Podcasts about intentional

Make 'I beat temptations' one of your daily affirmations. 

Eric Thompson interviews Ryan Wentworth and Michael Parsiola of Reve Realtors in New Orleans, Louisiana, who experienced a dramatic turnaround after realizing they had been running their business "on accident." After dropping from 20 million in volume to 13 million in a challenging market shaped by rising interest rates and skyrocketing insurance costs, they consciously decided to rebuild their business on purpose. The shift was not about chasing more leads. It was about returning to fundamentals, implementing consistent flow systems, and intentionally structuring their partnership. In 2025, they produced 29 million in volume, a 123% year-over-year Increase, while the market grew only 3%. They share how they streamlined operations, eliminated inefficiencies, and recommitted to consistent client touches including just sold mailers, newsletters, market reports, and highly creative live flow events like Saints football games and architectural cycling tours. They also discuss how they divide responsibilities within their partnership to maximize clarity and efficiency, with one focusing on listings and the other on buyers, while maintaining unified communication. At its core, their breakthrough came from moving from reactive to intentional, from accidental production to systemized flow, and from perfection paralysis to consistent action. Key Takeaways Being "on accident" often means managing incoming business without proactive flow systems Market shifts expose weak systems and force clarity Rebuilding from the ground up creates stronger, more efficient processes Intentional flow beats accidental momentum Mailers and market reports work when consistent and visible Auto flow creates visibility even when you are busy Invitations are as powerful as attendance for generating connection Creative, authentic flow tied to personal interests increases engagement Partnership clarity prevents confusion and builds client trust Clearly defined roles create efficiency and confidence Coaching provides accountability, fresh ideas, and perspective Perfection is the enemy of good and progress beats paralysis Consistency compounds, even if it feels small in the moment Memorable Quotes "We were managing the business that was coming at us, not on purpose." "We need to go back to basics." "We needed to know how the sausage is made." "Just sold cards were all in my head. Clients loved them." "We didn't want them to feel passed off." "Perfection is the enemy of good." "Look at where you were two years ago." "We're not a 10, but we're a 7, and that's way better than a 2." Links: Website: https://ninjaselling.com/ninja-podcast/ Email: TSW@NinjaSelling.com Phone: 1-800-254-1650 Podcast Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/TheNinjaSellingPodcast Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NinjaSelling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninjasellingofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ninjaselling Upcoming Public Ninja Installations: https://NinjaSelling.com/events/list/?tribe_eventcategory%5B0%5D=183&tribe__ecp_custom_2%5B0%5D=Public Ninja Coaching: http://www.NinjaSelling.com/course/ninja-coaching/ Ryan Wentworth: Website Michael Parsiola: Website  

In this episode of the Observatory Podcast, Scott and LaRae Wright sit down for a short, intimate conversation about prayer—not as a rule-bound ritual, but as a living practice shaped by words, intention, gratitude, and alignment. They unpack how prayer can evolve beyond fear-based asking, and why the language we use—internally and out loud—can land as either medicine or venom. If you've ever felt conflicted about prayer, spirituality, or how to “talk to the Divine,” this episode offers a grounded reframe you can actually use.Timestamps[00:00:18] Scott introduces the topic: prayer (and why this conversation may surprise you)[00:01:20] Setting the scene: a quiet Sunday afternoon, post–Valentine's Day reflections[00:04:39] Scott shares a moment from his men's group that sparked this episode[00:08:39] What prayer meant growing up: structure, habit, and fear-based “asking”[00:10:07] When prayer feels like a ritual—or a task—instead of communication[00:13:30] Reframing prayer: intention, energy, and how words shape experience[00:19:34] Gratitude as a shared frequency: how prayer can create resonance[00:20:58] Scott reads a prayer that shifted his relationship with “prayer language”[00:24:39] “Toxic positivity”: when words sound good but aren't aligned underneath[00:29:20] The line that hits: “no venom passes my lips” and why it matters[00:30:16] Venom as poison: what words can do once they're released[00:34:46] Emotional regulation, balance, and not getting stuck in heavy energy[00:39:05] Closing takeaway: your words are either venom or medicineNotable Quotes“It felt more like a ritual or maybe a task. Task that I had to do.” – Scott Wright [10:07]“Well, it creates a resonance like a song would. Those words create a resonance.” – LaRae Wright [19:48]“So no venom passes my lips and no destruction results from my speech.” – Scott Wright [21:50]“That venom is like poison. It's not retractable.” – Scott Wright [30:16]“Just everyone pay attention to your words. Pay attention to whether they are venom or medicine.” – Scott Wright [39:05]Relevant links:Subscribe to the podcast: Apple PodcastProduced by NC Productions

What if growth in 2026 isn't about doing more — but choosing better? In this keynote from Benjamin Mena's Elite Recruiter Sales & BD Summit, Kortney Harmon reframes what winning looks like in today's staffing market.In this episode, you'll hear insights from Kortney Harmon's keynote at Ben Mena's Sales and BD Summit, where she explores why narrowing focus, redesigning revenue strategy, and protecting the right relationships are critical in today's staffing market. As sales cycles lengthen and effort becomes more expensive, Kortney breaks down how intentional account selection, system alignment, and leadership judgment can eliminate wasted activity and margin erosion. From confronting burnout and revenue concentration to building repeatable processes that reduce reliance on heroics, she shares practical frameworks to help firms move from reactive selling to relationship-driven growthWhether you're an agency leader, full-desk producer, or building the next phase of your firm's growth, this episode challenges you to rethink where your effort is going — and whether it's truly compounding.____________Follow Benjamin Mena LinkedIn: LinkedIn: BenjaminBenjamin Mena with Select Source Solutions: hereThe Elite Recruiter Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theeliterecruiter/Follow Crelate on LinkedIn: CrelateWant to learn more about Crelate? Book a demo hereSubscribe to our newsletter: The Full Desk Experience

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Evelyn Ackah discuss:Reframing challenges as opportunitiesBuilding security through owning your book of businessDesigning a firm around delegation and technologyProtecting culture by hiring and leading with intention Key Takeaways:Success begins with asking whether challenges are happening to you or for you. A growth-oriented mindset is not optional for entrepreneurs and rainmakers. Those who thrive train themselves to see obstacles as openings, not endings.Relying solely on servicing others' clients limits mobility and control. Developing your own clients creates long-term security and professional freedom. Rainmaking is a learnable skill built through systems, discipline, and study.High-value leaders focus only on work they alone can do. Everything else can be delegated, automated, or systemized through tools and virtual teams. Intentional tech stacks and strong delegation enable autonomy, even four-day workweeks.Skills can be trained, but values and attitude determine long-term fit. Toxic hires damage momentum and must be addressed quickly. Great leaders invest in coaches, mentors, and team development to sustain growth. "Your staff are your dream builders. They help you create your dream. And so you want to invest in them just as much as they're investing in your success." — Evelyn Ackah Check out my new show, Be That Lawyer Coaches Corner, and get the strategies I use with my clients to win more business and love your career again. Ready to go from good to GOAT in your legal marketing game? Don't miss PIMCON—where the brightest minds in professional services gather to share what really works. Lock in your spot now: https://www.pimcon.org/ Thank you to our Sponsor!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/Lawyer.com: https://www.lawyer.com/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ About Evelyn Ackah: Evelyn Ackah is the Founder and CEO of Ackah Business Immigration Law, a cross-border firm representing corporations and professionals in Canadian and U.S. immigration matters. With more than 25 years of experience—including leadership roles in Big Law and at Ernst & Young—she delivers strategic, business-focused immigration solutions tailored to her clients' goals.Originally from Ghana and raised in Canada, Evelyn brings both personal insight and professional depth to her work in global mobility. She is passionate about legal entrepreneurship, leveraging technology and innovative systems to build a scalable, client-centered practice.Evelyn is also the host of the Ask Evelyn Ackah Immigration Lawyer podcast, where she interviews industry leaders on immigration and related business topics. Connect with Evelyn Ackah: Website: https://www.ackahlaw.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AckahBusinessImmigrationLaw/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ackahlaw/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ackah-business-immigration-law/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/evelynackah/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ackahlaw/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw7M2pQKwsRteq-nThuaELQ   Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911 Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Ted's story begins in Trail — steel town grit, river valley air, small-town backbone.Raised in the Kootenays, Ted carried that work ethic west to Vancouver, graduating from UBC, and deciding school wasn't for him, he worked as a doorman and later as an arborist. Hard jobs. Outside jobs. Jobs that keep a man moving.He found the love of his life in his late 30s. That's important. Some men rush it. Ted didn't. When he found her, he went all in.And then came the dogs.Not casual pet ownership. Obsession. Bird dogs. Trialing dogs. Training days that turned into full seasons. Upland fields, early frost, heart pounding at the flush. Life was busy. Full. Loud in the best way.Somewhere in there, fly fishing grabbed him. And when it did, it didn't let go.Ted started spending every spare minute around the lakes near Kamloops — stillwater country. Long casts. Chironomids. Watching the wind ripple across glassy mornings.The best advice he ever received?“If you can't cast further, move your boat.”Simple. Tactical. But also philosophical.When the distance won't close — adjust your position.The Move That Changed EverythingAfter retirement, Ted and his wife moved to Alberta to be closer to their daughter. A hopeful move. A family move.Shortly after arriving, his wife was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.Life stopped.For four years, Ted drove her to chemo. Sat in hospital rooms. Lived in waiting areas. The river disappeared. The dogs went quiet. The boat stayed parked.Everything paused.After she passed, the house felt different. The days stretched longer.And then something shifted.Ted found a group of men. Found community again. And he found the river.Standing in current on the Bow River, something came back online. Not instantly. Not dramatically. But steadily.The Bow gave him rhythm again. Walking local streams gave him breath again.Fly fishing didn't erase grief. It gave it somewhere to go.What Ted Believes NowAt 74, Ted doesn't sugarcoat it.Life is not guaranteed.His advice is direct:“Don't wait. If you can retire — retire. Go live your life.”Not reckless. Not impulsive.Intentional.Move the boat.If something isn't working — change position. Change perspective. Change seasons. But don't sit still waiting for perfect conditions.Because perfect conditions don't exist.This episode isn't about tragedy.It's about a man who loved deeply. Worked hard. Lost greatly. And walked back into the river anyway.And that's the kind of story that matters. 

What happens when you deploy to prod on a Friday and it starts firing emails to every customer? Dan Barckley has lived it — and it's why he's now a DevOps believer. In this episode: accidental admin origins, why simple beats complex every time, Agentforce skepticism, and the leadership mindset that changes everything.About DevOps Diaries: Salesforce DevOps Advocate Jack McCurdy chats to members of the Salesforce community about their experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. Expect to hear and learn from inspirational stories of personal growth and business success, whilst discovering all the trials, tribulations, and joy that comes with delivering Salesforce for companies of all shapes and sizes. New episodes bi-weekly on YouTube as well as on your preferred podcast platform.Podcast produced and sponsored by Gearset. Learn more about Gearset: https://grst.co/4iCnas2About Gearset: Gearset is the leading Salesforce DevOps platform, with powerful solutions for metadata and CPQ deployments, CI/CD, automated testing, sandbox seeding and backups. It helps Salesforce teams apply DevOps best practices to their development and release process, so they can rapidly and securely deliver higher-quality projects. Get full access to all of Gearset's features for free with a 30-day trial: https://grst.co/4iKysKWChapters:01:36 Introducing Daniel Barckley: A Journey in Salesforce04:16 The Joy of Problem Solving in DevOps07:05 Learning from Mistakes: The Accidental Admin09:35 Tinkering and Innovation: Building in Salesforce12:37 The Importance of Mentorship and Leadership15:21 Characteristics of Great Leaders18:18 Navigating the Salesforce Ecosystem20:46 The Future of Salesforce: AI and Automation23:46 Data Management and Business Continuity26:43 Iterative Development and Continuous Improvement29:19 Embracing Change in the Tech World32:11 Closing Thoughts: Lead with Curiosity

You often get lost in the emotional whirlwind of your entrepreneurial journey, making strategic reviews a daunting task. Maurice shares his personal struggles with infrequent and emotionally charged reviews, revealing how this common pitfall can turn your minor issues into major setbacks, hindering your growth and intention.Chapter Summary:00:00 Strategy: Review, Don't Retreat03:13 Consistency: Theory to Traction06:27 Small Adjustments, Big Results09:32 Weekly SWOT: Your Growth CatalystFeatured Quotes:“Progress doesn't come from thinking harder once a year, It comes from checking alignment consistently.” - Maurice“Strategy fails when it's infrequent.” - Maurice“Growth favors those who reviews their information, i.e. the feedback loop.” - MauriceBehind the Story:Maurice opens up about the challenge of separating emotion from strategy, particularly for entrepreneurs like you who are deeply invested in your work. He highlights that without your consistent, unemotional review, your small problems can escalate, and your business can drift from your intended path. His approach to weekly SWOT analyses provides you with a framework for staying honest and making disciplined, fact-based decisions.Resources:Well Why Not Workbook: https://bit.ly/authormauricechismPodmatch: https://bit.ly/joinpodmatchwithmaurice*FREE* 5 Bold Shifts to help you silence doubt and start moving: https://bit.ly/5boldshiftsConnect With:Maurice Chism: https://bit.ly/CoachMauriceWebsite: https://bit.ly/mauricechismTo be a guest: https://bit.ly/beaguestonthatwillnevrworkpodcastBusiness Email: mchism@chismgroup.netBusiness Address: PO Box 460, Secane, PA 19018Subscribe to That Will Nevr Work Podcast:Spreaker: https://bit.ly/TWNWSpreakerSupport the channelPurchase our apparel: https://bit.ly/ThatWillNevrWorkPodcastapparel 

Money isn't just about numbers. It's about values, mindset, and the stories we carry. Especially for coaches building businesses alongside full lives and careers.In this episode, Candy Motzek sits down with Leah Hadley, CEO of Intentional Wealth Partners and creator of the Intentional Money Method.Leah shares her journey from educator to investment banking to founding a values-based financial planning firm that helps women transform their relationship with money. Together, Candy and Leah explore why traditional financial advice often falls short for coaches and consultants, and how aligning money decisions with values creates both freedom and sustainability.In this conversation, you'll learn:Why so many successful women feel shame or avoidance around moneyThe six pillars of the Intentional Money Method and how they work togetherWhy mindset and values matter as much as strategy and actionCommon pricing and under-earning patterns for coaches and consultantsHow to think about money when building a business alongside another careerThis episode is especially helpful for coaches who are well-trained, capable, and thoughtful, but want to feel more confident, grounded, and intentional about money. Not just earning it, but using it to support the life they actually want.-----Ready to Grow Your Coaching Business? Get the Free Course Today https://candymotzek.lpages.co/vfo/If this resonated and you'd like some support, click the link to book a call. Let's have a simple conversation to explore your goals and how I can best support you. https://candymotzek.as.me/breakthrough

With a carnivore diet, Brian improved gout, sciatica, tinnitus, sleep apnea, gut issues, bloating, pain, and heart palpitations. He also lost 37 kg throughout his journey. His goal is to share his experience and use it to help others, and in doing so, has contributed to building the online community @the_carnivore_community (IG), and is studying to become a carnivore coach.  IG: @huntergatherermindset  FB @HunterGathererMindset Timestamps: 00:00 Trailer 00:25 Introduction 04:45 Keto journey and nutrition 07:11 Health solutions for chronic disease 12:16 Carnivore journey inspiration 14:51 Intentional eating and dietary changes 18:48 Normalization of obesity in society 20:05 Raising healthy generations 23:18 Healthy habits shape families 28:18 Hypothermia hammer syndrome 35:18 Keeping nutrition simple and healthy 37:14 Primal living and evolution 41:58 Carnivore community support network Join Revero now to regain your health: https://revero.com/YT Revero.com is an online medical clinic for treating chronic diseases with this root-cause approach of nutrition therapy. You can get access to medical providers, personalized nutrition therapy, biomarker tracking, lab testing, ongoing clinical care, and daily coaching. You will also learn everything you need with educational videos, hundreds of recipes, and articles to make this easy for you. Join the Revero team (medical providers, etc): https://revero.com/jobs ‪#Revero #ReveroHealth #shawnbaker  #Carnivorediet #MeatHeals #AnimalBased #ZeroCarb #DietCoach  #FatAdapted #Carnivore #sugarfree Disclaimer: The content on this channel is not medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider.

What is it actually like the first time you're with a woman?In this episode, Alex & Kayla talk about first times with girls — the magical ones, the awkward ones, the confusing ones, and the ones that quietly change everything. Drawing from listener stories, polls, and their own experiences, they explore what it means when desire finally makes sense, why some first times feel life-changing and others feel messy, and how fear, alcohol, shame, curiosity, and timing all shape our queer awakenings.From being a “ ‘straight' girl” at a gay bar to sober sex, baby gay panic, internalized homophobia, and the relief of realizing you're not broken — just queer and nervous — this conversation is honest, funny, and deeply relatable.Whether your first time was magical, chaotic, or still hasn't happened yet, this episode is for anyone navigating queerness, curiosity, and the moments that quietly rewrite your story.01:45 – Today's Topic: First Time With a Girl03:00 – Listener Poll Results: Magical vs Awkward First Times05:30 – How Old Were You the First Time?06:45 – Did You Come Out After?08:00 – Game Time: First-Time Confessions10:40 – Identity Crisis vs Peace After the First Time12:00 – Listener Story: First Time With a Woman After Only Dating Men14:45 – Feeling Like a Teenager Again16:45 – Why Exploring Identity Matters (Even If It Changes)18:00 – Is the First Time Scarier Without “Knowing What to Do”?20:20 – Listener Story: A Bad First Time That Still Meant Something23:20 – What Counts as “Lesbian Sex,” Anyway?26:00 – Intentional vs Party Hookups29:00 – When It Finally “Clicks”31:00 – Listener Story: Calm, Clarity, and First-Time Love33:00 – Dating Men vs Dating Women: The Intimacy Wall36:45 – Wishing You'd Figured It Out Sooner38:00 – Listener Story: Awkward, Nervous, Perfectly Imperfect40:15 – Why the Build-Up Is Often the Hardest Part42:30 – Hooking Up With Someone Who's Never Been With a Girl45:00 – Sober Sex, Alcohol, and Lowered Inhibitions47:45 – “Who's the Problem?” Baby Gay Panic Edition52:00 – Internalized Homophobia vs Externalized Heterophobia54:00 – Closing Thoughts: You're Not Broken, You're Queer

Episode 104 I love episodes where I get to talk with my friends. And this episode is one of those. Brook Mosser co-leads Intentional ministries with his wife Elizabeth, is an author, speaker and podcast host.  Brook Mosser is also one of my dear friends--honestly like a brother to me. We make each other laugh—though he's a thousand times funnier than I am. But what I love and appreciate most about Brook is how honest he is, how kind and generous, and how he points people to Jesus over and over again. And this episode is all about that. We talk about all kinds of things: hormones, yes he talked hormones with me, adult ADD, his upcoming retreat with Intentional Fatherhood, and especially the book he just wrote, Sowing a Hidden Seed: Daily Prayers for Your Child's Spiritual Growth.  You are going to love this episode and get a lot of good stuff out of it. I am so glad to share my buddy Brook with you again. Be sure to check out the links below to get connected to all the good things we talk about.  Resources mentioned in this episode: Find Brook's book here Find Brook on Instagram here Find The Intentional Fatherhood podcast here Find tickets to The Intentional Fatherhood retreat here Find The Intentional Parents podcast here Find Greta's book, It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here Find info about Greta's upcoming Women's Walking Retreat in the Cotswolds here  The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “Disciples Making Disciples,” with a discussion with Lana Silk about the happenings in Iran. Lana is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Then we had Dr. Eric Redmond join us to discuss the importance of intentional disciple-making. Dr. Redmond is a Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute, and he is the Executive Director of Moody’s Theological Seminary Center for Compelling Biblical Preaching. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Listener Calls (Spiritual Metaphors) [12:01] Lana Silk Interview [47:07 ] Dr. Eric Redmond Interview [1:04:31] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do a hypnotized high-school wrestler, Olympic athletes, and modern neuroscience all have in common? In this episode of The Mental Training Lab, I sit down with Dr. David Spiegel, one of the world's leading experts in clinical hypnosis, to clear up the myths, misunderstandings, and stage-show baggage surrounding hypnosis. Next, we explore how it's actually being used to reduce pain, manage stress, improve sleep, and enhance high-level performance.We unpack how hypnosis works in the brain (including its effects on attention, dissociation, and the default mode network), and why hypnosis is best understood as an intentional, goal-directed mental skill, not mind control.David shares remarkable clinical and performance stories, from eliminating chronic migraines to helping athletes access high quality focus under pressure. We also explore how hypnosis complements meditation, where the two differ, and why hypnosis can sometimes create rapid change where other practices haven't.If you're interested in performance, well-being, or the science of attention and intentionality, this conversation may completely change how you think about hypnosis.Learn more about Reveri, David's self-hypnosis app, and get 20% off yearly or lifetime memberships with code MENTAL20: reverihealth.app.link/mental- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Learn more about The Mental Training LabConnect with Pete on Instagram | LinkedIn | WebsiteSubscribe to the podcast on Apple | Spotify This show is produced and edited by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

We press into a simple claim with big consequences: we are stewards, not owners. Through Luke 16, we draw a straight line from money habits to eternal impact and call our church to thoughtful, urgent, and joyful generosity aimed at people.• The mindset of stewardship over ownership• Luke 16's shrewd manager and eternal awareness• Faithfulness with little leading to true riches• Intentional generosity that builds relationships• Rejecting cynicism and resourcing real impact• Testimony: funding a girls' home in Israel• Planting harvest, not building portfolios• Allegiance to Christ rather than money• Practical rhythms for giving and formation

Have you been living for your vacation, or thinking, "My vacation should be restful, but I need a vacation from my vacation"? Then there's a chance you're not actually resting. You're just taking your stress to a sunny place. Listen as your host, Diane Rolston, reveals the difference between escape and intentional pause. She shares why vacations don't automatically equal rest and how high-achieving women can return from trips feeling restored rather than needing another break.Listen to learn these key takeaways:The dangerous assumption high achievers make: "If I go away, I will feel better," and why you can change locations but still bring the same pressure with youThe critical distinction between escape travel and intentional pause Why a two-day weekend often failsWhat an intentional pause actually looks likeThe research about university students and phone use that reveals why we struggle to process and remember things Three ways high-achieving women use travel to avoidSigns you're actually restoring yourselfWhat Diane consciously left at home (and the thinking patterns she released)Five practical strategies for returning without snapping back into old habits What's your biggest takeaway from this podcast episode? Email it to Diane at diane@dianerolston.com. Want to be invited to join Diane's NEW high-level, like-minded group of women? Email her at diane@dianerolston.com.Do you prefer reading blogs or watching videos?Read Diane's blogs here: https://www.dianerolston.com/blogWatch Diane's videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@CoachDianeRolstonThis show's host, Diane Rolston, is called THE Expert on Being Dynamic and living a Dynamic Life. She specializes in coaching high-achieving women who want to be successful AND satisfied. She is a Certified Professional Coach, International Speaker, 11-time Author, and host of the five-time award-winning Dynamic Women Podcast, ranked in the top 2.5% of podcasts.Diane has been recognized with multiple awards for her professional accomplishments and for the powerful impact she has on the women she inspires and empowers. Chicken Soup for the Soul co-creator Jack Canfield describes her as “an amazing woman” doing “incredible work helping women develop holistic lives of balance.”Through her program, VA Made Easy, she helps entrepreneurs go from task overwhelm to business ease by hiring and training Virtual Assistants for them while also providing proven...

Kids feel more than they hear. They notice more than they can say. In this conversation, therapist and mom of two neurodivergent kids, Lisa Kays, joins me to explore why your child seems fine until you finally try to read, listen to a podcast, or focus on something for yourself. We talk about the invisible "container" parents hold with their attention, how kids sense when we mentally leave the room, and why sensitive and neurodivergent kids are often especially tuned into those shifts. Lisa and I also get real about mom guilt, martyrdom, and the myth that good parents never disappoint their kids. We look at what happens when you try to fake calm at bedtime, why that incoherence makes things worse, and how much changes when you say the quiet part out loud: "I am tired. I am cranky. This is not about you." From there, we move into play, video games, and the pressure to enjoy everything your child enjoys, and how to reframe joining them in their world without pretending to love every second. This episode is an invitation to trust what your kids are already picking up, be more honest about what you are actually feeling, and let your family experiment with a more grounded, both-and version of connection. Key Takeaways Kids are tuned into our attention in ways we usually underestimate. They often stay regulated until they feel your focus shift, then move in to pull you back. Neurodivergent and "orchid" kids are often especially sensitive to energetic shifts, in part because many rely more on nonverbal cues than language. Parents hold a real "energetic bubble" with their kids. When you mentally leave that bubble, their nervous system notices—even if they cannot explain it. Sneaking self-care through half-dissociated scrolling often backfires. Kids sense the withdrawal of presence, even when you are physically nearby. You cannot fake calm. At bedtime, your child responds to your nervous system, not your "everything is fine" script. Honesty creates safety. Saying "I am tired and irritable, and this is not about you" helps kids trust both their own perceptions and you. Allowing disappointment without rushing to fix it teaches resilience, frustration tolerance, and relational trust. Intentional, communicated withdrawal of attention is different from endlessly overriding your needs. It protects against burnout and builds tolerance for space. Playing with your child does not require loving every activity. You can connect by letting them lead, being the learner, or practicing regulation while being imperfect. When your brain insists there are only two options, it is usually lying. Connection has many possible shapes. About Lisa Kays Lisa Kays is a licensed independent clinical social worker with a private practice serving clients in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Oregon. She works with adults across the lifespan on anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationship challenges, with a special focus on supporting parents of both neurodivergent and neurotypical kids. As a parent of two complicated and awesome children herself, Lisa blends clinical insight with lived experience, helping caregivers understand their own nervous systems, set realistic boundaries, and build more authentic, resilient family relationships. You can learn more at lisakays.com and find her on Instagram and TikTok at @thelisakays. About Your Host, Gabriele Nicolet I'm Gabriele Nicolet—toddler whisperer, speech therapist, parenting life coach, and host of Complicated Kids. Each week, I share practical, relationship-based strategies for raising kids with big feelings, big needs, and beautifully different brains. My goal is to help families move from surviving to thriving by building connection, confidence, and clarity at home. Complicated Kids Resources and Links

Today, on Karl and Crew, we kicked off our weekly theme, “Disciples Making Disciples,” with a discussion with Lana Silk about the happenings in Iran. Lana is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Transform Iran, a Christian organization that shares the gospel in Iran. Lana passionately works to help bring freedom to the people of Iran through ministry and humanitarian aid. Then we had Dr. Eric Redmond join us to discuss the importance of intentional disciple-making. Dr. Redmond is a Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute, and he is the Executive Director of Moody’s Theological Seminary Center for Compelling Biblical Preaching. You can hear the highlights of today's program on the Karl and Crew Showcast. If you're looking to hear a particular segment from the show, look at the following time stamps: Listener Calls (Spiritual Metaphors) [12:01] Lana Silk Interview [47:07 ] Dr. Eric Redmond Interview [1:04:31] Karl and Crew airs live weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Central Time. Click this link for ways to listen in your area! https://www.moodyradio.org/ways-to-listen/Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you stay audacious in a world that's noisier and more saturated than ever? How might the idea of creative rhythm change the way you write? Lara Bianca Pilcher gives her tips from a multi-passionate creative career. In the intro, becoming a better writer by being a better reader [The Indy Author]; How indie authors can market literary fiction [Self-Publishing with ALLi]; Viktor Wynd's Museum of Curiosities; Seneca's On the Shortness of Life; All Men are Mortal – Simone de Beauvoir; Surface Detail — Iain M. Banks; Bones of the Deep – J.F. Penn. This episode is sponsored by Publisher Rocket, which will help you get your book in front of more Amazon readers so you can spend less time marketing and more time writing. I use Publisher Rocket for researching book titles, categories, and keywords — for new books and for updating my backlist. Check it out at www.PublisherRocket.com This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Lara Bianca Pilcher is the author of Audacious Artistry: Reclaim Your Creative Identity and Thrive in a Saturated World. She's also a performing artist and actor, life and creativity coach, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy Wise Artist podcast. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Why self-doubt is a normal biological response — and how audacity means showing up anyway The difference between creative rhythm and rigid discipline, and why it matters for writers How to navigate a saturated world with intentional presence on social media Practical strategies for building a platform as a nonfiction author, including batch content creation The concept of a “parallel career” and why designing your life around your art beats waiting for a big break Getting your creative rhythm back after crisis or burnout through small, gentle steps You can find Lara at LaraBiancaPilcher.com. Transcript of the interview with Lara Bianca Pilcher Lara Bianca Pilcher is the author of Audacious Artistry: Reclaim Your Creative Identity and Thrive in a Saturated World. She's also a performing artist and actor, life and creativity coach, and the host of the Healthy Wealthy Wise Artist podcast. Welcome, Lara. Lara: Thank you for having me, Jo. Jo: It's exciting to talk to you today. First up— Tell us a bit more about you and how you got into writing. Lara: I'm going to call myself a greedy creative, because I started as a dancer, singer, and actress in musical theatre, which ultimately led me to London, the West End, and I was pursuing that in highly competitive performance circles. A lot of my future works come from that kind of place. But when I moved to America—which I did after my season in London and a little stint back in Australia, then to Atlanta, Georgia—I had a visa problem where I couldn't work legally, and it went on for about six months. Because I feel this urge to create, as so many of your listeners probably relate to, I was not okay with that. So that's actually where I started writing, in the quietness, with the limits and the restrictions. I've got two children and a husband, and they would go off to school and work and I'd be home thinking, ha. In that quietness, I just began to write. I love thinking of creativity as a mansion with many rooms, and you get to pick your rooms. I decided, okay, well the dance, acting, singing door is shut right now—I'm going to go into the writing room. So I did. Jo: I have had a few physical creatives on the show. Obviously one of your big rooms in your mansion is a physical room where you are actually performing and moving your body. I feel like this is something that those of us whose biggest area of creativity is writing really struggle with—the physical side. How do you think that physical practice of creativity has helped you in writing, which can be quite constrictive in that way? Lara: It's so good that you asked this because I feel what it trained me to do is ignore noise and show up. I don't like the word discipline—most of us get a bit uncomfortable with it, it's not a nice word. What being a dancer did was teach me the practice of what I like to call a rhythm, a creative rhythm, rather than a discipline, because rhythm ebbs and flows and works more with who we are as creatives, with the way creativity works in our body. That taught me: go to the barre over and over again—at the ballet barre, I'm talking about, not the pub. Go there over and over again. Warm up, do the work, show up when you don't feel like it. thaT naturally pivoted over to writing, so they're incredibly linked in the way that creativity works in our body. Jo: Do you find that you need to do physical practice still in order to get your creativity moving? I'm not a dancer. I do like to shake it around a bit, I guess. But I mainly walk. If I need to get my creativity going, I will walk. If people are stuck, do you think doing something physical is a good idea? Lara: It is, because the way that our body and our nervous system works—without going into too much boring science, although some people probably find it fascinating—is that when we shake off that lethargic feeling and we get blood flowing in our body, we naturally feel more awake. Often when you're walking or you're doing something like dance, your brain is not thinking about all of the big problems. You might be listening to music, taking in inspiration, taking in sunshine, taking in nature, getting those endorphins going, and that naturally leads to the brain being able to psychologically show up more as a creative. However, there are days, if I'm honest, where I wake up and the last thing I want to do is move. I want to be in a little blanket in the corner of the room with a hot cocoa or a coffee and just keep to myself. Those aren't always the most creative days, but sometimes I need that in my creative rhythm, and that's okay too. Jo: I agree. I don't like the word discipline, but as a dancer you certainly would've had to do that. I can't imagine how competitive it must be. I guess this is another thing about a career in dance or the physical arts. Does it age out? Is it really an ageist industry? Whereas I feel like with writing, it isn't so much about what your body can do anymore. Lara: That is true. There is a very real marketplace, a very real industry, and I'm careful because there's two sides to this coin. There is the fact that as we get older, our body has trouble keeping up at that level. There's more injuries, that sort of thing. There are some fit women performing in their sixties and seventies on Broadway that have been doing it for years, and they are fine. They'll probably say it's harder for some of them. Also, absolutely, I think there does feel in the professional sense like there can be a cap. A lot of casting in acting and in that world feels like there's fewer and fewer roles, particularly for women as we get older, but people are in that space all the time. There's a Broadway dancer I know who is 57, who's still trying to make it on Broadway and really open about that, and I think that's beautiful. So I'm careful with putting limits, because I think there are always outliers that step outside and go, “Hey, I'm not listening to that.” I think there's an audience for every age if you want there to be and you make the effort. But at the same time, yes, there is a reality in the industry. Totally. Jo: Obviously this show is not for dancers. I think it was more framing it as we are lucky in the writing industry, especially in the independent author community, because you can be any age. You can be writing on your deathbed. Most people don't have a clue what authors look like. Lara: I love that, actually. It's probably one of the reasons I maybe subconsciously went into writing, because I'm like, I want to still create and I'm getting older. It's fun. Jo: That's freeing. Lara: So freeing. It's a wonderful room in the mansion to stay in until the day I die, if I must put it that way. Jo: I also loved you mentioning that Broadway dancer. A lot of listeners write fiction—I write fiction as well as nonfiction—and it immediately makes me want to write her story. The story of a 57-year-old still trying to make it on Broadway. There's just so much in that story, and I feel like that's the other thing we can do: writing about the communities we come from, especially at different ages. Let's get into your book, Audacious Artistry. I want to start on this word audacity. You say audacity is the courage to take bold, intentional risks, even in the face of uncertainty. I read it and I was like, I love the sentiment, but I also know most authors are just full of self-doubt. Bold and audacious. These are difficult words. So what can you say to authors around those big words? Lara: Well, first of all, that self-doubt—a lot of us don't even know what it is in our body. We just feel it and go, ugh, and we read it as a lack of confidence. It's not that. It's actually natural. We all get it. What it is, is our body's natural ability to perceive threat and keep us safe. So we're like, oh, I don't know the outcome. Oh, I don't know if I'm going to get signed. Oh, I don't know if my work's going to matter. And we read that as self-doubt—”I don't have what it takes” and those sorts of things. That's where I say no. The reframe, as a coach, I would say, is that it's normal. Self-doubt is normal. Everyone has it. But audacity is saying, I have it, but I'm going to show up in the world anyway. There is this thing of believing, even in the doubt, that I have something to say. I like to think of it as a metaphor of a massive feasting table at Christmas, and there's heaps of different dishes. We get to bring a dish to the table rather than think we're going to bring the whole table. The audacity to say, “Hey, I have something to say and I'm going to put my dish on the table.” Jo: I feel like the “I have something to say” can also be really difficult for people, because, for example, you mentioned you have kids. Many people are like, I want to share this thing that happened to me with my kids, or a secret I learned, or a tip I think will help people. But there's so many people who've already done that before. When we feel like we have something to say but other people have said it before, how do you address that? Lara: I think everything I say, someone has already said, and I'm okay with that. But they haven't said it like me. They haven't said it in my exact way. They haven't written the sentence exactly the way—that's probably too narrow a point of view in terms of the sentence—maybe the story or the chapter. They haven't written it exactly like me, with my perspective, my point of view, my life experience, my lived experience. It matters. People have very short memories. You think of the last thing you watched on Netflix and most of us can't remember what happened. We'll watch the season again. So I think it's okay to be saying the same things as others, but recognise that the way you say it, your point of view, your stories, your metaphors, your incredible way of putting a sentence togethes, it still matters in that noise. Jo: I think you also talk in the book about rediscovering the joy of creation, as in you are doing it for you. One of the themes that I emphasise is the transformation that happens within you when you write a book. Forget all the people who might read it or not read it. Even just what transforms in you when you write is important enough to make it worthwhile. Lara: It really, really is. For me, talking about rediscovering the joy of creation is important because I've lost it at times in my career, both as a performing artist and as an author, in a different kind of way. When we get so caught up in the industry and the noise and the trends, it's easy to just feel overwhelmed. Overwhelm is made up of a lot of emotions like fear and sadness and grief and all sorts of things. A lot of us don't realise that that's what overwhelm is. When we start to go, “Hey, I'm losing my voice in all this noise because comparison is taking over and I'm feeling all that self-doubt,” it can feel just crazy. So for me, rediscovering the joy of creation is vital to survival as an author, as an artist. A classic example, if you don't mind me sharing my author story really quickly, is that when I first wrote the first version of my book, I was writing very much for me, not realising it. This is hindsight. My first version was a little more self-indulgent. I like to think of it like an arrowhead. I was trying to say too much. The concept was good enough that I got picked up by a literary agent and worked with an editor through that for an entire year. At the end of that time, they dropped me. I felt like, through that time, I learned a lot. It was wonderful. Their reason for dropping me was saying, “I don't think we have enough of a unique point of view to really sell this.” That was hard. I lay on my bed, stared at the ceiling, felt grief. The reality is it's so competitive. What happened for me in that year is that I was trying to please. If you're a new author, this is really important. You are so desperately trying to please the editor, trying to do all the right things, that you can easily lose your joy and your unique point of view because you are trying to show up for what you think they all need and want. What cut through the noise for me is I got off that bed after my three hours of grief—it was probably longer, to be fair—but I booked myself a writing coach. I went back to the drawing board. I threw a lot of the book away. I took some good concepts out that I already knew were good from the editor, then I rewrote the entire thing. It's completely different to the first version. That's the book that got a traditional publishing deal. That book was my unique point of view. That book was my belief, from that grief, that I still have something to say. Instead of trusting what the literary agent and the editor were giving me in those red marks all over that first version, I was like, this is what I want to say. That became the arrowhead that's cut into the industry, rather than the semi-trailer truck that I was trying to bulldoze in with no clear point of view. So rediscovering the joy of creation is very much about coming back to you. Why do I write? What do I want to say? That unique point of view will cut through the noise a lot of the time. I don't want to speak in absolutes, but a lot of the time it will cut through the noise better than you trying to please the industry. Jo: I can't remember who said it, but somebody talked about how you've got your stone, and your stone is rough and it has random colours and all this. Then you start polishing the stone, which you have to do to a point. But if you keep polishing the stone, it looks like every other stone. What's the point? That fits with what you were saying about trying to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one. I also think the reality of what you just said about the book is a lot of people's experience with writing in general. Certainly for me, I don't write in order. I chuck out a lot. I'm a discovery writer. People think you sit down and start A and finish Z, and that's it. It's kind of messy, isn't it? Was that the same in your physical creative life? Lara: Yes. Everything's a mess. In the book I actually talk about learning to embrace the cringe, because we all want to show up perfect. Just as you shared, we think, because we read perfect and look at perfect or near-perfect work—that's debatable all the time—we want to arrive there, and I guess that's natural. But what we don't often see on social media or other places is the mess. I love the behind the scenes of films. I want to see the messy creative process. The reality is we have to learn to embrace the messy cringe because that's completely normal. My first version was so messy, and it's about being able to refine it and recognise that that is normal. So yes, embrace it. That's my quote for the day. Embrace the cringe, show up messy. It's all right. Jo: You mentioned the social media, and the subtitle of the book mentions a “saturated world.” The other problem is there are millions of books out there now. AI is generating more content than humans do, and it is extremely hard to break through. How are we to deal with this saturated world? When do we join in and when do we step away? Lara: I think it's really important not to have black and white thinking about it, because trust me, every day I meet an artist that will say, “I hate that I have to show up online.” To be honest with you, there's a big part of me that does also. But the saturation of the world is something that I recognise, and for me, it's like I'm in the world but not of it. That saturation can cause so much overwhelm and nervous system threat and comparison. What I've personally decided to do is have intentional showing up. That looks like checking in intentionally with a design, not a randomness, and then checking out. When push comes to shove, at the end of the day, I really believe that what sells books is people's trust in us as a person. They might go through an airport and not know us at all and pick up the book because it's a bestseller and they just trust the reputation, but so much of what I'm finding as an artist is that personal relationship, that personal trust. Whether that's through people knowing you via your podcast or people meeting you in a room. Especially in nonfiction, I think that's really big. Intentional presence from a place where we've regulated ourselves, being aware that it's saturated, but my job's not to be focused on the saturation. My job is to find my unique voice and say I have something to bring. Be intentional with that. Shoot your arrow, and then step out of the noise, because it's just overwhelming if you choose to live there and scroll without any intentionality at all. Jo: So how do people do that intentionality in a practical way around, first of all, choosing a platform, and then secondly, how they create content and share content and engage? What are some actual practical tips for intentionality? Lara: I can only speak from my experience, but I'm going to be honest, every single application I sent asked for my platform stats. Every single one. Platform stats as in how many followers, how many people listening to your podcast, how many people are reading your blog. That came up in every single literary agent application. So I would be a fool today to say you've got to ignore that, because that's just the brass tacks, unless you're already like a famous footballer or something. Raising and building a platform of my own audience has been a part of why I was able to get a publishing deal. In doing that, I've learned a lot of hard lessons. Embrace the cringe with marketing and social media as well, because it's its own beast. Algorithms are not what I worry about. They're not going to do the creativity for you. What social media's great at is saying, “Hey, I'm here”—it's awareness. It's not where I sell stuff. It's where I say, I'm here, this is what I'm doing, and people become aware of me and I can build that relationship. People do sell through social media, but it's more about awareness statistically. I am on a lot of platforms, but not all of them work for every author or every style of book. I've done a lot of training. I've really had to upskill in this space and get good at it. I've put myself through courses because I feel like, yes, we can ignore it if we want to, but for me it's an intentional opting in because the data shows that it's been a big part of being able to get published. That's overwhelming to hear for some people. They don't want to hear that. But that's kind of the world that we are in, isn't it? Jo: I think the main point is that you can't do everything and you shouldn't even try to do everything. The best thing to do is pick a couple of things, or pick one thing, and focus on that. For example, I barely ever do video, so I definitely don't do TikTok. I don't do any kind of video stuff. But I have this podcast. Audio is my happy place, and as you said, long-form audio builds trust. That is one way you can sell, but it's also very slow—very, very slow to build an audio platform. Then I guess my main social media would be Instagram, but I don't engage a lot there. So do you have one or two main things that you do, and any thoughts on using those for book marketing? Lara: I do a lot of cross-posting. I am on Instagram and I do a lot of creation there, and I'm super intentional about this. I actually do 30 days at a time, and then it's like my intentional opt-in. I'll create over about two days, edit and plan. It's really, really planned—shoot everything, edit everything, put it all together, and then upload everything. That will be 30 days' worth. Then I back myself right out of there, because I don't want to stay in that space. I want to be in the creative space, but I do put those two days a month aside to do that on Instagram. Then I tweak things for YouTube and what works on LinkedIn, which is completely different to Instagram. As I'm designing my content, I have in mind that this one will go over here and this one can go on here, because different platforms push different things. I am on Threads, but Threads is not statistically where you sell books, it's just awareness. Pinterest I don't think has been very good for my type of work, to be honest. For others it might. It's a search engine, it's where people go to get a recipe. I don't necessarily feel like that's the best place, this is just my point of view. For someone else it might be brilliant if you're doing a cookbook or something like that. I am on a lot of platforms. My podcast, however, I feel is where I'm having the most success, and also my blog. Those things as a writer are very fulfilling. I've pushed growing a platform really hard, and I am on probably almost every platform except for TikTok, but I'm very intentional with each one. Jo: I guess the other thing is the business model. The fiction business model is very, very different to nonfiction. You've got a book, but your higher-cost and higher-value offerings are things that a certain number of people come through to you and pay you more money than the price of a book. Could talk about how the book leads into different parts of your business? Because some people are like, “Am I going to make a living wage from book sales of a nonfiction book?” And usually people have multiple streams of income. Lara: I think it's smart to have multiple streams of income. A lot of people, as you would know, would say that a book is a funnel. For those who haven't heard of it, a way that people come into your bigger offerings. They don't have to be, but very much I do see it that way. It's also credibility. When you have a published book, there's a sense of credibility. I do have other things. I have courses, I have coaching, I have a lot of things that I call my parallel career that chug alongside my artist work and actually help stabilise that freelance income. Having a book is brilliant for that. I think it's a wonderful way to get out there in the world. No matter what's happening in all the online stuff, when you're on an aeroplane, so often someone still wants to read a book. When you're on the beach, they don't want to be there with a laptop. If you're on the sand, you want to be reading a beautiful paper book. The smell of it, the visceral experience of it. Books aren't going anywhere, to me. I still feel like there are always going to be people that want to pick it up and dig in and learn so much of your entire life experience quickly. Jo: We all love books here. I think it's important, as you do talk about career design and you mentioned there the parallel career—I get a lot of questions from people. They may just be writing their first book and they want to get to the point of making money so they could leave their day job or whatever. But it takes time, doesn't it? So how can we be more strategic about this sort of career design? Lara: For me, this has been a big one because lived experience here is that I know artists in many different areas, whether they're Broadway performers or music artists. Some of them are on almost everything I watch on TV. I'm like, oh, they're that guy again. I know that actor is on almost everything. I'll apply this over to writers. The reality is that these high-end performers that I see all the time showing up, even on Broadway in lead roles, all have another thing that they do, because they can still have, even at the highest level, six months between a contract. Applying that over to writing is the same thing, in that books and the money from them will ebb and flow. What so often artists are taught—and authors fit into this—is that we ultimately want art to make us money. So often that becomes “may my art rescue me from this horrible life that I'm living,” and we don't design the life around the art. We hope, hope, hope that our art will provide. I think it's a beautiful hope and a valid one. Some people do get that. I'm all for hoping our art will be our main source of income. But the reality is for the majority of people, they have something else. What I see over and over again is these audacious dreams, which are wonderful, and everything pointing towards them in terms of work. But then I'll see the actor in Hollywood that has a café job and I'm like, how long are you going to just work at that café job? They're like, “Well, I'm goint to get a big break and then everything's going to change.” I think we can think the same way. My big break will come, I'll get the publishing deal, and then everything will change. The reframe in our thinking is: what if we looked at this differently? Instead of side hustle, fallback career, instead of “my day job,” we say parallel career. How do I design a life that supports my art? And if I get to live off my art, wonderful. For me, that's looked like teaching and directing musical theatre. It's looked like being able to coach other artists. It's looked like writing and being able to pivot my creativity in the seasons where I've needed to. All of that is still creativity and energising, and all of it feeds the great big passion I have to show up in the world as an artist. None of it is actually pulling me away or draining me. I mean, you have bad days, of course, but it's not draining my art. When we are in this way of thinking—one day, one day, one day—we are not designing intentionally. What does it look like to maybe upskill and train in something that would be more energising for my parallel career that will chug alongside us as an artist? We all hope our art can totally 100% provide for us, which is the dream and a wonderful dream, and one that I still have. Jo: It's hard, isn't it? Because I also think that, personally, I need a lot of input in order to create. I call myself more of a binge writer. I just finished the edits on my next novel and I worked really hard on that. Now I won't be writing fiction for, I don't know, maybe six months or something, because now I need to input for the next one. I have friends who will write 10,000 words a day because they don't need that. They have something internal, or they're just writing a different kind of book that doesn't need that. Your book is a result of years of experience, and you can't write another book like that every year. You just can't, because you don't have enough new stuff to put in a book like that every single year. I feel like that's the other thing. People don't anticipate the input time and the time it takes for the ideas to come together. It is not just the production of the book. Lara: That's completely true. It goes back to this metaphor that creativity in the body is not a machine, it's a rhythm. I like to say rhythm over consistency, which allows us to say, “Hey, I'm going to be all in.” I was all in on writing. I went into a vortex for days on end, weeks on end, months and probably years on end. But even within that, there were ebbs and flows of input versus “I can't go near it today.” Recognising that that's actually normal is fine. There are those people that are outliers, and they will be out of that box. A lot of people will push that as the only way. “I am going to write every morning at 10am regardless.” That can work for some people, and that's wonderful. For those of us who don't like that—and I'm one of those people, that's not me as an artist—I accept the rhythm of creativity and that sometimes I need to do something completely different to feed my soul. I'm a big believer that a lot of creative block is because we need an adventure. We need to go out and see some art. To do good art, you've got to see good art, read good art, get outside, do something else for the input so that we have the inspiration to get out of the block. I know a screenwriter who was writing a really hard scene of a daughter's death—her mum's death. It's not easy to just write that in your living room when you've never gone through it. So she took herself out—I mean, it sounds morbid, but as a writer you'll understand the visceral nature of this—and sat at somebody's tombstone that day and just let that inform her mind and her heart. She was able to write a really powerful scene because she got out of the house and allowed herself to do something different. All that to say that creativity, the natural process, is an in-and-out thing. It ebbs and flows as a rhythm. People are different, and that's fine. But it is a rhythm in the way it works scientifically in the body. Jo: On graveyards—we love graveyards around here. Lara: I was like, sorry everyone, this isn't very nice. Jo: Oh, no. People are well used to it on this show. Let's come back to rhythm. When you are in a good rhythm, or when your body's warmed up and you are in the flow and everything's great, that feels good. But what if some people listening have found their rhythm is broken in some way, or it's come to a stop? That can be a real problem, getting moving again if you stop for too long. What are some ways we can get that rhythm back into something that feels right again? Lara: First of all, for people going through that, it's because our body actually will prioritise survival when we're going through crisis or too much stress. Creativity in the brain will go, well, that's not in that survival nature. When we are going through change—like me moving countries—it would disconnect us a lot from not only ourselves and our sense of identity, but creativity ultimately reconnects you back into life. I feel like to be at our optimum creative self, once we get through the crisis and the stress, is to gently nudge ourselves back in by little micro things. Whether it's “I'm just going to have the rhythm of writing one sentence a day.” As we do that, those little baby steps build momentum and allow us to come back in. Creativity is a life force. It's not about production, it's actually how we get to any unique contribution we're going to bring to the world. As we start to nudge ourselves back in, there's healing in that and there's joy in that. Then momentum comes. I know momentum comes from those little steps, rather than the overwhelming “I've got to write a novel this week” mindset. It's not going to happen, most of the time, when we are nudging our way back in. Little baby steps, kindness with ourselves. Staying connected to yourself through change or through crisis is one of the kindest things we can offer ourselves, and allowing ourselves to come into that rhythm—like that musical song of coming back in with maybe one line of the song instead of the entire masterpiece, which hopefully it will be one day. Jo: I was also thinking of the dancing world again, and one thing that is very different with writers is that so much of what we do is alone. In a lot of the performance art space, there's a lot more collaboration and groups of people creating things together. Is that something you've kept hold of, this kind of collaborative energy? How do you think we can bring that collaborative energy more into writing? Lara: Writing is very much alone. Obviously some people, depending on the project, will write in groups, but generally speaking, it's alone. For me, what that looks like is going out. I do this, and I know for some writers this is like, I don't want to go and talk to people. There are a lot of introverts in writing, as you are aware. I do go to creative mixers. I do get out there. I'm planning right now my book launch with a local bookstore, one in Australia and one here in America. Those things are scary, but I know that it matters to say I'm not in this alone. I want to bring my friends in. I want to have others part of this journey. I want to say, hey, I did this. And of course, I want to sell books. That's important too. It's so easy to hide, because it's scary to get out there and be with others. Yet I know that after a creative mixer or a meetup with all different artists, no matter their discipline, I feel very energised by that. Writers will come, dancers will come, filmmakers will come. It's that creative force that really energises my work. Of course, you can always meet with other writers. There's one person I know that runs this thing where all they do is they all get on Zoom together and they all write. Their audio's off, but they're just writing. It's just the feeling of, we're all writing but we're doing it together. It's a discipline for them, but because there's a room of creatives all on Zoom, they're like, I'm here, I've showed up, there's others. There's a sense of accountability. I think that's beautiful. I personally don't want to work that way, but some people do, and I think that's gorgeous too. Jo: Whatever sustains you. I think one of the important things is to realise you are not alone. I get really confused when people say this now. They're like, “Writing's such a lonely life, how do you manage?” I'm like, it is so not lonely. Lara: Yes. Jo: I'm sure you do too. Especially as a podcaster, a lot of people want to have conversations. We are having a conversation today, so that fulfils my conversation quota for the day. Lara: Exactly. Real human connection. It matters. Jo: Exactly. So maybe there's a tip for people. I'm an introvert, so this actually does fulfil it. It's still one-on-one, it's still you and me one-on-one, which is good for introverts. But it's going out to a lot more people at some point who will listen in to our conversation. There are some ways to do this. It's really interesting hearing your thoughts. Tell people where they can find you and your books and your podcast online. Lara: The book is called Audacious Artistry: Reclaim Your Creative Identity and Thrive in a Saturated World, and it's everywhere. The easiest thing to do would be to visit my website, LaraBiancaPilcher.com/book, and you'll find all the links there. My podcast is called Healthy Wealthy Wise Artist, and it's on all the podcast platforms. I do short coaching for artists on a lot of the things we've been talking about today. Jo: Brilliant. Well, thanks so much for your time, Lara. That was great. Lara: Thank you.The post Audacious Artistry: Reclaiming Your Creative Identity And Thriving In A Saturated World With Lara Bianca Pilcher first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Megan chats with Megan Flatt about building a weekly planning system that actually works and helps you finish your most important work. Megan Flatt is the founder of Let's Collective, a business strategy firm helping entrepreneurs achieve more revenue, time, and fulfillment, without the hustle. Megan is also the author of Focused: Reclaim Your Time, Ditch Overwhelm, and Do Less Better, where she blends research and practical strategies to help people do less, better. When she's not strategizing, Megan can be found with a stack of romance novels, a fresh set of office supplies and usually a latte. Learn more at letscollective.co If your weeks feel full but your biggest goals keep slipping, this episode gives you a repeatable planning process that protects your time, your energy, and your priorities even during busy or disruptive weeks. Weekly planning saves time, not wastes it: Intentional planning prevents task jumping and reactive work. Your calendar is the container, not your to-do list: You can only commit to what realistically fits. Set work hours before setting tasks: Clear boundaries reduce guilt and increase focus. Brain dumps clear mental clutter fast: Getting tasks out of your head improves decision-making. Buffer time is nonnegotiable: Planning 100 percent of your time guarantees burnout. Progress beats perfect weeks: Consistent review and adjustment is the system. Connect with Megan Flatt Website | Instagram

Authority in the media isn't about hustle or piling up content. It's about strategic positioning, crystal-clear messaging, and intentionally being seen where it matters. In this episode of Influential Voices of Authority, Erik K. Johnson welcomes award-winning celebrity cosmetic dentist and PR strategist Dr. Catrise Austin. Together, they break down the bold steps coaches, consultants, and experts can take to go from overlooked content creators to sought-after authorities by being seen as the media.   00:00 "Building Authority Through Podcasts" 03:57 "Embracing Authority and Impact" 09:02 "Authority Eliminates Hustling" 10:33 "Building a Celebrity Dentist Brand" 12:56 Discovering the Power of Media 17:54 "Podcast Brand Overhaul & Strategy" 21:45 Podcast Promotion and Publicity Tips 23:44 "Be Visible, Be the Expert" 28:46 "Everyday Smile Dental Podcast" 29:41 "Affordable Dental Care Resources" 34:05 "Cardi B Smile Makeover Journey" 37:37 "Build Relationships, Seize Opportunities" 40:50 "7 PR Strategies for Podcasters" 45:06 "Podcast Authority Strategy Audit" 45:49 "Narrowing to Become #1"   Episode Highlights: Why hustling and creating more content does NOT equal authority How authority is placed by those already in power— and how you can fast-track your recognition by being seen as "media" Dr. Catrise Austin's journey from cosmetic dentist to featured expert on Today, Dr. Oz, Jeopardy, and beyond The FAME method for transforming your podcast from "just another show" into a magnetic platform The crucial difference between promoting your episodes and promoting your expertise Real-world case studies of podcasters who broke out of obscurity using PR, lead magnets, and positioning Strategies for being instantly identifiable to decision makers and the media on social, your website, and more Why intentional connection, the Dream 100, and establishing the right relationships can open doors to top podcast guests, partnerships, and media features How treating your podcast as a media outlet unlocks press passes, brand deals, and new revenue opportunities   Key Takeaways: More content isn't the answer—intentionally placing your voice in front of the right audience is Clarity about your expertise makes the opportunities come to you, rather than you chasing them Excellence alone won't get you noticed; authentic positioning and visibility do Your "authority assets"—book, blogs, podcast, lead magnets—are critical to being quotable, bookable, and findable Relationships are the real catalyst for authority; proximity to the right people accelerates your results   Resources & Free Gift: Download Dr. Catrise Austin's slides: "7 PR Strategies That Actually Work for Podcasters" Get clear, quotable, and bookable so media and opportunities come to you:http://forms.celebritybrandingusa.com/podfest   Connect with Dr. Catrise Austin and Celebrity Branding USA: Website: http://celebritybrandingusa.com Instagram & LinkedIn: @celebritybrandingusa   Ready to turn your podcast into an authority engine? You've published the episodes. You've stayed consistent. You know your content is good. And yet… You're not being seen as the authority in your niche Your podcast isn't creating the level of influence or opportunity you expected People listen—but they don't take action And you sound professional… but not unforgettable The truth? Consistency alone doesn't create authority. Intentional leadership does. Turn your podcast into an authority engine and not just more content. Let me audit your podcast and find the gaps. We will uncover your authority positioning prcoblem, develop your plan to succeed, and see how I can help and support you to achieve your podcast goals. Apply for a coaching chat and free podcast audit with Erik K. Johnson athttp://www.PodcastTalentCoach.com/coaching   NEXT WEEK: Discover how Corinne Gerhardt turbocharged her authority by niching so deep she became the top Google search in her field. Learn the secrets to "getting chosen" as the recognized expert.

Send a text“Boutique” has become a popular buzzword in the salon industry. But most of the time, it describes how a salon looks, not how it operates.In this episode, we break down what boutique actually means and why changing your aesthetic isn't enough to create a boutique experience. We talk about intentional client matching, curated services, smaller teams, stronger leadership, and why boutique salons aren't built to serve everyone.We also share lessons from rebuilding our own salon after the flood, how focusing on what you can control changes everything, and why protecting your culture, your team, and your client experience matters more than chasing buzzwords.A boutique salon isn't defined by plants, crystals, or décor.It's defined by clarity, standards, and intentional leadership.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.KEY TAKEAWAYSBoutique is an operating philosophy, not an aesthetic.You don't have to serve everyone to build a successful salon.Intentional client matching creates better outcomes.Smaller, curated teams create stronger alignment.Leadership clarity creates stability for staff.Systems should be designed intentionally, not copied.Protecting experience builds long-term loyalty.Buzzwords don't build businesses — structure does.Focus on what you can control and ignore the rest.Culture and intentionality define real boutique salons.TIME STAMPS00:00 — Opening + episode overview 01:00 — Jen's opening take: learning to release control 04:00 — Focus on what you can control 05:30 — The Bean Soup lesson explained 08:30 — Business update: rebuild timeline and return date 12:00 — The problem with salon buzzwords 13:00 — What boutique usually means vs what it should mean 15:30 — Boutique client experience and intentional matching 17:30 — Curated services and product selection 19:30 — Boutique teams vs large staff structures 22:00 — Culture, hiring, and alignment 24:00 — Leadership clarity and communication 26:30 — Systems built intentionally for your environment 28:30 — Protecting client experience over filling chairs 30:30 — Why not every client should be yours 32:00 — Closing thoughtsLinks and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

Most successful martial artists know that mastery isn't just about techniques; it's about relentless self-awareness, intentional training, and building a community grounded in authenticity. Dan Covel, a decorated black belt and seasoned gym owner, reveals how his unwavering focus on purpose, culture, and honest communication transformed his academy.This episode uncovers the core principles behind cultivating a thriving, respectful jiu-jitsu community, one that values growth over ego. Dan shares practical insights on simplifying teaching, emphasizing foundational grips and movement, and fostering an environment where students train with purpose and autonomy. You'll discover how controlling the narrative around position and control can exponentially accelerate skill development, and why the path to mastery is a steady journey of incremental wins, not shortcuts.Dan also delves into the mental resilience built from overcoming injuries and setbacks early in his career, demonstrating how a fighting spirit fuels persistence. Plus, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at his evolving approach to business, from streamlining warmups to maintaining peak team culture, showing that humility and hard work are the real keys to long-term success in martial arts and business.Perfect for coaches, gym owners, and practitioners ready to refine their craft and foster a community that breathes authenticity and respect, this is your blueprint for elevating both your skills and your gym's culture. If you're committed to meaningful progress over superficial hype, this episode is a must-listen.links:https://www.instagram.com/dancoveljiujitsu/https://coveljiujitsu.com/https://digitsu.com/@DanCovelBJJ Fanatics https://bjjfanatics.com/collections/instructional-videos/fighter_dan-covel?list=1SALT Electrolytes use code FWB for 15% off. @SaltElectrolytesCheck out the new FWB store https://fwb.printful.me/Support the show by buying me a cup of coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/foreverwhitebelt

Cross-posted to LessWrong.Summary History's most destructive ideologies—like Nazism, totalitarian communism, and religious fundamentalism—exhibited remarkably similar characteristics: epistemic and moral certainty extreme tribalism dividing humanity into a sacred “us” and an evil “them” a willingness to use whatever means necessary, including brutal violence. Such ideological fanaticism was a major driver of eight of the ten greatest atrocities since 1800, including the Taiping Rebellion, World War II, and the regimes of Stalin, Mao, and Hitler. We focus on ideological fanaticism over related concepts like totalitarianism partly because it better captures terminal preferences, which plausibly matter most as we approach superintelligent AI and technological maturity. Ideological fanaticism is considerably less influential than in the past, controlling only a small fraction of world GDP. Yet at least hundreds of millions still hold fanatical views, many regimes exhibit concerning ideological tendencies, and the past two decades have seen widespread democratic backsliding. The long-term influence of ideological fanaticism is uncertain. Fanaticism faces many disadvantages including a weak starting position, poor epistemics, and difficulty assembling broad coalitions. But it benefits from greater willingness to use extreme measures, fervent mass followings, and a historical tendency to survive and even thrive amid technological and societal upheaval. Beyond complete victory or defeat, multipolarity may [...] ---Outline:(00:16) Summary(05:19) What do we mean by ideological fanaticism?(08:40) I. Dogmatic certainty: epistemic and moral lock-in(10:02) II. Manichean tribalism: total devotion to us, total hatred for them(12:42) III. Unconstrained violence: any means necessary(14:33) Fanaticism as a multidimensional continuum(16:09) Ideological fanaticism drove most of recent historys worst atrocities(19:24) Death tolls dont capture all harm(20:55) Intentional versus natural or accidental harm(22:44) Why emphasize ideological fanaticism over political systems like totalitarianism?(25:07) Fanatical and totalitarian regimes have caused far more harm than all other regime types(26:29) Authoritarianism as a risk factor(27:19) Values change political systems: Ideological fanatics seek totalitarianism, not democracy(29:50) Terminal values may matter independently of political systems, especially with AGI(31:02) Fanaticisms connection to malevolence (dark personality traits)(34:22) The current influence of ideological fanaticism(34:42) Historical perspective: it was much worse, but we are sliding back(37:19) Estimating the global scale of ideological fanaticism(43:57) State actors(48:12) How much influence will ideological fanaticism have in the long-term future?(48:57) Reasons for optimism: Why ideological fanaticism will likely lose(49:45) A worse starting point and historical track record(50:33) Fanatics intolerance results in coalitional disadvantages(51:53) The epistemic penalty of irrational dogmatism(54:21) The marketplace of ideas and human preferences(55:57) Reasons for pessimism: Why ideological fanatics may gain power(56:04) The fragility of democratic leadership in AI(56:37) Fanatical actors may grab power via coups or revolutions(59:36) Fanatics have fewer moral constraints(01:01:13) Fanatics prioritize destructive capabilities(01:02:13) Some ideologies with fanatical elements have been remarkably resilient and successful(01:03:01) Novel fanatical ideologies could emerge--or existing ones could mutate(01:05:08) Fanatics may have longer time horizons, greater scope-sensitivity, and prioritize growth more(01:07:15) A possible middle ground: Persistent multipolar worlds(01:08:33) Why multipolar futures seem plausible(01:10:00) Why multipolar worlds might persist indefinitely(01:15:42) Ideological fanaticism increases existential and suffering risks(01:17:09) Ideological fanaticism increases the risk of war and conflict(01:17:44) Reasons for war and ideological fanaticism(01:26:27) Fanatical ideologies are non-democratic, which increases the risk of war(01:27:00) These risks are both time-sensitive and timeless(01:27:44) Fanatical retributivism may lead to astronomical suffering(01:29:50) Empirical evidence: how many people endorse eternal extreme punishment?(01:33:53) Religious fanatical retributivism(01:40:45) Secular fanatical retributivism(01:41:43) Ideological fanaticism could undermine long-reflection-style frameworks and AI alignment(01:42:33) Ideological fanaticism threatens collective moral deliberation(01:47:35) AI alignment may not solve the fanaticism problem either(01:53:33) Prevalence of reality-denying, anti-pluralistic, and punitive worldviews(01:55:44) Ideological fanaticism could worsen many other risks(01:55:49) Differential intellectual regress(01:56:51) Ideological fanaticism may give rise to extreme optimization and insatiable moral desires(01:59:21) Apocalyptic terrorism(02:00:05) S-risk-conducive propensities and reverse cooperative intelligence(02:01:28) More speculative dynamics: purity spirals and self-inflicted suffering(02:03:00) Unknown unknowns and navigating exotic scenarios(02:03:43) Interventions(02:05:31) Societal or political interventions(02:05:51) Safeguarding democracy(02:06:40) Reducing political polarization(02:10:26) Promoting anti-fanatical values: classical liberalism and Enlightenment principles(02:13:55) Growing the influence of liberal democracies(02:15:54) Encouraging reform in illiberal countries(02:16:51) Promoting international cooperation(02:22:36) Artificial intelligence-related interventions(02:22:41) Reducing the chance that transformative AI falls into the hands of fanatics(02:27:58) Making transformative AIs themselves less likely to be fanatical(02:36:14) Using AI to improve epistemics and deliberation(02:38:13) Fanaticism-resistant post-AGI governance(02:39:51) Addressing deeper causes of ideological fanaticism(02:41:26) Supplementary materials(02:41:39) Acknowledgments(02:42:22) References --- First published: February 12th, 2026 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/EDBQPT65XJsgszwmL/long-term-risks-from-ideological-fanaticism --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO. ---Images from the article:Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.

In this previously aired episode of My DPC Story, host Maryal Concepcion sits down with Dr. Jalan Burton, a Washington, DC/DMV–based pediatrician practicing at the intersection of healthcare policy and deeply relational care. As the founder of Healthy Home Pediatrics, Dr. Burton shares how Direct Primary Care allows her to deliver unrushed, home-based pediatric care in a policy-dense environment while protecting both physician autonomy and patient trust. Her story highlights values-driven medicine, proactive cardiovascular and metabolic health conversations for children, and the power of designing a practice that supports families and physician wellbeing. We chose Dr. Burton for February because her journey reflects intentional, equity-centered care at the crossroads of policy and practice and later this season, we'll be bringing you an update as her DPC story continues to evolve!Get a SmartHeart 12-lead EKG for your DPC with board-certified cardiologists available to help you at the press of a button.Learn more about Zion HealthShare and REGISTER for the LIVE WEBINAR on Feb 13th at 2pm PST. Earn money WHILE running your DPC! Join SERMO for FREE today! Brought to you by SmartHeart: get your copy of the 5-Day Mini Metabolic Health Reset to use with your patients during Heart Health month!Support the showGET your FREE MONTHLY BUSINESS TOOL DOWNLOAD Become A My DPC Story PATREON MEMBER! SPONSOR THE PODMy DPC Story VOICEMAIL! DPC SWAG!FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * LinkedIn * TWITTER * TIKTOK * YouTube

Time:AfternoonMinister:Rev. Dr. Eric WatkinsTexts:Colossians 4:5–6Series:Evangelism Conference

Message from Joe Ryan on February 15, 2026

In this Craft of Father episode of the Fatherhood Field Notes podcast, Ned tells about his "death hike" adventure led by his teenage daughter. He reflects on the evolving journey of fatherhood, emphasizing the importance of legacy, family values, and the transition of children into independence. He shares his thoughts about his children's adventures and the challenges of homeschooling, while also discussing the significance of intentional fatherhood and mentorship.Takeaways:Adventures with our kids foster independence.Navigating independence is a key part of parenting.Intentional fatherhood requires active engagement.Rites of passage are ongoing throughout life.Teaching dependence on God is crucial.Building relationships with our children is essential.Fatherhood is a journey of personal growth and mentorship.---------This episode is sponsored by Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up KingsOrder The Adventure of Fatherhood children's book hereCheck out the TEDx----------Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/https://www.rebelandcreate.com/Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood. Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherhoodfieldnotesYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FatherhoodfieldnotesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelandcreateMentioned in this episode:Rise Up Kings Genesis - a rite of passage experience for young menThis episode was brought to you by Genesis - a rite of passage for boys becoming men - by Rise Up Kings.

Make 'I use pressure' one of your affirmations.

In this episode, Makayla Greathouse, founder of Elevate Intent, shares how her fractional head of people and HR advisory practice helps growing companies design intentional, high-performing people systems. Blending 15 years of HR experience with a decade of teaching yoga, she brings a unique perspective that merges operational excellence with mindfulness. She explains why trust is the foundation of healthy culture and scalable growth, and how companies must move beyond ad hoc processes to create clarity in onboarding, role expectations, and performance. Through her leadership "triangle" of autonomy, alignment, and accountability, Makayla outlines how intentional systems empower teams, strengthen culture, and drive meaningful business results. The conversation also explores authentic leadership, particularly for women navigating the workplace. Makayla highlights how traits like dependability and composure—often praised in women—can unintentionally create ceilings if they lead to silence or over-functioning instead of system redesign and healthy conflict. She shares practical tools like DISC and situational leadership to help leaders communicate more effectively while staying true to who they are. The episode closes with a powerful reminder of "The Human Advantage"—that while AI may accelerate output, it cannot replace trust, judgment, and human connection. For Makayla, an empowered woman is one who has the courage to show up fully and lead authentically in every space she occupies. Connect with Makayla:Website: www.elevateintent.co LinkedIn: Makayla Greathouse, MA, SHRM-CP Let's keep the conversation going!Website: www.martaspirk.com Instagram: @martaspirk Facebook: Marta Spirk Want to be my next guest on The Empowered Woman Podcast?Apply here: www.martaspirk.com/podcastguest  Watch my TEDx talk: www.martaspirk.com/keynoteconcerts      If you're a cultural catalyst, what got you here won't get you there. Cultural change happens through peers at your level — not through previous cycles of friends, mentees, or employees. Join our free masterclass: The Science-Backed Secrets to Activate Your Legacy as a Cultural Catalyst Without Burnout Register at activateherlegacy.com  

Intentional Movement: Navigating Spina Bifida, Finances & a Parent's Decline with Purpose - Dr. Gigi Sabbat & Karen Thomas Life doesn't pause when challenges arise — it asks us to move with intention. In this powerful and transparent conversation, Dr. Regeline “Gigi” Sabbat sits down with Karen Thomas to discuss what it truly means to live intentionally while navigating real-life complexities. From the realities of spina bifida, to financial literacy and stewardship, to the emotional weight of watching a parent decline — this episode explores resilience, responsibility, faith, and forward movement. This is a conversation about: • Mindset and belief shaping your future • Caring for loved ones with strength and boundaries • Financial awareness in seasons of uncertainty • Purpose-driven living in the face of adversity • Choosing movement instead of stagnation If you are a caregiver, a leader, a parent, a dreamer, or someone navigating life's unexpected turns — this episode is for you. Because intentional movement isn't about speed. It's about direction.

The Oxford Dictionary defines habit as: A settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one […]

Liz Bronson, VP of People at Skimmer, joined us on The Modern People Leader to talk about intentionally “flatlining” her career for a period of time to prioritize parenting. ----  Downloadable PDF with top takeaways: https://modernpeopleleader.kit.com/episode282Sponsor Links:

Today's author promises to teach us frameworks and principles to help us stop overthinking when trying to decide. Join Mike and Cory as they attempt to escape the endless "what if" loops in their brains and make better (and more intuitive) decisions.Intentional by Chris BaileyClaude Just Game My Obsidian Journaling Workflow a HUGE UpgradeMike's PKM QuizMike's Obsidian Report Card FormThe Overthinker's Guide to Making Decisions by Joseph NguyenDon't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph NguyenTim Ferris's Fear Setting ExerciseThe End of Burnout by Jonathan MalesicThe Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay StanierThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott FitzgeraldThe Crucified King by Jeremy TreatMike's Rating: ⭐⭐⭐Cory's Rating: ⭐

What if it's too late? If you've ever looked at your marriage, your relationship with your kids, or your past mistakes and thought, "I'm too far gone," this episode is for you.   In Part 5 of our From Overwhelmed to Intentional series, Kent and Lawson talk to the dad who feels discouraged, stuck, or haunted by guilt. You'll hear why it's so dangerous to add "forever" to temporary pain, how to stop speaking hopelessness over your home, and what it looks like to do the slow work of rebuilding trust. You can't control someone else's heart, but you can do your part to create the kind of environment where healing can grow.   Even when it may feel like things have veered too far off the tracks, God has a plan to redeem. You can move forward, even from here.   Want to shape the direction of the show this year? Leave us a voicemail and tell us what you're facing as a dad: manhoodjourney.org/podcast Scroll down to "What's Your Story?" and leave us a message!   You're not a father on accident. Go be a father on purpose.   -------------------------------------------------------------------------   Learn more about our new partners here: https://maninthemirror.org/ Download the Iron Circle worksheet here: https://manhoodjourney.org/iron-circle/   We've launched video now! Check out the video version of today's episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bFLdhxrY2ZQ -----------------------------------------------------------------------   Range Leather: Support the show and upgrade your fatherhood swag. Shop Range Leather and get 15% OFF with code MJ15 Grab some fresh beans! https://rangecoffee.com/   Fatherhood Guard – Help us get to 100 members of the Fatherhood Guard! Connect with dads from over 20 states and at least 2 countries by joining today. Grab your welcome hat at https://manhoodjourney.org/donate/fatherhood-guard/     Buy Kent's latest book "Don't Bench Yourself" on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1qBF3RJ   Read the new State Of Biblical Fatherhood report here: http://manhoodjourney.org/sobf Find tools to share the report here: https://manhoodjourney.org/sobf-tools   Have a topic you want us to touch on? Well, get in touch! Send us an email at: info@manhoodjourney.org   -------------------------------------------------------------------------   About our hosts: Kent Evans is the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps dads become disciple-makers. After a twenty-year career as a business leader, he embarked on biblical Fatherhood ministry projects. He's appeared on television, radio, web outlets and podcasts. He's spoken at parenting and men's events, and authored four books. The first, Wise Guys: Unlocking Hidden Wisdom from the Men Around You, was written to help men learn how to find mentors and wise counsel. The latest, Don't Bench Yourself: How to Stay in the Game Even When You Want to Quit, aims to help dads stay present in their roles as fathers and husbands even when they feel like giving up. Kent's life has been radically affected by godly mentors and his lovely wife, April. They have been married thirty years and have five sons and one daughter-in-law. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.   Lawson Brown is husband to his high school sweetheart, a father of two young adult daughters, has been a business leader since 1995, and is a former Marine. He served as a small group leader for teenage boys for many years, helped start the Christian media ministry City on a Hill Productions, then later Sanctuary – a new church in Kennesaw, GA – where he served as its leader for Men's Ministry. Lawson's journey of faith has always been centered in a grounding from his wife, Audrey, and supported throughout by many men whom he's found as brothers along the way. His family is nearing an empty nest phase and has recently relocated to the Florida Gulf Coast beaches area.

In a world full of transactional networking and surface-level connections, Sarah Hubbard is redefining what it means to build relationships that matter.Sarah is the Founder and CEO of The Intentional Network and the author of the book by the same name—a results-driven approach to networking built on authenticity, trust, and shared growth. Her community brings together high-performing professionals who aren't just exchanging business cards, but solving real problems, sharing proven strategies, and scaling together.In this conversation, we explore why intentional networking beats traditional networking every time, how to cultivate genuine relationships that create long-term value, and what happens when professionals commit to learning and growing together through mastermind-style collaboration.Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, or business leader tired of “networking for networking's sake,” this episode offers a smarter, more human approach to building a powerful professional ecosystem.

Can a podcast be strong and still have room to grow? We're breaking down a recent episode of indie podcast, Movies in a Nutshell , and exploring what happens when a show gets most things right. Believe us, this episode leaves plenty to study. We unpack what worked, including their approach to segment structure and intentional ways to speak to both new and returning listeners. We also look at areas where a little polish could elevate the experience even more. Because the gap between good and great is often smaller than you think...Episode Highlights: [01:56] Podcast evaluation begins[02:51] First clip and podcast intro review[08:05] Explaining plosives and practical audio techniques[12:06] Intentional small talk and nostalgia[19:58] Referencing past episodes[26:44] Creating segments that engage an audience[29:32] Nostalgia and cultural context[31:51] Podcast structure and segment flow[33:55] Balancing new and returning audiences[41:42] Episode titles and SEO considerationsLinks & Resources: The Podcasting Morning Chat: www.podpage.com/pmcJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Book A Free Call With Me: https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycallJoin The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting⁠Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8-Xv6O6lrNPcPJwj3N0Z5Osdl-5kHGz_PiAU45U57S-XgoA/viewform?usp=headerMovies in a Nutshell: https://pod.link/1156902852/episode/ZjNkYzI4NDUtZDExMi00NTZkLThkZTQtNGFhZTY5NGRlM2Yz?view=apps&sort=popularityRemember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us grow and bring valuable content to the podcasting community.Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 7 am ET (US) on ⁠Clubhouse⁠: ⁠⁠⁠ https://www.clubhouse.com/house/empowered-podcasting-e6nlrk0w⁠⁠Live on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/@marcronick⁠Brought to you by⁠ ⁠iRonickMedia.com⁠⁠ Please note that some links may be affiliate links, which support the hosts of the PMC. Thank you!--- Send in your mailbag question at:⁠ https://www.podpage.com/pmc/contact/⁠ or ⁠marc@ironickmedia.com⁠Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Chat? Send me a message on PodMatch, here: ⁠https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b⁠

Summary Book a Strategy Call In this episode of Leadership on the Links, Meredith Otero and Mitch Rupert dive into a candid recap of the GCSAA 2026 Conference and Trade Show in Orlando. Fresh off the heels of an incredible week, they reflect on the exponential growth Bloom Golf Partners has experienced over the past 12 months and how it transformed every conversation on the trade show floor. From sold-out education sessions to meaningful booth visits, Meredith and Mitch discuss what made this year feel so different—intentional connections, industry recognition, and the pride of watching their team shine. They also touch on workforce trends, the critical need for equipment managers, and the power of developing talent from within. What You'll Learn Why intentional networking and consistent marketing efforts lead to more meaningful conference conversations How Bloom Golf Partners' growth over 12 months shifted booth visits from "What do you guys do?" to purposeful engagement The current workforce crisis facing equipment managers and why this trade skill offers incredible career potential Why developing talent from within—whether from your own staff or the local community—is key to solving hiring challenges How team balance and individual strengths create a winning dynamic at industry events The importance of stepping outside your comfort zone for speaking engagements and professional growth     Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and post-conference exhaustion  00:42 – Overview of the GCSAA 2026 Conference and Trade Show  01:06 – Team photos, Disney fun, and the famous Sunday sundae  02:48 – Mitch's comparison: What felt different from last year  04:55 – Nonstop booth traffic and meaningful conversations  05:28 – Meredith's takeaway: Intentional visits and genuine connections  07:52 – Feeling rejuvenated, not drained, after a full week  09:23 – Mitch's sold-out education session and key takeaways  11:24 – The equipment manager workforce crisis and aging out of the profession  12:43 – Career potential in trade skills and equipment management  14:51 – Mary's speaking debut and overcoming presentation nerves  16:19 – Mitch's first speaking engagement at Union League and lessons learned  17:56 – Meredith's upcoming speaking opportunity at Club Managers  18:38 – Team dynamics, balance, and playing to individual strengths 1 9:21 – Plans for future events and getting the whole team together   Links Mentioned Bloom Golf Partners Website: https://www.bloomgolfpartners.com GCSAA Conference & Trade Show: https://www.gcsaa.org  Club Managers Association of America (CMAA): https://www.cmaa.org  

This is The Briefing, a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview.Part I (00:14 – 13:21)Gambling and the Corruption of Sports: We are Looking at a Moral Crisis in SportsEverybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling by Simon and Schuster (Danny Funt)Basketball's Game-Fixing Scandal Now Includes 17 U.S. Colleges—and China's Pro League by The Wall Street Journal (Jared Diamond and Louise Radnofsky)Part II (13:21 – 16:37)‘This is Gambling': The Prediction Markets Are Turning Into Just Another Form of GamblingAll bets are on by Deseret News (Ethan Bauer)Part III (16:37 – 19:47)Gambling Aims Younger and Younger: This is Intentional, and Sports Gambling is Particularly Attractive to Men and Young MenSuper Bowl is betting bonanza. Behind the scenes apps are busting kids by USA Today (Nick Penzenstadler and Carlie Procell)Part IV (19:47 – 22:41)Even Secularists Know We Have a Sports Gambling Problem: Christians Cannot Continue to Ignore This CrisisPart V (22:41 – 25:33)Do Sports Fans Even Care About Gambling? There is a Dangerous Denial of Evil HereSign up to receive The Briefing in your inbox every weekday morning.Follow Dr. Mohler:X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTubeFor more information on The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, go to sbts.edu.For more information on Boyce College, just go to BoyceCollege.com.To write Dr. Mohler or submit a question for The Mailbox, go here.

#265: Chris explores how modern AI tools have eliminated the barriers to building software, why planning matters more than coding skill, how anyone can turn a simple problem into a working app faster and cheaper than ever before, and how he built a personal AI assistant that's already started to run his life behind the scenes. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/how-to-build-with-ai-tools Partner Deals Green Chef: 50% off on your first box + 20% off for two months with code 50ALLTHEHACKS Mercury: Help your business grow with simplified finances NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned AI Models & Assistants ChatGPT OpenClaw Gemini Claude AI Coding & Building Tools Replit Lovable Cursor Codex Productivity & Automation Tools Wispr Flow Zapier Nimble Links Tampermonkey Developer Infrastructure Clerk Supabase GitHub FinTech: Plaid How to Run OpenClaw as your Virtual EA Blogs Doctor of Credit Frequent Miler The Points Guy Deep Personality Credit Cards American Express® Gold Card Citi Strata Elite℠ Card Citi Strata Premier℠ Card Bilt 2.0 ATH Podcast Ep #263: How to Earn Millions of Points and More Listener Q&A Chris' Card Optimizer Tool Ask Chris Anything! Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:41) Why This Is the Best Time Ever to Build Software (04:14) How to Build Almost Anything with AI (13:53) Why Context Is the Real Superpower (15:58) Using Planning Mode Instead of Guessing (16:41) Which AI Tool Should You Start With? (17:53) Building a Real Credit Card Optimizer from Scratch (28:48) What It Actually Costs to Build with AI (32:38) The Real AI Learning Curve (33:38) Moving from Cursor to Claude Code (36:17) Why You Should Try Building Something (Even If You're Not a Coder) (37:00) How OpenClaw Changes the Game (38:57) Why Security Still Matters (42:25) A Conversation with Ted, Chris' AI Assistant (44:07) Letting AI Work While You Sleep (49:41) Learning to Be Clear, Specific, and Intentional (50:03) Start with a Real Problem (50:39) Breaking Projects into Small, Winnable Pieces (50:58) What Would You Build If Building Were Easy? (51:59) Keeping Track of Cost and Budget Connect with Chris Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn Editor's Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I'm joined by Mandy Mooney — author, corporate communicator, and performer — for a wide-ranging conversation about mentorship, career growth, and how to show up authentically in both work and life.   We talk about her path from performing arts to corporate communications, and how those early experiences shaped the way she approaches relationships, leadership, and personal authenticity. That foundation carries through to her current role as VP of Internal Communications, where she focuses on building connections and fostering resilience across teams.   We explore the three pillars of career success Mandy highlights in her book Corporating: Three Ways to Win at Work — relationships, reputation, and resilience — and how they guide her approach to scaling mentorship and helping others grow. Mandy shares practical strategies for balancing professional responsibilities with personal passions, and why embracing technology thoughtfully can enhance, not replace, human connection.   The conversation also touches on parenting, building independence in children, and the lessons she's learned about optimism, preparation, and persistence — both in the workplace and at home.   If you're interested in scaling mentorship, developing your career with intention, or navigating work with authenticity, this episode is for you. And if you want to hear more on these topics, catch Mandy speaking at Snafu Conference 2026 on March 5th. 00:00 Start 02:26 Teaching Self-Belief and Independence Robin notes Mandy has young kids and a diverse career (performing arts → VP of a name-brand company → writing books). Robin asks: "What are the skills that you want your children to develop, to stay resilient in the world and the world of work that they're gonna grow up in?" Emphasis on meta-skills. Mandy's response: Core skills She loves the question, didn't expect it, finds it a "thrilling ride." Observes Robin tends to "put things out there before they exist" (e.g., talking about having children before actually having them). Skill 1: Envisioning possibilities "Envision the end, believe that it will happen and it is much more likely to happen." Teaching children to see limitless possibilities if they believe in them. Skill 2: Independence Examples: brushing their own hair, putting on clothes, asking strangers questions. One daughter in Girl Scouts: learning sales skills by approaching strangers to sell cookies. Independence builds confidence and problem-solving abilities for small and big life challenges. Skill 3: Self-belief / Self-worth Tied to independence. Helps children navigate life and career successfully. Robin asks about teaching self-belief Context: Mandy's kids are 6 and 9 years old (two girls). Mandy's approach to teaching self-belief Combination of: Words Mandy uses when speaking to them. Words encouraged for the children to use about themselves. Example of shifting praise from appearance to effort/creativity: Instead of "You look so pretty today" → "Wow, I love the creativity that you put into your outfit." Reason: "The voice that I use, the words that I choose, they're gonna receive that and internalize it." Corrective, supportive language when children doubt themselves: Example: Child says, "I'm so stupid, I can't figure out this math problem." Mandy responds: "Oh wow. That's something that we can figure out together. And the good news is I know that you are so smart and that you can figure this out, so let's work together to figure it out." Asking reflective questions to understand their inner thoughts: Example: "What's it like to be you? What's it like to be inside your head?" Child's response: "Well, you worry a lot," which Mandy found telling and insightful. Emphasizes coming from a place of curiosity to check in on a child's self-worth and self-identity journey. 04:30 Professional Journey and Role of VP of Internal Comms Robin sets up the question about professional development Notes Mandy has mentored lots of people. Wants to understand: Mandy's role as VP of Internal Communications (what that means). How she supports others professionally. How her own professional growth has been supported. Context: Robin just finished a workshop for professionals on selling themselves, asking for promotions, and stepping forward in their careers. Emphasizes that she doesn't consider herself an expert but learns from conversations with experienced people like Mandy. Mandy explains her role and path Career path has been "a winding road." Did not study internal communications; discovered it later. Finds her job fun, though sometimes stressful: "I often think I might have the most fun job in the world. I mean, it, it can be stressful and it can't, you know, there are days where you wanna bang your head against the wall, but by and large, I love my job. It is so fun." Internal communications responsibility: Translate company strategy into something employees understand and are excited about. Example: Translate business plan for 2026 to 2,800 employees. Team's work includes: Internal emails. PowerPoints for global town halls. Speaking points for leaders. Infusing fun into company culture via intranet stories (culture, customers, innovation). Quick turnaround on timely stories (example: employee running seven marathons on seven continents; story created within 24 hours). Storytelling and theater skills are key: Coaching leaders for presentations: hand gestures, voice projection, camera presence. Mandy notes shared theater background with Robin: "You and I are both thespian, so we come from theater backgrounds." Robin summarizes role Sounds like a mix of HR and sales: supporting employee development while "selling" them on the company. Mandy elaborates on impact and mentorship Loves making a difference in employees' lives by giving information and support. Works closely with HR (Human Resources) to: Provide learning and development opportunities. Give feedback. Help managers improve. Wrote a book to guide navigating internal careers and relationships. Mentorship importance: Mentors help accelerate careers in any organization. Mandy's career journey Started studying apparel merchandising at Indiana University (with Kelley School of Business minor). Shifted from pre-med → theater → journalism → apparel merchandising. Took full advantage of career fairs and recruiter networking at Kelley School of Business. "The way that I've gotten jobs is not through applying online, it's through knowing somebody, through having a relationship." First role at Gap Inc.: rotational Retail Management Training Program (RMP). Some roles enjoyable, some less so; realized she loved the company even if some jobs weren't ideal. Mentor influence: Met Bobby Stillton, president of Gap Foundation, who inspired her with work empowering women and girls. Took a 15-minute conversation with Bobby and got an entry-level communications role. Career growth happened through mentorship, internal networking, and alignment with company she loved. Advice for her daughters (Robin's question) Flash-forward perspective: post-college or early career. How to start a career in corporate / large organizations: Increase "luck surface area" (exposure to opportunities). Network in a savvy way. Ask at the right times. Build influence to get ahead. Mentorship and internal relationships are key, not just applying for jobs online. 12:15 Career Advice and Building Relationships Initial advice: "Well first I would say always call your mom. Ask for advice. I'm right here, honey, anytime." Three keys to success: Relationships Expand your network. "You say yes to everything, especially early in your career." Examples: sit in on meetings, observe special projects, help behind the scenes. Benefits: Increases credibility. Shows people you can do anything. Reputation Build a reputation as confident, qualified, and capable. Online presence: Example: LinkedIn profile—professional, up-to-date, connected to network. Be a sponsor/advocate for your company (school, office, etc.). Monthly posts suggested: team photos, events, showing responsibility and trust. Offline reputation: Deliver results better than expected. "Deliver on the things that you said you were gonna do and do a better job than people expected of you." Resilience Not taught from books—learned through experience. Build resilience through preparation, not "fake it till you make it." Preparation includes: practicing presentations, thinking through narratives, blocking time before/after to collect thoughts and connect with people. "Preparation is my headline … that's part of what creates resilience." Mandy turns the question to Robin: "I wanna ask you too, I mean, Robin, you, you live and breathe this every day too. What do you think are the keys to success?" Robin agrees with preparation as key. Value of service work: Suggests working in service (food, hospitality) teaches humility. "I've never met somebody I think even ever in my life who is super entitled and profoundly ungrateful, who has worked a service job for any length of time." Robin's personal experience with service work: First business: selling pumpkins at Robin's Pumpkin Patch (age 5). Key formative experience: running Robin's Cafe (2016, opened with no restaurant experience, on three weeks' notice). Ran the cafe for 3 years, sold it on Craigslist. Served multiple stakeholders: nonprofit, staff (~15 employees), investors ($40,000 raised from family/friends). Trial by fire: unprepared first days—no full menu, no recipes, huge rush events. Concept of MI Plus: "Everything in its place" as preparation principle. Connecting service experience to corporate storytelling: Current business: Zandr Media (videos, corporate storytelling). Preparation is critical: Know who's where, what will be captured, and what the final asset looks like. Limited fixes in post-production, even with AI tools. Reinforces importance of preparation through repeated experience. Advice for future children / young people: Robin would encourage service jobs for kids for months or a year. Teaches: Sleep management, personal presentation, confidence, energy. "Deciding that I'm going to show up professionally … well … energetically." Emphasizes relentless optimism: positivity is a superpower. Experience shows contrast between being prepared and unprepared—learning from both is crucial. 16:36 The Importance of Service Jobs and Resilience Service jobs as formative experience: Worked as a waitress early in her career (teenager). Describes it as "the hardest job of my life". Challenges included: Remembering orders (memory). Constant multitasking. Dealing with different personalities and attitudes. Maintaining positivity and optimism through long shifts (e.g., nine-hour shifts). Fully agrees with Robin: service jobs teach humility and preparation. Optimism as a superpower: "I totally agree too that optimism is a superpower. I think optimism is my superpower." Writes about this concept in her book. Believes everyone has at least one superpower, and successful careers involve identifying and leaning into that superpower. Robin asks about the book Why did Mandy write the book? Inspiration behind the book? Also wants a deep dive into the writing process for her own interest. Mandy's inspiration and purpose of the book Title: "Corporating: Three Ways to Win At Work" Primary goal: Scale mentorship. Realized as she reached VP level, people wanted career advice. Increased visibility through: Position as VP. Connection with alma mater (Indiana University). Active presence on LinkedIn. Result: Many young professionals seeking mentorship. Challenge: Not sustainable to mentor individually. Solution: Writing a book allows her to scale mentorship without minimizing impact. Secondary goals / personal motivations: Acts as a form of "corporate therapy": Reflects on first 10 years of her career. Acknowledges both successes and stumbles. Helps process trials and tribulations. Provides perspective and gratitude for lessons learned. Fun aspect: as a writer, enjoyed formatting and condensing experiences into a digestible form for readers. Legacy and contribution: "I had something that I could contribute meaningfully to the world … as part of my own legacy … I do wanna leave this world feeling like I contributed something positive. So this is one of my marks."   21:37 Writing a Book and Creative Pursuits Robin asks Mandy about the writing process: "What's writing been like for you? Just the, the process of distilling your thinking into something permanent." Mandy: Writing process and finding the "25th hour" Loves writing: "I love writing, so the writing has been first and foremost fun." Where she wrote the book: Mostly from the passenger seat of her car. She's a working mom and didn't have traditional writing time. Advice from mentor Gary Magenta: "Mandy, you're gonna have to find the 25th hour." She found that "25th hour" in her car. Practical examples: During birthday party drop-offs: "Oh good. It's a drop off party. Bye. Bye, honey. See you in two hours. I'll be in the driveway. In my car. If you need anything, please don't need anything." Would write for 1.5–2 hours. During Girl Scouts, swim, any activity. On airplanes: Finished the book on an eight-hour flight back from Germany. It was her 40th birthday (June 28). "Okay, I did it." Realization moment: "You chip away at it enough that you realize, oh, I have a book." Robin: On parents and prioritization Parents told him: "When you have kids, you just find a way." Children create: Stricter prioritization. A necessary forcing function. Mandy's self-reflection: "I believe that I am an inherently lazy person, to be totally honest with you." But she's driven by deadlines and deliverables. Kids eliminate "lazy days": No more slow Saturdays watching Netflix. "They get up. You get up, you have to feed these people like there's a human relying on you." Motherhood forces motivation: "My inherent laziness has been completely wiped away the past nine years." Writing happened in small windows of time. Importance of creative outlet: Having something for yourself fuels the rest of life. Examples: writing, crocheting, quilting, music. Creativity energizes other areas of life. Robin mentions The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. Advice from that book: Have something outside your day job that fuels you. For Robin: Physical practice (gym, handstands, gymnastics, ballet, capoeira, surfing). It's a place to: Celebrate. Feel progress. Win, even if work is struggling. Example: If tickets aren't selling. If newsletter flops. If client relationships are hard. Physical training becomes the "anchor win." Mandy's writing took over two years. Why? She got distracted writing a musical version of the book. There is now: "Corporating: The Book" "Corporating: The Musical" Three songs produced online. Collaboration with composer Eric Chaney. Inspiration from book: Time, Talent, Energy (recommended by former boss Sarah Miran). Concept: we have limited time, talent, and energy. Advice: Follow your energy when possible. If you're flowing creatively, go with it (unless there's an urgent deadline). You'll produce better work. She believes: The book is better because she created the musical. Musical helps during speaking engagements. Sometimes she sings during talks. Why music? Attention spans are short. Not just Gen Z — everyone is distracted. Music keeps people engaged. "I'm not just gonna tell you about the three ways to win at work. I'm gonna sing it for you too." Robin on capturing attention If you can hold attention of: Five-year-olds. Thirteen-year-olds. You can hold anyone's attention. Shares story: In Alabama filming for Department of Education. Interviewed Alabama Teacher of the Year (Katie). She has taught for 20 years (kindergarten through older students). Observed: High enthusiasm. High energy. Willingness to be ridiculous to capture attention. Key insight: Engagement requires energy and presence. 28:37 The Power of Music in Capturing Attention Mandy's part of a group called Mic Drop Workshop. Led by Lindsay (last name unclear in transcript) and Jess Tro. They meet once a month. Each session focuses on improving a different performance skill. The session she describes focused on facial expressions. Exercise they did: Tell a story with monotone voice and no facial expressions. Tell the story "over the top clown like, go really big, something that feels so ridiculous." Tell it the way you normally would. Result: Her group had four people. "Every single one of us liked number two better than one or three." Why version two worked best: When people are emotive and expressive: It's more fun to watch. It's more entertaining. It's more engaging. Connection to kids and storytelling: Think of how you tell stories to five-year-olds: Whisper. Get loud. Get soft. Use dynamic shifts. The same applies on stage. Musical integration: Music is another tool for keeping attention. Helps maintain engagement in a distracted world. Robin: Hiring for energy and presence Talks about hiring his colleague Zach Fish. Technical producer for: Responsive Conference. Snafu Conference. Freelancer Robin works with often. Why Robin hires Zach: Yes, he's technically excellent. But more importantly: "He's a ball of positive energy and delight and super capable and confident, but also just pleasant to be with." Robin's hiring insight: If he has a choice, he chooses Zach. Why? "I feel better." Energy and presence influence hiring decisions. Zach's background: Teaches weekly acrobatics classes for kids in Berkeley. He's used to engaging audiences. That translates into professional presence. Robin: Energy is learnable When thinking about: Who to hire. Who to promote. Who to give opportunities to. Traits that matter: Enthusiasm. Positivity. Big energy. Being "over the top" when needed. Important insight: This isn't necessarily a God-given gift. It can be learned. Like music or performance. Like anything else. 31:00 The Importance of Positive Work Relationships Mandy reflects on: The tension between loud voices and quiet voices. "Oftentimes the person who is the loudest is the one who gets to talk the most, but the person who's the quietest is the one who maybe has the best ideas." Core question: How do you exist in a world where both of those things are true? Parenting lens: One daughter is quieter than the other. Important to: Encourage authenticity. Teach the skill of using your voice loudly when needed. It's not about changing personality. It's about equipping someone to advocate for themselves when necessary Book is targeted at: Students about to enter the corporate world. Early-career professionals. Intentional writing decision: Exactly 100 pages. Purpose: "To the point, practical advice." Holds attention. Digestible. Designed for distracted readers. Emotional honesty: Excited but nervous to reconnect with students. Acknowledges: The world has changed. It's been a while since she was in college. Advice she's trying to live: Know your audience Core principle: "Get to know your audience. Like really get in there and figure out who they are." Pre-book launch tour purpose: Visiting universities (including her alma mater). Observing students. Understanding: Their learning environment. Their day-to-day experiences. The world they're stepping into. Communication principle: Knowing your audience is essential in communications. Also essential in career-building. If you have a vision of where you want to go: "Try to find a way to get there before you're there." Tactics: Meet people in those roles. Shake their hands. Have coffee. Sit in those seats. Walk those halls. See how it feels. Idea: Test the future before committing to it. Reduce uncertainty through proximity. What if you don't have a vision? Robin pushes back thoughtfully: What about people who: Don't know what they want to do? Aren't sure about staying at a company? Aren't sure about career vs. business vs. stay-at-home parent? Acknowledges: There's abundance in the world. Attention is fragmented. Implied tension: How do you move forward without clarity? 35:13 Mentorship and Career Guidance How to help someone figure out what's next Start with questions, not answers A mentor's primary job: ask questions from a place of curiosity Especially when someone is struggling with what they want to do or their career direction Key questions: What brings you joy? What gives you energy? What's the dream? Imagine retirement — what does that look like? Example: A financial advisor made Mandy and her husband define retirement vision; then work backwards (condo in New Zealand, annual family vacations) Clarify what actually matters Distinguish life priorities: Security → corporate job; Teamwork → corporate environment; Variety and daily interaction → specific roles Mentoring becomes a checklist: Joy, strengths, lifestyle, financial expectations, work environment preferences Then make connections: Introduce them to people in relevant environments, encourage informational interviews You don't know what you don't know Trial and error is inevitable Build network intentionally: Shadow people, observe, talk to parents' friends, friends of friends Even experienced professionals have untapped opportunities Stay curious and do the legwork Mixing personal and professional identity Confidence to bring personal interests into corporate work comes from strategy plus luck Example: Prologis 2021, senior leaders joked about forming a band; Mandy spoke up, became lead singer CEO took interest after first performance, supported book launch She didn't always feel this way Early corporate years: Feel like a "corporate robot," worrying about jargon, meetings, email etiquette, blending in Book explores blending in while standing out Advice for bringing full self to work Don't hide it, but don't force it; weave into casual conversation Find advocates: Amazing bosses vs terrible ones, learn from both Mentorship shaped her framework: Relationships, reputation, and resilience Resilience and rejection Theater as rejection bootcamp: Auditions, constant rejection Foundations of resilience: Surround yourself with supportive people, develop intrinsic self-worth, know you are worthy Creating conditions for success Age 11 audition story: Last-minute opportunity, director asked her to sing, she sang and got the part Why it worked: Connections (aunt in play), parent support, director willing to take a chance, she showed up Resilience is not just toughing it out: Have support systems, build self-worth, seek opportunity, create favorable conditions, step forward when luck opens a door 44:18 Overcoming Rejection and Building Resilience First show experiences Robin's first stage production is uncertain; she had to think carefully At 17, walked into a gymnastics gym after being a cross country runner for ten years, burnt out from running Cold-called gyms from the Yellow Pages; most rejected her for adult classes, one offered adult classes twice a week That led to juggling, circus, fencing, capa, rock climbing — a "Cambrian explosion" of movement opportunities About a year and a half later, walked into a ballet studio in corduroy and a button-up, no ballet shoes; first ballet teacher was Eric Skinner at Reed College, surrounded by former professional ballerinas First internal college production was his first show; ten years later performed as an acrobat with the San Francisco Opera in 2013, six acrobats among 200 people on stage, four-hour shows with multiple costume changes and backflips Relationship to AI and the evolving world of work Mandy never asks her daughters "What do you want to be?" because jobs today may not exist in the future Focus on interests: plants, how things are built, areas of curiosity for future generations Coaching her team: Highly capable, competent, invested in tools and technology for digital signage, webinars, emails, data-driven insights, videos Approach AI with cautious optimism: Adopt early, embrace technology, use it to enhance work rather than replace it Example: Uses a bot for scheduling efficiency, brainstorming; enhances job performance by integrating AI from day one Advice: Approach AI with curiosity, not fear; embrace tools to be smarter and more efficient, stay ahead in careers 53:05 Where to Find Mandy Mandy will be speaking at Snafu Conference on March 5, discussing rejection and overcoming it. Author and speaking information: mandymooney.com LinkedIn: Mandy Mooney Music available under her real name, Mandy Mooney, on streaming platforms.  

If you've ever made a purchase you instantly regretted — or wondered why you keep impulse spending even though you "know better" — this episode is for you. In this masterclass-style episode, Paige walks you through her three core pillars for going from impulsive spending to intentional spending — without restriction, guilt, or rigid rules. You'll learn why impulse spending isn't actually about the thing you're buying, how urgency and dopamine hijack your decision-making, and what it really takes to slow down your purchases in a world designed to make you buy now. This episode breaks down the practical tools and the emotional work required to become someone who spends with purpose, clarity, and confidence — even when emotions are high and logic feels low.

In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with longtime friend and beauty industry force Jaimee Holmes for an intimate conversation that marks a new chapter in her career—the launch of Fel. Known for shaping some of the most iconic products in prestige beauty, Holmes opens up about the personal experiences, creative pauses, and emotional clarity that ultimately led her to build something entirely her own.The episode traces Jaimee's journey from her early days at Sephora—where she learned the power of founder vision and retail storytelling—to pivotal roles at Benefit, Perricone MD, and Too Faced. She reflects on leading the launch of Better Than Sex Mascara, the conviction it took to push past skepticism, and how trusting instinct over trend can redefine an entire category. Later chapters at Kendo and Goop offered a different lens: overseeing countless brands and SKUs revealed just how crowded—and emotionally disconnected—the industry had become.That realization, paired with personal loss and reflection, became the quiet catalyst for Fel. Rather than chasing what's next, Holmes chose to look inward—building a brand rooted in nostalgia, emotion, and the universal language of a kiss. Fel's debut, Kissylips, is designed to be felt as much as worn: playful, tactile, and intentionally uncomplicated, with packaging and textures that evoke memory rather than perfection.At its core, Fel is about responsibility and care—especially for younger consumers. From globally clean, vegan formulations to a proprietary fel-good complex™ designed to support both the lip barrier and emotional wellbeing, every detail is deliberate. This isn't makeup built for speed or spectacle—it's built for connection.Listen to the full episode of Skin Anarchy to hear Jaimee Holmes share how Fel came to life, why meaning matters more than momentum, and how beauty's future may be rooted in feeling something again.SHOP FEL BEAUTYDon't forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!Support the show

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Rhonda Spratt. Founder of Bella Duvet Goes Pink, a Georgia‑based breast cancer awareness nonprofit inspired by her mother’s battle with metastatic breast cancer. Rhonda explains how her mother’s passing drove her to build a year‑round awareness and support organization specifically focused on ensuring women stay vigilant outside of October. She discusses early detection, the emotional and physical realities of breast cancer, the creation of her “Pink Box” care packages, her personal journey of healing, and how she balances nonprofit work with a full‑time commercial real estate career and active lifestyle.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Rhonda Spratt. Founder of Bella Duvet Goes Pink, a Georgia‑based breast cancer awareness nonprofit inspired by her mother’s battle with metastatic breast cancer. Rhonda explains how her mother’s passing drove her to build a year‑round awareness and support organization specifically focused on ensuring women stay vigilant outside of October. She discusses early detection, the emotional and physical realities of breast cancer, the creation of her “Pink Box” care packages, her personal journey of healing, and how she balances nonprofit work with a full‑time commercial real estate career and active lifestyle.

Have you ever felt stuck like you're doing “all the right things” but getting nowhere? In this soul-level solo episode, George breaks down why effort isn't enough… unless it's intentional, consistent, and rooted in who you want to become.This is one of those quick-hit replays worth revisiting anytime you lose momentum or start feeling behind.This re-run episode is a reminder that life responds to effort, but only the right kind. George shares hard-earned insights about behavior, identity, and how small consistent choices lead to exponential growth.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Why effort alone doesn't guarantee resultsHow to align your daily actions with long-term visionThe power of keeping promises to yourselfThe true role of community in personal successKey Takeaways:✔️Effort must be intentional and aligned with your future self to yield true results.✔️Your daily behaviors shape your identity, so honor your promises, even when they're small.✔️Success isn't about complexity; it's about consistency over intensity.✔️Surround yourself with others chasing their dreams, momentum is contagious.✔️Don't confuse reaction with action. Real progress comes from proactive alignment. Timestamps & Highlights:[00:00] – Chocolate chip pancakes, reel inspiration & the heart of the message[01:42] – Why awareness is the actual finish line[02:45] – The “seed before you weed” model for planting effort[04:20] – Step 1: Intentional planning & vivid vision work[06:50] – Step 2: Keeping promises to yourself (Wedge of Expectations model)[09:10] – Step 3: Community and accountability over isolation[11:30] – How the Alliance supports intentional action and identity shifts[13:00] – Closing: Love, pancakes, and choosing the inputs that move you forwardYour Challenge This Week:What seed are YOU planting today? DM George or tag him with your “Effort Shift” moment. Let's elevate together. → Follow @itsgeorgebryant or join the conversation using #TheMindOfGeorgeShowThe Alliance – The Relationship Beats Algorithms™ community for entrepreneurs who scale with trust and connection.Apply for 1:1 Coaching – Ready to build your business with sustainability, impact, and ease? Apply nowLive Retreats – Get in the room where transformation happens. Find upcoming events: mindofgeorge.com/retreat 

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3905: J. Money shares how spending $700 on modern electric lawn tools unexpectedly transformed his attitude toward yard work and boosted his productivity. Rather than focusing solely on frugality, he encourages intentional spending on tools and experiences that genuinely enhance your life and eliminate recurring frustrations. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://budgetsaresexy.com/when-spending-money-improves-your-life/ Quotes to ponder: "You can't buy yourself out of everything, but the few things you can, so long as you can afford it, the better." "You don't want to go overboard and enhance EVERYTHING as you'll be left penniless, but do your best to not be so hard on yourself." "Even just laptops that are 20-30% faster due to age completely improves your efficiency!" Episode references: Greenworks Tools: https://www.greenworkstools.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices