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Welcome to a new season of Fine is a 4-Letter Word. I'm excited for today's guest because there is no better time for you to meet someone who embodies what it means to live boldly, build with purpose, and refuse to accept “fine” as a final answer. Dr. Kimberly McGlonn spent 18 years as a high school teacher, a job she loved thoroughly. She could have stayed there and finished up an amazing career. But she realized she was only reaching about 100 people a year. And she wanted to reach thousands.So Kimberly took a sabbatical and traveled to East Africa where she dove deep into creativity. She came back with a mission of starting a new breed of fashion design company she called Grant Boulevard.The first Black woman-owned B Corp in the U.S. fashion industry, her design firm aligned with a value she learned in childhood of combating disenfranchisement. Going way beyond creating eye-grabbing blouses and fashion tastemaking, this brand was interested in sustainable materiality. Focused on supply chain and procurement and climate action, but also very interested in not separating climate action from the need to take care of workers. They recruited women in the Philadelphia area whose lives had been impacted by the criminal justice system to sew the clothing, creating empowerment and opportunity.We're connecting with Kimberly just at the point where she sunsetted Grant Boulevard and is bringing to life another design company – Black Ivory Thrift. And she has taken the powerful step of writing a book to exponentially share her message of sustainability, service, and advancing the common good.So far, we've only scratched the surface. Over the next 30 minutes, you're about to discover Kimberly's fascinating story which goes into so many more areas as well!Kimberly's hype song is “New Day” by Alicia KeysResources:Dr. Kimberly McGlonn's website: https://www.drkimberlymcglonn.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkimberlymcglonn/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlymcglonn/ Claim your copy of “Build It Boldly” in audiobook, paperback, and e-book format by visiting the links at https://linktr.ee/builditboldlyInvitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?! If you run, work...
Marcus & Corey What You Know 'Bout That trivia game for Friday September 26th, 2025.
BettorEdge Partner Promo Code: PLAYME Signup Link: https://bettoredge.com/playme Peer to peer sports betting with NO JUICE! Click the link for a risk free $20, no deposit required. Podcast Card: Alec Pierce O19.5 (-115) Brian Thomas O67.5 (-115) Cooper Kupp O31.5 (-114) Adam Thielen O18.5 (-108) Ja'Marr Chase O83.5 (-110) Rashad Bateman O2.5 (-130) Tyler Lockett O1.5 (-144) Saints +3 (-110) Jets +6.5 (-108) Titans +5.5 (-105) Colts +2.5 (-115) Chiefs +1.5 (-110) Bengals -3.5 (-105) Dolphins -1.5 (-110) Vikings -3.5 (-105) Liberty -1.5 (-110) Storm +6.5 (-110) Red Sox -1.5 (+146) Join the Free Discord + View Our Podcast Record https://discord.gg/eudQA8B3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Romans: The Christian's Constitution, Volume 1
Even though we have sinned and will keep on sinning, God has declared us as righteous. How? We are justified by faith in Christ. Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13). Take hold of grace and thank God for His righteousness gifted to you by faith in Christ!
Romans 4:1-13 / September 5-8, 2025 Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13). From the Series: Romans: The Christian's Constitution read more
Even though we have sinned and will keep on sinning, God has declared us as righteous. How? We are justified by faith in Christ. Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13).Take hold of grace and thank God for His righteousness gifted to you by faith in Christ!
Even though we have sinned and will keep on sinning, God has declared us as righteous. How? We are justified by faith in Christ.Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13).Take hold of grace and thank God for His righteousness gifted to you by faith in Christ! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29
Even though we have sinned and will keep on sinning, God has declared us as righteous. How? We are justified by faith in Christ. Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13). Take hold of grace and thank God for His righteousness gifted to you by faith in Christ!
Romans: The Christian's Constitution, Volume 1
Romans 4:1-13 / September 5-8, 2025 Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13). From the Series: Romans: The Christian's Constitution read more
Romans 4:1-13 / September 5-8, 2025 Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13). From the Series: Romans: The Christian's Constitution read more
Even though we have sinned and will keep on sinning, God has declared us as righteous. How? We are justified by faith in Christ. Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13).Take hold of grace and thank God for His righteousness gifted to you by faith in Christ!
Even though we have sinned and will keep on sinning, God has declared us as righteous. How? We are justified by faith in Christ.Learn with Pastor Chuck Swindoll how Abraham's and David's lives demonstrate that justification comes by faith apart from works and the law (Romans 4:1–13).Take hold of grace and thank God for His righteousness gifted to you by faith in Christ! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29
By the time you see this episode, I'll be in Tanzania, petting lions and riding zebras.(Ok, I KNOW, that's not likely to happen, but I wish it could!)This week marks a lot of milestones.It's the one-year anniversary of my father's passing, and part of my reason for visiting Tanzania is to honor his memory and express gratitude for making sure he left behind the funding I'd need for the trip.It's also the 200th episode of Fine is a 4-Letter Word – and as I was doing my last-minute packing and thinking about what I'd share, what immediately came to mind are the many valuable friendships and connections I've made through interviewing our amazing guests, working with our production team, and having the chance to dialogue with you – the listener – about what we share here.Thus the topic of this very short (just 12 minutes and 50 seconds) episode, which is all about valuing yourself equally in friendships.I've been around long enough to see friendships come and go – and stay – and am convinced of the validity of the saying “Some are for a season, some are for a lesson, and some are for life.” In today's episode, YOU are the subject.When you tune in now, you'll discover a simple but powerful blueprint that helps you determine which of your friendships serve you equally with the other person, which don't, what you may be able to do to correct it, and what happens if you can't.At the very end, I have two very short “asks” of you – one is about the podcast, and one is about the status of your friendships.I only ask if you could please give each one of them their due – it will take but a couple minutes – because the benefits you gain may astound you.Lori's hype song as she records this special episode is “Raise Your Glass” by Pink.Resources:My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/ LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/ Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/ Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?! If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade...
It's been a year… but the four most average guys you know are finally back behind the mics. This episode has no theme, no structure, and no plan — just a grab bag of half-baked takes, questionable stories, and the kind of conversation you only get when you let a year's worth of dumb thoughts pile up. We're rusty, we're random, and we're still aggressively average.
To register for my newsletter and a chance at the FREE ADV Backpack, sign up herehttps://baselineintelligence.substack.com/For 10% off ADV Racket Bags, click herehttps://www.advtennis.pro/discount/stokketennisJeff Greenwald, MFT, is a licensed psychotherapist, best-selling author, and a leading expert in sports psychology, renowned for his book The Best Tennis of Your Life. A former number one world ranked player on the ITF Masters Tour and professional tennis player, Jeff brings unparalleled experience both as a competitor and elite mental coach. For over twenty-seven years, he has empowered thousands of adult and youth athletes worldwide, helping them develop the mental edge and elevate their performance. As the founder of Mental Edge & Fearless Tennis (established in 1997), Jeff continues to shape the next generation of champions while competing globally on the Masters Tour. He was inducted into the Northern California Hall of Fame in 2019. Visit him at mentaledgeforsports.com to learn more about the services he provides for athletes, parents, coaches, and corporate executives around the world. Buy Jeff's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Edge-Young-Athletes-Champions/dp/B0FJPTWXXR/ref=zg_bsnr_g_11370_d_sccl_7/000-0000000-0000000?psc=1Audio Book: https://transactions.sendowl.com/orders/163188170/f13b225fa2f820281ab3e35dd7f0f95d/1We Talk:1:22 The trap of expectations9:32 Worrying about what people think of your game19:17 Character development vs. skill development25:07 How gratitude can help your game29:30 Getting back into the present
If you're having difficulty finding what you're looking for in life, have you thought about looking in a completely different place? One that might require walking away from what you have?Of course you can say that's a lot easier said than done, especially if it feels like there's not a whole lot out there for you. For Shaun Murphy, known internationally as Mister Motivation, the idea of staying in place, settling, and subsisting never really worked for him. Fine is a 4-Letter Word, and at every step of the way, standing still has never been “fine” for him.His father was murdered when he was six years old. His mother, an immigrant from Barbados, was poverty-stricken yet resourceful and would go through walls to make sure the family had enough – not much, for sure, but enough – with about $100 per month to spare. And yet, if she was down to her last $20 and met a starving stranger on the street, she'd buy them a good meal. So showing up, working hard without complaining, staying grounded in service, and helping other people – these were the core values the experience imprinted on Shaun.After high school, he briefly went to college then dropped out to serve in the military for eight years. But when he got out, he discovered three unpleasant truths. One, there is not nearly enough support for military servicepeople transitioning to civilian life. Two, after eight years of active duty and living well, all of a sudden he was back to not knowing for sure where his next meal would come from. And third, he found that as a man in his community, a man just couldn't talk about it when things aren't fine. Even if his buddies gave him an understanding ear in the moment, they might embarrass him over it a few weeks down the road. And women would see him as soft.Shaun's next job was working in the mailroom at NYU, where he learned a priceless lesson I'll let him tell you about. Next it was off to Iraq, working as a combat civilian working the postal mission. And then he was introduced to Teach for America and realized this was his calling. By now, he had a good-paying steady job and career prospects. “Impact over income”, Shaun tells us – so he got the degree he needed and took a huge pay cut for the opportunity to spread wealth into the lives of others.Fast-forward a bit, and Shaun found himself a former college dropout who had become a college professor teaching college students how to succeed in college.There's so much more to this story, as I'm going to let Shaun tell you in his own words. Now, he's an accomplished motivational speaker, musician, author – and sports team owner. I can't wait to share.Shaun's hype song is "The Bunker" by Mister Motivation.Resources:Shaun Murphy's website: https://mister-motivation.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmurphy1/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misterm0tivati0nInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/misterm0tivati0n/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mistermotivation492 Claim your copy of Shaun Murphy's book, Unbreakable Valor: Triumph Through the Soul of...
A lot of companies use positive-sounding cliches like “people over profit” and “work-life balance”. This sounds good, until somebody pulls the sales reports and says “we need more revenue and profits”. Then, the bottom line becomes the bottom line. This is sometimes served with a side of “you come to work to do work, change the world on your own time”.Now, picture a model where putting people over profit actually increases profits. Where work-life balance is not measured using number of hours worked or percentage of time in the office vs. working remotely. Being involved with a company that breaks the rules and norms for its industry, where coming to work to do work means doing your part to change the world.Christian Agulles has created all of these things in an industry known for squeezing its engineers like getting that last drop out of the toothpaste tube.Born and raised in College Point, a little town in Queens, Christian was a devout Catholic who went to church, went to Catholic school, and had the whole Catholic experience that, as he describes it, formed him and scarred him at the same time. His father, a police officer, was shot in the line of duty when Christian was seven. Even being able to retire on three-quarters pension, that money didn't go far supporting a family including Christian and his two younger brothers. His mother went to work in the school cafeteria so she could align her schedule with her sons, and cleaned houses on weekends. By example, she taught Christian to not be afraid to do hard things and to do them with grace.While starting his family, Christian spent the first 20 years of his career with an engineering firm that moved him around the country to open new offices. But over those 20 years, his employer was repeatedly acquired and evolved into company that focused more on acquisition, revenue, and EBIDA. It was right around this time he was recruited to join PAE. Everything worked out fine, yes? Well, Fine is a 4-Letter Word. Did his moment of realization come from a coaching session at PAE with Sandy Lindstrom, known for the “polishing the diamond” principle, where he found out they did not feel he was very good at delivering feedback? Was it discovering that his foundational values around doing hard work with grace could be merged with volunteerism, altruism, and contribution?In a moment, when I bring Christian on, he's going to guide us through his experience leading a Certified B-Corporation and how he's taken one of their metrics – utilization – and redefined it to build PAE into a company that has a net positive impact not only on its employees, but on society as a whole. If, up until now, you've seen your best-laid plans get trumped by “the bottom line” when bills are due, this could be what you need to hear. Christian's hype songs are "Bring It On Home To Me" by Sam Cooke and "Right to Be Wrong" by Joss Stone.Resources:Christian Agulles' website: https://www.pae-engineers.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-j-agulles/Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of...
What if the secret to a peaceful, impactful life is simply refusing to live by anyone else's rules?”Then imagine what would change if you stopped living for a legacy and started living like today is all that matters.As you get to know Andrew Brummer and his journey toward self-actualization, you'll discover the seeds harvested with him were planted early. He had a difficult childhood for various reasons, but his parents provided a sound upbringing. His father taught him to be a “multiplier”. This means, to not only enhance others, but to be skilled in many areas rather than have a narrowly-focused specialty. Add his mother's teaching that nobody is going to make things better for you and you alone choose how to live, and you combine resourcefulness with resilience. His mother also taught him to accept people as they are and love them the way they want to be loved. Over time, this liberated Andrew to be of better service to his employees, his teammates, and his community. It also helped him find his own True North and build a solid foundation for himself.All in all a good package, and on the surface it looked fine. But Fine Is a 4-Letter Word. We all wear what Andrew calls “the Facebook mask”, where we make it seem like everything is great and watch everyone else do the same. Andrew admits here he's gone through many tough times, including in his relationships, work situations and immigration challenges. Plus, he's had a lifetime of medical issues that have required numerous surgeries.But what did he discover?Ultimately, nobody is going to put their nose to the grindstone and do the work for you. It's up to you to make it happen. And, like his mother taught him, it's up to you to decide what kind of day you'll have when you wake up in the morning and get moving.Today, Andrew is not only a fractional COO, he's also either leading or launching several other companies, including one that's building a firearms training system that can even teach kids to use them safely. He is a coach and a mentor. Plus, he has a radio station that has a 200-song playlist. And that's when he's not doing woodwork or decorating his house with 35,000 Christmas lights. Skilled in many areas, as his father taught him. Sounds like an interesting guy, yes?In a moment, when you hear from Andrew, you'll discover a lot more about his journey. One key lesson was finding his own truth and coming to embrace that each of us has our own truth. There are so many more in his new book, “Leading Magnanimously”, which you'll hear more about.Andrew's hype song is "Kiss Off" by Violent Femmes.Resources:Andrew Brummer's website: https://ardunan.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbrummer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrummer X: https://x.com/andrewbrummer Claim your copy of Andrew's new book, “Leading Magnanimously”, at https://ardunan.com/village/books/land-lm Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication....
Do you believe God talks with you? In fact, God is never not talking with you!Depending on your background, beliefs, and point of view, this might sound crazy. If you're actively involved in any of the 4,223 religions currently practiced around the world today, the elders of whatever your formal congregation is called will probably say you ARE crazy. They might also call you a sinner, a heretic, a blasphemer, or worse.So imagine a man who'd seemingly had it all going for him. He was a former radio broadcaster who then made a name for himself as a newspaper reporter, rising to managing editor of a weekly newspaper in Annapolis, MD. He made good money. He had a wife and kids. Everything was fine – more than fine. But one day his wife decided she wanted a divorce. It was amicable, but still difficult. Five days after the end of his marriage, he was downsized out of his job. His boss gave him a glowing recommendation though and he was off to another job interview faster than it took to brew some coffee… and on the way there he got in a car accident that broke his neck and left him lucky to be alive.After he got out of the hospital, the job interviews kept coming, but nobody would hire him. Like it or not, he was told, that neck brace he was wearing scared employers because if anything happened to him while he was at work, they'd be paying his medical bills for the next five years. He lost his apartment because he couldn't come up with rent money. He ended up living on the street for a year. Moving back in with his ex-wife even temporarily was out of the question – fair enough – but she wouldn't even let him come in the house. He had to visit the kids in the garage.Fine is a 4-Letter Word, indeed.Well, eventually he found some work and was able to rent a tiny studio apartment. This man, who had grown up religious, woke up at 4:23 one morning and wrote an angry letter on a yellow notepad to God, asking in essence, “What do I have to do to make it in the game of life?”Then he heard a voice… God answered. (Or was that God?)For Neale Donald Walsch, that was a good question. But then these conversations became a regular thing. He was writing, or channeling, everything he heard. Eventually, God told him he would publish his writings, and the answers, as a book. Neale's publisher told him it would never sell 500 copies since nobody would believe God spoke directly to anyone who wasn't a pope, patriarch, preacher, rabbi, or imam. Turns out, his publisher was right – it didn't sell 500 copies. It sold FIVE MILLION. Conversations with God, Book 1 was published in 1995 and I'm pretty sure I have one of the first copies, which I devoured cover to cover. It all made so much sense to me. But back then, and even up until a couple months ago, I would never have imagined having an hour-long conversation with Neale. But now that I have, you don't have to imagine it either. You get to hear it.Resources:Neale Donald Walsch's websites: http://www.nealedonaldwalsch.com/ and https://CWGconnect.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NealeDonaldWalsch/ Also, check out Episode #190, Study That Which You Desire To Become with John Morris - it was John who introduced me to Neale!Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving...
Alex has been a perennial competitor at NHRL with Floor Letter Word and a member of the Brett Breakers! He's also well known for event organizing GSCRL whose season championship will be coming up on August 2nd! Let us know what questions you have for Alex! To watch the podcast live check out https://www.youtube.com/@jakemaximizer/streams on Tuesday, June 17th at 7pm EST! Otherwise, it should be available on all the podcast places later in the week! Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/behindthebots Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts Tell a friend about the show; we really appreciate your support!
On today's episode, Todd and Scott talk about the 4-letter word that can change your life as a dad. Join us! www.Familymanweb.com
Ever heard the phrase “may you live in interesting times?” Seems applicable these days. And it's causing a lot of people to live with a constant feeling of anxiety that nags at you, sapping at your energy throughout the day, so by bedtime, you're exhausted but still can't sleep. Financial stress is a primary source. According to an April 2025 survey, fewer than 45% of Americans say they're in better than fair shape financially. Which means more than 50% are not ok. Well, there's a good chance that it's not your fault. Because many Americans did not grow up with the family support to develop financial literacy from a young age. Maybe you were told family finances were “none of your business.” Layer on top that often parents and grandparents didn't have a strong financial foundation of understanding to start with either. Anders Jones has been taking matters around this topic into his own hands ever since a series of twists and turns brought him into what he and his mother jokingly call "the family business", even though the family doesn't have a business and they never worked together.Growing up, Anders was fortunate to not really want for much of anything. His mom worked at Fidelity and helped millions of Americans prepare for retirement. His stepdad was a British guy who gifted him his first car, complete with a single CD disc changer and two requirements.Graduating college in 2009, at the height of a financial crisis, he didn't have a whole lot of prospects for becoming an investment banker or going into private equity. So he joined a Web 2.0 company owned by a serial entrepreneur whose method was to hire young, promising talent and empower them to figure things out. After a while, they sold the company. Since then, he's become involved with several ventures, including co-founding a financial planning firm called Facet.Now, Anders says that he feels so fortunate that if he were to die and be reincarnated, he'd want to come back as himself. That's not something many people would say. So at what moment did the boomerang whack him in the face and show him why Fine Is a 4-Letter Word?Well hang on, because when you meet Anders, you'll find out that this time, it's you, the listener, for whom things are not "fine". Up until now, you've been told that money is a taboo topic. Up until now, you've been told to trust your gut, then gotten lambasted when you did and things didn't work out as planned. It's time for new conversations on a lot of topics. Anders is going to get us started on three - gratitude, mindfulness, and financial literacy. There's a reason he picks three, which you'll also find out. Anders' hype song is “Riding With The King” by B.B. King & Eric Clapton.Resources:Anders Jones' website: https://facet.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anders-jones/ Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to...
See Second Timothy 1:7 We as expressions of the One Presence, One Power (God Source Energy in, through and AS us) have the full authority to claim and embrace the Divine Idea of Freedom, but we cannot leave it to chance, we must stay at the controls.Support the show
If the self-help industry was actually effective, the world would be full of people in perfect health with boundless wealth, always succeeding at everything they set out to do. They'd have perfect relationships, be surrounded by nothing but love and harmony, and know the definition of paradise!The first time things seem a little off, you'd just buy one book, read it, and voila! You'd never need another book because the stars would align like some freaking celestial rapture put at your service personally. Alas, that's not the case.Eddie Sand started reading one of those books. Rather than solve his problem instantly, it put him in such a tailspin that he ended up spending five months going through hell. Even his wife couldn't say much that would help him along or make him want to get out of bed.Raised by his grandparents, lack showed him how different people had different things in their lives, which made him want to become better. And contributed to what's become one of his biggest values - being genuine.After several failed attempts to join the Army, he enlisted in the Marines because he noticed a Marine recruiter at his high school who seemed to have a bunch of girls crushing on him. What guy doesn't want that? I *may* have had a thing for a few Marines myself
Some people are just born with it. Whether it's the intelligence you need to thrive, personality traits that make you likable – or your dad owning the company you grow up to become “Chief Servant Leader” of – we all have something going for us.Throughout the 192 (and counting) episodes of Fine Is a 4-Letter Word, I've covered stories of pain, struggle, perseverance, and salvation. One of my guests even went to prison for a murder she did not commit!Kevin Schnieders is one of those guys who, when you first meet him, strikes you as the kind who was just born with it. But as we peel back the layers, you're going to get to know a man who shows there's always room to grow and boundless opportunities to make an impact when you see them.Kevin's dad was a school administrator who took a bold leap in founding EDSI, a workforce development, customized training, and consulting company focused on providing innovative solutions to close workforce skills gaps around the country. His mom was his dad's biggest cheerleader, not a big departure since she had actually been a cheerleader for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the middle child, partially in awe of his brother who was brilliant in his studies. Kevin was less academic, but he found a niche as an athlete and pursued a dream of becoming a sportscaster. Rather than take to the mic, Kevin went into teaching and then came to work at EDSI – first as a training consultant, then as Director of HR and Operations, then as COO, before becoming CEO. Then he bought the company. Along the way he married and has two wonderful daughters who make him proud every day.You'd think – wow, everything's fine for Kevin. We could say, “He's doing great and he lived happily after ever. The end!” But Fine Is a 4-Letter Word, as Kevin discovered when he was asked at a seminar how intelligent he was on a scale of 1 to 10, and he answered “6”. Bang! At that point, he realized he'd been carrying weight around for not being “as smart” as his brother. I'll let Kevin explain. Then he attended another seminar and found out that for as compassionate as he always is toward others, he'd been falling short in practicing self-compassion.In a moment, when you meet Kevin, you'll discover what came next. How does all this impact him as a father? How does he pass his values to his daughters? As the owner of a company with 856 employees, what's his secret for creating a sense of personal connection with every single person who works for him – all 856 of them? Whether you have zero, ten, or 856 employees, or you are the employee, get out a note card – yes, an actual note card – and prepare to write.Kevin's hype song is "Be Who You Are" by Michael Franti & Spearhead.Resources:Kevin Schnieders' website: https://www.edsi.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edsi/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EDSITalent Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsi_careers/ X: https://x.com/EDSI_Solutions YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EDSIvideos Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of
Time and again, as you go through nearly 200 episodes of Fine Is a 4-Letter Word, you'll find stories from guests who found themselves disconnected from what's supposed to be a connected world.Your circle of close friends you see all the time - your "besties"? Go back two years and tell me how many of them are the same people.Your avid following on social media who hang on your every post? Delete your account and I bet maybe two of them even try to reach out somewhere else.Sometimes being disconnected is a lonely place to be. Other times, it gives you the advantage of not being indoctrinated into other people's beliefs.It could also mean your tribe is quietly forming behind you as you go through this journey called life - as Margaret Rogers discovered when her own journey became a giant a-ha moment.The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, her parents' cultural way of showing love was to make sure she had the security that came with providing for her basic needs. She wanted for little materially, but the rest was up to her. Her parents told her two things: "We want you to be happy, healthy, and have a steady job" and "Money's easy to spend and very difficult to make".In school, she was the only Asian girl in class. There weren't the thriving, nuclear Asian communities that exist in almost every city today. In college, taking an engineering class filled almost entirely with white men, her professor interrupted his lecture and singled out the woman, asking her, "do you understand?" for no particular reason at all.Graduating with degrees in both electrical engineering and computer science, Margaret easily got a job during the dot-com boom. But then the bubble burst. She decided she really wanted to do "consulting" with only a vague notion of what that is. So she said "if you're laying people off, pick me" and started her own firm. This was all turning out just fine. Really. But Fine is a 4-Letter Word, as Margaret found out after another company acquired hers and she became an executive there. When it hit her that the acquirer had bought the company's technical skill but abandoned the culture she had built, she felt like she'd let down the team she'd nurtured and assured she'd take good care of.So, who had Margaret's back now?You'll discover that in a moment. You'll hear her story about the power of mentorship that began when she hired her first employee and recognized how that changed her own life forever. You'll also see how everybody from her Taiwanese grandmother to so many she's met along the way have come together behind her like a posse. Like she's Wonder Woman and they're her Avengers.Listen all the way through as it will hit you right at the end.Margaret's hype song is "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas.Resources:Margaret Rogers' website: https://parivedasolutions.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretpengrogers/Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands meeting
Being an outsider can be challenging – but it can also be your absolute superpower!We all come into the world as a blank slate with the opportunity to form and grow organically. Taking in the world as you find it before being tethered to a rigid or strongly defined set of predetermined beliefs set for you by others.John Morris started out that way too, but unlike most people, he never took on the opinions of others. He began questioning fear-based systems, trusting inner knowing, and seeing the world through a wildly different lens than most. This approach has given him a unique ability to use a few simple tools to reinvent himself every time he finds the world not to his liking and decides he can have better and do better.Growing up, while his mom chased the current popular thing, his dad didn't really instill a structured set of beliefs – his motto was “as you see it, as you get it”. Not only that, but he was isolated as a child, which had the silver lining of sparing him from having his beliefs molded by others in a hundred silent ways. When he was a teenager, there was a big part of him that knew he was different, knew he didn't process the world in the way that other people did.John's grandmother instilled in him his strong religious beliefs, which contrary to some of the stories you've heard from others on our show, weren't constricting to him at all. After 15 years as a youth minister and 20 years as an evangelist, he left the church because of what he saw as scaremongering and politics.But John came to understand that Fine is a 4-Letter Word because of how the word “fine” was an acronym commonly used in his youth ministry: “feeling inadequate, needing encouragement” – and how this version of “fine” can be brought about by pressure to conform and not speak of anything others don't want to hear. I love this!You're about to meet a man currently in a profound state of metamorphosis. In addition to being a preacher, he has also built up an international reputation as an artist – something that he may be limited doing in the future due to a recent onset of dyspraxia. So with the additional ailments of amaurosis (which affects vision) and dyslexia (which affects the ability to read), what is John doing? He's on his way to becoming an acclaimed author and is working with some of the biggest publishing houses and powerhouse editors to make it happen. In just the past couple years, he's written 25 complete novels, of which there are only two original manuscripts. He has one and His Majesty the King has the other.All of this is possible due to a few simple understandings and ways of being, which we'll circle back to after we chat with John.John's hype song is "Art From The Heart" by John Morris.Resources:John Morris' website: https://thejohnmorris.co.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnmorrisartfromtheheart/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnmorrisartfromtheheart/During the episode, we discussed Wayne Dyer's “Everyday Wisdom” recording – watch it on YouTube or download the audio.Claim your 10% off your first 3 mental health sessions with John Morris - limited to the first 10 persons who mention his appearance on our show, “Fine is a 4-Letter Word”, by...
Breaking down how we lose millions of subscribers, calculating how much money Kai Cenat makes per stream, seeing if your iPhone will talk about Dave & Busters, revealing the 7 rumored celebrities to be in GTA 6, and more!----------SIGN UP FOR PRIZE PICKS!$5 Play Gets $50 Instantly with promo "MAKESHIFT"https://app.prizepicks.com/sign-up?invite_code=MAKESHIFT----------COME SEE US LIVE!Asbury:https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/58534724/the-makeshift-project-live-show-asbury-park-house-of-independentsWashington DC:https://www.unionstagepresents.com/shows/the-makeshift-project-live-show/----------0:00 FREE $50 ON PRIZE PICKS!1:13 WE'VE LOST MILLIONS OF FOLLOWERS!3:34 MAKESHIFT UPDATES!4:30 COME TO OUR LIVE SHOWS AND FANATICS FEST!6:58 SHOULD BRIAN SHAVE HIS BEARD?10:02 $10B OR THESE THINGS?13:53 RATHER KNICKS WIN THE FINALS OR THESE?17:21 IS BRIAN A PSYCHOPATH OR NOT?19:47 HOW MUCH DOES KAI CENAT MAKE?22:35 YOUR PHONE WON'T TALK ABOUT D&B'S!25:09 7 CELEBRITIES RUMORED IN GTA6!28:47 3 LETTER WORD, STARTS WITH GAS!29:20 AIRPODS WILL TRANSLATE LANGUAGES!32:13 HOW MUCH CAN ELON MUSK BUY?36:31 5 CRAZIEST TOM CRUISE STUNTS!40:34 SAVE 5 THINGS FROM YOUR HOUSE ON FIRE!43:41 WOULD YOU PLAY GOLF IN THESE CONDITIONS?45:41 OUTRO AND SHOUTOUTS!
Have you been moving through life feeling like there's something else out there?You can't put your finger on it. Even though nothing outwardly seems off, there's more to the story than you've been told or that you can see. Something's not adding up, but how do you make 2+2=4?For Jill Valdez, this crept up on her in a hundred small ways. Although she went through some experiences that were far less traumatic for her than they are for others – there was always something else behind door #1.Born to an 18-year-old mother who put her up for adoption, Jill was raised in a conservative Christian home – but it didn't feel constricting to her. Her values included faith and knowing that you reap what you sow – all well and good, but she'd come back to question those later.When she was 15, she felt like she lost both her adoptive parents at once when her mother died and her father emotionally abandoned the family as he became a workaholic to deal with grief that would affect him for many years. Jill went through a rebellious-teenager streak, but recognized that wasn't the life she wanted. Both she and her husband were called to traditional pastoral work, which she enjoyed until she decided to change how she leads people. Jill went through a lot, but somehow it always worked out. Everything seemed fine. But Fine, as you know, is a 4-Letter Word.It definitely was NOT fine when shortly after her sister died, a man at church asked, “where's your smile?” For f*cks sake, her sister had just died! It also wasn't fine when her beloved nephew Kirky died just 11 days after being diagnosed with acute leukemia. Nor was it fine that Jill wasn't sure she knew where she came from, other than that she was adopted.So, she did her homework, found her maternal grandmother, and gave her a call. It took two hours to get through… but her grandmother, with whom she had never communicated before, instantly knew who was calling. As Jill got to know her biological mother, she discovered that being put up for adoption was a blessing. They have a great relationship now – and good thing they didn't know each other when Jill was growing up!In a moment, when you meet Jill, you'll discover what could be a new point of view about why things happen. That in order to be authentic, it's okay to question your values and the world as you see it, even if you come to agree that it's… fine. Or more than fine, for that matter. And as you hear about what Jill is doing now with her consulting work, helping her clients get out of the weeds of chaos, it may hit you like a boomerang right at the end how everything she's gone through has led to this moment. Jill's hype song is "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.Resources:Jill Valdez' website: https://www.linkconsulting.info/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillvaldezlink/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_valdezlink/Invitation From Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands...
Here's what we're reading, recommending, and revisiting this week.Catherine's library find is a Wordle-based romance called A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James, who we congratulate for hopping on a trend. Mentioned: Previous find Cutting Teeth and identifying a Hallmark movie with AI.Terri's random recommendation is a new EP from one of her faves, HARDY. It's called Country!, in case you forgot that he was a country artist (given his other recent output). Mentioned: "Hide My Gun" from Post Malone.In the archives, we checked in on an episode from 2023 on how strict our parenting rules are.Next week's lineup: Lost S2 E22, "Three Minutes," on Tuesday, May 20Running Point S1 E9, "The Playoffs," on Wednesday, May 21Weekly roundup on Thursday, May 22Until then (and anytime you're in need), the archives are available.This episode was recorded before a live studio audience ... of dogs.
Have you ever found yourself spending a crazy amount of time and energy trying to figure out why things happen in life? Wondering what you did to attract it? Desperately seeking answers right now, and coming up frustrated when you can't make sense of it.But what if the whole plan is like a puzzle that doesn't form a picture until you've been given most of the pieces and taken the time to make them fit? You'll look back one day and see how it all comes together.You could say Flip Brown has gone through life being, in some ways, both a product of his times and a traveler through a different time than everybody else was living in.Growing up, he had a father who was ahead of his time in terms of fighting racism and homophobia, but a man of his time in emotional intelligence. His mother was a teacher who had to give it up when she became pregnant with Flip. She was doting and kind and taught Flip how to read early so he was ahead of his classmates. And when Flip was eight years old, she joined a cult religion.Consistent with his times, Flip did hallucinogens, which affected his state of mind for decades to come. In contrast with his times, he changed careers many times in an era where you picked one thing and stuck with it until retirement. He's worked as a psychologist, nonprofit executive, international product manager, mobile crisis team clinician, retail salesperson, and wilderness workshop leader. He's also been a hardwood furniture craftsman, windsurfing instructor, gigging musician, cross-country ski instructor, a cappella singer, and gardener. Wow!Intuition served him along the way, when he abruptly quit a job with no plan, only to be immediately offered a much better one right out of the blue.A lot of this might not have been "fine" by society, but Flip thought it was fine, partially because he didn't realize how experiencing sexual abuse, as well as his father's workaholism, patterned him. But as we all know, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.In a moment, when you meet Flip, you'll be mindblown by one of the inflection points that helped Flip see it all come together – therapy using the plant-based medicine psilocybin. You'll be washed away by his experience with alcohol and his unique personal journey away from it, triggered in part by losing his brother-in-law on the Pan Am Lockerbie flight. He relates how his experience on the mobile crisis team at a community mental health center dealing with acutely psychotic and suicidal people prepared him for his current work in executive coaching, team facilitation, and interactive skillbuilding.Flip's hype song is "Come Together" by The Beatles.Resources:Flip Brown's website: https://businesscultureconsultants.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipbrown/Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster...
We've been conditioned to believe that rest is optional—like guacamole on your burrito. You can have it, but you'll have to pay extra.Let's zoom out for a second and look at where this belief came from.The hustle mindset didn't just show up one day because Gary Vee started yelling about it. It's deeply rooted in industrial-age values—when your productivity on the factory line was literally tied to your worth and your wages. The more you produced, the more valuable you were. Full stop.Then came the Protestant work ethic, remember the Puritans from history class? They believed hard work was not just good, but godly. Resting? That was for the weak or the wicked. You're either grinding or backsliding. There was no in-between. If you've been listening to my show for more than 2 episodes, you know that when they're answering that “what were the values and beliefs you were raised with” question, most of my guests say hard work. We've all been ingrained with this belief and accepted it without question. Fast forward to the 1980s and '90s - Wall Street, power suits, "I'll sleep when I'm dead" culture. Burnout was a badge of honor. In fact, Bon Jovi released a song in 1992 called “I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.”Actually, as I was outlining this episode, I looked up when that phrase originated and found Benjamin Franklin supposedly said, “There will be plenty of time to sleep when you're dead.” Clearly it's been around for a while.We celebrate busy. We glorify “the grind.” We worship the to-do list like it's some kind of sacred scroll.And now the whole country humblebrags about how little they sleep or how slammed they are, as if being overworked makes you more important. (It doesn't. It just makes you more tired and cranky.)So when someone does stop and rest, or take a day off without needing a “valid” excuse, it feels rebellious. Almost irresponsible. But that reaction? That guilt? It's not truth - it's just programming. And it's overdue for a rewrite.Tune in now and discover for yourself:✅ My personal story of zooming to burnout at 200 miles an hour, when I went beyond being “fucking cranky” to “totally wiped out”✅ How to redefine and reframe “rest” and make it not only part of, but a catalyst, for your ability to achieve more✅ Practical tools that you can use to create a “permission slip practice” that breaks the hustle-and-grind circle for you✅ And much, much more!Resources:My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/ LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/ Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/ Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real....
In his 2023 report "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation", the US Surgeon General at the time, Dr. Vivek Murthy, declared loneliness and social isolation a public health epidemic.Aside from feelings of ennui and lacking support structure, loneliness can trigger or increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and even premature death!So, while he doesn't quite come out and say it, and he might not have been thinking exactly along those terms when I spoke with him, Steve Fales might have had a brush with death.Steve grew up in a single-parent home. Although he had a brother, his brother was 11 years older and serving in Vietnam while Steve and his mom were living in what he repeatedly describes as “a dead end street in a quiet town with lots of kids and dogs around and playing all the time and other stuff kids do”.He started out working on the floor in a grocery store before he applied for a job in their advertising department – and got it. His experience eventually drove him to start his own advertising agency, where he carved out a niche in the air conditioning industry. Things were going fine… until his growing firm was selected as a provider of choice for a major manufacturing firm.But Fine is a 4-Letter Word… and what some might call Steve's ship coming in gave him panic attacks. For months he started his days by wretching and dry-heaving into the toilet. Outwardly, he was the envy of his peers and the idol of his friends… but he carried this dark secret. Does this sound familiar, by the way?Join Steve and me on a deep dive into the impacts of loneliness on our society. There's a reason it's an epidemic. With surveys showing one in 4 people reporting they eat alone every day, and everybody wandering down the sidewalk with their eyes on their phone… we're surrounded by people yet frighteningly disconnected.Not to reveal the takeaways before you even hear the episode, but the solution to your loneliness and disconnection comes not from being around other people, as much as it comes from within you. Steve lays it all out for you. Steve's hype song is "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" by The Moody Blues.Resources:Steve Fales' website: https://www.stevefales.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenfales/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.fales.18 Claim your copy of Steve Fales' book, “Loving Your Neighbor: A Practical Guide” (plus the group discussion and journal prompts), at https://www.stevefales.com/books/loving-your-neighbor/Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection,...
In this podcast episode, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Lori Saitz about integrating gratitude and mindfulness to transform corporate environments. Lori Saitz is the founder and CEO of Zen Rabbit and host of the podcast “Fine is a 4-Letter Word.” As the CEO of a forward-thinking health and wellness company, she is dedicated to guiding corporations toward nurturing healthier, more productive work environments. With a comprehensive background in wellness strategies and employee engagement, her mission is to help businesses implement programs that not only improve the well-being of their teams but also contribute to their bottom line through increased performance and reduced absenteeism. Check out all of the podcasts in the HCI Podcast Network!
As a Coach, have you ever felt like "sales" was a 4 letter word? I know I certainly did. Especially if you're a Coach who's passionate about your work. But what if sales isn't about persuasion or pushing, but instead a conversation around transferring inspiration. That's what Genevieve Skory said when we sat down to talk about branding and growing your coaching practice…wanting a desire to shift from us thinking, “I need something from you” to “I want to share something that changed me”. And when you do that she days, referrals and real connections come more naturally. :)
This Episode first aired on August 8, 2023Join Dr. Natalie in this inspiring and heartfelt interview with Lori Saitz, the founder of ZenRabbit.com, as they delve into Lori's work and own transformative journey on “Midlife Crisis to a Centered Life Thriving”. Lori opens up about her personal struggles, including the profound impact of losing her mother and the challenges of closing her first business when it couldn't be scaled as she envisioned.Through her experiences, Lori discovered the transformative power of taking just a few strategic steps, which she refers to as the "Trilogy for Success." In this episode, she shares how these steps can help anyone pivot through life's toughest moments and create a life they truly desire to live.In this thought-provoking conversation, you'll gain insights into embracing change, finding purpose amidst grief, and crafting a life that aligns with your passions and aspirations. Lori's wisdom and resilience will inspire you to navigate your own journey of transformation and self-discovery.And that's not all! As a generous bonus for our listeners, Lori offers a Complimentary Exercise during the podcast to kickstart your journey towards a centered and thriving life. Be sure to check out the episode and visit her website, ZenRabbit.com, for links to FREE GIFTS that will further support your personal growth and well-being.Tune in now to discover the keys to unlocking your potential and thriving through life's inevitable transitions with the help of Lori Saitz and her powerful “Trilogy for Success”.HOW TO FIND Lori Saitz her work - WEB: https://zenrabbit.com/Podcast: https://zenrabbit.com/podcast/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenRabbitInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zen_rabbit/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisaitz/Clubhouse: https://www.clubhouse.com/@lorisaitzKeywords: Choosing Happiness, Journey Through Midlife, Dr. Natalie, Lori Saitz, Coach, Trilogy for Success, ZenRabbit.com, Fine is a 4 Letter Word, Centered Life, Thriving, Challenges of Midlife, Self-Discovery, Empowerment, Endless Possibilities, Fulfillment in Life.Learn More at https://LearnToLoveMyStory.com Disclaimer: The content in this video is not a replacement for therapy and is not clinical, medical, or mental health treatment. Dr. Natalie Marr is a Licensed Psychologist in the state of Minnesota. Her work with LearnToLoveYourStory.com and all affiliate social media entities is educational and coaching based ONLY. She IS NOT offering therapeutic services of any kind on these mediums. If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis or having thoughts of suicide, please use the following crisis resources (this is not an exhaustive list of available resources):National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ 1-800-273-8255Crisis Text Line:https://www.crisistextline.org/Text HOME to 741741
Perfectionism is something that gets beat into a lot of us. Sometimes literally, as you'll find out from my guest.Imposter syndrome goes hand-in-hand with perfectionism. You see, when you're programmed to hold yourself to extremely high standards, nothing you do seems like it's good enough. You're not enough. And what if someone finds out?Now imagine you got ripped off by not one – but two – business partners, and lost all your savings more than once. On top of that, you never graduated college, yet held down job after job that required a college degree, in part because others who believed in you more than you believed in yourself went to bat for you.What a wild ride – and that's Gary Frey's story.He's been a perfectionist since he was a little boy, the older of two children. Education was important in his family. His dad almost got his Ph.D. but didn't finish his dissertation, and his mom was a nurse. As a grade-schooler, he spent a lot of time with his strict, stern German grandmother, who would feed him German food he hated and spank him if he didn't eat it. When Gary was eight, his grandmother died of a stroke. For two years, he thought he somehow killed her, until he finally asked his parents.In school, he was the smart kid who couldn't play any sport involving moving balls or athletic coordination, but he eventually found his niche in swimming. He went to college on a prestigious scholarship, finding himself in a fraternity known for academic and athletic excellence, but feeling “less than” the rich kids in his house. Then he didn't finish college – becoming the first in his family NOT to graduate college. After that, it was off to his career…As you'll discover when you hear from Gary, he got ripped off by two business partners. He repeatedly lost everything he had, got used by an employer who needed him to hook a major deal then fired him the day it closed, and had to move to different states to start over.Perfectionist Gary found himself getting recruited out of the blue by companies who heard about him and wanted his expertise for roles that required college degrees and viewed him as a success. What was he going to do, tell them he had two corrupt business partners and lost millions of dollars? He said it was fine… and Fine is a 4-Letter Word.You're about to discover how Gary emerged from the trap of perfectionism, learned to believe in himself, and the tools he used to achieve it. Gary's hype song is “Warrior” by Matthew Ward.Resources:Gary Frey's website: https://garydfrey.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garydfreyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/garydfrey Claim your copy of Gary's book, “Silence the Imposter: 7 Weapons to Silence Imposter Syndrome” at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJLLLV61 Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because...
Personal optimization is everywhere. From biohacking to podcasts, genetic testing to stool analysis there are now endless ways to find out what you "should" be doing for your health, wellbeing, productivity, and happiness. But is prioritizing optimization all it's cracked up to be? On this week's episode of “Better Than Fine,” host Darlene Marshall takes a critical eye to why you might not want to try and optimize everything. If you like what you just consumed, leave us a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend to help grow our NASM health and wellness community! Introducing NASM One, the membership for trainers and coaches. For just $35/mo., get unlimited access to over 300 courses, 50% off additional certifications and specializations, EDGE Trainer Pro all-in-one coaching app to grow your business, unlimited exam attempts and select waived fees. Stay on top of your game and ahead of the curve as a fitness professional with NASM One. Click here to learn more. https://bit.ly/4ddsgrm
Do you sometimes feel like you're mailing it in?Sure, you're achieving your goals, hitting your numbers, and getting boxes checked on your to-do list. On paper, you're a success.But it still feels empty, like something's missing and you're not really succeeding.How do you know for sure? Who's there to help you figure it out? And what example are you setting for those who see you as a role model, even if you don't know they look up to you?These are questions Suresh Bhagchandani found himself grappling with one day while going over his sales numbers with his boss.Suresh was born in raised in India, with three older sisters and his mother. His father died when he was young and his family had limited financial resources but an abundance of strong values. Among the values and beliefs he gained was that if you're a good human and do the right things, good things will come along.When he was 21, he and his mother moved to the United States where he enrolled in community college and then UNC Chapel Hill. Being an immigrant and landing in a small town in North Carolina, he searched for how to fit in in this unfamiliar territory. For one thing, he was stunned by how people here brew and drink coffee! Suresh began to find his purpose, and his friends, when he got involved in organizations and activities that placed him in social situations.This gave him a fine appreciation of the power of networking, which catalyzed his life that day when his bosses told him he was doing a “fine” job – but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.This is a conversation about what it means to adapt, push past limitations, and create opportunities. And I love that we get into not only the importance, but the power, of properly identifying your friends, acquaintances, and the various roles different people play in your life. Like, do you have a “board of directors” who guide you in your decisions? And if you've decided that 100% is just mailing it in, how do you get to 120%? What will your kids think?Hang on because first…Suresh's hype song is "Started From The Bottom" by Drake.Resources:Suresh Bhagchandani's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sureshlb Also, be sure to listen to our recent episode, Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It, for an important lesson in the practice of gratitude.Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you've got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!...
Battered Woman Syndrome is a commonly misunderstood condition that results from domestic or intimate partner violence.Maybe you've known someone in such a situation. Or you've at least heard stories about it. And you've probably thought, Why do you stay there and take it? Why don't you leave? There are support networks and shelters who can take you in, why not just go?And wondered, What drives you to try to “fix” the situation and have understanding for your abuser? Why do you act like you owe them a f**king thing?Judy Henderson, like many battered women, found herself in a situation that most of us couldn't possibly imagine. I should pause quickly and put in a trigger warning, because this story actually gets worse.See, Judy was the oldest child of eight in a Pentecostal family, raised by a father who abused her and a mother who kept trying to hold it together. The rule of the day was, don't air your dirty laundry in public, conform to public norms, and put a positive face on it.A positive face? Judy ended up in not one, but two, abusive relationships because that's what she'd been conditioned to. The final straw in her 12-year marriage was when her husband threw her through a glass door window while her young daughter watched before running down the street screaming. Police were called but told her there was nothing they could do. Her next relationship was with a con man who was fond of reading books about manipulation. He told her what she wanted to hear. One day, he announced he was moving in because she needed him to “care” for her and her children. That they could be a family. And as someone who only craved to be loved, this was.. well… a dream come true.The nightmare got worse when he ended up murdering someone in a robbery gone too far and Judy found herself as a co-defendant. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 50 years, for this murder she did not commit. He walked away a free man. And yeah, there's more…Yet… through her time in prison, Judy finally found not only her freedom from a horrible life, but also an ability to forgive and the love she always wanted.It's an unbelievably incredible story, and Judy is telling it here on Fine is a 4-Letter Word in a way she's never shared before. In a moment, when you meet her, you'll come away with a revised view on domestic violence, the criminal justice system, and how someone can find hope in tragedy.Judy's hype song is "It's My Turn" by Diana Ross.Resources:Judy Henderson's website: https://judyannhenderson.com/ Pre-order your copy of Judy's book, “When The Light Finds Us” - https://www.amazon.com/When-Light-Finds-Us-Transformed-ebook/dp/B0CR93DD34 Invitation from Lori: This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture because you've got annual all-hands meetings and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.That's...
Does it sometimes feel like no good deed goes unpunished?What if I told you that no scandal, setback, or stumbling block goes unrewarded, if you're willing to take the time to solve the puzzle?As a puzzle-solver programmed to challenge the status quo, ask questions, and lean into her natural curiosity, Kristy Busija (BYOO-SEE-YA) learned both of these lessons when she got fired for doing the right thing.Growing up, Kristy's parents instilled classic values – have a good work ethic, act with integrity, abide by the Golden Rule, and catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.These same values created conflict in her work when she conducted an employee assessment where participants were told their responses would be kept confidential, but her bosses demanded she give them the data anyway. They fired her for – get this – not living the “values” of the company!If that's supposed to be fine, there's a reason why Fine is a 4-Letter Word!In a moment, when you meet Kristy, you'll discover how this set off a journey of learning and self-actualization where she found out, as she says, it's hell in the hallway. All these doors – what rooms do they lead to? What did others see in Kristy through the peepholes in those doors that she couldn't see in herself?How does she solve this puzzle? What's the next conversation?Now hold that thought for just a second as I share a special invitation with you.Kristy's hype song is "Do It Again" by Steven Curtis Chapman.Resources:Kristy Busija's website: https://nextconversationconsulting.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristybusija/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextconversationconsulting Claim your copy of “The 2nd Wind”, the anthology that contains Kristy's chapter called “It's Hell In The Hallway”, by visiting https://buy.stripe.com/3cs6rtcga1kIaGcdR7. Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because there are… Annual all-hands meetings where once a year you hear a well-rehearsed speech, employees clap politely, and everyone leaves with the same unanswered questions they came in with."Open door policies" that no one ever uses because people are uncomfortable walking in to talk with someone they don't feel like they know very well. "Fun" team-building events like escape rooms, trust falls, and awkward, out of fashion happy hours Generic "we appreciate everything you do" emails with zero personalization or sincerity.Company values posted on a wall with no substance behind them. But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to...Strengthen culture by sharing authentic stories from leadership and employees.Create connection so that remote and in-office teams know and understand each...
Podsters, are you getting tired of saying, "I'm fine" when you know you're not? Are you terrified to admit, or even worse ACT on the life disrupting changes you need to make in order to truly thrive?This episode is your wake-up call and it's long overdue for me personally.Today I'm breaking down five undeniable signs that it's time to reinvent your life. I know because I've lived them. When I realized my business was running on autopilot, I got real with myself, went back to my business coach, and mapped out my next bold move.This isn't just about spotting the signs, it's about doing something about them. No more shaming ourselves into settling. No more waiting. No more excuses.What You'll Learn:
Situations involving stalking can be a gray area.Does the person mean well but are just awkward in their approach? Are you reading too much into it? Let's not jump to conclusions and end up smearing an innocent person. We should give the benefit of a doubt until we have our facts straight.All of these are very natural impulses, rooted in solid values that generally speaking serve us well. And they could have cost Idy Marcus dearly.Idy was raised in a very loving home by parents who married and started their family later in life. They adored each other and were connected in every way. This sentiment passed down to Idy and her sister, who picked up values like your handshake is your bond, present yourself well, give people the benefit of a doubt, and be honorable in all things.She also learned to be bold, take chances, and not be afraid to take the plunge. Her family encouraged her to be curious, courageous, and not fear failure. These traits all served Idy well as she grew her career as a leadership management and corporate conflict resolution expert. When she started her own company, she figured if it didn't work out, she had enough contacts eating lunch on Washington DC's K Street that she wouldn't go hungry. After her sister passed and then suddenly her dad two years later, Idy insisted her mother come live with her. Her mom attended events with her and served as a fantastic business resource. Just before they were to move overseas for work with a corporate client, her mom suffered a massive and debilitating stroke, rendering her unable to speak and with limited mobility. Idy immediately put her career on hold to stay at the care facility with her mom full-time. In her unique way, Idy carved out a path where everything was fine, until it wasn't – after all, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.One of her mother's caretakers seemed nice enough, if a bit awkward. Idy didn't make a whole lot of his obsession with her and minimized others' concerns. Then she found black roses left on her car. Then her car was broken into. At first she tried to reason with the man, to give him the benefit of a doubt… until he started stalking others.In a moment, when you meet Idy, you'll discover how dealing with this situation led her to take on the role of CEO for Pro-Tect Services, LLC, a startup that uses trained U.S. veterans to provide on-demand close protection security service to those confronting domestic and intimate partner violence and stalking.Idy's hype song is "Let's Go Fly a Kite" from the "Mary Poppins" Soundtrack.Resources:Idy Marcus' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idy-idora-marcus-520513277/ Invitation from Lori:This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today's hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn't built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It's built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication. Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it's easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because there are… Annual all-hands meetings where once a year you hear a well-rehearsed speech, employees clap politely, and everyone leaves with the same unanswered questions they came in with. "Open door policies" that no one ever uses because people are uncomfortable walking in to talk with someone they don't feel like they know very well. "Fun" team-building events like escape rooms, trust falls, and awkward,...
Tomorrow, February 14th, is Valentine's Day.For some, it's a joyous celebration of our connection with our spouse, companion, partner, and loved one.For others, it raises questions about why we need a holiday to mark something that's central to our life and our True North.And there are those for whom it's a source of grief or pain for various reasons – lack of a life partner, hurt over losing a life partner, or disillusionment over not having found a life partner.But you know what we don't talk about? Loving ourselves.I just finished reading a book called “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It” by Kamal Ravikant and want to share a powerful lesson and practice from the book.When's the last time you looked in the mirror and said “I love myself”?Do you think you could say it once?Could you say it ten times?When you tune in and listen to this very special episode, I'll show you how this practice works, how I've made this mantra part of my routine, and why I call it a “mantra” rather than, say, an “affirmation”.If you're looking for love on Valentine's Day, try looking in the mirror.This could change your life in ways that, up until now, you could not possibly have imagined!Resources:My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/ LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/ Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/ Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me Claim your copy of “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It” by Kamal Ravikant at https://amzn.to/42SFWXi Listen to Episode #141, titled Regenerating Joy with Brad Chandler.Invitation from Lori: Now, let me ask you, if there was a simple way to reclaim your peace of mind and not feel so frazzled, would you want to know what it is? Enter the “10 Proven Habits Top Leaders Use to Stay Calm and Focused Every Day” checklist — your quick guide to creating calm, intentional days.These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?! But take my word - and all the science and research that's been done on these methods - implementing even ONE of these strategies will absolutely change your ability to manage your energy, embrace change, and foster resilience. PLUS, you want to cope with the distractions in your mind so you can stay focused and achieve your desired results? THIS checklist will give you the direction to do that. Oh, and lastly, it isn't about perfection or doing ALL the things all at once. It's about taking each small step toward progress, one at a time, consistently. Consistency over perfection wins every time. You deserve a life where you can breathe easy and not feel like a gorilla is standing on your chest all the time. When you're ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for...
Mastering Your Negative Habits with HALT: The Root Cause ApproachIn this episode of 'Change Made Easy,' host Paul explores why negative habits persist despite our best intentions and introduces the HALT method.READ THE NEWSLETTER HEREHALT (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) helps identify the unmet needs driving these habits. Through stories and examples, Paul demonstrates how understanding the emotions behind our actions can lead to lasting positive change in health, wealth, and relationships. He also highlights the importance of pausing and reflecting to take control of destructive patterns. Tune in and discover how to use this powerful tool to transform your life.Key moments:00:21 Welcome to Change Made Easy01:19 Understanding the Root Causes04:51 The HALT Method: A Simple Tool for Change05:46 Breaking Down HALT: Hunger06:57 Breaking Down HALT: Anger08:47 Breaking Down HALT: Loneliness11:46 Breaking Down HALT: Tiredness13:42 Applying HALT to Everyday Life14:51 Conclusion: Making Change Stick16:04 Join the Change Seekers Community
Always finish what you start.Don't give up a good thing; you're good at it and make a lot of money at it.The voice in your head is always right.All this sounds like good advice, yes?But what if one day you found out you had been slowly dying of this advice? I mean, literally, your health was deteriorating and you were wasting away?Tabatha Jones had an intuition for years that something was wrong, based on the challenges she started to face getting out of bed in the morning.At her foundations, nothing really stood out. She grew up in a typical middle class family and learned the values of hard work, responsibility, accountability, and being aware of the ripple effect caused by the example you set for others. She could sense when things weren't right and had no problem speaking up when she saw injustice or unfairness.Excellent traits. She grew up… fine. She got married and started what turned into a prosperous career doing work she was really good at and paid very well. It was all fine, until it wasn't – after all, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.While she loved the company she worked for and her co-workers, she started to feel out of alignment with how things were going. As a side-hustle, she began coaching in 2017, with a long-range goal of striking out on her own… someday.Then came yet another company reorganization that went on for almost a year and ended up with her staying in the same job. While she negotiated for a raise and got it, it wasn't fine anymore. Too much travel. Not feeling aligned with her purpose. The money was great, but she could barely get out of bed, much less fly from California one day to make an 8am Eastern meeting in Philadelphia the next.She planned to quit her job and go full-time with her side business in March 2020, but then, as you might recall, the world flipped upside down. Sure, she didn't have to fly to Philadelphia to meet with the Philadelphia people, but she still struggled, and finally gave notice in spring 2021.In the meantime, she had been seeing a naturopath trying to get to the bottom of her health issues. A few months after she quit her job, her naturopath called her in to review the latest test results… which were stunning.In a moment, when you meet Tabatha, you'll find out what happened, including the very unique way she found out her previous job had been slowly killing her. You'll also find out what her experience means for you, should you find yourself stuck in the ground like a tree whose roots are dug in too deep.Tabatha's hype song is "Confidence" By Demi Lovato.Resources:Tabatha Jones' website: https://www.empowered-leader.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabatha-jones-4485854/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tabathajo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_tabatha/ Claim your copy of Tabatha's “Career Confidence Playbook for Women 50+” by visiting https://www.empowered-leader.com/freegift/Invitation from Lori:Let me ask you, if there was a simple way to reclaim your peace of mind and not feel so frazzled, would you want to know what it is? Enter the “10 Proven Habits Top Leaders Use to Stay Calm and Focused Every Day” checklist — your quick guide to creating...
For Episode 177, Marsha reviews the conflict model's fifth response mode, Compromise, using a pie metaphor to explain its balance between assertiveness and cooperativeness. She highlights the negative connotations of compromise, emphasizing its strategic use in equal power scenarios, temporary solutions, and time constraints. To access a full transcript of this episode, please visit http://www.marshaclarkandassociates.com/transcripts/compromise-a-four-letter-word.To find out more about Marsha or to purchase a copy of her book, "Embracing Your Power: A Woman's Path to Authentic Leadership & Meaningful Relationships," visit her website at www.marshaclarkandassociates.com.