Podcasts about key insights

This week we're discussing Courage to Let Your Kids See You Struggle. Somewhere along the way, most solo parents develop a kind of silent rule: handle the hard things before you walk into the room. Clean up before they see you. Keep your voice steady even when your heart isn't. It comes from love. But it also comes from fear, and it's worth asking whether the wall you've built to protect them might also be keeping them from something they really need. Robert Beeson, Founder & CEO of Solo Parent, Elizabeth Cole, single parent, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) and single parent, take a close and honest look at something every solo parent wrestles with: how much of your struggle do you actually let your kids see? They get practical, they get real, and they name the difference between protecting your kids and isolating them from a version of you that could actually draw you closer. Key Insights from this episode: Struggle is something you can model, not just survive - Kids learn resilience by watching adults navigate hard things, not by watching them perform composure. The space between hiding and dumping is where real connection lives - Honest, age-appropriate moments, done without making your kids responsible for what you're carrying, teach them how to handle hard things too. Vulnerability, done with intention, builds the trust that nothing else can - When you let them in a little, they let you in too, and that mutual trust becomes the foundation of a relationship that holds. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

What if receiving love and support feels almost as uncomfortable as the pain you're already carrying? In this deeply compassionate coaching session, Christine works with Maryam, an Iranian woman living in Norway who is struggling with grief, fear, and guilt as she witnesses tremendous suffering in her homeland while her family remains in Iran. At the same time, Maryam has built a beautiful life with a loving husband who consistently shows up for her. He listens, comforts her, walks with her, and gives her space to grieve. Yet instead of simply receiving his support, Maryam often finds herself apologizing for needing it. Underneath that guilt is a powerful question: If people I love are suffering, is it okay for me to feel safe, supported, and loved? Christine helps Maryam explore how trauma can condition the nervous system to expect chaos and suffering—making safety and love feel unfamiliar when they finally arrive. Sometimes, without realizing it, we may even add guilt to positive experiences as a way of recalibrating back toward what feels familiar. Together, they explore collective grief, survivor's guilt, highly sensitive nervous systems, receiving in relationships, and the difference between compassionately witnessing suffering and believing you must suffer alongside someone in order to love them. If you've ever felt guilty for having something another person doesn't, struggled to receive help without apologizing, or believed that your own happiness somehow minimizes someone else's pain, this conversation offers a powerful invitation to choose differently. Press play to discover why your suffering doesn't relieve someone else's—and how allowing yourself to receive love may actually give you greater capacity to offer love in return. Consider / Ask Yourself Do you feel guilty receiving support when other people are struggling? Is it easier for you to care for others than to allow someone to care for you? Do you unconsciously believe that suffering alongside someone proves how much you love them? When something good enters your life, do you find yourself waiting for something bad to happen or creating additional worry? Can you allow yourself to experience safety and love even when suffering exists elsewhere? Key Insights and A-Ha's Compassion for another person's suffering doesn't require adding unnecessary suffering to your own life. Trauma can orient the nervous system toward chaos, making love, safety, and support feel unfamiliar. Guilt can become a way of limiting how much goodness we're willing to receive. Receiving support doesn't make you less compassionate, committed, or connected to the people you care about. Rejecting support can also prevent someone you love from experiencing the gift and purpose of supporting you. Your suffering does not automatically lessen someone else's suffering. Receiving love can expand your capacity to give love. Sometimes healing means allowing your nervous system to recalibrate to safety instead of continually tethering itself to pain. How to Deepen the Work When you notice yourself apologizing for needing support, try replacing "I'm sorry" with "Thank you," "I love you," or "I'm grateful you're here with me." Notice what happens in your body when someone offers you love, comfort, or support without asking for anything in return. Remind yourself that it is safe to receive—even when other parts of your life or the world feel uncertain. Ask yourself whether your suffering is actually helping the situation you're concerned about. Give yourself permission to step away from collective pain at times and return to the reality of your own present moment. Practice receiving support without immediately feeling obligated to reciprocate it. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares more about Peluva, a five-toe minimalist shoe featuring five-toe articulation, which gives each toe its own space and supports more natural movement while walking or running. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Shop Peluva through Christine's link Social Media + Resources Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts including Coaches Corner Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler Facebook — Christine Hassler Instagram — @ChristineHassler Instagram — @SacredUnionCouples Apply to be coached on the show: christinehassler.com/waitlist Courses, retreats, and more resources: christinehassler.com

Anika sat down with George Khachatryan to explore the evolving landscape of AI-driven marketing, personalization, and the massive trust gap currently sitting between brands and consumers. The conversation revealed a counterintuitive truth: while 93% of marketing leaders believe AI helps them understand their customers, only 53% of consumers agree. George's unique journey—from earning a PhD in mathematics at Cornell and building an early ed-tech AI company to founding OfferFit and navigating its $325M acquisition by Braze—offered a practical look at how reinforcement learning and predictive data science are permanently replacing the manual grind of traditional A/B testing. In This Episode How a background in mathematics and early intelligent tutoring systems laid the groundwork for complex AI architectures. Stepping away from specialized tech to learn foundational company building through management consulting and operational transformations. Moving beyond rigid "Next Best Action" rules to autonomous reinforcement learning agents that experiment at the individual customer level. The strategic decision behind merging OfferFit with Braze in a $325M deal and why deep data science and engineering alignment matters. Why hidden bots, lack of transparency, and mismatched brand expectations are eroding consumer confidence. Blending predictive machine learning models (for timing and offers) with LLM agentic copy generation for maximum impact. Why students and early-career marketers must embrace AI literacy to stay competitive in a rapidly shifting job market. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction: The math, the $325M exit, and the AI trust gap 02:00 From Cornell mathematics and early ed-tech to management consulting 04:18 The limitations of traditional "Next Best Action" and the birth of reinforcement learning 09:22 Real-world personalization: How brands like Yum Brands optimize customer engagement 12:39 The acquisition journey: Why OfferFit chose to integrate with Braze 16:53 The 93% vs. 53% problem: Why consumers feel misunderstood by brands 20:41 Hybrid AI systems: Stitching together LLM copywriting and statistical decisioning 23:33 The personal cost of a "Sydney is just a bot" moment: The importance of transparency 28:32 The reality of enterprise caution vs. consumer expectations 29:56 Agentic commerce and the future of bot-to-bot interactions 34:39 Managing negotiation bots and complex consumer retention scenarios 37:25 Generational divides: Gen Z's dual relationship with AI adoption and career anxiety 40:59 Lessons for founders: Aligning philosophical visions before a merger 43:35 Final thoughts: Embracing the historic and fascinating shift in marketing technology Key Insights & Takeaways Insight 1: Personalization Requires True One-to-One Experimentation Traditional marketing relies on segmenting audiences and applying rigid, rule-based logic. True optimization requires reinforcement learning agents that operate at the individual customer level, autonomously testing variables like messaging, timing, and offers to discover what drives incremental engagement. Insight 2: The Danger of Hidden Bots and Broken Trust Consumers do not mind interacting with AI or automated tools, but they expect transparency. When a brand masks an AI agent as a human—and fails to take responsibility for its actions—it creates a deep sense of betrayal that permanently damages customer loyalty. Insight 3: The Power of Hybrid AI Infrastructure The most effective marketing systems do not rely on a single flavor of AI. Combining statistical reinforcement learning (to determine when and what to communicate) with LLM agentic text generation (to personalize how it is phrased) yields performance lifts of over 100%. Insight 4: Shared Vision is the Anchor of Any Successful Acquisition For founders navigating a potential exit, technical integration is only half the battle. Long-term success relies on frank, open discussions about philosophical alignment, shared visions, and mutual risk mitigation before signing a deal. Insight 5: Enterprise Caution vs. Consumer Speed While marketers are often bogged down by internal alignment and slow decision-making processes, consumers are interacting with cutting-edge AI tools daily. Brands that fail to bridge this expectation gap risk becoming obsolete. Resources & Links Mentioned Braze 2026 Global Customer Engagement Review OfferFit Yum Brands & Home Security (Client case studies discussed in the episode) About George Khachatryan George Khachatryan is a mathematician, entrepreneur, and executive leader serving as the Head of OfferFit by Braze. Holding a PhD in mathematics from Cornell University, George previously co-founded the ed-tech pioneer Reasoning Mind and worked as an associate partner at McKinsey. He co-founded OfferFit, an AI decisioning engine that utilizes reinforcement learning to automate marketing experimentation, culminating in its acquisition by Braze in 2025 for $325 million. Connect with George LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-khachatryan/ Website: https://www.braze.com/ Like the show? Leave us a rating or review: https://lovethepodcast.com/67940257010b317cdaa9d857Follow the Show: https://followthepodcast.com/67940257010b317cdaa9d857Send a Message: https://podcastfeedback.com/67940257010b317cdaa9d857Check out our Website: https://www.yourbrandamplified.comSpeak to my Delphi Clone: https://www.delphi.ai/amplifywithanika Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week we're discussing Courage to Ask for Help. Asking for help is something most solo parents will tell you they're working on, and almost none of them will tell you they've figured out. It's not just pride, though that's part of it. It's the fear of being a burden, the mental math of what you might owe someone, the exhaustion of having to explain your situation one more time, and the quiet identity that gets built around being the one who handles everything. This episode goes right at that tension and hopefully stays there long enough for something to shift. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, Elizabeth Cole, a single parent, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and single parent, bring their own stories to this conversation. None of them have this perfectly figured out either, which is exactly what makes it worth listening to. Key Insights from this episode: Refusing help has a hidden cost that shows up in your kids. The stress of carrying everything alone doesn't stay contained to you. It moves through you and lands on the moments and the people closest to you. Accepting help is an act of honor, not weakness. When you say yes to someone who wants to help, you're telling them their generosity matters and their presence in your life counts. Building the muscle starts with a list and a yes. Identify what you can offload, write down five people you trust, and practice saying yes, thank you without the explanation attached. Resources Mentioned in this episode: Brené Brown reference on shame and vulnerability Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

What happens when loving the people in your life starts to feel like being responsible for keeping everyone okay? In this deeply compassionate coaching session, Christine works with Jessica, who is navigating several major transitions at once: the end of a 10-year relationship with her best friend and business partner, building her own creative career, and watching her mother rapidly decline from Alzheimer's at a young age. As the oldest of four siblings, Jessica has spent much of her life carrying a strong sense of responsibility and loyalty toward the people she loves. When someone is hurting, her instinct is to step in, protect them, fix the problem, or even put her own life on hold to make sure they're okay. But that way of loving has become exhausting. Christine helps Jessica recognize the difference between holding space for someone and trying to protect them from pain. What Jessica has understood as love and compassion is sometimes an old survival pattern—one that tells her she can only feel safe when everyone around her is okay. Together, they explore over-responsibility, codependency, boundaries, grief, nervous system regulation, and the enormous amount of energy we can lose worrying about situations we simply cannot control. If you've ever been the strong one, the caretaker, the oldest daughter, the empath, or the person everyone depends on, this episode will help you recognize where love may have become tangled with worry, guilt, fear, and responsibility. Press play to discover how to love people deeply without carrying their pain—and how reclaiming that energy can help you finally have more capacity for your own life. Consider / Ask Yourself Do you feel responsible for making sure the people you love are okay? When someone you care about is suffering, do you immediately feel compelled to fix or rescue them? Have you confused worrying about someone with loving them? Are you spending so much energy managing other people's feelings that you have little left for your own needs? Can you allow someone you love to experience pain without believing it's your responsibility to make it better? Key Insights and A-Ha's Holding space for someone is not the same as protecting them from pain. Over-responsibility can become an identity and survival pattern, especially when it begins early in life. Love can become unconsciously paired with worry, caretaking, fear, and control. Worry can create the illusion that we're doing something when we're facing a situation we cannot control. Constantly putting yourself in someone else's shoes can cause you to carry suffering that may not actually be yours. When we focus primarily on other people's discomfort, we can lose touch with our own grief and needs. Trying to fix everything may provide short-term relief but can lead to long-term exhaustion and burnout. Healthy boundaries aren't about becoming cold or disconnected—they allow love and truth to exist together. How to Deepen the Work When you feel the urge to rescue someone, pause and notice what is happening in your body before taking action. Remind yourself: "Someone I love is going through something I cannot control." When an old caretaking pattern activates, meet it with compassion instead of criticizing yourself for falling into it again. Practice giving the people you love the dignity of experiencing and moving through their own feelings. Pay attention to the "energy leaks" created by worry, guilt, overthinking, and trying to control what isn't yours to control. Ask yourself what you need emotionally before automatically turning your attention toward everyone else. Resources Mentioned in This Episode One-on-One Coaching with Christine Christine has opened additional space in her calendar for private one-on-one coaching. She shares her continued passion for individualized coaching and supporting people through major transitions, healing, and personal growth. Learn more about Christine's process and apply at: christinehassler.com/coaching Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares more about Peluva, a five-toe minimalist shoe featuring five-toe articulation, allowing each toe to move independently and supporting more natural foot movement while walking or running. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Shop Peluva through Christine's link Social Media + Resources Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts including Coaches Corner Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler Facebook — Christine Hassler Instagram — @ChristineHassler Instagram — @SacredUnionCouples Apply to be coached on the show: christinehassler.com/waitlist Courses, retreats, and more resources: christinehassler.com

This week we're discussing Courage to Set a Boundary: Most solo parents aren't avoiding boundaries because they don't care. They're avoiding them because the relationships that need the boundaries are also the ones they depend on most. The co-parent they need to cooperate with. The family member their kid loves. The boss they can't afford to lose. And so the line goes undrawn, the cost gets absorbed, and somewhere along the way you stop noticing how much it's taking from you. Robert Beeson, Founder & CEO of Solo Parent, sits down with Elizabeth Cole, single parent, and Marissa Lee, author and single parent, and each of them brings a real situation to the table. Not a theoretical one. Elizabeth's summer this year was derailed by a boundary she didn't set early enough. Marissa learned the hard way what years of staying silent actually costs. Robert found out that shutting everyone out isn't the same thing as having boundaries. What comes out of it is practical, honest, and closer to home than most of us would like to admit. Key Insights from This Episode: Setting boundaries starts with two honest questions: What do I feel, and what do I need? These two questions cut through the noise and give you the language for what a boundary actually needs to look like — not in theory, but in the specific situation in front of you. Fear and wisdom can lead to the same action, but only one of them will hold. A boundary set from panic or exhaustion tends to swing to extremes. One set from an honest assessment of what you're protecting tends to stick. Knowing which one you're operating from changes everything. Courage in boundary-setting doesn't always look like a hard conversation — sometimes it's a quiet internal decision. Especially in volatile co-parenting situations, the most powerful move is often the one nobody else sees. Deciding what you won't engage with, what you won't say, what you won't let go further. That's a boundary too. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Chip Dodd, therapist and author Sissy Goff, counselor Marissa Lee, Becoming Mom and Dad: How God Fathers Through Single Mothers Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

How do sports shape the values our children carry into adulthood?In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to award-winning sports journalists Donovan Bennett (CBC Sports) and Kate McKenna (TSN, CTV's The Social). The couple share how working in sports has impacted the way they are raising their two young sons.From navigating healthy competition and emotional resilience to balancing screen time, encouraging teamwork, and redefining modern masculinity, Donovan and Kate offer thoughtful, real-world parenting insights rooted in both their professional and personal lives. They discuss the lasting life lessons sports can teach, the importance of positive role models, why youth sports should prioritize participation over performance, and how parents can foster confidence, empathy and inclusion in today's rapidly changing world.Takeaways:Navigating the complexities of parenting amidst hormonal changes in children requires effective communication and discipline.The impact of device usage and social media on children's emotional health is a pressing concern for today's parents.Promoting independence in children involves teaching them about consent and healthy relationships from an early age.Bullying remains a significant issue in sports culture, and parents must address it proactively with their children.Physical health and emotional well-being are intertwined, especially during the formative years of adolescence.Encouraging participation in sports can foster resilience and teamwork, countering the pressure of a win-at-all-costs mentality.This podcast is for parents, guardians, teachers and caregivers to learn proven strategies and trusted tips on raising kids, teens and young adults based on science, evidenced and lived experience.You'll learn the latest on topics like managing bullying, consent, fostering healthy relationships, and the interconnectedness of mental, emotional and physical health.Links referenced in this episode:• whereparentstalk.comCompanies mentioned in this episode:CBCTSNCTVRaptorsTempoPWHLNWSLOttawa RapidLewis HamiltonSerena WilliamsShae Gilgeous AlexanderJared McCainNatalie Achonwa

How do we move beyond baseline AI literacy to true AI fluency, agency, and self-efficacy for the next generation? In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with Dr. Taniya Mishra, Founder and CEO of SureStart, to explore how hands-on, mentor-led AI education is empowering youth globally to shift from passive users to confident creators. Drawing from her 12+ years as an industrial AI researcher, Dr. Mishra shares how SureStart demystifies technology through near-peer mentorship, modular curriculum, and a layered approach to AI learning—from middle school vocabulary to vibe coding and building small language models. KEY INSIGHTS & DISCUSSION POINTS

How do you care for an aging parent who never gave you what you needed as a child? In this deeply relatable coaching session, Christine works with Kelli, whose elderly father is beginning to show signs of aging and short-term memory changes. As the firstborn daughter and the only medical professional in her family, Kelli feels much of the responsibility for preparing for what may come next. But underneath the practical concerns is something much more complicated: grief for the father-daughter relationship she never had. Family members have told Kelli that she can seem "cold" toward her father. Yet Christine offers another perspective—what looks like coldness may actually be protection. After years of disappointment, lack of accountability, and feeling emotionally unseen, Kelli learned that keeping her heart guarded was safer than continuing to hope her father would become the dad she needed. Together, Christine and Kelli explore the father wound, caregiving, boundaries, resentment, grief, and how our relationships with our parents can influence the partners we choose and our ability to receive healthy love. Christine encourages Kelli to find the "both/and": she doesn't have to pretend everything is okay or abandon the boundaries she's worked hard to create. But she can also ask herself how she wants to show up in the relationship now so that, when her father is gone, she can experience grief without guilt. If you've ever struggled with an aging parent, felt guilty about keeping emotional distance from a family member, or wondered how your relationship with your father may be affecting your romantic relationships, this conversation will resonate deeply. Press play to discover how you can honor your hurt, maintain your boundaries, and still choose truth and love in the relationships that matter most. Consider / Ask Yourself Are you grieving the relationship you wish you could have had with one of your parents? Have others interpreted your emotional protection as being "cold" or distant? Are you caring for an aging parent while carrying unresolved hurt from childhood? How might your relationship with your father be influencing the way you relate to men or romantic partners? What would it look like to experience grief without guilt? Key Insights and A-Ha's What looks like emotional coldness may actually be a protective response to years of hurt and disappointment. You can accept who a parent is without pretending they gave you everything you needed. Healthy boundaries and love can coexist. Father wounds can influence worthiness, trust, vulnerability, and our relationships with men. We may unconsciously seek partners who give us what we didn't receive from our parents. Asking for help and delegating family responsibilities can prevent resentment and challenge the belief that everything falls on you. Self-love, truth, and authenticity can ultimately become stronger protection than emotional walls. How to Deepen the Work Ask yourself how you genuinely want to show up with an aging parent—not from guilt or obligation, but from your own values. Notice when hurt or protective patterns are leading your interactions and consider whether there's an authentic middle ground. Practice reminding your younger self that a parent's emotional limitations reflect their capacity, not your worth or lovability. Allow yourself to grieve the parent-child relationship you wanted without forcing the relationship you actually have to become something it isn't. Ask family members for help rather than automatically carrying the emotional and practical responsibility yourself. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Be the Queen Christine and Stef are opening the next live cohort of Be the Queen in October, focused on helping women call in healthy, aligned partnership. Join the waitlist for early access and the early-bird discount at: christinehassler.com/queen One-on-One Coaching with Christine Christine has opened additional spots in her private coaching roster and is focusing more deeply on personalized, one-on-one transformational work. Learn more and apply at: christinehassler.com/coaching Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares more about Peluva, a five-toe minimalist shoe designed to allow more natural foot movement, strengthen the feet, and provide a barefoot-style experience with cushioning for everyday movement. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Shop Peluva through Christine's link   Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

This week we're discussing Helping Our Kids Have Courage. Every solo parent has felt it — that pull to step in when your kid is struggling. Maybe they're nervous about something new, or stuck in a situation they don't know how to handle, and everything in you wants to smooth it over. It makes sense. Your kids have already been through more than you ever wanted for them, and the last thing you want is to pile on more difficulty. But there's a gap between protecting your kids and equipping them, and most of us don't realize how wide that gap has gotten until we look up one day and wonder why our kids struggle to handle the smallest uncomfortable moments on their own. Robert Beeson, Founder & CEO of Solo Parent, Elizabeth Cole, single parent, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) and single parent, get practical about what it actually takes to raise kids who can face hard things. The conversation is honest, relatable, and full of the kind of insight that makes you rethink some of your default parenting moves — not out of guilt, but out of genuine hope for what your kids are capable of. Key Insights from this episode: Struggle builds the muscles your kids need to handle real life — Repeatedly rescuing your kids from discomfort doesn't make them feel safer. Research shows it actually increases anxiety, quietly sending the message that hard things are too much for them. Being with your child in hard moments is different from doing it for them — Presence and rescue are not the same thing. Staying close while your child does something hard communicates trust in a way that stepping in never can. Courage is a practice, and you can build it into everyday family rhythms — From the question you ask at the end of the day to the small social risks you encourage at school, courage gets built in ordinary moments long before the big ones arrive. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with Mike Peng, Founder and Managing Partner of Weatherstone Capital Partners, to explore the evolving intersection of education, technology, and capital markets. After missing a meeting at ASU+GSV in San Diego, Mike and Mike reconnect to unpack what it takes to scale educational ventures past the startup phase and navigate the broader macroeconomic shift from venture capital to private equity in EdTech. Drawing from his unique career journey—from engineering at UT Austin and strategy consulting at McKinsey to leading rapid growth at Block Renovation and earning an MBA at Stanford—Peng shares why Weatherstone focuses on partnering with operators in the 1-to-10 scale stage ($1M to $10M EBITDA range). Together, they examine the real "moats" in the age of AI (data ownership and customer relationships over UI), why corporate L&D and continuing certification are outperforming traditional K-12/Higher Ed models for private equity, and how simulation tools and micro-learning are reshaping workforce upskilling. Peng also offers vital advice for founders assessing whether they are the "limiting factor" in their company's growth and how to navigate tight capital markets. KEY INSIGHTS: 0-to-1 vs. 1-to-10 Leadership: Building a product from scratch requires a scrappy, zero-to-one mindset, whereas scaling from 1 to 10 demands processes, enterprise workflows, and founders willing to look in the mirror to ensure they aren't becoming their company's limiting factor. The Capital Shift from VC to PE: With EdTech valuations down ~60% from 2021 peaks and market maturity kicking in, 2024 marked a pivot where private equity outpaced venture capital in EdTech funding—shifting the focus from hyper-growth to unit economics, profitability, and sustainable scale. Redefining AI Moats: User interface (UI) and simple API connections to large language models are no longer defensible differentiators. True AI moats reside in owning proprietary data, maintaining deep customer trust, and controlling end-to-end customer relationships. Corporate L&D and Reskilling Demand: While K-12 and Higher Ed present longer sales cycles and risk aversion, Corporate L&D—particularly recurring certification, micro-training in daily workflows, and AI simulation (e.g., bedside manner nursing)—presents massive opportunity as 85% of employers seek to reskill their workforce by 2030. Founder Discipline in Tight Markets: Bootstrapping and pivoting quickly are more viable than ever thanks to AI MVP acceleration. Founders must plan capital runway at least a year in advance and regularly "come up for air" so market evolution doesn't leave their business behind. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Introduction & Connecting Post-ASU+GSV 01:00 – Mike Peng's Journey: UT Austin, McKinsey, Block Renovation, & Stanford MBA 02:30 – Inside Weatherstone Capital Partners: Long-Term Platform Investing 03:30 – 0-to-1 vs. 1-to-10: Passing the Founder "Mirror Test" 05:30 – Takeaways from ASU+GSV: AI Undercurrents & Modern Moats 07:30 – Career Readiness, CTE, & The 1,400-Tool EdTech Stack 09:30 – Data is the New Oil, AI is the New Electricity 11:30 – Managing Hallucination Risk & Trust in Classroom Tech 13:30 – Segmenting EdTech: Why Capital is Moving from VC to PE 18:00 – The Future of Work: LXP, Micro-Learning, & AI Simulations 23:30 – Personal AI Tutors, Spatial Hardware, & Final Advice for Founders 26:00 – Wrap Up & How to Connect with Weatherstone Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts to stay ahead of the curve in learning, media, and the future of work.

How often do you mistake the story in your head for the truth? In this deeply insightful coaching session, Christine works with Shannon, who has spent much of her life feeling like she's waiting for people to leave her. Growing up with a mother struggling with severe mental illness and a father who was absent for most of her life due to incarceration, Shannon learned to survive by becoming hypervigilant. Now, as an adult, those same survival strategies show up in her closest relationships. A small comment from her partner becomes evidence that he's leaving. A text message that goes unanswered becomes proof she's being rejected. A misunderstanding quickly spirals into a painful story about not being enough. Together, Christine and Shannon explore anxious attachment, abandonment wounds, childhood survival strategies, and one of the most powerful communication tools you can use to interrupt emotional spirals before they damage your relationships. Christine reminds us that message sent is not always message received—and that many of the stories we create during moments of fear have far more to do with our past than with what's actually happening in the present. If you've ever caught yourself assuming the worst, overthinking someone's words, or convincing yourself that people are pulling away without real evidence, this episode will help you slow down, seek clarity, and respond from your adult self instead of your wounded inner child. Press play to learn how changing one simple phrase can transform your relationships—and your peace of mind. Consider / Ask Yourself Do you often assume the worst when someone says or does something unexpected? Are you making decisions based on facts—or on stories your fear is creating? Do you struggle to know whether you're truly being hurt or simply being triggered? What would change if you asked for clarity instead of making assumptions? Key Insights and A-Ha's Childhood abandonment wounds can create hypervigilance in adult relationships. Survival strategies that once protected you may now be creating distance from the people you love. Triggers often distort reality, causing us to assign meaning that was never intended. Vulnerability creates connection; assumptions create isolation. Healthy relationships require clarification—not mind reading. How to Deepen the Work Practice using the phrases: "The story I'm making up in my head is..." and "What I'm making this mean is..."before reacting. Notice when your nervous system jumps to worst-case scenarios and pause before taking action. Give trusted people the opportunity to clarify their intentions before assuming rejection. Remember that seeking clarification is an act of self-advocacy, not weakness. Resources Mentioned in This Episode One-on-One Coaching with Christine Christine shares that she's opening additional one-on-one coaching spots, returning to what she calls "the basics"—real human connection, personalized guidance, and transformational coaching. To learn more, email: Jill@ChristineHassler.com Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares why she loves Peluva, a five-toe minimalist shoe designed to support natural foot movement, strengthen the feet, and provide all-day comfort. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Shop Peluva through Christine's link   Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

How can higher education equip Gen Z to navigate rapid AI disruption, political polarization, and shifting workplace expectations? In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer connects with Francesca Schuler, Executive Director of Dialogue Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt University. Drawing from her executive career as a COO and CEO in private-sector consumer and fitness industries, Francesca brings a fresh, operational lens to solving higher education's civil discourse challenge. Together, Mike and Francesca explore why modern communication frequently breaks down and why developing constructive dialogue habits—such as listening with curiosity, managing emotional reactivity, and asking thoughtful questions—is critical for modern leadership and citizenship. From creating tech-free conversational spaces like the "Vandy Speakeasy" to building nationwide partnerships through the Dialogue CoLab, Francesca shares actionable strategies to cultivate emotional intelligence (EQ), foster psychological flexibility, and empower students to thrive in a complex world. KEY INSIGHTS & DISCUSSION POINTS Habits Over Skills in Moments of Crisis: While functional skills are vital, leaders and students ultimately fall back on ingrained habits during high-pressure situations. Practicing daily habits like asking with curiosity, showing up without rigid certainty, and listening to learn builds long-term emotional intelligence (EQ) and resilience. Unlearning Technology's Bad Habits: Social media platforms and instant messaging reward hot takes, rigid positions, and immediate reactivity over thoughtful engagement. Treating AI as a supportive tool rather than the final answer preserves human judgment, nuance, and critical thinking. Tactical Campus Programs for Practice: Dialogue Vanderbilt creates low-stakes practice environments—such as the phone-free "Vandy Speakeasy"—and hands-on workshops like "Switch Sides" and "From Every Angle" to rehearse respectful debate and open inquiry. Institutional Neutrality and Citizenship: Rooted in Vanderbilt's historical unifying mission, maintaining institutional neutrality provides faculty and students space to explore complex ideas while learning how to agree—and disagree—more constructively. Busting Career & Personal Growth Myths: Re-evaluating pervasive narratives around imposter syndrome and work-life balance encourages individuals to embrace agency, navigate trade-offs, and prioritize core success traits: curiosity, humor, and getting things done (GSD). Scaling Civil Discourse Across Higher Education: Through initiatives like the Dialogue CoLab, over 30 higher education institutions—ranging from community colleges to state schools and private universities—are sharing best practices to foster constructive campus cultures nationwide. SUBSCRIBE & CONNECT Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts to stay ahead of the curve in learning, media, AI, and the future of work.

Grandma's Snake Phobia The Real Cause of Her Anxiety Hosts: Kevin Cornelius, LMFT Dr. David Burns What if anxiety isn't the problem? What if anxiety is actually a message? In this fascinating episode, Dr. David Burns and Kevin Cornelius explore one of the most intriguing concepts in TEAM-CBT: the Hidden Emotion Technique. Using the memorable case of "Grandma's Snake Phobia," David explains why some forms of anxiety persist despite cognitive techniques, exposure exercises, and logical reassurance—and how uncovering an unrecognized emotional truth can sometimes lead to astonishingly rapid recovery. David shares the story of an elderly woman who suddenly developed a crippling fear of snakes despite spending her entire life comfortably around them. While most therapists might have focused on treating the phobia itself, David suspected that the anxiety was serving another purpose entirely. As the conversation unfolds, listeners learn how anxiety can function as a symbolic message from the subconscious mind, drawing attention to feelings, needs, conflicts, or desires that have been pushed out of awareness. David also shares the remarkable story of the patient whose panic attacks and nausea at work led him to first discover the Hidden Emotion Technique, as well as a deeply personal story involving his own struggle with anxiety and professional conflict. Along the way, David and Kevin discuss why highly anxious people are often some of the kindest and most compassionate individuals, how "niceness" can sometimes fuel anxiety, and why learning to honor our feelings may be one of the most important steps toward recovery. In This Episode Why traditional cognitive and behavioral approaches sometimes only partially relieve anxiety The origins of the Hidden Emotion Technique The surprising connection between anxiety and excessive "niceness" Why anxiety may be a symbolic message rather than a malfunction The case of Grandma's sudden snake phobia How unspoken fears about aging and dependence fueled anxiety Why simply becoming aware of a hidden emotion is not enough The critical action step that completes the Hidden Emotion Technique The story of the young woman whose job was literally making her sick How suppressed dreams and unexpressed desires can trigger anxiety symptoms David's personal experience discovering a hidden source of anxiety in his own life The role of conflict avoidance, people-pleasing, and "emotophobia" Why the hidden emotion is almost always happening in the present—not buried in childhood How anxious symptoms often function as symbolic clues to what's really wrong Practical ways to begin exploring hidden emotions in your own life Key Insights from David "Anxiety is our subconscious mind trying to get our attention and tell us something important that our conscious minds can't seem to see." "The ultimate fear in anxiety is often the fear of your own feelings." "Only nice people develop anxiety disorders." "The hidden emotion isn't the fear itself. The fear is conscious. The hidden emotion is the feeling you believe you're not supposed to have." "Anxiety never comes out of the blue. It comes from our lives and our hearts." The Hidden Emotion Technique: Two Essential Steps Step 1: Discover the Hidden Emotion Identify the feeling, desire, conflict, or unmet need that has been pushed out of conscious awareness. Common examples include: Anger that feels unacceptable Unexpressed disappointment A desire you feel guilty about wanting Conflict you're avoiding A dream you've abandoned A need you're afraid to ask for Step 2: Take Action Recovery occurs when you: Express the avoided feeling honestly Address the underlying problem directly Have the difficult conversation you've been avoiding Honor the need or dream you've been neglecting As David emphasizes, insight alone rarely eliminates anxiety. The transformation occurs when awareness is followed by action. Why "Nice" People Often Struggle with Anxiety David describes a pattern he has observed repeatedly throughout his career: Many anxious individuals: Want everyone to be happy Avoid conflict at all costs Feel responsible for others' feelings Believe they should never feel angry Fear disappointing people Suppress their own needs and desires When these feelings remain hidden, anxiety can emerge as a signal that something important needs attention. Questions for Reflection Is there something important you're not telling someone? Are you avoiding a conflict because you don't want to upset anyone? Have you been ignoring a dream, desire, or need that matters deeply to you? Do your anxiety symptoms seem symbolic in any way? Is there a feeling you've decided you're "not supposed" to have? Resources Mentioned Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns When Panic Attacks by David Burns David's recent Psychology Today article, "Grandma's Snake Phobia: The Real Cause of Her Anxiety" Listener Survey We'd love to hear from you! Your feedback helps shape future episodes and allows us to create content that is as helpful and meaningful as possible. Please use this link to take the feedback survey and share your thoughts with us about this episode. Your voice matters—and as David points out in this episode, sometimes the most important conversations begin when we're willing to express what we're really thinking and feeling. Thank you for listening to The Feeling Good Podcast! Contact Information Kevin Cornelius, LMFT is a Level 5 Certified Master TEAM-CBT Therapist and Trainer and the Clinical Director of Feeling Good Institute--Silicon Valley. He specializes in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship problems and insomnia. You can reach Kevin at kevin@feelinggoodinstitute.com and visit his website at www.tools4change.me. You can reach Dr. Burns at david@feelinggood.com. Feeling down in these turbulent times? Take a ride on our Feeling Great app. Feeling Great feels wonderful! You owe it to yourself to feel GREAT! Give the Greatest Gifts of ALL--Love and Happiness!

This week we're discussing Courage to Step Into the Unknown. Every solo parent knows what it's like to feel the weight of not knowing what comes next. Whether it's a financial decision you're unsure about, a parenting situation without a clear answer, or a future that looks nothing like you planned - uncertainty is one of the most constant companions in this season. And most of us, without realizing it, have developed ways of coping that feel responsible but quietly make things harder. Robert Beeson, Founder & CEO of Solo Parent, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) and single parent, get honest about the psychology behind why uncertainty feels so threatening - and what it actually looks like to face the unknown with steadiness instead of fear. The conversation is personal, grounded, and gives you something real to take into the week. Key Insights from This Episode: When Fear Is Driving, Even Good Instincts Can Work Against You - the two most common responses to uncertainty make complete sense, but they don't deliver the security we're looking for. Curiosity and Wonder Are the Path to Peace in the Unknown - loosening your grip isn't giving up; it's where peace actually lives. The Goal Is the Step, Not the Outcome - you don't need to see the whole path, just the next move forward. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

What happens when the person you've always been no longer feels like the person you're becoming? In this deeply thoughtful coaching session, Christine works with Gihan, who is navigating the space between her cultural and familial identity and the life her soul feels called to create. Living with her mother in Cairo, Gihan has been on a healing journey that has challenged old patterns of people-pleasing and encouraged her to question what she truly wants. She feels drawn toward a simpler life—possibly living abroad, spending more time near the beach, and creating a life that feels authentic to her. But that desire brings up a difficult question: Does she genuinely want a different life, or is she simply trying to escape the discomfort of becoming a different version of herself? As Christine and Gihan explore that question, the conversation moves into belonging, identity, family, spirituality, and the tension that can arise when your soul seems to be pulling you in a direction that looks different from the life, culture, or expectations you were born into. Christine offers an important reframe: transformation doesn't always have to be an either/or decision. Sometimes the path forward is both/and—honoring where you came from while also remaining loyal to where your soul is leading you. If you've ever felt caught between who you've been and who you're becoming, questioned whether following your truth means leaving something—or someone—behind, or struggled to honor both your spirituality and your humanity, this conversation will resonate. Press play to discover how you can follow your soul without abandoning the human parts of you that still need belonging, compassion, and connection. Consider / Ask Yourself Do you feel caught between the identity you've always known and the person you're becoming? Are you questioning whether a desire for change is intuition—or an attempt to escape discomfort? Do you fear that choosing your own path could cost you belonging, connection, or approval? Where are you thinking in either/or terms when a both/and approach may be possible? Key Insights and A-Ha's Transformation often requires a period of not fully knowing who you're becoming. Choosing a different path can activate a primal fear of losing belonging. Your soul's desires and your human needs don't have to be mutually exclusive. Spiritual growth doesn't require bypassing difficult human emotions like judgment, fear, jealousy, or uncertainty. Authenticity isn't about becoming a perfect version of yourself—it's about becoming more genuine. Our judgments can become powerful teachers when we get curious about what they're reflecting back to us. How to Deepen the Work Notice when you're framing a decision as either/or and ask whether there's a both/and possibility. When judgment arises, practice acknowledging it without shame and asking what it may be showing you about yourself. Offer compassion to the human parts of you that feel afraid when your soul calls you toward something unfamiliar. Give yourself permission to be in the middle of transformation without needing to immediately define your new identity. Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares why she loves Peluva, a minimalist five-toe shoe designed to encourage natural foot movement while providing cushioning for everyday movement, fitness, and athletic activities. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Shop Peluva through Christine's link Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show!  Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

This week we're talking about, What to Do When Your Child Pushes Your Buttons. Your child says something that lands hard, or they shut down completely and the silence fills every corner of the house. You hold it together in the moment, but later, when everything is quiet, you replay it. You wonder if you handled it right. You wonder if the relationship is okay. And you do all of that alone, without anyone to help you sort through it. The hard truth is that solo parenting doesn't give you a timeout from the hardest parenting moments. There's no one to tap in, no one to debrief with, and no one to remind you that you're not failing just because your kid is furious with you right now. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, and Elizabeth Cole, a single parent navigating this in real time, sit down with Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and single parent, to talk through what's really happening when your child pushes back, and what it actually looks like to stay grounded, hold your position, and keep the relationship intact at the same time. Key Insights from This Episode: Your child's anger is often a signal, not an attack. When kids rage or shut down, they're usually communicating fear, loss, or a need for control they don't yet have words for. Staying emotionally regulated isn't about suppressing your feelings. It's about being the stable presence your child needs when their own emotions are running the show. Framing your child's pushback as a form of trust changes how you receive it. They push hardest at the people they believe won't leave. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Lisa Damour The Whole Brain Child by Dr. Dan Siegel Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

Send us Fan MailThis week on ASUG Talks, we dive into our analysis stemming from the SAP Q2 2026 financial results call. Key InsightsCEO Christian Klein's comments on SAP's AI and data strategy Inside the customer examples featured on the call Geopolitical risks and pricing modelsRelated InsightsRead ASUG's further financial results coverage and analysisRegister for the ASUG Oil, Gas, and Energy Community webcast where we'll hear how ConocoPhillips is leveraging AIMore from ASUG Subscribe the weekly First Five newsletterFind your local ASUG Chapter Register for ASUG Tech Connect

The "Deep Dive" into global expansion and AI adoption, featuring insights from Dr. Shan Nair on the Breakfast Leadership Show, centers on the idea that operational infrastructure, rather than strategy, is the true bedrock of successful scaling,,. The Core Thesis: "Automating Failure Faster" The primary risk for modern organizations is not the failure to adopt technology, but the decision to automate broken processes,. Dr. Nair, a former nuclear physicist, argues that unless the underlying systems are "rock solid," automation merely accelerates operational collapse. Executives are encouraged to ask whether a process is actually efficient before tasking an AI to execute it. Key Insights on Infrastructure & Compliance Infrastructure over Strategy: Companies entering new markets rarely fail because of a bad business thesis; they fail due to "unforced errors" such as payroll mistakes, missed compliance filings, or data breaches. Compliance as a Universal Standard: Dr. Nair's firm applies GDPR standards globally, regardless of local regulations, to maintain a high level of data integrity and minimize liability. Data Sovereignty: To protect sensitive information (e.g., sick leave records, home addresses), organizations should build AI systems internally rather than routing data through public tools,. Institutional Knowledge as an Asset: Scaling efficiently requires treating knowledge as infrastructure—leveraging solutions found in one jurisdiction (like Belgium) to solve similar problems in another (like the Netherlands) instead of starting from zero. The "Quiet Risk": Erosion of Expertise A significant concern raised in the deep dive is the erosion of the learning curve for junior staff. If AI handles all foundational tasks, the next generation of experts may never build the necessary judgment or "learn the hard way",. Dr. Nair warns that organizations must document the reasoning behind decisions, not just the procedural steps, to survive novel problems once current experts retire. Strategic Recommendations for Leadership Test the SOP First: Validate the Standard Operating Procedure before automation to ensure you aren't doing the "wrong thing faster". Wall Off Sensitive Data: Maintain strict discipline regarding data privacy by isolating sensitive information from public AI models. Fund the Learning Curve: Intentionally create pathways for human staff to build slow-form judgment that AI cannot replicate. Audit the Operating System: Success depends on whether your current structure can support AI, rather than just the decision to use it,. https://BreakfastLeadership.com/ to get help with your AI deployment

Anika sits down with Dr. Tommy Rhee, a former US Navy aviator, sports chiropractor, and founder of RheeGen. They discuss his journey from treating professional athletes and Olympians to developing a patent-pending, topical stem-cell cream. Dr. Rhee shares why he shifted away from injectables, the challenges of self-funding a biotech startup, and his bold transition toward plant-based regenerative medicine to make advanced healing affordable and accessible for everyone.In This EpisodeHow a Navy aviator background shapes startup discipline and problem-solvingThe pivot from traditional sports chiropractic care to pioneering topical regenerative medicineWhy elite athletes avoid downtime and how that inspired a non-invasive solutionThe science behind stem cell signals (extracellular vesicles) and transdermal deliveryTransitioning from human-tissue stem cells to plant-based alternatives for cost and accessibilityThe challenges of self-funding a biotech company and seeking proof of conceptWhy writing a book (The Future of Regenerative Medicine) became the ultimate patient education toolTimestamps00:00 Introduction: Meet Dr. Tommy Rhee and the mission of RheeGen 01:28 How Navy aviation training translates to biotech entrepreneurship 04:50 From sports fanatic to treating professional athletes and Olympians 09:04 The problem with athlete recovery, pain management, and forced downtime 10:10 A pivotal moment with a pro quarterback that inspired topical stem cell therapy 17:16 Balancing an active chiropractic practice while self-funding a biotech startup 18:33 The game-changer: Sourcing regenerative signals from plants instead of human tissue 24:40 Why Dr. Rhee wrote his book before launching his consumer product 28:04 Regulatory hurdles and the ethical supply chain issues in traditional stem cell clinics 31:46 The stress and reward of delivering a TEDx talk on healthcare breakthroughs 36:15 Democratizing sports medicine: Making elite healing accessible to the everyday person 41:19 Favorite quote: Bruce Lee's "Be like water"Key Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Focus on Micro-Victories Drawing from his Navy aviation background, Dr. Rhee emphasizes the importance of breaking massive goals down into actionable steps. R&D and business development don't happen overnight; they are the result of small, consistent wins that build momentum, test hypotheses, and create confidence.Insight 2: The Needle is the Problem Traditional regenerative medicine relies on injectables, which create secondary injury sites, pose infection risks, and require downtime that professional athletes can't afford. Topical delivery solves these pain points by offering non-invasive, transdermal healing that can be applied seamlessly during a competitive season.Insight 3: It's About the Signal, Not the Cell Live stem cells themselves aren't the magic bullet—it's the information (extracellular vesicles or EVs) they secrete. Once Dr. Rhee understood that healing relies on signaling existing tissue to regenerate, he realized those smaller molecules could be effectively delivered via a transdermal cream.Insight 4: Plant-Based is the Future of Accessible Healing Human-tissue stem cells are expensive, highly regulated, and limited in supply, which has led to shady practices in the industry. By identifying plants that emit the exact same regenerative signals as human tissues, RheeGen is pivoting to an Over-The-Counter (OTC) model that aims to bring the cost of elite therapy under $100.Insight 5: Educational Content as a Business Strategy Dr. Rhee didn't wait until his product was fully mainstream to establish thought leadership. Writing a book and doing a TEDx talk allowed him to educate the market, establish trust, and replace repetitive 40-minute patient consultations with a scalable, accessible educational resource.Resources & Links MentionedCompany: RheeGen (Topical Regenerative Medicine)Book: The Future of Regenerative Medicine by Dr. Tommy RheeVideo: Dr. Tommy Rhee's TEDx Talk (Science fiction inspiring healthcare)About Dr. Tommy RheeDr. Tommy Rhee is a former US Navy aviator, the former team chiropractor for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the founder and CEO of RheeGen. After years of treating elite athletes, WWE wrestlers, and Olympians, he saw the limitations and exorbitant costs of traditional injectable regenerative medicine. This frustration inspired him to develop a patent-pending topical therapy. He is also a bestselling author and TEDx speaker passionate about democratizing sports medicine and making advanced healing accessible to the everyday weekend warrior.Connect with Dr. Tommy RheeWebsite: www.RheeGen.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtommyrhee/Facebook: RheeGenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're discussing Why Do I Feel Like Damaged Goods? Most of us don't walk around calling ourselves damaged. But the belief shows up anyway. In the way you brace before getting close to someone. In the quiet assumption that what happened to you says something permanent about who you are. Whether it came from loss, from words spoken over you in a hard season, from a relationship that ended badly or one that never got to begin, the feeling has a way of becoming identity before you even realize it happened. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, sits down with Elizabeth Cole, single parent and co-host, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and single parent herself, for an honest conversation about why so many solo parents carry a private belief that they are somehow less than. Less worthy of connection. Less capable of being loved well. And what it actually looks like to start believing something different - not through willpower, but through the right people and the right environments. Key Insights from This Episode: The "damaged goods" feeling has company. Virtually every solo parent carries some version of this, and naming that out loud is the first thing that starts to shift it. The broken mirror wasn't you. The voices that told you something was wrong with you came from somewhere - and that source matters more than you think. Shame doesn't heal in isolation. Getting into environments where someone else says "me too" does something that self-help and positive thinking simply can't. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram

Anika sat down with Kristian Fields, President of Klover Contracting, to explore why the construction industry remains stuck in outdated practices while a few innovators are fundamentally reshaping how large-scale infrastructure gets built. They revealed a counterintuitive truth: the problem isn't labor shortage—it's workflow predictability. Kristian's 25-year perspective on construction management and his experience scaling Klover offered practical solutions against the persistent "construction can't change" narrative, alongside a sharp look at where prefabrication and AI actually create value.In This EpisodeThe origin story of Kristian's transition from VP Field Operations to President and what it actually requiredScaling velocity: watching Klover expand from regional contractor to national prefab leader with 100,000 sq ft manufacturing facilityThe prefabrication bet: why solving a 450,000-worker shortage required rethinking entire construction workflowsTeam culture that endures: why the "31 Fundamentals" campaign transformed hiring and retentionWhy documented processes and institutional memory matter more than raw headcountThe ongoing myth that prefab compromises quality—what real project data actually showsBuilding the BIM-to-Field execution bridge and why that gap existedLeadership lessons from historic preservation to data centers: why architectural intent matters in every buildPredictive automation versus chatbot AI: where manufacturing is actually headedTimestamps00:00 Introduction: 25 years in construction management10:00 The prefabrication origin story and why it started 15 years ago12:16 The construction industry's real problem: skilled labor shortage and workflow unpredictability22:01 Environmental impact: reducing 3,000+ gallons of diesel fuel through prefab consolidation29:24 Preparing for AI-assisted manufacturing: rethinking BIM coding for future machine integration36:33 Advice for newcomers: pursue work you enjoy, stay close to target roles, maintain humility39:00 The core mantra: "Be relentless about improvement" and "action over accuracy"Key Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Workflow Unpredictability Isn't a Labor Problem—It's a Strategy ProblemConstruction sites with 50+ workers juggling electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and structural crews operate like traffic on a congested highway. One trade delays another. The industry assumes the solution is hiring more workers. Klover's insight: the problem is predictability. By moving complex coordination off-site into BIM modeling and prefabrication, you eliminate the traffic jam entirely. The fix isn't more people—it's smarter workflows.Insight 2: Culture Scales Through Documented Examples, Not Top-Down MandatesThe "31 Fundamentals" campaign works because it's not a poster on the wall. Every week, Kristian shares one fundamental with real examples of employees living it. Other employees then submit their own interpretations. Recognition follows. That's how culture survives hypergrowth—through repetition, example, and celebration of behavior you want to see.Insight 3: AI Amplifies What You Already Have—It Doesn't Create Value in a VacuumKristian isn't chasing chatbots or automation theater. He's preparing for AI that augments human expertise. The vision: BIM models coded to eventually communicate with automated welders or assembly equipment. Workers don't disappear—they expand their capacity. If you don't have documented processes and repeatable workflows, no AI tool compensates. Your advantage is the expertise you've already built.Insight 4: The Future Isn't Conversational AI—It's Predictive IntelligenceForget chatbots answering questions. Imagine manufacturing AI that knows your project timeline, your site constraints, your crew's skill level, and your budget—and it automatically optimizes panel sequencing, delivery schedules, and installation sequences without asking a single question. That's predictive intelligence. That's where Klover is heading.Resources & Links MentionedKlover ContractingWebsite: www.kloverinc.comServices: Prefab construction, BIM coordination, data center solutions, healthcare, multifamily housing, higher educationKey ConceptsBIM (Building Information Modeling): 3D digital modeling that resolves design conflicts before manufacturingJust-in-Time Delivery: Manufacturing and delivering components precisely when needed to avoid wasteThe 31 Fundamentals: Weekly cultural communication framework covering safety, quality, teamwork, and accountabilityPrefabrication: Off-site manufacturing of building components for faster, safer, more predictable installationAbout Kristian FieldsKristian Fields is President of Klover Contracting, a prefabrication and commercial construction leader serving healthcare, multifamily housing, higher education, and data center markets across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. With 25 years in construction management, structural engineering, and senior leadership, he brings rare technical expertise combined with operational vision.His career progression—from estimating and procurement to VP Field Operations to COO to President—reflects deliberate commitment to understanding every aspect of the business. At Klover , he's championed the prefabrication strategy that has scaled the company to national prominence, including completing one of the largest prefabricated apartment buildings in the US and expanding into data center construction.His philosophy centers on relentless improvement, action over perfection, and treating people as the core asset. He maintains that humility and continuous learning are non-negotiable leadership practices.Connect with Kristian FieldsWebsite: www.kloverinc.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristian-fields-a29b7613/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you protect your child without living in constant fear? In this deeply compassionate coaching session, Christine works with Shelley, whose journey through chronic illness, mold toxicity, Lyme disease, fertility challenges, and becoming a new mother has left her feeling trapped in a cycle of hypervigilance around environmental toxins. What began as a genuine desire to keep her daughter safe has slowly become an exhausting mental prison. Every trip to the grocery store feels overwhelming. Every product label raises questions. Every social media post from health experts seems to introduce a new threat. Instead of enjoying motherhood, Shelley finds herself consumed by worry and worst-case scenarios. As Christine gently unpacks the deeper layers beneath the anxiety, a powerful truth emerges: Shelley's hypervigilance isn't the problem—it's a protective part of her that developed after years of trauma, illness, and uncertainty. Together they explore Parts Work (Internal Family Systems), nervous system regulation, motherhood, chronic illness recovery, intuition, and the difference between living from awareness versus living from fear. If you've ever found yourself obsessing over health, constantly researching the next thing to worry about, or feeling like your mind has become consumed by trying to control the uncontrollable, this episode offers a compassionate path back to peace. Press play to discover how trusting yourself—and allowing love to become louder than fear—can help you step out of survival mode and back into your life. Consider / Ask Yourself Do you spend so much time trying to protect yourself or your loved ones that it's difficult to enjoy the present moment? Has your search for health information become a source of anxiety instead of empowerment? Are you constantly scanning for what could go wrong instead of appreciating what is going well? What would change if you trusted your intuition more than your fear? Key Insights and A-Ha's Hypervigilance is often a protective response born from trauma—not a character flaw. Information becomes overwhelming when fear is driving the search for certainty. You don't need to eliminate your protective parts—you can simply give them a new role. Awareness is empowering; obsession is exhausting. Raising your inner sense of safety can be just as important as reducing external risks. How to Deepen the Work Notice when your protective part is taking over and gently thank it for trying to keep you safe. Limit exposure to fear-based content that keeps your nervous system activated. Spend intentional time strengthening the parts of yourself that feel creative, joyful, intuitive, and present. Practice speaking words of trust, health, and resilience over yourself and your loved ones. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares why she loves Peluva, a minimalist five-toe shoe designed to strengthen the feet, encourage natural movement, and support overall foot health. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Visit: peluva.com Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!  

Anika sits down with Julie Ellis to explore the inflection point every founder dreads—the moment you've built the business, achieved the goal, and suddenly realize you have no idea who you are without it. Discover why selling an eight-figure business can feel like grief disguised as success, how delegation is the real bottleneck between scaling and plateauing, and the counterintuitive truth that derails most women entrepreneurs: it's never about having a bigger vision. It's about believing you're worthy of one—and whether you have the systems and people around you to make it real.In This EpisodeFrom dance to finance to founder: How an unexpected career path led Julie to solve a problem every parent knew existedThe basement to eight figures: Building Mabel's Labels from a 300 sq ft basement in Hamilton, Ontario to an internationally recognized brand—with zero industry experienceGrassroots growth and celebrity endorsements: How a tiny magazine feature led to Daily Candy recognition and a life-changing mention from Elizabeth Hasselbeck on The ViewThe art of delegation and scaling: Why most founders plateau and what separates those who scale to eight figures from those stuck at product-market fitThe post-exit identity crisis: Navigating grief, imposter syndrome, and gratitude after selling to Avery Products—and why the 90-day rest period changed everythingBig Gorgeous Goals: Why "gorgeous" matters as much as "big"—and how to chase ambitious goals while actually enjoying the journeyThe confidence gap and funding inequity: Why only 2.9% of venture capital goes to women entrepreneurs, and what Julie is doing to change thatPocket Coach: The asynchronous coaching model that keeps entrepreneurial momentum alive between sessionsBuilding community for women founders: The Big Gorgeous Goals podcast and investing in women-led businessesLeading through uncertainty: Why the biggest breakthroughs happen in times of changeTimestamps00:00 Introduction: The woman who solved every parent's labeling problem02:01 An unexpected founder: Dance degree, 15 years in finance, and the moment everything changed04:00 The basement days: One year of research, zero industry experience, and a team of misfits06:28 From tiny magazine feature to Elizabeth Hasselbeck's endorsement on The View11:06 The biggest gap between founders who plateau and those who scale: Delegation and decision-making12:49 The acquisition: Selling Mabel's Labels after nearly 13 years—and why it was the right time17:29 The post-sale emotions: Grief, imposter syndrome, and the gratitude sandwich19:07 The 90-day rest and the identity crisis: Why "I'm not qualified" became the biggest lie22:22 The coaching pivot: Why certification gave her the "add" she was looking for23:18 Writing during the pandemic: How a daily writing group turned a book idea into Big Gorgeous Goals25:37 Why "gorgeous" matters: Dancing toward your goals instead of grinding toward them28:01 Creating white space: Why unstructured time is where the best ideas live31:33 The confidence gap and funding inequity: 2.9% of VC goes to women; only 2% of women-founded businesses reach $1M33:45 Pocket Coach: Asynchronous coaching for keeping momentum alive between sessions35:52 The Big Gorgeous Goals podcast: Storytelling for women entrepreneurs39:02 Her ideal coaching clients: Low seven-figure founders scaling to $5-10M40:01 What's next: New keynotes and workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty41:38 Her guiding quote: Rabindranath Tagore's "Reach high for stars lie hidden in you"Key Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Unmet Market Needs Beat Industry ExpertiseJulie and her co-founders had no background in supply chain, marketing, or distribution—just a teacher, a financial planner, a lawyer, and a printing expert. What they had was a real problem to solve and a growth mindset. Expertise can be learned; identifying genuine customer pain points cannot.Insight 2: Delegation and Decision-Making Are the Scaling BottleneckThe biggest gap between founders who plateau and those who scale to eight figures isn't product or market—it's the ability to delegate and make decisions. Most founders get caught in the "I should have just done it myself" trap, which prevents them from reaching the next level.Insight 3: Post-Exit Grief Is Real—And Worth ProcessingSelling your business is an achievement, but it's also a loss. Julie experienced imposter syndrome, grief, and identity confusion after the sale. Her 90-day rest period—where she did nothing—was transformative. The emotional work matters as much as the financial outcome.Insight 4: White Space Is Where Creativity LivesThe best ideas don't come at your desk—they come in the shower, on a walk, flying on a plane. Creating intentional unstructured time requires saying no to things and protecting space fiercely, even though it feels counterintuitive.Insight 5: Women Entrepreneurs Face Systemic Funding and Confidence GapsOnly 2.9% of venture capital goes to women, yet women-led businesses outperform on efficiency and team management. The solution isn't just funding—it's mentoring, networks, and other women believing in women.Insight 6: Asynchronous Coaching Keeps Momentum AliveTraditional coaching sessions every two weeks create gaps where momentum dies. Pocket Coach's voicemail-based model lets entrepreneurs push through decisions in real time, maintaining the energy they need to scale.About Julie EllisJulie Ellis is a leadership coach, author, investor, and podcast host specializing in helping women entrepreneurs scale from seven to eight figures and beyond. She co-founded Mabel's Labels in a 300 sq ft basement in Hamilton, Ontario in 2003, growing it into an internationally recognized eight-figure brand before selling to Avery Products in 2016.After a 90-day rest and a brief stint managing 135 people in corporate retail, Julie pursued coaching certification and discovered her true calling: helping other entrepreneurs navigate the inflection points she'd experienced. She is the author of Big Gorgeous Goals: Bold Women Achieve Great Things, which features interviews with 16 women entrepreneurs who've scaled beyond the comfort zone.Today, Julie invests in women-led businesses, hosts the Big Gorgeous Goals podcast, offers one-on-one and asynchronous coaching through Pocket Coach, and delivers keynotes and workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty.Resources & Links MentionedJulie Ellis's EcosystemBig Gorgeous Goals (Book) — Hybrid published with Page Two, distributed through MacmillanBig Gorgeous Goals Workbook — Self-published companion guideBig Gorgeous Goals Podcast — Stories from seven and eight-figure female foundersPocket Coach — Asynchronous voicemail-based coaching for entrepreneursConnect with Julie EllisOpen to: Keynotes, workshops on leading bold teams through uncertainty, coaching, and investing in women-led businessesLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-ellis/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejulieellisWebsite: www.julieellis.caSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're discussing How to Build a Core Community. You know you need people. You've felt it, probably more in the last season of your life than ever before. But needing community and knowing how to build it are two very different things. It's easy to look around and feel like everyone else has their people figured out, while you're still trying to work out where you even fit. Whether you're starting over after loss or divorce, navigating an unplanned pregnancy, or simply realizing the friendships you had don't quite hold the shape of your life anymore, that ache of not having a solid crew around you is real. And it matters. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, sits down with Elizabeth Cole, single parent, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) and single parent, to talk honestly about what it takes to build community that actually holds. No guest this week, just three people who've lived it, comparing notes on what worked, what didn't, and what they'd tell their earlier selves about finding the right people. Key Insights from This Episode: Build a patchwork of people, not a single lifeline. Spreading your needs across multiple relationships is what keeps community sustainable for everyone. When people pull away, it's usually discomfort, not cruelty. Most people don't know how to stay present in someone else's pain, and that's different from not caring. Giving is what turns a group of people into actual community. Showing up for others, even in small ways, is what creates the kind of belonging you're looking for. And if you want to keep the conversation going, Robert, Elizabeth, and Amber are going live on July 19th at 7:00 PM Central to tackle another big community question: can men and women really just be friends? Head to soloparent.org/safepeople to save your spot. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram

Have you ever felt like you've done all the inner work... yet one fear refuses to leave? In this compassionate and eye-opening coaching session, Christine works with Ilaria, who has spent years in therapy, practicing breathwork, nervous system regulation, and inner child healing. Yet one fear continues to consume her: the overwhelming fear of losing her parents. As she approaches her mid-thirties and begins thinking about creating a life of her own—finding a partner, becoming more independent, and stepping into her future—the fear grows even stronger. Why? Because underneath the anxiety isn't simply a fear of loss. It's a younger part of her that believes worrying is the only way to protect the people she loves. Christine introduces Ilaria to the powerful framework of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Parts Work, helping her recognize that this fear isn't all of who she is—it's one protective part that's been trying to keep her safe since childhood. Together they explore acceptance, self-compassion, nervous system healing, and why sometimes the greatest breakthrough comes not from trying harder to fix ourselves, but from changing how we relate to the parts of us that are hurting. If you've ever felt trapped by anxiety, worried constantly about the people you love, or wondered why years of healing haven't made a particular fear disappear, this episode offers a deeply hopeful new perspective. Press play to discover how accepting your fear—rather than fighting it—may be the very thing that finally brings you peace. Consider / Ask Yourself Is there a fear you've been trying to eliminate for years without success? Do you constantly worry about losing the people you love? Have you confused your anxiety with your identity? Could one protective part of you be trying to keep you safe in the only way it knows how? Key Insights and A-Ha's Anxiety doesn't define you—it may simply be one protective part of your inner world. Healing isn't always about eliminating fear; sometimes it's about changing your relationship to it. Love and fear often become intertwined, making it difficult to experience one without the other. Parts Work (IFS) helps create compassion for protective patterns instead of fighting against them. Nothing truly heals through judgment—acceptance creates space for transformation. How to Deepen the Work Notice when fear shows up, and gently ask yourself, "Which part of me is speaking right now?" Practice separating your identity from your anxious thoughts: "This is a part of me, not all of me." Explore Parts Work or Internal Family Systems with a trained practitioner if this approach resonates. Allow yourself to fully experience love without assuming fear must always accompany it. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares why she loves Peluva, a minimalist five-toe shoe designed to strengthen the feet, encourage natural movement, and improve overall foot health. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Visit: peluva.com Internal Family Systems (IFS) Christine recommends learning more about Parts Work (Internal Family Systems) and references her previous podcast conversation with Richard Schwartz, the founder of IFS, along with his book: No Bad Parts These resources offer a deeper understanding of how protective parts shape our emotional lives and how compassion can create lasting healing. Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

This week we're discussing Who Are Safe People?. When you're parenting on your own, the question of who to trust carries a lot of weight. You want connection. You need it. But after being hurt or let down, it's hard to know how much to share, how fast to move, or whether your read on someone is accurate or just wishful thinking. Most of us have let someone in before they'd really earned it. And most of us have paid for that in some way. In this episode, Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, sits down with Elizabeth Cole, single parent, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and single parent, to talk through what it actually looks like to identify safe people, build trust slowly, and become the kind of person others can feel safe with too. Key Insights from This Episode: Trust is built by reliability over time, not first impressions. Watching someone show up consistently across different situations is the only real way to know if they're safe. Loneliness and exhaustion lower your guard, and that's not a flaw, it's human. Understanding what's driving your need for connection helps you move toward people thoughtfully rather than reactively. To find safe people, you have to become one. Developing your own capacity for safety, presence without judgment, reliability, and the ability to make repair, is what makes you able to recognize it in others. Whether you're navigating new friendships, dating, or even professional relationships, the challenges single parents face around trust are real and specific. This conversation addresses some of the most common ones. Join Us Live: We're continuing this conversation in a free live webinar on Sunday, July 19th at 7:00 PM Central. The topic: Can men and women really just be friends? Register here: soloparent.org/safepeople. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

Healthcare Is Dead Last in Recognition Culture. Plus: AI That Predicts Who's About to Quit & What CEOs Are Betting On in 2026July 6th, 2026. Bo, Luke, and ASHHRA Executive Director Jeremy Sadlier are back from the long weekend with a deliberately positive episode — three stories built to give you energy heading into the week.

Burnout and Authenticity: Elizabeth Rosenberg's Intuitive PR StrategyAnika sat down with Elizabeth to explore why the most credible leaders aren't the most polished ones—they're the most present ones. The conversation revealed a counterintuitive truth: as AI automates expertise, human traits like intuition, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence become your competitive advantage. Elizabeth's dual background in PR and spiritual practice offered sharp pushback against the "authenticity is risky" narrative, alongside a practical framework for when vulnerability serves your brand (and when it doesn't).In This EpisodeThe origin story of Good Advice Company and why Elizabeth didn't need to find a market gap—she built on what she was already good atComing out of the spiritual closet in 2022 on LinkedIn and why the reaction shocked herThe Soul and Story process: combining Akashic readings, behavioral analytics, and deep story mining for authentic personal brandingWhy 90 male participants showed up to a tarot workshop at Fast Company's Innovation Festival (and what that man learned about his wife)Intuitive intelligence as the antidote to AI-generated mediocrityThe burnout story that terrified her more than admitting she's a spiritual mediumFrom hospital migraine to recognizing burnout looks different for everyone—there's no silver bullet recoveryWhy presence matters more than future-striving in leadershipThe fragmented media landscape and why "unhinged authenticity" (not chaos) is the futureReading the room: the difference between vulnerability and oversharing on LinkedInWhy smaller communities and in-person connection will win over influencer marketingThe Chief Spiritual Officer platform launching in early SeptemberTimestamps00:00 Introduction: Founder of Good Advice Company and Chief Spiritual Officer01:05 Building a company around what you're already good at, not market gaps03:36 Intuitive intelligence as a strategic advantage in the age of AI04:50 Coming out as spiritual on LinkedIn in 2022—and the surprising lack of backlash06:31 The Soul and Story proprietary process: Akashic readings + behavioral data + story mining09:41 The Fast Company Innovation Festival workshop: 90 people, tarot cards, and a man proving his wife right12:10 Male participation in spiritual practices is rising—what that signals14:44 Why AI can't replicate authentic personal branding19:42 The burnout story: hospital, lost motor skills, and the shame that followed22:06 Burnout looks different for everyone—recovery is never one-size-fits-all26:03 Recognizing the signs early and having a supportive boss who lets you name it28:13 Presence as a practice: why "just get through this" mentality kills leadership31:48 The fragmented media landscape and why traditional PR is evolving33:04 "The future is going to be the unhinged people"—original thought vs. algorithmic noise35:51 Why even national media placements don't guarantee new audience reach anymore38:14 Authenticity as strategy: vulnerability builds credibility, not weakness42:16 The oversharing risk: reading the room and trusting your intuition before posting44:06 Why smaller communities matter more than follower counts46:25 Leadership trends: CEOs staying silent, new industries emerging, the management skills crisis48:49 Chief Spiritual Officer platform: launching early September with significant iteration49:30 Favorite quote from Maya Angelou: "You're the funniest person you've ever met"Key Insights & TakeawaysInsight 1: Authenticity Isn't Soft—It's StrategicLeaders assume vulnerability signals weakness. The opposite is true. Failure stories, burnout recovery, and admitting what you don't know create the emotional connection that AI-generated content can never replicate. The most credible executives aren't the most polished—they're the most real.Insight 2: Intuitive Intelligence Is a Learnable Skill, Not a GiftPeople assume intuition is innate. Elizabeth reframes it as a skill you develop through practice—whether that's tarot, pendulums, journaling, or walking with loud music. The tool doesn't matter. What matters is creating space to listen to your own knowing instead of defaulting to what AI suggests or what everyone else is doing.Insight 3: Burnout Recovery Is Personalized—There's No ProtocolEveryone's burnout looks different. Elizabeth's was a hospital visit with lost motor skills. Someone else's is quiet resignation. The dangerous myth is that there's a universal fix. Real recovery requires honest diagnosis of your specific burnout, not following someone else's recovery playbook.Insight 4: The Algorithm Doesn't Expand Your Reach AnymoreEven a New York Times feature or national morning show appearance only reaches people already in your orbit. The algorithm filters for familiarity. This means visibility comes from original thought, in-person presence, and smaller communities where trust is built through repeated, authentic interaction—not from chasing big media placements.Insight 5: Read the Room Before You PostVulnerability is powerful, but context matters. Entrepreneurs can afford more candor than executives at Fortune 500 companies. The guardrail: if you're already questioning whether to post something, don't. That hesitation is intuition telling you it's an inside voice, not an outside voice. Text your PR friend instead.Insight 6: Presence Is a Competitive AdvantageLeaders are conditioned to always be striving toward the next goal. Presence—actually being where you are, with the people in front of you—is rare enough to stand out. It's also what prevents burnout. The paradox: being more present makes you more effective, not less.Insight 7: Male Participation in Spiritual Practices Is RisingThe workshop had 50/50 gender split. Elizabeth's client base shifted from 90% women to 60/40 in two years. This signals a cultural shift: men are giving themselves permission to explore intuition, energy work, and spiritual practice without the "woo" stigma. That's a leadership trend worth watching.Insight 8: AI Amplifies What You Already Know About YourselfAI can't tell you who you are. It can only reflect back patterns it's seen before. Real personal branding comes from deep self-knowledge—your origin story, your failures, what actually drives you. That's what Elizabeth mines through the Soul and Story process. AI is a tool for executing that clarity, not discovering it.Resources & Links MentionedGood Advice Company: thegoodadvicecompany.comChief Spiritual Officer Platform (launching early September 2026)Soul and Story Process (proprietary personal branding framework)Brick Phone (technology management tool Elizabeth recommends)About Elizabeth RosenbergElizabeth Rosenberg is the founder of Good Advice Company and Chief Spiritual Officer, a platform destigmatizing spirituality in corporate leadership. With 20+ years in PR and personal branding, she's worked with C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Glamour. She combines intuitive practices (Akashic readings, tarot, energy work) with behavioral analytics and storytelling strategy to help leaders build authentic brands that AI can't replicate. She's also a vocal advocate for presence, vulnerability, and recognizing burnout before it hospitalizes you.Connect with ElizabethLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethrosenbergWebsite: thegoodadvicecompany.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of suicide, the loss of a child, emotional abuse, and narcissistic relationship dynamics. Please care for yourself and listen only if it feels supportive. What do you do when you're grieving the unimaginable... and someone you once trusted continues to cause harm in the aftermath? In this profoundly moving coaching session, Christine sits down with Mary, whose teenage son died by suicide just nine months ago. As she navigates the heartbreaking reality of losing her child, Mary finds herself confronting another devastating challenge: discovering that her ex-husband has publicly misrepresented their son's cause of death while using his memory to promote a charitable foundation. For years, Mary lived in fear of speaking her truth during an emotionally abusive marriage. Now, she's faced with a painful question: Can she find the courage to use her voice—not from anger or revenge, but from love, integrity, and a desire to honor her son's legacy? Together, Christine and Mary explore grief, trauma, narcissistic abuse, reclaiming personal power, and the delicate balance between seeking justice and protecting your own peace. Their conversation is a powerful reminder that healing doesn't require silence—and that telling the truth can be an act of profound love. Whether you've experienced deep loss, struggled to find your voice after an abusive relationship, or wondered how to move forward when life feels unbearably unfair, this episode offers compassion, validation, and hope. Press play to hear a courageous conversation about honoring truth, reclaiming your voice, and allowing both grief and joy to coexist. Consider / Ask Yourself Have you ever stayed silent because you were afraid of someone else's reaction? Do you struggle to trust your own voice after experiencing manipulation or emotional abuse? Are you carrying grief while also trying to rebuild your life? Can you allow yourself to experience moments of joy without feeling guilty? Key Insights and A-Ha's Grief and joy are not opposites—they can exist together. Years of emotional abuse can disconnect you from your own inner knowing. Speaking your truth doesn't require anger; it can come from love and integrity. Healing often begins when we stop abandoning our own voice. You are not responsible for another person's choices, but you are responsible for honoring your own truth. How to Deepen the Work Notice where fear may still be preventing you from expressing your truth. Practice asking yourself, "What feels true for me?" before seeking external validation. Allow yourself to receive support from trusted friends, professionals, or your community. Remember that choosing joy does not diminish your love for someone you've lost. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares why she recommends Peluva, a minimalist five-toe shoe designed to support natural foot movement, comfort, and long-term foot health. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Visit: peluva.com Seeking Pro Bono Legal Support Mary is currently seeking legal representation regarding the misuse of her son's memory and charitable foundation. If you are an attorney—or know someone who may be willing to assist on a pro bono basis—Christine invites you to contact her team. Email: assist@christinehassler.com Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

This week we're discussing From Numbing Out to Living Fully. The end of the day hits differently when you are parenting alone. The kids are down, the house is finally quiet, and instead of feeling relief, there is this hollow weight that settles in. So you reach for something, anything, to take the edge off. A drink, a show, a scroll, something sweet. It does not feel like a problem. It feels like survival. But over time, the things you are leaning on to get through the day start quietly working against you, leaving you more exhausted, more disconnected, and further from the version of yourself you actually want to be. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, and Elizabeth Cole, single parent and co-host, sit down with Katrina Morriss, a licensed mental health nurse practitioner and single mom who has been part of the Solo Parent community since 2020. Katrina's story is not a tidy before-and-after. It is raw, honest, and the kind of account that makes you feel less alone in your own struggle. Together they walk through what it looks like to recognize the cycle, face the fear of what is on the other side of it, and find your way back to the moments that matter most. Key Insights from This Episode: Numbing and restoring are not the same thing. What feels like relief at the end of a hard day may actually be the thing keeping you stuck in exhaustion. The known hell feels safer than the unknown heaven. Fear of what healing requires keeps more solo parents in the cycle than the pain of staying in it. Presence for your kids is the fuel, not just the goal. The unregrettable moments with your children are what make the hard work of recovery worth sustaining. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Voice of the Heart by Chip Dodd Tony Evans Podcast  Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

How do you know when it's time to let go of a dream… and when it's time to keep holding on? In this deeply moving coaching session, Christine works with Asa, who has spent the last 18 months wrestling with one of the biggest decisions of her life: whether to have a second child. Her heart longs for another baby—for the chance to experience motherhood again, to give her son a sibling, and to hold onto a season of life she isn't ready to say goodbye to. But her reality tells a different story. Between health challenges, stress in her marriage, financial concerns, aging parents, and feeling emotionally depleted, Asa wonders if the loving choice might actually be to let go of the dream. As the conversation unfolds, Christine gently uncovers something even deeper: perhaps the longing for another child isn't only about another baby. Perhaps it's also a longing to nurture the part of herself that never fully got to be a child. Together they explore emotional depletion, inner child healing, motherhood, grief, and why making major life decisions from exhaustion often leads us further away from ourselves. If you've ever felt stuck in indecision, struggled to trust your intuition, or wondered whether you're yearning for something external that's actually pointing you inward, this episode will offer clarity and compassion. Press play to discover why the most important life you may need to nurture right now is your own. Consider / Ask Yourself Is there a major life decision you've been avoiding because you're afraid of making the "wrong" choice? Are you making decisions from a place of depletion or from a place of wholeness? Do you feel responsible for taking care of everyone else while neglecting yourself? What part of you is asking to be nurtured before you take your next big step? Key Insights and A-Ha's Indecision often creates more emotional exhaustion than making a conscious choice. Sometimes the longing for something external points to an unmet need within. Self-mothering is an essential part of healing—especially for caregivers and parents. Emotional depletion makes it difficult to hear your intuition clearly. The most loving decision is often the one that honors your current capacity, not your expectations. How to Deepen the Work Notice where you're trying to force clarity instead of creating the conditions for clarity to emerge. Ask yourself what your inner child truly needs right now—not what you think you "should" be doing. Create space to replenish your physical, emotional, and relational well-being before making major life decisions. Practice offering yourself the same compassion and care you naturally give to others. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares why she loves Peluva, a minimalist five-toe shoe designed to support natural movement, strengthen the feet, and improve overall comfort. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Visit: peluva.com Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

How do you break through a swimming plateau when it feels like you've already tried everything? In this episode, I sit down with Sandra Surkamp to discuss her incredible swimming journey—from struggling to swim 25 meters without stopping to swimming comfortably in open water and dropping her pace by nearly 50 seconds per 100 meters. Sandra shares the key lessons she's learned over the last few years, including how revisiting the fundamentals, improving body position, refining her catch, and finding the right coaching cues helped unlock a major breakthrough in her swimming. We also talk about the frustrations that come with progress, why improvements don't always happen in a straight line, and what it takes to make lasting technique changes. Whether you're stuck at a plateau, learning to swim more efficiently, or looking for motivation to keep improving, Sandra's story is packed with valuable insights and practical takeaways. 00:00 Introduction to Sandra's Swimming Journey 01:18 Overcoming Initial Challenges in Swimming 03:24 The Importance of Technique and Coaching 05:48 Experiencing Breakthroughs and New Goals 08:33 Key Insights on Swimming Technique 11:06 The Role of Mindset in Performance 14:42 Navigating Setbacks and Maintaining Progress 18:21 The Value of Video Analysis in Improvement 20:55 Revisiting Basics for Continued Growth 23:43 Current Focus and Future Goals  

This week we're discussing How to Keep Control from Destroying Your Peace. Solo parenting puts you in a position where so much is genuinely outside your control. The other household. The court dates. How your kids are processing things you cannot fully see. And when that much is out of your hands, it is completely natural to tighten your grip on everything else. The schedule. The way the kitchen looks. The outcome of a conversation you have already rehearsed a dozen times. It feels like stability. It feels like you are doing something. But over time, that kind of control does not actually bring peace. It borrows against it. That tension is exactly what this conversation digs into. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, Elizabeth Cole, single parent, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) and single parent, sit down to work through what is really driving the urge to control, why letting go is not the same thing as giving up, and what it looks like in real life to hold things a little more loosely without losing yourself in the process. It is one of those conversations that has a way of naming things you have been feeling but have not quite had the words for. Key Insights from This Episode: Control is often a counterfeit for peace. It mimics stability but quietly works against the peace you are actually looking for. Letting go is not the same as giving up. The shift is from gripping tightly to holding loosely enough to stay present and adapt. "What if" lives in the future; "if only" lives in the past. Real agency only exists in the present, in the one next right step. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

What if keeping the peace is actually keeping you from being fully yourself? In this heartfelt and empowering coaching session, Christine works with Emily, who is preparing to release her first book—a deeply personal guide about becoming an intentional, loving grandparent called Don't Skip the Party. But instead of celebration, Emily is met with silence and defensiveness from her mother. As her mom reads the book through the lens of her own regrets and perceived shortcomings, Emily finds herself pulled back into a familiar role: making sure everyone else is okay, even at the expense of her own truth. Together, Christine and Emily unpack one of the most common generational patterns many women carry—the belief that love means managing other people's emotions. The conversation explores boundaries, codependency, family dynamics, and the difference between truth spoken with love versus sacrificing yourself to keep others comfortable. If you've ever felt responsible for a parent's happiness, struggled to set loving boundaries, or found yourself shrinking your truth to avoid upsetting others, this episode will resonate deeply. Press play to discover why letting people have their feelings may be one of the most loving things you can do—for them and for yourself.    Consider / Ask Yourself Do you feel responsible for keeping peace within your family? Are you uncomfortable when people are upset with you? Do you soften your truth or hold yourself back to avoid disappointing others? Have you confused love with self-sacrifice?   Key Insights and A-Ha's Love does not require managing another person's emotions. Boundaries are not rejection—they are an act of self-respect and honesty. Protecting people from discomfort can sometimes prevent their growth. Breaking generational patterns means changing your role in the family dynamic—not forcing others to change theirs. Truth and love belong together. One without the other creates imbalance.   How to Deepen the Work Notice where you take responsibility for emotions that don't belong to you. Ask yourself: "Am I being loving—or am I people-pleasing?" Practice allowing others to have their own reactions without rushing to fix them. Reflect on where you can choose truth and love simultaneously.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode Featured Sponsor: Peluva Barefoot Shoes Christine shares her experience with Peluva, a minimalist five-toe shoe designed to strengthen the feet, encourage natural movement, and improve overall comfort. Use code CHRISTINE for 10% off your first pair. Visit: peluva.com    Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

This week we're discussing Making Peace with Our Past with Dr. Dan Allender. Most of us know our story. We could tell it in five minutes if someone asked. But knowing what happened and actually being free from it are two very different things. For a lot of solo parents, the past shows up uninvited, in a sharp reaction that didn't fit the moment, a fear that surfaces when things finally feel calm, a pattern with your kids you swore you'd never repeat. It doesn't mean you haven't tried. It means the trying might need to go a little deeper. And the longer we avoid that, the more the past quietly runs the present. In this conversation, Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, and Elizabeth Cole, single parent and co-host, sit down with Dr. Dan Allender, a clinical psychologist and author who has spent decades helping people face their stories honestly and find real freedom on the other side. His books The Wounded Heart, The Healing Path, and To Be Told have walked thousands through the hard work of understanding how the past is still shaping the present and what it actually takes to change that. Together they explore why avoidance keeps us stuck, how shame operates and what disarms it, and why grief and anger aren't problems to manage but forces that, held together, can finally move you forward. The conversation is honest, practical, and grounded in real experience from all three voices at the table. Key Insights from This Episode: Ignoring the past doesn't free you. It makes you reactive. The unaddressed past doesn't disappear, it shows up in your parenting, your relationships, and the moments you least expect it. Shame has to be faced, defied, and disarmed with kindness. Running from shame guarantees it follows you, but meeting it with defiance and then gentleness is what actually loosens its grip. Grief and anger belong together. Each one needs the other. Anger without grief hardens you, grief without anger drowns you, but held together they're what actually moves you forward. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Dr Dan Allender The Wounded Heart The Healing Path To Be Told Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App  Join a Solo Parent Online Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

What happens when you finally find the healthy relationship you've always wanted... and your nervous system doesn't know what to do with it? In this deeply compassionate coaching session, Christine works with Sydney, who has found herself in the healthiest and most emotionally supportive relationship of her life. Her partner is stable, trustworthy, and committed—everything she once hoped for. So why does she still feel anxious? Why does part of her still expect abandonment, betrayal, or heartbreak? As the conversation unfolds, Sydney begins to recognize that her fears aren't coming from her current relationship. They're coming from old wounds. Growing up with an emotionally unavailable mother and a father who left, her nervous system learned early that love wasn't safe and connection couldn't be trusted. Now, even though her present-day reality is different, those old protective patterns continue to activate whenever intimacy deepens. Together, Christine and Sydney explore self-abandonment, dissociation, vulnerability, receptivity, and what it truly means to feel safe enough to receive love. If you've ever found yourself pulling away from healthy love, questioning a good relationship, or feeling anxious when things are actually going well, this episode will help you understand why. Press play to discover how old survival strategies may be keeping you from fully receiving the love you've worked so hard to create.    Consider / Ask Yourself Do you become anxious when relationships start feeling safe and secure? Do you find yourself expecting abandonment even when there is no evidence something is wrong? Were your emotional needs consistently met as a child? Do you struggle to receive love, support, compliments, affection, or intimacy?   Key Insights and A-Ha's Safe relationships can feel unfamiliar—and therefore unsafe—to a nervous system wired for unpredictability. Self-abandonment often begins when emotional needs go unmet in childhood. Vulnerability is not the same as neediness. Receptivity requires safety, embodiment, and trust. Many anxiety patterns are protective strategies that once served a purpose but are no longer necessary.   How to Deepen the Work Notice when you are reacting from present-day reality versus past experiences. Practice validating your triggers rather than criticizing yourself for having them. Explore ways to reconnect with your body through grounding and nervous system regulation practices. Allow yourself to express and process emotions instead of pushing them away or dissociating from them.   Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

Join us for an insightful conversation where Filipe and Mandy Santos of Echo Church in the Bay Area interview John Ortberg and they explore spiritual formation, the origins of the 12-step program, and its relevance for church leaders today. Discover practical wisdom on character, vulnerability, and leveraging technology in a polarized culture.Spiritual formation is not just about personal growth; it's about leading others into a transformative relationship with God. John emphasizes that this process is essential for effective church leadership today. In a world filled with polarization and contempt, fostering a community centered on the teachings of Jesus is more crucial than ever. Ortberg notes, "The greatest opportunity ever offered to the human race is life in God's presence with friendship and guidance."Want to join a Steps group for pastors and church leaders? Email us at info@innovativechurchleaders.org.Key Insights:00:00 - Introduction to John Ortberg03:24 - The Journey of Faith and Ministry09:35 - Understanding the 12 Steps and Spiritual Formation19:53 - The Importance of Character in Leadership26:06 - Vulnerability and Accountability in Leadership31:49 - Navigating Technology and Community in the ChurchResources Mentioned:Become New with John OrtbergSteps by John OrtbergAndy Crouch's writings on technologyDallas Willard's worksEcho Church in the Bay Area of CAFilipe and Mandy SantosInnovative Church Leaders Newsletter: https://www.innovativechurchleaders.org/join-usFollow Innovative Church Leaders:Helping pastors experience and bring renewal through Spirit-led innovation.Website: https://www.innovativechurchleaders.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativechurchleadersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InnovativeChurchLeadersTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@innovativechurchleadersYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@innovativechurchleadersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovative-church-leaders/Download the Free Guide: "Why Innovation Matters and Our Innovative God" at https://www.innovativechurchleaders.org/Take our FREE Pastoral Health Checkup: https://pastoral-health.scoreapp.com/Keywords:spiritual formation, 12-step, church leadership, vulnerability, character, technology, culture, discipleship, addiction, community, John Ortberg, Filipe Santos, Mandy Santos, Echo Church, innovative church leaders

This week we're discussing: Tips for Creating a Peaceful Home Base Most solo parents are not struggling to love their kids well. They are struggling to create the kind of home where that love actually lands. Where kids feel safe, settled, and like they can exhale when they walk through the door. That gap between intention and reality is something almost every solo parent feels but rarely talks about out loud. A peaceful home is not something you either have or you don't. It is something you build, through the way you communicate, the way you listen, and the way you show up on the days when everything feels like too much. And it matters more than most of us realize, because when home feels unpredictable, kids do not just feel unsettled. They start filling the silence with their own story, and that story almost always ends with the same conclusion: something is wrong with me. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, sits down with Elizabeth Cole, a single parent, and Amber Fuller, a counselor with a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and a single parent herself, to talk practically about what it takes to build a peaceful home base. Not a perfect one. A consistent one. Key Insights from This Episode: What you say, and how you say it, changes everything. Kids fill silence with their own story, and that story almost always puts the blame on themselves. Listening well is more powerful than having the right answer. Empathy before action helps you understand what your child actually needs, not just what the situation appears to need. A peaceful home is a slow build, not a single decision. Consistency over time is what creates safety, and safety is what peace is made of. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App Join a Solo Parent Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

What if the thing holding you back isn't a lack of confidence—but a fear of being seen? In this powerful and emotional coaching session, Christine works with Victoria, who feels called to step into a more authentic and public version of herself through a new creative venture. Although she has already achieved success in her current career, she feels increasingly disconnected from the life she truly wants to be living. The problem isn't a lack of passion. The problem is the overwhelming fear that comes with being visible. As Victoria explores her desire to become a content creator and inspire women to build their dream lives, deeper layers begin to emerge. Childhood criticism, perfectionism, fear of judgment, and the pressure to "get it right" have all created an internal protector that would rather keep her safe than allow her to be fully expressed. Together, Christine and Victoria uncover how growing up in a highly critical environment taught her to hide parts of herself in order to avoid conflict, judgment, and rejection. Now, as she prepares to share her voice more publicly, those same protective patterns are resurfacing. If you've ever felt called to something bigger but found yourself procrastinating, shrinking back, or questioning your worth, this episode will help you understand why—and what it takes to move forward anyway. Press play to discover how fear of criticism may be keeping you from the freedom, fulfillment, and authenticity you truly desire.    Consider / Ask Yourself Do you hold yourself back because you fear what others might think? Did you grow up in a household where criticism, correction, or high expectations were common? Do you feel called to share more of yourself but find yourself procrastinating or avoiding visibility? Are you living from authenticity—or from a strategy designed to avoid judgment?   Key Insights and A-Ha's Perfectionism is often a survival strategy developed in response to criticism. Fear of being seen can create "invisibility blocks" that limit authentic expression. Many people spend more energy avoiding criticism than pursuing what they truly want. Authenticity often requires grieving the identity you built to stay safe. Freedom comes not from being perfect—but from allowing yourself to be fully seen.   How to Deepen the Work Reflect on how criticism shaped your relationship with visibility and self-expression. Notice where you are seeking safety through perfection rather than authenticity. Ask yourself: "What would I do if I wasn't afraid of being judged?" Begin practicing self-expression in small ways, even when discomfort arises.   Resource Mentioned in This Episode Inner Child Course Christine references her evergreen Inner Child program, designed to help people rewire childhood conditioning, heal protective patterns, and reconnect with their authentic selves. Learn more at: christinehassler.com/innerchild    Social Media + Resources:    Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

This week we're discussing Surviving Summer Chaos The school year gives solo parents a framework that helps them survive. The routines, the schedules, the predictable rhythm that makes life feel manageable. Then summer arrives and all of it shifts, fast. The magic of the season is real, but so is the pressure. Work does not slow down. The bills do not pause. And suddenly you are expected to hold everything together with more people in the house, less structure, and the quiet weight of doing it all on your own. In this episode, Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, and Elizabeth Cole, single parent, are joined by Marissa Lee, author and single parent, for a practical and honest conversation about navigating summer as a solo parent. Together they dig into the real challenges of the season and share what has actually worked in their own homes. Key Insights from This Episode: Structure is not a punishment for summer, it is a gift you give your kid. Simple daily rhythms, built with your child's input, can make the whole season more manageable for everyone. Letting go of control is a parenting skill that has to be practiced gradually. Summer is a natural proving ground for giving older kids more independence before you are forced to do it all at once. The best summer memories do not require money. They require presence, a little creativity, and the willingness to show up even when you are tired. Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App  Join a Solo Parent Online Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

Welcome to another insightful episode of Build a Better Agency! This time, host Drew McLellan teams up once again with research partner Susan Baier from Audience Audit to unpack the findings from the highly anticipated 2026 Agency EDGE study. Together, they examine how AI is impacting agencies and, more importantly, the shifting expectations and priorities of agency clients in this rapidly changing landscape. Drew and Susan discuss how clients' attitudes toward AI have evolved dramatically over the past year. Gone are the days of uncertainty and secrecy—now, clients expect agencies to be transparent about their use of AI and, even more significantly, to serve as strategic guides and governance partners in the age of automation. The conversation explores three core client segments that have emerged: strategic stewards prioritizing brand protection, adaptive accelerators seeking innovation at speed, and performance pragmatists laser-focused on measurable outcomes. You'll hear why differentiation is more important than ever for agencies, especially as client expectations for sophisticated strategy, proactive guidance, and data-driven decision-making continue to rise. The hosts also highlight new business opportunities for agencies willing to lead on AI adoption, particularly in providing governance and integrating technology across the buyer's journey. If you want to understand what clients truly value today—and how your agency can step up to claim a central, irreplaceable role—this episode is essential listening. Packed with actionable insights, it's a must for any agency leader eager to thrive in the AI era and beyond. A big thank you to our podcast's presenting sponsor, White Label IQ. They're an amazing resource for agencies who want to outsource their design, dev, or PPC work at wholesale prices. Check out their special offer (10 free hours!) for podcast listeners here. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Discover the three distinct client segments that define agency value in the AI era Learn why strategic leadership has become the top priority for agency clients Understand how AI has shifted from experimental to table stakes in just 365 days Master the art of challenging clients while maintaining strong relationships Develop frameworks for positioning your agency within specific value propositions Transform your account management approach from order-taking to strategic consultation Create differentiation strategies that separate you from generalist competitors Build client relationships that leverage AI while emphasizing human insight Implement governance strategies that protect brands while embracing innovation

What if your dating anxiety isn't actually about the person you're dating? In this deeply validating and eye-opening coaching session, Christine works with Rebecca, who experiences intense anxiety, panic attacks, hypervigilance, and worst-case-scenario thinking whenever dating begins to feel emotionally significant. As relationships move beyond the casual stage, Rebecca finds herself constantly scanning for danger—analyzing every response, questioning whether she can trust the person, and struggling to feel safe enough to relax into connection. But as Christine gently uncovers the deeper root, it becomes clear: this isn't really about dating. It's about a nervous system that was wired for survival in childhood. Growing up with an alcoholic mother and a bipolar father, Rebecca learned early that safety depended on staying hyper-aware, emotionally prepared, and constantly scanning for potential threats. Now, even healthy intimacy activates the same survival patterns her nervous system once needed to survive. Together, they explore the difference between fear and true desire, how childhood programming impacts adult relationships, and why compassion—not self-criticism—is the key to nervous system healing. If you've ever questioned your reactions in dating, wondered why intimacy feels so activating, or tried to "logic" your way out of anxiety, this episode will help you understand yourself on a much deeper level. Press play to learn why your nervous system may be protecting you from a past that's already over—and how compassion can begin to change everything. Consider / Ask Yourself Do you become hypervigilant or anxious once dating starts feeling emotionally significant? Are you constantly scanning for red flags or worst-case scenarios in relationships? Do you struggle to tell the difference between fear and intuition? Are you trying to "think" your way out of nervous system activation instead of compassionately supporting yourself through it? Key Insights and A-Ha's Hypervigilance is often a survival response learned in childhood—not proof something is wrong now. A nervous system wired for instability can interpret intimacy as danger. Logic and reassurance rarely regulate fear-based nervous system patterns. Compassion and validation create more healing than self-criticism or over-analysis. Healing begins when we stop fighting our reactions and start understanding them. How to Deepen the Work Notice when your nervous system shifts into scanning, bracing, or worst-case-scenario thinking. Practice validating your feelings instead of immediately trying to fix or explain them. Ask yourself: "Is this decision coming from fear or from truth?" Spend intentional time reconnecting with your inner child and nervous system safety. Resources Mentioned in This Episode Emerge Membership + Nervous System Support Tools Christine references tapping, inner child work, emotional regulation practices, and compassionate nervous system healing throughout the episode. Learn more at: christinehassler.com Apply to Be Coached on the Show Interested in being coached live on the podcast? Apply here: christinehassler.com/waitlist Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

This week we're discussing Overcoming Toxic Thoughts. Most solo parents are not struggling because they are doing too little. They are struggling because the voice in their head will not let them believe what they are doing is enough. It is there before the day even starts, in the moment you realize you are the only one holding all of it together. It shows up when a hard conversation with your teenager goes sideways and you have no one to debrief with after. It is there when you are grieving a partner you lost and trying to keep things steady for kids who are grieving too. It surfaces when a grown child calls struggling and you wonder, quietly, if something you did years ago is the reason why. It is there at the end of a long day when the plan fell apart, the patience ran out, and the mental replay begins. Every misstep. Every thing left undone. Every version of yourself you think you are supposed to be but cannot quite reach. That voice sounds like fact. It has been running so long it feels like your own. But it is not. Robert Beeson, Founder and CEO of Solo Parent, and Elizabeth Cole, single parent and co-host, bring in Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author of Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking and host of the podcast All It Takes Is a Goal, for a conversation that is equal parts practical and freeing. Jon has spent over a decade studying the repetitive thoughts that quietly run our lives, where they come from, how to spot the ones that are lying to us, and what it actually takes to replace them. Whether you are parenting through loss, navigating life after divorce, or building your family on your own terms, and whether your kids are still small or grown and finding their footing, the internal noise of doing this without a partner is real. This conversation goes there. Key Insights from This Episode: Your Broken Soundtracks Have a Source. The repetitive thoughts holding you back did not appear out of nowhere, and knowing where they came from is the first move toward changing them. There Is a Three-Question Test to Tell Real Concerns from Toxic Overthinking. Not every hard thought is a lie, but there is a simple way to tell the difference between what is true and what is just loud. New Seasons Deserve New Scorecards. Measuring this chapter of your life against a different one is one of the quietest ways solo parents keep themselves stuck. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Jon Acuff Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking Procrastination Proof (released April 2025) All It Takes Is a Goal podcast by Jon Acuff That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs  Chip Dodd / 8 CORE Feelings framework  Stay Connected + Get Support: Download our Solo Parent App  Join a Solo Parent Online Group Learn more about Solo Parent Follow us on Instagram  

Send us Fan MailTom Bernard is in the financial field, married to a public school teacher, and teaches personal finance courses at the City College of San Francisco. His mission? Tom wants to help the average person understand wealth-building and how the S&P 500 actually works. Tom has been there, done that, and got the T-Shirt by trying to BEAT the market with individual stocks....but coming up short of market returns. Now, Tom has become an expert on the S&P and loves the low fees and simplicity of index Funds This year, Tom released his new book titled "The Index of America"Key Insights from The Index of America Include:The Power of Simplicity: Why broad-based index investing consistently outperforms complex, high-fee trading strategies over the long term.Historical Context: How the index has evolved since 1957 to reflect shifting global influences and technological revolutions.Wealth Compounding: A clear guide for students, new investors, and seasoned professionals on how disciplined participation leads to long-term stability.https://www.amazon.com/INDEX-AMERICA-WORKS-SHOULD-INVEST-ebook/dp/B0GPHQVRTLBe a guest on the show:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/contact-8Check out our website:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/Sign up for FIT coaching:https://www.financiallyindependentteachers.com/services-4

What happens when you've done the healing, broken the patterns, and still haven't found your person? In this deeply validating and emotionally rich coaching session, Christine works with Rachel, who is navigating life as a single woman in her late 30s after leaving an emotionally abusive relationship. Rachel has done years of deep inner work, including healing childhood wounds, rebuilding her self-worth, and learning how to date from discernment instead of desperation. But despite all that growth, she finds herself asking a painful question many conscious women quietly carry: "I've done the work… so where is my person?" Together, Christine and Rachel unpack the pressure, grief, and cultural conditioning that often surrounds being single later in life—especially for women who refuse to settle and are committed to breaking generational patterns. Christine offers a powerful reframe: perhaps the delay isn't punishment or proof something is wrong. Perhaps it's evidence that Rachel has truly completed an old karmic pattern and is no longer available for unhealthy love. This episode is an invitation to stop viewing yourself as "behind" and start recognizing the profound growth and discernment that conscious partnership actually requires. If you've ever felt discouraged in your dating journey, questioned your timing, or feared it may never happen for you, this conversation will meet you with compassion, truth, and hope. Press play to reconnect with your embodied wisdom—and remember that longing does not have to become suffering.    Consider / Ask Yourself Are you viewing your relationship status through cultural conditioning or through your own truth? Have you mistaken being unpartnered for being "behind" in life? Are you truly honoring how much healing and integration you've already completed? Can you stay connected to your longing for partnership without creating suffering around it?   Key Insights and A-Ha's Conscious women often delay partnership because they refuse to repeat generational patterns. Longing for partnership is not weakness—it can be a deep intuitive knowing. Healing is not just about processing pain—it's about embodying new truth and discernment. Fear after an abusive relationship can soften through embodied wisdom and self-trust. Much of the suffering around being single comes from cultural narratives rather than reality itself.   How to Deepen the Work Notice when thoughts about being single create unnecessary suffering or urgency. Practice reconnecting with the version of yourself who deeply trusts her discernment. Reflect on the lessons and red flags from past relationships so they become embodied wisdom. Continue nurturing your inner child so longing does not become abandonment.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode Be the Queen Live Program Christine shares details about the upcoming live round of her relationship and conscious partnership course designed for women calling in healthy, aligned love. Join the interest list at: christinehassler.com/queen Golden Rule Microdosing Resource Christine also references her conversation about microdosing support and healing. Learn more at: christinehassler.com/micro Inner Child Course Christine references her evergreen inner child healing program for continued integration and subconscious rewiring. Learn more at: christinehassler.com/innerchild  Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

What if your biggest money block has nothing to do with money? In this deeply insightful and empowering coaching session, Christine works with Karishma, a trauma-informed relationship coach who feels torn between following her purpose and contributing financially to her family in a more traditional way. Even though Karishma loves her work and knows she's helping people transform their lives, she struggles with inconsistent income, self-doubt, and the pressure to prove she can "make it" as an entrepreneur. But as the conversation unfolds, Christine uncovers something much deeper: a childhood belief formed at just six years old that still shapes how Karishma sees her capabilities today. Together they explore how early experiences around intelligence, performance, and worth can quietly sabotage confidence in adulthood—even when someone is deeply gifted and aligned with their purpose. Christine also offers a refreshing and nuanced conversation around feminine energy, contribution, entrepreneurship, accessibility, and what it truly means to be an "independent woman." If you've ever struggled to monetize your gifts, doubted your abilities, or felt conflicted between purpose and financial security, this episode will deeply resonate. Press play to discover why your purpose may not be the problem—and how old beliefs could be blocking the abundance you're meant to receive.    Consider / Ask Yourself Do you feel deeply aligned with your purpose but financially stuck? Are old beliefs about intelligence, capability, or worth affecting your confidence? Do you feel pressure to prove your value through income or productivity? Are you trying to fit yourself into a version of success that doesn't actually align with your soul?   Key Insights and A-Ha's Purpose-driven work and entrepreneurship require very different skill sets. Childhood experiences around failure or "not being good enough" can shape adult money beliefs. Neurodivergence can impact confidence, communication, and traditional ideas of success. Contribution isn't measured solely by income or productivity. Feminine magnetism grows when we align with authenticity, purpose, and service—not pressure and proving.   How to Deepen the Work Reflect on the earliest memories connected to feeling "not capable" or "not smart enough." Notice where you may be measuring your worth through financial contribution alone. Reconnect with the deeper mission and purpose behind your work. Explore ways to simplify your business so you can spend more time in your zone of genius.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode Kaizen Coffee + Electrolytes Christine shares her favorite mold-tested coffee and electrolyte company. Learn more at: christinehassler.com/coffee Inner Child Course ("Rewired") Christine references her evergreen inner child healing course focused on rewiring subconscious programming and childhood beliefs. Learn more at: christinehassler.com/innerchild  Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Apply to be coached on the show: christinehassler.com/waitlist Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

Are you doing everything in your relationship… and quietly resenting it? In this incredibly relatable coaching session, Christine works with Melissa, who feels overwhelmed, emotionally triggered, and exhausted from carrying the mental and emotional load in her marriage. Even though she and her husband love each other deeply and have a strong connection, Melissa finds herself stuck in a painful cycle: she over-functions, suppresses her needs, builds resentment, and then reacts emotionally when she feels unsupported. As Christine unpacks the deeper dynamic underneath the conflict, a powerful truth emerges: Melissa isn't just reacting to dishes, chores, or household responsibilities—she's reliving childhood patterns of anxious attachment, people-pleasing, and fear of losing connection. Together they explore the "merging pattern"—a survival strategy where someone over-functions in relationships to maintain harmony and avoid abandonment. Christine helps Melissa see that true healing isn't about controlling someone else's behavior—it's about learning how to advocate for your needs without collapsing into fear, guilt, or resentment. If you've ever felt like the emotional manager of your relationship, or you struggle to ask for support without feeling guilty, this episode will hit home. Press play to learn how over-functioning may be keeping you stuck—and how to start creating healthier relationship dynamics.    Consider / Ask Yourself Do you constantly feel responsible for everyone else's needs and emotions? Are you over-functioning in your relationship while your partner under-functions? Do you avoid speaking up because you fear conflict or disconnection? Are you building resentment because your needs aren't being clearly expressed or supported?   Key Insights and A-Ha's Over-functioning is often a childhood survival strategy rooted in anxious attachment. Resentment builds when one partner consistently carries the emotional and practical load. Advocating for your needs is not selfish—it's essential for healthy relationships. Clear agreements and boundaries reduce emotional chaos and confusion. Healing requires tolerating discomfort instead of rescuing, fixing, or enabling.   How to Deepen the Work Reflect on where you may be over-functioning in your relationships. Practice identifying your actual needs before resentment builds. Create clear agreements and responsibilities within your household or partnerships. Notice when your nervous system interprets conflict as danger—and gently re-regulate before reacting.   Resources Mentioned in This Episode Group Coaching Call: Understanding Your Survival Strategies Christine shares details about her live coaching workshop focused on identifying the five core survival strategies and learning how to shift unhealthy relational patterns. Learn more at: christinehassler.com/group Reset Course + Inner Child Course ("Rewired") Christine also references her nervous system rewiring and inner child healing courses for deeper support around anxious attachment, emotional regulation, and relationship triggers. Explore courses at: christinehassler.com Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

What if the calm, stable life you've worked so hard to create… is the very thing your nervous system doesn't trust? In this powerful and eye-opening coaching session, Christine works with Carla, who has done years of deep personal growth after a highly chaotic and unstable childhood. She's now in a loving, supportive relationship and living a peaceful life—but instead of feeling settled, she finds herself questioning everything. Why? Because her nervous system is still wired for chaos. Carla opens up about growing up in instability, being parentified at a young age, and constantly second-guessing herself—even now that she's created a completely different reality. Christine helps her uncover how old patterns of hypervigilance, self-doubt, and an overactive inner critic can make peace feel unfamiliar—and even unsafe. This episode is a powerful reminder that healing isn't just about doing the work—it's about recognizing and embodying how far you've already come. If you've ever found yourself searching for problems in a life that is actually working… this episode will help you understand why—and how to shift. Press play to learn how to stop sabotaging your peace and finally step into the life you've created.    Consider / Ask Yourself Do you feel uncomfortable or restless when life is calm or stable? Are you constantly looking for what's wrong—even when things are going well? Do you struggle to trust healthy relationships or peaceful environments? Are you acknowledging your growth—or still focused on what needs fixing?   Key Insights and A-Ha's A chaotic childhood can wire your nervous system to expect instability—even in safe environments. When life becomes calm, unresolved emotions and patterns often surface. The inner critic can keep you stuck in a cycle of "fixing" instead of recognizing progress. Healthy relationships can feel unfamiliar—and trigger doubt or questioning. True healing requires not just doing the work, but embodying and celebrating your growth.   How to Deepen the Work Notice when you are scanning for problems instead of being present with what is working. Practice validating your feelings without needing to analyze or fix them. Acknowledge your progress regularly—write down how far you've come. Experiment with fully stepping into your current life without questioning it.   Resource Mentioned in This Episode Inner Child Course with Christine Hassler Christine shares a powerful resource for healing childhood wounds, rewiring your nervous system, and building a more compassionate relationship with yourself. Learn more at: christinehassler.com/innerchild Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!

What happens when you stay quiet in a relationship for too long? In this deeply relatable coaching session, Christine works with Mel, who has been in a long-term partnership of over 16 years. While there is still love between them, ongoing conflict, emotional disconnection, and unspoken needs have created a relationship dynamic where Mel feels like she's doing all the emotional work—while her partner withdraws, avoids, or shuts down. As they unpack the situation, a powerful pattern emerges: the cost of silence. Mel realizes that in trying to keep the peace, she has slowly disconnected from her own needs—over-functioning, people-pleasing, and tolerating behaviors that deeply impact her sense of safety and well-being. Christine introduces the concept of the "merging pattern"—where one partner over-functions and the other under-functions—and shows how true healing requires not just internal work, but external expression: speaking up, setting boundaries, and advocating for what you need. If you've ever felt like you're "doing all the work" in a relationship, or you're afraid to speak up because of how the other person might react, this episode will challenge and empower you. Press play to discover why your voice matters—and how reclaiming it can transform your relationships.    Consider / Ask Yourself Are you holding back your true needs to avoid conflict in a relationship? Do you feel like you're doing all the emotional work while your partner withdraws? Are you over-functioning or people-pleasing to keep the peace? What needs have you not clearly expressed or advocated for?   Key Insights and A-Ha's Silence in relationships often leads to resentment, disconnection, and imbalance. Over-functioning in one partner can enable under-functioning in the other. True self-love includes advocating for your needs—not just meeting them yourself. Taking things personally can activate survival patterns that keep you stuck. Healthy relationships require clear communication, boundaries, and shared responsibility.   How to Deepen the Work Reflect on where you may be tolerating behaviors that don't align with your needs. Identify and write down your core relationship needs—get specific. Practice expressing your needs clearly and calmly, even if it feels uncomfortable. Consider seeking support (coaching or counseling) to navigate deeper relational patterns.   Social Media + Resources:  Christine Hassler — Take a Coaching Assessment Christine Hassler Podcasts Including Coaches Corner Christine on Facebook Expectation Hangover by Christine Hassler @ChristineHassler on Twitter @ChristineHassler on Instagram @SacredUnionCouples on Instagram Email: jill@christinehassler.com — For information on any of my services! Get on the waitlist to be coached on the show! Get on the list to be notified about the upcoming certification program for coaches!