The John Poelstra Show

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I believe we are each the sole owner of our lives. Are you a true “owner” or an “employee” of your life? All too often it’s easy to play small and think there’s nothing better. This mindset encourages us to find creative ways to cope and tolerate our circumstances instead of actively looking for ways to find all that is possible, often beyond our wildest dreams. I believe there’s a better way to live, one where you lead and act as the driver of your life instead of being its passenger. In that spirit, this show covers a variety of topics around the themes of personal ownership, effective personal leadership, productivity, co-active coaching, and being a better human. Along the way I'll share the things I'm learning myself and through other people as guests.

John Poelstra


    • Apr 22, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 133 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The John Poelstra Show

    133: How to Handle a Demanding Boss Without Burning Out

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 26:04


    A previous client asks for help navigating their own burn out while dealing with a demanding boss. The post 133: How to Handle a Demanding Boss Without Burning Out appeared first on John Poelstra.

    132: Not Your Mother’s Library with Sarah Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 55:03


    Sarah Johnson is a library science educator and social worker. She joins me to explain the evolving role of public libraries in modern society. The post 132: Not Your Mother's Library with Sarah Johnson appeared first on John Poelstra.

    131: Career Coaching Isn’t a Crystal Ball with Tammi Scott

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 40:32


    Tammi Scott shares her approach to career coaching and helps me understand what career coaching is and isn't. The post 131: Career Coaching Isn't a Crystal Ball with Tammi Scott appeared first on John Poelstra.

    130: Katherine Krupka’s Path from Diplomacy to Healing

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2024 70:23


    Katherine Krupka shares her unconventional journey from the Russian Embassy to energy healing. The post 130: Katherine Krupka's Path from Diplomacy to Healing appeared first on John Poelstra.

    129: Fusing 40 Years of HR, Leadership Development and Life Lessons with Mark Rumbles

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 61:58


    Mark Rumbles reflects on his career of 40 years, what he's learned in the leadership development space and what's next for him. The post 129: Fusing 40 Years of HR, Leadership Development and Life Lessons with Mark Rumbles appeared first on John Poelstra.

    128: Demystifying AI with Doug Hunter

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2024 50:38


    Doug Hunter and I discuss artificial intelligence (AI), including how it works, its impact on various aspects of life and work and how to get started with it. The post 128: Demystifying AI with Doug Hunter appeared first on John Poelstra.

    127: Improve Your Job Search with Email: Tammi Scott

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 43:08 Transcription Available


    Tammi Scott shares her unique approach to finding new job opportunities by emailing people she knows. The post 127: Improve Your Job Search with Email: Tammi Scott appeared first on John Poelstra.

    picture job search john poelstra
    126: Out of the Job Hive, Into the Beehive: Nick Accordino’s Layoff to Apiary Tale

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2024 33:53


    Nick Accordino shares the emotional rollercoaster of being laid-off, searching for a new job, and landing a new fulfilling role. The post 126: Out of the Job Hive, Into the Beehive: Nick Accordino's Layoff to Apiary Tale appeared first on John Poelstra.

    125: Avoiding Networking and Job Search Futility with Stephen Warley

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 60:31


    Stephen Warley joins me to explore why your job search and networking strategies aren't working and what to do instead. The post 125: Avoiding Networking and Job Search Futility with Stephen Warley appeared first on John Poelstra.

    124: Seth Vore–Wouldn’t It Be Crazy If…

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2024 56:32


    Seth Vore joins me again to recap the final leg of his family's 6,000 mile boat journey. We also revisit the original question that turned this dream into reality. The post 124: Seth Vore–Wouldn't It Be Crazy If… appeared first on John Poelstra.

    picture vore john poelstra
    123: Searching for a Job in Today’s Market with Greg Sterling

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 42:15


    Greg Sterling joins me to share his experiences navigating a layoff and finding a job in the current market. The post 123: Searching for a Job in Today's Market with Greg Sterling appeared first on John Poelstra.

    market searching john poelstra
    122: Learning About the Landmark Forum with Michael Marvosh

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024 55:53


    Michael Marvosh joins me to share his experiences and perspective on the Landmark Forum. I've heard a variety of things about it over the years and I was curious to get his take. The post 122: Learning About the Landmark Forum with Michael Marvosh appeared first on John Poelstra.

    121: Captain Seth Progress Report

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 63:13


    We're checking in again with Seth Vore and his family. So far they've completed 5,000 miles of their 6,000 mile journey. Last time we talked it was June of 2022, and they had just bought their boat. Learn More about Seth... Continue Reading → The post 121: Captain Seth Progress Report appeared first on John Poelstra.

    120: Slowing Down Isn’t Stopping

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2022 16:25


    Sometimes we're afraid to slow down because we're afraid we'll fail. What if the opposite is true? The post 120: Slowing Down Isn't Stopping appeared first on John Poelstra.

    119: Here’s What I Know and Believe

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2022 7:52


    Have you ever learned something you already knew? That happened recently with what's written on my About page. The post 119: Here's What I Know and Believe appeared first on John Poelstra.

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    118: How I Get Organized When I’m Overwhelmed

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2022 22:25


    The other day I was overwhelmed with all the things I needed to. This is how I got organized and less overwhelmed. The post 118: How I Get Organized When I'm Overwhelmed appeared first on John Poelstra.

    117: Plugging Time Leaks to Honor Commitments

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2022 21:19


    You might find it easier to honor your commitments by eliminating the things that waste your time and energy. Here's how to do it. The post 117: Plugging Time Leaks to Honor Commitments appeared first on John Poelstra.

    116: Commitment Not Motivation

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2022 23:38


    When I'm looking to move something forward I've found better results by getting clear about what I'm committed to rather than searching for motivation. The post 116: Commitment Not Motivation appeared first on John Poelstra.

    115: Restarting Just Like You

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2022 6:58


    Here's how I got back up again after getting off track. I hope it helps you do the same. The post 115: Restarting Just Like You appeared first on John Poelstra.

    restarting john poelstra
    114: Unsubscribing from Judgement

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 9:02


    One of the keys to the universe and a better life is our relationship with judgement of self and others. Setting it aside has been one of my biggest paths to freedom. The post 114: Unsubscribing from Judgement appeared first on John Poelstra.

    113: Slowing Down More

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 8:51


    Maybe you can relate to my experiences and discoveries here and the revelations I had upon waking one day. The post 113: Slowing Down More appeared first on John Poelstra.

    slowing down john poelstra
    112: Checking in with Captain Seth Vore

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2022 43:38


    Seth Vore joins me in June 2022 to give an update on the plans he shared in December 2021. Everything has come to fruition. Seth no longer lives in his house or has a job, however he does have a new boat his family is preparing to live on for the next year as they travel. The post 112: Checking in with Captain Seth Vore appeared first on John Poelstra.

    No-fly Zone Safari with Lisa DiMatteo (111)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2022 59:01


    Lisa DiMatteo joins me to revisit our previous conversation while consciously exploring new things we thought might be uncomfortable and weren't. The post No-fly Zone Safari with Lisa DiMatteo (111) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Boats and FIRE with Seth Vore (110)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2021 52:23


    Seth Vore shares about his local boat tour company, being debt free, retirement and the year-long adventure his family is looking forward to next year on a boat. The post Boats and FIRE with Seth Vore (110) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    fire boats vore john poelstra
    Being, Doing and Enoughness with Lisa Di’Matteo (109)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2021 58:26


    Lisa Di'Matteo joins me to discuss the dance between "being & doing" and "enoughness" against the backdrop of a three week solitude retreat I experienced in October 2021. The post Being, Doing and Enoughness with Lisa Di'Matteo (109) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    enoughness john poelstra
    Nothing Might Be Something (108 )

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 18:42


    Wherein I read another section from The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins and contemplate whether "action" is always the answer. The post Nothing Might Be Something (108 ) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    habit mel robbins john poelstra
    Just Scared (107)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 9:57


    Maybe you aren't a procrastinator, a perfectionist or broken. Maybe you're just scared. Moving forward might be as easy as having a conversation instead of staying stuck in your head and trying to do it yourself. The post Just Scared (107) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Creating Meaning (or Not) with Aaron Graham (106)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 57:01


    Aaron Graham joins me to explore the meaning we give our experiences and how it affects us. We also discuss different ways to interact with our experiences and how to restart when we've lost our way. The post Creating Meaning (or Not) with Aaron Graham (106) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Alfredo Deza: Yet (105)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2021 69:16


    Alfredo Deza shares what it's like to be an Olympian, how he found his way to software and how others can get started there too. We also explore the power behind the word "yet." The post Alfredo Deza: Yet (105) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    olympians john poelstra
    Issac Roth: Experimenting with Fidelity (104)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 43:02


    Issac Roth helps me explore the grim and frustrated perspective I had on the state of the world in August 2020, and redeem it. The post Issac Roth: Experimenting with Fidelity (104) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    roth experimenting john poelstra
    Decomposition, Fire and Optimism with Issac Roth (103)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2021 79:28


    Issac Roth and I cover a wide-range of topics linked to our personal lives, our work together at Red Hat and the technology world in general--all sparked by wildfires he almost lost his house to. The post Decomposition, Fire and Optimism with Issac Roth (103) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Questioning Your Answers (102)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2021 53:13


    I'm back in another conversation with Brad Solomon where we get into the mechanics of effective coaching. The post Questioning Your Answers (102) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    questioning john poelstra
    What Do You Really Want? (101)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2021 66:31


    Brad Solomon and I continue our reflections and riffs about what's present to us. This time it's about being present, journaling, and the power (and difficulty) of getting clear about what you want. The post What Do You Really Want? (101) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Your Four-Year-Old Self (100)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2021 50:26


    Brad Solomon and I set off on another unplanned exploration into what's present to us in the moment, including sharing childhood pictures of ourselves. The post Your Four-Year-Old Self (100) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    year old self john poelstra
    Exploring The Coaching Habit with Ken Dreyer (99)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2020 47:24


    Ken Dreyer and I discuss The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier. Our conversation evaluates the book and examines Ken's experiences putting it to work. The post Exploring The Coaching Habit with Ken Dreyer (99) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Full Catastrophe Living and a Shelf Full of Books (98)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020 45:08


    Brad Solomon and I talk about all the books we've started and not finished, what the full catastrophe of life is and how implementing what you know is more powerful than continuing to acquire more knowledge. The post Full Catastrophe Living and a Shelf Full of Books (98) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    CHOOSING in an “I Don’t Know” World (97)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2020 37:34


    Brad Solomon and I explore the power of choosing, experiments, discipline, habits and what we are making of the time that is COVID-19. The post CHOOSING in an “I Don't Know” World (97) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    covid-19 john poelstra
    The Power of a Heart at Peace (96)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2020 47:23


    Alexis Monville and I discuss The Anatomy of Peace, a pivotal book in my own personal transformation and path to discarding judgement. The post The Power of a Heart at Peace (96) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Journaling to Save the Day (95)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 7:50


    Here's how I salvaged a day that might have turned out very differently though the simple act of writing down what was going on in my head. The post Journaling to Save the Day (95) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Choosing Outside of Fear (94)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2020 19:27


    On his birthday this year, Rick Tamlyn committed to a whole year of not making any decisions from a place of fear. That reminded me of other things he taught me and the power of making choices. The post Choosing Outside of Fear (94) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    fear rick tamlyn john poelstra
    Giving Feedback and Taking Responsibility (93)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2020 35:41


    Alexis Monville and I reflect on a time I gave feedback that was not well received and what we both learned from it. Hopefully you'll learn something too. The post Giving Feedback and Taking Responsibility (93) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Understanding and Using Archetypes (92)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2020 23:04


    Meg Buzzi, Tina Robinson and I explore archetypes and their usefulness on Massively Useful Thing. The post Understanding and Using Archetypes (92) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    archetypes john poelstra
    Not the Remote Work Yann Toutant Envisioned (91)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2020 54:44


    Yann Toutant and I explore what it means to work remotely in a time of Covid-19 and what we are taking from it. The post Not the Remote Work Yann Toutant Envisioned (91) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Being an Intrapreneur with Yann Toutant (90)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2020 54:13


    Yann Toutant returns to share more deeply from his life and what's next having stepped down as CEO of his previous company. We talk about intrapreneurship, when to break the rules, sailing and more. The post Being an Intrapreneur with Yann Toutant (90) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    More Being and Less Reading (89)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2020 22:15


    More on what I'm learning and how I am being as a result of consuming fewer books and less information. The post More Being and Less Reading (89) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    reading john poelstra
    Owning Your Clarity (88)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2020 72:36


    Anthony Ongaro interviews me about finding clarity, making lasting changes and how I got into this thing called coaching. It's a rebroadcast from his video podcast in 2019. The post Owning Your Clarity (88) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Getting a Coaching Session Back on Track (87)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2020 15:19


    Here are some ways to get back on track when your coaching session has lost its way. The post Getting a Coaching Session Back on Track (87) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    Twenty Six Day Road Trip (86)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2020 29:37


    Here's what happened and what I learned from our cross-country road trip in August of 2019 The post Twenty Six Day Road Trip (86) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    My Book Reading Fast (85)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2020 22:34


    This episode explores the new approach to reading books I adopted in July of 2019. Since then I have completed less than five books, a time period during which I would have probably completed twice as many. The post My Book Reading Fast (85) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    book reading john poelstra
    Why I’m Not Planning 2020 (84)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2019 11:59


    Sometimes the end of one year and the start of a new one is a good time to take stock of things. For 2020 I'm not feeling the need. The post Why I'm Not Planning 2020 (84) appeared first on John Poelstra.

    planning john poelstra
    Slowing Down, Saying No and Taking Full Responsibility (83)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2019 24:06


    Here's what I've been up to from August to November 2019 and what I'm learning. The post Slowing Down, Saying No and Taking Full Responsibility (83) appeared first on John Poelstra.

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