Podcasts about Fierce Conversations

My guest today is Jen Oliver. Jen is a speaker, writer, and coach. She founded Speaking REAL Communications to help clients bring their truest voice to work and personal life; Jen believes communication should be relational, engaging, authentic and life-altering. Showing up REAL matters. With roots in Toastmasters, training in Fierce®Conversations and licensing as a leader in the WomanSpeak™ method, Jen also offers private and group coaching for high-stakes talks and keynotes. She is the Director of Curation and Speaker Coach for TEDxFolsom and several other U.S. based speaking events. Jen converses with vulnerability and candor with guests on the Listen for REAL podcast. And in recent years, she hosts The REAL Conversations Speaker Series – pop up events designed to equip and synergize people around ideas while building connection and community.. In this episode we discuss public speaking, personal growth, vulnerability and speaking tips .Website - https://www,realjenoliver.comIG - https://www.instagram.com/realjenoliverLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/realjenoliverFB - https://www.facebook.com/realjenoliverPodcast - https://www.listenforreal.comIn this episode you will learn:1. How to re-frame your anxiety around public speaking and partner with your energy rather than fearing it.2. Understanding why listening is a crucial skill in both personal and professional conversations.3. Why being your true self is more powerful than following any formulaic approach to public speaking. “You need to show up as you. This is probably the biggest thing I capitalize as a speaker coach is, and that makes me a little bit different. I'm so about them being them, not following formulas. ” - 00:03:43“When I equip speakers with tools, each one is about getting them into this new habit developing the new neural pathways that don't immediately jump to what the mind and the chatter is giving them, but slowing down, almost like meditation." 00:27:49“So storytelling is just, it's so beautiful in that it can make an idea that's worth transmuting or research. that needs to be shared, or a new technology or innovation, it suddenly makes it sticky and memorable and relatable. ” 00:40:27

Is there a science-based app that can address stress in real-time and improve communication in the workplace? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Edward Beltran on the hot APP Pulse by Fierce and his new book Fierce Resilience: Combatting Workplace Stress One Conversation at a Time.Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio affiliate! Edward Beltran is the CEO of Fierce Inc., a pioneering company in communication and leadership training, and a contributor to Forbes and Fast Company. Known for his innovative approach to employee well-being, Beltran is the architect behind Pulse by Fierce, a groundbreaking app that leverages biometric data to help employees and leaders identify and address workplace stress. This tool, often described as the “Fitbit of Business Performance,” is designed to combat the $300 billion lost annually due to stress-related issues. Under Beltran's leadership, Fierce Inc. has embraced dynamic and modern training methods, including 3D training and Metaverse initiatives, while building on the 20-year foundation established by Susan Scott's iconic book Fierce Conversations. Beltran's forward-thinking vision reflects his belief that leadership training must evolve beyond traditional in-person methods to offer diverse, adaptable solutions for today's challenges.  https://fierceinc.comFor more show information visit: www.MariannePestana.com

Every Tuesday, we grab a past question from the Facebook group, then Meredith and Scott answer it and read some of the answers given by other listeners. The question for this episode: What's the most difficult thing you've ever had to tell someone? Links for this episode:   Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott: https://www.amazon.com/Fierce-Conversations-Achieving-Success-Conversation/dp/0425193373 Meredith's podcast is Meredith For Real – the Curious Introvert: https://MeredithForReal.com To check out the new Tuesday Question and get in the discussion, join us at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook. Sponsor deals: Head to http://Lumen.me/WWTL for 20% off your purchase. Go to bluenile.com to shop Blue Nile, the original online jeweler since 1999! Follow “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories” on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/WHATWAS and get on your way to being your best self. To get 15% off your next gift, go to UNCOMMONGOODS.com/WHATWAS Sign up today at https://www.butcherbox.com/whatwas and use code whatwas to get chicken breast, salmon or ground beef FREE in every order for a year, plus $20 off your first order. Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at mintmobile.com/WHAT Go to Quince.com/whatwas for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns! Go to cookunity.com/What or enter code What before checkout for 50% off your first week. Go to Seed.com/what and use code 25WHAT to get 25% off your first month. Go to storyworth.com/what to save $10 on your first purchase! Get 15% off OneSkin with the code [WHATWAS] at https://www.oneskin.co/ #oneskinpod Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney.com/whatwas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fierce Bits is a production of Fierce Conversations with Toby. Sparks of Inspiration, Under a Minute. Today, A Sequoia's Strength: Standing the Test of Time Sequoias stand tall for centuries because they intertwine their roots with others. Strength doesn't come from standing alone; it comes from connection.

Dr. T and Truth Fairy welcome guest Gil Bar-Sela to the podcast to talk about his work as a psychedelic guide, facilitator, and trainer working with individuals, couples, and groups. Gil weaves modalities like generative somatics, compassionate listening, and archetypal work into the more ancient medicine ceremonies. Gil shares his personal journey with Dr. T and Truth Fairy and engages in thoughtful discussions about psychedelics and healing. Gil shares that when he moved to the United States after being raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, he had his first opportunity to deal with the trauma lodged in his body. That led him to ask questions about conflict, the root causes of conflict, trauma, and intergenerational trauma which put him on track to explore all those issues. He also began his own personal healing process around his queer identity. This experience and questioning led him to the studies and practices he engages in today.  Truth Fairy, Gil, and Dr. T talk about how self-awareness is what first leads to healing work. Having a sense of what we need can lead us to the right kind of work to be doing. Gil talks about the building blocks necessary to become a good guide which include ethics, pharmacology, and onboarding clients in a responsible way. The conversation highlights Gil's own strong sense of guidance and understanding of the different types of medicine available for healing individuals which also includes psychedelics.“You have the psychiatrist, you have the psychotherapist moving into the space that are very rooted in the Western psyche, but are also lacking usually in terms of connection to spirit, to more expansive practices, to ancient wisdom. And so I think, in particular, the role of the underground guide can be to merge the two worlds. Because we're not here and we're not there. We can be bridge builders. The training that I lead is very much focused on that.” - Gil Bar-Sela__About Gil Bar-Sela:Gil has trained teams and businesses to invoke a thriving work culture. He has inspired audiences of thousands by speaking at colleges across the country on topics such as the power of listening and gender equality. He has collaborated with the leadership team of Seattle's Restorative Justice Initiative, creating community-based, non-punitive solutions to conflict. He co-leads annual delegations to Palestine and Israel with The Compassionate Listening Project, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to transform conflict and strengthen cultures of peace. He also coaches privately, and leads workshops and retreats globally.Gil is a Certified Trainer with the Heart Math Institute and a Certified Facilitator with The Compassionate Listening Project. He has also trained at Susan Scott's Fierce Conversations, Dominic Barter's Restorative Circles, Core Energetics, META (Mindful Experiential Therapy Approaches), Cortiva's 1,000-hour massage therapy program, and shamanism.Website: GilBarSela.com__Contact Punk Therapy:Patreon: Patreon.com/PunkTherapyWebsite: PunkTherapy.comEmail: info@punktherapy.com

Ferce Bits is a production of Fierce Conversations with Toby. Sparks of Inspiration, Under a Minute. Today, A Butterfly's Transformation: Growth Through Change. The caterpillar's world ends in the cocoon, but that's where transformation begins. Growth often feels like the end, but it's really the start of something beautiful.

Fierce Bits is a production of Fierce Conversations with Toby. Sparks of Inspiration, Under a Minute. Today, The Adaptability of a River: Carving its Path Through Rock. Rivers don't resist obstacles -- they flow around them wearing them down over time. Life's challenges aren't barriers but opportunities to find your flow.

Fierce Bits is a production of Fierce Conversations with Toby. Sparks of Inspiration, Under a Minute. Today, A Hummingbird's Journey: Small but Mighty. Hummingbirds are tiny, yet they travel thousands of miles on sheer determination. You don't need to be big to make a big impact -- just determined.

Fierce Bits is a production of Fierce Conversations with Toby. Sparks of Inspiration, Under a Minute. Today, the Resilience of Trees. After a storm, a broken tree may seem lifeless, but with time, new leaves sprout. Like the tree, we too can regrow, stronger than before. Resilience isn't about avoiding the storm; it's about thriving after it.

In this powerful episode of Fierce Conversations, we revisit heartfelt moments that explore the unbreakable bond between love and resilience. Through personal stories and deep reflections, we uncover how love—whether for others or oneself—can become a wellspring of strength during life's most challenging seasons. From enduring heartbreak to discovering the courage to rebuild, this episode celebrates the beauty of human connection and the resilience it inspires. Tune in for a journey of vulnerability, empowerment, and the transformative power of love.

Chapter 1:Summary of Fierce Conversations"Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time" by Susan Scott is a guide that emphasizes the importance of meaningful and honest communication in both personal and professional contexts. The book outlines a framework for having "fierce" conversations, which are characterized by transparency, directness, and authenticity.Key points from the book include:1. The Importance of Conversations: Scott argues that conversations are the fundamental building blocks of relationships and that effective communication can lead to deeper understanding, stronger connections, and better decision-making.2. Facing Issues Head-On: The book encourages readers to tackle difficult subjects directly rather than avoiding them. Scott believes that avoiding tough conversations leads to misunderstandings and unresolved issues.3. Seven Principles: Scott introduces seven essential principles to guide fierce conversations:- Master the Courage to Lead: Lead by example and be courageous enough to address uncomfortable topics.- Clarify What's Important: Identify the core issue and clarify what truly matters in the conversation.- Be Honest: Honesty fosters trust and respect in dialogue.- Stay Engaged: Focus on staying present during the conversation, actively listening, and engaging with the other person's perspective.- Assume Positive Intent: Approach conversations with the belief that the other party has good intentions.- Speak Your Truth: Share your perspective authentically while respecting the other person's views.- Be Prepared for Resolutions: Enter conversations with a mindset open to problem-solving and finding mutual solutions.4. Framework for Conversations: The book provides a structured approach to conducting fierce conversations, including preparation, execution, and follow-up. Scott emphasizes the importance of listening as much as speaking and being open to feedback.5. Real-Life Applications: Through various examples and case studies, Scott illustrates how fierce conversations can lead to improved relationships and better outcomes in both personal and professional settings.Overall, "Fierce Conversations" serves as a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their communication skills, build stronger relationships, and create a more open and effective dialogue in their lives.Chapter 2:The Theme of Fierce Conversations"Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life, One Conversation at a Time" by Susan Scott is a compelling exploration of how meaningful dialogue can lead to deeper relationships and greater success in both personal and professional arenas. Here are some key plot points, character development nuances, and thematic ideas from the book: Key Plot Points1. The Concept of Fierce Conversations: The book defines what a "fierce conversation" is—essentially, a conversation where participants are fully present and engaged, addressing important issues directly and candidly.2. The Importance of Authenticity: Scott emphasizes the need for authenticity in conversations, urging readers to speak their truth and encourage others to do the same. This authenticity fosters trust and understanding.3. The 7 Principles of Fierce Conversations: Scott outlines specific principles that guide fierce conversations, such as:- Mastering the courage to interrogate reality- Feeling the feelings, but not letting the feelings control the conversation- Clarifying what is important, and focusing on the issue at hand4. Overcoming Conversation Barriers: The author discusses common barriers to effective communication, including fear, avoidance, and assumptions. She provides strategies for overcoming these barriers.5. Real-World Applications: The...

"Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time"

Send us a textAnna Huwiler is our guest on today's episode, joining us from Europe!Anna is a coach who works with people who want to lead, but without the rules that someone else made up long ago. Instead, they desire to bring their real human solves to leadership, leading with clarity and kindness. They get results not despite, but because of being secret rebels. She graduated from Accomplishment Coaching and did years of intense leadership development training with the Forge, and is part of the Ethical Coach Collective. In this episode we explore:A refreshing take on leadership and the inspiration behind Anna's intentional lifeWhy personal leadership is the start to pretty much everything The impact of coming home to yourself and being an example for othersHow this work can feel stretchy, uncomfortable and challenging but the rewards on the other side of it tooThe internal and external currents that require us to be grounded and supported in the pursuit of a life bigger than we currently have Suggested resources:Fierce Conversations by Susan ScottGetting Real by Susan CampbellRadical Candor by Kim ScottDare to Lead by Brené Brown To connect with Anna:Her website is linked hereFind Anna on instagram is @anna_huwiler Get Anna's No BS Leadership Course here With love,Robyn xoP.S. If you loved this episode, I'd appreciate if you could leave a review or share on your socials. It truly means the world to me and helps amplify this message for other mothers desiring a supportive business for motherhood. If you would like to learn more about The Mothered Business Mastermind, click here. Please say hi to me on Instagram @robyn.gooding or take a peek at my website for more info www.robyngooding.comClick here to book your call anytime!

Shamayne Olivia is an author, a motivational speaker and a difference maker Shamayne's authentic message guides women on a path towards personal and professional growth by fostering a renewed sense of passion, purpose, and confidence. Her workshop empowers women with the essential tools to get unstuck and move beyond the behaviors and patterns preventing them from realizing their full potential. Some of our fierce topics today: [00: 6;24;] I just one thing about that situation is after he and I did the divorce and we went on our separate paths and we found our, we found what was best for us. He was killed in an accident four years after that. [00:12:35] And I had a dream, Toby, it came to me in a dream. And, dreams are special to me, but I only have them occasionally where they speak to me. And this one spoke to me on a level that I had never had before. So I was dreaming that I was going for a walk with a coworker. I worked in corporate America, and we used to walk on our breaks and things like that. [00:14:02] And I was sitting there and I when I looked into the mirror, I felt a warmth wash over me and it said, I heard these words in my head, and it said you were going to teach women to find shoes for their journey. And I was I immediately knew that was going to be my mission, my calling. [00:25:17] And it was important for me to understand who my support group is and who are the people that I needed boundaries with. Because I had let a lot of people into my life that were not helping me. They were bringing me down or not encouraging. And, it was not good for my life. [00:32:43] Well, this is going to be something I when when I first thought about this question, because this was one that you had mentioned that you might ask me, I did some thinking on it and I was trying to think of all those words that inspire people. And the one that came to me just this morning because, that's how a lot of things come to me is right when I need them. My word is women. [guest bio] Shamayne's transformational journey started with a simple question, “Who am I?” He decades-long quest to reclaim her identity led to profound insights and realizations that are the foundation of her business, Shoes that Fit Her Soul, LLC. Links mentioned in this episode:  [guest] https://www.instagram.com/shamayneolivia/  ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Welcome to the latest episode of CTRL+ALT+DELETE with Lisa Duerre™ LIVE, where we tackle a critical issue affecting tech leaders everywhere: preventing burnout through mindful communication. In today's fast-paced environment, where back-to-back meetings and constant digital distractions have become the norm, leaders must ask: how do we communicate effectively without losing ourselves in the process? Lisa Duerre, along with her guest Susan Nelson, a Chief People Strategist & Integrative Leadership Coach, who brings a wealth of experience in guiding leaders to cultivate people-first cultures in start-ups and SMBs, dive deep into the power of FIRM leadership, focusing on the “M” – Mindfulness. Together, they explore how mindful communication can transform team dynamics, improve employee engagement, and strengthen leadership resilience. The episode highlights the staggering statistic that 86% of employees and executives attribute workplace failures to poor communication (from a Fierce Conversations survey). With real-world examples, personal stories, and expert insights, Lisa and Susan discuss how leaders can foster stronger relationships with their teams by practicing active listening and creating intentional pauses. Whether it's taking a "mindfulness moment" before a big meeting or simply asking better questions, the episode provides practical tools for communicating with clarity and compassion, even under pressure. Listeners will hear actionable strategies like using pattern interrupts, facilitating better team meetings with mindful grounding exercises, and the importance of creating space for others to be heard. You'll learn how to avoid reactivity and foster alignment in team goals—ultimately leading to a more productive, engaged, and resilient workforce. Mentioned in this episode:  Fierce Conversations and Quantum Workplace Survey: https://fierceinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/PR___2011_Workplace_Collaboration_Survey___Fierce_Inc__.pdf American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/ McKinsey & Company: https://www.mckinsey.com/ Tune in to this must-listen episode to get inspired on how to lead with intention, avoid burnout, and ensure your team thrives in today's demanding tech industry! This episode is  brought to you by RLD Group  Let's Connect: RLD Group's FIRM Leadership Lab: ⁠⁠https://rldgroupllc.com/firm-leadership-lab⁠ RLD Group's LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/rldgroupll⁠c RLD Group on X: ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/rldgroupllc⁠ Lisa Duerre on LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaduerre/⁠ ⁠Ctrl+Alt+Delete with Lisa Duerre™ on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@realtalkwithlisa⁠

In this episode of the Just Schools Podcast, Jon Eckert interviews Abby Andrietsch, CEO of St. Augustine Preparatory Academy, in Milwaukee. They discuss the school's rapid growth since its founding in 2017 and its mission to serve a diverse student body with excellence. Andrietsch shares insights into how Aug Prep has become one of the top-rated schools in the state and the transformative impact it has had on the surrounding community, including a 43% reduction in crime. The Just Schools Podcast is brought to you by the Baylor Center for School Leadership. Each week, we'll talk to catalytic educators who are doing amazing work. Be encouraged. Join us on October 15th at the Hurd Welcome Center for an in-person information session to hear more about the MA in School Leadership and the EdD in K-12 Educational Leadership. This is a free event but we need you to register here: https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/2003682/1973032/ Connect with us: Baylor MA in School Leadership EdD in K-12 Educational Leadership Jon Eckert LinkedIn Twitter: @eckertjon Center for School Leadership at Baylor University: @baylorcsl   Transcript: Jon: So today we have Abby with us. She is one of my favorite school leaders from one of my favorite schools in the country, St. Augustine Prep in Milwaukee. And so I want to start, before we jump into how you came to this, just tell the audience about Aug Prep, how it started and where it's at right now. Abby: Awesome. Thanks, Jon. So Aug Prep is not necessarily the typical story. We actually just started, we launched in 2017. So in a lot of ways we are a baby as an organization, but we have grown a lot since we launched. We serve today 2200 students on Milwaukee's South Side. We have the privilege of serving about 86% of our students would be considered low income, more than 95% students of color. And they just have all the potential in the world, same potential as my own kids who are actually also students here. But we started in 2017 with a vision of being part of bigger, something bigger in Milwaukee to serve students with excellence. Milwaukee does have a voucher program, which created a lot of opportunity for us and we chose, our founders chose as we launched to start as a Christian school very intentionally knowing we'd get about a thousand dollars less per people. But that Jesus being at the core of everything we do was really essential. And we started with four pillars, faith, family, excellence in academics, and athletics and arts. And I think a lot of schools do one or two of those really well, some even three. But it's rare that you see the four pieces coming together with excellence. And for us, I would say that's really the critical part of the fabric of who we are is serving our students with excellence, but serving the whole child with excellence. Jon: No, and I get to visit there and Erik Ellefsen, our Director of Networks and Improvement Communities has been talking about Aug Prep for years. I finally got to visit this past summer and it is a truly remarkable place. If I remember correctly, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, when your school started in the neighborhood that you were in, there was a dramatic reduction in crime in the neighborhood, literally transformed the neighborhood. In my mind it's like 42%. What's the actual number? Do you remember the actual number Abby? Abby: I do. It's 43, so you're really close We opened our doors, crime in our neighborhoods gone down by about 43%. Jon: Yeah, that's amazing. And that's what we want. We don't want just schools that are isolated things. We want schools that really serve their communities well and the communities that serve the school well. And so love that statistical evidence that this really has made a difference. Now you just purchased a college campus on the North Side of Milwaukee. So talk about that and where you're headed because again, that's a big play to make right now, especially with some of the buildings that I know may not even be usable. I don't even know all the details, but where are you at in that process, Abby? Abby: So I have a business background, we'll get to that later, but we weren't planning this. The candor is it was an opportunity that God created that we kind of jumped in fully for. On the North Side of Milwaukee, there is a college, it was Cardinal Stritch that closed about three months before our founders were there for an event. It was the first time they had been there and they walked around thinking this place was meant to be a school. And really long story short, the school was purchased. We are launching a second campus on Milwaukee's North Side. What I'm most excited about is actually the school is located in a place that bridges a lot of communities in Milwaukee from more affluent, whiter suburbs to some of the toughest zip codes in Milwaukee. And it's a really unique location. And actually the college that was there before, their history includes a deep history of faith and a deep history of diversity. And our vision for this campus is to create a campus that reflects the world we live in, where our kids are part of our diverse socioeconomic, cultural, racial student body, all grounded and unified and being in Christ, but seeing and valuing the differences in each other and learning and growing with each other through that. Jon: Love that vision, love the opportunity that wasn't even being sought out. I mean, it's so much of what Aug Prep's story is that you've just had your work multiplied in so many ways, which has been really meaningful. And now just another thing that stuck in my head. You're one of the, if not the top-rated school in Milwaukee. In what measure? How is that determined, Abby? Abby: So I mentioned earlier we're part of a voucher system in the state as such, and I'm a big believer in parent choice. And as we get public funds, being accountable to serving kids well. So I lead with the and academic excellence and serving the whole child Jesus, intertwined and grounding every piece of that. We are per the state's report card in the top 2% of growth of any schools in the state. We are the number one K to 12 school in Milwaukee, the number two in the state. We've gone back and forth between one and two. And that for me is a number. But numbers matter. I look at those numbers as necessary but not sufficient measures of, "Are we serving our students and our families well?" Jon: Love that example of excellence. And anytime you can measure growth and not just status proficiency, which can be based on the demographics of your school or the location and the educational attainment of parents, you actually are saying, "Here's where they come in and here's where they grow." And I love the point that it's necessary but not sufficient. And so in this conversation about choice and what that looks like, certainly in Texas, that's a really polarizing conversation right now. At the center, we want to serve leaders who are doing great work to serve each kid wherever they're called to serve. And so that's how we came across you. So tell us how you got into this role of CEO of this startup school that now was purchased a college campus. How do you get into that? You have a fairly non-traditional journey. So would you mind sharing that? Abby: I do have a non-traditional journey. My training and education is a lot more on the business side. It was actually when I was in graduate school that I stepped from a room full of business leaders talking about what I thought I wanted to go into totally disheartened because I realized it wasn't what I wanted to do and I stepped into a room with people with business backgrounds working in education, and it was a light moment for me, a light bulb moment. That in and of itself led me down working with some different national foundations. Gone back and forth in the corporate world a little bit, but I had the chance in Milwaukee almost 15 years ago to co-found an organization that worked with leaders from our local public schools, charter schools, and also private schools. And Aug Prep didn't exist at that point in time. And it was a group of leaders that came together around kids and quality and not politics of the adults really in the city. And I spent about eight years getting to work with that organization, helping great schools grow, schools that wanted to get better, get better. We had a whole team of coaches that walked and worked with school leaders. I actually personally stepped away from that after eight years, wanting a little bit more time with my kids and to be the mom that I wanted to be. I just realized that the balance, it was a stage in life where I needed to step back. And about a year later I found myself in the interim role at Aug Prep, vehemently planning to be interim. And five and a half years later, I couldn't be happier to be here. Both of my kids are here. That was actually part of the decision to go from interim to full-time was my family made a decision to move closer to the school and to have our kids here. And it has just been God's, I think, biggest blessing for us in the last five and a half years through it all. Jon: Well, great example of the fact that I don't really think work-life balance exists. I think it's something that we always strive to attain. I've yet to meet anyone who's achieved it. And so I think there's work-life rhythm. So knowing when your family needs more of you. And then if you can get healthy work-life integration, which I think is what you've done, that's a win. That's a win. Abby: I think of it as harmony. So I like your rhythm, but I don't believe in work-life balance. But I do think there's a harmony that comes together and it looks different at different times. Jon: Well, and to be clear, so I give attribution, I think it's Adam Grant's work-life rhythm he talks about. I really like that. I think that's useful. So when you think about the challenges ahead for Aug Prep specifically, you're in a particular context. I mean Milwaukee is a gigantic voucher experiment that's been going on for decades. So it's in a different kind of context than a lot of people. But what do you see as the biggest challenges to really being what you aspire to be at Aug Prep? That's one of the things I was impressed by this summer, you might be the number one or number two school in the state of Wisconsin for growth, but there definitely wasn't a sense that you had it all figured out. It felt like you all knew that there's places where you could get better and we're striving to do that. And that was what our work was together and how we do that joyfully. But in that joy there are challenges. And that joy doesn't mean it's the freedom from struggle. Joy is actually the fuel to struggle well, so when we lay these challenges out, that's not to depress the audience, but it's to be honest about, "Here are the challenges you see." So if you were to identify one, two, or three challenges ahead for Aug Prep, especially as you expand, what would you identify? Abby: Yeah. Well we've been a mixed expansion really since we started. In some ways we've added the equivalent of an additional school almost every year since we've opened. If I go big picture, I think the biggest challenge that we have as a community, but I would say this as a country as well, I just see it much more intensely as a community would be a lack of belief and a lack of hope. So for our kids, especially in certain parts of Milwaukee, we have far too many kids that are 12, 13, 14 years old that are being told that they're never going to live to be 18, 19, 20. So just do what you want. Our kids need to be believed in and they need a sense of hope. And what I love about what I get to do is that hope gets to be Jesus grounded every day. In my last role, I didn't get to. Who I was as a leader, was deeply grounded in faith, but it wasn't an overt part of my job. But as we think about the work we do that hope is eternal and earthly, but I think we have generations that have been failed, especially in our cities by our education system. And so how do we create a sense of hope where they don't see it from their past? And that's a big part. But along with that is a sense of belief in what's possible. And I would argue that any of the kids that walk through our doors here at Aug Prep are just as capable as my own kids. They're just as capable as kids from our suburbs. And there are far too many adults that see the challenges, which are real, that they step in and through our doors with and don't believe that they can succeed at high levels. And I think the difference in what we do here is we do believe in what's possible. We set the bar high for them, equip them with tools to fly. But that lack of hope is I think one of our biggest challenges because it's mindset change, not just for our kids but for our community. If I get tactical, we've been growing a lot and so we've always got to think about how do we hire great people? We're very intentional. We have a super rigorous process that people don't love going through, but when they're on the team, they love what it creates. Thinking about the growth that we've had in the last two years, we've hired more than 75 new staff each of the last two years. We've had more than 600 new students each of the last two years. That's a big deal. Both hiring enough great people, I would argue even more important is creating, keeping, and protecting the culture that we've worked so hard to build. And so being really intentional about finding, developing, onboarding really great team members and even more, how do we be really intentional as new kids, as new staff come onboard? Having that culture that isn't created by lack of intention, but instead is there from the get-go. And actually it's gotten stronger each of the last couple of years as a result. Jon: Well, two things on that. You certainly will be a case study in the next book that I'm working on, which is Gritty Optimism: Catalyzing Joy in Just Schools. Because I think you're doing this in this powerful way where that optimism you have is grounded in the experience of what you've seen since 2017. You've seen kids become more of who they're created to be, and that becomes this virtuous cycle of improvement where you're not basing it on naive optimism where it's like, "I hope they'll be better or I think they could be better." You know they can be more of who they're created to be because you've seen it over and over again and then that becomes part of the culture. The second part of that I wanted to ask is could you just briefly run through what your interview process is because that scale of hiring is remarkable in schools and trying to maintain culture and even improve culture doing that, that's a tremendous feat. So can you just describe what your interview process is? Abby: Yeah, that could be its own podcast. Jon: I'm sure. Yeah. Abby: And you can ask more. A couple of key pieces are part of it. A few years ago as a senior team, we took time to step back and say, "What are the most important characteristics of any team member at Aug Prep?" Could be a teacher, it could be administrator, could be one of our facilities, team members, security guard. And we identified three key pieces. And for us, the first and foremost is an active and living faith walk with Jesus. The second is growth mindset and coachability. If you're an educator that's been in the work for 30 years, you don't think you have anything to grow and you want to coast, we're not the place to come. There are great places for educators that are there to go, but it's just not the right culture for us. And the third is actually belief and belief in our kids and our community and what's possible. Those three things are built into every step of the process. From phone interview to essays, we ask people to write as part of the process to in-person. In addition to the core capabilities of any role, it's how are we really intentional? And we have a really diverse staff. I mean just even racially and ethnically, about 45% of our staff is diverse and we're working to make sure that that's throughout our organization and everybody is unified in certain places, Jesus being first and foremost and a desire to grow and learn. And so that in and of itself creates a place that staff members want to be and stay. So our goal is every year to have at least 90% of our staff stay. We've been between 85 and 90% for the last several years, 85 and 95% for the last several years. Our best source of new staff is our current team. And so when people want to tell, we just had a team member whose sister and brother-in-law moved across the country from California. They were looking at Ohio and at Aug Prep. And when you have team members that love what they do and where they work every day, it's the best way for us to recruit new staff. And it's been a really big part of how we do what we do. At the end of the day, we try to make sure every decision we make is around kids first. We are not a place that makes adult first decisions, and we recognize that in order to best serve our kids, we have to have a strong and healthy team. So there's a tension and balance that goes there, but I also think it means that we recruit team members with a really high bar for themselves with belief for kids, and that want to be in a place that strives to serve kids well. And that in and of itself creates that culture I talked about. Jon: I've been able to see that. Again, I need to be at Aug Prep when there are kids there because that's when it's fun. Abby: Yeah, you do. Jon: But in the team that you have, we have four of them that are in our master's program at Baylor. So Aug Prep has becomes some kind of a strange pipeline for Milwaukee to Waco Texas. But I see that in your team, they are building other leaders all the time. We always say leaders are always building leaders. And so they're encouraging the next group of people from Aug Prep. And I hope that we always have a nice conduit work. With your growth, you're going to need to continue growing leadership hopefully indefinitely, and you need partners to do that. We want to be that kind of catalytic partner for you where we can connect Aug Prep leaders with other schools because so many times, especially in the Christian school world, there's a lot of navel-gazing about, "These are our problems and nobody else's and nobody understands our context and nobody understands these challenges." And what I've loved about the leaders that you've sent to us at Baylor is they're always looking to get more information and understand other contexts and figure out what they can take back to Aug Prep and then share out what is and isn't working at Aug Prep. And so that is a way to not only build culture, but actually accelerate that culture development. So really encouraged there. So we talked about the challenges, but you already kind of jumped into the opportunities you see, but what would be the thing you're most excited about for the year ahead for Aug Prep? And then we'll jump into a lightning round, but what are you most excited about for the year ahead and the opportunities you see? Abby: I'm most excited about, so this year ahead, we graduate our first group of college graduates. So I'm starting to see, I'll have finished my sixth year at the end of this school year. I'm just getting to see the ripple effects and I already see them. One of our graduates from just this last year is at Marquette. He's going on a service trip over Christmas this fall. He's talking about coming back and talking to our young men and women in chapel. And so just seeing the ripple effect of the leadership that's leaving. And he's actually a young man that would self-identify as lucky he didn't get kicked out in middle school, got in a lot of trouble. We do a lot around restorative practices. I know one of our fellows is doing a lot within the Baylor program around that. And it's so cool to watch our kids go from really struggling with themselves as much as it is with others and often with faith underneath to really flourishing and shining as young adults. And I can't wait to see what happens in the community. So big picture, I'm probably most excited about watching some of our first class of graduates stepping into that next step of the journey. I think sometimes, and Jon, we've got four fellows at Baylor. You didn't ask me to do this, but we're a learning organization. There's a lot of things we're doing well. There's a lot of things we're still learning how to do. We want to share what we're doing, but how do we learn from others? And our fellows are down at Baylor because they're in a place that seeks to do that too. I've watched you and I've watched the Baylor school leadership, the Center for School leadership. It's not about faith or academic excellence, faith or serving the whole child. You all lead with that and that I talked about being really important and you create space for our leaders to learn. And I think I often run into folks that say, "Well, you all are different. We can't do what Aug Prep is doing." I don't actually think we've done anything that's remarkably special or different. What we've done is pulled best practices from a lot of places and continued every year to think about how we get better, who do we need to learn from or what do we need to do differently? And we've been able to get bigger and better at the same time. We haven't arrived. I hope we never do because I think part of the culture of who we are is actually that constant mindset of what do we need to keep doing better to serve our kids and community? Jon: Love that attitude. Thank you. Thank you for that encouragement. And we just want to find more partners like you because they're out there. How do we connect other Aug Preps to this Aug Prep? People with a similar kind of mission and view and where can we learn together? And that's, I think as a Christian R1 University, that's our call is to help connect those pieces. So I'm grateful for the hard work you do or the work that the Lord does through you in the community because that's the evidence that it actually matters. Because we can talk about these things in platitudes all the time and sit down here at a university and say, "Hey, here's what we think people should do." What we need to see is what people are doing and where that's making a difference for kids. So let's jump to the lightning round. So I know you have pulled from a lot of great ideas, so I'm curious if in the last year there's a really good book you might recommend to me and to us that you're like, "This was a super helpful book", whether it's in education or not, just a good book that you've read the last year. Or listened to. It's fine. Audible counts too. Abby: I do listen to a lot of books. I love to read, but I often find myself falling asleep when I sit down or lie down to read a little bit. You know what? I am a big believer in reading a lot of different things and pulling the pieces that apply most to your circumstances. So you talked about Adam Grant. I love reading his books. Anything Patrick Lencioni, I've read multiple times. We've pulled pieces from Jim Collins, Good to Great and Built to Last. And so I would say any of those pieces. We read as a leadership group last year, Fierce Conversations, there's several takes of that, Radical Candor being one of them. But my probably biggest encouragement is be a reader. And for me it's been, those are all more leadership organizational books. When I'm really wrestling with a topic, I try to read the full spectrum of perspectives on it to then figure out where I'm at and finding those books. Just Teaching is one that I did just pick up in the last year, so I hadn't had a chance to see it before then, but it was one that I picked up and I'm not a teacher and so that's not my skill set, but there are pieces to learn and to then share with other people. Jon: Yeah, I love that. And it's really common, Abby, I hope you know that I am typically mentioned Lencioni, Adam Grant, Jim Collins, Jon Eckert. That's kind of the normal group that I'm mentioned. So that's comforting to know that. Abby: You know what actually what ties all of those people together, Jon, is you don't just think in theory. So when you write, you're not just thinking in theory. And I will own that that can be my struggle with higher ed is sometimes just being caught up in the theory. It's all of those leaders who are also authors think about how you take the theory and apply it in practice and how do you break it down in a way that is easy to digest. And so Lencioni writes in fables, Adam Grant tells his stuff in a lot of stories as well. And so that's, at least for me, usually I capture lessons learned by seeing things either I'm struggling with or trying to figure out how to put words into in stories that other people are talking about. Jon: Yeah. Well, and I love all those same authors for the same reason. And then is this Fierce Conversation because this the one by Susan Scott, is that who you? Abby: Yeah. Jon: So I have not read that one. It looks like another one I should read. So thank you for that. So let's start with this. Worst piece of advice you've ever given or received? Abby: Worst piece of advice? Jon: It could be a leadership piece. Abby: I had somebody tell me that I was taking somebody else's spot in business school because I wasn't sure if at some point I'd want some time to stop and be a mom. And so that was probably the worst piece of advice and my encouragement for anyone listening is that I think there's different phases of life. I also think that any education we get can be applied to lots of aspects of what we do. Jon: Yeah, no, that's good. I'm assuming that was because that was your degree at Stanford when you were getting question on that, right? I can't imagine. Abby: Right. And that was an awesome degree, but I actually had a whole conversation. It was someone in a generation that fought so that people like I can make the decisions that are best for me. But I think they fought for the choice, not for the decision themselves. And I appreciate being able to make it myself. Jon: That's well said. That's another podcast that we could do on how those choices get made. And so really grateful for that background you have because I think your curiosity and your ability to synthesize theory and apply it, I mean that comes great degree programs will do that. And obviously Stanford knows something about educating people, so that's good. Then best piece of advice you've ever given or received? Abby: Not to seek perfection, but always to strive to keep getting better. I think we get caught up in trying to be perfect and miss the opportunity to keep getting better. Jon: That's our favorite quote we use with our improvement communities. That your plan is possibly wrong and is definitely incomplete. So that should be empowering. There's places to grow. Then if you could in a word or a phrase, describe what Aug Prep will be in the next year, what would it be? So word or phrase for Aug Prep that would describe it in the next year? Abby: My hope is that it is a light on the hill. How do we be a light for the community, not just the kids in our building, but the whole community outside our building as well? Jon: Love that, beautiful sentiment. Well, Abby, thank you for being with us. Thanks for the work you do at Aug Prep. It's great to have partners like you because you make us all better. Abby: Thanks, Jon. Appreciate it.  

Don't be afraid of fierce conversations today: Tuesday, October 1, 2024Subscribe to get my message delivered daily: https://www.michaelallosso.com/goodmorning.html——————May your morning begin shattering expectations right out of the gate. I hope my message brings a smile to your face. May you gain knowledge, become inspired, or collect a trivial fact that you might use in a contest someday.-------For the past 30 years, I've changed my phone message EVERY SINGLE DAY! It's a daily activity, as automatic as brushing my teeth.​ I actually do 2 unique messages daily: one on my cell phone and one on my landline. The time has come to share them. (Perhaps the time has come to get rid of my landline?

Kristin Caruso is a writer, editor, and researcher. She has a background in public relations and print journalism. Before Kristin joined Gaming Historian (hosted by her husband, Norman Caruso), she was an award-winning columnist and reporter. Kristin has a bachelor's degree in communications from Simmons College. Previously, she co-hosted the “Let's Go to Court” podcast. Currently, Kristin and Norm are co-hosts of An Ole Timey Podcast. Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [00:07:11] Writers often struggle with giving up control of their work to others. [00:09:47] An email was sent asking to join the novel critique group with a memoir, and it was agreed that it was fine. The chapter shared was so gripping that it was hard to believe it was nonfiction. [00:23:40] learned the most about writing and interviewing from Kristin's high school journalism teacher, Susan Massey. [00:25:21] People not from the Midwest often assume that everyone there knows each other, but it's actually a big place. [00:25:35] Kansas City has a small-town feel where it seems like everyone knows everyone. About Kristin Caruso: Kristin Caruso co-hosts An Old Timey Podcast. The show allows Kristin to justify her late-night deep dives into art heists, royal drama and old timey mysteries. She is a writer, a mutt enthusiast, and is only occasionally inappropriate.  Links mentioned in this episode: Kristin Caruso: An Ole Timey Podcast: https://linktr.ee/OldTimeyPodcast https://www.youtube.com/@GamingHistorian https://www.instagram.com/kristinpittscaruso/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

As a Reality existential therapist, Jacqueline Stuckey shares with her patients the "choices" they indeed have to improve their lives but may not realize it. She also helps patients assess how they understand their existence in this life. Jackie's background is in drug and alcohol counseling. Sometimes all you might need is an ear to listen to your most intimate of moments. That's where she comes in.  Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [00:02:46] I wanted to stop (drinking), but I didn't know how because I was surrounded by people who drank and nobody was interested in stopping and I couldn't get advice. [00:05:26] I was in a domestic violence situation. So, I'm a survivor. That was hard to deal with. So, I was in two situations. I married two men who were know violent. And not only that, but they were also addicts. The second husband was an addict, and it kept setting me back. Every time he would use, you know, he would run away from the house. He would steal from the house, steal from me. I was working on my undergraduate at the time. And it's very difficult to go to school when you don't know where your husband is, or if he's dead or alive. [00:08:12] It was God who heard my cry when I was drinking and down. I didn't know how to stop; no earthly measures could help me. So I remember praying one night, uh, actually it was one day for God to take my life because I just couldn't continue on that way. [00:16:25] I wanted to be a counselor. I wanted to give back. And so, because she made the enrollment process so comfortable for me, it seems like God just opened the doors for me. [00:23:10] It hides in the dark and it tells you can't talk to anybody about these things. But you can. And once you start talking about shame, when you expose it, but of course you must have a safe space to do it. Then, as you said, the healing can begin. [00:29:35] People shouldn't be afraid to talk about tough, scary, unpleasant issues. About Jacqueline Stuckey: In her stunning memoir, Restoring the Southpaw: Abused Stalked Restored, Jacqueline Stuckey shares that regardless of a life dominated by parental and partner mental and physical abuse, teen pregnancies, addiction, phobias, and anxiety, she came back from the brink of desperation, renewed her strength, and reclaimed a positive productive life beyond her wildest dreams.  She restored her life. Links mentioned in this episode: Jacqueline Stuckey: Jackie's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7Zafn8i https://www.facebook.com/jackie.m.stuckey ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Katrina Butler is a certified social impact consultant and a restorative justice facilitator. She is also the author of a book written for children of incarcerated parents. Katrina is a resilient woman who transforms life's adversities into opportunities that inspire others. She believes in paying it forward by advocating for second chances, trauma-informed care, alternative sentencing and giving voice to those individuals let down by society. Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [02:30] I was one (incarcerated parent) that was not lucky enough to have regular visits from my children, or even regular phone calls from my children because they had to take care of themselves. When I left, my 18-year-old daughter got custody of my three younger underage children and they were just trying to make it through life the same way I was on the inside. [05:58] (My book) I took it from my lived experience, but it was just put in my heart to make the character a little boy and him losing his father. So it's about the initial shock of a child losing their parent. The mother is upset. He's saying how his house is just so quiet now, void of the father's presence. He doesn't want to play with his friends. And then in talking to one of his close friends, he finds she has a secret too. [09:13] I left them at a very important part of their life. I missed my youngest daughter's graduation and that hurt me. Especially when I heard her during a phone conversation. She says, Mom, I never thought my graduation would be this way… And yeah, they are incarcerated in their own prison as well with dealing with their own emotions trying to figure things out without the parent there. [00:10:32] trauma comes out in bits and pieces here and there as things happen or things are triggered. [00:12:32] I took my very last check and incorporated my business, Different Souls of One Accord. I got the website, the logo, and it's been existing since. And I am a social impact, project consultant company where I collaborate with different nonprofits and I help build programs that focus on things that I believe will be instrumental to the successful re-entry for individuals. I also provide legal services for men on the inside as well. [00:13:26] I use my lived experience to build programs, the infrastructure for programs that I know will communicate and speak the same language and support those coming home. [00:19:54] It's okay to stand up and say, you know what, this doesn't feel good. This doesn't work for me. And you don't have to be ugly or rude about it. About Katrina Butler: Katrina Butler's unwavering commitment to advocacy is deeply rooted in her strong spiritual beliefs. With the support of her network, family and close friends, she continues to uphold and promote her principles with integrity, compassion, and determination. Katrina firmly believes in the power of truth and the importance of acknowledging one's roots. She is known to live by the words, “Never forget where you came from and stand on your truth no matter what.” It is only when we stand on our truth that we can foster personal growth and work toward the betterment of humanity. Links mentioned in this episode: Katrina Butler: https://www.differentsouls1accord.com/ www.sofarsoclose.org So far, So close: Children Coping with the Incarceration of their Loved Ones by Katrina McCutchen Butler ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Bex Gunn considers herself a nomad. She's lived in 8 different states and seems to be able to find herself at home in just about any social circle. Music, tattooing, and poetry are the hobbies she's most passionate about. But her biggest purpose is helping people through the human experience, with love and kindness. Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [02:45] The hardest decision that I ever had to make was leaving my kids behind because I was in active addiction and I had to leave the state because I couldn't stop using. [14:45] Therapy is what helped me. And the reason I think that is because everybody that I know who has a form of addiction has an underlying mental illness that's not being treated. And I think that's, where we're failing as a society is because we're looking at mental illness and addiction as two separate things. [20:38] People who are incarcerated need some sort of advocate for their basic human rights - to be treated like human beings. [00:25:52] They're breeding recidivism just to make money. And, I don't think they're doing it just inside the correctional system. I think it's inside the judicial system too, because every time you take an inmate from El Paso County jail, (yeah, I'm calling them out) - every time they take an inmate from El Paso County Jail over to the courthouse, they get $100. [00:29:50] I mean, honestly, it's like our country has gotten so big and full of itself that we've decided who gets to be human beings and who doesn't. And that's really disappointing. [00:35:30] Accountability is super important, and it took a long time for me to get to that point where I was like, oh, I did this. I'm responsible for that because the only thing I can control, the only emotions and behaviors I can control is me. And so, I need to make sure that I control that because, like you said, if I'm putting out like anger and negative energy and vibrations, that actually attracts those kind of vibrations towards you. [00:40:45] And you're really only living half of a life. You're not unlocked because you're still holding stuff in for yourself and you gotta get rid of that. You gotta shed that part of your life so you can build a new one. I've lived like eight lives in this lifetime. About Bex Gunn Bex Gunn is a unique individual, rich with wisdom from life's lessons. A conversation with her will open your eyes. Here's one of my favorite Bex quotes, “music is what feelings sound like.” Links mentioned in this episode: Bex Gunn: https://www.facebook.com/florasunshine ____________________________________  Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/ 

Great leaders don't just face tough conversations—they invite them. In this episode, we dive into why every leader must anticipate and even create these challenging dialogues. Whether it's addressing mistakes, delivering critical feedback, or handling unexpected issues like contract cancellations or litigation, tough conversations are an inevitable part of leadership. But here's the twist—they're not just obstacles to overcome; they're opportunities to build stronger, more resilient relationships.We explore how different cultures approach conflict and the lessons North American leaders can learn about the power of healthy, open disagreement. You'll hear about the crucial role of style and tone in these conversations—why the way you deliver tough news can either build trust or create friction. It's about balancing honesty with empathy, ensuring that your message is not just heard but also respected.Learn practical strategies to handle tough conversations with confidence and grace. From knowing how to begin and end the discussion, to the importance of listening and managing your mindset—this episode is your guide to transforming tough conversations into constructive, relationship-building moments. Don't miss it.****How you speak is how you lead. Want to study this with other leaders? Take a look at www.speakbydesign.com/join. That's our leadership communication program that includes private, group, and self-paced learning for every learning style. Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Alexa Bigwarfe is a USA Today best-selling author and the founder and CEO of Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to helping authors professionally self-publish and market their books. Her courses and training focus on author platform growth and creative ways to market books, especially for those who know nothing about marketing. She is also the founder and host of the Women in Publishing Summit and owns two publishing houses. In her spare time, she writes RomComs, usually set in Paris, France. Some of our fierce topics today: [09:48] You can't run from it. I mean, trust me, I tried and one of my scenarios was I just kept myself as busy as I didn't realize that I was doing it, but until years of therapy showed me this, but I just kept myself so busy and just adding more and more and more. And, you know, stuffing it all down. [12:58] When the event is super, super traumatic, it's really hard to find gratitude. [16:59] But one of the things that it's ironic, God places people in your life that you just need to know, about a year and a half before she transferred and, became the commander of our organization, her 20 year old was killed in an accident. And, she had also lost a baby at birth. Even though I had left the military by this point in time, we stayed in touch. She was just a beacon of light for me. [00:18:16] I have been very rich when it comes to finding people who have mentored me and helped me through different pieces of this journey, and I'm just, I'm so grateful to them, and so I try to also give that back to other people whenever the opportunity arises. [00:24:05] I chose to not stay stuck where I was. And that was really scary because when you've lost a child, it's very hard to stop grieving because you feel like you're afraid that you may forget them or that you're doing a disservice. I named my first company after her Kat Biggie Press and it's kept her very, very present in everything that I do. About Alexa Bigwarfe: Alexa Bigwarfe is the founder of Kat Biggie Press, Write-Publish-Sell, and the Women In Publishing annual Summit. Over the last decade she's helped thousands of authors through webinars, conferences, coaching, and services. Her team learns from and improves, honing skills as experts in the publishing and book marketing world, with every project they touch. Alexa is passionate about her role as an author advocate. Links mentioned in this episode: Alexa Bigwarfe: https://writepublishsell.com/ https://womeninpublishingsummit.com/ https://katbiggiepress.com/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/ 

In this episode, Michael Thompson discusses his writing path which began at the age of 13. Learn how one teacher's attempt to devalue his doodling led to his creative mentor. I pop into my local Barnes and Noble bookstore several times a month just to feel surrounded by books. When my trip happens to be on a weekend, I often come across local authors signing their books. A few weeks ago, I met Michael Thompson who told me, “Oh, I just sold the last copy of my book.” I congratulated him and discovered that he has quite the writing story to tell and invited him to be on my podcast. I think you'll delight in his journey as an author! Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [02:07] Becoming a full-time author is kind of a scary decision. It's not exactly a traditional job and you wear a lot of hats.  [03:54] I was always creating from a very, very young age, and I was always drawing in class and creating all kinds of different characters. Epic battles were filling the margins of my notebooks. I couldn't help myself. And some of my teachers didn't like that. [04:36] It was at summer school that I met the greatest teacher that I'd ever had, Mr. A. He said, “we're going to make our own comic book”. And that was the first assignment. My mom contacted the principal and had me transferred into his class for the fourth grade. And it was there that I created Chicken Boy, my first ever character. [07:48] I loved reading my stories with my grandfather, and he had a great voice. And I always really enjoyed writing something just so I could hear him read it to me in his voice. [08:57] My grandpa passed away when I was in the middle of college. And the book hadn't come out yet. And I had just kind of a placeholder name for the currency. It was like, you know, kind of like your classic gold doubloon type looking thing. And I just called them pieces and I didn't know what to call them yet, but I wanted something unique. When it came time to do those final polishing up edits. I still needed a name for the currency. And I found a stack of my grandfather's edits and in his handwriting, he had circled that placeholder and I think he meant to write silver or something, but he abbreviated it SIV, S I V. So I named the little treasure pieces Siv. [33:05] I love the research process of these books. I call it the real-world tether. Each story has this root in reality or in real-world legends. So if you happen to search any of the creatures that Winslow sees on his voyages, you'll be, really excited to see it's like a whole bunch of old newspaper articles detailing other people's alleged encounters with those same myths. About Michael Thompson: Michael Thompson is an award-winning author and illustrator from Northern Virginia. He began his career at thirteen with the publication of his action-packed Chicken Boy series. His debut YA portal fantasy novel, World of the Orb, earned international acclaim in the Feathered Quill Book Awards alongside his sea adventure novel, Winslow Hoffner's Incredible Encounters. Michael continues to produce immersive stories across multiple genres while sharing the theme of plunging ordinary characters into extraordinary situations, with emphases on adventure, humor, and heart.  Links: Michael Thompson: If you want to see life as an opportunity, meet Michael! https://www.michaelthompsonbooks.com ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/ 

My guest today is my husband. Christian Dorr. While listeners may find it interesting to hear his perspective on my story, he has a powerful story of his own!  When I got out of prison, I had no intentions of ever getting married again. I was done with men, done with all the whole mess. I was just going to live my own little quiet life and then in walks Christian Dorr. And it became apparent that living a quiet life wasn't in the cards for me. Chris is my biggest fan.  Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today:  [03:08] Every part of my story has always been with one foot out the door. My future was always a confusing arc. There was no way to predict where my next step was going to take me. [12:13] I took some nosedives along the way, got mixed up in drugs and alcohol for several years, and it destroyed a lot of my character and my will to live. It took me a long time, maybe 20 years to recover from just a couple of years of severe drug abuse. [13:23] God stepped in at a point where I was so desperate, 38 cents in my pocket, about ready to die and didn't care if I did. And he changed everything. That story is one that it would take another few episodes of our podcast to explain, but ultimately God healed me nearly overnight. [22:13] I don't remember where I read it somewhere about an old man, he fears no one. He lives his life day to day with his heart on his sleeve, and will say whatever is on his mind, because there's nothing to lose, because when you get to be old, you start realizing that every minute of every day is just, it's all borrowed time. [00:52:36] John Manard was everything I expected. I talked to him on the phone, read his entire courtroom transcript, and had insight from my wife, who was an ex-lover and friend of his. He lived up to all of what I expected. He was charming, handsome, polite, and respectful. I needed him to know and you to know that I'm not afraid of John Manard, your history, or the event and you going on the run together for a 12-day vacation in Tennessee. There's nothing to be afraid of here. About Christian Dorr: Boston-Born and Maine-raised, Christian Dorr worked his dad's commercial blueberry farm until joining the US Navy, which took him to exotic places as well as naval combat in Desert Storm aboard an aircraft carrier in 1991.  After the Navy, Chris worked on a commercial scallop dragger off the coast of Maine.  Chris claims to be the fastest scallop shucker on the East Coast, but substance abuse and a troubled marriage forced changes in Chris' life.  He accepted Christian principles in 1995 and listens to God's direction to this day. As a field service engineer for Intel, Chris traveled to Japan, Korea, Ireland, Israel and many more. Today, Chris supports and shares Toby's vision to end wrongful and indiscriminate imprisonment imposed by an archaic law known as Felony Murder. Links mentioned in this episode: Christian Dorr: http://christiandorr.com/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Welcome to the Season 7 opener of "Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads" with your hosts, G-Rex and Dirty Skittles! We're kicking off this season with an inspiring episode featuring the incredible Regent Cornell, CEO & Owner of Cornell Consulting. Regent brings 33 years of talent development, leadership, and organizational growth expertise. Known for empowering leaders, teams, and individuals through strategic conversations, Regent is a force in professional coaching and facilitation. In this episode, we explore the transformative power of fierce conversations. Regent shares his journey and the impact meaningful, authentic dialogues have on our personal and professional lives. Drawing insights from Susan Scott's "Fierce Conversations," Regent emphasizes the importance of diving deep, being vulnerable, and the profound change that can come from having the conversations we often avoid. Regent Cornell's Credentials: HBDI Level III Master Facilitator (Herrmann International) Professional Coaching Certification (ICF-PCC) from the University of Miami Certifications in Fierce Conversations, Myers-Briggs, DiSC, Prosci Change Management, and Advanced Consulting Contact Info: LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regent-cornell-496b475?trk=contact-info Book Recommendation:  Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time By Susan Scott Regent's wisdom shines throughout this engaging episode as he discusses how strategic conversations can redefine relationships and organizational culture. From personal anecdotes to professional advice, Regent's stories and insights will inspire you to tackle those tough conversations in your life. Call to Action: If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, don't hesitate to reach out to the 988 crisis hotline. You can call, text, or chat with a counselor ready to listen and help. Your mental health matters and there are resources available to support you. Let's continue to break the stigma and normalize seeking help. Remember, it's OK not to be OK—make sure you're talking to someone. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/ Find A Helpline: https://findahelpline.com/ Connect with G-Rex and Dirty Skittles: Official Website: Learn more at Goes On In Our Heads:  https://www.goesoninourheads.net Facebook: Stay updated and engage with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shltthatgoesoninourheads Instagram: Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grex_and_dirtyskittles/ Participate & Support: Newsletter: Join us for exciting content, exclusive giveaways, and regular updates here: https://sh-t-that-goes-on-in-our-heads.ck.page/profile Merchandise: Support us and flaunt our unique merchandise from Customized Girl: https://www.customizedgirl.com/s/Sh1tthatgoesoninourheads Donate: If you love our content, consider supporting us here: https://donate.stripe.com/8wM4hy4js24y9b26oo Engagement & Advertising Opportunities: Advertise: Reach our engaged community by promoting your products here:  https://www.passionfroot.me/goesoninourheads Acknowledgments: Audio Editing: By NJz Audio for top-notch sound quality. Subscribe, Rate, and Review! Remember to subscribe to our podcast for more inspiring stories and valuable insights. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us bring you more relevant content. If you're listening elsewhere besides Apple Podcasts and want to leave a review, please visit our website:  https://goesoninourheads.net/add-your-podcast-reviews. Your feedback is important to us. Join us as we dive into the art of fierce conversations and discover the healing power of words with Regent Cornell. Let's make this season opener unforgettable! #FierceConversations #MentalHealth #Leadership #Podcast #Season7Opener #Empowerment #HealingThroughWords #StrategicConversations #TalentDevelopment #PersonalGrowth #OrganizationalGrowth #GoesOnInOurHeads #MentalHealthPodcast #STGOIOH #Grex #DirtySkittles #GrexandDirtySkittles

William, my oldest son is 33 years old. He's autistic, blind, and non-verbal. I decided to do a marathon and when I told William, he wanted to participate. My daughter joined in and it became a family affair. We had to push William in a wheelchair because he's blind and it would be too difficult to lead him. Most of the race seemed to be uphill. But we finished! Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [04:25] It was as if God had said “I'm going to send you some earth angels to come alongside you”. There were at least eight to twelve people who helped us up those hills. Pushed William up the hill. And one woman's name was Grace and she stayed with us the whole race. [06:24] My daughter and a few of the people that she had met, cause she's a socialite. So she met plenty of people going up that Hill. And she sent help my way, “if you see a woman in a yellow sweatshirt, that's my mom.” [08:05] And let me tell you something that was the best experience of that entire walk with all these different people. There was no competition because you got to understand that when you're doing a race, you're also getting timed. So everyone forgot about their time and helped us. I could do nothing but thank the Lord and just realize how much he is in my life. [00:11:35] Discovering at 18 months old that William was autistic took me by surprise, and it took my husband by surprise. And, um, the one thing I really loved about our, our marriage and he's passed away. He just was a little cutie. And they said, you know, he's nonverbal. He's autistic. And I thought, okay. All right. Well, let's just go from here. And so we did all the things that every, uh, parent does when they find out they have a special needs child. But William's the one that led me. He, he really, he's the one that really showed me what he was willing to do and what he was not willing to do. [00:14:40] Don't feel sorry for me. I think you have to look at how someone responds. I got a loving son. About Karen Mitchell Grant: Karen Grant is a Life Empowerment Coach, with Master' Degrees in Conflict Management and Business Administration. After retiring from her management position as a Registered Nurse Karen began pursuing her passion, working with women. Nicknamed the Encourager that is what you will often find her doing. Karen loves to encourage women to know who they are and what they are capable of becoming. Karen believes in sharing her faith with others. Karen enjoys walking and training for 5K and 10K races with her two adult children. In 2024 she plans on running her first half-marathon. Links mentioned in this episode: Karen Mitchell Grant: https://www.instagram.com/coaching_change_with_karen/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/  

Trigger warning/disclaimer: This episode contains discussions about child abuse, divorce, and personal trauma, including personal experiences and journeys. The content may be emotionally intense and could be triggering for some individuals. If you find these discussions distressing, it may be advisable to skip this episode or listen with caution. Remember to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. Bathsheba Tolbert encourages women through inspiration, motivation and in building a sisterhood community! Born the year before the major earthquake in California her dad said, “you should have told us you were coming. You were shaking everything up. You've been shaking everything up ever since.” Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [00:05:03] Step back out of the emotion of it, of the devastation and say, how can I grow from this? Because I don't want to be bitter. I don't want to destroy me. I don't want to be the victim in this, even though in a sense I, we were, but how can I grow from it? [00:05:32] I believe vulnerability is a growing block. It's a block that you need in your life in order to step into who you are. You can't really become Bathsheba, Toby. You can't become that person unless you allow yourself to see where you're at, how that affected you, and be able to step into your next step of purpose. [00:08:11] The things, the bad, horrible catastrophes in our lives, are here to help others. I mean, that's the only way I can be and, and see that because if I don't see it that way, the things that happen, I'm like, I would be the most. dreadful, bitter person, you know, you wouldn't even want to look at me cause it's just not worth all of that. I think it makes us grow into the beautiful people that we are. Scarred, flawed. [00:11:22] I started journaling. I started writing them. What am I feeling? Why am I feeling it really delving in? What was that trigger for me? And the more I wrote, then I began to speak it, Oh, okay, this is why I am behaving this way, because. All of these other things, I became more aware and it's scary. Honestly, that first time of writing down those thoughts, I cried every single night. [00:26:43] Before I tell you who's Bathsheba, I'll say this. I was born the year right before the major earthquake in California. And a month later I was born and my dad said, you should have told us you were coming. You were shaking everything up. You've been shaking everything up ever since. About Bathesheba Tolbert: Many people have been through hard times in life, and each one is an opportunity for growth and transformation. Not only can we become stronger through hard times, but our tough experiences can help us find ways to encourage those around us. Bathsheba Tolbert is passionate about helping people heal and grow through vulnerability. She has her own story of overcoming adversity and helping countless others to embrace their broken sides and find strength in their vulnerability. Bathsheba is also a musician, singer, and mental health advocate with an extensive following who started singing professionally on national television at 21. Links mentioned in this episode: Bathesheba Tolbert: https://linktr.ee/TheRealBathSheba ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/  

Trigger warning/disclaimer: This episode contains discussions about death, including personal experiences and journeys. The content may be emotionally intense and could be triggering for some individuals. If you find these discussions distressing, it may be advisable to skip this episode or listen with caution. Remember to prioritize your mental and emotional well-being. “And so she (our daughter Anna who was nearly her college graduation) signed off her Facebook that morning with four words, “getting near the end.” That evening there was a knock on the door and two men dressed in black were standing there. It was the coroner and a deputy sheriff. That was their uniform. I didn't know who they were. I thought they were police. I thought they were fundraising…” -       Cathy Harvey, creator of “from Cathy's Heart”, memoir author, and today's guest on Fierce Conversation with Toby.  Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews!  Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/  Some of our fierce topics today:  [11:32] Your daughter was riding her bike on Highway 45 and was hit by a car and killed. [14:13] And I thought about the girls. They got on the bus this morning with a mom and they got off without one. [20:31] We forgive him. [23:48] But then we had the funeral, and then the next day, it's like the dust settles. Everybody goes home, and it's quiet, and the company went home, and Stephen's in the basement working on the computer, and I heard that still small voice say, call the mom. Call her right now and tell her it's okay to have a happy mother's day. [23:48] But then we had the funeral, and then the next day,it's like the dust settles. Everybody goes home, and it's quiet, and the company went home, and Stephen's in the basement working on the computer, and I heard that still small voice say, call the mom. Call her right now and tell her it's okay to have a happy mother's day. [00:36:05] We just had so much compassion for them because the Saturday after Anna was killed, my husband and I had a conversation and we concluded that they had the harder burden to bear. Their son killed a single mom of two little girls. [00:47:37] And (the judge) said, “Your attorneys have explained to me the meeting and the letters you wrote. And in all my years on the bench, I have never heard of forgiveness. You have restored my enthusiasm for my job.” About Cathy Harvey: Cathy Harvey's adult daughter Anna was riding her bike home from college. Only 2 miles from home, she was on gravel biking against traffic, when a driver got distracted and hit her almost head on. Anna's daughters were 7 and 10 years old. It was Anna's birthday. She was 4 classes away from finishing her college degree. Her face went through the passenger side windshield. Some accounts say she died instantly, another said 15 minutes. A woman stopped and held her hand while she died. A truck driver stopped and said he was a first responder, and told the woman could leave if she liked, he'd take over. He warned her this would be hard. The woman stayed. Anna's family did not retaliate with hatred or revenge. They forgave the driver and even became friends with the driver's entire family, sharing vacations and holidays together. At the time this episode is released, it will be 11 years since the accident. Cathy journaled most of the journey. Together, Cathy and the driver's mother have been speaking about this experience to groups all over the country. Cathy is working on a memoir. Cathy's website is titled    from Cathy's Heart purpose. forgiveness. friendship. hope. Links mentioned in this episode: Cathy Harvey: https://cathyharveypurpose.life/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/  

"We are not defined by our mistake... We are defined by our character."  - Toby Dorr, bestselling author, host of Fierce Conversations with Toby, and today's guest on The Storytellers Porch Welcome to The Storytellers Porch! Join Jill as Toby recounts her experiences of resilience, reinvention, and redemption. Through a poignant narrative, Toby reveals how a chance encounter with a young man experiencing homelessness sparked a profound shift in her perspective, inspiring her to dedicate her life to helping others. From her upbringing in a family that valued self-reliance to her unexpected involvement in a criminal act, Toby opens up about the transformative power of empathy and second chances, emphasizing the transformative power of self-reflection and community support. Links: Toby Dorr: Toby's book and audiobook: https://linktr.ee/tobydorrbooks Fierce Conversations with Toby: https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations Website: https://tobydorr.com/ Connect with The Storytellers Porch: https://thestorytellersporch.com/ The Storytellers Porch on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellersporch The Storytellers Porch on Instagram, @thestorytellersporch, https://www.instagram.com/thestorytellersporch/ Thank you joining us on The Storyteller's Porch this week! Make sure you subscribe and follow us on your favorite podcasting platform so you don't miss a single story with us on the Porch. And we'd be honored if you give us a 5-star rating and share this with your family and friends if you enjoyed this episode! If you have a story to tell we want to hear and help you share it. These stories are what bring us hope in difficult times. Get in touch with Jill at https://thestorytellersporch.com/apply/ or send us an email at askjilldavis@gmail.com. Always drink responsibly, don't drink and drive.

The symbol of the artichoke has great meaning for Judy in her teaching and writing. As she works with families, she sees that frequently only the outer edges are exposed, which can be prickly and sometimes bitter to the taste. But, as you expose the artichoke - and people - to warmth, caring, and time, gradually the leaves begin to open and expose the real treasure–the heart. Judy has written more than 20 books, and hundreds of articles and speaks internationally on family, parenting, and relationship issues, including communication, encouragement, and end-of-life. Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [05:30] My main passion has always been gathering stories. One of the things we found with the Montana Storykeepers is that when we allowed someone to tell their story, an end-of-life story, their pain went down. Their transition was so much easier, and I do think that people don't fear death, they fear being forgotten. [07:37] My book is not how to write a memoir, but why you should and helping you narrow down into that particular pearl on a strand pearls. So you don't get overwhelmed by the whole necklace. [11:34] So my favorite color is red, and it's very powerful and a little story … When my mom was in a hospice unit, assisted living, I would wear bright red lipstick and I would always kiss her on her forehead. So, every CNA, every doctor, every cleaner that came in thought, “Oh, she is well loved. Somebody's in here. I better take good care of her.” [15:43] I was walking to the mailbox with my 15-year-old, he's now 40. And he started telling me something and I said, “Andy, stop. I have listened to problems all day long. Go for a walk”. And he touched my arm, which in our family is a signal. ‘This is important to me'. He said, “Who do you want me to tell my problems to?” And I went in the next day and quit. About Judy Helm Wright: Judy is a life educator, family coach, and keynote speaker who has written more than 20 books, hundreds of articles and speaks internationally on family, parenting and relationship issues, including communication, encouragement, and end of life. She also focuses on personal issues like anxiety, depression, confidence, and self-esteem and works with many small and large organizations–from Head Start to child care resource centers. Judy is a certified Pet Grief Coach who takes pride in her work with Animal Human Connection. She has written extensively on the topic of grieving and offers guidance, counseling, and communal sharing for many grief clients. Artichoke Press is not Judy's only self-starter project. Judy has owned and managed numerous small businesses. She and her husband Dwain, alongside their six children and foster kids, worked family businesses in order to teach them Responsibility, Respect & Resiliency. Links mentioned in this episode: Judy Helm Wright: https://artichokepress.com/ http://memoirlifestorywriting.com/ Judy's Book: https://gracepointpublishing.com/bookstore/books-cards/write-your-family-story-leaving-a-living-legacy/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

“It isn't that I had it all figured out, it's that I just focused on the next right step.”  - Charli Hoffman, CEO of Time Hackers Unite, Founder of Sparkle Warriors Book Club, and today's guest on Fierce Conversations with Toby Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [04:58] At 13, I came home from school one day and my mom had put all of my stuff in garbage bags on the porch and locked the house and told me I didn't live there anymore. [06:39] Books were my salvation. [07:49] I was in so many unsafe situations, but I could make someone laugh. [10:11] There's great value in putting yourself in situations where you're not the smartest person in the room. [20:09] It isn't that I had it all figured out, it's that I just focused on the next right step, just the next right step… About Charli Hoffman: “I'm a Clarity Coach & Meditation Teacher as well as a survivor of sex trafficking, homelessness, child abuse, and domestic violence. I'm also an adoptee and suicide survivor living with cPTSD, anxiety, chronic illness & ADHD. I teach people about designing a life where they can thrive no matter their trauma, capacity, and background.” Charli (they/them) is a non-binary queer Clarity Coach, Meditation Teacher, Speaker and International Book Club Host. They are the CEO of Time Hackers Unite, a community of humans committed to exploring their relationships with our only nonrenewable resource: TIME, and the Founder of Sparkle Warriors Book Club which supports over 500 humans on their personal growth journeys. They have reached over 250,000 people on TikTok teaching tips to navigate humanity while healing from chronic stress and trauma. They have an intuitive gift for asking questions; value psychological safety and personal integrity; and help ambitious humans to get clear and confident in their voice & direction so they can bring their dreams to life. Charli's goal is to help to eradicate hunger & homelessness through the education and empowerment of their fellow humans and in the creation of a life skills university. Links mentioned in this episode: Charli Hoffman: https://www.facebook.com/timehackersunite ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Discover the silver lining within workplace conflicts and transform these moments into stepping stones for growth and team cohesion. As the People Gardener, I, Rhonda Delaney, guide you through the final chapter of our series dedicated to empowering small business leaders like yourself. We dissect not only the art of conflict resolution but also the critical role of leading by example. By embracing discord as a catalyst for insight, and with recommendations such as "Crucial Conversations" and "Fierce Conversations" in your leadership library, you're poised to navigate these challenges with confidence. Learn how your actions can echo through your organization, setting the tone for values and culture, and why consistency in word and deed is your strongest tool in cultivating a thriving workplace garden.Feeling the itch to actively step up your leadership game? Join me on a transformative 25-day journey with the People Gardener Collective app, where each day blooms with a new focus to enrich your leadership skills. This challenge, '25 ways to be interested,' is your invitation to deepen your connection with your team and refine your approach. I'm eager to hear your stories of growth and breakthroughs, so don't hesitate to share your progress. Whether it's a review, a tweet, or an email, your experiences are the seeds of our collective success. Together, let's nurture our leadership capabilities and watch our business landscapes flourish.

“And the point is, you can do it. You have more strength than you think you do. You can go through these tough situations. You move through that adversity, and you move through those struggles. And you keep going.”        Susan J. Godwin, fervent educator, writer, freelance artist, and today's guest on Fierce Conversations with Toby Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today:  [03:28] It shouldn't be called breaking up, because that implies a quick break. It's more like a taffy pull. [04:50] I discovered a female court of writers in the late 17th century. [09:31] Crazy David was my boyfriend who faked his own death and then showed up at my house in the middle of the night a couple weeks later.  [13:22] I was cocktail waitressing in LA at the world-famous Palomino Club and I waited on Manuel (designer to the stars) and we fell in love and got married and had a baby. [17:19] But it felt if I didn't leave him I would get cancer and die – it was such a toxic unhealthy moment. Susan Godwin is a fervent educator, writer, and freelance artist whose world has always been steeped in books, from Harold and the Purple Crayon; she couldn't resist drawing on her bedroom wall, no matter how many reprimands; to her first job as a library book mender in her Shaker Heights High School basement to teaching English at the prestigious University School of Nashville. A former Oxford scholar, Godwin has received writing awards from the University of Michigan, Middle Tennessee State University, and Bread Loaf School of English. Though writing is her true passion, she is also a visual artist working primarily in oils and pastels. Her home is outside of Nashville, in Dickson, TN, on the banks of a winding Tennessee river, in a hayloft renovated by her sweet, sexy husband, Tony; with help from their rotty, Roady!  Links mentioned in this episode: Susan J. Godwin: https://susanjgodwin.com ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

“And the point is, you can do it. You have more strength than you think you do. You can go through these tough situations. You move through that adversity, and you move through those struggles. And you keep going.” -       Pat Black-Gould, Ph.D., clinical psychologist award-winning children's book author, fiction author, playwright, and today's guest on Fierce Conversations with Toby Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [09:19] The Paperclip project, is a teacher's desire to show her students just how big a number is. [11:43] Turning a children's book into a ballet performance… [13:04] Creating a staged production with a dramatic reading of the book, an artistic collage, music and dance. [14:42] Pat discusses her work as a prison psychologist and discusses the problems faced by those who never had a mentor figure to look up to.  About Pat Black-Gould, Ph.d: Pat Black-Gould, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and an award-winning children's book author, fiction author, and playwright. Her children's book The Crystal Beads, Lalka's Journey, tells the story of a hidden child of the Holocaust. The book is the recipient of the Moonbeam Children's Book Award, the Northern Lights Book Award, and the Vinnie Ream Award. Pat is currently turning her book into a stage performance featuring dance and music composed specifically for her work. Pat and co-author Steve Hardiman will publish their first novel in 2024. All The Broken Angels is a coming-of-age story set during the Vietnam War era. As a psychologist, Pat has worked on an inpatient Deaf unit and, along with co-author Dr. Neil Glickman, published in the field of mental health and Cultural Deafness.   Pat has also worked as a neuropsychologist and a forensic psychologist in an inpatient forensic unit and at a men's state correctional prison, working primarily with maximum security level inmates. In addition, Pat worked for the Veteran's Administration with a special focus on Vietnam Veterans. She was also the coordinator for the LGBTQ+ veteran population.  In her early career, Pat was a director and playwright in professional theater and ran a summer stock theater company and a murder mystery theater company.  Links mentioned in this episode: Pat Black-Gould: https://www.patblackgould.com/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Step into a world of authenticity and personal growth with Seychelle Van Poole as she shares invaluable wisdom on navigating her life and business. In this captivating Master Series episode, we uncover the essence of self-discovery, resilience, and the power of relationships.

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ “The women of Framingham (Prison) sought a way out and their struggles gave them dignity. I could hear their voices speaking out of the darkness.”  - Jean Trounstine, author, activist, professor emerita at Middlesex Community College in Lowell, Massachusetts, and today's guest on Fierce Conversations with Toby Some of our fierce topics today: [02:57] I began working with people in prison and, it changed me, it turned me into a prison activist, and it turned me into a writer. [04:50] If my students tackled Shakespeare, a writer they thought beyond reach, they would also be learning to take on what was most difficult in life. [30:33] My new book is called Mother Love and it's a book of short stories about ten different women whose child killed someone. [38:35] Poetry comes to you when you need to say something that comes so deep from the heart that you can't say it unless you do it in a poem.  More about Jean Trounstine and her work: Jean Trounstine I prefer to talk about how I became an activist, working in a prison, writing books to change things.  I have written 6 and write currently as well for the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism. Shakespeare Behind Bars I believed that if my students tackled Shakespeare, a writer they thought beyond reach, they would also be learning to take on what was most difficult in life. The women yearned for change and growth. Eventually the program took on a philosophy: art has the power to redeem lives. I came to realize that most women in prison are not dangerous. What characterizes them more than anything else is their heartache. Instead of frightening me they seemed lost, with tragic lives. I knew nothing of the fellowship that exists in prison. Women inmates seek relationships, thrive on it. It is this prison community that sustains women who do time. It is this community that taught me to value the prisoner's lives, to like and respect them, and to understand that they are more than news stories tucked away on a back page in our local papers. While it is true that prison is a repressive environment, the one who offers hope in the classroom has the potential to effect change. The women of Framingham sought a way out, and their struggles gave them dignity. I could hear their voices… speaking out of the darkness. Boy With a Knife The United States was a county that set controversial boundaries where childhood ended and adulthood began in terms of criminal responsibility. Until 2005, the US was the only nation that still sanctioned the death penalty for youth. These boys and girls, barely having earned their driver's license, too young to vote, too young to legally buy alcohol or cigarettes, are locked away with adult men and women. This in spite of the fact that 90 percent of juveniles, even those convicted of murder, grow out of criminal behavior as they age. Putting young people in state prisons essentially silences them. Sending juveniles to adult prisons doesn't make us safer. The international standard for incarceration of juveniles for the most serious crimes is ten or fifteen years prior to parole eligibility. Links mentioned in this episode: Jean Trounstine: https://www.concordfreepress.com/request-a-book-motherlove https://www.jeantrounstine.com/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/ 

Michele Webb has over 27 years of experience in education to include: teaching, administration and division-wide leadership experience. Having a business and marketing background, Michele has extensive experience in various industries including athletics, private education and K-12 public education spanning across four large school divisions. She has multiple credentials in facilitating workshops, keynote presentations, and coaching individuals to maximize their purpose. Her certifications include Maxwell presenter/coach; Gallup Strengths coach; Fierce Conversations and Covey facilitator. Michele has a passion to support individuals maximize their full potential. She has pioneered school and divisionwide initiatives that have resulted in sustained impact.  Currently, Michele leads the leadership development program in Prince William County Public Schools. She continues to be an advocate to educate our children in order to make a difference in our society. She strives to develop leadership by instilling life skills, resiliency and how to be goal-driven and reflective.  Overall, Michele strives to inspire individuals to realize and achieve their ultimate purpose. In this episode, we discuss: Michele's journey from business and marketing into the classroom and what has led her to leadership development work Her insightful thoughts about keeping current in leadership topics and what it takes to lead today, And her dynamic upbringing helped inform her purposed leadership beyond the scope of her leadership titles.  Connect with Michele: Michele on Twitter Make a Difference Network–Book Michele and her team! Connect with Sarah Johnson: Sarah's Website Sarah on Twitter Sarah on IG Sarah on LinkedIn Sarah on Facebook In AWE Podcast Subscribe to Sarah's Podcast The ranking of this show is 100% tied to subscriptions and reviews. You can help amplify more women and reach more who need their messages by subscribing to the show and leaving an honest rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. Need a high-energy, authentic presenter for your organization? Contact Sarah Johnson for presentations on Going Beyond Balance, Leadership Foundations, Affirming Purpose, and many more. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/inawepodcast/message

“For eight years, I was ashamed of my story. I learned that my story is freeing. Other people need to know that in telling their own story you can take your power back. And it takes away the power of those who are holding your story against you. Don't be the person others believe you should be just because you're a felon.  I am enough. And so are you.” -        Tanaine Jenkins, best-selling author, TedX Speaker, Director of The Florida Safety Coalition, and today's guest on Fierce Conversations with Toby  Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Some of our fierce topics today: [03:49] Sentences don't end when you get out of prison… [08:43] I believed what society said about me. But when you change your mindset, everything changes. [10:59] A person that fails to plan, plans to fail. [13:52] The children of incarcerated parents need just as much help as their parents do. [18:01] I help others through the process so they never have to feel like they are not enough. About Tanaine Jenkins: After giving 10 years of her life to the Florida Department of Corrections, Tanaine Jenkins has dedicated her voice to shining a light on the Second Sentence that Returning Citizens face once they are released from confinement. Tanaine is the best-selling author of From Prison to President: 7 Ways to Succeed in Your Second Chance, the President of Everything I Am LLC, the CEO of The Loc'd Line, a member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Policy Council, and a 2022 TEDx Jacksonville speaker. She has also been featured in Forbes, on the CW Channel and PBS. Through her company, Everything I Am, Tanaine has helped hundreds of returning citizens and justice involved individuals find their 'Why' and learn the power of self-forgiveness. Links mentioned in this episode: Tanaine Jenkins: https://www.tanainejenkins.com/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/  

“I feel like it's gotten to the point where we're so scared of crossing a boundary that we just say nothing.” -        Hannah Rumsey, developmental editor & writing coach for Sara Connell Coaching, Inc., creator and host of the podcast “Friends Missing Friends”, and today's guest on Fierce Conversations with Toby. Find the video interview here! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Hannah Rumsey talks with those who have experienced the death of friends, grief experts, and more, to normalize the complex grief of losing a friend in a world that often doesn't understand. “I lost a dear friend several years ago. Now, my goal is to create a loving community of people who know what it's like to grieve a friend. It's a specific, unique type of loss, and I think it's important that we come together and talk about it. If you're grieving or missing a friend, I'm here for you. I understand.” About Hannah Rumsey: Hannah studied Creative Writing at VCU and Northwestern University and has a Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington. In her spare time, she loves podcasting, watching movies (and complaining about how the book was better), filmmaking, and all things comedy. She lives in Chicago, IL.  Some of our fierce topics today: [05:52] Hannah's podcast is about the beautiful relationship between friends. [09:04 ]Learn how her friend composed her podcast theme song. [13:59] None of us can avoid death. It's just beautiful that you provide an outlet for such a difficult and ignored topic. Nobody wants to talk about death, but when I listen to your podcast, I hear beautiful stories that inspire me. Links mentioned in this episode: Hannah Rumsey https://www.friendsmissingfriends.com/ https://www.hannahrumsey.com/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/ 

Andrew's journey began with a simple “yes” to an opportunity to apprentice at a salon! He had no idea that he was about to embark on an epic adventure. Over the past 24 years, he's immersed himself as a full-time hairdresser, salon owner, artistic director, education director, photographer, editorial stylist, facilitator, and coach. Inspired by mentors, his early career focus on teaching and coaching evolved into shaping future leaders. Serving as the Artistic Director for Paul Mitchell Schools and Education Director for Sam Villa, Andrew aimed to share the invaluable gifts he'd received with a broader audience. As the founder of The Journeyist, Andrew, a certified mBit coach/trainer and Oxygen Advantage Advanced Breathwork facilitator, draws on his education from Soul Salt Academy, Fierce Conversations, and Ultimate Coach University. He supports individuals in personal, spiritual, and professional growth through intuition, compassion, and creativity. Andrew believes that our journeys are our best teachers, and he infuses elements of motorcycle trips, outdoor adventures, yoga, meditation, music, and Aikido into every aspect of his life and work. His hope is to share his training and experience to support others on their joyful and curious paths. andrew.carruthers www.thejourneyist.life

Psychological safety is a term we often hear about in the workplace: it's about a safe place for ideas, creativity, and how mistakes are handled. Today, Rick and Lauren discuss how these same ideas can apply to our relationships, and our walk with God. Rick references an article by Amy Gallo. Rick references the book Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott.Email Rick at rickdunn61@gmail.com or find him on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Email Lauren at laurengmorgan@gmail.com or find her on Instagram.

Head to https://www.youtube.com/@fierceconversationswithtoby to find all video interviews! Transcripts available at https://tobydorr.com/podcast-schedule/ Natasha Dasher is on a life mission to help Returning Citizens realize their true potential. She is an appointed Commissioner for Returning Citizens and Re-Entry Affairs and the co-chair of the DC Democratic Caucus for Returning Citizens. Some of our fierce topics today: [7:38] Natasha started the ButterFly village to help children deal with social media and the stigma of having an incarcerated parent whose case is in the news. [14:07] Choosing not to be a victim by taking ownership of your poor decisions. [19:14] The power of community. [27:42] The importance of a re-entry plan begins the first day you're incarcerated. [43:31] The freedom of owning the remote. Links mentioned in this episode: MORCA (Mayor's Office on Returning Citizen Affairs) https://communityaffairs.dc.gov/morca The Butterfly Village https://thebflyvillage.com/ ____________________________________ Toby Dorr: Books and Audiobook Website   Patreon YouTube Instagram Facebook Or head to https://linktr.ee/fierceconversations for all things Fierce Conversations with Toby. Credits: Created by Toby Dorr. Produced by Number Three Productions, a division of GracePoint Publishing. Theme song: Lisa Plasse: Composer, arranger, and flutist Caroline Parody: Piano Tony Ventura: Bass For more information on these fabulous musicians, please go to https://tobydorr.com/theme-song/

Sales is fundamentally an extended conversation with prospects, suppliers, providers, clients, customers, and colleagues. What gets talked about, how it gets talked about, and who is invited to the conversation will determine what will happen or won't. If you want to have better conversation with yourself and others, stay tuned as Bill, and I welcome our guest Susan Scott author of Fierce Conversations & Fierce Leadership to episode 594 of the Winning at Selling Podcast.

“‘The conversation is the relationship.' Is a quote I come back to often from the book Fierce Conversations from Susan Scott. What this means to me… is that the quality of our relationships depend on the quality of our conversations, which of course then directly impacts the quality of our work together as a team.” - Winnie da SilvaIn this episode, Winnie and Peter explore the concept of high-quality conversations and their importance within teams. They discuss the significant impact of conversation quality on relationships and team effectiveness, emphasizing that it is critical to all other building blocks in Peter's methodology.Episode Highlights:"The Conversation is the Relationship"Winnie shares this quote from the book "Fierce Conversations" that underscores the idea that the quality of relationships depends on the quality of conversations. This, in turn, directly affects the quality of teamwork.Survey on Conversation DynamicsUnequal participation, lack of candor, and poor understanding of others' reasoning are common dynamics in meetings and discussions, and they stress that these are problematic.Business Case for High-Quality ConversationsPeter encourages the audience to consider the costs associated with low-quality conversations.Winnie and Peter assert that it's not enough to bring people together for work; it's essential to ensure the conversations are of high quality, with broad participation, candor, and the sharing of views and reasoning.How to Work with Teams on High-Quality Conversations Winnie explains that working on high-quality conversations is a relatively straightforward process.They emphasize creating a climate for conversations where people feel psychologically safe to speak up and engage with others in open discussions.The aspiration is to achieve broad participation, candor, and mutual understanding within team conversations.Three Steps to Implement High-Quality ConversationsDescribe the attributes of high-quality conversations, why they matter, and how they look.Identify barriers to these attributes, which can reveal hidden team dynamics.Encourage practice and the use of language and behavioral best practices to increase conversation quality.Best Practices for High-Quality ConversationsWinnie introduces six best practices that fall under three primary topics: Participation, Candor, and Understanding of Reasoning. For each practice, there are both "self" and "other" components to encourage improvement in conversations.ParticipationThe objective is NOT that everyone speaks for the same duration.The objective is to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to speak, and on important topics and decisions, everyone has been heard. CandorWinnie and Peter discuss the importance of managing self by speaking candidly and pushing one's comfort zone on this.They explain that, when interacting with others, one can inquire about what others are thinking to encourage candid dialogue.Understanding of ReasoningPeter stresses the importance of sharing reasoning when stating opinions.In interactions with others, he encourages asking questions about the reasoning behind others' opinions.Understanding of ReasoningPeter stresses the importance of sharing reasoning when stating opinions.In interactions with others, he encourages asking questions about the reasoning behind others' opinions.Implementing Best PracticesWinnie advises keeping these six best practices visible during meetings and on team agendas.The practices can serve as reminders for the team to work on their conversation quality.Challenges in Implementing High-Quality ConversationPeter discusses the relative ease or difficulty of implementing changes in participation, candor, and understanding of reasoning within a team.He emphasizes that increasing candor is the most challenging, as it often requires a shift from historical norms of not expressing true thoughts.Benefits of High-Quality ConversationsWinnie and Peter emphasize the significance of high-quality conversations in team effectiveness and describe the growing confidence and sense of accomplishment that teams experience when improving their conversations.ResourcesWinnie da Silva on LinkedIn Get the whole season and the companion guide at Winniedasilva.comFierce Conversations by Susan Scott

Hello, and welcome to Mama Says Namaste! I'm Ashley Logsdon, your co-host and the founder of this podcast. Today, Nathan and I are diving deep into the topic of gender roles and relationships at home. In this episode, we open up about our own experiences and how our roles within our relationship have evolved over time. We share our initial expectations of traditional roles, how they shifted, and the valuable lessons we've learned along the way. We also discuss the importance of trust, having fierce conversations, and setting a clear family vision. Here's the twist - our roles and dynamics may not be what you would expect! We'll reveal how our family went through a major transformation and how it changed everything, from who became the primary breadwinner to who took on household responsibilities. Through all of this, we've come to understand that relationships are not about rigid roles, but rather about finding ways to blend our strengths and passions to create a balanced and happy home. If you're curious to learn more about shifting gender roles and how they can positively impact your relationships, then this episode is for you. So join us as we navigate the sometimes unpredictable journey of family dynamics and find clarity amidst the chaos. Mama says namaste!

Join us on today's episode of Mama Says Namaste as I, Ashley, dive deep into the powerful concept of fierce conversations. Inspired by Susan Scott's thought-provoking book, Fierce Conversations, Nathan and I discuss how these principles can revolutionize our relationships at home. We break down the importance of honest and clear communication, both in the workplace and with our loved ones. We explore why the "compliment sandwich" approach may not be as effective as we think and how addressing concerns head-on can lead to growth and understanding. We take it a step further and apply these principles within our own homes. Nathan and I share personal stories of navigating tough conversations with our children and each other. We discuss the compromises necessary to cultivate a peaceful and supportive environment for everyone involved. Through Susan Scott's "Mineral Rights" approach, we learn the four essential steps in having a fierce conversation. We delve into the power of feeling heard and the importance of creating understanding and harmony in our relationships every day. We don't shy away from the tough topics - we address the emotional burden children can carry in a tense household and the impact it has on their well-being. We challenge the notion of staying in an unhappy relationship for the sake of the kids, emphasizing the significance of commitment and showing up authentically every day. So, grab your earbuds, lean in, and prepare to ignite change in your relationships. Join us on Mama Says Namaste as we explore the transformative nature of fierce conversations and how they can guide us toward intention, growth, and connection in our homes and beyond.

In 2006, dog trainer Toby Dorr, , made international headlines when she snuck John Manard, who was incarcerated for life, out of prison in a dog crate. They were on the run for 12 days, until it all came to a crashing halt. In this second installment of our "Why'd You Do It?" series, find out what went into all the choices Toby made, before, during, and long after the great escape. Listen to the first installment of our "Why'd You Do It?" series GUESTS:  Toby Dorr: In 2006, she was arrested after sneaking John Manard out of Lansing Correctional Facility in a dog crate. She is the author of the memoir, “Living with Conviction” and ”You Are Not Your Worst Mistake: Poems from Prison”. Her podcast is called ”Fierce Conversations”. She lives outside Washington, DC If you are struggling with emotional distress, you can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7, in English and Spanish.Support the show: https://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if one conversation could change the course of your career, relationship, or even life? Join us on the People Gardener podcast where we dive into the transformative power of fierce conversations. Our host, Rhonda Delaney, brings the groundbreaking book 'Fierce Conversations' by Susan Scott to life, providing insights and actionable steps to enhance your leadership skills. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom on building teams that feel seen, heard, and valued.We go beyond mere theories, exploring how to tackle difficult conversations and challenges head-on. Rhonda shares Susan's material and guides us through 'interrogating reality', where we question our beliefs and intentions. The significance of open-ended questions and the emotional wake our words leave behind are also discussed. Tune in as we explore the art of silence, acknowledging the 'elephant in the room', and creating a positive impact through your words. Whether you're a small business owner, a new or frustrated business owner, or an aspiring leader, this episode offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to nurture relationships and enhance communication skills.