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In this episode of Mission Matters, host Adam Torres welcomes back Dr. Martin Trevino, a cognitive neuroscientist and technologist, to discuss his new chapter in Mission Matters: Mission-Based Leaders Share Inspiring Stories on Leadership and Success (Business Leaders Vol 11, Edition 7). They unpack how businesses can rethink digital transformation by embracing AI not just as a tool—but as a cognitive partner in decision-making, collaboration, and innovation. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast:https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website:https://missionmatters.com/More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of Mission Matters, host Adam Torres welcomes back Dr. Martin Trevino, a cognitive neuroscientist and technologist, to discuss his new chapter in Mission Matters: Mission-Based Leaders Share Inspiring Stories on Leadership and Success (Business Leaders Vol 11, Edition 7). They unpack how businesses can rethink digital transformation by embracing AI not just as a tool—but as a cognitive partner in decision-making, collaboration, and innovation. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule. Apply to be a guest on our podcast:https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/ Visit our website:https://missionmatters.com/More FREE content from Mission Matters here: https://linktr.ee/missionmattersmedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Are you truly being curious—or just trying to win the argument? Tony explores the difference between genuine curiosity and performative questions, sharing real-life examples and tools to help you respond with emotional maturity, not reactivity. Learn how curiosity can transform your relationships. 00:00 Introduction and Host Background 01:42 Understanding Performative vs. Genuine Curiosity 02:04 A Personal Story About Curiosity 08:50 The Importance of Genuine Curiosity in Relationships 19:10 Self-Regulation and Emotional Maturity 24:18 Promoting Genuine Curiosity in Parenting 26:17 The Role of Humility in Curiosity 29:41 Healthy Ego vs. Defensive Narcissism 35:03 The Neuroscience of Decision Making and Emotions 37:06 The Power of Slowing Down 37:36 Understanding Emotions: Primary, Secondary, and Instrumental 41:02 Exploring Anger in Relationships 42:48 Trusting Your Gut and Emotional Reasoning 45:41 Addressing Men's Emotional Immaturity 48:55 Real-Life Examples of Genuine Curiosity 53:42 Parenting with Curiosity 55:09 Curiosity in Marriage and Workplace 59:47 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Tools 01:02:15 Four Pillars of a Connected Conversation 01:05:20 Final Thoughts and Takeaways Contact Tony at contact@tonyoverbay.com to learn more about his Emotional Architects men's group. And visit https://julie-dejesus.com/cruise to learn more about Tony and his friend Julie De Jesus's "I See You Living" cruise, a 5-night Western Caribbean Cruise from January 24-29, 2026 aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
We'd love to hear from you, send us a text about your favorite show!When we hit a crossroads in life, it's only natural to look for solutions. In fact, our mind starts working overtime to find just the perfect solution to keep you moving forward and get you out of that uncomfy transitional space as quickly as possible. Lo and behold, the perfect solution seems to appear and your engines start going full steam ahead. Only, you realize later that something just doesn't feel right with your Soul?It's always hard to realize that you've been spinning your wheels when you thought you were actually going somewhere. Our mind loves a "this will fix everything!" idea, because it puts all of the uncertainty to bed (temporarily). In this episode, we are talking about the calling cards of shiny distractions vs. Soul level guidance. You'll learn to recognize the "quick fix" energy that pulls you away from your deeper truth and what to do if you're halfway down the path of shiny distraction and feeling disheartened. If you've ever wrestled with decisions that seemed right but felt off in practice this episode will help you with your discernment and connecting with a deeper level of self-trust.About Christina Wooten, Sedona Medium:Want to take more aligned action in your life? Want to understand the energies at play each month, so you can flow with Divine Timing? Join the Inner Circle to get access to Monthly Readings with Christina and the Energetic Calendar!Christina Wooten helps you access the wisdom and support of the Spirit World to elevate your life.She is a Certified Psychic Medium and Reiki Master Teacher. Christina is the owner of Sedona Medium and co-host of Modern Life and Spirit podcast.She offers Psychic Medium Readings, Soul Readings, Past Life Regressions, and teaches how you can start communicating and receiving messages from your Spirit Guides - through her program.Learn more about her offerings hereEnroll in Fall Reiki Classes Today! Space is limited.Visit sedonamedium.com to learn more.Support the show
In this episode, former Green Beret Chris Lee discusses his new book 'Legacy Forged', designed to help people through intentional planning, identity shifts, and strategic goal setting. The conversation explores the importance of daily consistent actions, overcoming adversity, leveraging meditation and rest for heightened performance, and the practical use of AI in boosting productivity and decision-making. Listeners will gain valuable insights into transforming intentions into actions and fostering self-mastery through rigorous yet attainable protocols. Episode Highlights: 03:42 The Importance of Progress Over Perfection 11:50 The Art of Recovery and Rest 26:38 Gratitude and Mindset Shifts 29:55 The Pursuit of Validation 31:39 Shifting Motivations 36:01 AI in Everyday Tasks 38:04 The Future of AI and Entertainment 41:34 The Importance of Adaptation 52:12 Commitment to Consistency Chris Lee is a former Green Beret turned high-performance coach and business consultant who helps driven individuals and organizations operate at elite levels. With over a decade of service as an 18D Special Forces Medical Sergeant, Chris brings deep expertise in leadership, resilience, and decision-making under pressure. Today, he uses that experience to guide high-achievers in unlocking their full potential, strengthening their mindset, and building legacies that endure. Whether working with executives, teams, or entrepreneurs, Chris is committed to helping others lead with clarity, perform with purpose, and rise to their next level of excellence. Connect with Chris on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/coach_chris.lee/ Purchase “Legacy Forged” here: https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Forged-90-Day-Command-Discipline/dp/B0F844XH75 Learn more about the gift of Adversity and my mission to help my fellow humans create a better world by heading to www.marcusaureliusanderson.com. There you can take action by joining my ANV inner circle to get exclusive content and information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia interviews Glen Coates, Vice President of Product at Shopify.Shopify is one of the world's leading commerce platforms, powering millions of businesses and helping entrepreneurs sell online and offline with ease. Since launching in 2006, it has become a global e-commerce giant and the second-largest online retailer in the U.S., with over $8 billion in annual revenue and 8,000+ employees working fully remotely.Glen leads Shopify's Core Product organization, overseeing the storefront, checkout, back office, marketing, analytics tools, and the core developer platform. He also drives Shopify's thriving partner ecosystem, which offers merchants access to over 10,000 apps. From video game developer to B2B ecommerce founder to product leader at scale, Glen brings a rare blend of technical depth and entrepreneurial vision.In this episode, he shares how his unconventional path shaped his approach to product leadership, the principles behind Shopify's fast-moving strategy, and how the company stays ahead with AI and deep product focus. He also explains his org design for scale, why every product leader must “know everything down to the details,” and how the team keeps the experience polished with the “Boring Edition.”What you'll learn:-Glen's journey from game development to leading Shopify's core platform.- How Shopify's viral “AI memo” raised the bar for PMs and engineers to build faster.- The Outcomes, Assumptions & Principles framework behind better product decisions.- Why focusing on fundamentals keeps Shopify nimble and merchants competitive.Key Takeaways
Professor Satinder Singh of Google DeepMind and U of Michigan is co-founder of RLDM. Here he narrates the origin story of the Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making meeting (not conference).Recorded on location at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland during RLDM 2025.Featured ReferencesRLDM 2025: Multi-disciplinary Conference on Reinforcement Learning and Decision Making (RLDM)June 11-14, 2025 at Trinity College Dublin, IrelandSatinder Singh on Google Scholar
ABOUT DHRUV PARTHASARATHYDhruv Parthasarathy has spent the last 8 years focused on applying modern software and machine learning techniques in healthcare. Dhruv currently serves as the CTO of Commure, HATCO, and Augmedix. In the role of CTO, he leads product, engineering, and design teams. Prior to this, Dhruv helped found Athelas which eventually merged with Commure.In these roles, Dhruv has designed and developed end-to-end solutions for revenue cycle automation, ambient documentation, patient engagement, and at-home diagnostics for oncology.Before this, Dhruv was the Director of Machine Learning Programs at Udacity, where he led the development of the AI, Self-Driving Car, Deep Learning, and Machine Learning Nanodegree programs.Dhruv also worked as a Product Engineer at Udacity, where he rebuilt the main signed-in experience and was responsible for the backend development. Dhruv obtained a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013. Following this, they pursued a Master's degree in Computer Science with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence at MIT from 2013 to 2014. This episode is brought to you by Side – delivering award-winning QA, localization, player support, and tech services for the world's leading games and technology brands.For over 30 years, Side has helped create unforgettable user experiences—from indies to AAA blockbusters like Silent Hill 2 and Baldur's Gate 3.Learn more about Side's global solutions at side.inc. SHOW NOTES:How the Commure team moves with speed & momentum (3:26)Commure's operational strategy / key leadership principles (4:57)Hiring & cultivating multi-talented individuals (7:16)How to optimize decision-making, push decisions down & minimize risk (8:40)Why speed is a core principle for building successful eng orgs (11:36)Getting unstuck in your decision-making as an eng team (13:07)Challenges faced while building a high-performing eng team in healthcare (15:47)Tactics for hiring less experienced engineers & bringing them up to speed (18:22)Customization as a product principle and how it manifests in EPD (20:55)Why the polymath style approach to engineering is more vital now than ever (23:47)Lessons learned around scope & using it to create leverage (26:06)Frameworks for assessing areas most likely to create a compound win (28:22)Rapid fire questions (30:35)LINKS AND RESOURCESCinema Speculation - The long-awaited first work of nonfiction from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: a deliriously entertaining, wickedly intelligent cinema book as unique and creative as anything by Quentin Tarantino.This episode wouldn't have been possible without the help of our incredible production team:Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-HostJerry Li - Co-HostNoah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan's also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/
This week on Swimming with Allocators, Earnest and Alexa welcome Brian Brackeen, Managing Partner at Lightship Capital. Brian shares his unconventional journey from tech founder to venture capital allocator. He discusses his vision for democratizing venture capital by investing in overlooked regions like the Midwest and challenging traditional investment biases, and emphasizes the importance of founder-focused investing, leveraging AI in fund management, and creating opportunities beyond coastal tech hubs. Key insights include his critique of performative DEI efforts, the potential transformative impact of AI across industries, and his belief that smaller funds in underserved regions can generate significant returns. Also, don't miss our insider segment as Idan Netser from Sidley law firm discusses how legal firms can serve as valuable connectors and advisors in the venture capital ecosystem, helping GPs and LPs network, make introductions, facilitate deal opportunities, and provide strategic guidance beyond traditional legal services.Highlights from this week's conversation include:Brian's Journey into Tech and VC (0:40)Motivation for Starting Anchor Fund (6:27)Geographic and Diversity Challenges in VC (8:13)Investment Strategy and Diligence Process (9:38)Fund Size, Target LPs, and Support Services (11:50)Decision-Making and Fund Selection (13:17)Insider Segment: Benefits of Legal Firms for VCs (15:57)Trends in VC and LP/GP Terms (20:18)How LPs Should Approach Emerging Managers (23:51)Traits and Diligence for Fund Managers (25:56)AI in Fund Diligence and Operations (29:36)AI's Future Economic Impact (32:52)Transferable Skills and Workforce Evolution (39:58)Anchor Fund's Long-Term Vision (44:54)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (45:50)Lightship Capital Anchor Fund is a fund-of-funds strategy dedicated to driving economic growth by investing in small businesses through venture funds and direct investments. With a focus on diversity and measurable outcomes, Anchor Fund supports fund managers across the Americas, Africa, and Europe, ensuring long-term financial success and community impact. Learn more at www.lightship.capital/anchorfund.Sidley Austin LLP is a premier global law firm with a dedicated Venture Funds practice, advising top venture capital firms, institutional investors, and private equity sponsors on fund formation, investment structuring, and regulatory compliance. With deep expertise across private markets, Sidley provides strategic legal counsel to help funds scale effectively. Learn more at sidley.com.Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies. The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only.
I've been thinking a lot about prioritizing lately, mostly because I've been shifting the way I prioritize things in my life the last few months. My priorities desperately needed to change so that work wasn't always #1, and I wasn't always chasing an endless to-do list of busywork.Because “when you prioritize the important over the urgent, you don't just get more done, you get the right things done. And that's the difference between a busy life and a meaningful one.” - Greg McKeown.So today's quickie reveals how to break free from the cult of busyness and master the art of prioritization using productivity minimalism principles inspired by Greg McKeown best-selling book, Essentialism. We dive into why you're focusing on urgent tasks instead of important priorities, along with actionable strategies to create a more meaningful, intentional life. I break down The Law of Inverse Prioritization, which explains why the most important things in life (health, relationships, personal growth) often get neglected while urgent but meaningless tasks consume all of our time and energy.Tune in to hear:Productivity minimalism strategies for focusing on high-impact activitiesThe difference between urgent and importantTime management tricks through intentional prioritizationWork-life balance and escaping the busyness addiction cycleMy priorities in this season of life (Burnout prevention, relationships, writing and health)Time blocking techniques for non-negotiable important activities3 key questions for your prioritization and decision-making frameworkOrganizing your life around purpose and impactResources mentioned:Greg McKeown's Instagram videoGreg's book and academy on EssentialismFor advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Frequency Podcast Network. Sign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter Follow us on the ‘gram:@teachmehowtoadultmedia@gillian.bernerFollow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadultSubscribe on YouTube
In this thought-provoking episode of Walk In Victory, host NaRon Tillman engages in a powerful conversation with Somik Raha, an expert in decision analysis and values-based decision making. Together, they explore the deep connection between emotions, ethics, and purposeful living.Somik shares insights from his book, unpacking how intrinsic, extrinsic, and systemic values influence our identity, work, and moral compass. The episode dives into the search for meaning in work, the emotional roots of decision-making, and the spiritual and social challenges of maintaining ethical integrity in today's world.From global conflict to personal accountability, NaRon and Somik invite listeners to reflect on their values, navigate with clarity, and lead with authenticity.
Christina unpacks the true meaning of success—not the version society sells us, but the one you define for yourself. She reveals the surprising mindset shifts her most successful clients share: radical personal responsibility, relentless work ethic, and the courage to bet on themselves.Whether you're an entrepreneur, a high achiever, or simply someone who wants more out of life, this conversation will challenge how you think about growth, grit, and what it really means to create a life you're proud of.
Responding with “Where's the research for that?” may be quick, but it can strain professional relationships. Today, we're diving into a simple framework you can start using in your school or clinic—starting tomorrow!So, how do we navigate disagreements when our training and backgrounds differ? The truth is—our way isn't the only way.Consider this quote from the article Maintaining Professional Relationships in an Interdisciplinary Setting: Strategies for Navigating Nonbehavioral Treatment Recommendations for Individuals with Autism:“An interdisciplinary collaboration for individuals with ASD involves combining the strengths of multiple disciplines in order to maximize client outcomes.”As we walk through the decision-making flowchart featured in the article, remember: keep an open mind, take time to understand the treatment in question, and always prioritize the client's outcome and safety.Stay tuned for more of my 10-minute episodes, where I answer the most commonly asked questions.#autism #speechtherapy What's Inside:A simple framework for avoiding conflict in collaboration.The importance of a multidisciplinary approach.10-minute summer series.Mentioned In This Episode:Maintaining Professional Relationships in an Interdisciplinary Setting: Strategies for Navigating Nonbehavioral Treatment Recommendations for Individuals with Autism - PMCJoin Our Ethics Course! Speech Membership - ABA Speech ABA Speech: Home
How do you find the courage to leave a stable career and chase a creative dream? In this episode, I sit down with the incredible photographer Mark Clennon, who did exactly that. Mark shares the real story of his leap from a 9-to-5 into the world of full-time commercial photography. We talk about the initial struggles, the community's pivotal role in his journey, and how he built a new life and career after moving to Los Angeles. I'm excited for you to listen to this conversation. I wish I had had this episode when I first started out as a commercial photographer. Mark shares the challenges and triumphs of defining your artistic voice and building a sustainable creative life on your own terms. Mark's journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest risks lead to the most rewarding destinations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Mark Clennon and His Journey 01:59 Early Creative Influences and Curiosity 04:14 The Gift of Photography and Initial Struggles 05:54 Building Community and Transitioning to Full-Time Photography 10:12 Taking the Leap: Quitting the Day Job 12:10 Navigating the Early Days of Freelancing 15:00 First Major Commercial Success and Learning the Trade 17:00 Relocating to Los Angeles: A New Chapter 19:03 Defining Artistic Identity and Signature Style 22:57 Creative Voice and Decision Making 30:26 Building Community in a New City 36:22 Learning from Challenges and Problem Solving 42:31 The Importance of Creative Play and Reflection Connect With Mark: Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mark.c/?hl=en Mark's Website: https://www.markclennon.com Listen to Mark's TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/mark_clennon_finding_your_point_of_view Support the Show Website: www.martineseverin.com Follow on Instagram: @martine.severin | @thisishowwecreate_ Subscribe to the Newsletter: www.martineseverin.substack.com This is How We Create is produced by Martine Severin. This episode was edited by Santiago Cardona and Daniel Espinosa. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts Leave a review Follow us on social media Share with fellow creatives
It might seem like every conflict in marriage might not have a clear solution, but Scripture gives us a path forward. In this episode, Costi Hinn answers marriage questions from our listeners and explores what it means to stay faithful, speak the truth in love, and honor Christ—especially when challenges arise.Topics covered: -Narcissistic spouses-Unbelieving spouses-Setting boundaries with in-laws-Disagreements on life-changing decisions
Welcome back to 'Don't Cut Your Own Bangs!' In this lively and heartfelt episode, Danielle Ireland chats with Ashlyn Thompson from the Parent Empowerment Network. Ashlyn shares her journey from growing her nonprofit organization to the emotional rollercoaster of her daughter's complex medical journey. Get ready to explore how pain can be an unexpected teacher, the magic of community support, and why tapping into creativity can be your secret weapon against anxiety. Filled with laughs, valuable insights, and touching moments, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and joy. Tune in and enjoy the ride! 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 00:20 Ashlyn Thompson's Journey and Nonprofit Growth 01:10 The Importance of Community and Support 01:37 Embracing Big Feelings and Finding Joy 02:52 Welcoming Ashlyn Back and Discussing Growth 05:44 Navigating Pain and Empowerment 09:51 The Power of Perspective and Decision Making 14:27 Balancing Life and Nonprofit Work 21:21 The Role of Pain as a Teacher 30:48 Finding Comfort in Movement and Nature 33:09 Returning to Basics 33:35 Reflecting on Past Decisions 35:20 The Role of Pain and Fear 38:20 Parent Empowerment Network 44:25 Creativity as a Lifeline 49:21 Embracing Emotions 53:07 Don't Cut Your Own Bangs Moment 01:01:20 Conclusion and Resources Ashlyn Thompson interview links Ashlyn Thompson, a passionate advocate and storyteller, is co-founder of the Parent Empowerment Network, a nonprofit providing emotional and mental health support to parents navigating pediatric medical complexities. She also co-hosts theEmpowered by Hope podcast, which equips parents with practical tools, resources, and a strong sense of community—delivered with a heavy dose of humor and hope to empower them as their child's best advocate. Ashlyn's fire for advocacy was ignited by her daughter Emery, who was born with bladder exstrophy. After Emery nearly died following a major surgery at just seven weeks old, Ashlyn became a fierce voice for patient safety. Unwilling to accept the limitations of domestic medical care, she discovered a surgical option in the U.K. that wasn't available in the U.S. at the time. In early 2023, Emery became the first American to undergo this procedure—and thanks to Ashlyn's relentless advocacy, that surgery is now available in America. When she's not advocating or recording podcasts, Ashlyn moonlights as a budding driveway chalk artist, chaos coordinator for her spirited family, and an avid nature lover. Chocolate is her daily vitamin, ADHD is her superpower, spiders and small talk are her sworn enemies, and she firmly believes laughter and boldness are two of a parent's greatest tools. Parent Empowerment Network: The Parent Empowerment Network exists to support, encourage, and educate parents of children with medical complexities—empowering them with community, knowledge, and confidence to be their child's fiercest advocate. www.ParentEmpowermentNetwork.org Empowered by Hope podcast on all major podcast streaming platforms: https://parentempowermentnetwork.org/podcast/ Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Parent-Empowerment-Network/100083218456295/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentempowermentnetwork/ She is Charlotte book by co-founder, Emily Whiting:https://parentempowermentnetwork.org/she-is-charlotte-book/ DANIELLE IRELAND, LCSW I greatly appreciate your support and engagement as part of the Don't Cut Your Own Bangs community. Feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or anything you'd like to share. You can connect with me at any of the links below. Website: https://danielleireland.com/ The Treasured Journal: https://danielleireland.com/journal Substack: https://danielleireland.substack.com/ Blog: https://danielleireland.com/blog/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleireland_lcsw Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleireland.LCSW Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleireland8218/featured “Don't Cut Your Own Bangs” is about creating a community around, and familiarity with, the messy middle—that uncertain and often chaotic and uncomfortable time in the middle of a process or journey. The messy middle is replete with ambiguity and challenges, but it's also where the hard and rewarding work happens. Transcript [00:00:00] Danielle: Hello. Hello, this is Danielle Ireland and you are watching or listening to Don't Cut Your Own Bangs. I am so excited to be back in the interview seat. We've done some solo cast. It's been a blast. But Ashlyn Thompson is here with me today, and we just wrapped an incredible conversation. Ashlyn came on as a guest to talk about her work with Charlotte's Hope Foundation a couple of years ago. [00:00:26] She was about ready to embark right in the interview we were, she was. Days away from embarking on a trip to the UK for her daughter having a surgery with the only surgeon in the world who performed the specific type of surgery that her daughter needed. Her daughter's made a full recovery. It's a beautiful story we're gonna get into in this episode, but what I'm truly, if you could imagine even beyond that beautiful story, what I'm so excited to introduce to you and to that I was so grateful to witness and learn from. [00:00:53] Is that Ashlyn has grown her nonprofit organization, not no money in organization, but yes, a nonprofit organization that at the time, two years ago when we last checked in with her, was called Charlotte's Hope Foundation. It has grown. It's expanded, and it's evolved, and it's now the Parent Empowerment Network. [00:01:10] She and her co-founder also have a podcast for that same work, and what I love about the work that they do. They create community connection space and resources for parents and families raising children or any provider helping a child navigate medical complexities. And that sounds like such a hard and heavy and challenging topic. [00:01:33] And it is. But what Ashlyn embodies is. The work that I really wanted to bring to this season and this new phase of don't cut your own bangs, which I want big feelings to feel less scary. I want approaching them to feel possible. And then with that in mind, wherever possible, as much as possible, finding lightness, levity, and joy. [00:01:54] However we can do it. And I'm telling you, in this episode we did that. We accomplished that. We talk about important things, we talk about heavy things, and Ashland is vulnerable in a way that is inviting. But also something we can all learn from. And through the specificity of her life experience and what she's learned, there are universal nuggets that we can all find value in. [00:02:17] I know I did, and this was such a beautiful place to share, and we laughed. We had joy, we smiled . I hope that this topic invites you and encourages you to lean in and tune in because there are so many great nuggets of this. Thank you for being here, and I can't wait for you to sit back, relax, and enjoy. [00:02:38] Ashlyn Thompson [00:02:39] Hi. Yes, I know. Big jumps for both of us. I know. I feel like we're, it does feel like a lifetime ago. It I mean, in many ways it is. It's like we're, I mean, I'm still, me and all the key players are still playing. Right. But it does feel like a different life in a way. And I, with that in mind, I just wanna officially welcome you back. [00:02:55] Yes. Welcome. Ashlyn Thompson. Oh, thank. Don't cut your own bangs. I am so excited that you're here for many reasons, but the thing I'm most excited about is I think that. Building something or starting something creates a certain amount of effort and energy. Sustaining something, growing with it, breathing new life into it, that's a different part of a different element of a creative process. [00:03:17] And that's something I think specifically I'm really excited to talk to you about because you're parent Empowerment Network, which has it, it exists to support, encourage and educate parents and caregivers of children with medical complexities. And that was, it already was in existence when we, right, when we recorded the first time. [00:03:34] But it has grown. Grown. I went to a gala, people, she's throwing a gala fundraiser for her for her network. And so, I mean, I wanna hear about all the twists and all the developments of that, but more specifically the context I wanna provide for us and for this conversation. The thing that I'm really excited about, , and why I feel really passionate about bringing this to video. [00:03:57] Is that I want to help make big feelings feel less scary. Yeah. And I want to make, approaching them feel possible. And then with that in mind as much and as often as possible, laugh as much as possible. Amen. And so, right? So like, you are swimming in the trenches with people and even in your own life with people who are holding and making space for heavy things. [00:04:23] Yes. And yet there is a bright smile on your face. There's a twinkle in your eye. You laugh and you smile. And I wanna, and I don't know how to articulate what that is, but I want to, I wanna, that's something I wanna make space for in this conversation too. So it's important and it's big and it's emotional for sure, but also like, let's allow levity too. [00:04:42] Absolutely. I am so excited to be continuing our conversation, and I'm also really happy to know that. The person who's sitting here with you today is very much a different person from two years ago. And I feel like I have gone through multiple versions of myself just in the past two years. And that's one of the things that I truly celebrate about, not just the journey of parent empowerment network, but I think just growing and evolving as a human spirit, experiencing this life is recognizing that I say this phrase to only certain people, but I act, I feel compelled to share it now. [00:05:26] I feel like I have died a thousand times. And greeted so many versions of myself. But every time I rise into that extroversion and realize who I am, I like that person more and more. And. I feel like one of my greatest accomplishments just this past year has been truly settling into a, knowing a deep belief that life is meant to grow through, not go through. [00:05:58] And that change, that pivot of how I see the next big thing that comes up has been such a grounding force for me and has really helped me feel like I'm actually sitting in the driver's seat of my car. I don't know what I'm going to pass as I'm on this highway. In life. And sometimes life yanks me off on an exit I didn't plan. [00:06:23] And those exit ramps are typically the next lesson. But I'm grateful to be at a point where I can now see the next really hard thing emerging and not wanna hit reverse. Wow. Wow. Not that I like it all the time. No, God. But I can appreciate that this isn't out to crush me. This isn't here to take me down like I used to feel. [00:06:53] , Wow. There's a lot to unpack there for. Thank you so much for sharing that, but also not going in reverse. I wanna make a mental note, not going in reverse. The next version of me, I like better, and this is not here to crush me. Right. The, there's something, I got chills. I got full body chills when you, the la with the last thing that you said, because when I'm working with clients, there is this element and this is something. [00:07:18] I promise I'll come back to that original point there. There's an element of the work that I do where, and I'm sure you get this in your own way too, with like hearing stories from families who are holding really hard and heavy things. I think when I meet people for the first time, a common response is, wow, I don't know how you do what you do, or I don't know how you listen to that all day. [00:07:36] Or Oh man, and I think, yes, sure. There, there are certainly days and clients or moments where those stories are making space for people's big, heavy, painful experiences. Right. Is can be a lot at times. Far less anymore. But I think more than anything the va like, I feel so lucky to have the experience a hundred maybe even thousands of times over hurt people's pain. [00:08:03] And I know what pain sounds like. Yes. And there are different types and one thing that I absolutely believe to be true is that our pain is not personal. Our story is personal, right? But pain is not personal. And the events of our life, even things that happen to us, it's, there's it's almost shifting out of a, and I hope I can say this within the context that, that is heard with love. [00:08:27] But shifting out of a victim mentality right into it. Because being victimized or being stricken with grief or holding something hard like that is absolutely real. And also knowing that this is happening to me, but this is not gosh, what are the words I'm trying to find. It, what I'm hearing is you recognize how hard this is. [00:08:51] Whatever that insert blank. I recognize how hard this is, and I'm not going to make this pain so precious that I don't also see it as temporary. Yes, exactly. But there's something, so I think there's something really powerful and there's so much nuance to that because I certainly don't want to, people can be victimized, but the victim mentality is one of, in my professional experience it's one of the more challenging headspace to, for someone to walk out of. [00:09:21] Agree. It's really hard. Exactly. It shrinks your world. So, so much. That's well said. And we experience that very often. We really fo I mean we say all the time, you know, we are non diagnosis specific, non prognosis specific with the families that we work with, and we focus on the parents or the parent role, which could be performed by a sibling, a grandparent, a friend, an adopt, a lot of different people, but. [00:09:51] What we really found early in our journey and what helped us evolve into parent empowerment network was that recognition that, like you pointed out, pain is not it's not customized to your experience. The feeling, the emotional and physical experience relationship with pain is common through all of us, and it actually is a way that we can connect with each other when we recognize that. [00:10:18] When we stop comparing one another's pains. Now, don't get me wrong, if your kid got a bump on the head versus your kid needs a, you know, brain surgery. Right. Those are different. Yes. Very different. Yes. But most of the time we're not dealing with that. And what we have found is that when somebody is in that victim mentality, which is understandable, I think that's a, very important aspect to acknowledge when you're feeling like a victim, why is this happening to me? Or why is this happening to my child? Because I'll be the first to say, it's never okay when your child is hurting or sick or in harm's way or worse. I will never be okay with it. But when we say stuck in a victim mentality, our ability to problem solve goes from about here to here. [00:11:08] Yeah. And then your child is really the one who suffers. And I hate, it's a hard truth. But we have to face that truth because when we can help a parent start to find glimmers of hope, start to see that there's a way to build on quality of life rather than cure. Then you start to see this new version emerge where they are truly, you know, empowered advocates for their child. [00:11:45] There's something that I heard in what you said too, that a lot of times when I'm working with clients who are maybe knee deep in anxiety or depression, for example. I think why can be a powerful question, but I think a misplaced why is a really exactly damaging question. Like, why me? Why them? [00:12:02] Why this, why now? Because those are questions you can't answer that only lead to a defeating answer. Exactly. And usually another question or shame, but what I'm hearing a lot in when you. When you can kind of broaden your focus and sort of release that constriction from why you then can open yourself up to a different type of question. [00:12:23] How can I, exactly. How can I get through today? How can I get through this moment? What is needed most of me now? What do I need now? Right. And those types of the what and the how. Who do I need to show up for? Is it me? Right. Is it them? Who do I need to ask for help? Who has information that I need? [00:12:43] Those types of questions don't eliminate the pain, but it broadens the scope Yes. Of, of your field of vision. And I know that though, like, 'cause you are here in many ways. Oh, I hope it's okay to use this term. But I hope that you're here as an expert and you're also the executive Hope director of of the power impairment network. [00:13:05] And I think a lot of times. What we would imagine as the worst possible case scenario. Like the worst thing we could imagine would be something happening to our kids. This has been your lived experience. This has been your business partner's lived experience. And for, even though you have a podcast as well, where you really create a space and content and a community that helps people with that very specific set of circumstances, that Right. [00:13:33] I would imagine it's like. The best and worst club to be a part of. So we always say, we're so sorry you're in this club. Yes. But we're so glad you found us. Yes. Like it's the yes, we're really sorry, but at the same time, like, welcome home, welcome. And so I think a lot of the, a lot of the people who tune in to don't cut your own bang, I don't know how many would have this specific life experience. [00:13:57] Right. And if you do, oh my gosh, what a gorgeous resource you have in Ashlyn. Oh, thank you. And the Parent empowerment network and their podcast. But I do think that even in something like this, in within the specificity of everything you're saying, there is such a broad truth that I think we can all access and find value in. [00:14:16] And, yeah. So just thank you for all of that. And I want to, okay. I wanna shift a little bit to the growth of the parent Empowerment network. Right. Because, so when I originally started this podcast, what I was, what I really motivated me, one was I was terrified of becoming a therapist and having worked as a creative, and I just wanted to surround myself with other people who, who were building things, right? So that I could sort of sneak in my own needy questions. Like, how did you do it? How did you figure it out? What happened when you were scared? Like, what happened when your computer crashed? Oh my gosh. And you went from newly building something to, you have really grown. [00:14:53] Yes. You have really grown. And I wanna know having experienced the, you know, the gala that Right. That you that you threw that was so lovely. I wanna know . What led to the growth over the last two years? Because you're still momming, you're still life. Yeah. Your daughter is still being you. [00:15:08] I mean, like your life is still life and Yes. Life is still lifeing. How, in the midst of your lifeing, how have you also continued to grow this? And I really wanna know like what fueled your fire. And just tell me more about that story please. Yes, absolutely. So at the beginning of this, you know, when we started talking, you were very talking about how I'm sitting here smiling and I mean, I am fully, I am genuinely full of joy in this moment. [00:15:35] And I think I know actually that comes from being in something like we have with Parent Empowerment Network, which has been truly its own huge like business, right? We are called a nonprofit, but let me tell you, I mean, it is straight up business. [00:15:57] Is what it is in a lot of ways, and. That's the worst possible name for a tax category. It totally is. Because it's so confusing. Nonprofit doesn't mean no money. Right. Exactly. It's so confusing. We do not exist for free. Is great an idea as that sounds. I want that to be the slogan for every nonprofit. [00:16:16] I just, 'cause we don't exist for free. Right. You know the whole, you get what you pay for. It's, yeah. That's a whole other conversation. We're not gonna spend too much time there today. We should have a part two then. There we go. I'm okay with that. All right. So for that, what I think the biggest lesson that has. [00:16:33] Emerged from this journey just since we were, you know, you and I were talking a couple years ago when we were actually still called Charlotte's Hope Foundation. Yes. Which was our initial name. Yes. Because we had an idea for something that was this big at the beginning. And the name Charlotte's Hope Foundation fit that in theory. [00:16:52] But the thing I'm most proud of my, of Emily Whiting, who's my co-founder, fellow mom, fellow sister, fellow savior, at times the best thing we have done is allowed ourselves permission to grow and shrink as needed. And that's what we've done throughout this journey. It has not been a step process. [00:17:15] There have been countless times where we have grown two or three steps, been bigger, you know, working with international teams of surgeons, pulling together collaborations that have never been done, and then. There have been times where we have pulled back and we haven't released an episode for six weeks. [00:17:33] We have had maybe two or three social posts because our lives were on fire or just demanded all our attention, but it didn't mean we had to stop. I need to, oh my gosh. I don't know how many of you listening or watching can relate to that. I, there is a relationship I have with the expansion and contraction of output where if I'm not putting something out, producing something, making something that it really does a number on my sense of self worth. Right. And self esteem. And that is something that I'm still actively healing and repairing, because I definitely know the facts. I know. The really bumper stickery, self helpy sounding talk. [00:18:26] And I believe it. It's not that I, I don't hear it and think like, yeah. Right. It's just that there's a more practiced version of me, right. That has just had more at bats operating in a certain way. And then life in many ways rewards you for that. In theory. In theory. And I don't mean the like the laurels, like you get the the kudos pat on the back accolades but there is a cost, right? [00:18:47] There is a cost. And I think, in the I this past year I wrote a children's book called Wrestling a Walrus. And this the act of writing this book was something that I didn't realize that in the contraction, or even like in the I love the visual of the caterpillar becoming the butterfly. [00:19:09] 'Cause there's a two week process where the caterpillar is literally, we talk about the messy middle in this podcast and think, thank you Brene Brown, wherever you are for creating language and context for us for this very conversation. 'cause so much of this is inspired by that, but that gooey, mushy middle where it's not a butterfly, it's literally goo and it's Exactly, and it, and, but in that place, there is magic happening there. [00:19:33] Even if it, even though it looks like a pile of shit, right. Like, it's, there's magic happening there. I'll say the impetus or the inspiration, the. It was tough moments with my daughter, moments where I didn't feel like I was doing anything. Right. It like hitting the wrecking ball of, you know, being a parent of a toddler and a parent of an infant like that was, there's not enough grace in any space to help you go through that without serious, you know, support. [00:20:02] There were, I had some victim mentality at that point in time, even, and all things can be true at once. But all of that was what I experienced before I had the idea to write the book. And had I not had that experience, I wouldn't have been able to do that. Exactly. I don't think it would've been the same. [00:20:16] And [00:20:16] , and I promise this whole podcast isn't an ad for the book, but like, I really believe in this damn book and I love it so much. And I love that you talk about that expansion and contraction for yourself. And that you doesn't, it doesn't mean you have to stop. 'cause I think a big reason why I maybe avoided picking up the torch again and doing this podcast like I left it for so long, or I abandoned it for so long, or can I still do it right? [00:20:41] Like all of that stuff. And then yeah it. Yeah. Doubt doesn't mean you're done. No. And taking a pause doesn't mean you're stopping forever. But yeah. I mean, you can't just exhale forever. You can't just output like you eventually have to breathe in. Exactly. And that relationship is very necessary. [00:21:00] And so, I mean, everything you're saying is exactly what I need. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. You're welcome. And it, that lesson doesn't come easily. Nope. But I think another element of that, you know, building off of what you were just talking about, pain and discomfort and naturally shying away from it. [00:21:21] I challenge anybody in life to just take a moment to consider pain as a potential teacher, as a professor, rather than pain as an enemy, or pain as a destroyer. Right. If you ask yourself. Why does this feel painful? Because how many times do we all experience in our life something that really gets under our skin, but whether it's a spouse or it's a friend or a coworker and they seem totally unfazed by it, [00:21:56] and that used to be something that bothered me. I was kinda like what's, am I ever sensitive? Or like, what is my thing? And I grew up always hearing, not necessarily even from my parents, but I feel like. Teacher schools and saved by the bell commercials about find what you love in life and you'll never work a day in your life. [00:22:16] And that was great in theory, but I'm a very eclectic person. Yep. I love a lot. And all I was getting was a lot of burnout. That's also like saying like, love your kids and you'll never have a hard day with them in your life. You're like, no bs. No. I love my kids. But like, you know, oh my gosh, kids are the greatest, hardest thing of life. [00:22:33] Right. Right. But I think the same is true. Like , I never stopped loving this. Right. But I don't always have control over the life around. Right. But it's a, I think allowing things to be a part of you, not all of you, is really important. Yeah. And I think it's so easy to define ourselves by that output. [00:22:53] For me and Emily, the word is often it's impact. Are we actually making an impact? And the thing that helped us. Become okay with hitting the pause button when we needed to, and not officially throwing in the towel. Don't get me wrong, there were conversations about it, but we were always very honest with each other and we held each other accountable that if you are feeling like this is not jiving with your life, if it's not jiving with you personally, or it's not good for your family at this moment, let's hit the pause button and talk about it. [00:23:26] But realizing that if we only help each other while working on this, Emily and I, that's helping our kids, that's helping our families. And there's a domino effect from that goes from that. And if that's all we ever do, what's bad about that? You said something that I, it still stuck with me and it will probably be the title of this episode. [00:23:49] Pain is a Professor. Yes, it is. And I wanna go back to that because something that I talk about in my sessions a lot is that your emotions never lie to you. Now your thoughts are very different. Yes. Your thoughts can go a, now granted, we need to think critical thinking is important. [00:24:04] We probably need more critical thinking, but thoughts happen to us all day, every day, constantly. Right. I don't remember what the statistic is. I think we have roughly like eight thoughts a minute, something like that. I'm surprised it's not . Maybe that's just a DH adhd. And that could be too, like, yeah, there, maybe there's a spectrum. [00:24:18] Maybe it's eight to 80 thoughts a minute. Give or take. Give or take a hundred. But so thoughts happen to us now. We can certainly consciously choose what to focus on and what we think. But thinking happens, the emotions are in response to what we're thinking and believing. Exactly. And they never lie. [00:24:35] Right. And I But something you said like pain as a professor. And I like the thought that emotions are energy in motion. Yes. And they always have something for you to learn. There's something for every emotion. There is something it wants you to know. Right. And when you're not feeling good are we have more pain receptors in our body, unfortunately. [00:24:55] We have more pain receptors in our body than we do pleasure receptors. Like, and so when pain is activated, it just has a firmer grip. There's something that Martha Beck talks about that I love. It's called the, I think she calls it the Viper in the box of puppies. So if you were to imagine like, and enough said, right. [00:25:10] Done. You get it. But you hand, if I handed you a box full of like 15 adorable, gorgeous little puppies, I mean, it's, they're the most abundant, silly, loving, fuzzy source of love, safety, pleasure. I could really go for that right now. I mean, would it, that should be a, I'm hoping there's one hiding around somewhere. [00:25:28] We have a surprise for you, but if I were to then put a Viper in or a cobra in your box of puppies. All you're gonna see is the threat. Exactly. All you're gonna see is the threat. And I think in life, it's like we pop mo most of us more often than not, are probably living in lives with a lot of puppies. [00:25:48] But the viper, the threat is what consumes Oh yeah. So much energy and attention and shifting your focus from one to the other is easier said than done. And I wanna talk to you specifically about how you have found meaning or, and I, when I say success, I don't mean it in like a bullet point sense, but right. [00:26:12] Where you have found access to, you know, the viper, you know, or the cobra, you know, the box of puppies. Right. How you access that. I can certainly share how I have, but my emotions, I. I've learned in time. I don't always know exactly what they're telling me in the beginning, but I trust them enough to know that it's something. [00:26:36] And so the first place I try to access, if I'm not dissociating or avoiding, is to sit with it. Yeah. So usually it's like, I'm I'll just dissociate in my fantasy book or rewatching parks and recreation for the MPH teeth bajillion time. You know, it's just always a Sure bet. Yeah. It's just, it's hard for, life can only be so hard with Leslie Nope and little Sebastian, you know? [00:26:57] So anyway. But I wanna know where you find yourself in that shift. Yeah. Yeah. So you've got my head's like turning, I'm also still picturing puppies to be honest. That's okay. So I actually, I feel like I wanna give an example of something that I experienced last year, so two years ago. [00:27:11] It's crazy to think two years ago I went on this crazy journey to England. I went to London to take my daughter, who was not quite two years old yet to have a surgery over there for her ultra rare condition that was not available in the States. And I had talked to everybody in the States, of course, that had any knowledge about it and all they could tell me was, we don't really know anything about it. [00:27:35] We don't do it here. Kind of you're on your own, go for it. Or don't, we can't say that we would support you. All that matters is I went for it. And fortunately it did end up being the right decision, but I also knew that it could not be the right decision. And what I found on that experience was that I was originally desperate for picking the right way in life to move forward, that I could not make a decision. [00:28:06] I could not possibly move forward unless I was a hundred percent sure. But guess what? Life isn't real big on giving you a guarantee. Yeah. Guarantees with anything. And I think where I, that's where I started to learn that I don't have to have the answers to move forward. I can be looking at that box and I can see, oh my gosh, this could go terribly wrong. [00:28:34] But I think living with a hopeful mindset is something that allows me to keep my eye on that viper and then still interact with the puppies over here. My eye is still trained on it, but what I found is a peace in making my decision. And it was a, that feeling, that gut feeling. You know, it, I, it doesn't matter what you've gone through in life. [00:28:58] I can't believe that there's anybody out there who hasn't just had that. I call it just that knowing in your gut, it's a physical experience and that is something. That has helped me move forward in life. Because here's the thing, guys, nobody can ever stay truly still. And that's where a lot of our pain and discomfort comes from, is fighting moving forward without certainty. [00:29:23] Oh, let's pause right there. Oh my gosh. So there's something that Dr. Becky Kennedy who she has the good, she wrote the book Good Inside, and she's got her own beautiful podcast and work and content. She does. She really she focuses on kids, but she's really working on parents relationship with their inner child and by extension their parenting. [00:29:43] But she talks about something called, I've called it the Gap, but she calls it the learning space. So with kids, most of their frustration, tension and meltdowns happen between meeting a moment or. A moment arising and knowing how to meet the moment. And that learning space is usually the gap in knowing or understanding of this is what's arisen and I don't know how to meet this moment. [00:30:04] Right? And then if their context or their ability to meet it, if the moment exceeds their ability that's usually when there's a lot of pain or big feelings. Right. And I think with adults, that's usually where I see self-doubt, rumination anxiety, self-destructive tendencies. [00:30:23] Come in and you're right. You're, I love that you said we're never really still, I mean, one that's just true based on science and physics. We're never still that's actually one of the, like, there's like two necessary components, maybe three to being a living, being or a living entity. [00:30:36] I think, what is it? Movement, cell division, reproduction, and, I don't know, something else. Hey, anyone here pop off in the comments if you're a science boss, please gold star for you. Please. But but yeah, we're never truly still. And so even when you feel stagnant and stuck and even hearing you say that I'm actually processing in real time, one of the things that I have done that I, I discovered by accident, but probably because my body knew better than my mind did. [00:31:04] I would, it often does. I would take my feelings on walks. I would, I talked about that movement is essential if you are literally feeling stuck. I tell, that's what I tell everybody. Anytime they're spiraling. Which it's understandable. Go for a walk. Even if it is five minutes, walk up and down your stairs. [00:31:22] Or at the least one of my favorite things thank you Instagram reels for sucking up so much of my life at times in the hospital, but sometimes, but it's, sometimes it's, it is the perfect escape. It's okay to let the pressure off of ourselves. But there was this one that I saw it was this therapist who was like in her seventies and she was in Ireland and she's walking around in like this, you know, the quintessential Ireland landscape. [00:31:47] And she said, I tell all of my clients when you have a problem or a worry or something that's making you feel like you need to hurry, walk outside where you can see the sky and look up. Because the moment you remove a ceiling from your view, from your your line of sight, your mind opens with it. [00:32:08] And possibilities grow. And I have experienced that so often. And you think about it where you, when you're in a confined space. It only adds to those feelings of I'm stuck or I'm out of options, or I can't deal with this. But when you go outside and the world is just showing you how big it is and how small you are, there's actually a ton of comfort in that. [00:32:35] There's, I've also read and heard that there's something about the way that our eyes sort of gently move and follow and track side to side. Yeah. The movement around us that activates a similar calming sensation that our body experiences in REM sleep. Because if you're tracking a bird or tracking a squirrel, or just simply seeing like the trees and movement, track your kids. [00:32:55] Right. That'll keep you, your eyes all over the place. Girl. But like, 'cause right now we're facing a computer screen and we're in, we're under lights. Like, it's a very I mean, it's a lovely container, but it's a sterile container by comparison of being outside. And I Right. I do think that sometimes, like, like Lifeing. [00:33:11] It can be hard, and I never wanna oversimplify holding the challenges and moving through the challenges. Right. And yet I think sometimes when something feels overly, when something feels complex and impossible, it's almo. I, my instinct is to abandon the basics. And that is always the place to start. [00:33:32] That's always the place to start, is to go back to the basics. [00:33:35] Knowing what you know now what. Do you think the version of you, I wrote down three years ago, but I wanna go back to two years ago bef, like as you were navigating all the travel plans and the decision to go to the UK for your daughter's surgery, what do you think that version of Ashlyn needed to hear or needed to know? [00:33:55] And then the follow up question to that, after you answers, do you think she would've believed you? [00:33:59] It's really funny that you're asking this question because I actually had a conversation yesterday with a neighbor's daughter who is a film student, and this question has actually been going through my mind a lot lately about, I wonder where my life would be if I'd known this in my early thirties, if I'd known, or if I had known this in my twenties. [00:34:23] And I kept kind of going backwards like, I didn't know this then. Oh maybe if I'd known this. And I kept just, like I said, looking back and then what I realized is. It's so important that I didn't know those things because I had to experience them with the challenges. I had to climb the mountains for the first time to really understand the importance of gaining those skills for myself. So I actually think that Ashlyn, a couple years ago, I may have wanted to hear, I, what I wanted to hear was, you're making the right decision. I wanted to be validated by doctors, by people who I typically refer to as the ones who have the alphabet after their name. [00:35:06] Can somebody please just tell me, check, you know, you're making the right choice. Or this is what I would do if it were my child. And I wanted it so desperately that I, it did almost prevent me from going. But I am blessed that because of other experiences before that, right where pain had started to evolve into a guide for my life, a way of understanding what is most important to me. [00:35:37] It clarifies a lot. Exactly. Because often, you know, pain and fear are often about things we can't control, right? And what it showed me was that I don't need guaranteed outcomes to be able to sleep at night. I know that if I don't give it everything, including the kitchen sink, I won't be able to sleep at night. [00:36:03] I won't be able to look at Emery when she's an adult and tell her. We tried absolutely everything we could to give you the best quality of life, and that's what I needed to be able to give her. In order for me to feel good about the mom I am. And that's what was most important to me at that time. [00:36:23] So it sounds like maybe you trust in your ability to meet the moment enough that you don't think you would've gone back and told yourself anything? No, I think, and that's something that, like I said, I'd been thinking about a lot, like how many times if I'd only known this, if I if I'd only held my boundaries or if, or you know, these standards or, you know, all the things I could have done differently. [00:36:48] But as I said at the beginning of this, I feel like I have lived a thousand lives and become. A thousand new versions of myself, but you don't become your next self without going through something that carves away at you to reveal it. We don't grow through the easy no we stay stagnant. And besides small talk, my biggest fear in life is staying stagnant. [00:37:20] God, can we just let go of small talk? Oh my gosh. We all have a weather app and we all know the traffic patterns at this point. Like, do you know what's so funny about the weather app? I'm gonna use it every day. I treat my husband like the weather app, and we have an Alexa, like in, literally, like, I'll ask him what the temperature is and he'll be like. [00:37:41] Alexa. I just, oh my goodness. It's like those basic the basic like things of moving through life. I don't know why. It's like I've, I have this like faux that's of publicist. I'm like, I don't know what I'm, so what's the weather? I can't look out the window. I can't ask my own Alexa. [00:37:56] I always think, I think it's, I think it's more like, I think it's fair to acknowledge those as high. There's higher priorities that take up front of mind space. That's right. That's right. Things' so focused on the big things. Right? Yes. It's okay. We're not meant to like, you know, and I think that's another, that's one point I feel really compelled to bring up in this conversation based on all these things we've talked about, you know? [00:38:20] Yes. thank you for the chance to share what Parent Empowerment Network does, and the Empowered By Hope podcast is about addressing the real hard, the messy like, because as far as we're concerned, like once you get the news, your child is not okay. You're living in the messy middle from there on out. [00:38:36] And it can make you, or it can break you. And we're there to tell everybody, we promise this will make you. Even with worst case scenario, and that's a bold statement, but, you know, but it's one you've lived and I exactly. And I've seen countless others live, right? But I think it's so important that everybody, you know, I guess my dream would be if everybody could just realize we are not meant to carry pain and hardship and struggle by ourselves. [00:39:07] That's really what Parent Empowerment Network does. That's really what our podcast does, is it directly says to everybody who gets a chance to interact with us or who we have the honor to meet with. It just says, Hey, you are not expected to hold this alone. You know, put some of that on our plate. [00:39:24] Let's hold it together because it'll be better for everybody. It's not just you is like, again, that's what frees you from a victim mentality. You are not the only one who's ever experienced this. Right. You are not the only one who has suffered this way. And in by no means it's not to minimize. [00:39:40] Right. Exactly. It's not belittling it, it's not, it's definitely not dismissing it. But it's meant to serve as a lighthouse. Right. Our stories are unique. Yes, of course. And so that's, and I think that's what is endlessly, I will never be bored having an in-depth. Not small talk with the love of God, but like, I will never I will be endlessly fascinated by other people. [00:40:01] Because the stories are unique. Yeah. But there is a common thread that we can all see ourselves in or relate to. That, it's so enriching. Yeah. It's almost like, maybe because it's spring and, but I'm thinking it's like the pain is like the compost. Yeah. Something has to die in rotten decay in order to nurture something new. To grow. Yep. Exactly. And I, and that pain serves as fur. It's fertilizing the new, the next round of growth. Right. Yeah. It's not making anything vanish or destroying it, it's just, but it has to break down to build back up. I think that's why mosaics are my favorite type of art. [00:40:39] Yeah. I have such a strong connection to any piece that I see that's made up of a mosaic. And I remember that coming true for me when my dad had his massive stroke and. You know, he was completely debilitated, couldn't speak for himself, couldn't move his own body. He lived like that almost two years. But I remember getting really close to a couple key therapists in his life. [00:41:04] And I remember just after he passed, I got them both a small gift. It was these little mosaic art pieces for them. And I said, when I saw those, I knew that this was the right thing because you didn't see my dad as a destroyed person. You saw him as for the broken pieces. He was that to be put back, to be put together into something that was new and beautiful on its own. [00:41:33] And that's what I feel like pain has the ability to do for all of us. It's okay. And I to acknowledge that you are broken. But it's also just as important to acknowledge that you can be remade into something. You, the old you is gone. You know, when we go through something awful hard, unimaginable it's really easy to think that I will feel this way forever. There is a finality that we attach to painful experiences and it takes often somebody from the outside to gently help us realize that's not reality. I often, when I'm in that transition and I'm not aware or I'm just not ready to admit there are either, there's usually it's I there's usually things I wanna carry along with me. [00:42:28] Yep. It's like. Like an old dingy snugly blanket or like a stuffed animal that like has like holes worn in and like an eyes popped off. It's just but I when I've gone through those transitions, it's saying goodbye to maybe friendships that aren't serving me. [00:42:42] Yep. Or titles, roles levels of output expectations, stories, ways of being and the way, and to go back to pain as a professor, which is going to be the title. That it's only when I try to take the old way of being or the old relationship that is no longer serving into my new now reality. [00:43:04] When it feels anything other than good. Yeah. That's information exactly that it's showing me something and. That curiosity over constriction can also for me look like curiosity over criticism. And because that criticism is usually either dialed inward, what's wrong with me? Right. Or what's wrong with them? [00:43:25] Versus , what is happening Exactly. What's going on? What is this showing me? And I would say probably saying goodbye to relationships or friendships has probably been the hardest. Yeah. The hard, because there is this idea that I'm like if I like it, and it's like in a possessive way. [00:43:42] It's, if I like you forever. And I, and of course that is true. I mean, it, there's nobody who's been in my life that's added value that I don't appreciate. Right. But but I think that the shedding. Yeah. It's like I, I want the next thing, but I also don't wanna let the old thing go. [00:43:56] Right. And so it's, I think I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to like, pull that thing with me. Whatever it is and whatever that stage. But I think that there's when you can fully embrace, 'cause what I'm hearing from you is when you can fully embrace I am different now. [00:44:11] Yep. This is different. This mosaic. I'm not, I may not be able to carry water like I was as a vase. Right. But I'm gonna look really great as this. Yeah. And the other thing I wanna shift to before, before I get to your, don't cut your own bangs question. What I wanna ask you, you've mentioned art a couple of different times. [00:44:28] And this is to, to reference Dr. Martha Beck again. She has done a lot of incredible work in the last couple years where a way to. Step out of anxiety is not to try to access calm. 'cause we talked about going for a walk, right? So, because as much as I love these big conversations, it can be sometimes like, what is something tangible I can actually hold onto? [00:44:53] So walking with something we talked about community and connection with something else we talked about, but Art, I wanna talk about that for a moment because that is what my book was for me. Yeah. It was I created something that only that felt like it was to serve me. The process of interacting with that idea was so delightful and so delicious and so fun that I was like, I feel like I'm just the luckiest person that like this is, oh wow, I get to play with this thing. [00:45:21] Yeah. And it wants to play with me. And I don't feel that all the time. Like sometimes it's origami or doodling or coloring with my daughter. But to go back to Dr. Martha Beck's work that the opposite of anxiety is not calm, it's creativity. Oh, I love that. And you have by default really spoken through, like just healing through creating. [00:45:43] Oh, absolutely. And also there's something about, 'cause calm, there's something about calm that like, we must be still, and granted I love meditation, but like, I must be still, I must be calm. But when you are holding something that is buzzing and shaking or heavy or hot, like just some emotions are hot, like you, it's like you wanna move it through your hands or your words or your body and make something, right. [00:46:06] And you made me, she made me this bracelet before we started this episode. So like, it feels like you have a relationship with creativity too. A hundred percent. Creativity is a lifeline. And I feel like, and the most chaotic moments of my life have been the least I'm my least creative and I think it's a really. [00:46:29] Valuable, tangible thing for anybody to take from this conversation is if you are feeling out of control, lean into something as simple as I'm obsessed with those adult, you know, like the coloring books. Yes. You know, for adults to have like tons of different like lines all over the place that you have to be like really specific to keep the marker in there. [00:46:51] It can't, I do get a little bugged when it like bleeds over to the next section, but, , it's okay. I know I'm working through my, , my stressors at that moment. But yes, giving yourself a creative outlet, it's like taking a big drink of water after you've been exercising and you are so parched. [00:47:07] And I also agree that , calm sounds great in theory, but for me I feel like the more important, like the word that's become more important or I'm better able to. Absorb is the idea of am I grounded? Are my feet touching the ground? I can still have a lot going on, but when I'm like rising higher, you know, off the ground, 'cause like, I'm like a bird at this point, just flapping my arms so fast, right. [00:47:35] That I'm actually taking flight. I'm not in my best head space, but when I can just take a moment to literally just ground myself, make sure that my feet are, whether it's in the grass or sit down like this. And a conversation with a friend, somebody who really knows you is a great moment for that. [00:47:53] It's a great way to remind you who you are is somebody else. Sometimes I talk all the time about the value of when you can connect with somebody who feels with you, not just for you. Oh my gosh. It makes the world so much lighter and goodness. I mean, huh. That's probably if I could have answered the question I asked you a little bit ago, what's something that you could have if I could have told my former therapist self, like when I very when I first started, you're there to hold space for people to feel and feel with them. [00:48:23] Right. Exactly. You're not there. It's sacred. Yeah. It's there's nothing, one, it's like, there's nothing I can tell someone who's deeply in pain that they're actually gonna No. , That's, the words are just like, right. It's just noise. Yeah. And not to take anything. I'm sure I have clients who have been impacted by words. [00:48:40] But having a safe space to feel your feelings free of judgment. Is one of the reasons why I love journaling so much, but also doing that in communion Yeah. With another human right who expects nothing of you. I love Elizabeth Gilbert has language I love, like there's no precious outcome. [00:48:57] Like I can, that I can sit and have space with you or I can make plans with you or be, and there's no precious outcome. You don't have to perform for me. Right. You don't have to be anything for me. Like we can just be that is what a gift. Yes, that is. I just want to, this conversation has inspired way too many thoughts, but in the best way. [00:49:15] But something that hit me and then I think we could absolutely move on to Yeah. This the cut your bangs question. But what I've realized even in our conversation is that logic is not loud . our emotions are loud and they get louder and louder. The more we. Push them back the more we ignore them. [00:49:36] Think of your kids until they, when they need your attention. Because they deserve your attention. They do. The best thing we can do is acknowledge those emotions and just, even if it's as simple as, it's totally understandable. I feel this way right now. That is such a freeing sentence. Of course, I feel this way right now. [00:49:58] That was some serious shit that I just went through. Yeah . of course, I feel, and it doesn't have to make sense when those feelings hit the timing a lot of times feelings for me, I've found won't hit until I'm in a safe space much further down the road. Yes. And it's like being T-boned, like yes, totally out of the blue. [00:50:19] But that's also what happens to kids when they have tantrums. Ah, yeah. They'll hold. And then when they're finally either home at the end of the day or something, when the container is so full and they're finally in a place where they feel safe, they'll erupt over an orange peel not being peeled correctly. [00:50:32] Or , or a banana not being peeled correctly. Oh gosh. And it's not that, don't even start me on string cheese. God. Oh God. Parenting is fun. The best, but No, but you're right. Sometimes, I think that's probably why I cry almost with like every movie and TV show I watch. [00:50:47] Yeah. Because the emotions are just always right there and I just need a place to let it trickle out. Right. And that's okay. And I think, but just not judging ourselves for feelings. And then I think once we give that space or the feelings, the sooner we can do that, the sooner that logic, you know, like you, you mentioned multiple times, I know this, then you give logic. [00:51:13] The space that it needs to speak to you in a calm and quiet manner that you can actually trust. And that's where I think that those gut feelings truly come from. Those inner knowings are, when you've allowed space for the emotions first, given them their due. So then the logic can start to talk to you because it's never going to yell for your attention. [00:51:35] No. And I think we want it to, but that's not the way it works. And that's okay. A lot of times things make sense in hindsight, oh gosh, hindsight's 2020. Always. South Park has a great episode. If people if you have just like a dark sense of humor and you wanna laugh at, there's a character called Captain Hindsight and it's really funny. [00:51:54] . So yeah, a lot of times things don't make sense until we're. A little bit more removed from them. Yep. And some what I have found to be helpful, I've noticed you using your hands. Yeah. And I find when I am, when my mind is really active and I need it to stop or slow down or I just i'll sometimes even throw my hands up. Yeah. And I'll say, and even saying. I'm feeling something and just to myself in my kitchen. 'cause I'm almost always , because I work from home, I'm either like in my office or in my kitchen, like I'm feeling something. As soon as you did that, it's gonna show on video. [00:52:25] I like saw from the corner of my eye myself, naturally going, whew. Yeah. Just sound like inhale. Exhale. Yes. It's like something is being felt. Something's happening. I don't know what it is, but something's happening. And I think, in a lot of ways too, like that's how we have these internal smoke signals. [00:52:42] Yeah. And it's the same way, like your smoke detector in your house doesn't know the difference between burnt toast and something on fire, right? But it will beep when it senses. Yeah. When it senses something. And so my body is like sensing something. Is this a threat? [00:52:56] Are we safe? Yes, we're safe. Oh, we're likely. We just needed water. We're just dehydrated. Uhhuh. Or we just, yeah. So any number of things. But that was so good. Thank you. And yes, I would love, love, love to know your don't cut your own bang moment. And for anybody who is new to the podcast, 'cause I think there are some new people here. [00:53:15] Thank you for being here. Don't cut Your own bang moment is a moment where you went all in on something like cutting your own bangs, you grabbed some scissors, you watched a YouTube video, you're like, I got this. And you go, and then, oh no, this wasn't what I thought it would be. But the value in a don't Cut Your own Bang moment is not only that we can share in the silliness of humanity and mistakes, but also like maybe we learn something from it. [00:53:42] So, Ashlyn? Yes. I would love to hear your Don't cut your own bang moment. Oh my goodness. I think that there's probably a plethora of them. Oh, of course. And, let's see here. I'm even, I tried to have one prepared, and then I got excited about the rest of our conversation. Oh my gosh. Don't worry. So, okay I'll share one. [00:53:58] So what's a good, don't a good, oh. I invited my husband to record a podcast with me because I thought it would just be, , fun to bring him back on. And what I realized was I didn't prepare him for it at all. I just set up lights and set up a camera and asked him to sit. And he was so, visibly like he was trying, he was sitting, he was trying. [00:54:23] But I could just tell, again, something's happening. And I could tell he was a little uncomfortable and a little stiff. And I kept, because our eyes look out. My first assumption is, what's wrong out there? And I was like, what are you okay? What's wrong? And he he was , I don't really know what I'm supposed to be doing. [00:54:41] And then I was like. Oh, no, it was snip the bangs. I didn't provide any context. I didn't give him any preparation for what we'd be talking about, why we'd be talking like he had no context. And the whole setup is different, uhhuh. And it was such a humbling, settling moment of context. [00:55:04] It's I'm writing something right now about this idea of play. I'm a freedom loving, freedom seeking play hungry, greedy person right now. I want more play. I could never get enough. But what makes play feel fun and safe is to understand the context. Yeah. , There's rules in a game. [00:55:20] Otherwise, what is it? And I, my first instinct is to buck. Rules. I don't like ingredient lists. I don't like recipes. I just wanna feel my way through it. But, if you wanna make a beautiful croissant, you can't just feel your way through that. There's a very exacting way to do it. And so, it, it was such a one, I'm endlessly grateful for him and his patients with me. [00:55:40] I'm grateful that , our dynamics not new, so he probably knew what was going on, but just did yeah he's pretty sweet that way. But I, it was such a refresher that , if I wanna create a space and container to play safely with people Yeah. I need to give them the context. Absolutely. And it doesn't matter how long I've known someone, how well I know someone. [00:55:59] I laughed at myself because I, the part of the reason why it feels funny to me, but in like a humbling way. I thought the problem was him for like the first 15 minutes. I was like, what dude? Relax. I was like, what? Is he doing it right? [00:56:12] Yeah. like come on. And I was like. Oh no. Context. Zero. Oh my goodness. So that was a great one. Thank you. Okay, I'm gonna do mine in like short seconds because this one just hap this that inspired me perfectly. So my 8-year-old son and I are both going to the same therapist right now. [00:56:30] I'm a believer everybody should have at least an annual checkup with a therapist, but that's a great endorsement. Everyone should have an you annual checkup. You welcome, reach out to Danielle, she's fantastic. If you live in Indiana, by all means. If not, we'll help you find someone. Yes. And also order the book. [00:56:44] Yes, order the book. Get resting the wall risk. Get treasured. Yes. But go on please. So anyway one, one of the things that my I, the reason I love the person we're working with is because she's the first therapist I've worked with when it comes to, with my kids, she actually tells me what I can work on rather than just , you're doing the best you can and like you just love 'em. [00:57:03] And like, yes, I know, but that is not helping me. And so one of the things that got pointed out to me. Was so Cole , has very low frustration tolerance, like more so than is necessarily healthy for an 8-year-old. And of course with all the trauma with our his sister, our journey, it's understandable. [00:57:22] So we're working on that. What she kindly pointed out to me was, okay, we could work on his, but do you also realize that your tolerance for acceptable emotions is about this big? Oh, she's , therapist, be therapist Uhhuh. She's , but there's like a whole lot more emo like, she's , it's like a whole rainbow. [00:57:42] We need a whole arc for acceptable emotions. She's so you need to stop making it your responsibility to control which emotions he experiences. And it's up to you to provide the solid ground for him no matter which emotion comes up for him. And I will say that has changed my parenting in the last week. [00:58:04] More than maybe anything has like faster than anything. Because all of a sudden I'm like, of course it's acceptable that his sister just made him extremely mad. Of course it's understandable that he's jealous or sad or excited or whatever the feeling is, but it also doesn't define him as right or wrong, what emotions he's experiencing in that moment. [00:58:28] And the big thing was the realization that every emotion he experiences is not a direct reflection of who I am as a parent. No. Because that was what I needed to let go of that any emotion that is considered negative that my child has doesn't mean. That I'm doing a bad job as a parent. Oh my God. [00:58:49] That is one. What a beautiful. Don't cut. Thank you. With Dr. Sarah. Yes. Thank you, Dr. Sarah. You'd be therapizing all up in that session. That was so good. And it's the, that to me is a great example that hard truths can always be delivered with kindness. Yeah. But I think the big important thing there is you had the right context. [00:59:12] Exactly. You went to her for that information. Right. It wasn't like someone on the street. But the thing that we can't give someone what we don't have. Exactly. And I actually think that what you just said, if there was ever an endorsement for what. Self-care actually is not the commoditized, right. [00:59:29] Faux sense of, I'm gonna create a problem and I'm going to prescribe collagen. Did you know that the reason why, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah is these things that you need to buy and, oh, my program for blah, blah, blah, blah. And I'm gonna, I have all that stuff. I'm not I'm wanna, I wanna keep it in perspective. [00:59:45] I am drinking the same Kool-Aid 'cause I'm getting sent the same algorithm ads that we're all getting sent. Like I'm doing colostrum now. I don't even know. Like, I just, because I was like, my gut might grow up I own, but anyway but I think self-care and the best possible context is when you nurture. [01:00:03] And heal yourself. It becomes the medicine. Yes. Yes. And the offering for the other people in your life that you love most. It's like as you increase your own palette of what you're able to allow yourself to experience, you're then also able to see it in your son and give it to him. That is so beautiful and it's hard. [01:00:26] Sometimes, but it's some God that a well timed, articulated loving truth like that can change your life. Yeah. That is amazing. Thank you. I don't know, we can't top that. That was good. We're good. That was real good. Ashlyn Thompson, thank you so much for coming back and we're going to have you back. [01:00:43] You have to come back. Yes. And you're coming over to Empowered by Hope very soon. I would love that so much. And Yes. And so all of the ways, if you or anyone you know in your life has been impacted by a little one with complex me complex medical issues and you want some support, you want some information, you want some resources. [01:01:01] The link in the show notes will have every way that you can connect with Ashlyn, her business partner, and what was formally Charlotte's Hope Foundation, what is now the Parent Empowerment Network. Pick up all the books, all the resources, everything I talked about too for my stuff is also in there. [01:01:16] But , it's all linked for you there. So I hope that you get what you need and. Thanks so much, . Oh my gosh. [01:01:21] If you've ever wanted to pick up journaling,
Title: God's Wisdom for a Complex World: Decision MakingSpeaker: Nate HoldridgeOverview: In a world with endless options and immense pressure to make the perfect choice, how can we faithfully navigate life's big decisions? In this teaching from the book of Proverbs, Pastor Nate Holdridge presents a liberating, five-part framework for godly decision-making. Pastor Nate explains that God is less interested in giving us mystical signs and more interested in shaping us into people of character who can choose wisely. This message will equip you to move from the paralysis of fearing you'll miss God's will to the freedom of walking with Him in wisdom, trust, and purpose.Link to Sermon Notes
MS patient turned healthcare disruptor shares why your biggest "problem users" are actually your most valuable system improvers. Summary
Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Dave Garrison, author of The Buy-In Advantage: Why Employees Stop Caring and How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Give Their All. We've all faced moments where our team seems checked out or disengaged. But what if the real issue is that they don't feel invited to care? Dave challenges conventional approaches to engagement and offers practical, actionable strategies for fostering true buy-in. In this conversation, Dave shares the difference between engagement and buy-in, how traditional methods like bribing or badgering can backfire, and how leaders can use curiosity, clarity, and inclusive decision-making to fuel commitment. You'll learn how to better structure meetings, make feedback more meaningful, and identify red flags that indicate declining motivation. If you're leading teams and looking to create cultures where people don't just show up but they fully buy in, this episode is for you! Sound Bites “It's not about satisfaction. It's about whether people are bringing their head, heart, and gut to work.” “Leaders go last all the time. Except when it comes to vulnerability. Then leaders go first.” “You don't know how you land unless you ask. And you can't ask in a way that intimidates.” "People support what they create." “PB&J? It stands for 'patiently badger and jam it down their throat.' And that doesn't work.” “Three is greater than seven when it comes to priorities. Seven is not a priority list.” “Done with, not done to.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:40 Start of Interview 02:00 What's the Difference Between Engagement and Buy-In? 04:20 Why Are We Facing a Perfect Storm of Low Buy-In? 07:00 What Leaders Do That Actually Makes Buy-In Worse 08:25 The Meaning of PB&J (Patiently Badger and Jam It) 10:26 How Leaders Unintentionally Undermine Buy-In 12:00 Warning Signs of Low Buy-In on Your Team 14:37 Debunking the Myth That Money Is the Main Motivator 15:42 The Difference Between Collective Genius and Consensus 18:00 A Structured Approach to Inclusive Problem Solving 19:58 The Role of Curiosity in Performance Reviews 21:40 The Power of Pre-Reading and Slowing Down for Better Thinking 24:20 How to Prioritize What Matters—From Ideation to Internalization 27:10 Simplifying and Clarifying Priorities 29:40 Ideas for Celebrating in Ways That Actually Matter 31:44 Why Specific Recognition Matters More Than General Praise 34:40 What Cornhole and Cookouts Have to Do With Buy-In 35:20 Applying These Ideas at Home: Buy-In in Parenting 36:49 End of Interview 37:15 Andy Comments After the Interview 42:29 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Dave and his work at BuyInBook.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 428 with Rich Diviney, a former Navy SEAL commander, on unlocking optimal team performance. Episode 94 with Heidi Grant and Tory Higgins, sharing deep research on the science of motivation. Episode 31 with Adam Grant—his first-ever podcast interview! Hear insights from Adam before the world knew him. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Team Engagement, Motivation, Organizational Culture, Buy-In, Decision Making, Psychological Safety, Project Management, Recognition, Meetings, Communication, Employee Retention The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Morning Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
In this episode of "The Free Lawyer," the host, Gary Miles, a seasoned litigator with 45 years of experience, converses with Shoshanna French, an intuitive leadership coach and founder of Simple Spirit and Shoshanna French Consulting. Shoshanna, who has worked with NFL leaders, Broadway stars, and CEOs, discusses the integration of intuition into legal practice. The episode highlights the challenges lawyers face in balancing intuition with analytical skills, the importance of mindfulness, and practical strategies for improving intuitive decision-making. Shoshanna emphasizes the importance of aligning with core values and overcoming imposter syndrome to achieve professional and personal fulfillment.Defining Intuition (00:02:52)Challenges Lawyers Face with Intuition (00:03:34)Gut Feelings vs. Intuition (00:04:13)Valuing Intuition Alongside Logic (00:05:10)Practical Uses of Intuition (00:06:26)Recognizing Patterns Among Lawyers (00:09:22)Analysis Paralysis in Lawyers (00:11:48)Three Parts of Intuitive Decision Making (00:12:23)Mindfulness and Quieting the Mind (00:14:36)Finding What Quietens the Mind (00:15:02)Connecting with Intuition (00:17:02)Intuitive Leadership and Work-Life Balance (00:19:33)The Comparison Trap (00:22:13)Acceptance and Control (00:22:15)Intuitive Decision-Making (00:23:24)Building Client Relationships (00:25:23)Managing Imposter Syndrome (00:27:16)Aligning with Purpose (00:29:08)Body as a Pendulum (00:31:51)Basic Intuitive Practice (00:34:43)Would you like to learn more about Breaking Free or order your copy? https://www.garymiles.net/break-free Would you like to schedule a complimentary discovery call? You can do so here: https://calendly.com/garymiles-successcoach/one-one-discovery-call
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Andrew Winkler explores the psychology behind decision-making and how personality type influences whether we act quickly or hesitate. Drawing from John Cleese's idea of the “last responsible moment,” Dr. Andy explains how people fall into two camps: those who feel pressure to decide quickly, and those who grow anxious if forced to decide too soon.By breaking down cognitive functions—like thinking, feeling, sensing, and intuition—Dr. Andy shows how each of us has unique strengths we either turn outward or inward. These preferences not only impact how we process decisions but also how we interact with the world. This episode brings clarity to the mechanics behind Myers-Briggs types and what it means to be a "judger" or a "perceiver" at your core.In this episode, you will learn:(00:30) – Why John Cleese's “last responsible moment” is a powerful lens for understanding decision-making(01:10) – How personality types influence whether you feel rushed or delayed when making decisions(02:00) – The four core cognitive functions and how they shape how we gather and evaluate information(03:10) – What it means to turn your strongest mental functions inward or outward—and how it affects your interactions(04:30) – Why your dominant extroverted function determines your decision-making comfort zone(05:40) – How all of this connects to the Myers-Briggs personality model—and what it means for real-life choicesLet's connect!linktr.ee/drprandy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feeling stuck in the busyness of life and work? It's time to reset. In this empowering episode of It's Your Time, certified life coach Michelle Arnold Bourque shares how to use clarity, commitment, and courageous decision-making to reclaim your energy and results—without burning out. You'll learn how to: Break free from the sunk cost trap Use the Rule of Three to stay focused and productive Let go of what's no longer serving you Make confident decisions quickly Realign with your goals during this midyear reset Whether you're a high-achieving woman in leadership, sales, or entrepreneurship, this episode will help you pause, pivot, and powerfully move forward.
On this episode of New York's Finest : Retired & Unfiltered Podcast John & Eric sit down with the CEO of deCervo, Ph.D, Jason Sherwin to discuss how his company is helping to improve decision making in high stakes environments. Links to learn more about deCervo: https://decervo.com/ https://linkin.bio/decervoprofile/ https://x.com/deCervoProfile For any financial or investment advice please contact LaidLaw Blue at 888-901-2583 (Blue) or visit them online at https://laidlawwealthmanagement.com/laidlaw-blue/ tell them your friends at #TheFinestUnfiltered sent you.
Ever feel like you're leading a team, running a household, or juggling it all and still putting everyone else's needs ahead of your own? In this powerful solo episode, Jenny Mitchell dives headfirst into the messy truth about people-pleasing and how it quietly chips away at your leadership potential. With a mix of personal stories, hard-won insights, and “big girl pants” moments, Jenny challenges us to stop managing everyone else's emotions and start standing firm in our own decisions, even if it means someone might think a bad thought about us. Let them. This episode is a must-listen for recovering (or reluctant) people-pleasers, especially women leaders who are ready to get clear, get intentional, and reclaim their voice. If you've been feeling disconnected from what you want, this episode might just be the sign you've been waiting for. Key Takeaways: People pleasing undermines leadership Self-awareness is the first step to change Resentment is a red flag Effective leadership requires tough choices Empowered leaders lead from intention Chapters: 00:00 Understanding People Pleasing in Leadership 02:51 The Impact of People Pleasing on Leadership Effectiveness 06:12 Reactive vs. Creative Leadership Tendencies 09:05 Navigating Leadership Decisions and External Perceptions 11:56 Finding Clarity and Streamlining Leadership 14:42 Empowering Leadership Through Self-Awareness If you loved this episode, you'll also enjoy: Episode 6.5 - The ONE Thing All Leaders Must Do: https://chavender.com/underdog-leadership-podcast/the-one-thing-all-leaders-must-do/ Episode 6.4 - Compassionate Accountability for Leaders (ft. Nate Regier): https://chavender.com/underdog-leadership-podcast/compassionate-accountability-for-leaders/ Episode 4.1 - Giving Yourself Permission to Do The Big Thing: https://open.spotify.com/episode/715H358Nm9hgPnhgU5UqPO?si=MIvh8apBTeKLA1zPLeiaoA — ✨Buy the Embracing Ambition Book: https://chavender.com/embracing-ambition-the-book/ Book a discovery call: https://calendly.com/jennychavender/30min?back=1&month=2022-09 Lean into Meaningful Conversations with this complimentary 20 minute video all about the tools and techniques for moving conversations forward: https://youtu.be/zv1N_ZsDEAs Don't miss an episode by joining my Podcast VIP Email List: https://chavender.activehosted.com/f/27 Catch me on email: jenny@chavender.com Check out my website: chavender.com Hop on over to Instagram: @jennychavender Let's connect on LinkedIn: Jenny Mitchell, CFRE, CEC, DMA "See" me on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Q97-c98aPUmfhzlpswfsw
Hindi - Chapter 4, Bhagavad Gita And Decision Making, Bhagavad Gita Overview - Chaitanya Charan Das by Exploring mindfulness, yoga and spirituality
DEI is Broader Than Just Race - Dyann McDowell emphasizes that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) isn't only about race—it includes disability, body type, age, religion, and more. Creating inclusive workplaces means considering everyone's needs.Eric here. I sit down with Dyann McDowell, a seasoned HR professional and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) expert with over 25 years of experience. Dyann shares her journey from traditional HR training to her pivotal role in DEI—well before it became a mainstream corporate focus. Together, we talk about the most pressing challenges facing today's workplaces: the evolving meaning of DEI beyond race, the resurgence of incivility, and why genuine inclusion and civility are more critical than ever.Dyann brings a fresh, honest perspective on what's working and what isn't in DEI, highlighting the danger of divisive tactics and the importance of true conversation and curiosity. She draws from personal and professional stories—from lessons on privilege to the very real impacts of workplace culture—to illustrate how organizations can move past surface-level initiatives and create truly welcoming, high-performing environments.Hear more about Dyann's latest project, “Civility Unleashed,” a new framework designed to help organizations not only address but transform toxic workplace behavior, build accountability, and foster real, sustainable change. If you're passionate about the future of work—or just want to be inspired by a candid, solutions-oriented leader—this episode is a must-listen.Here are three key takeaways that stood out to me:DEI Goes Beyond Race: Dyann emphasizes that diversity, equity, and inclusion aren't just about race. True DEI means considering all forms of difference—ability, size, age, gender, and more—to ensure everyone feels like they belong and can contribute fully.Civility Is a Business Necessity: The rise of toxic workplace behaviors and incivility isn't just a social or moral issue—it's a bottom-line problem. Dyann shares that only 16% of today's workforce is actively engaged, and uncivil behavior is a top driver of disengagement and turnover. Building a respectful, civil culture is non-negotiable for organizational success.Curiosity and Civil Discourse Matter: One of the most compelling parts of the discussion was the urgency to bring back curiosity and civil discourse. Dyann advocates for workplaces where difficult conversations happen with empathy and openness, rather than judgment or division. “If we're not opening up the conversation, then we're not advancing.”Key Moments04:12 DEI's Future Post-Election Analysis06:31 "Glasses and Unfair Blame"10:33 Generational Privilege and Education13:20 Debate Over Wilson School Naming17:20 Reevaluating Affirmative Action Beliefs19:41 Misconceptions About DEI22:32 "Curiosity Deficit's Societal Impact"27:42 "Six-Second Rule in Decision-Making"29:20 Rise in Workplace Misconduct Cases34:33 "Superstars' Behavior Excused at Work"35:39 Leadership's Impact Flows Downward44:50 Owning Mistakes with Grace45:44 Empowering Employees Against Microaggressions48:55 "Empowering Employees Through Constructive Dialogue"52:45 "Understanding Emotional Intelligence"55:54 "Leaning In to Listen and Learn"59:11 "Divine 3 AM Mosaic Vision"Dyann McDowell is a powerhouse in the world of Human Resources and Training. As the President and HR Business Partner at Training Marbles, Inc., a company revolutionizing HR Consulting and training. With a mission to elevate conversations and exceed...
The Brainy Business | Understanding the Psychology of Why People Buy | Behavioral Economics
In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer dives deep into the concept of optimism bias, exploring how it influences our beliefs, behaviors, and decision-making—sometimes to our benefit and other times to our detriment. This refreshed replay of one of the foundational episodes from early 2019 highlights the sneaky cognitive shortcut that leads us to believe that good things are more likely to happen to us while downplaying the risks of negative outcomes. Melina discusses the dual nature of optimism bias, illustrating how it can inspire us to take bold steps—like starting a new business or pursuing a relationship—yet also blind us to potential pitfalls and warning signs. Through relatable examples, she explains how this bias manifests in everyday life, from unrealistic expectations about project timelines to the common belief that we will beat the odds in various aspects of life. In this episode: Understand the concept of optimism bias and its impact on decision-making. Explore the benefits and drawbacks of optimism bias in personal and professional contexts. Learn how optimism bias can lead to overconfidence and unrealistic expectations. Discover practical strategies to balance optimism with a realistic approach to planning and execution. Gain insights into how optimism bias affects consumer behavior and business decisions. Get important links, top recommended books and episodes, and a full transcript at thebrainybusiness.com/506. Looking to explore applications of behavioral economics further? Learn With Us on our website. Subscribe to Melina's Newsletter Brainy Bites. Let's connect: Send Us a Message Follow Melina on LinkedIn The Brainy Business on Youtube The Brainy Business on Instagram
Christina shares her personal experiences and reflections on various topics, including her new podcast setup, the quirks of Instagram's algorithm, her concerns about memory and health, and the importance of personal growth. She emphasizes the need for authenticity in the digital age and encourages listeners to engage with content creators in a supportive manner. The conversation is filled with humor, candid anecdotes, and valuable life lessons.
In this episode, I explain leadership identity, how it differs from personal brand, and why it's the key to making confident, aligned decisions, especially in times of change.You'll learn how to:Clarify your leadership identity using values, strengths, and reflectionTurn your identity into a decision-making filterSet better boundaries and lead with consistencyNavigate transitions, burnout, or reinvention with clarity and confidenceMentioned on the Show: Ready to lead with clarity, confidence, and impact? Take the Make Your Power Move Leadership Assessment and unlock the tools to define your leadership identity, elevate your influence, and step into your next role with purpose. For a limited time, use code POWER to get 50% off. → Start your Power Move today. Learn More HERESupport the showJill Griffin, host of The Career Refresh, delivers expert guidance on workplace challenges and career transitions. Jill leverages her experience working for the world's top brands like Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Hilton Hotels, and Martha Stewart to address leadership, burnout, team dynamics, and the 4Ps (perfectionism, people-pleasing, procrastination, and personalities). Visit JillGriffinCoaching.com for more details on: Book a 1:1 Career Strategy and Executive Coaching HERE Build a Leadership Identity That Earns Trust and Delivers Results. Gallup CliftonStrengths Corporate Workshops to build a strengths-based culture Team Dynamics training to increase retention, communication, goal setting, and effective decision-making Keynote Speaking Grab a personal Resume Refresh with Jill Griffin HERE Follow @JillGriffinOffical on Instagram for daily inspiration Connect with and follow Jill on LinkedIn
It's a full show with discussion on Israel, Iran, and the U.S. But is MAGA as split as they seem on this subject? Jim Carafano is here to talk about it, and Carol Roth, author of "You Will Own Nothing" takes us on a journey through AI and it's dystopian possibilities.
Tired of hour-long meetings that end with zero decisions? We've all been there! In this episode, Will and Josh dive deep into practical frameworks that actually work for making decisions, prioritizing projects, and communicating effectively as a team.From the classic Eisenhower Matrix to Josh's preferred Impact vs. Effort approach, we break down the tools that can transform your team's productivity. Plus, we share real-world examples, miro templates, introduce the SBI communication model, and reveal our "meeting sandwich" formula for success.No more decision paralysis or tyranny of the urgent - let's get systematic about getting things done!For more on our conversation, check out the episode page.For more on our conversation, check out the episode page here.Want to build your business like we have? Join us over at Notion by signing up with our affiliate link to start organizing EVERYTHING you do.Head over to our website at hitechpod.us for all of our episode pages, send some support at Buy Me a Coffee, our Twitter, our YouTube, and to see our faces (maybe skip the last one).Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Sign-up for the Reflection App today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even better with our affiliate discount.
Orion's chief behavioral officer discusses how advisors can guide clients through fear, bias, and emotionally charged decisions. Host: Steve Sanduski, CFP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Running a small nonprofit often means juggling strategy, people, programs, and inbox chaos, all while making what feels like a million decisions a day. If you've ever felt stuck between leading and just trying to keep up, this episode is for you. In this candid and insightful conversation, Maria chats with returning guest Veronica LaFemina about one of the most overlooked pain points in nonprofit life: how decisions are made, delegated, and communicated. From messy inboxes to that nagging feeling of "did I already assign this?"- Veronica offers both clarity and real tools to help leaders make better decisions, faster.
Are you the next-generation leader ready to take the reins of your family business, only to find the current generation won't let go? Then this episode is for you! Andrea and Michelle tackle the number one challenge facing family businesses: navigating the transition of power. Discover the unspoken fears and habits that hold the current generation back, from losing their identity to doubting the next generation's readiness. Learn the frustration of Gen 2, who feel disrespected, un-trusted, and stuck in a holding pattern. We reveal the ripple effect on employees, the chaos of "damage control" when Gen 1 swoops back in, and why open, structured conversations are vital. This episode provides actionable strategies, including establishing clear decision-making authority and fostering a "consultant" mindset for Gen 1, ensuring a smoother, more respectful transition for your family's legacy. Takeaways Gen 2 often feels untrusted by Gen 1. Current leaders may not realize their habits hinder transition. Clarity in roles is essential for effective leadership. Communication is key to reducing uncertainty. Gen 1 may struggle with identity after stepping back. Gen 2 needs to build confidence in decision-making. Creating a legacy mindset can facilitate smoother transitions. Regular meetings between generations can enhance understanding. Consulting roles can help maintain involvement without micromanaging. Unclear expectations can lead to chaos in the workplace. For more resources on developing leadership skills visit us at Revela. Where we've helped hundreds of executives lead productive teams and thriving organizations. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative.
This episode is brought to you by FLYKITT, Audible, Cured Nutrition and Comrad Socks. Do you know what career you're really meant to pursue? Can you identify the relationships you should really be investing in? Are you living your life to the fullest? Human Design has the answers. Human Design is a mystical personality assessment that uses NASA data, astrology, and Eastern philosophy to generate mind-blowingly accurate insights into how you uniquely thrive at work, in love, and beyond. In today's podcast, and in her new book How Do You Choose?, world-renowned Human Design coach and educator Erin Claire Jones transforms this mystical system into an accessible, practical tool for modern life. Follow Erin @erinclairejones Follow Chase @chase_chewning ----- In this episode we discuss... (00:00) Mystical Approach to Personal Growth (07:04) Practical Tools for Decision Making (18:42) Enhancing Relationships Through Human Design (27:31) Navigating Relationships Through Human Design (34:40) Understanding the Human Design Process (40:18) Discovering Language Through Human Design (46:01) Meeting People Where They're at Through Human Design (54:28) Overcoming Self Limitations (58:44) Human Design Evolution and Growth ----- Episode resources: Never get jet lag again and save 15% with code CHASE at https://www.FlyKitt.com Get Erin's book for free with your 30-day trial of Audible at https://www.AudibleTrial.com/everforward Save 20% on the all-natural Flow Gummies with code EVERFORWARD at https://www.CuredNutrition.com Save 15% on gradual compression socks with code CHASEC15 at https://www.ComradSocks.com Watch and subscribe on YouTube Erin first appeared in episode 304 Learn more at ErinClaireJones.com
THE EMBC NETWORK featuring: ihealthradio and worldwide podcasts
Healthy Decisions, Bold Moves: Dr. Linda Henman on Strategy-Driven Leadership Healthy Decisions, Bold Moves: Dr. Linda Henman on Strategy-Driven Leadership In this thought-provoking episode of The Hurricane H Show we welcome Dr. Linda Henman, renowned organizational strategist, C-suite advisor, and author of Healthy Decisions: Critical Thinking Skills for Healthcare Executives. Dr. Henman breaks down why culture alone isn't enough—and how strategy, clarity, and critical thinking must take center stage in high-stakes decision-making. Drawing from real-world examples like Mercy, Cleveland Clinic, and Banner Health, she explains how top-performing healthcare systems succeed by making the right calls, not just the popular ones. We dive into: Why leaders must stop chasing abstract ideals and start thinking analytically How to make hard decisions in mergers, crises, and operational pivots Why many executives fail to assess risks objectively The overlooked power of dispassionate leadership Lessons from POWs (including John McCain) that shape high-resilience decision-making How healthcare leaders can inspire real innovation—without losing control
THE EMBC NETWORK featuring: ihealthradio and worldwide podcasts
Healthy Decisions, Bold Moves: Dr. Linda Henman on Strategy-Driven Leadership Healthy Decisions, Bold Moves: Dr. Linda Henman on Strategy-Driven Leadership In this thought-provoking episode of The Hurricane H Show we welcome Dr. Linda Henman, renowned organizational strategist, C-suite advisor, and author of Healthy Decisions: Critical Thinking Skills for Healthcare Executives. Dr. Henman breaks down why culture alone isn't enough—and how strategy, clarity, and critical thinking must take center stage in high-stakes decision-making. Drawing from real-world examples like Mercy, Cleveland Clinic, and Banner Health, she explains how top-performing healthcare systems succeed by making the right calls, not just the popular ones. We dive into: Why leaders must stop chasing abstract ideals and start thinking analytically How to make hard decisions in mergers, crises, and operational pivots Why many executives fail to assess risks objectively The overlooked power of dispassionate leadership Lessons from POWs (including John McCain) that shape high-resilience decision-making How healthcare leaders can inspire real innovation—without losing control
Art Money Success with Maria Brophy - Designing a Life you LOVE!
Today I invited my AMS Mastermind partner, Oliver Hojas, to be on the show. A month ago Oliver needed $10,000 FAST, and in 4 days, he sold 2 paintings and made just under $11K. This might not sound like a big deal to some of you, but, Oliver has only been a full time artist for five years, and, he doesn't even have a website! There are KEY ASPECTS to making more money than you are used to, and if you're an artist who wants to make $100 or $10,000 or even $100,000, you need to listen to this Podcast. If you absorb the philosophies we share, it WILL uplevel your art business (and your life.) Oliver and I lead our artist members of our AMS Mastermind on many goal-setting, visualizing and mindset exercises, coupled with real-life business strategy, to make art sales. Our members experience massive art sales growth just 30 days after joining! https://www.skool.com/art-money-success-mastermind-6721/about Key Points in this Episode: *Who you have in your life determines how much $ you make (this includes friends and family *Who you are BECOMING determines your income, love and joy factors *DECISION MAKING is the main key to getting anything you want *When you are up-leveling and making huge positive changes, you will go through a period of loneliness and even depression. Ride it out, when you get to the other side, you'll be better for it. *Oliver takes us through the STRATEGY side of selling art through social media without a website. ✅ Did this podcast help you?
In this episode, I follow up on "Philosophy vs OnlyFans! Listener Debate" (https://fdrpodcasts.com/5984/philosophy-vs-sex-workers-listener-debate) with some more thoughts. I examine pride and genetic predisposition, addressing whether one should take pride in achievements influenced by genetics. While recognizing the genetic basis of traits like IQ, I stress the significance of personal agency and moral choices, illustrated through a scenario of decision-making in danger. I discuss the variability of human traits and the ethical implications of our choices, arguing against genetic determinism.I also confront the philosophical issues around death and the modern healthcare system's impact on quality of life. Advocating for thoughtful discourse, I highlight the importance of recognizing the societal consequences of life extension. Ultimately, I call for moral accountability and personal agency in navigating life's challenges.GET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2025
Breaking Down Ohio State's $20.5M NIL Strategy: Insights from Ross Bjork | Buckeyes Tomorrow MorningJoin host Tony Gerdeman on this episode of Buckeyes Tomorrow Morning as he covers the latest from Ohio State Athletic Director Ross Bjork's press conference. Dive into the details of Ohio State's new $20.5 million NIL cap, the Buckeye Sports Group, and Project 36. Learn how the funds will be distributed among four key sports: football, men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball. Get insights into the compliance with Title IX and the potential roadblocks involving Congress and employment status for student athletes. For the full hour-long discussion with Ross Bjork, check out the video at youtube.com/buckeyehuddle and find detailed bullet points at buckeyehuddle.com. Don't forget to subscribe and hit the thumbs up! 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:38 Interview with Ross Bjork: Overview 01:37 NIL and Buckeye Sports Group03:27 Project 36: Funding Allocation 06:48 Title IX and Gender Equality 08:24 Decision-Making and Allocation Metrics10:28 Employment Status Debate 12:46 Legal Perspectives on Compensation Rules15:16 Conclusion and Farewell
We want to hear from you. If you're open to a quick chat with our producer, it only takes a few seconds to sign up: https://forms.gle/TTdgZ9R6HykpPaEh6Closing a client isn't about luck—it's about process. In this episode, I break down why sales cycles vary depending on project size, client needs, and how well you handle the budget conversation. Many creatives avoid discussing money upfront, leading to wasted time and ghosting. I share why transparency is key, how to gauge client readiness, and a simple framework to talk about pricing without discomfort. Plus, I give real-world examples, from my own experience to the way high-value projects are evaluated. Whether you're closing five-figure deals or negotiating seven-figure contracts, this episode will help you take control of the sales process.Timestamps:(00:00) - Understanding Client Closing Timelines(01:50) - Understanding Client Engagement and Money Conversations(02:23) - The Dilemma of Decision-Making in Financial Situations(05:18) - Discussing Budget Upfront(06:16) - Understanding Body Language in CommunicationCheck out The Futur:Website: https://www.thefutur.com/Courses: https://www.thefutur.com/shopLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-futur/Podcasts: https://thefutur.com/podcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefuturishere/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theFuturisHere/Twitter: https://x.com/thefuturishereTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefuturishereYoutube:https://www.youtube.com/thefuturishereCheck out Chris Do:Website: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdoLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechrisdo/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/BizOfDesignInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/thechrisdo/Twitter:https://x.com/thechrisdoTikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@thechrisdoThreads:https://www.threads.net/@thechrisdoZaap: https://zaap.bio/thechrisdoClubhouse:https://www.clubhouse.com/@thechrisdoBehance: https://www.behance.net/chrisdo
Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Faisal Hoque, author of Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI. Faisal brings a unique blend of deep philosophical insight, entrepreneurial experience, and technological expertise to the conversation. They explore how leaders can navigate the fast-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence while staying grounded in what makes us human. The discussion explores how to think about AI not just as a tool or collaborator, but as a mirror that reflects our biases and decisions. Faisal introduces the OPEN and CARE frameworks as practical ways to innovate while managing risk, making this conversation highly actionable for project managers and leaders. From detaching from digital noise to preparing the next generation for an AI-shaped world, Faisal offers a thoughtful roadmap for embracing technology without losing our agency. If you're looking for insights on how to thrive in the age of AI with both optimism and responsibility, this episode is for you! Sound Bites “You can be optimistic, but you can also mitigate risk at the same time. One doesn't really work without the other.” “Catastrophizing is not doomism, but it's really a risk management practice.” "AI is not just a tool or collaborator, it's a mirror." “Don't outsource your agency. It's easy to let AI nudge your decisions without even realizing it.” “Just like you don't put a 10-year-old in a car to drive... technology can do a lot of good, but it can also be disastrous.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:33 Start of Interview 02:00 What From Your Background Shaped Your Thinking? 03:54 How Philosophy and Systems Thinking Intersect 06:00 Introducing the OPEN and CARE Frameworks 06:55 What Is the Human Role in an AI World? 09:43 How AI Can Subtly Influence Our Choices 11:40 Sci-Fi's Influence on AI Perception 15:07 What Is an AI Persona and How Do You Use Them? 18:13 Why AI Is Also a Mirror of Us 22:33 Introducing the OPEN Framework for Individuals 25:33 How Emotional Intelligence Applies to AI Partnership 27:02 The Role of Catastrophizing in Risk Management 28:58 The Value of Detaching and Devoting 32:03 How We Can Prepare Our Kids for an AI World 35:31 End of Interview 36:00 Andy Comments After the Interview 40:33 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Faisal and his work at FaisalHoque.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 460 with Dr. Joe Sutherland about AI, Data, and Decision Making Episode 454 with Dr. Christie Smith about how AI is changing leadership Episode 437 with Nada Sanders on her book Humachine (Human + Machine) Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: AI, Leadership, Risk Management, Innovation, Digital Transformation, Emotional Intelligence, Strategic Thinking, Project Management, Decision Making, Organizational Change, Technology Ethics, Future of Work The following music was used for this episode: Music: Echo by Alexander Nakarada License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Chillhouse by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Today on AirTalk, some demonstrators are charged by federal and local prosecutors, we take a look at the rights of protestors; a preview of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup; a neuroscientist walks us through how and why we make decisions; the legality around the actions of ICE in SoCal; Nation Geographic commemorates Sally Ride—the first American woman to go to space and TV Talk. Today on AirTalk: What are the 1st Amendment rights of protesters? (00:15) 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Explainer: What to know about the tournament that’ll make its way to the Rose Bowl (20:20) A neuroscientist's new book reveals how and why we make the decisions we do (34:44) A look at the legality of immigration actions across Southern California (51:33) The first American female astronaut is commemorated in the new NatGeo documentary SALLY (1:13:26) TVTalk was preempted this week by breaking news
Today, we're picking up with the second part of my conversation with Jodi Berg, the former President & CEO of Vitamix.In Part 1, we explored Jodi's career, the history, evolution, and family legacy of Vitamix, and her leadership journey in growing the company into the global brand it is today.In Part 2, we continue with her reflections on stepping away from the business—and dive deeper into her philosophy of purpose, the DANCE framework she's developing to help others lead more intentional lives, and the wisdom she's distilled from decades of research, teaching, and hands-on leadership and entrepreneurial experience.It's a wide-ranging, deeply thoughtful conversation about what it means to live and lead with purpose—not to mention, a lot of fun. I'm so excited to share it with you.00:00:00 - Reflecting on Leadership and Culture 00:04:25 - Succession Planning in Family Businesses 00:06:56 - Navigating Leadership Transitions 00:13:44 - The Importance of Purpose 00:15:18 - Personal Experiences Shaping Purpose 00:19:34 - Helping Others Find Their Wings 00:26:33 - The Dual Nature of Purpose 00:35:23 - Impact of Personal Purpose on Company Culture 00:41:26 - The Impact of Personal Purpose 00:46:51 - Understanding and Helping Others 00:47:27 - Writing a Purpose-Driven Book 00:48:39 - The DANCE Framework for Decision-Making 00:56:20 - The Importance of Purpose in Decision-Making 01:02:42 - Discovering Superpowers and Purpose 01:03:26 - Innovating the Blender: A New Approach 01:10:05 - Technology and Purpose in Business 01:14:53 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodilberg/https://www.vitamix.com/us/en_us/Original Vitamix Infomercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5IzzGPzQA-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company's passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/
How do you build a high-performance culture without turning your company into the Hunger Games? Reed Hastings, co-founder and former CEO of Netflix, shares lessons from a career spent rewriting the rules—from severance as a management tool to “big-hearted champions who pick up the trash.” In this episode, he reveals how Netflix scaled trust, made bold bets before the data was in, and kept its edge by treating employees like adults—not assets. You'll hear how Hastings evaluates talent beyond the interview, the reason he avoids performance improvement plans, and what most leaders misunderstand about judgment, feedback, and innovation. You'll also hear why he placed a $100 million bet on House of Cards with no pilot, how Drive to Survive changed an entire sport, and why Squid Game caught even Netflix by surprise. Now focused on a new chapter—owning a ski mountain, reshaping education through AI tutors, and supporting charter schools—Hastings is still doing what he does best: building systems that scale culture, not just product. If you care about performance without politics—or culture without the clichés—this is a blueprint from one of the clearest thinkers in modern business. Approximate timestamps: Subject to variation due to dynamically inserted ads: (3:09) Powder Mountain, Skiing Industry, & Buying a Mountain (6:36) Setting Culture in an Organization (9:21) Hiring Process and Evaluating Candidates (14:24) Netflix's 2009 Slide Deck Release (16:26) Talent Density and Performance Culture (17:59) Loyalty and Team Building (19:56) Severance Packages (22:17) Process Vs. Innovation (24:21) Preventing Bureaucracy from Creeping In (25:46) Identifying and Nurturing Good Judgment (26:40) Transition from CEO to Board Member (27:37) Competitive Landscape of Online Streaming (29:18) Role of Netflix in Driving Industry Interest (31:25) Handling Controversy: The Dave Chappelle Case (33:59) Inclusiveness and DEI in the Workplace (35:10) Customer Satisfaction and Operating Income (36:06) Decision Making in Content Acquisition: House of Cards (37:28) Creating vs Buying Content (38:46) Data Collection and User Preferences (40:32) AI in Netflix and Personal Use (42:33) AI in Education (45:12) Charter Schools and Importance of Education (48:07) Charter Schools and Government Control (52:34) Misconceptions and Personal Projects (53:25) Admiration for Bill Gates (55:04) Work-Life Integration (56:59) Reflections on Career and Obsession (59:12) The Netflix Keeper Test (1:00:38) Learning from Past Experiences at Pure Software (1:02:27) Challenges and Regrets at Pure Software (1:03:38) Role of the Board in Founder-led Companies (1:04:49) Venture Capital Experiences and Insights (1:05:31) Defining Moments and Openness to New Experiences (1:06:14) First Product Excitement: The Foot Mouse (1:07:19) Definition of Success Thanks to our sponsors for supporting this episode: NORDVPN: To get the best discount off your NordVPN plan go to nordvpn.com/KNOWLEDGEPROJECT. Our link will also give you 4 extra months on the 2-year plan. There's no risk with Nord's 30 day money-back guarantee! MOMENTOUS: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com and use code KNOWLEDGEPROJECT for 35% off your first subscription. Newsletter - The Brain Food newsletter delivers actionable insights and thoughtful ideas every Sunday. It takes 5 minutes to read, and it's completely free. Learn more and sign up at fs.blog/newsletter Upgrade — If you want to hear my thoughts and reflections at the end of the episode, join our membership: fs.blog/membership and get your own private feed. Watch on YouTube: @tkppodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Amidst constant change, clear communication is the key to navigating uncertainty.How do you communicate with others when you're confused yourself? For Rob Siegel, leadership isn't about avoiding uncertainty, it's about embracing the clarity that ambiguity can bring."What if ambiguity is the new normal?" asks Siegel, a venture investor and lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business. From rapidly evolving AI to ratcheting geopolitical tensions, every day brings a “crisis du jour,” he says. “I may like it, I may not like it. That doesn't really matter, but I've gotta get my team through it."In his latest book, The Systems Leader: Mastering the Cross Pressures That Make or Break Today's Companies, Siegel explores how leaders today are “living in dualities,” caught between managing existing processes and adapting to emerging disruptions. “The sooner we get comfortable with [change] in the sense of ‘I don't have to like it, but I can deal with it,' then [we can] lead our teams and give them the calm to know they can get through this.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Siegel and host Matt Abrahams explore how to communicate effectively amidst constant change. From preparation strategies for spontaneous speaking to building trust through candid conversations, Siegel offers practical tips for communicating with clarity when nothing is certain but change.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premiumEpisode Reference Links:Robert SiegelRob's Book: The Systems LeaderEp.35 Leading From The Hot Seat: How To Communicate Under PressureEp.37 Be Better: How Communication Catalyzes Business Transformation Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:49) - Adapting Leadership for Uncertainty (03:18) - Systems Leadership and Cross Pressures (04:40) - Communication and Context (05:26) - Framing Complex Ideas (06:21) - Innovation vs. Execution (08:11) - Leading Through Ambiguity (09:33) - Short-Term vs. Long-Term Focus (12:44) - Balancing Strength and Empathy (15:26) - Leadership with Humanity (16:42) - Engaging Students Effectively (20:00) - The Final Three Questions (23:41) - Conclusion *****This Episode is sponsored by Stanford. Stay Informed on Stanford's world changing research by signing up for the Stanford ReportSupport Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.
Caroline Jones joins Christina to share her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the fitness industry. She discusses her connections, the challenges she faced in starting her business, and the importance of community and confidence in her journey. The conversation highlights the significance of having a support system, overcoming self-doubt, and finding joy in work. Together, they discuss the importance of gratitude, personal growth, and overcoming adversity. They share personal stories of struggle and success, emphasizing the need for self-care and the power of networking. The dialogue highlights the significance of saying yes to opportunities and embracing change, particularly in the context of motherhood and business ownership.Caroline Jones, Arkansas native, mom of five, and entrepreneur, I've navigated a winding path—from business and pharmacy to discovering my passions for fitness and painting. Now, as the owner of The Brushed Home and McClure Fitness Bentonville, I'm living my dream while balancing family and growth.Follow Caroline on social: Instagram and TikTok
Dr. Jeff Spencer, fueled by resilience and drive, rose from a childhood marked by poverty and parental neglect to achieve his dream of becoming an Olympic cyclist. He defied the odds through mentorship and relentless discipline, ultimately becoming one of the most sought-after performance coaches for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and elite athletes. In this episode, Jeff shares his Champion's Blueprint framework for setting R.I.G.H.T. goals, mastering focus and preparation, identifying blind spots, and executing like a high performer through all five stages of goal achievement. In this episode, Hala and Dr. Jeff will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:56) Becoming an Olympian Against All Odds (06:59) How Mentorship Fuels Elite Performance (10:38) Why Champions Need a “Corner Man” (15:47) Why Success Is Both a Path and a Process (19:27) Aligning Goals with Mind, Body, and Soul (22:16) The R.I.G.H.T. Goal-Setting Framework (29:33) Spotting Risks and Blind Spots in Goals (39:47) How Legacy Drives Long-Term Performance (50:58) Taking Inventory of Your Resources (56:00) The Stages of Goal Achievement Dr. Jeff Spencer is an Olympic cyclist turned elite performance coach, author, and international speaker. With a career spanning decades, he has coached luminaries including Tiger Woods, Richard Branson, U2, Dave Asprey, and dozens of top CEOs to accomplish their most ambitious goals. Known as “The Cornerman,” Jeff specializes in helping champions and high performers achieve clarity, resilience, and legacy-driven success. His proprietary method, the Champion's Blueprint, offers a proven model for goal achievement and long-term fulfillment. Sponsored By: Shopify - Start your $1/month trial at Shopify.com/profiting. Indeed - Get a $75 sponsored job credit to boost your job's visibility at Indeed.com/PROFITING Mercury - Streamline your banking and finances in one place. Learn more at mercury.com/profiting OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first 6 months at OpenPhone.com/profiting. Bilt - Start paying rent through Bilt and take advantage of your Neighborhood Benefits by going to joinbilt.com/profiting. Airbnb - Find a co-host at airbnb.com/host Boulevard - Get 10% off your first year at joinblvd.com/profiting when you book a demo Resources Mentioned: Jeff's Book: Turn It Up!, https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Up-Perform-Lifetime-Paperback/dp/B002BN10CG Jeff's Website: https://www.drjeffspencer.com/ Active Deals - youngandprofiting.com/deals Key YAP Links Reviews - ratethispodcast.com/yap Youtube - youtube.com/c/YoungandProfiting LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/htaha/ Instagram - instagram.com/yapwithhala/ Social + Podcast Services - yapmedia.com Transcripts - youngandprofiting.com/episodes-new Entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship podcast, Business, Business podcast, Self Improvement, Self-Improvement, Personal development, Starting a business, Strategy, Investing, Sales, Selling, Psychology, Productivity, Entrepreneurs, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Marketing, Negotiation, Money, Finance, Side hustle, Startup, Career, Leadership, Mindset, Health, Growth mindset, Networking, Time Management, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Leadership Skills, Strategic Planning, Mindset, Time Management, Team Building.
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