Meet Mediocrity

My conversation with yours truly: After 5 seasons and 105 podcast episodes, I took this episode to reflect on all of the guests I've had, things I've learned, habits I've created and awareness I've gathered. The Meet Mediocrity podcast is not done, but it's time for a break to enjoy the summer of 2022, to focus on some other passions like outdoor photography, cycling, swimming, golf and hiking. It's also time to get my creative juices flowing around what I'd like to do with the podcast next! Enjoy this great wrap-up episode and stay tuned for what's next. In the meantime, check out my personal photography Instagram page where you can enjoy many great landscape, wildlife and even some streetscape photos - @mitchmomentsphotos

My conversation with Carly Johnston: One day, Carly found herself having a panic attack. Not just your ordinary moment of stress. A serious, long lasting panic attack!! Being a problem solver and a take charge person, Carly sought to understand what was happening to herself. She read, she studied, she spoke to people and she healed. Soon after, Carly started an Instagram page (@healingtheanxiousmind) designed to help others. She gained many followers, heard many stories and helped many people. Then, Carly started medical school in Canada where she is currently starting her 3rd year and preparing to become an OB/GYN - with a focus on perinatal mental health. Now, Carly has her own website - https://www.healingtheanxiousmind.com/ - designed to share resources, blog posts and so much more! Check out the website and listen for a great conversation!

My conversation with Nikki Wilson: Pregnancy, birthing, a newborn baby! These are "supposed" to be some of the most exciting and wonderful times in parents' lives. Sadly, that is often not the case. And, even more sadly, it is often taboo for parents to express the trauma they experience associated with these times and to receive much needed support. Nikki Wilson is the CEO of Make Birth Better is a UK-based not for profit organization. Make Birth Better is a collective of experts who bring together lived experience and extensive professional knowledge of birth trauma to support parents, health care professionals and newborns - making their birth experiences better and to support traumatic experiences as they invariably arise. Nikki is kind enough to both share her personal story with us and to describe the services Make Birth Better provide. Learn more at the website - www.makebirthbetter.org and on Instagram - @birthbetter

My conversation with Rob Wilson: Food waste is a huge global challenge. Did you know that the most wasted food on the planet is bread? Rob Wilson, the "Chief Toaster" and CEO of Toast Ale sought to tackle this challenge by founding Toast Ale - a UK-based craft brewery that brews beer from leftover bread that would otherwise go to waste. Since its inception in 2016, Toast Ale has saved millions of pounds of bread from being wasted by brewing it into delicious beer and ale. In fact, Rob even open sources his beer recipes - encouraging others to brew their own beer and to share their innovative recipes. The goal is to put himself out of business by solving the world's bread waste crisis. Although I'm not sure that will ever happen, it's a lofty aspiration and Rob Wilson is a highly aspirational (and inspirational) person. Learn more about Rob and Toast Ale on their website https://www.toastale.com/ and their Instagram page @toastale

My conversation with Hayley Curtis: Six years ago, Hayley had hit rock bottom. She had been suffering from severe mental health issues and finally hit her breaking point. She had fallen apart and lost touch with her own identity and her life priorities. Hayley used journalling - starting with a small goal of writing a few sentences every day. Soon enough, journaling became a discipline of love and it helped her rebuild her identity and her mental health one day at a time. Now, Hayley helps others with journaling basics, writing prompts and coaching - allowing others to use journaling to improve their well-being and their lives. Find out more about Hayley at her website - https://www.soulfulljournaling.com/ and her Instagram @soulfull.journaling

My conversation with my son, Jake Schuckman: This is the 100th episode of the Meet Mediocrity podcast and I invited my son Jake to join me as today's guest. Not only is Jake one of my top 15 or 20 favorite people in the world (just kidding Jake!), but Jake and I share a passion for pursuing hobbies. In this episode, Jake and I discuss the hobbies we enjoy, how hobbies enhance our lives, and how we decide when to move from one hobby to another. Our conversation also veers into work and careers - and the role hobbies play in both balancing out and enhancing our work lives. This is especially important to our health and wellness in a post-COVID world. Thank you Jake for joining me on this milestone episode and for a fun, informative conversation!

My conversation with Ashley Wray: Ashley is the founder of Mala Collective, a company that supports meditation practices with classes, training and products all designed specifically for meditation. Ashley founded Mala Collective over a decade ago when, on a trip to Bali, fell in love with Mala beads, which help count breaths and keep one's focus during meditation. Now, Mala Collective creates and sells meditation beads, necklaces, cushions and more - all designed to enhance meditation practices. Her products are deeply rooted in Buddhist and Hindu traditions and are made using all natural materials. Ashley's own meditation journey and how she shares it with her customers is both impressive and inspiring. Learn more about Ashley Wray and Mala Collective at her website - https://www.malacollective.com/ And, on Instagram - @malacollective

My conversation with Dr. Whitney Roban: Dr. Roban is a Family, Educational and Corporate Sleep Specialist. She is also the founder of Solve Our Sleep. Whitney's mission is to provide the education and support families, students, teachers and employees to both survive and to thrive with better sleeping. Whitney is a published author, she has a private sleep practice, she provides educational sleep consulting and corporate sleep programs. Her approach isn't magic and is not about taking medications. It provides fun, useful and practical skills for helping her followers become better sleepers. And, as she says, "even a good sleeper can become a great sleeper!" Not only do we discuss Whitney's personal journey into sleep consulting, but she provides some very useful tips we can put into practice immediately! Find out more about Dr. Whitney Roban at www.solveoursleep.com and follow her on Instagram @solveoursleep

My conversation with Sindhu Satish Manepalli - “Things have a way of working themselves out if we just remain positive.” “I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it.” “Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” We've all heard and read quotes like this. But, is there anything more to these than just positive words? Sindu Satish Manepalli is a life coach who teaches manifestation, helping you achieve the results you want to achieve, through the Law of Attraction. The law of attraction is a philosophy suggesting that positive thoughts bring positive results into a person's life, while negative thoughts bring negative outcomes. It is based on the belief that thoughts are a form of energy and that positive energy attracts success in all areas of life, including health, finances, and relationships. In my conversation with Sindhu, we discuss how Sindhu coaches her clients and we explore ways that I can do a better job of using manifestation to make the things I want in my life to happen more readily. Find out more about Sindhu on her Instagram pages - @lifecoachingwithsin and @fiftyshadesofsin; and on her website - https://fiftyshadesofsin.me/

My conversation with Liz Chelak: Liz is 30 years young, yet she has lived a very full life. She is a recovering addict, she is an entrepreneur, she has tragically lost loved ones, she has founded a nonprofit organization and she provides amazing support and help to people in need. Liz's fiance was Sam Risso. Sam was an amazing person who helped addicts and people suffering from mental illness. When Sam suddenly and tragically passed away, Liz started the Sam Risso Foundation to carry on his legacy. The Sam Risso Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources, guidance, and support to those dealing with substance use, mental illness and homelessness. They are focused on providing resources for detox, treatment, halfway housing, and therapy. They provide peer support and guidance to those in the beginning stages of their recovery journey. Liz is a truly special person. Listen to this story of her journey. Find Liz on Instagram - @lizchelak Find the Sam Risso Foundation on Instagram - @samrissofoundation Find our more about the foundation on their website - https://samrissofoundation.org/

My conversation with Danielle North: I am incredibly excited to welcome back Danielle for a second visit to the podcast. Danielle reached out to me a few weeks ago to share some exciting news with me. She had been studying sound healing and was now certified to be a sound healer. Honestly, I had not heard of sound healing. I was certainly aware that certain sounds and music could have therapeutic qualities, but I had no direct experience with sound healing. In this episode, Danielle and I start by reviewing the company she founded, PAUSE. We talk about how PAUSE and the Pause Method can help people recover from and avoid burnout. Given the stressors in today's society. PAUSE is incredibly timely. After sharing her personal burnout story and reviewing how she created PAUSE, Danielle shares her further exploration from PAUSE into sound healing. I must admit that I was skeptical that sounds and musical vibrations could provide physical healing. Danielle shared her story and her journey into sound healing and described the impact it has had on her. To take matters further, after we recorded our podcast, Danielle conducted a sound healing session on me. In my intro and wrap-up to this podcast, I describe my personal experience with sound healing - and, teaser alert, it was really great. Find out more about Danielle, her books, her retreats and her coaching on her website - https://www.pauseglobal.com/

My conversation with Jimmy Wightman: Jimmy was looking for ways to get a better night sleep, ways to reduce stress and ways to be more mindful when he found meditation. Actually, he found a teacher in the ancient tradition of Vedic meditation which involves the chanting of a mantra while meditating to help achieve an inner peace. Some people have heard of Transcendental Meditation (TM) which is similar. TM originated from Vedic so Jimmy's study was from the original Vedic teachings. Jimmy soon found that practicing meditation helped significantly reduce his stress, helped him sleep better and to find inner peace. Now Jimmy is a meditation instructor with online courses and books. You can find out more about Jimmy, his meditation style and approach on his website - https://www.delvedeep.com/ and on his Instagram page - @that_meditation_guy

My conversation with Billy Omeltchenko: I've known Billy for over 20 years and I've always admired him greatly. Billy is an accomplished athlete - a star multi-sport athlete in high school, a Division One basketball at Princeton in the 1970s and a short stint playing professional basketball. To me, it isn't Billy's athletic skills that I admire, it's his commitment to our children through youth sports. My children and literally thousands of other children have benefitted from Billy's selfless service as a coach, coordinator and commissioner of youth sports programs. Billy is level-headed and thoughtful. His approach is to make sure that children of all skill levels, their coaches and their parents have enjoyable and fulfilling youth sports experiences. It is not lost on Billy that it is the adults that often get in the way of those good experiences by being too intense and too vocal. Billy's down to earth approach has helped put children and the adults in positions to be successful - success being defined as having fun, making friends and learning some useful life lessons along the way.

My conversation with Georgie Corke Nieman - Georgie is the founder of Happi Head Co., providing life and leadership coaching and support for small business owners - predominantly women. Georgie's special skill is helping people discover (or re-discover) their inner creativity. Georgie believes that everyone has a creative side. Finding and appreciating our creativity supports our wellbeing, our wellbeing supports our ability to achieve our greatest potential, and it is that potential that allows us to create amazing projects, businesses and lives! Georgie's personal journey is similar to that of many of her clients. Getting caught up in an aspirational, overachieving, corporate work cycle prevented Georgie and many of her clients from enjoying their journey and chasing opportunities that align with their inner values and interests. As Georgie says, “the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Georgie helps her clients realize that the journey is the fun part - and not to allow a narrow focus on goals spoil the fun part! Follow Georgie: Website - https://www.happiheadco.com/ Instagram - @happiheadco

My conversation with Laetitia Vitaud: I was so happy when Laetitia reached out to me in late 2021 on LinkedIn to share her thoughts about an article we both reacted to about personal time off. Our conversation started with a laugh about how very differently Americans and Europeans view their holidays, their vacations. After a little back and forth, we decided to have a live video chat, and that video chat led to this - our second podcast episode together. Laetitia is a human resources expert with a deep perspective regarding the future of work. She is a writer, an author, a consultant and a podcaster. Having a discussion with Laetitia is very fulfilling for me because I have to stay on my toes and I always learn something! On this, our second podcast episode together (Season 3, Episode 6 was our first one), Laetitia and I explore how different cultures view work and view personal time. We then explore how COVID has altered these views across different cultures. The bottom line is that workers are re-evaluating the role work plays in their lives and employers are re-evaluating how to attract and keep workers so their businesses can thrive in this new world. Laetitia and I recorded this episode a few months ago - before the COVID Omicron variant had even surfaced. In fact, the term "Great Resignation" was only just starting to be used then we recorded this. However, the content of this episode is as, or even more relevant today than it was a few months ago. As you listen, I suggest that you consider your work life, and what you can do to make your work life fit within your life's priorities in this new world. Check out more about Laetitia on her website - https://laetitiavitaud.com/

My conversation with The Holly Maree: Holly is a human design specialist and a spiritual teacher. She is also a manifestor. Many of us don't understand what these things are, but they sound intriguing. As a manifestor, Holly is an initiator, a first mover, an innovator and a motivator. Until Holly studied “Human Design”, she didn't understand why she was so incredibly energized by start-up and then demoralized by the ongoing, controlled, repetitive tasks that are required once start-up is complete. Holly experienced this when she took over a cafe that was in bankruptcy. For Holly, the start-up, rebound and build up of the cafe was thrilling, the day-to-day running of the cafe once it was successfully out of bankruptcy was not thrilling for her at all. In the context of “Human Design” manifestors make up 8-9% of the human population. Once Holly began to understand who she was and why she was a manifestor, she was able to fully appreciate herself and her world. Ultimately she started a consultancy with a podcast and training guides for manifestors - www.thehollymaree.com

My conversation with Taren Gesell: Taren Gesell is the “athlete formerly known as Triathlon Taren.” For those of you who know Triathlon Taren you might be saying “wait, what?” Taren is an incredibly accomplished age group triathlete and an incredibly well known YouTuber, Podcaster and social media personality. However, just as Taren was peaking as an age group triathlete, his body and his internal systems began to break down. As Taren began to research his condition, he quickly learned that it was not uncommon for endurance athletes to suffer such breakdowns. Now, this does not mean that fitness and wellness are not achievable. What it means is that diversity of training - including cardio, strength, stretching and conditioning - is required to achieve fitness and wellness. This diversity of training can also be the backbone of a more healthy approach to triathlon training. With that, Taren has introduced MOTTIV by Taren - an approach and a process that helps athletes find and create a training program that works well for them and helps them achieve their best level of fitness. Check out more about Taren and MOTTIV on his website and YouTube channel: Website - https://mymottiv.com/ YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/TriathlonTaren

My conversation with Kai Cox: In this, the second appearance on the podcast by Kai, we explore "spiritual healing" in a plain, open conversation. Just prior to recording our conversation, Kai performed a "reading" for me. I found it to be both helpful and enlightening. In this episode, we discuss the reading, we discuss how Kai approaches being a medium, and I "translate" Kai's explanation into a plain spoken explanation that I can get my head around. The conclusion? The punchline? Done well, having a reading done by a skilled medium can be incredibly helpful. I found it to be therapeutic and insightful. Check out more about Kai on her website https://www.awakeninnatehealing.com/ She can also be found on Instagram and Facebook

My conversation with Devan Bailey: Finding a career coach isn't hard. Google "career coach" or search "career coach" on Facebook or Instagram. Literally THOUSANDS of options will hit your screen instantaneously. Devan is different. Devan comes at personal and career development from a very relatable starting point and he has developed an approach that is amplified by his energy and charisma. Devan is a coach, entrepreneur, author, and speaker. He teaches ambitious leaders how to create a mission-driven life that allows them to feel fulfilled. Devan went from being an international businessman with burnout, enduring a nervous breakdown, to a happy, fulfilled person running his own business. Devan developed and teaches the principles he learned from his own experiences. Devan is also the writer and creator of several high-impact books and courses such as How To Escape From Prison, Secrets of the Emotional Ninja, Powerful By Design, and Living Without Limits. You can find more about Devan on his social media pages and his website - https://www.shapingreality.com/

My conversation with Yogi Bryan: Bryan Holub, better known as Yogi Bryan, is a hypnotist, yoga instructor, meme maker, podcast host, and meditation guide. His Relax with Yogi Bryan Meditation podcast has over 800,000 downloads. And, it all started from creating an Instagram page to make fun of yoga! Speaking with Bryan you can see why he is a real life practical joker who became a yoga Instructor and meditation guide. He is a down to earth person with a practical personality and a calming voice. Bryan's approach to yoga and meditation is simple... by not taking it quite so seriously we can more easily see and enjoy the benefits they can both bring into our lives. Bryan can be found at YogiBryan.com, on Spotify and on YouTube.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. I expect this season to be 8-10 episodes in length. Episode 10 of Season 4 is my season finale. In this episode I review the themes that came across during this season, summarize them and wrap it all up. One thing is clear, the way I built my career is NOT the only way to build a career. There are many formulas and approaches. The key is to listen, observe and consider which approaches work for each of us. And, perhaps even more importantly, is to recognize that careers are not a series of successes and failures - they are a series of learning experiences. By seeing those experiences as they are - opportunities to learn, grow and improve - we give ourselves the greatest chance of enjoying long, fulfilling and... SUCCESSFUL careers! My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. I expect this season to be 8-10 episodes in length. In Episode 9 of Season 4 I explore team building - how to motivate your team and build their skills. Every good career is built on the backs of great team members. We simple cannot do it all ourselves. That has been incredibly true in my career. Yes, having mentors and coaches is important, but having teammates to help you carry the load is perhaps even more important! That's why, at a very early stage in our careers, it makes good sense to nurture your teammates. Identify their strengths and weaknesses, capitalize on their strengths and help fortify their weaknesses. In this episode we explore some very simple tips for creating great teammates and great teams at work. My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. I expect this season to be 8-10 episodes in length. In Episode 8 of Season 4 I explore the art of carrying on conversations and networking in the business world. Personally, I am perceived and am actually a social person who interacts very well with others. But even for me, I often dread business functions, conferences, meetings, lunches and dinners where I know I will need to be "switched on" with those I'm interacting with. In this episode I explore a few tricks and tips that have helped make those networking situations more manageable, productive and even FUN! My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. I expect this season to be 8-10 episodes in length. In Episode 7 of Season 4 I explore business negotiations and dispute resolutions. To me, there are a few very simple, yet incredibly important things to remember when faced with a negotiation or dispute. First, both sides have different points of view on what the outcome should be. Second, understand what the other side wants as deeply as possible allows you to understand what the acceptable range of outcomes could be for the other party. Third, understand what you want the outcome to be so you can understand whether there is overlap between what you want and what they want. Finally, have a discussion and do what YOU want to do. You might be disappointed that there wasn't enough common ground to reach an agreement with the other party. You might reach an agreement that isn't EXACTLY what you want. But, ultimately, you control the situation when you understand their side, understand your side and take action that works for you. Sounds so simple, but it's not. Emotions and lack of empathy for the other party often get in the way. My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. I expect this season to be 8-10 episodes in length. In Episode 6 of Season 4 I share my thoughts about business writing. Admittedly, I am a rare combination of a college English major and a business person. That makes me incredibly focused on making my business writing clear and articulate - and I'm quite picky about those who are less clear. I'm even more of a stickler for people who use poor grammar or punctuation! In this episode I explore tips and tricks for writing effective emails, memos and presentation materials. I also share some tips and tricks left for us by Steve Jobs... that I still use today. My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. I expect this season to be 8-10 episodes in length. In Episode 5 of Season 4 I reflect on some of the best (and the very worst) presentations I have made - both to small groups and some very large groups. In sharing some stories and some tips and tricks, I hope I can help those of you who HATE MAKING PRESENTATIONS (and I think that is the majority of people), fear presentations less and to make more effective presentations when you have to make them. My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. Episode 4 of Season 4 explores "selling". Selling does not have to mean "used car selling". In fact, I believe we are always selling in one manner or another. Personally, I love selling and it has become the favorite part of my job. I believe selling (especially products and services) involves mastering the science of understanding your buyer. Who are they? What makes them tick? Not just professionally, but personally. And, what can you say and do to get them to buy from you? In fact, if you're really good, you can sell them exactly what they want to buy - you can even have them co-develop your solution and then buy "their solution" from you! In this episode, I explore some selling experiences and discuss how you can apply certain selling principles to your life! My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. Episode 3 of Season 4 explores the concept of "it's not what you know, it's who you know." Many people view this as a birthright. If you a born into the right family or circumstance, then you know the people you need to know to be successful in your career. True, but only to an extent. Great business relationships are built over time, and if you take the time to build great business relationships, then the "who you know" is completely within your control. In this episode, I explore the attributes of great business relationships and how to build them. My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a ‘mini-season' entitled “Career Learnings”. Episode 2 is our Season 4 introduction episode where I tell a few stories about my various job searches - starting when graduating from university, continuing when I left my first job and even when the job search I went on at the same time I was hoping for a big promotion. I hope and believe my job search experiences are relatable and have tidbits we can all learn from! My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

After Season 3, I did a lot of reflection and took in a lot of feedback about how to approach Season 4 of the Meet Mediocrity podcast. The result is a 'mini-season' entitled "Career Learnings". I expect this season to be 8-10 episodes in length. Episode 1 is our Season 4 introduction episode where I describe the background behind Season 4 and tell a few short stories about the start of my career, the lack of clarity I had early in my career, my career evolution and the things I wish I knew when I started my career! My personal disclaimer: Stories and views are my own; and names and facts are altered to protect confidentiality.

My Conversation with Connor MacPhail: My son Connor is a recent college graduate. Like most young adults who have recently graduated college, graduating college in 2021 means spending a big chunk of your college experience during the COVID pandemic. Connor is my son and I'm proud of him. Beyond being proud, I also admire how he handled his college experience during COVID and I admire how he is approaching his first summer post-college graduation. In this episode, Connor discusses how he and his friends made the very most of their college days after COVID started. We also explore how Connor is approaching his post-college days - enjoying life, working at several part-time jobs, and considering full-time job options to start later in the year. The part-time summer jobs Connor has taken up are jobs that connect with his personal passions and are jobs that he can continue on a part-time, or even a full-time basis down the road as he figures out the direction he wants to go in. In other words, Connor doesn't have it all figured out, but he's good with that. In fact, we are both good with that! And, interestingly, he and I know many people who seem to have their entire lives figured out, but then life gets in the way and the best laid plans…. well, we all know that story!

My conversation with Yours Truly (ME!): Taking a closer look at the career path I've taken and the journey that I've been on provided me, and will hopefully provide you, some inspiration. Not because it's overly dramatic, but because it amplifies some messages all of us have heard at one time or another about successful careers. “Find a job you love!” ... “Never give up on yourself!” ... “Failure plus perseverance can lead to success!” … “Dream it and you can become it!” … I'm sure you know many other famous career related quotes. My career has had more than its fair share of twists, turns, failures, restarts, and yes … successes! I hope that sharing my story will give others a little bit of encouragement to enjoy the journey, to not allow failure to discourage perserservance, to find a job they love, and to have fun along the way! Visit the Meet Mediocrity website: www.meetmediocrity.com Visit the Meet Mediocrity YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFIQU1mNw6kfX_QcQ0Fp3gQ

My conversation with Danielle North: It sounds so simple, but the execution is definitely not simple. Pausing. Pausing with a purpose to reduce stress, assess your situation and act with purpose. Danielle North is the founder of PAUSE, a methodology she created to help people be their best selves. Danielle describes PAUSE in five steps. The steps are easy to understand, they seem elementary, but there is substance and science behind the process. Danielle describes her personal journey leading to pause including undiagnosed mental illness and the lack of a proper support network. Danielle's personal journey led her to the right tools and team to help her grow and thrive. From that perspective, Danielle created PAUSE. She is an author, a retreat organizer and a one-on-one coach. Find out all about Danielle, her books, her programs and her approach on www.pauseglobal.com

My conversation with Alastair Deards… Alastair was a hard working accountant in Kent, a county in southeastern England. Like many of us, Alastair had a life changing moment that drove him to look beyond his chosen career to find a deeper purpose and meaning in his life. For Alastair, this happened when a family member of his was suffering from mental illness and attempted suicide. Thankfully, Alastair's family member is receiving the love, care and support they need and Alastair has found a meaningful passion - forming the organization Mental Health Change (www.mentalhealthchange.org). Mental Health Change is driving to set up a helpline with a memorable three-digit emergency number that provides early intervention support to those suffering from mental illness and their loved ones. This is not meant to be a suicide prevention crisis service. This is meant to be an early intervention service providing a helpline, identifying resources and arranging for quick introductions to qualified therapists. Alastair also talks about how finding this incredibly meaningful project has impacted his life, raised his motivation and enhanced his personal overall wellness. Find out more about Alastair on his LinkedIn profile and on his website - www.mentalhealthchange.org

My conversation with Alix Arroyo: I am always excited when I have my niece Alixandra Arroyo as a guest on our podcast. This is Alix's fifth appearance and continues her streak of being a guest on each of my three Meet Mediocrity podcast seasons to date. In addition to being a great and fun person, and one of my favorite people in the world, Alix is an experienced human resources professional. On this episode, Alix and I explore some career advice that is especially relevant for employees of companies of all sizes. We explore promotions, pay raises, expectations and personal development. This episode comes on the heels of several recent Meet Mediocrity YouTube VLOG episodes where I discuss provide some short and hopefully helpful career advice tips. Check those out on YouTube (@Meet Mediocrity) and “subscribe”.

My conversation with Liz Sweigart: On this, the last Friday in May (Mental Health Awareness Month), I am honored and thankful to have an open conversation about mental health with Liz Sweigart. Speaking about mental health, discussing our own mental illnesses, sharing our inner demons, admitting our personal challenges… are things that most people don't do. And, it's that lack of sharing and that lack of open acknowledgement that give mental health a taboo reputation - and causes so many people suffer in silence. The Liz Sweigart I have known for years is a highly intellectual, highly educated, professionally successful, witty, funny and caring woman whom I greatly admire. In fact, she is one of those people in my life whom I would stop everything to share a cup of coffee with, any day. What I didn't know until recently is that Liz also lives with major depressive disorder, a chronic condition that periodically left Liz in a dark place. About two years ago, Liz's major depressive disorder put her in a particularly dark place. One that, in her own words, she “could not yoga herself out of”. Liz had feelings of deep malaise, apathy, and even suicide. Thank goodness, Liz found the strength and the voice to get help. Two years later, Liz is in a much better place. She searched for and created a network of medical caregivers, therapists, family, friends and loved ones that support her. She has supplemented her lifestyle with healthy activities that include running, yoga, blogging and yes, even working. Liz is also speaking about it. She openly shares her story and encourages others to share their stories. She also shares messages of hope and optimism for herself and for others suffering from mental illness. Mental illness is not a stigma. Mental health is not a given. We, as human beings, owe it to ourselves and to each other to speak about it, to care and to support each other.

My conversation with Kim Fisher: Anyone who is a self-proclaimed trainer, joy analyst, longevity mentor and positivity angel must be a very special person. THAT, is Kim Fisher. Kim is an accomplished personal trainer and health advocate - having spent almost 40 years in the industry. Kim's story isn't only one about fitness and training, it's about Kim's personal evolution and transformation. Today, Kim is the “Diva Over Fifty”. Kim coaches women one-on-one and in small groups to be their very best selves. Her program is highlighted by groups of women over the age of 50 that Kim calls her Ageless Tribe. These groups work with Kim and with each other to make small steps to improve their lives in the areas of diet, fitness, spirituality and social wellbeing. They have individual calls with Kim, group calls with each other and they all have access to Kim's DivaOverFifty smartphone fitness app. Kim's program and success is impressive, but her personal and business pivot from a fitness trainer to a group wellness coordinator with a very impressive social media following is even more impressive. Just like Kim professes to her “tribe” about thriving in their 50s and beyond, Kim's career is also thriving, more than ever, in her 50s. It's NEVER TOO LATE!! Check out Kim: Her website: https://divaoverfifty.com/ On Instagram: @divaoverfifty On Facebook: @divaoverfifty

My conversation with Savannah Dupin: Imagine wanting and needing to lose a lot of weight. Imagine starting an incredibly strict diet and fitness regime and sticking to it almost perfectly. Imagine losing 100 pounds and reaching your ideal goal weight. And, then imagine still being unhappy. That was Savannah Dupin. On one hand, this is an incredibly sad and frustrating story. For Savannah Dupin, it was an awakening. Today Savannah is now a holistic health practitioner, founding her company Healing Health Solutions. Savannah was able to combine her weight loss experience and her education in sociology (focusing on women studies) to create an approach that focused on weight loss, health and wellness in a balanced way. Savannah's client's focus on their diet and fitness, but also on their self esteem and positive body image. Savannah has found her niche and she is making an incredible impact on the women she coaches. Find Savannah on LinkedIn and on Instagram (@sav_ilise)

My conversation with Joy Cook: Joy is the founder of Inspiring Joy Inc where she is a life strategist and success coach. “Joy”, in this case, has a double meaning - Joy Cook's first name and “Journey of You”. The amazing thing about Joy is that her first and most influential coachee was… HERSELF! Joy's journey and her success is a product of a lifetime of experiences, learning and growth. Joy was a young mother and a single mother, but she never stopped hustling. She is an accountant, and still does some work as an accountant. However, through Joy's own journey, she never stopped observing, exploring, learning and cultivating her passion for coaching. The wonderful thing about Joy's story is that she is now at the inflection point that many entrepreneurs find themselves. She is a certified and accomplished life strategist and success coach today, but has not yet left the “golden handcuffs” of her accounting job to become a full-time coach. This is a relatable dilemma for many people pursuing their passion. Given Joy's track record - we can all expect that “leap to full-time coaching to happen very soon and for Joy to be very successful! Please check out Joy at: Her website: https://www.inspiringjoyinc.com/home Her Instagram: @inspiringjoyinc Her Facebook: @inspiringjoyinc

My conversation with Lili Kazemi: Lili is a highly educated, highly accomplished busy executive. She also has had her share of personal hardships, including being in an abusive relationship. It was fitness, going to the gym, and participating in group exercise classes that helped Lili get through and get past that relationship and onto a better path for her life. Through fitness, Lili found a healing community and that community ultimately motivated her to launch her passion project. Her blog and her fitness tips and tricks can be found on DAO Fit Life (https://daofitlife.com/). DAO being the Chinese word for “path” and also being Lili's acronym for Decide-Act-Outlook. Lili's blog posts and her upcoming book appeal to everyone, but especially to busy executives who want to be fit, but need a simple plan to accomplish that. Lili has a knack for helping people make fitness fit into their lives. Again, check out Lili on her website - https://daofitlife.com/

My conversation with Rob Dill: Rob is a regular, unassuming guy. He is a long-time biology teacher at a community college in New Jersey and he was introduced to me for the podcast by a mutual friend. When I was first introduced to Rob, I was told that he has done triathlons and he would be a good podcast guest. Rob has accomplished so much more than that - and he's incredibly humble about it. Rob has done more than 10 ironman triathlons, over 30 marathons, ultra races on trails… and he has done the New York City Marathon 23 straight years! The New York City Road Runners Club, the organization that runs the New York City Marathon honors runners who have run the race in 15 or more straight years - calling that group “streakers”. That makes Rob a “streaker” - and, that DOES NOT mean he runs the race with no clothes on! The best thing about Rob is that he is incredibly humble and he tells great stories about the races he has participated in. He also provides some incredibly sensible and relatable advice for beginners - how to get started, how to build up endurance and strength, and how to do it without injuring yourself.

My conversation with Jennifer DiStefano, Kris Amplo and Bryan Kuhl: A four person conversation on the Meet Mediocrity Podcast! And, an incredibly special and powerful conversation at that. Jen DiStefano is the widow of Matthew (Dezi) DiStefano - an incredibly strong, inspirational, special man who lost his battle to cancer in January 2020. Kris and Bryan are long time friends of Matthew and now they help lead the DezyStrong Foundation, an organization founded by Matthew while he was battling cancer. Today, the DezyStrong Foundation helps cancer patients and their families with financial support to help take a little pressure off of a high pressure situation. Matthew was an accomplished athlete, a high school teacher and perhaps one of the most successful varsity volleyball coaches in Long Island history. In his athletic endeavors, Matthew became an inspiration and a role model to so many young women and men he came in contact with. After his cancer diagnosis Matthew's energy and contagious enthusiasm grew, where most other people's would wane. Matthew's motto “I GET TO” resonates with anyone! Whether it's going to work, going to the gym, getting out of bed in the morning, eating healthy… anything at all - you don't HAVE TO, you GET TO. Every day we walk the planet Earth should be viewed as a great day. That's what DeziStrong is all about, and that's what Meet Mediocrity is all about too! Check out the DeziStrong Foundation (and buy yourself and your friends some DeziStrong apparel) at - https://www.dezystrong.org/ Follow the DeziStrong Foundation on Instagram at - @DeziStrongFoundation

My conversation with Emily Oliver: Emily found herself in a corporate job that paid a good salary, great benefits, paid vacation and more. Yet, she was unhappy and unfulfilled. She wanted more. With that, Emily went against those people who thought she should not give up the stability and opportunity of a "good job". She became trained and certified. Emily is now a Certified Happiness and Goals Coach. He company is called Goals Garden. Like a garden, our minds germinate ideas that require nurturing in order to grow. And, when environmental facts impact the growth of our minds, we need to adapt and adjust to keep the growth on track. The human mind and garden analogy is alive and well with Emily and her coaching approach. Today, Emily is empowering individuals with solution-oriented methods to enhance well-being, relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and ADD/ADHD. All of which allows them to experience more purpose, pleasure, and pride. Check out Emily at: Her website: https://goalsgarden.com/ Her Instagram: @goals_garden Her Facebook: @goalsgarden

My conversation with Kaileen Cox: Kai is the founder and owner of Awaken Innate Healing. When you enter Kai's website (www.awakeninnatehealing.com) you encounter a quote: “We all have the power to heal our mind, body and spirit innately. It's time to awaken those powers.” This quote sums up Kai in a nutshell. Kai is an intuitive healer. She is a licensed massage therapist, she is a medium and she uses the Bio-Touch healing method. Kai is able to see spirits and energies and has honed her intuition to be able to communicate with them to help people heal on a spiritual and mental level. I found Kai to be fascinating and authentic. Check out Kai: Her website: www.awakeninnatehealing.com Her Instagram: @awaken.innate.healing Her Facebook: @awakeninnatehealing Bio-Touch Healing: www.justtouch.com

My conversation with Callie Wylie: Callie is the founder, owner and CEO of Glowponent, a high-performance coaching approach that focuses on wellness, nutrition, relationships and more. The thing that struck me the most about Callie is that she is dynamic, energetic, authentic and relatable. She readily admits her own human struggles and puts herself out there as an example of someone who has tried, failed, and not given up on herself. In our conversation, Callie describes some of her missteps and how she continues to persevere. Even at her most trying moments, she constantly reminded herself, "I won't give up on this dream". This mindset and approach is what put her in a position to overcome some of her business and personal challenges to become a successful coach, podcaster and social media personality. You can find Callie: At her website: www.glowponent.com On instagram: @theglowponentmethod Her podcast: The Glowponent Podcast

My conversation with Valerie Baudais-Baconnet: Valerie went to school for journalism, but found that journalism wasn't for her and communication WAS for her! What Valerie did learn from journalism is to approach communication with an inquiring mind - always asking why. And then.... asking why again! By bringing this inquiring mindset to communication, Valerie helps her clients explore the messages they want to deliver, stand in the shoes of their intended audience, and deliver communications that resonate the way her clients want them to resonate. This standing in the other person's shoes is what Valerie and I hope will bring on what I termed "the golden age of communication". Understanding and relating better to one another when speaking, when writing, when interacting on social media could maybe bring people and our society closer together and create that "golden age". Valerie also places a strong emphasis on listening. Pay close attention to those quiet people. They are the ones who are listening, doing, thinking and learning - things that are hard to do when you are speaking! Check out Valerie's Val&Co website: http://valandco.eu/ Check out Val&Co on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/val&co/

My (second!) conversation with Pam Sherman: Pam is the self proclaimed Perfect Balance Guru with a following of health and wellness clients she calls "the tribe". When Pam and I spoke the first time (Season 2, Episode 2), Pam told us about the journey that led her to becoming a trainer, a wellness instructor, an author and a motivational speaker. On this episode, Pam and I explore the small things we can do to improve our overall wellness. As Pam describes, you don't need to sweat to make healthy improvements. Pam also shares challenges she has faced with maintaining her own weight and fitness and how she overcame those challenges. Pam is amazingly positive, energetic and informative. Her pragmatic approach to fitness and diet make her easy to relate to and easy to learn from. Pam is regularly featured in newspapers, magazines and on television. She has also authored 7 books about healthy living, nutrition and fitness. Check Pam out at: Her website: https://www.theperfectbalance.guru/ Her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=the+perfect+balance Her Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/perfectbalanceguru/

My conversation with Melanie Perkins: Last week we met Max Perkins, a native of Nantucket, Massachusetts a beautiful tourist destination located 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. Max has the good fortune of living where he loves and making a career doing jobs that he loves. I call this Happy Place Living! Max's wife Melanie grew up in suburban Connecticut, a far cry from living at a tourist destination like Nantucket. Melanie was living in the Boston area and practicing nursing full-time when she met and married Max. This lifestyle grew increasingly stressful, especially in 2020 during the COVID pandemic. When Max and Melanie decided to move to Nantucket, they made a decision to make their happy place their home. That move also gave Melanie an opportunity to re-evaluate her work-life balance. Melanie is now a thriving entrepreneur. And, while she still takes occasional nursing shifts at the local hospital, she spends most of her time nurturing the two businesses she launched in 2020. Fleurish Nantucket is a florist business and Glistn Nantucket is a mobile wellness and beauty business. In launching these businesses and living on the beautiful island of Nantucket, Melanie has found the perfect way to make her happy place her home. Find out more about Melanie's businesses on her websites and on social media: Her florist business: https://www.fleurishnantucket.com/ AND @fleurishnantucket on Instagram and Facebook Her mobile wellness and beauty business: https://www.glistnnantucket.com/ AND @glistnnantucket on Instagram and Facebook

My conversation with Max Perkins: This podcast introduces a Meet Mediocrity series on “finding your happy place”. This podcast episode is part one of two episodes that can be listened to together or separately. You can also check out the Meet Mediocrity YouTube channel to watch our VLOG #5 about “finding your happy place” This week's and next week's podcast episodes feature Max and Melanie Perkins. An amazing couple that come from very different backgrounds who agreed as a couple on Max's “home town”, Nantucket, Massachusetts as their “happy place”. Both Max and Mel have evolved their careers and their lives to make the most of living in a very seasonal and beautiful community. In this episode, we meet Max, an impressive and versatile businessperson who was born and raised on the island of Nantucket. He is a residential real estate broker who has sold property on Nantucket and in the greater Boston area. He is a licensed USCG maritime captain who helps run his family's local business, Shearwater Excursions. He is a trained soccer and ice hockey official and he is an ice hockey coach. Max has truly found a way to blend his love of Nantucket, his entrepreneurial mindset and his personal passions to create a thriving life at his happy place! You can find more about Max at: His real estate website - https://www.raveis.com/maxperkins/ His charter boat website - https://shearwaterexcursions.com/ His Instagram page - @maxperkins_realestate

My conversation with Laetitia Vitaud: An acclaimed expert on "the future of work", and a self-proclaimed feminist, Laetitia shares her observations and insights about how women and families have addressed their careers, their finances, their families and their futures in light of the current pandemic. She approaches this conversation with an interesting perspective - as women and families react to immediate needs, they are potentially putting their future financial needs and personal growth at risk. And, by reacting quickly, they are potentially upsetting an ecosystem that relies on people helping people become their very best selves. In today's conversation we address some common reactions to the pandemic and we also explore the future of work as the pandemic progresses and ultimately subsides. This episode is sure to leave you with plenty of food for thought as you ponder your next steps in today's world. Laetitia is a well known writer, book author and speaker. Find Laetitia at: Her website - https://laetitiavitaud.com/ Her blog/newsletter (which I LOVE) - https://laetitiaatwork.substack.com/ Her podcast - https://buildingbridges.substack.com/

My conversation with LeAnn Smith: What is Vibrant Life Source all about? LeAnn Smith is the founder and Chief Vibrancy Officer of Vibrant Life Source - a health and wellness coaching approach that brings a combination of physical wellness, mental wellness and nutritional wellness to her clients. LeAnn left corporate America, her salary, her benefits and her paid vacation to pursue her dream, creating a company that provides a full range of wellness related services to her clients. And, of course, her journey was not linear and it is not over - not by a long shot. LeAnn brings a combination of fitness, yoga, meditation and nutritional knowledge, but she is also incredibly positive, creative and inspirational. Her advice and approach is practical and relatable. Check out LeAnn on multiple platforms. Like me, you'll find her to be someone you want to spend time with, get to know better and learn from! ================ Website: www.vibrantlifesource.com Email: leann@vibrantlifesource.com Facebook: @vibrantlifesource Instagram: @vibrantlifesourcellc YouTube Channel: @vibrantlifesource