthen both individuals and communities. Throughout his career, he has created entrepreneurship programs, led community empowerment initiatives, supported youth development, and championed educational opportunities as a former member of the Board of Education in Social Circle, Georgia. His service reflects a lifelong commitment to growth, leadership, and uplifting those he serves. A proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Dr. Grey lives out the fraternity’s values of brotherhood, scholarship, and service through his speaking, coaching, and community leadership. Whether delivering a keynote, facilitating a leadership workshop, preaching to a congregation, or training teams to perform at a higher level, Dr. Grey’s mission is consistent: to help people grow mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and professionally — and to empower them to step confidently into the life and leadership they are called to live. https://sinclairgrey.org/ linkwithsean.com

Motivation Isn't the Missing Piece. Your Willingness to Do the Work Is. Everyone wants the microphone. Few people want the practice. Everyone wants the audience. Few people want to record episode one when no one is listening. Everyone wants impact. Few people are willing to become the person capable of creating it. That's the difference. Motivation might get you excited today, but discipline is what builds a message that changes lives tomorrow. The truth is, your future audience doesn't need another person waiting for the perfect time. They need someone brave enough to begin before they feel completely ready. Every day you delay, someone else is searching for the exact story you've been afraid to tell. Your silence doesn't just cost you opportunities. It may be costing someone else the breakthrough they desperately need. Stop chasing the outcome while avoiding the process. Launch your message. Embrace the work. Your legacy will never be built by intention alone. It is built one uncomfortable step, one courageous conversation, and one faithful decision at a time.   linkwithsean.com

Dr. Joy Kong is a physician, educator, and innovator who has dedicated her career to advancing ethical and effective regenerative medicine. She earned her medical degree from UCLA and holds board certifications in Psychiatry & Neurology, Addiction Medicine, and Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine. Her work bridges clinical practice and scientific research, empowering patients and practitioners to restore health at the cellular level. Her Philosophy Dr. Kong believes true medicine heals the person, not just the symptom. By pairing evidence-based protocols with compassionate listening, she designs personalized stem cell and peptide therapies that rejuvenate the body and strengthen resilience. Her mission is simple: to help people live longer, stronger, and more vibrantly through the intelligent use of regenerative science. https://joykongmd.com/ linkwithsean.com

Motivation: If You Only Had 6 Months to Live, What Would Really Matter? Imagine your doctor told you that you had just six months left to live. What would change? Would you keep chasing promotions that don't fulfill you? Would you continue holding grudges, postponing dreams, or waiting for the "right time" to become the person you know you're meant to be? Most of us live as if time is unlimited. It's not. The greatest tragedy isn't that life is short. It's that we often spend so much of it distracted by things that won't matter in the end. When your time becomes limited, your priorities become clear. Relationships matter. Purpose matters. Faith matters. The impact you leave on others matters. Don't wait for a life-changing diagnosis to start living a life that truly matters. Live today with the clarity you'd have if tomorrow weren't guaranteed. Because in the end, your legacy won't be measured by what you accumulated. It will be measured by how deeply you loved, how boldly you lived, and how faithfully you answered your calling. linkwithsean.com

Motivation: Are You Qualified? Why Self-Doubt Is Keeping You from Your Purpose and Success One question has stopped more dreams than failure ever has: "Am I qualified?" We convince ourselves we need one more certification, one more degree, one more year of experience, or someone else's permission before we can take the next step. But here's the truth. You'll never feel completely qualified for the life you're called to live. Growth has a way of introducing you to opportunities before you believe you're ready. That's not a flaw. It's how confidence is built. No one begins as an expert. Every leader, entrepreneur, speaker, and creator started as someone willing to be a beginner. Your qualifications don't come only from what you've studied. They come from what you've survived, what you've learned, and what you're willing to share. Stop asking whether you're qualified. Start asking whether you're willing. Because your purpose isn't waiting for perfect credentials. It's waiting for your courageous first step. linkwithsean.com

Motivation and Perfectionism: Why Waiting Until You're Ready Is Keeping You Stuck One of the biggest myths in personal growth is that motivation comes first. It doesn't. Another myth? That perfection is possible. It isn't. Too many people spend their lives waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect plan, or the perfect version of themselves before they take action. But perfection isn't a destination. It's a moving target that keeps you standing still. Motivation isn't something you wait to feel. It's something you create through action. Every small step builds confidence. Every imperfect attempt creates momentum. Every setback teaches a lesson that no amount of planning ever could. The people who accomplish extraordinary things aren't the ones who felt motivated every day. They're the ones who moved forward anyway. Stop chasing perfection. Start chasing progress. Because the life you've been dreaming about won't be built by perfect decisions. It will be built by consistent, imperfect action taken one courageous step at a time. linkwithsean.com