Create and Grow Rich Podcast

In this riveting episode, join Justine Reiss, one of the nation's leading vocal coaches, as she reveals why voice is a powerful yet often overlooked tool for effective leadership. Justine explains how vocal coaching empowers business leaders to communicate clearly, confidently, and authentically—essential qualities for inspiring teams, persuading clients, and influencing stakeholders.Discover how refining your voice enhances articulation, tone, and projection, enabling leaders to command attention and respect. Justine also highlights the crucial role of vocal dynamics in cultivating emotional intelligence, presence, and authority, vital for successful negotiations, impactful presentations, and leadership in today's evolving workplace.Justine Reiss is a dynamic speaker, narrator, and meditation facilitator who helps others find their authentic voice and dream bigger! With over two decades of voiceover experience, she's worked with brands like Starbucks and Mitsubishi while empowering people to break through fear and live their boldest visions. One of the things she loves most is helping people reclaim their voices, and she's excited to announce her upcoming program and book, "RECLAIM YOUR AUTHENTIC VOICE." Sitting still in meditation through the Dream Bigger Foundation helped immensely in this journey. Recently, following her heart and the signs along the way, Justine found herself on stage singing “Amazing Grace” with world renown speaker, Lisa Nichols.When not behind the mic, Justine loves yoga, the outdoors, reconnecting with nature, and narrating audiobooks as a favorite form of expression. She also enjoys skiing, traveling, and hanging with her two sons in Woodland Hills, CA!Tune in to unlock this hidden skill that great leaders need for the future of work!Contact Justine:@justinereissjustinereissvoices.comLearn more about our Lyrics 'N Leadership Institute launch on May 28th, 2025 here: https://lyricsnleadership.org/   Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

In this compelling episode, Dr. Wuori joins us to discuss his groundbreaking book, The Daycare Myth, highlighting the significant disconnect between the science of early childhood development and its reflection—or lack thereof—in public policy. Dr. Wuori shares powerful insights and forward-thinking reasons for prioritizing early childhood development. It builds brain capital and cognitive reserve, which is the brains ability to withstand stress and combat cognitive decline in the face of disease. He emphasizes that early experiences profoundly shape cognitive abilities, emotional wellness, and social behaviors, setting the stage for lifelong adaptability and achievement. Additionally, early investment significantly reduces future healthcare, educational, and welfare expenditures, strengthening communities both economically and socially. Early childhood nurturing also fosters critical emotional skills such as empathy, emotional regulation, and collaboration, which are essential for leadership and relationship-building. By prioritizing early childhood development, society can ensure the growth of innovative, emotionally intelligent individuals capable of thriving in a rapidly evolving, complex world. Join us to explore these transformative ideas and understand why early childhood development is essential to building resilient, prosperous societies.Dr. Dan Wuori is the Founder and President of Early Childhood Policy Solutions, a public policy focused on the needs of America's young children and families. His new book, The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education (and What We Should Do About It) shot immediately to #1 on Amazon's education charts in February, some seven months before its release. But to thousands of parents the world over, Dr. Wuori is known not for his work in the policy space, but for his innovative social media presence - which offers daily video child development lessons. In a recent profile, The New York Times called Dr. Wuori's X/Twitter account “a font of delight and edification… educational, but also simply put “awwww.”Learn more about Dr. Dan Wuori:danwuori.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Arts educators and practitioners witness daily how the arts elevate students' self-confidence, emotional intelligence, and creativity. Yet, empirical evidence from scientific research has traditionally lagged behind these observations.In this insightful episode, Dr. Thalia shares findings from a nationally representative qualitative study highlighting the cognitive, social, and emotional benefits children gain from engaging in theatre classes. Drawing on developmental psychology and empirical research, she explains how theatre and playful artistic activities nurture emotional regulation, creativity, and overall well-being.Understanding these benefits is crucial for adults too. By fostering these skills early, we equip future leaders with essential tools to effectively navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of work and society. Join us to learn how to incorporate these strategies in your own life!Dr. Thalia Goldstein is an associate professor and director of the applied developmental psychology program at George Mason University, where she directs the Play, Learning, Arts, and Youth Lab, and co-directs the Mason Arts Research Center (a National Endowment for the Arts Lab). Her research focuses on children's and adolescent's social and emotional development through engagement with pretend play and the arts. Her most recent book is “Why Theatre Education Matters: Understanding its Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Benefits”.Learn more about Dr Thalia:www.thaliagoldstein.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Dr. Culler explains that brain health is crucial because it enhances cognitive performance, boosts creativity, and improves decision-making. It supports emotional resilience, stress management, and mental clarity, vital for personal and professional success. Optimal brain health reduces the risk of cognitive decline and brain disorders, promoting longevity and quality of life. She further advocates that investing in brain health also leads to increased productivity, stronger social relationships, improved overall well-being, and greater adaptability to life's evolving challenges and opportunities. Join us to gain tips and strategies to improve your brain health today!Dr. Krystal L. Culler,  is a holistic brain health expert with nearly twenty years of experience working with individuals with brain-related diagnoses, their families, providers, and advocacy organizations. She is a Doctor of Behavioral Health with an educational background that spans the behavioral sciences including lifespan psychology, gerontology, and sociology.She is the Founder of the Virtual Brain Health Center and a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health with the Global Brain Health Institute, where she was the first scholar from the United States to complete her residency training at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland on dementia prevention and the social determinants of brain health. She has an unwavering commitment to promoting brain health equity to individuals of all ages and the communities she serves across the world. Her mission: Brain care for all.Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

What is Brain Capital, and how can it elevate your company's bottom line and enhance employee well-being?Brain disorders cost the global economy an estimated $5 trillion annually. Yet, by scaling existing interventions, society can reclaim over 130 million years of higher-quality life.Brain Capital represents the collective value of human cognitive abilities, encompassing both brain skills—such as creativity, curiosity, adaptability, and resilience—and brain health, the optimization of brain function to achieve peak performance even in the presence of disease.In our fast-paced, innovation-driven economy, Brain Capital is essential. It fuels our capacity to innovate, adapt, and solve complex challenges. It empowers individuals and organizations alike to develop groundbreaking ideas and master new skills, fostering resilience in an ever-changing world.Today, Brain Capital is more vital than ever, yet it's increasingly vulnerable. Join us to explore the growing concerns surrounding brain health and discover why understanding and investing in Brain Capital is essential for the future success and well-being of us all.Dr. Harris Eyre MD PhD is a scholar and entrepreneur dedicated to fostering awareness, data, tools and leadership for the brain-positive economic transformation aka the brain economy. To do this, he works across public, non-profit, and private sectors.The brain economy represents an objective to halt and reverse the depletion of brain capital (encompassing social, emotional, and cognitive brain resources). Dr. Harris also assumes a leadership position at the Brain Capital Alliance, the Brain Economy Hub, and is a member of the Champion's Cabinet of the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative. He is a global thought leader on building our national and global brain capital to sustain the brain capital economy.Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Terrible twos, temper tantrums, and grocery store meltdowns are usually the first things that come to mind when people think of toddlers. But pediatric emergency medicine physician and researcher Dr. Hasan Merali has long thought toddlers are among the best people in our society and adults could do well to learn from them. These extraordinary youngsters can be impulsive, yes, but with this comes a remarkable ability to take risks and ask questions—two qualities that can help us enjoy life more. Toddlers act kindly toward strangers, are eager to work with others to solve problems, and demonstrate extraordinary dedication and perseverance. These are all traits that many of us aspire to have. In his new book, Sleep Well, Take Risks, Squish the Peas, Dr. Merali shows us the many ways in which acting like a toddler can help us improve both our personal and professional lives.Hasan Merali, MD, MPH, is an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University and a pediatric emergency medicine physician at McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University. His research focuses on child injury prevention in low- and middle-income countries. He has published more than twenty-five peer-reviewed journal articles, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, Science, Medium, The Boston Globe, NBC, CBC, and Popular Science.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/To learn more about Hasan, visit:https://hasanmerali.com/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasan-merali/,https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/15/well/live/tips-happiness-mental-health-well-being.html,https://www.greatplacetowork.com/resources/blog/5-workplace-well-being-lessons-from-toddlers,https://medium.com/authority-magazine/author-hasan-meral-five-things-business-leaders-can-do-to-create-a-fantastic-work-culture-784ba24b415eListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Do you need a story on how to defy gravity and find creative inspiration? Entering into the world of theatre in the middle of her high school career, Canyon High School senior Marley Garner surprised onlookers as she won gold at the Jerry Herman Awards last month at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. Marley Garner, who was nominated for “Best Actor,” competed against actors from 40 schools, even having the chance to perform on stage.Marley has dealt with anxiety disorder and ADHD and felt that the arts were a way for her to better process her lived experience and direct her energy. She discusses how being in the arts was an avenue to find her strengths and abilities and learn how to understand her emotions. Genein and Marley discuss how the arts should be a communication method for all people, especially youth, who are still formulating their autobiographical memories and identity.Taking on Hollywood, Garner traveled to New York City in the summer for the National High School Musical Theatre Jimmy Awards. Even though she didn't win the event, she experienced the trip of a lifetime and found her calling…telling stories from the stage.Join us as we talk arts, emotional intelligence and having a growth mindset for our youth and for adults. Garner joined Canyon's theater program as a sophomore, and has performed in a variety of roles, such as “Bart” in “Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play,” “Squealer” in “Animal Farm,” “Kate” in “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Mimi” in Rent, and most recently, “Tony” in “West Side Story.” She is headed to Pepperdine University and majoring in musical theater to further her craft.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Want to add more artistry and creative thinking in your life? Josh and his team created a way to usher it in.Josh founded Messier, a "Headspace for creativity" platform, to help people be their most creative selves. He came to the idea after two decades of working demanding jobs while striving to maintain a vibrant creative life. The Messier team includes some of the leading voices in creativity psychology, led by Dr. James C. Kaufman. While his day jobs have always been in renewable energy and climate, Josh is a songwriter, founder of the band Boy in the Bubble, father of two girls, and husband to a fiction writer.To learn more about Messier, visit:https://www.instagram.com/getmessier/To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Jackie Mattox, who is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer for Women in Electronics, believes women in tech fields need a place to connect, create, and uplift each other.Jackie has always had a heart for people, especially for women's issues along with a dedication to personal and professional leadership development. Jackie had a vision for women rising into leadership roles in the Electronics Industry and founded Women in Electronics in 2017, which is now a thriving global non-profit organization. Jackie Mattox is the CEO and Founder of Women in Electronics, a 501C3 nonprofit, dedicated to expanding the opportunities for women in the electronics industry, industrial industry, and related markets. Women in Electronics, or WE as it is commonly known, is made up of 3 program pillars, (1) leadership development, (2) mentorship, and (3) community. Jackie was named in Start-Ups Magazine as one of the Top 21 Female Influencers in September 2021. Join us as Jackie shares the journey of women, creative thinking, and the future of work for us all.To learn more about Women in Electronics, visit:https://www.womeninelectronics.com/To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

The only thing constant is change. Nicole Andrews is a thought leader whose personal philosophy is that life is a collection of our experiences and reflected by our service to others. She focuses on the culture, DEI and the intersections of the elements needed for a successful educational and life experiences. Though her expertise is early childhood development and brain health for developing brains, her expertise can be applied to all stages of life. Genein and Nicole discuss the effects of family culture, language, the arts and experiential learning in the classroom and workroom. Nicole Andrews has dedicated  16+ years to serving as an educator, mental health professional, DEI consultant, and parent. As CEO and President of HomeGrown LLC, Nicole has developed programming and curriculum that amplified marginalized voices, partnered with E-12 schools, colleges, and business to provide skills training, and hosted community events that boosted visibility s an answer to the challenges of a changing business and education landscape that has a stronger focus on social emotional skills. Nicole was the recipient of Rochester, MN Mayor's Excellence in Education Award. She continues to serve as a director on several non-profit organizations in her region.  To learn more about Nicole, visit:https://www.homegrownllc.org/homegrownllc21@gmail.comTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Mahogany discusses the journey of fulfilling her design career and how she incorporated a growth mindset to navigate the ups and downs of high school and college life. She is a woman in the architecture field, so maintaining confidence and  grit while being an example for young artists all around her has been a challenge but rewarding as well. Join us as she drops some gems on how to enjoy the art of discovery!Mahogany Angelina is a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up in the lowcountry Mahogany has been an evolving artist taking on mediums such as paint, color pencil, pen and ink, and digital platforms. After graduating high school in 2019 her creativity had grown into the form of structure. Mahogany graduated from Clemson university in the Spring of 2023 with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Architecture, and is now continuing on in her 1st year of graduate school with the university.To Learn more about Mahogany, visit:Instagram:@prodigiousartsbym.a.c. Instagram: @mahogany.angelinaTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Who says you need to lay down your creative pen when retirement comes? Mike Dougherty has just published his first novel in the second act of life. It is a slice of life tail that has been called heartwarming, and real. His fiction day is a gentle story written with the wisdom that comes with the gift of age. Como flats delivers that through an authentic set of characters, navigating into their twilight, years with humor, acceptance, and a healthy amount of cynicism. Mike continues to contribute and challenge his mind, even as he enjoys the elderly years.Mike Dougherty has been an attorney by profession, a beer hawker by trade, and now a writer out of love. His first novel, Como Flats, was written from the experiences of the colorful characters he got to know in the local tavern of his neighborhood, the south Como area of Saint Paul, where he first moved with his wife, Ann, 35 years ago to attend law school.To learn more about Mike Dougherty,visit:Website:dortylaw@msn.comFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/mike.dougherty.7169To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

We know that the Power of the Pause is a creative skill but it is also a cultural competence and leadership skill. Knowing how to pause to get your executive function back online, ground yourself and assess the situation with clear observation is a key skill in this future of work. Kim, who has led many senior leaders and organizations to success, talks about this simple strategy that has profound effects. Listen in for gems to reset your focus, improve your creativity and strengthen your relationships. Just pause and listen!Kim Groshek is an elite business strategist and mental health coach known as the “Pause Lady.” Kim works with high-achieving professionals to become more successful and happy through a simple pause that helps ignite more focused results. Kim's professional journey includes 35 years of leadership, innovation, and corporate transformation. She has excelled at project management, organizational design, and leadership coaching across diverse sectors, including healthcare, banking, credit unions, higher Education, manufacturing, government, and start-ups, showcasing her ability to drive impactful organizational changes and establish robust systems and processes.To learn more about Kim Groshek, visit:https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kim-Groshek/author/B00325XE44?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1704277617&sr=8-2&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true &https://soundbits.simplecast.comhttps://kimgroshek.com & https://journal.happyheartzone.comTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

For Women's History Month, we are asking the question, 'Why should you be like a pineapple?' Annie Meehan, an international speaker, eight time author and inspirational coach talks with Genein about the skills needed to thrive in an ever changing world. Thinking metaphorically is a creative skill so Annie brings in her metaphor of being a pineapple to encourage leaders, and our listeners, on how to bring their top game to the workforce. She gives insightful tips for becoming a national speaker as well. Join us for her gems of wisdom and be inspired to pineapple your way to the top.OUR GUEST:Annie Meehan, Professional Speaker CSP, Certified Coach and Award Winning Author. An author of eight personal development books, her work includes the award-winning ‘Be The Exception' book. One of her books, The Pineapple Principle, offers hospitality and a sweet journey to an exceptional customer experience. Today, her passion is to share her "H3 Cultures" concept with companies to help them create a Hopeful, Healthy, and Happy workplace that retains an engaged workforce! Meehan has three adult children and lives in the Orlando, FL, area, with her husband Greg. She enjoys being an active member of her community by volunteering, going on adventures with her family, and taking Leo, her beloved pup, for strolls.To learn more about Annie Meehan,visit:https://www.anniemeehan.com/https://www.amazon.com/stores/Annie-Meehan/author/B018UWZAOU?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1705351345&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=trueTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Being able to build elements of your world is a part of being imaginative. Budsies is a company that allows children and adults to send in images or a selfie and create a 3 D plushie and bring their story to life! I talk with Scott Meier, the CEO of Budsies, about his creative adventures, social innovation methods and how he feels Budsies is a  perfect way to address the emotional and mental health challenges society is facing today. Listen in for great examples of what it means to ‘create the life you want;.OUR GUEST:Scott Meier, CEO of Budsies, Petsies, and Stuffed Animal Pros. As owner / CEO of the Budsies Companies, Scott Meier brings a forward-thinking perspective on creativity, content creation, and IP to the world of toys and customization. Scott Meier has directed, been a showrunner, produced, and marketed film and television projects including features, short films, music videos, and documentaries in Spanish and English-speaking markets for over 15 years.To learn more about Scott, visit:Website: Budsies.com Website: MyPetsies.com Website: StuffedAnimalPros.com Website: Waggables.comTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Anne Jacoby is on a mission to cultivate creativity at work. A professional performer turned MBA and entrepreneur, Anne has been building businesses and driving positive culture change within organizations for over 20 years. She's the CEO and founder of the culture consultancy Spring Street. Her new book, Born to Create, shares how you can apply creativity to spark connection, innovation, and belonging in our new world of work.A former singer, actor, dancer, and storyteller, Anne Jacoby spent the beginning of her career in the performing arts before taking a full-time job at a start-up. As employee #7 at Axiom, she helped launch the firm globally across 14 different offices. After spending nearly 13 years at Axiom, Anne moved to RGP where she was VP of Learning, Development, and Culture, partnering to activate its refreshed corporate brand and transforming the business to prioritize learning. With an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business, Anne is passionate about helping tams work more effectively and adopt a creativity culture. She is an advocate for arts education for young people and proudly supports her alma mater, the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Anne lives in Southern California with her husband and two creative kids. Her book, Born to Create, helps individuals and companies spark more creativity to achieve more connection and fulfillment in work and life.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Everything around you can influence your mindset and creativity. Mark McCormick is an avid observer and storyteller and his field of work ahas put him front and center of some of the most biggest influencers. During this podcast, we talked about how personal surroundings affect creativity. We also discuss his role in the book, ‘Bye Bye Barry' about the retirement of superstar athlete Barry Sanders during his prime. One of the greatest thought leaders in the journalism field, Mark shares his perspective on story, justice and allowing people to shine bright with creative thinking.Mark McCormick is a  NY Times bestselling author with nearly 30 years of experience as a journalist. I was a daily newspaper journalist for about 20 when I had to reinvent myself and become the top executive in a museum with a state-wide reach. I'm now Deeply Executive Director for the ACLU affiliate in Kansas. And believe that Democracy is more than voting. It is about belonging. I have chapters in two textbooks used in universities nationwide. Two of my recent projects (under the same name, “Bye, Bye Barry”) are number one on Amazon and Prime respectively.To learn more about Mark, visit:Kansasreflector.comhttps://bmecommunity.org/To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Creativity is now one of the top skills needed in the world and it is imagination that will drive that creativity. Dr. Ackerbauer discusses how creativity development will take shape in this next future of work. From balancing rocks in his free time to cultivating creative thinking in the top teams in corporate, Dr Ackerbauer shares his wisdom on how to foster this innate gift in all of us for this future of work.Michael Ackerbauer is a Business Transformation Leader for IBM Client Engineering. He partners with organizational leaders to humanize their digital transformation. A seasoned innovator and intrapreneur, Michael makes complex leadership concepts easy to understand and simple to apply. He holds a master's degree in Applied Imagination and a doctorate in Creative Leadership and recently published his first book. Macker is also a certified rock balancer, which is now a TEDx talk.Michael Ackerbauer is a Business Transformation Leader in the IBM Sales Client Engineering organization, where he links business leaders to cloud technology solutions to accelerate their digital transformation. As a seasoned innovator and intrapreneur, Dr. Macker specializes in making complex concepts easy to understand and simple to apply to maximize creative capability. He holds a master's degree in Applied Imagination and a doctorate in Creative Leadership for Innovation and Change. He recently published his first book, In the Cave of Adullam: Songs of Lockdown - Reflections on the Psalms and Proverbs. Dr. Macker is also a certified rock balancer.To learn more about Michael Ackerbauer, visit:https://ibm.biz/macker-tedxhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUXr42uvEEQ&t=300sTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

NeuroSomatic Creativity® is an important component of leadership. So we invited a thought leader in Neuro-Somatic Intelligence to highlight how the body is connected with the mind and brain. She lectures and teaches on Neurotheology - How our belief systems live in our nervous systems. She unites the contemporary science of her 30 years as a healthcare provider specializing in the vagus nerve with the ancient science of how we embody the planets, stars, and the enduring stories associated with them.Melanie Weller is a neurotheologist with a lot of helping healthcare professionals and organizations identify and transform how their belief systems live in their nervous systems. She is a licensed Physical Therapist, a Certified Athletic Trainer, and is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist.Melanie is the host of the Fearless Presence podcast and the co-creator of Neuro-Somatic Intelligence where she trains coaches and healthcare professionals. A new collaboration, Neuro Readiness Experts, is bringing a leading-edge suicide prevention program to the military. Melanie hosts Neurotheology retreats where she bridges modern and ancient science for radical transformation.  Her book, Fearless Presence, will be out in 2024.She lives on the parade route in New Orleans with her husband and occasionally her two adult children.To learn more about Melanie Weller,visit:https://www.melanieweller.com/To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Talking about diversity and inclusion has taken on an interesting spotlight in the last few months. Shakil Choudhuryis a thought leader in the space and has an interesting take on teaching inclusion as a skill. With an educational background, his approach to helping people with the skills of increasing cultural competence resonates with Intercultural Creativity. Shakil Choudhury is an award-winning educator, consultant and author with over 25 years of experience in the field of racial justice, diversity and inclusion. He coaches executive teams and has worked with thousands of leaders across sectors in Canada and the United States to help improve their equity outcomes. Shakil also facilitates dialogue processes to resolve inter-group conflict, having led projects internationally as well as with organizations locally. He is the author of Deep Diversity: A Compassionate, Scientific Approach to Achieving Racial Justice. Written in an accessible, storytelling manner, many have called it a “breakthrough” book on issues of systemic racial discrimination due to its non- judgmental approach that integrates human psychology with critical race perspectives. Shakil's most challenging and rewarding management experience, however, involves his two high-spirited children repeatedly teaching him the humble lessons of fatherhood. To clear his head during the week, Shakil loves to run the beautiful ravine trails near his home in Toronto.To learn more about Shakil, visit:https://animaleadership.com/https://greystonebooks.com/products/deep-diversityhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/shakil-choudhury-71a38b19b/To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Empathy drives so many of our decisions, especially our creative thinking. Dr. Joe discusses the importance of building empathy in leadership and why it is a critical component of Intercultural Creativity® and Prismatic Leadership. Joe Pazmany, Ed. D., CEO of Innovade Inc., Professor of Leadership Studies at Chapman UniversityTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

We are whole beings. So in order for people to thrive, their whole selves need to be attended to. This includes our mental health, which is a top concern for the workplace. It is also a large concern for our creative health as well. Terence Tillman is a thought leader and coach in the areas of mental health, men's emotional regulation and human development.With a charismatic presence in the world of podcasting, Terence leverages the medium to spark conversations that inspire change. Through “Conversations Of The Heart”, Terence engages listeners in meaningful dialogues about mental health, personal development, and societal transformation.Committed to mental health advocacy, Terence raises awareness and breaks down barriers through informative talks, articles, and community engagement. Drawing from personal experience, Terence fosters empathy and encourages men and women to inventory their gifts and abilities, strengthen their internal tools and live their best lives. Listen to the wealth of wisdom that he shares!Terence Tillman, Podcast Host, Certified Life Coach, Talent Acquisition Professional, Speaker & Mental Health Advocate.To learn more about Terence visit:https://www.youtube.com/@conversationsofthehearthttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/conversationsofthehearthttps://www.ttillinspires.comTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Since people are living and working longer there is a multiple generational overlap in our workforce. The way members of various generations learn, interact, respond to challenges and create changes.In this podcast episode, Genein Letford invites her former elementary students, who are now in their early 20's, to talk about the changes in the workforce, their workforce focus and the discussion on generational leadership. They also discuss how their formative years helped shape their adult mindset on leadership, networking and taking risks.Kenia Ventura is a second year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo pursuing Business Administration, and concentrating in accounting. In being part of the Latinx Business Student Association, and serving as the Director of External Affairs, she is also a Summer 2023 EY Launch Intern.  Currently, she is the Assistant Executive Director/Social Media Manager at Alumni360, a mentorship program that supports middle and high school students. Her goal is to intern where she'll be surrounded by an environment where underrepresented and vulnerable groups are treated equitably and ethically, and there's value in encouraging advocacy.Katherine Menendez is a Specialist at the UC Davis Center for Regional Change (CRC). She has worked as a Mentor for Alumni360. She is currently working on projects stemmed in social security net, transportation equities, youth participatory action research (YPAR) and other sectors. Her emphasis is prioritizing working with and for the community.Lizbeth Paz is a student at California State University, Northridge, pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Business Analytics with a minor in Business Management. Mathematics and numbers in business-related contexts are her passion, and she enjoys spreading her knowledge with others as a Mathematics Instructional Student Assistant. Furthermore, as an Outreach Assistant at Alumni360, a mentorship program dedicated to developing the financial, professional, and creative skills of students in all grade levels, Lizbeth's goal is to engage with students through various communication channels to guide them through available resources to aid with professional growth.Emails:kmenendez@ucdavis.edulizbeth.paz.749@my.csun.edukeniaventura2004@gmail.comTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

How did self imposed mute Tori Danner, who grew up in the Middle East, turn out to be a Hollywood actress who regularly appears on television? Tori shares her dynamic story of the uncovering of hidden potential.  Genein highlights the gems of her story and shows how leaders can pull out the hidden talents and gifts of their team members through highlighting how it happened in Tori's journey. Laugh, cry, and listen in to see how you can increase your creative leadership and observational skills. Tori Danner, a graduate of the MFA Acting program in CalArts, is an LA based Actor, Voice Artist, Writer and Producer who was Born in Nigeria and raised in the Middle East, spending 23 of her life in Kuwait. She focused her last few years there as a Talk Show Host on a national television Station and Radio Broadcaster. She's known for her ongoing role- Morenike in CBS's hit sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

AI is here and we believe it can help us be more efficient, more creative and get more work done. Jennifer shares how AI is helping industries across sectors as well as in her industry of healthcare reporting. She's not talking about AI replacing humans but helping humans do their job better and with more efficiency so humans can do what makes us human; create, connect and contribute. With 20 years of experience in tech, media, marketing and public relations, Jennifer brings a wealth of knowledge, skills and leadership helping brands grow to their highest potential utilizing her experience with digital marketing, demand generation, data reporting and brand development. Jennifer now serves as the President of Narrativa, one of the fastest growing artificial intelligence (AI) companies that specializes in automating transformative content (i.e. articles, white papers, reporting and more) for multiple industries, including Media, Marketing, Gaming, Finance and Life Sciences. Throughout her career, she specialized as a multi-faceted VP of Marketing and Branded Content Specialist serving many clients, including Entertainment Tonight, Dr. Phil, Cesar Millan, TBS, Hulu, Beliefnet, OWN, San Francisco Giants, Chevron, ExxonMobile, and more.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Who controls your narrative? Is it you? Or is it an external force? Narrative is more powerful than stats and creating your narrative is an essential part of creating your future. I sat with the brilliant Shawn Dove who published ‘I Too Am America' and is here to talk about the importance about the brilliance of black contributors to the American story and why it is important to us all to create and share our story.Shawn Dove's leadership mission mantra is “there is no cavalry coming to save the day in our communities. We are the iconic leaders that we have been waiting for; curators of the change we are seeking to see.” He is the founder of the Corporation for Black Male Achievement, a consulting and publishing firm that produces community-building engagements and leadership development engagements that elevate stories of loving, learning and leading by and for Black men and boys.He is the co-author of "I Too Am America: On Loving and Leading Black Men & Boys."He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the key to the City of Louisville, Black Enterprise's inaugural 2017 “BE Modern Man of the Year,” Ebony Magazine's Power 100, the Charles H. Revson Fellowship at Columbia University and a 2014 Prime Movers Fellowship for social impact leaders. Dove earned a BA in English from Wesleyan University and is a graduate of Columbia University Business School's Institute for Not-for-Profit Management. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wonderful wife and four amazing children.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Your body is an instrument of thought. Top leaders understand how to connect with their body, listen to their body and control their body for optimal leadership and personal success. Today we have top thought leader and doctor in somatics, Dr. Robyn Tiger who is discussing why it is important to get reconnected to our bodies. Her work greatly aligns with CAFFE's NeuroSomatic Creativity®'s belief that we need to better link our mind, body, brain and spirit to have the best chance for a life well lived.Robyn Tiger, MD, DipABLM is a double board-certified physician in Diagnostic Radiology and Lifestyle Medicine. As founder of the wellness practice, StressFreeMD, she uniquely combines her trainings in medicine, yoga therapy, meditation & life coaching to teach others a whole person approach to elevate their overall health and happiness. Her innovative CME courses, coaching, presentations, retreats and podcast focus on the key topics of stress relief, nutrition, fitness, sleep and social connection for complete physical, mental, and emotional well-being, resilience and longevity. She is deeply passionate about successfully guiding others to become the best versions of themselves and live their healthiest most fulfilling lives!To learn more about Robyn, visit:Web: https://www.stressfreemd.net/ Web: https://www.stressfreemd.net/free-self-care-videosLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyntigermd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stressfreemd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robyn.frankel.tigerTwitter: https://twitter.com/robyntigermdTo learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

What is proximal Leadership? You'll find out today! Emotional intelligence affects leadership and is needed for team creativity. Kristen is a thought leader in the area of ERG support, leadership and organizational strategy in healthcare and other industries. She is also a top CAFFE facilitator in Prismatic Leadership and Intercultural Creativity. Listen in for great strategies to empower your leaders and team members for internal and external success!Kristen Isaac, MPH, Founder and CEO at Project Solved and Organizational Change Management Consultant. Kristen has nearly ten years of experience in project/program management. She has a background in business operations and process development and improvement – she has led numerous projects from conception to implementation and monitoring. Kristen is an analytical and conceptual thinker who effectively partners with stakeholders to accomplish goals. She has used these skills to develop and launch new workflows, planning and implementation of strategic plans, train teams on new technology, grow employee resource groups, impact institutional policy change, facilitate leadership development and has developed programming to support workforce development and diversification.Kristen holds a Bachelor of Science from Howard University and a Master of Public Health from Thomas Jefferson University, and most recently a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. She is also a Certified Birth Doula and a Board Member for Spur Impact, an organization focused on connecting young professionals and inspiring them to get involved and make an impact in their career and community.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Have you ever wondered where the foundations of creativity and leadership are built? It might be earlier than you thought! The foundations of all learning are built during the incredible first 1000 days of life. Finding out about the impact of these vital early days transformed today's guest, Clare Stead's career took her from working with primary-aged children to building the Oliiki app for parents and parents-to-be from conception to two. She's building the leaders of tomorrow.During our chat we'll discuss why you might want to be more focused on supporting your parents and parents-to-be in your workplace from the pregnancy announcement onward if you want to create, support and develop a creative, thinking workforce!To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Today's prismatic leader is a leader that understands their inner game. They are strong in self awareness, emotional regulation, meta-cognition and interoception, which is the ability to understand your body's internal signals. Who knew that poetry was an effective way to build these skills? And it's now proven by neuroscience!Nationally recognized poet and author, Peter Kahn is a national thought leader on using poetry to build these internal leadership skills. A founding member of the London poetry collective Malika's Kitchen, he co-founded the London Teenage Poetry Slam and, as a Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths-University of London, created the Spoken Word Education Training Programme.He partners with CAFFE Strategies to use poetry in the Prismatic Leadership training programs to equip senior and middle management leaders with the vital self awareness skills needed to handle a BANI workforce (B-Brittle A- Anxious N-Non linear I-Incomprehensible).Listen and learn how and why poetry is your ace up your sleeve for the top leaders of tomorrow!Peter Kahn was an English teacher from 1994 and a Spoken Word Educator from 2003 at Oak Park/River Forest High School until his retirement in June of 2022. He now leads poetry programming in Columbus, Ohio. Peter is featured in Louder Than a Bomb and America to Me, as well as on PBS NewsHour and CBS-Chicago, NPR's Morning Edition and BBC radio. Poet-Educator Peter Kahn uses poetry to transform classrooms, boardrooms and the lives of leaders.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

Today's prismatic leader is a leader that understands their inner game. They are strong in self awareness, emotional regulation, meta-cognition and interoception, which is the ability to understand your body's internal signals. Who knew that poetry was an effective way to build these skills? And it's now proven by neuroscience!Nationally recognized poet and author, Peter Kahn is a national thought leader on using poetry to build these internal leadership skills. A founding member of the London poetry collective Malika's Kitchen, he co-founded the London Teenage Poetry Slam and, as a Visiting Fellow at Goldsmiths-University of London, created the Spoken Word Education Training Programme.He partners with CAFFE Strategies to use poetry in the Prismatic Leadership training programs to equip senior and middle management leaders with the vital self awareness skills needed to handle a BANI workforce (B-Brittle A- Anxious N-Non linear I-Incomprehensible).Listen and learn how and why poetry is your ace up your sleeve for the top leaders of tomorrow!Peter Kahn was an English teacher from 1994 and a Spoken Word Educator from 2003 at Oak Park/River Forest High School until his retirement in June of 2022. He now leads poetry programming in Columbus, Ohio. Peter is featured in Louder Than a Bomb and America to Me, as well as on PBS NewsHour and CBS-Chicago, NPR's Morning Edition and BBC radio. Poet-Educator Peter Kahn uses poetry to transform classrooms, boardrooms and the lives of leaders.To learn more, visit:https://caffestrategies.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/genein-letford/

What a perfect time to celebrate creativity and our world premiere of the audio version of I AM CREATIVE! than on World Creativity and Innovation Day! Today we are inviting some of the top voices on workplace creativity and doing something unique with the book.   We are taking this children's book and discussing how these ‘16 Diamond Tools of Creative Thinking' are major points of concern for the workplace and our nation's creative output. Sometimes the best way to talk about serious issues is through simple childlike prompts.    Get the paper book here: Listen to the audio book here:   Thoughts leaders who are joining us are:   Van Lai-DuMone, WorkSmartAdvantage Joseph Jefferson, Flight Engineer, JPL-NASA Geoff McLachlan, Play Specialist, Professionals at Play Amy Camie,CCM The Healing Harpist, Certified Clinical Musician Keeley ‘Lock N Key' Kaukimoce, Dancer, Producer, Speaker   They are bringing these ‘simple' ideas and showing us how they show up in business, science, DEI work, team collaboration, leadership and more.   We are also premiering the audio book, engineered and produced by Shayne, to the world. If you already have the book, bring it out as you go through the adventure with adventurous soundscapes!   And don't forget….YOU ARE CREATIVE! P.S. Shawn ‘The Creative Kid' might drop in as well!! Get the book here:   Resources Mentioned in the broadcast: Create and Grow Podcast, The Neuroscience of Leadership, with Dr. Micheal Platt, Ep #66 ‘What If? The Life Changing Power of Curiosity and Courage', TEDx Talk Van Lai-DuMone TomorrowMind by Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman and Dr. Martin Seligman ‘You Are Contagious', TEDxTalk, Vanessa Edwards ‘The Hidden Power of Analogy', TEDx Talk, John Pollack ‘Metaphorically Speaking' TEDx Talk, James Geary   #creativity #IAMCREATIVE #childrensbook #play #imagination #leadership

Episode 100: The Creative Potential of Our First-Gen Students Dr. La'Tonya “LT” Rease Miles is an expert on the first-generation college experience. Being a first-gen college graduate and a former stop-out student herself, she is now the Director of University Partnerships at ReUp Education, a company founded in 2015 to help colleges reconnect with the long-overlooked population of stopped-out students through a mix of technology and human coaches. In this episode, Genein and La'Tonya chat about the creative potential of first-get students, what the hidden curriculum is, what the strength-based approach is, and why it is beneficial to be sensitive to intrapersonal skills. Topics Covered in this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 00:00 – Introduction01:51 – Who is Dr. La'Tonya “LT” Rease Miles?05:48 – Dr. Miles' First-Gen Student Story11:30 – The Hidden Curriculum 13:42 – Imagination Without Rules 15:52 – The Strength-Based Approach 19:23 – Intrapersonal Skills Sensitivity 23:51 – Dr. Miles' Thoughts on a Four-Year Degree Discussion27:06 – Decision-Making Influences 32:08 – Everyone Has An Option34:18 – Dr. Miles' Final Gem   Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Nicole Tetreault: ●         Message Dr. La'Tonya “LT” Rease Miles ●         You can also see https://www.latonyareasemiles.com/ Connect with Genein Letford: ●    Visit CAFFE Strategies ●        Visit GeneinLetford.com ●    Follow Genein on Facebook   #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #Neurodiversity #Compassion #LatonyaReaseMiles #College    

Episode 99: Mindfulness, Meditation, and the Power of the Creative Brain   Nicole Tetreault is the author of Insight Into A Bright Mind, and today we have her discuss Neurodiversity and everything that revolves around that subject. To begin, we will learn about Nicole's path through the field of neuroscience so that we can gain a deeper comprehension of her experience and acquire some context regarding how she developed into the person she is today. For today's episode, we will get to know how optimistic imagination works, how vital meditation is, why it is important to connect with nature and creation, and many more! How does compassion play a very wonderful role in our lives? How true is it that repetitive learning is not creative? Listen to this episode to learn more. Topics Covered in this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 00:16 – Who is Nicole Tetreault? 02:45 – Nicole's Journey In Neuroscience 05:53 – Understanding The Nervous System Holistically 10:16 – Repetitive Learning Is Not Creative 11:10 – Optimistic Imagination 14:32 – Our Brains in Social Aspect 17:41 – Connecting with Nature and Creativity 19:30 – The Vitality of Meditation 20:40 – The Art of Compassion 28:32 – Shedding Light on Neurodiversity 31:48 – How Creativity Makes You Wonder 36:46 – How Does Art Help in All Areas 39:48 – Nicole's Gem to Share with the World Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Nicole Tetreault: Message Nicole (Link this https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-tetreault-ph-d/ NicoleTetreault's Website Connect with Genein Letford: ● Visit CAFFE Strategies ● Visit GeneinLetford.com ● Follow Genein on Facebook   #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #Neurodiversity #Compassion #NicoleTetreault #Meditation #Art    

Episode 98: Being Unashamed, Unafraid, And Beautiful Even In The Face Of Creative Abuse *Disclaimer: There are sensitive subjects are addressed in this episode. Listener discretion is advised.   Experience changes the brain and affects our creative identity. Therefore, when our childhood or early life involves any type of abuse, it affects the way we see ourselves, our environment and others. Trauma literally changes the brain. Jozanne Marie bravely shares her story of dealing with childhood abuse and the journey it took to heal herself, her creative identity and rediscover her beautiful peace.  Jozanne Marie is an acclaimed actress, author, speaker, producer, podcast host and an advocate for women.  Her newly released memoir, BEAUTIFUL, Unashamed and Unafraid is touching lives around the world and is now being adapted into a feature film by one of Hollywood's top entertainment companies. Jozanne Marie is the CEO at Double 8 Entertainment and uses storytelling, media, and entertainment to provoke thought, introduce change and inspire hope in order to make the world a better place. The Jamaican born multi-talented artist is also a NAACP Theatre Awards WINNER for Best Solo Show – BEAUTIFUL, which she also wrote, performed and produced about her journey. BEAUTIFUL has garnered critical acclaim by various news outlets, magazines and celebrities. It was also selected for Critic's Choice in the LA Times and Best of the Week in LA Weekly. This journey led Jozanne to start the National Beautiful Campaign.  In this episode, we talk about her journey, her creativity and what helped make her healing process beautiful. And on a more lighthearted note, what role does shoes play in Jozanne's journey, and how important it is in her daily life? Her line of shoes, Run Tings Shoes are showcased at the top stores and making waves in the fashion world. She is beautiful.   Enjoy the show! Topics Covered in this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 01:54 – Who is Jozanne Marie?03:32 – The Art Of The Beautiful Book06:39 – The Beauty Of A Healing Process14:21 – Translating Pages To The Stage 19:38 – How Do Shoes Play A Part In Jozanne's Life?29:22 – Jozanne's Final Gem Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Jozanne Mari: ●         LinkedIn Jozanne Marie ●         Website JozanneMarie Connect with Genein Letford: ●   Visit CAFFE Strategies ●     Visit GeneinLetford.com ●   Follow Genein on Facebook   #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #Healing #Double8Entertainment #JozanneMarie #Beauty #Shoes  

Episode 97: How Intercultural Creativity® is Impacting our Climate for the Better With Susan Israel Susan Israel, the founder and president of Climate Creatives, an architect, artist, social entrepreneur, and change agent, joins us in a very fascinating episode wherein we talk about what she does and how she started. What kept people from taking action? Fear and a lack of conviction that their actions are important. Susan thinks that because we're so focused on the present and the future, we're either unaware of what needs to be done or don't feel any sense of urgency. She states that if she could help people make the right decisions, she could have a greater impact on the climate. In this episode, we'll discuss some fascinating subjects like using visuals to express new behaviors, using behavioral research to train leaders, and using art as a platform and tool to draw attention back to nature. Topics Covered in this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 00:24 – Who is Susan Israel?03:11 – The Art Of Climate Creatives05:53 – What Are The Client Feedback For This Unique Process?07:53 – Expressing New Behaviors Through Visuals 10:44 – How The Art Process Is Done At All School Levels 12:36 – Leadership Workshops As Behavioral Study  15:10 – How Universality Affected Susan 16:48 – Small Steps For Climate Change 22:24 – Earth Preservation For Future Generations Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Susan Israel Visit Susan Here Connect with Susan You can also see Rising Waters Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook   #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #HowInterculturalCreativity®isImpactingourClimatefortheBetter #DEI #DiversityAndInclusion  

Episode 96: The Neuroscience of Education: How to Empower Our Students by Teaching with the Brain in Mind with Dr. Kieran O'Mahoney Dr. Kieran O'Mahoney, who is a neuroscientist, author and speaker, joins us in a very interesting discussion about being aware of the brain's part in making the way for diversity, equity, and creative thinking in our classrooms. In this episode, the Genein and Dr. Kieran will discuss how he got his start in cognitive neuroscience when he saw the disconnect between teaching styles and the lack of learning. He shares about the Triune Brain Theory, as well as advocating for emotional regulation and synchrony for our students. In the end, we will learn how to implement neuroscience in early parenting, which is paramount because the most critical years of a person's life is 0-5. Join us for this riveting conversation. Topics Covered in this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 02:27 -  The story of Dr. Kieran's Journey 07:04 - Physical and Emotional Assistance15:56 – Emotional Regulation For the Child's Brain20:06 – The Science Of Synchrony 26:33 – The Futility of Rewards And Punishment For Sensitive Children 31:34 – The Triune Brain Theory 35:04 – What is Your Brain Fertilizer? 42:15 – Applying Neuroscience In Parenting 50:56 – Connect With Dr. Kieran Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Kieran O'Mahoney Visit Kieran Here Connect with Kieran On LinkedIn Kieran's book: Brain Centric Design: The Surprising Neuroscience Behind Learning With Deep Understanding Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #MakingTheWayForDiversityEquityandCreativeThinking #DEI #DiversityAndInclusion

Episode 95 - How to Find the Creative Gold within Your Wellness Journey with Alicia Leytem Alicia Leytem joins us for a conversation on wellness and creativity! Alicia is a certified Wellness Coach, Wellbeing Consultant and a Mindfulness Expert combining her passions for healthy living, mindfulness, and authentic leadership to guide professionals in creating lasting changes for their physical, mental, and spiritual growth. She founded Alicia Leytem Wellness in 2015 and she recently published her book The S.I.X Gold Keys to Well-being: A Guide to Unlocking a Healthy and Happy Life. To support personal and organizational growth, Alisha designs and facilitates unique wellness offerings all over the nation. In this episode, Alicia shares her key tools for unlocking self-discovery and mindfulness, and offers a productive space for personal meditation, reflection, and gratitude. Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 03:48 -  Beginning of Alicia's Journey 05:51 – Tips about Inner Journey09:25 – Meditation, Breathe Work and Practice of Gratitude 11:32 – Space Meditation: Meditate on a Future Version of Yourself18:30 – The Six Keys23:51 – The Key of Movement 28:47 – The Key of Nature 31:05 – Last Child of the Woods34:31 – The Key of Mindfulness 39:00 – The Key of Intention42:40 – Connect with Alicia Leytem Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Alicia Leytem  Visit www.alishaleytem.com Check out Alisha's Book: www.alishaleytem.com/book  LinkedIn www.LinkedIn/in/alishaleytem   Instagram www.Instagram.com/alishaleytem    Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook   #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #OurHealthOurArtsandOurFreedomRide #DEI #DiversityAndInclusion

A Creative Tribute to a Teacher:  Mr. Miller For this Diamond Mentor moment, I will be sharing my recent experience speaking at my 6th grade teacher's memorial service and how his guidance and empathy structured my current mindset and creativity.  I nominated him for the 2011 Sondheim Award which he won $10,000. I'll share how that award affected his reflection on his whole teaching career. We will also discuss how empathy and engagement is critical for building strong brains and how the brain produces acetylcholine, which is needed for plasticity (brain growth). Great leadership is great ‘teacher' ship. Those who can do and those who love, teach. Thank you Mr. Miller for your uniqueness and creativity. You are greatly appreciated and I will miss you.   Source: PBS Special: The Brain Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain by Dr. Dr. David Eagleman Sondheim Award Article: Sondheim Press Release:  

Episode 94: How A STEM Career is Made Better with STEAM with Joseph Jefferson How do the arts help leaders navigate through a VUCA world? NASA's award-winning flight engineer, Joseph Jefferson discusses how his arts background trained him to be adaptable, observant, and emotionally aware throughout his STEM journey. He and other JPL-NASA and CalTech employees and students just finished an 'off-off Broadway' play debut, 'From the Earth to the Moon'. The process and final production provide further evidence that people exposed to the arts will have a greater edge in innovative thinking in non-arts fields (business, science, marketing, and entrepreneurship). Keep the 'A' in STEM to make STEAM and blast off into the future! Listen as Joseph shares his playful experience, vulnerable insight, and out-of-this-world wisdom for people to prepare for this future of work! CAFFEstrategies.com VUCA - Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous #InterculturalCreativity #ArtsEducation Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 00:54 - Introduction to How A STEM Career is Made Better with STEAM03:29 - A Flight System Engineer and his Two Spacecraft07:01 - The  Partnership Between Caltech and JPL NASA11:54 - Spacecraft Development is an Art Form14:51 - Time is Malleable per Einstein16:59 - Emotional Intelligence: A Big Word in the Worlds of Business, Science and Education19:17 - Emotional Granularity21:08 - Workforce in the Professional Development Curriculum24:28 - A Little Imposter Syndrome Goes a Long Way27:21 - Creating Momentum and Allow to See All the Different Possibilities32:30 - Joseph's Message at This Moment37:44 - Hustle and Float39:03 - Why advocate for that A inside of STEM?41:13 - Robert Root Bernstein and Michelle Bernstein's Sparks of a Genius Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Joseph Jefferson: Website https://www.joeyjefferson.com/ Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook   #PerspectiveShifting #SeeingYourLifeFromAnOutsidePerspective #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #HowASTEMCareerisMadeBetterwithSTEAM

Words can build or destroy and now we have the neuroscience to prove it. During this Diamond Mentor Moment, I'll bring in the work of Dr. Andew Newburg, Dr. Lisa Feldman Barret and Dr. Mark Waldman to show how words, microaggressions and negative phrasing can hurt our ability to thrive, create and connect with one another.   Intercultural Creativity® and Intercultural NeuroCreativity® at its best!   Enjoy!   Genein Letford, Keynote Speaker, Author, Educator

Episode 93: Living a Creative Life of Purpose with Yetunde Shorters Yetunde has a calling, and it's crystal clear - to guide women in discovering their life's purpose so they can impact lives, brand their business, and earn profits confidently! Yetunde believes the world would be more joyful, compassionate, and kind if everyone stepped fully into their purpose. She has made it her mission to find the answer to the question, “Why is it so difficult for humans to be kind to each other - not nice, but truly kind?” A fervent globetrotter, Yetunde is fluent in two languages, Yoruba and English, and has been to over 88 cities all across the world. She has more than 20 years of experience in People Relations and Branding and worked with more than 700 entrepreneurs. Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 01:09 - Introduction to Living a Creative Life04:23 - The Consistent Theme for Most People is Worthiness06:31 - Personal Branding's Purpose is not About You!12:39 - Particular Exercises that Embodied Connection in terms of Mindfulness14:57 - Brain-Centric Instructional Design Program17:18 - Understanding How the Integral Brain Steps up into a Level of Purpose19:59 - The Amygdala Hijack22:05 - Coming Up with Content on Each Lobe24:52 - Adults Learn in Multiple Perspectives26:23 - The Lack of Financial Literacy and Creativity Affects the Workforce   Subscribe: Spotify | YouTube Connect with Yetunde Shorters : Website YetundeShorters.com Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook   #PerspectiveShifting #SeeingYourLifeFromAnOutsidePerspective #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #HowtoBeAnInterculturallyCreativeCommunicator  

 Episode 92: How to Be an Interculturally Creative Communicator with Monique Russel Communication is critical and language is powerful. Language can influence the way we see ourselves, others and the creative potential of us all. Monique Russell, the Communication Coach, shares her wisdom to guide us to craft our words and melodic messages to get our message across to the masses. Come learn how to use language to improve your Intercultural Creativity®! Monique Russell is the communications expert you want on your team. She teaches women leaders and teams how to have positive and productive relationships at home and work using effective communications tools and strategies. Fill your mental universe with more diamond stars to enhance your creativity! Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 01:09 - Introduction to How to Be an Interculturally Creative Communicator 02:27 - Work With Monique to Build Confidence and Rediscover Self 03:16 - Communication: A Huge Role in Creative Thinking and Ideation 05:00 - Enhancing Observational Skills is Enhancing Creativity and Communication 06:43 - The Looks of Authentic Communication 11:21 - Tips on Saying No in a Polite Way 16:08 - Advice on Executive Presence20:26 - Art Plays an Important Role Too 25:50 - Monique's Book about Motherhood 30:59 - Self-Awareness is Key 35:49 - Joining the Toastmasters Groups 41:03 - Connect with Monique 41:56 - Monique's Final Gem Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Monique Russel: Website MoniqueRussell.com Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook   #PerspectiveShifting #SeeingYourLifeFromAnOutsidePerspective #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #HowtoBeAnInterculturallyCreativeCommunicator  

How does being on the most powerful non-profit board literally change a brain?

From veterinarian to comic to creative guru, Dr. Caroline Brookfield is on the mission to make sure people are in control of their everyday creativity. She encourages people to *DANCE” which is 5 effortless habits to help YOU release your inner creative genius. Listen to this hilarious and information packed episode to learn what they are. She loves to challenge, entertain, engage and interact with audiences and this is no different. Fill your mental universe with more diamond stars to enhance your creativity! Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 02:30 - Dr. Caroline's Journey to Where She is Today 05:07 - Progress as a Veterinarian Exploring the Artistic Aspects07:57 - Big C and Small C14:04 - What Can Help Get Back to Being Creative After Experiencing Fatigue?  15:53 - Never Forget to D.A.N.C.E. - The Five Habits to Release Creativity16:23 - D for Daydream17:01 - A for Ambiguity19:19 - N for Novelty24:40 - C for Curiosity30:38 - E for Editing Later36:27 - Releasing Creativity as a Family Project38:58 - Creativity is like Poop, We're Full of It!41:15 - Dr. Caroline's Final Gem is Writing is on the Wall Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Dr. Caroline Brookfield:   Website https://carolinebrookfield.com/  Dr. Caroline's Book The Reluctant Creative   Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook   #PerspectiveShifting #SeeingYourLifeFromAnOutsidePerspective #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #EmbracingYourReluctantInnerCreative

How do you create a life that combines neuroscience with social activism?   Well, our next guest Dr. Peter Sterling has written the playbook on it. From being a Freedom Rider and getting arrested for social justice to seeing the connection between discrimination and brain stress, Dr. Sterling started to see a connection between wellbeing, brain science and overall health in marginalized communities.   He also shows how this affects our Intercultural Creativity®.   Working in communities of color, Dr. Sterling observed high rates of strokes from hypertension and began to explore its neural basis. He soon realized that it was not primarily a problem of the body or genes (as the medical textbooks still claim) but rather chronic stress mediated by the brain to the body (blood vessels, heart, and kidney). What caused this effect?   Discrimination and lack of belonging.   He began to publish articles on this topic, beginning in 1977, and what he learned about the brain-body connection ultimately developed into two books, 'Principles of Neural Design' and 'What is Health? Allostasis and the Evolution of Human Design' (2020).   Join us as we jump into the intersection of well-being, the mental and creative effects of being excluded and how art is an important component for our mental health. Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 02:13 - The Advancement of Equality and Rights 07:11 - Finding the Core of Racial Equality 09:23 - Story of Freedom Writings 10:10 - Allostasis vs. Homeostasis 17:48 - How Being in Oppressive Environments Affect the Brain's Ability to Produce, to Create and to Connect 20:57 – Why Health is Belonging 24:52 - Our Brains are Meant to be Met with Challenging Activities 27:05 - The Number One Skill Needed in the Workforce: Innovative Creative Thinking 28:10 - Why are the Arts Important for Brain Health? 32:50 - Drawing the Community Together Through Art and Music 39:26 - Dr. Sterling's Gem: Power to Inspire People Subscribe: Spotify | YouTube Connect with Dr. Peter Sterling: ● Twitter: https://twitter.com/whatishealth21 ● Book What Is Health https://www.amazon.com/What-Health-Allostasis-Evolution-Design/dp/0262043300 Connect with Genein Letford: ● Visit CAFFE Strategies ● Visit GeneinLetford.com ● Follow Genein on Facebook #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #OurHealthOurArtsandOurFreedomRide #DEI #DiversityAndInclusion  

How does being wise and creative with our food help us be more innovative in life? The ‘Fit Foodie' Mareya Ibrahim-Jones is here to share her wisdom!     Mareya Ibrahim is "The Fit Foodie" - Clean eating and food safety expert, patented inventor of Eat Cleaner and the Grow Green line of products, author of the book Eat Like You Give a Fork: The Real Dish on Eating to Thrive and podcast host of Recipes for Your Best Life. Chef, holistic nutritionist, and wellness warrior. Mareya was featured on the Emmy-nominated cooking show ‘Recipe Rehab' for three seasons. She's been seen on the Food Network and has been on over 200 cooking shows.   Genein and Mareya talk about the intersection between our creative thinking, how food influences brain power and how the dinner table increases cultural connections across cultures and generations.   Get your knife and fork ready for an enticing episode of creativity!   Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 04:55 Creative Thinking and Our Food 07:00 - Integrated Brain is a Healthy Brain 11:33 - Think Before You Bite 14:05 - Parents CAN Make A Difference 17:50 -  Environmental Observation for our Creative Thinking 20:38 - Sprout Kit and A Bag of Seeds 23:48 - Financial & Cuisine Literacy Should Be a Part of School 26:27 - Fat is Actually Not a Bad Thing 32:12 – What are Macro Nutrients? Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Mareya Ibrahim-Jones: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eatcleaner/ Website: https://eatcleaner.com/   Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit com Follow Genein on Facebook   #PerspectiveShifting #SeeingYourLifeFromAnOutsidePerspective #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #CuisineCultureandFindingCreativityWithinOurFood

Did you know that it is possible to transform your health data into artistic expression? Justus is here to tell you how having something tangible about your body's information helps in healing healthcare. In today's episode of The Create and Grow Podcast, we speak with Justus Harris.Justus Harris is the epitome of what it means to combine disciplines to make a greater impact in the world. They are an artist, educator, and health advocate.  After their Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis, Justus founded MedSculp, which from 2016-2020 used the expertise of doctors, entrepreneurs, and technologists to create data visualization experiences for patients to better understand their complex medical history.  Justus Harris has taken this initiative into patient-experience consulting work with clients in clinical trials such as Medidata, where he is a Patient Insights Board member.  In corporate consulting Justus is a facilitator specializing in the patient perspective in design-thinking, empathy, and using creativity in multi-disciplinary teams.   Their international art practice has taken them to the Kennedy Center as a Citizen Artists Fellow and Berlin as a European Commission Recipient. As an educator, Justus focuses on public speaking and facilitation, including features at TEDx and Stanford Medicine X.  Justus supports individuals 1x1 through coaching with professionals in career transition who are prioritizing their creative practices to transform their lives and the world. Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 06:20 A Creative Skill called Transformation09:30 Dr. Daniel Siegel: Interpersonal Neuro-Biology11:25 Art Transforming Health14:30 Third Gem of Intercultural Creativity: Observation15:40 Draw to Increase Observational Skills17:12 Redefining Creativity18:48 Transforming Diabetes 1 Data into Artistic Expression22:30 Highlighting the sculpture with Dr. Katz' Keeping Your Brain Alive24:29 Build Your Creative Space to Innovate Any Workplace25:05Justus' Sculptures on Exhibits26:48 Art is Solving the Problem28:16 Tips from Justus for People to Dive in Their Artistic Creativity Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube  Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook  Connect with Justus Harris: Website:  JustusHarris.com  TEDx Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/justus_harris_artists_are_key_to_healing_healthcare LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/justusharris/  #PowerOfJournaling #PerspectiveShifting #SeeingYourLifeFromAnOutsidePerspective #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #Mental Health #WhyArtistsAreaKeyToHealingHealthcare

‘Genein, I can't take any more voice over powerpoints! This is having no long term effect on people's behavior around these DEI topics!”   I heard this and I knew one reason why. If facilitators aren't tapping into people's emotional brain, there is no strong connection to the topic. Sitting in a 60 minute lecture you are not emotionally committed to means it goes in one ear and out the other. Especially if it is a topic that can put people in a defensive mode or a ‘I'm not engaged' mode. The neuroscience is clear. The hippocampus's decision to store memories hinges on two factors: emotional significance and previous knowledge for association. Emotion leads. Content follows. Connection leads. Learning (and then hopefully behavior change) follows. In this Diamond Mentor Moment, I'll discuss the importance of training, professional development and classroom learning that utilizes emotional imaginative strategies to teach difficult topics that bring about change. This new era of thinking needs new strategies of online and in person teaching. This new era needs Intercultural Creativity®. Join us! Genein Letford, M.Ed CAFFE Strategies, LLC https://caffestrategies.com/

Did you know this was Mental Awareness Month? Yes! And to improve your creative thinking, you need to be mentally aware and mentally healthy. In today's episode of The Create and Grow Podcast, we speak with Dr. Saliha Afridi. Dr. Saliha Afridi is a powerful thought leader in the areas of mental health, wellness, parenting and dealing with that inner critic – that voice – that influences your creative identity. She established The LightHouse Arabia, which is now one of the largest mental health centers in the UAE. Her clinical training has been as a generalist working with children, adolescents, and adults on a range of mental health. Her expertise is in parenting, as well as burnout within the workplace sector.  Her mission was to make mental health services accessible to the UAE community. Since its founding in 2011, Dr. Afridi and her team have contributed thousands of hours to the community, free of charge, to educate and raise awareness on best practices for mental health and wellness. Her most recent achievement was bringing the internationally acclaimed Australian Mental Health First Aid to the UAE, where her team has trained over 1,000 mental health first aiders for early detection and treatment of mental health difficulties within their communities. Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 9:28 Increasing Emotional Awareness 14:46 Why men need emotional agility and emotion freedom 19:27 Why the formative years are critical 25:00 The Importance of Play 28:30 Being an Attuned Parent 32:24 Why you need care 33:30 SEEM - Core Ingredients for a life well lived 36:43 Scheduling Spontaneity 40:25 The Importance of the Arts 43:30 The Importance of the ‘Observer Self' Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit com Follow Genein on Facebook  Connect with Dr. Sa Afridi: Instagram LinkedIn Facebook Website  #PowerOfJournaling #PerspectiveShifting #SeeingYourLifeFromAnOutsidePerspective #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity #Creativity #InterculturalCreativity #innovation #Mental Health #EmotionalHealthandFindingtheLightofCreativity

Did you know your creative thinking ability affects your financial wealth? Did you know that your relationship with money is also affected by your cultural lenes?  Bob is here to share how these concepts are connected and how to build a solid financial foundation with these connections in mind. In today's episode of The Create and Grow Podcast, we speak with Bob DePasquale. Bob is an advocate of stewardship. He has always believed in taking care of the things that he has been blessed with. It is his mission to help others in doing the same. Bob's perspective derives from a battle with cancer at age 18.  Having his life threatened at such a young age leads to a unique view of the gift that is vitality.  Bob is also a Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the United States, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial and ongoing certifications requirements. Enjoy learning how your creative health and relationship with money affects your financial wealth. Topics Covered on this episode of The Create and Grow Podcast: 00:00 - Introduction to Making a Way with Compassionate Leadership for C-Suite02:35 - Get to Know Bob DePasquale07:00 - Stand Out Story from Bob's First Book09:54 - First Step to get Creative with Money12:57 - Thoughts on Culture with Money Attached to One's Self-worth and Identity26:20 - Intercultural Creativity Aspect of Giving36:53 - How Intercultural Creativity is Connected to Intercultural Interactiveness38:44 - Cultural Curiosity40:58- Learn More about Bob Subscribe:  Spotify | YouTube  Connect with Genein Letford: Visit CAFFE Strategies Visit GeneinLetford.com Follow Genein on Facebook  Connect with Bob DePasquale : LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobdepasquale/ Website: https://initiateimpact.com/blog Book: https://www.bobdepasquale.com/the-book  #PowerOfJournaling #PerspectiveShifting #SeeingYourLifeFromAnOutsidePerspective #CAFFEStrategies #Intercultural #Diversity #InterculturalCreativity