This Epic Life

Leslie Ehm— Unlocking the Swagger of Leaders from Some of the World’s Biggest Brands (#33) ABOUT TODAY’S EPISODE What do YOU call that X-Factor, that when you have it— creates influence, connection, and an unwavering belief in what you’re saying or asking for?  Is it influence? Confidence? Authenticity? Leslie Ehm calls it Swagger. A former […]

Melissa + Doug’s Co-Founder, on her Journey from Profound Darkness to Radiant Light. ABOUT TODAY’S EPISODE Thirty-two years ago, Melissa Bernstein cofounded Melissa + Doug toys with her husband, Doug. Since then, the company Melissa + Doug has created over 5,000 children’s products and sold billions of dollars of toys.   Throughout her long and […]

Have the events of the last few years made you more anxious? If so, you’re not alone. Anxiety + Stress aren’t weaknesses. Rather, they are indicators of some of the important changes we must make. We can work with anxiety using simple, timeless methods that take us back to our breath, and back into our […]

    What is important?What deepens our lives? What does it mean to be human?   As a teacher and practitioner of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Rachelle Lamb has devoted over 40 years to these questions. I discovered Rachelle’s body of work while doing research for my book, and a was compelled to leave her a […]

> Our lives and well-being are intimately connected to the people we interact with the most. With the leaders I coach, their lives and businesses are held together by relationships. We talk a lot about our families at home, our families at work, and how important it is to stay in sync with the people […]

        Motivating ourselves, even in “normal” times can be challenging enough. We’re constantly talking ourselves out of doing the harder, brave work, or maybe we start it only to self-sabotage. But what about when the whole world as we knew it hits the pause button? Many of us have been realigning our […]

  As we navigate our current waves of uncertainty, we may confront our need for healing on some level. In more predictable circumstances, we can often get away without having to look in our darkest corners. Today’s guest was on a collision course with childhood trauma, and once he was able to see it, his […]

What do you recall about being a teenager? Was it fun for you? I recall having big dreams, while also being relentlessly uncomfortable with myself. Many clients, friends, and fellow parents have taken an interest in our 15 year-old daughter Elliott’s emerging career as a professional singer, and songwriter. Elliott first performed alongside me when […]

  I wonder how many more of us would become masters of our craft— if we only had the patience it takes to get there, while sometimes sucking at it. In the coaching industry over the last few years, there have been few people mentioned more often than Michael Bungay Stanier. Michael’s juggernaut success with […]

Every once in a while, someone nails an idea we desperately need to hear. How much of our lives are spent battling the clock? Time scarcity shows up everywhere, and once we’re hooked into believing there’s never enough time, we struggle, and the quality of our work follows suit. In coaching, just about every client […]

Mark Smucker is the President and CEO of The J.M. Smucker Company, and the sixth CEO in the Company’s 120+-year history— succeeding his father and uncle, in 2016.   Smucker is a well-known manufacturer of jam, peanut butter, pet foods, coffee and other products. Founded in 1897, Smucker has expanded into a portfolio of brands, […]

  How many of us are taking on some sort of cleanse, or swearing off alcohol for the month following the holidays? A few listeners have reached out lately on how I quit drinking 8 years ago. Today’s guest came on my radar in a big way recently, and brings a powerful voice to the […]

  Nobody we admire succeeds by only having a plan.  At some point they must conquer all resistance and show up to deliver their work. Our guest today embodies this ethos. As a logistics officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Charlie Gilkey is an expert on having a tight plan, and finding the discipline to follow […]

As we prepare to enter a new decade, so many of us are grappling with how to create more fulfilling work. That theme is the focus of our upcoming retreat in Costa Rica— where we’ll design the 2020s on our terms. Why Costa Rica? I can’t think of a better spokesman for this sanctuary of […]

Have you had a goal to deliver a TED or TEDx talk, and it just hasn’t happened yet? It’s more work than I ever realized, but was also far more rewarding.  My goal today is to get YOU in action to deliver yours. It’s easy to get the journey started, and my hope is you […]

Today’s conversation is unique, because we interview, and coach each other. This will also air on Jenny’s “Pivot Podcast”. What if this uncertainty is a gateway to something so much better? Jenny lives by this quote: “If change is the only constant, let’s get better at it.” Today’s episode is about designing powerful next steps. […]

Have you ever wanted to write a book? Do you just know there’s one, maybe more books floating around inside of you? What would publishing your book represent for you, your ideas, and your creativity? So far in my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve found writing to be THE core creative practice in designing and running my […]

Today I want to give you a peek behind the scenes into the journey of creating and launching This Epic Circle by sharing a special podcast interview with one of my clients-turned-teammates. Philip Powis’s journey of personal transformation, like all of ours, is a work in progress. However, as you’ll soon realize this guy is […]

Have you met any real-life superheroes? I know a handful. Emiliya Zhivotovskaya is my Captain Marvel. She has a somewhat dark, powerful origin story that has created a literal juggernaut in the fields of Positive Psychology, Resilience, and Human Flourishing. Her Being can be felt in any room she’s in, and she’s often at the […]

First and foremost, Ani DiFranco is the kindest, funniest, and loving person you could ever meet. She brings that love into every song, or out on to any stage. She’s also the same person onstage, or off— whether playing with her kids, or eating breakfast with yours. Professionally, Ani has released 20 albums, played countless […]

Netta Jenkins is a force of nature. She’s currently on family leave from her position as VP of Global Inclusion for Ask Applications, a branch of publicly-traded IAC. She welcomed her first child in April. When Netta was in high school, her parents moved into a wealthy, predominantly white community. That experience— and much of […]

Lisa Congdon does a remarkable job of staying true to who she is while building what I can only describe as an Art Empire— all since the age of 40. She picked up the paint brush at 32, went pro at 40, and hasn’t looked back. She has amassed an incredible following for her work […]

Every once in a while we bump into people who somehow earn a great living, and build a great life— simply by being themselves. If life is a journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and ultimately leveraging our power of  Being Ourselves… These people don’t waste too much time in discovery and acceptance, because they have too […]

There’s no topic that fills us with fear, regret, and confusion quite like suicide. You can tell by the title of this episode, it’s a departure from our usual interview format. *If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the suicide hotline 24 hours a day at 1-(800) 273-8255. ***Friends […]

Today, we’re sharing a special episode for International Coaching Week, which is a weeklong celebration by the International Coaching Federation. Our theme today is vulnerability. We get into the predictable, default patterns we use to sabotage our success. Many of those weeds develop in early childhood, so we take a trip back and share what […]

Leo Babauta could be one of the most steady, devoted practitioners of personal change I’ve ever witnessed. Leo has written for over a dozen years about his many victories, and struggles in creating lasting, positive change— all on his immensely popular blog Zen Habits. Along the way, he’s conquered everything from smoking, to becoming a […]

How do some people break out of conventional jobs, and completely reinvent their living on faith— like becoming an international spiritual teacher? That’s exactly what today’s guest, Dr. Michael Lennox has done. At least a couple times a week, I talk to someone who struggles with finding their voice, and then using it to speak, […]

Today’s tech start-ups spend so much time positioning themselves as experts in company culture, it’s easy to forget they haven’t yet celebrated 20 years in business. What about a company that keeps innovating and expanding, while walking its talk with cutting-edge, people-first business practices—in its 86th year in business? Famous Supply is a 4th-generation family […]

Lodro Rinzler reminds me what’s possible when we surrender to our path. That’s not to say the guy doesn’t have an incredible work ethic, but as you’ll hear, there’s an immense power and grace to embracing who we’ve always known ourselves to be. For most of us, it’s easy to ignore, or drown out that […]

How do you get the most out of a team, or organization? Team dynamics and business culture can be a fluffy subject, but not for a seasoned HR exec in NYC’s tech industry. This conversation is a must for every passionate organizational, or culture designer. Deb Josephs is a Chief People Officer who has helped […]

Raised in an atheist household, author and teacher Philip Goldberg has gone on to become a key documentarian and historian of the modern yoga movement. He has written or coauthored over 20 books, including the recent “The Life of Yogananda”. In this far-reaching interview we discuss how Philip found his path, what we can learn […]

Susan Piver is our first guest for good reason. Her sublime wisdom blooms in the moment, but so do unscripted perspectives, reflections, and deep belly laughs. Sure, Susan has written 9 books and teaches more than 30,000 people to meditate each week through her Open Heart Project. But she’s also one of the most human […]

Today’s the day! Please check out the trailer, subscribe through your favorite Podcast platform, and share!  Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher Every Thursday, This Epic Life Podcast will host conversations at the intersection of business and consciousness. Discover your Epic Life, as we explore 3 powerful permissions with our guests. These are the Permission to […]