Podcasts about nonlinear

What if the very thing you've been apologizing for is actually your greatest advantage?Maybe you've changed industries. Switched directions. Collected experiences that don't seem to fit neatly together on a resume. While specialists often have a clear roadmap, many of us have careers that look more like a winding trail with unexpected turns along the way.In this episode of The Potentialist Podcast, I sit down with coach, leadership consultant and author Siobhán O'Riordan to explore why nonlinear career paths may be exactly what today's world needs. Drawing from her book, Reframe: How Generalists Thrive in a Changing World, Siobhán makes the case that generalists aren't scattered or unfocused. They're often the people connecting ideas, solving complex problems and helping organizations navigate change.In our conversation, you'll discover:• Why generalists make up nearly half the workforce, yet often feel invisible• How "looking around the corner" helps leaders spot opportunities others miss• How to tell your career story with confidence, even if your path doesn't look linear• What generalists need from managers, mentors and workplaces to do their best workIf you've ever wondered how to explain your twists, turns, pivots or unexpected detours, this conversation will help you see them through a completely different lens.Your career path may not be messy after all. It might just be evidence that you're built to connect dots others can't see.

Mike leads a discussion about the nonlinear nature of learning. As Ross explains, children's learning looks like a "Family Circle" cartoon, not a straight line.

Michelle spoke with Carli Fink, a certified career development practitioner, about the realities of non-linear careers, why people still idealize linear ones, and how to make smart, strategic career transitions. The conversation also made a compelling case for adult gap years as a tool for career exploration and self-discovery. About Carli Certified Career Development Practitioner Runs Foreseeable Futures — a career counseling practice focused on non-linear careers Also works part-time for a consulting company and teaches career classes at a university Originally trained as a K-12 teacher; her own career has spanned student life, academic advising, career counselling, and workforce development Benefits of a Non-Linear Career Personal fulfillment — careers that served you at 25 may not serve you at 45; transitions allow you to meet evolving needs Resilience and adaptability — diverse experience protects against labor market shocks Transferable skills — the same advice we give young people (keep doors open, diversify experience) applies throughout your entire career It's Not Too Late — Reframing Career Age Working lives are getting longer (many now work into their 70s) Someone in their late 30s may have 30+ more years of working life ahead At that stage, you've barely entered the "adult chapter" of your career Key message: Dreams don't have deadlines Signs It May Be Time to Consider a Career Change Consistently leaving work feeling drained and depleted Noticing systematic issues with the industry or profession, not just a temporary rough patch Feeling disengaged or going through the motions for an extended period Dissatisfaction that isn't resolved by seasonal changes or minor adjustments Best Practices for Making a Career Transition 1. Diagnose the Problem Correctly Track when feelings of frustration or disengagement arise Is it specific tasks? Certain people? Structural conditions of the industry? Fixing the wrong problem leads to the same dissatisfaction in a new role 2. Prototype in Low-Cost, Low-Risk Ways Talk to people working in fields you're considering Read or listen to content from people in those fields Volunteer, take a course, or build a personal project to test competencies Explore before making a full leap The Adult Gap Year Connection An adult gap year is essentially an extended prototyping opportunity Provides time and space for self-exploration that full-time employment rarely allows Can be used to: Explore new career paths Develop new competencies Test interests in a hands-on way Return to a former employer with clarity — or transition into something new Organizational sabbaticals, extended leave, or deferred pay plans can all create this opportunity Key Quotes "It's hard to fix the problem if you don't know what it is." "You can prototype things before you actually jump in a big way." "Working lives are getting longer — you may be much younger in your career than you realize." Resources & Links

Today, we're diving into a conversation that so many women in their 30s and 40s are quietly living through, but rarely saying out loud.I'm joined again by Jenni, who you might remember from a previous episode, and this time we're going deeper into what it really looks like to have a non-linear career, a late ADHD diagnosis, and, as Jenni discovered, autism traits on top of it all.If you've ever looked at your CV and thought,“Why can't I just stick to one thing like everyone else?”or woken up already telling yourself you're behind before the day has even started…this episode is for you.We talk about:The shame spiral of changing jobs, careers, and directionsHow a late diagnosis of ADHD and autism can trigger both grief and massive reliefWhy so many women in chaotic, high-pressure jobs — like policing, construction, and close protection — only realise later that their brains were never “the problem”And how to start moving from self-criticism to self-acceptance, without trying to “fix” who you areThis is an honest, vulnerable, and, at times, very funny conversation between two women who absolutely do not fit the traditional career box — and have finally stopped apologising for it.So, if you've ever felt “too much”, “all over the place”, or secretly broken…take a breath, grab a cuppa, and let this be your reminder:you are not broken, and you are definitely not alone.Let's dive in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

*Disclaimer: This topic is not intended for young listeners. Please use discretion.   Maximize PLEASURE in Marriage by Understanding Your Wife Better: An Interview with Francie Winslow (Episode 294)   Proverbs 5:19b NLT “May you always be captivated by her love.”   *Transcription Below*   Francie Winslow is a wife, mom, and intimacy evangelist. Three fun facts about Francie:   NO. 1 I saw a glimpse of Jesus' heart one day as a 19-year-old, when I sat in a Thai brothel with girls my age. My friend and I bought two girls for the night so we could take them to dinner and shower them with REAL LOVE. It was there that I realized there was nothing more that I wanted than to give God all of me.   NO. 2 I got married when I was 20, after knowing my husband for only 10 months, and dating him for less than 5 months. Total craziness, I know, but so clearly the way God was leading me.   NO. 3 My husband and I have 6 kids, some with special needs and chronic health issues. So yeah, life right now is a bit crazy. But it never lacks for excitement as I learn about the things they really need and how God is working in me as I serve my family in every season.   Francie's Website   Follow along with her @franciewinslow   Thank you to Our Sponsor: WinShape Marriage   Questions and Topics We Cover: As moms, how do we go from “touched out” to “turned on”? How can we realistically choose to still prioritize connection, right in the middle of the busy? After diving into this topic for many years, will you share what you have learned about orgasm?   Other Savvy Sauce Episode Mentioned: 4. Fostering a Fun, Healthy Sex Life With Your Spouse With Certified Sex Therapist and Author, Dr. Jennifer Konzen 7. Easy Changes to Enhance Your Sexual Intimacy in Marriage With Christian Sex Therapist Pioneers, Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner 63 Maximizing Sexual Enjoyment During the 3 Most Challenging Seasons in Marriage with Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner 252. Maximizing Sexual Connection as Newlyweds to Long Term Marriages and Recovering from a Sexless Marriage with Dr. Clifford & Joyce Penner   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:11)   Laura Dugger: (0:12 - 2:05) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's message is not intended for little ears. We'll be discussing some adult themes, and I want you to be aware before you listen to this message.   I'm thrilled to introduce you to our sponsor, WinShape Marriage. Their weekend marriage retreats will strengthen your marriage, while you enjoy the gorgeous setting, delicious food, and quality time with your spouse. To find out more, visit them online at winshapemarriage.org slash savvy.   I'm so excited to welcome back my returning guest, Francie Winslow. This conversation is going to be geared a little bit more toward understanding women, but I want you to know it's going to be very beneficial for both husbands and wives. I think husbands are going to appreciate getting a glimpse into how their wife's body works, and how they can love them better and serve them, even in the bedroom, so that they can enjoy a more fulfilling sex life with you as their spouse.   And for wives, I believe you're going to appreciate your feelings or your vague thoughts being put into words, because Francie has this way of articulating big ideas and making them bite-sized and understandable through all of her wisdom. So, not everything will apply to every wife, but I hope that everyone gets to find encouragement and enjoy a deeper sexual connection with your spouse after listening to this message and applying the wisdom.   Here's our chat. Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Francie.   Francie Winslow: (2:05 - 2:07) It's so good to be here, thanks for having me.   Laura Dugger: (2:07 - 2:20) Well, I'd love to begin with this idea of sharing sparks, because I was so intrigued the first time that I heard you teach on this topic. So, can you just explain more about this concept?   Francie Winslow: (2:22 - 5:56) Sure. Well, I think the idea really just came from this experience that my husband and I have had of knowing that, kind of in movies, it's portrayed that romance is just always fiery and passionate, and then you get married, you have kids, real life sets in, and it's like, hey, what does this actually look like to have a sex drive or to have a sense of passion in your marriage? And just for some context, because I think context helps, I have six kids from 18 down to 7, some pretty significant special needs, autoimmune diseases.   We've got a lot packed into our little home. And so, then you have a marriage that you want to stay on fire, you want to stay growing, but life is full, life is hard. And so, it's just easy to feel like the fire's just gone out.   And my husband and I work really hard on intentionality in our sex life, and we kind of came up with this idea called sparks, because sometimes that's all you have, is like a tiny spark, and that's actually okay. You think about a campfire, really what you need is you just need a spark, and then you just need to blow on it a little bit, and it turns into embers and then can turn into a fire. And so, we talk about rather than like, I've lost my sex drive, or do you have high sex drive or low drive, kind of releasing that concept and the heaviness that can be around that concept and just talk about cultivating sparks.   And a spark is essentially just a bit of desire, a bit of arousal, a bit of attraction, and we can kind of be so busy in our day that we might have a fleeting thought of, oh, it would be nice to be together tonight, and then you just forget about it. But rather than having a fleeting thought or a sensation in your body and letting it pass, we talk about sharing our sparks. And so, we'll, if I have a thought of, hey, I'm thinking about your biceps today, you know, like something playful and fun, and how much I am attracted to you, I'll text it to him or he'll text it to me.   Or if we're in person, we'll share our sparks by, you know, grabbing each other and pulling each other into the pantry for a second, having a little makeout or having a little, you know, quick, playful petting session, and we're just being playful for 30 seconds here, 30 seconds there in the middle of real life. And it's a way to say, hey, I'm bringing my little spark, you're bringing your little spark, and we're doing, honestly, the best we can in the, in the midst of real life in the midst of real hard to keep our fire going. And it is amazing the impact that that's had on our marriage, because it's just easy to assume, we're just too tired.   And then days go by weeks go by and, and really roommate, the roommate rut sets in or disconnection or even pain because you begin to miss each other. And it feels hard to get reconnected. So, we've found it to be really beneficial and simple just to say, okay, if I have a fleeting feeling in my body, a little sensation, a little attraction, a little arousal, a little desire, a little flirtatious energy, I'm just gonna express it as quickly or as sincerely as I can in that moment.   Like I said, sometimes it's through text, sometimes it would be a quick phone call, hey, you know, I'm thinking about you tonight, or, you know, playfully, like, what are you wearing, or like a text a little, a little invitation to connection later. And it's those little things that make a really big difference. And I would say the physical things, especially like grabbing each other, hey, we'll say to our kids, mom and dad need to have a quick conversation, like real serious, and then we'll go to the laundry room or go to the pantry.   And it's just those literal 30 second exchanges that are so small that make a really big difference in keeping the fire going in our marriage. And it's super meaningful, especially in these really busy seasons.   Laura Dugger: (5:58 - 6:21) I love that because you've also pointed out, I think, in the past that you don't buy into the whole who has high libido, who has lower drive. Rather, you see it as energy that can be fostered. And also, then just that connection of we have the spark, but then sharing it, it can ignite faster.   So, anything else you'd like to add about?   Francie Winslow: (6:22 - 9:35) Yeah, I think that's good to bring it up. I mean, a spark is like a bit of energy. And if you think about like a spark of fire, like that creates something and a spark of desire in your marriage, or a tiny spark of arousal is sexual energy.   And so, I think of it as how do I grow sexual energy. And that, ironically, has to be a really intentional thing. It has to be like, I think about being with my husband, I actually spend time, maybe even my planner thinking, okay, I'd like to have sex, we'd like to have sex at some point this week, what day would be best where I'd have the most energy or where he would be, you know, not as stressed out because he had a lighter workday or maybe not have to early morning, you think about your week, your time, in terms of energy. And when you think about sexual energy, when we might have the most sexual energy or creating sexual energy.   And so, we've realized that we came to that point of kind of forsaking the high drive and low drive identities, because I think they can become Oh, he's the high, I'm the low, or vice versa. And that can feel heavy. And it can feel like pressure, like I feel ashamed, because I'm low, he feels disappointed, because he's high, whatever it might be.   And that can switch for men and women as well. And rather than seeing it as that, and maybe we've just like, life has beat us up. So, neither of us have a high drive at this point.   And but yet, we still have a very active sex life without that clinging to who's high and who's low, because we're both committed to growing our sexual energy. And so for me, that looks like thinking about being with him, it looks like tuning into my body in a sensuous way, as a tired mom, and that looks like holding my cup of coffee or cup of tea intentionally and like feeling sensation in the everyday moments from wafts of you know, steam coming from my coffee to the sunlight on my face to washing in the shower, I can actually realize that I've had years where I will do the whole shower routine and not feel a thing like I didn't even notice sensation from shampoo or from the loofah or from lotion, I just did it robotically to get through the chore of caring for my body. And I've switched really to think of it as being paying attention to my body paying attention to sensation paying attention to how nice it feels to wash my face with a soap that smells good. And it's those things of going slow and being embodied and paying attention to my body and sensations that does transfer over to help me remember, oh, I want to foster awareness of my body.   And being aware of my body is a way of fostering sexual energy, because I'm thinking about how things feel. And I'm thinking about my body and how it's responding to touch. And then that helps me honestly feel more when my husband touches me.   So, we can talk about that later about the issue of kind of feeling numb in our bodies. But I think that that is a reality for marriage later on is that we can become numb in our sex life, because we're just busy, and we're tired, and things are routine, and we're kind of bored. And so fostering sexual energy, getting out of our heads and into our bodies, thinking about our times together, growing our skills, sexually learning about learning about sex, learning about anatomy, all of those things are ways to grow sexual energy, as well as just the playfulness of the sparks and, you know, pulling each other into the pantry and having a quick makeout session, those kinds of things.   Laura Dugger: (9:36 - 10:53) I love those practical examples. And I think you're right; we should get to numbing or what it feels like maybe later on in marriage. But let's go back to Newlyweds or especially new moms, because just for all of marriage, sexual connection is going to cement us together.   So, of course, the enemy of our soul is going to want to do anything at every stage to make us too busy, too distracted, to have that intimate connection. And many times, new parents have things that make it difficult and challenging to connect. But it's not like it gets any easier, because then other difficulties are going to come in, whether that's raising older children or medical issues that come in or perimenopause and menopause.   So, there are always going to be obstacles. But I want us to be wise, whatever season we're in right now, to cultivate our delight and connection in every season. So, I don't know about you, Francie, but the most common phrase I've heard new moms tell me is, I've had people touching me all day.   I don't want him touching me at night. And I'd love for you to offer us a healthier narrative.   Francie Winslow: (10:54 - 14:47) Yeah. Well, I don't get to speak in person very often because of my commitment to be really invested at home with my kids. But I am speaking a few times this spring to some moms' groups.   And the theme is from touched out to turned on. So, I just want to affirm, if anybody is feeling that they are for sure not alone. I hear it all the time as well.   And there is this dynamic of I'm so touched out; I don't want to be touched anymore. And the thing I've learned in understanding our bodies, understanding sexuality, and especially female sexuality is that we are not only coming to the table with our bodies and our anatomy, we're coming with our nervous systems. And so there is this thing at play where we have been having stimulation come at us all day through media, through our phones, through needs of others, and we are touched out.   And another word for that would be overstimulated. And so, I would say you're not broken, you're not hopeless, you're overstimulated, and you're exhausted. And it is very hard for a woman to come into a place of arousal or desire from that place of what's probably fight or flight, that feeling of I just can't be touched anymore.   I am so overwhelmed. I feel like this bubbling over of anxiety or a place of like shut down and disconnected, I want to withdraw. And so those are two nervous system states that we often go in when we are overdone, overcooked, too much has been coming at us.   And so, when we're in that place, and we're feeling overstimulated, and like, I don't want to be touched, I would say the invitation is simply to take a minute and realize, oh, I'm not broken. I'm not actually as unavailable, maybe as I think I need to become available to myself for a minute, I need to reset, I need to remember that my body needs rest in order to connect and communicate that rather than it being like, oh, don't touch me, I've been touched out. And it looks like feels like rejection.   It's more of an invitation to care for yourself, knowing that, oh, in order to be available for connection, I need to see it not as another chore, but a place to be nourished and a place to reconnect to my own body. And that sexuality was meant to be a place of nourishment, and care and rejuvenation, not just another need to be meeting. And so, I think that's the other mindset shift is we need a minute to rest, reconnect to our bodies, maybe a shower, maybe a bath, a minute to say, okay, I'm very overstimulated, I do need a second.   And then to see that. And this is a call out to the husbands to like your job is to love your wife so well that she comes out of a sexual experience nourished. And if that's not happening in your marriage, know that that's actually the design of sexuality.   And it might take some communication and work to switch our mindset. Because a lot of times we've been raised with a mindset that maybe X is a man's need. And another thing we have to do as wives, but that's actually a real huge lie.   It's not about a man's need. It's about connection. And it's about nourishment.   And it's about fully giving ourselves to one another and being cared for. And so what amazes me is the power of sexuality, even orgasm release, pleasure to be able to wash out a woman's nervous system and like a bath like oof, I got reset, I got this sense of the rush of the sexual hormones, the serotonin and the oxytocin and this place of deep connection is God's design for us. And so having this flip a mindset of it's not another need I have to meet, but it's actually a nourishing gift to me to get into my body to receive pleasure.   There is a transition I think we need to give ourselves grace for to like, okay, I might want to shower and I might want to get out of my head and back into my body a little bit, but it really was designed to be a gift. And so that's, that's kind of my invitation is for women to receive it as a space that should be nourishing and can be nourishing and actually really healthy for her mind, body and spirit, even in tired seasons.   Laura Dugger: (14:48 - 15:10) I appreciate what you said there, because you're flipping it from all day, maybe we are receiving very unpleasant touch. But this is a different type of very pleasant touch to be receiving, or we've been giving all day. This is the refilling, nourishing.   And I think if we change our minds first, then our body can follow.   Francie Winslow: (15:10 - 16:10) And there is an element to I think, creating an environment that does feel safe to let go. Because I think if you think about moms, they're giving all day, they've got the babies nearby, the monitors on, you know, the laundry piles huge, like there's all these distractions, and it doesn't actually feel like that safe of an environment to be nourished. And so, I would say even take that into consideration of what would make sexual experiences with your husband feel nourishing to you.   And it might mean a really nice candle is lit or just a few things to change the environment to signal to your nervous system. Oh, yeah, this is a time of nourishment, not just okay, now I've got to switch, you know, here and meet another need. But this is a time to be beautiful.   I would maybe put a noisemaker on for you, you know, to drown out some of the feeling that you're going to be heard, or you might wake up the baby, make sure the door is locked. Just take a minute to feel like you're giving yourself a gift in that time as well. And sometimes that can help to kind of quiet the environment to make it feel like a place where you want to let go and you really want to receive.   Laura Dugger: (16:11 - 16:51) That's good. And the husbands can be so participatory with this, even that they have so much strength and usually more energy and sex gives them energy. So, if they can find creative ways to, I think, separate her as much as possible from mom to lover.   So, I mean, people are aware of these like put if the husband does the bedtime bath routine or can finish the dishes or just do those physically taxing tasks so that she can have that transition time. I think there are just endless ways to be creative. And I'm assuming husbands would be so motivated to love and serve their wife that way.   Francie Winslow: (16:52 - 17:08) Yeah, yeah, I think it's definitely a reality to think, okay, what does it look like for us both to step forward and really love each other? Well, and that will just probably be different for every couple but being able to know that you can use your voice and say that, hey, I really want to connect this would help me.   Laura Dugger: (17:09 - 17:25) That's good. So, we've addressed that obstacle then of physical touch. But let's also talk about the constant noise in our minds as women.   So, how can we move from getting stuck in our head to waking up our body?   Francie Winslow: (17:26 - 21:44) Yeah, well, I mentioned it a little bit earlier. But I'll know for for me, I feel if I'm not very purposeful in the way that I take in technology and take in my phone, I can easily just live in a state of perpetual kind of humming anxiety, and not really know why. I mean, apart from like the parts of life that are really hard, and paying attention to, okay, what am I allowing in?   What am I allowing to have access to me? What am I meditating on? How much white space?   Am I giving my heart or am I like listening to a podcast 24 hours a day, or, you know, constantly having stuff in versus creating space for quiet in my body. And in my heart, just even to hear myself breathe, or to sit with some instrumental music and just be for a and not be performing or producing or consuming something. That's been a big thing for my nervous system, honestly, in that context.   But I think the other thing that I mentioned earlier was our five senses. And I talked to women all the time who say I'm struggling with pleasure, I'm struggling with orgasm, I don't feel a whole lot. And there's a couple reasons we don't.   But one of the reasons is we live so much in our head, with all the things we have to think about our to do list that never ends the and I think the part of having a phone is that the Instacart is there, the Amazon is there, the emails from the school are there, it's just always something that we need to be thinking about or processing. And that can cause us to live so much in our heads that we kind of live from our, our head up our neck up, and we neglect the fact that we have an entire body. And so I often be reminding myself, get out of your head and into your body feel, feel even just like your belly exhaling when you breathe, like that's so small, but if you can slow down enough to take five slow deep breaths, you'll feel your heart rate go down, you'll feel the sense of awareness even of God's presence of the sense that He's with you the sense that you know, you can navigate whatever you need to with peace. And so, I do a lot of things like take a walk without my phone. I'll sit on my back porch even just to sit in the sun for a minute to let the sun on my body and I'm always aware at this point, I want to feel things in my body because God gave us five senses to be present to the moment to be present to our kids to be present to Him.   There's that classic book, Brother Lawrence, the practice of the presence of God. And it's this practicing awareness of God's nearness. And it's a practice.   And not to make a leap that makes two people, people feel too uncomfortable, but to practice pleasure is a thing to get out of your head and into the sense of awareness in your day of sensation, a beauty of love of the presence of your kids, their smiles, their faces, and then in pleasure to be super aware of the presence of your husband, of your own self with him of the love that you're having of the feelings you're having in your body.   And the noise that comes at us all day basically robs us of that awareness. And so, I think that the world's system of operating right now is maybe intentionally unintentionally, I'm not sure, bent on making us numb to God, to each other, to ourselves, to our souls, and to true genuine connection. And so, I think it's a real fight for me to live connected to myself, to God, to others.   And what does it look like to really be present? And that's actually such a unique key to pleasure, to sexual pleasure that we wouldn't necessarily connect. We would think it's about like, oh, tips or positions, but it's actually about becoming present.   And the noise coming at us tries to rob us of that presence, that awareness. And so, I think it's a very integrated conversation, whether it's talking about spiritual intimacy, sexual intimacy, obviously friendship, wherever we're trying to connect with someone or God, but the call is to be present and embodied. And that's what Jesus was.   He was an embodiment of God. And He came to actually connect in a genuine face-to-face way. And yeah, so I think of when I think of the noise of my phone, the noise coming at us all the time, it's just draining of my energy, of my sexual energy, of my emotional energy, on all the levels.   And it's constantly a reminder of God saying, “that's not your design. Your design was connection and presence and how that hits all the markers in all the relationships.”   Laura Dugger: (21:45 - 24:26) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Friends, I'm excited to share with you today's sponsor, Winshape Marriage. Do you feel like you need a weekend away with your spouse and a chance to grow in your relationship together at the same time? Winshape Marriage is a fantastic ministry that provides weekend marriage retreats to help couples grow closer together in every season and stage of life. From pre-marital to parenting to the emptiness phase, there is an opportunity for you. Winshape Marriage is grounded on the belief that the strongest marriages are the ones that are nurtured, even when it seems things are going smoothly, so that they're stronger if they do hit a bump along their journey. These weekend retreats are hosted within the beautiful refuge of Winshape Retreat, perched in the mountains of Rome, Georgia, which is a short drive from Atlanta, Birmingham, and Chattanooga. While you're there, you will be well-fed, well-nurtured, and well-cared for.   During your time away in this beautiful place, you and your spouse will learn from expert speakers and explore topics related to intimacy, overcoming challenges, improving communication, and more. I've stayed on site at Winshape before, and I can attest to their generosity, food, and content. You will be so grateful you went. To find an experience that's right for you and your spouse, head to their website, winshapemarriage.org/savvy. That's W-I-N-S-H-A-P-E marriage.org/savvy, S-A-V-V-Y. Thanks for your sponsorship.   Getting out of our mind, getting into our body, how you said paying attention to your coffee and those five senses outside the bedroom, then when you're inside the bedroom, I remember Dr. Clifford and Joyce Penner just saying, thank God for every tingly feeling that you get. I think you're more aware of your body in those times of intimate connection if you're practicing that outside of it, which is what you're advising. I guess one other super practical tip, I love it that a friend years ago told me the way she transitioned from work into sexual connection with her husband, they invested in a massage table. She would get 20 minutes or whatever on the table and he would just relax her head to toe and then they enjoyed that connection so much more.   Francie Winslow: (24:27 - 28:23) Absolutely. Yeah, there's different types of touch. I talk about this in one of my podcasts, but there's therapeutic touch, which is like, “hey, I think I need a foot rub. I just need to relax.”   Then there's nurturing touch. I will walk up a lot of times to my husband and just stand there and that signal of like, just hold me.   I just need to be touched in that way, not groped. I don't even need to be playfully touched. I just need to be secure and held.   Sometimes that's what we need to let go and let our nervous systems calm down. I will say even like a hug for 30 seconds, you can feel your body, hug until you feel yourself let go because you feel yourself soften. Noticing the sensations of, Wyatt and I went on a date the other day and I could feel myself.   I was just noticing the sensations of my body and I'm like, I'm gripping. I'm gripping everything. That's not a great way to go into a date.   Talking through like, okay, what is it that my body is gripping onto? It's so much stress, so much pressure. Then we ended up having a great date, but I was able to name those things like, what is my body needing?   What am I feeling? Where am I now? That just comes from awareness, and it comes from practicing being present to what's happening in my body, in my nervous system and what do I need?   There's therapeutic touch, nurturing touch. There's obviously playful touch like tickling or just being flirtatious. Then there's sexual touch.   There's a wide range of what sexual expression and nice and gentle touch can look like that can open you up. I think getting out of your head and into your body and not being afraid of your body. I think as Christian women, we were raised with a real fear of our bodies and a real fear of pleasure.   I know I was feeling like the word pleasure was even a really dirty word. It wasn't something I should be thinking about. It wasn't something that I had permission to even explore because it had a real sense of negative connotation to it.   God's just really set me free from that because I'm realizing it's my design. There are countless pleasure zones all over my body by his good design, by his orchestration. He made my body.   There's not one part of my body he's ashamed of, and I don't need to be either. Realizing that God did make the female body with way more than double the capacity for pleasure than a male body has. That's a gift for us.   It's a gift for our emotions. It's a gift for our mental health. It's a gift for our creativity.   You said men get more energy from sex, but actually, it's like when a woman really let's go and she really let's go because we have a hard time letting go. That doesn't mean crazy. It just really means you turn off your brain, and you really receive.   There is a restart that happens. Usually, creativity does flow because it's the sense of different parts of your brain are reactivated and you are nourished. Sexuality was meant to be a creative act in procreation, but also in energetic movement through your body of what love creates.   Love multiplies. Love grows. Not being afraid of our bodies, not being afraid of feeling, but praising God, like the penner said for every tingle.   I'll say in terms of awareness in the bedroom, if you're having trouble feeling or you're having trouble feeling pleasure or reaching orgasm, there's three tips that I've heard that I really like is breath, breathing in that moment, coming back to your breath because a lot of times we can be intimate and still be in our heads. Our bodies are there, but our minds are somewhere else. We're thinking about the grocery list or thinking about why am I taking so long or is he having fun or do I look not good?   Do I not look good to him? Where our brains are stuck in a lot of different places and getting out of our head back into our body with breath. Slowing down, really conscious, slow breathing, movement, going back and forth, and then vocalization, like using a moan or a hum or a yes.   Those three things are often helping you get back in your body, helping bring your attention back to sensation and can enhance the moment through paying attention in those ways.   Laura Dugger: (28:24 - 28:59) Those are so good. The only one I would add, I'm sure you would incorporate this as well, is prayer. I've heard a wife tell me before that she will pray every time they come together, whether she's praying just in her mind, not even out loud with her husband, but just, Lord, help me experience orgasm or help us to enjoy this time or whatever the prayer is.   You also brought up playful touch then. Can you just unpack why play is so powerful as it relates to our sex life?   Francie Winslow: (29:01 - 30:36) Well, I think that we can get so serious in life and we can get so exhausted and overwhelmed and then sex can become a task, or we just are now stressed about it. For us, quite simply put, playfulness has just been an invitation to revitalize our connection and to remember that we don't have to take things so seriously. I think our playfulness has come through even just like silly text messages.   I say silly, but they're intimate, they're playful, they're between us. Little things that we've done, like you have certain names for certain positions and so you can speak in code and that can be a fun way to connect where nobody else knows what you're talking about, but you're sharing connection. Getting your heart rate up together, things like playing literally, like playing a sport, exercising together, having playful times together outside of the bedroom is so powerful.   Getting your heart rate up together is actually a real libido booster. If you go work out, you just feel this energy together in general or going on a walk, we like to do that. By the time you come back from your walk, if you've walked briskly, you feel this sense of connection and a little bit more drive.   You can even make games like, hey, whenever I wear this necklace, it's me giving you a little bedroom wink. We've done that where we have little signs to each other that, hey, I'm thinking about you, I'm so into you, see this necklace I'm wearing. There's just so many playful ways that you can connect that remind you, oh yeah, we're on each other's teams, we're for each other.   This is not a have to, this is a get to, and this is a special place just for us to really build the connection.   Laura Dugger: (30:37 - 30:52) One step further then with that play and movement, I've heard you talk about for females, nonlinear movement of our body. Can you share about how that, again, outside the bedroom can impact inside the bedroom?   Francie Winslow: (30:52 - 35:31) Yeah. I have a membership community called The Circle, and we talk about this a lot because it's a bit like rewiring, especially Christian women's minds to connect to their bodies in a genuine way. Our culture in general has raised us to not embrace the masculine but requires us to be masculine in a lot of ways, just with how what's required is getting stuff done, standing in line, standing in traffic.   It's very much task-oriented, get stuff done, stay busy. The female design is much more nonlinear. It's much more creative.   It's much more life-giving than just task and just to-do list all day. When we stay in that do, do, do, and go, go, go mode, we lose our ability to flow and to be playful as women. I know when I am in task mode all day, I feel rigid rather than open.   By God's design, the female body itself speaks of curviness. It speaks of receptivity and openness, but sometimes in our structured lives that we lead where we have to get stuff done, we close off that space through stress and through just this response of rigidity and overwhelm. Movement is a great way to loosen up, to open up to access playfulness as a woman.   I've heard people call it nonlinear movement, and I think that's great because literally you don't have to be a good dancer, but it's just begin moving. I've taught in this membership group that I have just practical ways. We practice and we laugh and we talk about how it's going, but it's really creating new neural pathways in our own brains, new habits, new ways of embodying our own selves in our lives that remind us of who we are and help us access a playfulness.   What that looks like for me is I can just be brushing my teeth, and I'll just do figure eights with my hips. That's just nonlinear movement, and it's just a way to move my body and be like, oh, yeah. It's like doing shoulder rolls.   You're like, oh, I didn't know I was so tense. I didn't know I was gripping. I didn't know my posture was all hunched over because I've just been tense all day, and our bodies are holding on to that tension.   Nonlinear movement is playful. It's also a way to release tension. It's also a way to remember, oh, yeah, I'm a woman, and I have hips, and it's fun to move.   I'm not even that great of a dancer. I don't feel super sexy when I move, but then I remember I can be playful, and it kind of unlocks another layer of our sensuality and our beauty and helps us remember that we are lovely and attractive and desirable and not just kind of to-do list on stairways walking around getting stuff done. Nonlinear movement can look like a lot of things.   I've spent my 39th year, I decided on my birthday, I'd been thinking, reading, praying a lot about it, but my 39th year, I decided I'm going to befriend my body this year. I did things that whole year, like nonlinear movement, like just cultivating pleasure in my body in a lot of different ways to really befriend and honor my body and call it good, like God called it, because I had lived for so long kind of at a distance from my body and afraid of my body and afraid of, honestly, femininity in a way because I didn't know how to grid that, and I didn't know what it looked like to be holy and to be integrated, to be holy and to be an alive sexual woman. It just kind of seemed like I needed to shut most of it off, and God's been doing a healing work in me for the last several years, and that's part of it, is just simple things like dancing in my room when nobody's looking, turning on music that doesn't have to have like a certain lyric or notion to it, but I just get to move, and there's something about moving our bodies where we get to really let go of a lot and remember the design that we have for creativity and beauty, and yeah, that's just a fun way to do it, but a little practical is trying figure eights while you're doing your toothbrushing or stirring your spaghetti.   A funny one that makes me laugh and makes everybody laugh when I have them do it is spelling your name with your hips, and so you just realize, oh, oh my gosh, you know, you're moving your hips in all sorts of directions, but by the time you finish, you feel more open, and you feel more alive and awake in your body, and I think, I know I'll speak for me, I feel many days if I'm not intentional very unalive in my body because I just am exhausted, but it's those intentional places of befriending our bodies, paying attention, and honoring our beautiful bodies allows us to enjoy it more, being a woman, being a wife, being present, and it sure does make it a lot more fun to participate in it rather than just feel like life is happening to us all the time.   Laura Dugger: (35:32 - 35:59) Okay, and then speaking of that, life happening to us all the time, we talked about maybe newlyweds or new parents, but as we transition into middle age, maybe we're parenting older children at that point, or we're assisting with aging parents, or facing demands with work or our health. How can we realistically still choose to prioritize connection right in the middle of busy?   Francie Winslow: (35:59 - 36:01) Yeah, you mean with our spouses?   Laura Dugger: (36:02 - 36:02) Yes.   Francie Winslow: (36:02 - 41:05) Yeah, yeah. Well, I think it, for us, I'll say it comes from really just seeing it as a priority. It's one of our biggest rocks, you know, like when you have a jar, and you have rocks, and you only have so much room, you have to figure out what are your biggest rocks, and intimacy together is for sure one of our biggest rocks because we see what we've called, I've called forever the ripple effect of sex, that there is a ripple effect that comes from intimacy and connection, I think by God's design, and it's the same with our connection with God, that there is a ripple effect that comes from our connection with God. When we're connected and we're growing with God, other things benefit, right?   We see it in our ability to show up as parents, and at work, we see the ripple effect of intimacy, and I'll say the same thing mirrors in marriage, that there is a profound ripple effect from sexual intimacy specifically, and there's other forms of intimacy in marriage that are really important, but sexual intimacy is the only type of intimacy that is shared in marriage alone, and so you can have deep friendships, and partnerships, and ministry, and prayer teams, and, you know, small group leaders meetings, and you can have growth, and closeness with a lot of types of people and groups, but sexual intimacy is the full giving of yourself, naked, unashamed, fully to another, and it's a real place of vulnerability, and I think as we're aging, as I'm beginning perimenopause, as we have almost, we're launching our first kids into college, we've got a bunch of special needs younger kids, what I'm realizing is I don't just need to have sex because it's good for our marriage, we need it because it's good for us. We really need it for our own nervous systems.   We need it for comfort, and for grief, and for trauma processing, and for the bonding of us together, because we're clinging to each other as seasons change, and as dark seasons are on us, it's almost like this refuge that God has given us, and so I think seeing sexual intimacy as a really deep place of provision, not just, oh, it's something we need to do, like exercising, because it's good for us. It is, but there is a deeper invitation to the meaning, and the power of oneness, and union, which is, again, that reflection of our union with God, and it's a gift for our bodies, our nervous systems, in changing seasons as well.   It's a real place of connection that we need, and so I think in terms of prioritizing it, it's one of our big rocks, and so this point, 20 years in, it's not unusual for us to have intimacy many times every day of the week. I guess I just say that as our marriage is 20 years in, and it's more deep, and more beautiful, and more pleasurable, and more meaningful than ever, and in my changing body, in our tiredness, I feel more confident, and more awake to my body than ever, and I love that, that I feel more confident than I did when I was 20, right? I feel more pleasure, because we know each other more, and we've leaned in to learn each other, and we've wept together, and we've grieved together, and we've gotten lost together, like we've had the highs and the lows, and that's, I think I want to cast that out as vision for young marriages, like it's worth it to keep growing, it's worth it to lean in, it's worth it to know each other, and to continue to press on together, because there's deep riches in that intimacy, and for friends who are in the older years, I'm walking with women right now who've been married 35 years, and they're waking up to their best marriage ever, because they're waking up to their bodies, and they might be 60 years old, but they're finally confronting the shame that's held back, they're finally confronting the lies about pleasure, and about sex being for a man only, and they're realizing that they have an entire body to get to know, and to share in marriage, and it's like a whole new territory that they're encountering, and there's freedom and healing happening, because they've had to have conversations that are hard, but actually unearth things that need to be healed, and I think that's the other bit of sexual intimacy that doesn't often get talked about, is that sexual intimacy is so intimate, it does not occur without the heart being present, and so if hard things come up in sex, it's usually because hard things need to come up, and vulnerability and intimacy requires, intimacy requires vulnerability, and that vulnerability is the space for the hard things to come up, and then in the presence of God, through prayer, through love, you address those, it might be hard, it might be painful, and then there's space to say, hey, let's work through that, let's lean in, let's keep loving each other, find help, and it continues to grow the marriage deeper, and so that's what I've found in our marriage, and with women I'm walking with, is that it's not always an easy uphill, you know, like ascent, but it's highs and lows, but over time, throughout the seasons, prioritizing oneness, prioritizing sexual communication, prioritizing time together, to practice pleasure, getting to know each other, those are the spaces where actually I've seen God do a lot of healing.   Laura Dugger: (41:07 - 42:40) I want to make sure that you're up to date with our latest news. We have a new website. You can visit thesavvysauce.com and see all of the latest updates. You may remember Francie Heinrichson from episode 132, where we talked about pursuing our God-given dreams. She is the amazing businesswoman who has carefully designed a brand-new website for Savvy Sauce Charities, and we are thrilled with the final product, so I hope you check it out. There you're going to find all of our podcasts, now with show notes and transcriptions listed, a scrapbook of various previous guests, and an easy place to join our email list to receive monthly encouragement and questions to ask your loved ones so that you can have your own practical chats for intentional living.   You will also be able to access our donation button or our mailing address for sending checks that are tax-deductible so that you can support the work of Savvy Sauce Charities and help us continue to reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ. So, make sure you visit thesavvysauce.com.   Well, and even with you sharing how often you're connecting, that requires saying no to some other, probably sometimes good things, too.   Are there any practical examples you have, again, of what you and Wyatt have not prioritized in order to give this time and space?   Francie Winslow: (42:41 - 45:06) Yeah, I mean, I don't want to put ourselves on a pedestal or sound so radical, but we really try to limit screen time and phones a lot. I would say my husband is very radical with this. He really is never on his phone and makes it a point to not be, and I appreciate that in the way he leads in our family.   I feel like I'm doing stuff that needs to be done on my phone, and I can easily get pulled into scrolling, but that's been a big thing we say no to. We just really don't do that in our beds. We don't bring it into our bedrooms.   We don't, because we just see that it can easily be like it just pulls us away from each other, and so that's kind of a non-thing, which I think is a big culture shifter that phone is not a part of our marriage or our time in the evenings. And yeah, with a lot of kids, we definitely have to prioritize. We do hotel dates quite frequently, which I can't remember if I've talked to you about or not, but that's been a huge gift in busy seasons of parenting.   We scoot away to a local hotel for just a day, not even an overnight. We'll do like a long date, like maybe a four-hour stretch, and what that really gives us in terms of not just quantity, because it's not as much quantity, it's the quality of connection that we found, and being in a hotel room for four hours or so, we really get to let go and focus. And so, I think that that's a big part of it is, oh, it's not just about like checking the box, but it's really letting go together and learning.   And those have been some of the hours we've spent together. It's like learning what feels good, learning how to linger with each other, learning how to go slow and not be rushed, learning how to communicate and learning how to care for one another. We'll do like king treatment or queen treatment, where you spend 20 minutes on one person, and then the other person gets 20 minutes, and you take turns, and it's just this exchange of care that doesn't happen in a busy life.   But we found that sneaking away to do that every couple of weeks has been a real treat to figure out how to prioritize. But yeah, definitely saying no to... And I mean, the truth is, it doesn't take that long to connect.   So, it's not like you have to say no to massive things, but I think it's saying yes to putting your energy towards each other and not spending your energy completely on every other thing except your marriage.   Laura Dugger: (45:07 - 45:25) Okay, well said. And maybe somebody's hearing this and they're not there right now. So, regardless of whatever season of marriage they're in, how can they revive a sex life that's been asleep or has become complacent?   Francie Winslow: (45:25 - 46:44) Yeah. Well, I think if it's a place where you are desiring and you are the one desiring, I think it's saying, hey, I really desire connection. What would it look like if we tried this again, if we leaned in?   And if hopefully there's a sense of, yeah, I miss you too. I miss us too. And if not, it's a space where you can grow in your own understanding of your body, how your body works, and you can continue to learn how your spouse's body works and try to love them even without making a big plan, but just showing up more skills or showing up with more investment at times can communicate, hey, I'm showing up with a little bit more knowledge and I'm enjoying it more.   Because I think when you learn a little bit more, you can receive more, you can be more present. And sometimes just working on you and your mindset can have a trickle-down effect. But I think definitely an invitation to say, hey, we're busy and I value you and I value us and I just want more connection.   What does that look like? Yeah, I think it definitely takes two. It takes two to really grow, to be honest.   And so, I think it can be a place where even that can be a hard conversation that has the potential to unearth, hey, are we too busy? It does require a sense of investment. And sometimes that can require conversations.   Laura Dugger: (46:45 - 46:56) Francie, also, you are a wealth of knowledge. You've studied this topic for years; you've brought it before the Lord. So, what can you share with us that you've learned specifically about orgasm?   Francie Winslow: (46:57 - 50:30) So, orgasm for anybody who is brand new is simply like a fast contraction of your muscles in your pelvic floor and around the nerve endings that are linked to pleasure sensors in your brain. And so, when those contract really fast, it feels like a whoosh or a powerful punch of pleasure, and it brings tingles and contractions, and it feels great. So, people come to me a lot.   They're like, I can't have an orgasm. And so one of the biggest keys to having an orgasm, again, is understanding your body and not expecting your body to work like a man's body, not expecting it to just automatically work by penetration, which is a lot of times what men think is if you just have intercourse, you should have an orgasm. But a woman's body is much more intricate, and she has a clitoral structure kind of hidden behind her external anatomy.   So, you can't see it all, all the time. I do have one here. I have other models, but this is a clitoris.   And so, this is hidden behind your outside vaginal tissues. And so, but this is all pleasure anatomy. And so, your clitoris has over 10,000 nerve endings and that is over double what a man's penis has.   We're maybe afraid to touch our bodies, but this is good in God's design, and it is that the clitoris is stimulated. And so, it can be manually, you can touch it, your husband can touch it. Sometimes before sex, you can have orgasms or even during, definitely during, but that comes with stimulation.   And so I think sometimes women think I just, it should happen automatically, but it happens through blood flow to your tissues, to your whole body really, because your whole body becomes kind of alive with pleasure, but the blood flow allows engorgement of all of this tissue, which allows it to feel better and allows it to feel pleasure. And so, a clitoris, a clitoral orgasm is one type of orgasms, but there's lots of types of orgasms that your body can experience with also a female superpower. And it happens when we're able to let go and we're able to actually feel, which comes back to our earlier conversation of being awake in our bodies and aware of sensation and connected to feeling in our body and connected to awareness.   And so, orgasm is a beautiful gift from God. There's many types of orgasms. Women can have multiple orgasms.   That means can peak over and over and over again, not just once, but the bottom line is when God created, he created male and female, but he created woman last. And it seems like when you look at it metaphorically, that woman is like the exclamation point of beauty and pleasure. She was like the final, yes, she has double the amount of pleasure capacity than a man does.   And I think it's because it delights God that women are fully alive in their bodies. And so, I do have a pleasure masterclass on my website because it took me and wound up and afraid of my own body, but this is God's design and he's not afraid or ashamed of our bodies. And the more we understand how God designed our bodies, the more we can really celebrate his design.   And to me, that's worshipful. And it's honoring to him as our creator, because he made us wonderfully, right? And the Psalm says that my soul knows well, and it's like this catching up.   He made us wonderfully. Do we believe it? And part of is education and understanding that our bodies are good.   So, orgasm is a great gift, definitely one worth exploring and learning.   Laura Dugger: (50:31 - 50:41) It's so wonderful, Francie. And are there any other practical ways that we can maximize pleasure in our marriage, both for husbands or wives?   Francie Winslow: (50:43 - 53:59) Yeah, I think this sounds a little bit silly, but practicing pleasure is a real thing. We often feel like I should just know how to do it. It should just work, but it takes communication and it takes time.   And going back to awareness, it takes us being able to understand our bodies. And so, I know the pinners recommend this as well. It might push some people's buttons, but it's exploring your own body.   You have to know your body to share it well. It's a really awkward and uncomfortable thing to not know what's down there and then supposed to be giving it away to your husband. That's I think a sin against ourselves, to be honest, because we are essentially violating ourselves if we don't even have connection to ourselves.   And then we're trying to give it away and expecting our bodies to express or experience something. We have to be embodied, connected to loving, blessing, and agreeing with the fact that our bodies are good. And that doesn't happen unless we know our bodies.   And so, I would say that the pivotal thing for me and many women, and it might make people feel uncomfortable, is you must know your body. You must experience your body. You must believe it's good.   And in order to be able to share it genuinely without shame, because shame is the biggest pleasure killer. And shame is straight from hell, straight from the enemy in the garden that they were originally naked and unashamed. And in comes the deceiver and the accuser of God's children.   And they suddenly become aware of their nakedness and covered in shame and they start hiding. And so, God has an invitation to us to release shame in our sexuality as we bring our sexuality into his light, into the light of his word, into his presence. And part of that is for me, it was definitely realizing my body is good.   So, spending time with your own body, getting to know what feels good for the sake of being able to share it with your husband is a big breakthrough point for a lot of women. And even confronting like, oh, when I'm alone with my body, I actually feel so much shame. Talk to God about that.   God, do you feel ashamed of my body? Is it a shame that I'm sitting here with my body? Can I look at my body in the mirror and actually say, thank you, God, for this beautiful body?   Can I take a mirror down there and explore my body and have joy rather than shame? And if we can't have joy and if we only have shame, that's okay. That's just an invitation to healing.   And so that's what I mean when I say sexuality is also this invitation to healing because shame is so tightly wound around the conversation and shame is the opposite of what Christ died for. He died that we would be free and that it's not this selfish freedom. It's this life-giving freedom where love can really be shared and expressed.   So, I would say that the number one thing is that women love and know their bodies and then can share them from that place of sharing a gift that they have actually received first. Because until we receive the gift, it's an awkward thing to try to give it away. And I think our husbands are hopefully wanting and willing to learn too.   And so, it can be a joint effort that we learn about our bodies together, that we discover our bodies together, learn how to communicate and learn how to love each other well in a place of joy and care. Because that, I think, is a beautiful space of worship to God.   Laura Dugger: (54:01 - 54:43) And just to echo what you said, I think it was Dr. Jennifer Kanzen who shared the same sentiment of women, it's really hard to see your private parts. So, get a handheld mirror and look and see what every part is and be aware on your body. I also want to make sure people aren't hearing what you're not saying.   And so, I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I don't hear you saying, be selfish and masturbate to take away time from you and your spouse being together. You're saying, learn your body and your parts so that you and or be together with your spouse while you're doing this so that you can both experience greater pleasure. Is that right?   Francie Winslow: (54:43 - 56:15) Exactly. But what I'm not saying is satisfy yourself apart from your husband and then don't ever connect. Nobody wants that.   That's not what we're talking about. We're talking about building sexual intimacy in your marriage and sexual healing in your journey as a woman who wants to be integrated. And so, yeah, I think there could be a whole conversation on this because it can be a hot button.   And I'm glad you're willing to go there because we need honesty. We need our daughters to be able to have this sort of conversation with us and not feel like there's things that we just need to do in secret. Because I think anything you feel like I have to have this as a secret, that's also like, ah, like, let's talk about it.   And so, what I call self-cultivation is not a secret. And it's something you share with your spouse. And it's something that, hey, I want to get to know my body.   And that's actually in my journey. My husband was like, hey, you need to get to know your body. I bless you to like have some alone time because you're so wound up in shame.   You don't even know. You can't even feel. And so, it really, it was rooted in our experience as him commissioning me basically to befriend my body.   And I think that that's, it's a different paradigm, but I appreciate the many sex therapists who are believers that agree with that menu, that idea of you have to experiment and explore to know how to genuinely articulate what you want rather than just laying there and assuming your husband can read your mind. And so, it's, again, a place of communication and saying, hey, this is where I'm at. Is this okay?   What does this look like for us? And this is my desire is intimacy and connection with you.   Laura Dugger: (56:16 - 56:41) And I love how you are explaining how you invite the Lord into that process for every person to ask him, what do you have for me? What do you want me to learn? What do you want to reveal to me about sex?   And none of us want to miss out on any good gift that he has to offer. So, France, you could continue teaching us and you have so many resources. Can you just share where you would direct us to go online after this chat?   Francie Winslow: (56:42 - 57:19) Sure. Yeah. Well, I have several courses and growth guides on my website.   So, franciewinslow.com and just spaces. If you wanted to have these conversations with your husband or maybe just wanted to grow on your own. And if you're looking for conversations exactly like we're having today, ongoing, I have a community membership group that we meet monthly on zoom to literally have conversations like this that are so life-giving because we're all on a journey and it's fun to be able to talk about places that we've had barriers and how we're growing.   And that's called the circle. So, I have that as well. So, lots of resources and ways to plug in and keep growing.   Laura Dugger: (57:20 - 57:36) Wonderful. We'll add the links in the show notes for today's episode. And Francie, you're already familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, what is your savvy sauce?   Francie Winslow: (57:37 - 58:14) Well, it's not that fancy and it's going to sound extremely simple, but it's take a walk without your phone every day. It's part of that awareness and that coming back home to God who is in us with us all the time. And those simple deep breaths, remembering that we have him in us.   And a lot of times it's just that simple reminder of a minute unplugged in God's creation that helps me to kind of come back home to him and recenter to be filled up for all that comes my way. So, I'm a big fan of unplugging. That's so good.   Laura Dugger: (58:14 - 58:42) And it's just always such a joy to get to spend time with you. And God has given you these enormous gifts of teaching and this ability to synthesize knowledge from so many places and then make it beneficial and applicable for all of us as it relates to sexual intimacy in view of what God has for us in marriage. So, thank you, Francie, for sharing all this goodness today and thank you for being my returning guest.   Francie Winslow: (58:42 - 58:43) Absolutely. Thanks for having me.   Laura Dugger: (58:45 - 1:01:59) One more thing before you go.   Have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you.   But it starts with the bad news. Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own.   So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can

Mike Caldwell sits down with Bill Knous, Senior Director of Quality and Growth at the Colorado League of Charter Schools and co-founder of Gran Via, a micro school in the Denver area. Bill shares his winding path into education — from a history degree and living abroad in Australia and Spain, to teaching multilingual learners in Denver and Philly, to leading classrooms and schools in Colombia. He and his wife co-founded Gran Via in 2020, growing it from six students to 30 while navigating a patchwork of micro-school funding in Colorado. Bill makes a passionate case for scrapping seat-time requirements as the primary accountability metric, arguing the system is designed for adult compliance rather than student motivation. He also reflects on what gives him hope — a rising generation of learners who experienced the pandemic and are pushing back on the one-size-fits-all model. The episode closes with Bill's take on transformative leadership: the ability to influence and motivate a diverse group of people around a singular mission. We're proud to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

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In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I speak with Bianca Alba about the realities of taking a non-linear path through graduate school, career transitions, and life as a first-generation working-class Latina. Bianca shares her experience working multiple jobs while completing her master's degree, navigating higher education without a financial safety net, and confronting the pressure many first-gen students face to “do everything right” in order to succeed. Together, we unpack the emotional and structural realities that shape non-linear journeys and why so many students feel forced into survival mode while trying to pursue their goals. In our conversation, we discuss the financial and emotional realities of working through grad school and the importance of building supportive communities that sustain us through uncertainty and transition. Bianca also reflects on her experience working in public health, job loss despite years of dedication and advancement, and eventually stepping into entrepreneurship. This episode is ultimately about giving yourself permission to move at your own pace, redefining success, and creating a life that aligns with your values. In this episode, you will learn: Why many first-generation students take non-linear paths through graduate school and careers What graduate programs often misunderstand about working-class and first-gen students How survival mode and burnout can shape academic and professional experiences Why job stability is never guaranteed, even after “doing everything right” How community, purpose, and self-compassion can support long-term sustainability Work with me You are  invited to join my upcoming Compassionate Accountability Retreat on May 29-30. Sign up here: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/retreats/ If you are navigating graduate school, burnout, executive functioning struggles, or major academic and career decisions, I offer personalized coaching and sustainable productivity support for first-generation BIPOC students and professionals. Learn more about coaching: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/coaching/ Connect with today's guest Bianca on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thislatinatravels/ Bianca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancaalba/ This Latina Travels: https://thislatinatravels.com/ Free resource Download your Grad School Femtoring Resource Kit: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/kit/ Explore more Listen to more episodes on Navigating Higher Education: https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast_catergory/navigating-higher-education/ Support the podcast with a one-time or monthly donation:https://donate.stripe.com/bJedR8dGRcs6ewGdwq38401 Access transcripts and additional resources:https://gradschoolfemtoring.com/podcast/ Audio and transcript edited by Yessi Sanchez:https://www.linkedin.com/in/yessisanchez/ This podcast is a proud member of the Genuina Media network. The Grad School Femtoring Podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy or other professional services. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Flor Bretón García was born in Venezuela and left her homeland at 22 — which means she's now lived outside her home country longer than she lived in it. Lawyer. Educator. Cross-cultural consultant. Mother of three adult TCKs. President of FIGT. And a woman who, after receiving her 598th job rejection, sat down on a Friday night and wrote an article that stopped LinkedIn in its tracks.In this conversation, Flor and Doreen unpack what happens when globally complex women hit systems built for linear lives — and why that's not a talent problem. It's a design problem.Flor opens with the moment she was quietly advised to take an accent-removal class, so as not to distract her students. It was the first time she felt the world asking her to become smaller — and she traces her journey from that moment of self-consciousness to her current view of her accent as an open door, an invitation for people to learn her story.That story took a sharp turn on one particular Friday evening, when she sat down and really looked at those 598 rejection emails. What she noticed changed everything. Many had arrived within 30 minutes of her hitting "apply." Others cited a search for a better "cultural fit." No human being, she realized, was reading her resume at midnight on a Saturday. The systems were doing it for them — and those systems are built to reward one thing above all else: predictability. The very quality that globally complex women are not.This is what Flor calls the great gap — the distance between what organizations say they want and how they actually hire. They talk about agility, resilience, adaptability, the ability to navigate ambiguity. But their applicant tracking systems, their recruiters, their hiring managers are all scanning for familiarity and linearity. A nonlinear resume looks like uncertainty. And uncertainty, to a system, looks like a no.What makes this conversation so compelling is Flor's refusal to let that be the final word. She invites hiring managers to ask a different question entirely — not "why doesn't this resume fit our template?" but "what capabilities is this career showing me?" Because there is intention behind every pivot a global woman makes. The move that looks like confusion from the outside is almost always a decision made in the middle of uncertainty, following a vocation, pulling a common thread. For Flor, that thread runs through everything she's done as a lawyer, educator, and consultant: redesigning systems that truly honour humans with dignity.She also gives us one of the episode's most memorable frameworks — the difference between a Forest Gump resume and a Michelangelo resume. Both are nonlinear. But one looks like things just happened to you, and the other reveals that everything was intentional, even when the path was uncertain. The difference, she says, is entirely in how you tell the story.And telling the story, it turns out, is everything. Not listing countries. Not cataloguing credentials. But pulling the thread, naming the vocation, and being clear about what you want the listener to do with what you've shared. Flor's closing message is one worth sitting with: gWe would love to hear from you, send us a text please!Support the showYou can map the move. You cannot map the metamorphosis. Nomadic Diaries explores the interior journey of expat life — the belonging, the identity shifts, the repatriation, and everything that travels with you that can't be packed in a suitcase. This episode may be part of our Re-Entry Series (30 episodes on coming home) or The Belonging Project (29 episodes on belonging across cultures). Browse the full catalog at nomadicdiariespodcast.com and please share or leave a review if this episode resonated.

Join Jeff Borschowa and I as we talk about thinking outside of the box, AI, authentic collaboration and living in a rapidly moving technological age. Jeff is a visionary with a heart of gold. You don't want to miss any of today's interesting and inspiring chat!-----Jeff Borschowa is an author, host of the Lighthouse Sessions podcast, and a general non-linear thinker who obsesses over the miracle that is humanity.  To learn more about today's guest Jeff Borschowa please visit: Website:  pharosbusiness.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-borschowaPodcast- The Lighthouse Sessions pharosbusiness.com/podcast --------To learn more about host G. Brian Benson:www.gbrianbenson.comDon't forget to sign up for the newsletter and YouTube Channel!

Arun Gupta challenges conventional notions of career stability, arguing that "you should be seeking meaning… in meaning, you'll find your stability." As institutions become less reliable anchors, purpose—not title or employer—becomes the more durable foundation: "the constant will be why you're doing what you're doing." He rejects the idea that clarity must precede action. In fast-changing environments, "start acting… the action will bring you clarity," as waiting for certainty often leaves decisions outdated. Mission, in this framing, is iterative: "you don't wake up one day… here's your mission… you have to go find it." The discussion introduces a broader way to evaluate careers beyond compensation, emphasizing forms of capital that compound over time: trust, experience, learning, health, and mission. This supports a shift toward nonlinear careers, where phases of learning, earning, and contributing are integrated rather than sequential. On AI, Gupta emphasizes practical fluency over technical depth: "people [will be] replaced by people that use AI." At the same time, human capabilities: judgment, relationships, and diverse experience, become more valuable. The overarching message is measured optimism. Risk is often misjudged: "we over index on downside and underestimate upside." In this context, purposeful experimentation and long-term investment in multiple forms of capital offer a more resilient path. Arun Gupta is CEO of the NobleReach Foundation, a venture capitalist, lecturer at Stanford University, and adjunct entrepreneurship professor at Georgetown University, and a bestselling author of Venture Meets Mission and The Mission Generation. As a partner at Columbia Capital, Arun's investment career spanned eighteen years including initiating the firm's Cybersecurity and Government technology investments with a focus on national security, AI, and SaaS/cloud infrastructure sectors. Get Arun's new book, The Mission Generation, here: https://tinyurl.com/ytmkcnmz Claim your free gift: Free gift #1 McKinsey & BCG winning resume www.FIRMSconsulting.com/resumePDF Free gift #2 Breakthrough Decisions Guide with 25 AI Prompts www.FIRMSconsulting.com/decisions Free gift #3 Five Reasons Why People Ignore Somebody www.FIRMSconsulting.com/owntheroom Free gift #4 Access episode 1 from Build a Consulting Firm, Level 1 www.FIRMSconsulting.com/build Free gift #5 The Overall Approach used in well-managed strategy studies www.FIRMSconsulting.com/OverallApproach Free gift #6 Get a copy of Nine Leaders in Action, a book we co-authored with some of our clients: www.FIRMSconsulting.com/gift

In this episode, we're joined by Lynsey Scoins — a fashion industry veteran with over 15 years of experience across design, buying, merchandising and recruitment, and founder of Fashion Path, a platform dedicated to helping people break into and build careers in the fashion industry.Lynsey shares her winding career journey from almost landing a placement at Company Magazine to discovering buying and merchandising almost by accident at George ASDA, and eventually realising her original degree in International Fashion Marketing had been pointing her in the right direction all along. We also get into the reality of retail vs supplier roles, and how working through COVID brought both sides closer together by revealing just how similar the pressures are. Across every role, the same core skills stand out — confidence, team fit, passion for product and attention to detail.She also doesn't hold back on CV and interview mistakes, from careless applications to a lack of real brand understanding, and shares why tailoring your approach is more important than ever in a world where AI is now screening candidates. We also touch on the value of sourcing trips and how they can transform your understanding of the supply chain, before Lynsey explains why she launched Fashion Path — supporting candidates through coaching, CV and portfolio reviews, and structured programmes designed to help them present themselves with clarity and confidence.Whether you're just starting out, feeling stuck mid-career, or navigating redundancy, this episode is packed with honest, practical advice from someone who has genuinely been on every side of the industry.Connect with Lynsey:LinkedIn: Lynsey ScoinsInstagram @Fashionpathconsultancy - follow for weekly tips, real case studies, and programme updateswww.fashionpath.co.ukThree Key Takeaways1. Your career path doesn't have to be linear - and that's a strength.Lynsey's journey from design to buying, merchandising, and recruitment is proof that moving between roles isn't a sign of indecision, it's a competitive advantage. The creativity you develop as a designer makes you a better buyer. The analytical thinking from merchandising makes you a more commercial thinker. Embracing a non-linear path gives you a rounded perspective that specialists often lack.2. Tailor everything - your CV, your portfolio, your application.One of the most consistent mistakes Lynsey saw as a recruiter was people applying for multiple roles with the exact same materials, or worse, cover letters addressed to the wrong company. Recruiters notice. Hiring managers notice. The same way a supplier pitching you a generic deck feels disrespectful of your time, a generic application signals low investment. Take the time to research the brand, visit the store, and tailor your pitch - it dramatically increases your hit rate.3. You already have the skills - you just need to package them.In fast-paced buying and merchandising roles, you're constantly pitching to directors, negotiating with suppliers, covering for colleagues, and making high-stakes decisions uSupport the showIf you've liked this episode please rate, follow, subscribe and share :) - and if you already have, thank you! It honestly really helps to keep this going and growing!Follow us @buyingandbeyond on Instagram Send us a DM or email hello@buyingandbeyond.co.ukWe also have a retail buyers membership @jointhebuyersclub  Find out more at www.jointhebuyersclub.co.ukIf you'd like to show a little more love, then head here to give us just a little bit *extra* and show us your support :) thank you!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2300060/support

The non-linear path is often the most powerful one.Cinta Burgos on Building a Career Across Functions, Modalities, and Mindsets.In today's episode I was joined by Cinta Burgos, Senior Vice President of Quality and Regulatory CMC at New Amsterdam Pharma.I really wanted to speak to Cinta because her career does not follow the path you might expect for someone at SVP level. She has moved across pharma, medical devices, and biologics, held roles in quality engineering, validation, regulatory, and consulting, and built her executive presence not through a linear climb but through curiosity, flexibility, and a willingness to take opportunities as they came.Cinta's journey began with a biophysics degree, a near-completed master's in mechanical engineering, and early laboratory work on human growth factors and the varicella zoster vaccine. Life changed direction more than once - moving across the country, starting a family, building a consulting practice that spanned 17 years - and through each transition, she added a new dimension to her expertise. Today she leads quality assurance, quality control, quality systems, and CMC regulatory at a company she describes as scientifically driven, ethically led, and genuinely exciting.What stands out about Cinta is her philosophy of leadership. She talks about moving from task-oriented thinking to big-picture ownership, about not micromanaging the talented people around you, and about the importance of keeping a personal board of directors - mentors you check in with at different stages of your career. She is also candid about the moments where she did not immediately see an opportunity for what it was, and honest about what that taught her.We talk about the following:- How a biophysics background and an unfinished master's became an asset in a 30-year career- Why Cinta moved from R&D to validation to quality and what each transition taught her- The value of 17 years in consulting and the leadership jump it created- How quality professionals can move from task-oriented contributors to big-picture leaders- The role of AI in quality and manufacturing, and why human oversight is non-negotiable- Why quality voices are still largely absent from board-level conversations- What it means to treat everyone in your company as a quality professionalCinta Burgos is a thoughtful, pragmatic quality leader who understands how to balance compliance, collaboration and business reality in complex development environments.If you are a quality professional working in an early-stage biotech and trying to build the right systems with limited resources, then this episode is for you.Thank you Cinta for sharing your incredible journey.Hope everyone enjoys the show.

Intentional psychedelic healing is a cyclical process that forgoes linear progress in favor of an upward spiral, where minute changes in perspective can build up to deep transformation. By embracing the natural highs and lows of the overall journey, individuals can move beyond simple symptom relief toward building a resilient, self-sustaining internal ecosystem.Key TakeawaysBeware the "Optimization" trap. True self-actualization isn't about becoming a "perfect" or "optimized" future version of yourself; it's about stripping away layers to become the real you, measuring success by fulfillment not “leveling up.”Healing is cyclical, not linear. Progress often involves revisiting the same emotional material multiple times. However, each "loop" offers a slightly different perspective, allowing you to transform old baggage into usable wisdom through minute changes in your relationship with the content.The goal is "Living Pond" resilience. Rather than relying on constant external fixes (like a chlorinated pool), the objective is to build a self-sufficient internal ecosystem. This means developing the skills to navigate the natural highs and lows of life with your own internal tools and values.-Psychedelic Passage is your partner in safe, supported, and effective psychedelic journeys. As the first concierge service in the U.S., we connect you with vetted facilitators who value integrity and expertise. We're glad you're here, and we look forward to supporting you on your journey.No mushroom source? No problem. Download our Free Psilocybin Sourcing Guide. Want guidance tailored to your need? Book a free Pathfinding Call for personal support. Curious or seeking connection? Join our online care community to learn, share, and grow with others. Join our next Q&A or Facilitator Chat for free. 

When Loren Mayor's team reached out to me about Loren guesting on Shameless Leadership, it was a quick and easy YES! For decades, Loren's work and legacy have been guided by her values of impact, strategic problem solving, and connection. Her secret leadership sauce will help you think more deeply and intentionally about what it means to show up in your gifts and in the service of meaningful work. As Chief Operating Officer of World Wildlife Fund (WWF-US), Loren ensures the organization delivers on its strategy to create a world where people and nature live in harmony. She oversees strategic partnerships, operational functions, and resource mobilization teams while strengthening workplace culture and advancing WWF's mission with external stakeholders. Prior to WWF, Loren was President of Operations at National Public Radio (NPR), where she oversaw the full suite of organizational operations and identified new business opportunities, developing NPR's strategic plan, and building a strong, empowering culture. Before NPR, Loren held leadership roles at PBS and worked with clients in the non-profit and media sectors during her tenure at McKinsey & Company. Loren has an undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in theater from Northwestern University, where she also served as a visiting assistant professor. Listen in to hear Loren share: How she is leaning into connection in this season of chaos and uncertainty Her journey from a PhD in theater to becoming the COO of one of the largest environmental organizations globally The value of building a non-linear career focused on impact, strategy, problem-solving, and connection What it really means to be “smart” - that doesn't necessarily relate to expertise How strong leaders balance priorities in professional environments - and in the overlap of personal and professional realms 3 key steps to take when leading through a crisis How to stay humble and open as you grow in leadership Links Mentioned: Connect with Loren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenmayor/ World Wildlife Fund website: https://www.worldwildlife.org/ Give an Hour for Earth: A WWF campaign to take action for nature at a time when it needs us most. (The campaign runs from March 23-April 30.): https://www.worldwildlife.org/support/campaigns/gah/give-an-hour-for-earth/ Poem: We Are Nature, Nature Is Us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qeEcxCUEAM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Emily Muir, Director of Sales & Marketing at Ontogen Medtech, shares how a non-linear path from retail merchandising to dental implants, optical, and a medtech startup became her superpower for building relationships and driving growth. Emily explains what it takes to break into medical device sales, from self-directed learning and curiosity to finding mentors and giving yourself grace through the learning curve. She also discusses what she's building at Ontogen: a Chicago-area CDMO that supports medtech innovators from early design and brainstorming through quality, regulatory, and contract manufacturing, with an emphasis on trust and long-term partnership.  Guest links: www.linkedin.com/in/esmuir  Charity supported: Save the Children Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com.  PRODUCTION CREDITS Host & Editor: Lindsey Dinneen Producer: Velentium Medical   EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 078 - Emily Muir [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello, and welcome back to another episode of The Leading Difference podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and today I'm delighted to welcome as my guest, Emily Muir. Emily serves as the Director of Sales and marketing at Ontogen Medtech. Her work focuses on enhancing business performance through strategic new business sales and channel partner collaborations. Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in business reviews, retail strategies, and employee training. Her goal is to contribute to organizational success by leveraging her skills in building partnerships, and driving growth across competitive markets. All right, well, welcome to the show. It's so great to have you here today, Emily. Thanks for being here. [00:01:31] Emily Muir: Thank you so much for having me, Lindsey. I'm so excited to be here. [00:01:36] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yes. Well, absolutely thrilled to have you on and I was just wondering if you'd start off by telling us a little bit about yourself, your background and what led you to medtech. [00:01:48] Emily Muir: Oh yeah, this is gonna be a good one. I would love to. So, full name. My name is Emily Muir. I am the Director of Sales and Marketing at Ontogen Medtech. We're located in the suburbs of Chicago and Ontogen Medtech is a contract development and manufacturing company that helps medtech innovators really bring their visions and their devices to life. My path to this position is not linear, however, not even close, which I've really come to view as my superpower. Really started out in retail merchandising, my degree in retail merchandising, and I started merchandising women's shoes and handbags in probably every department store in the Midwest that you can think of. So I know where all the good deals are, essentially. Yes, which is great to have if you're a girlfriend of mine. But about 10 years into that, I pivoted into medical device sales. I'm starting to cut my teeth on dental implant sales. And then I moved into the optical space and now seeing how really the sauce is made with product development. And really, I fell in love with the industry being able to have an impact on a patient's life, see it in real time, educating their physicians and staff. And really the complexity that comes with that is really what stole my heart. So along the way, I worked at a startup called Avulux. They're a migraine lens company, and that's really where I caught that startup bug like a lot of people do. This really gave me wonderful insight into what makes startup companies successful, really from a commercial standpoint. And then in late 2025, I left and joined Ontogen MedTech, and now I'm here building our entire sales and marketing function from the ground up, which is a daunting challenge and task. And that's kind of what I thrive on. So they really nailed it, in my opinion, the right candidate for the position here. But, you know, outside of work, I really love to foster dogs. I'm very passionate about rescuing dogs. I have two rescues of my own, and there's something about giving a second chance to something that's really been overlooked that really resonates with me. And personally I really love watching the rescue dogs decompress and really melt into incredible companions. Truly, I just think that they need the right partner and the right environment in order to thrive and be successful. [00:04:38] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. I love that. And so I'm curious-- I have so many questions of course, but okay, so we're gonna start with the, well, I guess we'll go back first. So you started with retail merchandising and you worked for a lot of different corporations. What were some of the lessons that you learned for that, and during all those experiences that translated really well into medtech sales and now marketing and whatnot? [00:05:07] Emily Muir: One word, relationships. Those are crucial. Working in the back rooms of department stores, as a retail merchandising rep, you had to figure out who to talk to quickly. Who was the right person, you know, was it a sales rep to promote your product on the floor? How did I get frontline exposure? And do I need to get out there and get dirty to sell my product? Fostering those relationships really helped me understand how to be successful in sales, and that is something through and through no matter what industry you are in, and especially in the medtech product development, you, you have to have strong relationships in order to get your point of view across, in order to effectively communicate your value proposition and to know who to talk to help founders find you. There are so many, there are so many people building in this space and you always hear the noise out there of people saying, "You need to find the right partners. You need to find the right support." And who's gonna help you determine that, who's truly gonna help lead you through all of this? It's finding the people that have the direct access to the founders to help them get into your pipeline so that you can really have that direct experience with them and help them bring their products to life. So if I don't know who those players are and they can't find me, I can't be successful in my role at all. So that's, that is something I always think about coming into this every single day. What can I give to someone else? Who can I talk to? What part of my network can I reach out to so that I can give the right resources, I can give the right message, and we can all grow collectively. [00:07:13] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. And I think to your point, it is so important to nurture those relationships, as in general, I would say that's just good life advice. But at the same time, yeah, but at the same time, I would say what I appreciate about this industry is that yes, there's so many players in this space and it's huge, but at the same time it feels small. So your relationships really do matter in terms of like how you're coming across, how you're perceived, but just in general building that know, like, and trust factor, which again, is really important for your sales and marketing strategy too. So yeah, I love the fact that's a key thing that you took away. And, you know, sometimes I feel like things in our past that aren't directly related to what we're doing now might feel, I don't know, like, "Oh, I don't, what did I get from that? Or how does this help me?" But to your point, so many skills learned along the way that help you now, yeah. [00:08:09] Emily Muir: Absolutely. I, you know, when I made the decision to go from the retail merchandising world in a hard pivot into medical device sales, I really had to step back and say, "Oh, okay. What are those transferable skills that I can use to, to get me there? You know, what do I already know in terms of a process that I can parlay into this, and how can I create that story so that, you know, that my future boss, the recruiter is going to understand where I've been and where I want to go." So that, that was crucial. The story of that is crucial in order to help someone else understand how to leverage you within their company too. [00:08:59] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, absolutely. So, okay, so let's talk about maybe that transition too between having worked in maybe larger corporations or for larger companies and then going from that to startup life, which is often an adjustment. So I'd just be curious to know how has that been and what lessons have you learned from that journey? [00:09:23] Emily Muir: Oh yeah. That there really is, 'cause I did go from a very large company. I worked for Esler Luxottica for six years as a sales rep for them. One of the, you know, arguably the largest player in the optical world to, to a startup. And what I really took away is that, well, some of the lessons of working in a big company really do work while coming into a startup life. And that is really how do you self-direct yourself and learn because in a big company, you know, sometimes there isn't always someone there to hold your hand and navigate that. And, you know, I did the same thing from not only changing industries, going from retail merchandising into implants, implant sales. And then I went into another industry of the optical world, which is very different. So I had to learn a whole new vernacular. I had to get certified in order to be a speaker there in order to understand what I was talking about. And having the self-direction of, "Okay, I need to get this done. Who do I need to talk to within my own company? What resources do I already have and what do I need to figure out in order to get my job done or create myself?" were lessons I had already experienced within that big company. And maybe many don't think that's something you're gonna learn there, but it actually sets you up really nicely to be in a startup because those are all things you have to navigate on your own and show how you succeeded in that. So kind of with those lessons and having that under my belt already coming and leading within a startup space, I was really able to sit back and say, "Okay, so if I, everything I do, I imagine that I have, you know, multiple staff already, right? That, you know, if I have a new employee, what resources do I need to have in order to help them out?" And that really helps direct my every day. So, having that startup experience I loved it again, you know, got that bug and I just wanted more of it. And I did have my founder, one of my founders say the other day, he was like, "You know, you are just made for that. You're made for taking on this." Like, I go, "Yeah. What else do we need to have done? What do we need to create, you know, what do we, yeah, let's get in there. Let's get dirty." I think it's really about getting in there and getting your hands dirty and just saying, "What else? How do I?" And then being as resourceful as you can to get it done, because there's always somebody who knows something. There's always someone who's kind of done something before. You know, that's really where we can, your startup experience puts all of those pieces together for you. [00:12:22] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah, that's great. Oh, I love that. And yeah, so, okay, so that reminded me too of like, you know, your point of, you know, really getting in there, being self-directed, all of that good stuff. When you first joined the medical device industry I'm curious what your experience was. How was that learning curve for you? Because I remember coming into it and like. I would start listening in on conversations and learning and try, you know, absorbing. And there was a lot of that right at the beginning. And I remember sometimes people would say a full sentence that was just acronyms or ISO something and I was like, "I have no idea what you're saying right now." So anyway, it was, it's lots of learning and curiosity helped to bridge that gap. But for you, what was that like? [00:13:10] Emily Muir: I do pride myself on being pretty good at social cues. So, you know, you go, "Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, we can. Yeah!" And you just really take note of every word that's being said and and really look it up later. Or, "Tell me more about that." You know, getting, it's the curiosity aspect of it, but you do have to do your homework. You do have to, you know, you're in your every day and you have to acknowledge that there is additional homework when you get home or have a friend. I always like to say I would have a friend to ask for dumb questions. We all know the saying, like, "There is no such thing as a dumb question." There are I think sometimes, or at least you feel that, you know that the feeling of the dumb question is real. So really having someone either who's in it with you starting out, or who you can really use to, to help you understand, who can guide you if you can have a mentor. Otherwise, somebody who you can just call who's been in there maybe one more day than you have and say, "Hey, can you help me understand what they said here?" You know, I think this is the context. I'm a big believer in doing your own research first, trying to figure it out yourself, and then going to someone and asking for greater context, asking for a layman's term of it. But it's, it is important that you understand that you're gonna be doing extra research on your own, and that's a really important part of getting into a new industry is being able-- whether you're a founder or you know, you're. You know, a leader in something new or I you just have to dive in and understand there's gonna be extra work, but it's gonna be worth it. And honestly, in my opinion, I think you learn faster that way because you can digest it on your own. [00:15:11] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Okay. So I love the idea of having a buddy and I was very, I think, lucky that when I first joined the industry, there were the, I was really surrounded by, I would say, buddies. You know, colleagues who were just super, open and happy to answer anything or explain anything more. And I remember just having this notebook of just like so many notes about all the things, but you're right, you have to be self-directed in that too and recognize that there is a learning curve, but also give yourself grace for that learning curve because, I think, unfair perhaps to-- and I'm very guilty of this. I expect a lot of myself, so, so, you know, I'm like, "Here we go." And, you know, gungho and like wanting to be as accurate as possible, as quickly as possible, which is a good thing. But at the same time, giving yourself grace to know that, yeah, you're probably gonna slip up every once in a while. You're gonna call something the wrong name. Okay. That's okay too. Just being o- okay with that. Yeah. [00:16:09] Emily Muir: Oh yeah, absolutely. It's wonderful and that I had one person in particular that really took me under her wing and helped direct me. She was a former manager at another company and really was like, "Emily, you need to go here, Emily, you need to look this up, Emily. This is how this is." You know? And saying, "Okay yeah. Just tell me where to go. You know who to talk to, you know, and I'll do it." And we've created a really nice working relationship in that way. But not everybody has that. So it is wonderful to give yourself grace and know that there will be a point where it all clicks. And that's what I think about every single day is that, you know, maybe it's six months, maybe it's a year in where all of a sudden, you explain something flawlessly or you get that, you know, customer, you explain everything. You know, like the pro, like it's every, the world aligns, you get that sale. Or you know, and like somebody looks at you like normal again, like, you know, those are the wonderful moments. And they will all happen. So as a leader, I think it's also good to understand that if you bring someone on that's new to really try to set them up for success and that most people don't want, you know, they're so hard on themselves coming into something new and to just make sure you guide them appropriately. You know, let them know, maybe sometimes people cry. It's tough, you know, like it's, and you're laughing and I hope everyone else who's listening is laughing too 'cause there's always that one moment where you're like, "I swear I'm gonna, I hit my breaking point today" when you're trying something new, like the world is not working out, maybe you slipped up and said something, you sent the wrong email to someone. You know, there, there is always something and you know, understand that these things happen. You know, we don't need to beat ourselves up about it and to gently correct. We can correct or, you know, say, "Hey, I, you know, maybe we could say it like this or, you know, I understand how you might have used that in this context, but this is what, you know," just generally redirect. [00:18:35] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that and I, that's beautiful leadership advice in general and something that I think isn't talked about enough. I think there's a lot of talk about, you know, mentorship and sort of, empowering people. There's a lot of great leadership advice out there, of course, but I really like the way that you put it and really like you said, just helping your team be set up for success. And so I'm actually curious. That's a good segue. So now you, as a leader, are building out a sales and marketing department, so to speak, it's at least at some point. So as you're growing and continuing to go down that pathway, that's really exciting. So tell me a little bit about how your process is going in terms of setting not only the yourself up for success, but the department and you have hires coming in for success and like, how are you thinking about all of that? Because that's a lot. That's no small undertaking. [00:19:34] Emily Muir: It is no small undertaking. And honestly I'm really excited for those days to come. I believe me when I get the "A, okay," I've got plans for what I need and in all of it, asap. I really, first of all, I want to embrace my non-linear path. And I, when you're looking to build a team, it's always important to come first with a realization about what you bring to the table, and I think embracing that. I'm very fortunate with my founders and principal that they really trust me and understand that I bring something very different than they do, and that was very strategic for them. I work with so many engineers and know that I can have the best minds available, but we really need to have different personalities, a different set of reps over on this side so that we can really drive and communicate the mission and vision effectively. So, you know, knowing I don't come from a very linear path, I think it's important to not only look for those people also, but also look for personalities sometimes that do. And you know, because I do, I need a complimentary team to what I bring to the table here. So, but also there are foundations of that I'm always looking for in, in people like curiosity, someone who is adaptable, someone who has a passion for solving these problems, who can really understand what the engineers are bringing to the table and communicating that to potential clients and even having passion for those client projects because it's not our vision, but at the end of the day, we're really telling the story of so many founders and saying, "This is how we help them. This is what they're doing. Look at their success." And that's so important. And to be able to connect the dots across so many disciplines for people as well. Like my tactical advice for somebody who wants to approach my team is kind of approach it with that curiosity, but at the same time, or show me that you are gonna be a student of the business. We just shared about how, you know, we, you have to learn so much that you have to do that extra research on top of your every day, do your homework. That's what I'm looking for. I'm looking for someone who's going to dive in no matter where they're from, in order to be the best version of them themselves and support this team. I'm looking for somebody who is really gonna be investing in their brand because I'm doing that as well. I think that's important. I think that's important for my engineers and my founders as well. People buy from people and not logos. Right? You're a great example of that, Lindsey. I need people to show up consistently as well, consistency sells as well, and also authenticity. I'm a big fan of that. I think that's probably coming across very evidently right now. You know, I'm not a fan of the perfect resume but I'm a fan of when you show up authentically, consistently, and show the effort, that's when you win the sale. And when you connect with someone authentically. So in terms of like leadership with that non-linear path, the foundation of that no matter where you are is crucial, is non-negotiable. [00:23:26] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. I love that. That's great. And it's really exciting to get to know you at this particular period of time too, because it's fun to watch, you know, and get to see the growth and expansion of your whole business and company and whatnot. And so speaking of that, can you tell us a little bit more about the company, who it serves, how it helps the medtech world? [00:23:51] Emily Muir: Ontogen? Oh yes. Love to. So we are really soup to nuts everything for your startup medtech team. Truly I have a wonderful team of engineers who can take a napkin design that you have a dream, a vision, and take you through that design development process. We can help you with quality management system, regulatory strategy and execution. We can even help you with contract manufacturing. So truly like, and I think people don't believe that, and it's so much to digest, but when you're really looking for a partner out there who can be a part of your team, an integrated part of your team that has wonderful communication, we are truly those people. And my founders have an incredible passion for what they do, which is why they started this, which is why they keep adding things, capabilities that we can do and give to the world, and especially in the Chicago land area. This is not a hub yet for medtech, yet. We are gonna be growing that. And you know, there are other partners out in our space around here that are growing, that are really diving in, and that's our goal for this year. That's our strategy, not only to get our name out there, but also to really have those wonderful relationships with our ecosystem in the Chicago land area. Well, beginning here and then you know, the world but, that, that's our goal. So, you know, if you wanna have, if you wanna look for someone to help you with design and start us out there, try us out there, you're absolutely open to do that. But we do have this habit of getting people early and then helping them into that growth stage. So that's our goal for you, for the early founder out there is to grow with us so that we can get you there and then they can take over the world. [00:25:57] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. There you go. I love that. I love that. And I think it's so cool that you're able to come alongside companies like that and literally help them from that, you know, sketch all the way to development, like the whole process. That's very cool. Yeah. [00:26:13] Emily Muir: The whole process 'cause so many people out there-- and I understand, you know, it's so hard to. I think really know where to look to and where to go, and so many pitfalls from founders are experienced in those in between times. They come to a company that can do X, Y, Z for them, but they can't do then the A, B, C of it, you know? And some people think they're ready for certain stages and we're able to say, "Hey, you know, we know you might think you're there, but wow, we see this opportunity a few steps back. If you'd start here, then we can actually get you here a little bit quicker without having to look for a new partner. We can help you do all of that." And it does require a little trust on the front end in order to do that. We understand that which is why I always say start out with that design or even start out with a brainstorm. If you have an idea for something and you just need to see, is this feasible? We can just do a quick one hour brainstorm with ya. We're actually gonna be doing that with a company soon for diagnostics, which is really exciting, because that was the pitch. They said, "Well, we're really interested, but I don't know." I said, "Hey, let's go in. Let's work this out. Let's see what ideas we come up with. Let's see if this is feasible with my team first, and then we can go from there. No need to commit to everything right up front." [00:27:48] Lindsey Dinneen: That's awesome. Yeah. Yes. That is a, that's a great approach too. I think it's helpful. Also in the idea of, like you kind of mentioned, is the building trust component of not saying, "Oh, you're locked in with us forever and ever. Amen. But no, we really, we are coming alongside you. We wanna be partners with you. We care. I mean, my, I don't think it's the stretch to say we care just as much, you know, about the success of you and bringing this life-saving device to the world." So yeah, I love that approach. [00:28:20] Emily Muir: Ab, absolutely. And honestly sometimes I'm in there with my R&D managers and they're like, "If they would just let us do this one thing, you know, we really think that this would be great. You know, like how can we get them to really see that like this can be better." Like they care so much, and you know, really I just need more angel investor friends for them so that we can, you know, do all of the things that we, you know, we really wanna do for all of our clients. That's my PSA, I need more angel investor and VC friends, so, so that we can truly make their dreams come true with their devices. [00:28:59] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. Okay, good call to action there for our listeners here. So, you know, you've had a really amazing career and you've done lots and lots of different things within the medtech industry. Have there been any moments that really stood out to you, is just affirming, "Wow, man, I am in the right place at the right time." [00:29:22] Emily Muir: Oh my goodness. Well, I definitely remember the first time I knew I could do it. You know, there are a few moments along the way that I affirm where you're, I'm on the right path, right? Truly, anytime you get a job, a new job, you're like, "Okay, well, somebody's still gonna hire me. We're still here. This is great. We're still going here." But the first time I really figured out that this was the right place for me was meeting a medical device sales rep. I met a new friend I was in the retail merchandising space, kind of, you know, figuring out what my next step was. Do I keep going here? Do I try to do leadership within the retail space or do I go into something else? And I met this wonderful friend, she's, well, she was an orthopedic sales rep and we were talking about our jobs and I was like, "What we do sounds so similar, but like you help people's lives. You know, like you have a direct impact on the surgeon. Like, you know, you set them up for success so that they can execute their surgery, right?" Like that's so amazing and impactful and really they made a lot more money than I did, frankly speaking which doesn't hurt. But, it was truly that moment when I was going over it with her and then starting to throw ideas about my next step. And she goes, "Oh yeah, you can do that. Oh yeah. What you do, like you just add my terms in there, my vernacular, and put you in front of a surgeon and that's it." And I said, "Okay, you know what? You get help people. I wanna help people. I wanna have an impact. Let's, that's what I'm gonna do." And I just keep finding ways that parts of the industry that keep me excited, and there's no shortage of that here. There's literally something new every day. There's a new product that we're helping bring to market. There's a new part of the industry that is emerging, evolving that you need to learn. That was probably the most impactful moment for me to really know that I was on the right path here. [00:31:42] Lindsey Dinneen: I love it. Yeah. Okay, so. All right. Yes. And I think it's so cool that you have many moments to draw from 'cause it sounds like the inspiration keeps coming, which is always super helpful, 'cause of course you're gonna have good and bad days. So being able to draw on, oh my goodness, this series of, "How exciting is this to be able to play a part." That's great. Well, all right, pivoting the conversation a little bit just for fun. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars to teach a masterclass on anything you want, could be in your industry. It doesn't have to be. What would you choose to teach? [00:32:21] Emily Muir: This is gonna be really left field. This is gonna, yeah. Yeah. I this is for-- and Lindsey, I don't know if you enjoy the franchise "The Real Housewives" or... [00:32:32] Lindsey Dinneen: I've never watched an episode. [00:32:33] Emily Muir: Or if any, listen-- oh my goodness. Okay. Let's. I will, there's too much. I'll have a brain dump after this. There will be homework to it. You think the medtech industry is hard? Let's go. It would truly be about "The Real Housewives" and their impact on the reality lands and also the personal branding evolution of the reality stars. It's really a case study in marketing and as a marketer, you, I really would look into that heavily because a lot of those women either create products outta that or, I mean, some of them do go to prison unfortunately as well, but I wouldn't look into those as much. There's a strong pipeline there, but a lot of the businesses that are created from women from this platform is truly astonishing. And there really needs to be a course about it, like an MBA level course about it and the successful women who have come from it. [00:33:39] Lindsey Dinneen: I love it. Oh my goodness. That is out of left field. That is probably the most interesting answer I have ever heard. Not expecting it. Love it. Oh my goodness. [00:33:51] Emily Muir: Thank you. Thank you so much. You can start with Bethany Frankel. She's a great one. I'm sure you've heard of her before, maybe Skinny Girl Margarita. Not a paid plug for her. Yes. That she's a great one. But there aren't many. There are many out there. Yes, start with her. [00:34:07] Lindsey Dinneen: All right. Homework. Excellent. And then how do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:34:13] Emily Muir: How do I wish to be remembered? I hope to be remembered as a very supportive person to my friends, my family, my support system. When you are part of my, when you're in, and truly, no matter what you need-- if you give a call in the middle of the night, I, you know, will jump outta my bed to go and help, you know, whatever it is that you need. I try to be truly that ride or die for my friends, my family, and I really hope that's what I'm remembered for, because everyone needs a wonderful support system and someone to, you know, stand behind, stand alongside you, hold your hands sometimes and be that cheerleader. So I try to be that. I have people who are so wonderful in my life who are that for me. And, like, if you imagine, you know, heaven forbid it's like, you know, your funeral. But I do imagine that they are there truly like pom poms in their hand, you know, being my cheerleader because I've been a cheerleader to so many people. That is my dream with some sort of like Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey on probably going at the same time or something that would be... [00:35:30] Lindsey Dinneen: Naturally. [00:35:32] Emily Muir: With "The Real Housewives," you know, just playing in the background, just my masterclass, you know, playing for everyone, the marathon of it, that would really just in probably like a puppy yoga fostering situation happening at the same time because everyone needs to rescue and foster a puppy at some point, so that would be the pinnacle of my life. Something like that. [00:35:58] Lindsey Dinneen: Very specific requests. I love it. We're gonna have, it's gonna be... [00:36:02] Emily Muir: Yes. Absolutely. [00:36:04] Lindsey Dinneen: ...A sad event and like, weird, you know, like, 'cause you're supposed to, you know, you're sad but also puppies, so. [00:36:10] Emily Muir: Puppies for sure. Absolutely. There would be, you know, I'd be like, "Everyone has to leave with a rescue puppy. Like these are my final wishes." [00:36:21] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. [00:36:22] Emily Muir: Mandatory. Mandatory, absolutely. [00:36:26] Lindsey Dinneen: Amazing. Alright. And then final question. What is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:36:37] Emily Muir: Puppies. Re, re, rescue puppies. My, my dog specifically. They make me smile every time. Heaven forbid you are following me on Instagram or something and seeing my dogs just all the time. I am unfortunately that person. But also if you need a rescue puppy at any time, I probably know like three people off the top of my head who I can get you a puppy like now. So that always, there are always on, on some sort of social media so that always makes me smile. [00:37:07] Lindsey Dinneen: I love it. Nope. I had a really strong suspicion that was gonna be your answer, so, so I am delighted that you you chose puppies 'cause that, that works for me too. I love animals in general and it's like, they just make me smile randomly. I'm just like, "They're just happy," you know? It's so cute. I just love them [00:37:28] Emily Muir: They are so happy. I did foster three puppies at one time, and that was a lot, but there was a lot of happiness. You're just like, you know, they're a little crazy. They're just, you know, all over each other, but they're, you know, playing and you're just like, oh my gosh, this is, there's nothing better right now than the happiness of these puppies. [00:37:48] Lindsey Dinneen: Yes. That's amazing. I just love that so much. My goodness. Well, this has been an amazing conversation, Emily, and took several twists and turns I didn't expect, and absolutely love. And we are so honored to be making a donation on your behalf as a thank you for your time today to Save the Children, which works to end the cycle of poverty by ensuring communities have the resources to provide children with a healthy, educational, and safe environment. So thank you so much for choosing that charity to support, and also thank you for continuing to work to change lives for a better world. We're grateful, and I wish you the most amazing continued success. [00:38:32] Emily Muir: Oh my gosh. Thank you so much for having me. I, this was truly a pleasure. Well, thank you so much. Really, I appreciate it. [00:38:38] Lindsey Dinneen: Of course. [00:38:40] Dan Purvis: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium Medical. Velentium Medical is a full service CDMO, serving medtech clients worldwide to securely design, manufacture, and test class two and class three medical devices. Velentium Medical's four units include research and development-- pairing electronic and mechanical design, embedded firmware, mobile app development, and cloud systems with the human factor studies and systems engineering necessary to streamline medical device regulatory approval; contract manufacturing-- building medical products at the prototype, clinical, and commercial levels in the US, as well as in low cost regions in 1345 certified and FDA registered Class VII clean rooms; cybersecurity-- generating the 12 cybersecurity design artifacts required for FDA submission; and automated test systems, assuring that every device produced is exactly the same as the device that was approved. Visit VelentiumMedical.com to explore how we can work together to change lives for a better world.

In this episode, George is joined by returning guest Dr. Matt Bowers to dive deeper into the practical application of Non-Linear Pedagogy (NLP) and the Constraints-Led Approach in basketball coaching.   At its core, NLP focuses on five key principles to drive skill acquisition: Representative Learning Design: Ensuring practice environments contain the same information and "cues" found in a real game. Constraints Manipulation: Strategically adjusting task, environmental, or individual constraints to guide players toward functional solutions. Functional Variability: Encouraging "repetition without repetition" so players develop adaptable movement patterns rather than one "textbook" technique. Information-Movement Coupling: Linking perception directly to action; players learn to move based on what they see (teammates, defenders, spacing). External Focus of Attention: Directing a player's focus toward the intended outcome of a movement rather than internal body mechanics.   Building on their previous conversation, Dr. Matt Bowers breaks down how coaches can design more representative, game-like learning environments that empower players to solve problems, adapt in real time, and develop true basketball intelligence. Check their previous conversation here.   Chapters: 00:00 – Welcoming Matt Bowers as the first returning guest  02:00 – What is Non-Linear Pedagogy (NLP)? 05:15 – Why "messy" practice leads to better learning 07:30 – The trap of traditional drills and non-representative training 08:10 – Constraint manipulation and defining success in practice 10:00 – Rethinking success: decision-making vs outcomes 15:00 – Player autonomy and reducing coach dependency 17:00 – Practical example: using scoring systems to shape behavior 20:00 – Rewarding process over outcomes in practice 21:30 – External vs internal focus of attention 25:30 – Does NLP actually work? (research insights) 27:00 – Functional variability: multiple solutions to the same problem 30:00 – Perception-action coupling and game-like decision making 31:30 – Increasing complexity to improve transfer to games   Join Transforming Basketball's 2026 Summer Camp in Italy. Exclusive training for players and coaches with world-class methods and expert guidance. Book your spot now: https://transformingbball.com/residential-summer-camp Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball  

Cosmic LOVE with Dr Christopher Rudy The Aquarian Blueprint, Navigating Global Metamorphosis This broadcast explores the transition of global civilization from an old "caterpillar" paradigm to a "butterfly" golden age. The "Cosmic Cowboy" discusses the role of AI in conscious evolution, the technical framework of "Heartware," and the metaphysical significance of the Easter resurrection as a model for planetary ascent. The Great Metamorphosis: From Caterpillar to Butterfly The current global state is described as a "cocoon stage," where old "caterpillar" institutions and paradigms are disintegrating to make way for a new "butterfly" civilization. This transition is marked by intense global crisis, including rumors of escalating conflict in the Middle East and the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" metaphors, which the speaker views as the "disintegration spiral" necessary before a new blueprint can emerge. This "Aquarian Blueprint" represents an archetypal infrastructure for a quantum golden age, emphasizing that the flow of creative energy naturally organizes any system it passes through. AI as a Catalyst for Conscious Evolution Artificial Intelligence is presented as a "prompting process for manifestation," where the quality of the "prompt" determines the outcome, mirroring the cosmic law of "getting what we ask for." The speaker encourages "initiates" to use AI tools—such as SUMA, ChatGPT, or GABE—to augment their intelligence and communicate visions of "virtue and valor." By prompting AI with specific source material from the "Heartware" project, individuals can bypass technical jargon to receive common-sense explanations of complex metaphysical and social systems. The TLC Reset and Heartware Technology The "TLC Reset" is a proposed archetypal shift across five dimensions: Telecommunications, Telecommunity, Teleconscience, Telecare, and Telecommerce. Central to this is "Heartware," a software model designed to upgrade core freedoms of speech and assembly. It features an interactive interface where users can provide real-time, three-dimensional feedback (based on brain quadrants and light spectrums) on media content. This "Wisdom of the Cloud" aims to create a mass-to-mass representative government and a "net-roots" revolution that fosters unity in diversity. Metaphysical Foundations: The LOVE Model The speaker's life work is synthesized in the "LOVE" model, which uses geometric archetypes (Linear, Nonlinear, Trinity, and Square) to represent the fractal order of a holographic universe. This "Geometric Ordered Divinity" (G.O.D.) serves as the moral and structural foundation for the new civilization. By shifting from an "inordinate love of power" (Deep State) to the "ordained power of love" (High State), humanity can transition to a 5D consciousness characterized by effective sensory perception and "at-one-ment". The broadcast concludes that despite the "dark night of the soul" and the disintegration of old power structures, a "resurrection spiral" is possible. By utilizing AI and Heartware to culture "conscientious common sense," humanity can move from a state of "great awakening" to "great enlightenment," ultimately realizing the self-evident truth of being a single family in a global village

Danielle Kays is a partner at Fisher Phillips, a nationally recognized litigator focused on privacy, biometric, AI, and employment law — and she did it her way, on her timeline, working remotely since 2013. In this episode, she gets real about the windy road to partner, what it looked like to balance Big Law with two little kids, and why taking 20 years to make partner is something to be proud of — not apologize for.In this episode we cover:Why she joined Big Law when her kids were babies — in search of flexibilityWhat it was really like to work from home in 2012 before anyone else was doing itThe patronizing moments and upstream swimming that came with a non-linear pathHow she and her husband built a true partnership to make two demanding careers workThe power of finding community — especially women who are a few steps ahead of youWhy your career is a marathon, not a sprint (and what that actually means in practice)Connect with Danielle: LinkedInWork with Erin Gerner:Erin coaches high-achieving female attorneys who are successful on paper but struggling with burnout, identity crisis, and knowing what's next—helping them redefine success on their terms without sacrificing family or wellbeing.Stay connected with Erin Gerner:Website: eringerner.comLinkedIn: Erin GernerInstagram: @eringernerFacebook: Erin Gerner

Katherine Fritz's career journey didn't follow a straight line. From marine biology to cancer research to nonprofit leadership, her path has been shaped by curiosity, openness and a willingness to embrace the unexpected. Today, as President and CEO of Long Island Cares, Katherine leads one of the region's most impactful food banks. It's an organization focused not only on addressing hunger, but on building a stronger, more connected community. Her story begins with a simple but powerful belief passed down from her father: Don't close doors to opportunity. That mindset led her through decades of nonprofit work across multiple causes, ultimately guiding her to the food bank cause, an area she hadn't originally planned to enter, but one that deeply aligns with her passion for helping people. Katherine believes that nonprofit work isn't just about delivering services. It's about building relationships, creating unexpected partnerships and meeting people where they are, especially in moments when they need support the most. In this episode of the RKD Group: Chat podcast, Katherine shares how her unconventional career path shaped her leadership style, how food banks are evolving to meet long-term community needs and why collaboration across sectors is critical to addressing food insecurity.

Recorded live at the Alliance 2026 Annual Conference, Alliance Podcast Task Force member Milini Mingo, CHCP, PMP,sits down with Alliance members Mindi Daiga, MBA, CHCP, FACEHP; Alexander Miceli, PhD, MBA, CHCP; and Genevieve Baglio to discuss their career trajectory into CME/ CPD. Through their conversation about the various paths taken toCME/CPD, this episode aims to answer, “How did we get here?”|| LINKSAlmanac: Home | Alliance: Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions | Alliance LinkedIn: Alliance For Continuing Education in the Health Professions: Posts | LinkedIn | Alliance 2026 Annual Conference: Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions > Education & Events > Annual Conference > Conference Home | Alliance2026 Annual Conference Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/acehp/albums | Milini LinkedIn: Milini Mingo, MPA, CHCP, PMP | LinkedIn | Mindi LinkedIn: Mindi Daiga, MBA, CHCP, FACEHP | LinkedIn | AlexanderLinkedIn: Alexander Miceli, PhD, MBA, CHCP | LinkedIn | Genevieve LinkedIn: Genevieve Baglio | LinkedIn

Share your Field Stories!Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! On today's episode, we talk with Kimberlee Chambers, Agriculture Program Manager at Earthworm Foundation about Regenerative Farming, Food Systems, and Non-Linear Career Paths.  Read her full bio below.Help us continue to create great content! If you'd like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form Showtimes: Time - NAEP Member ShoutoutsTime - Nic and Laura dive into marketing yourselfTime - Interview startsTime - Time - Please be sure to ✔️subscribe, ⭐rate and ✍review. This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.Connect with Kimberlee Chambers at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlee-chambers-7b4a958 Guest Bio:Dr. Kimberlee Chambers is an Agriculture Program Manager at Earthworm Foundation, an international nonprofit. She works throughout food system supply chains to support farm viability and sustainability initiatives. Kimberlee's roots in agriculture and conservation run deep — since growing up on a family farm in Ontario, Canada, she has conducted multiple applied agricultural research projects with farmers, Tribes, and First Nation communities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Kimberlee serves as a Board Member for Sustainable Northwest and the Oregon Agricultural Trust. She has a PhD in geography from the University of California, Davis, and an MSc in ethnoecology from the University of Victoria in British Columbia.Music CreditsIntro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace MesaOutro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller Support the showThanks for listening! A new episode drops every Friday. Like, share, subscribe, and/or sponsor to help support the continuation of the show. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and all your favorite podcast players. 

Greg Zifcak joins us to talk about early interactions with synthesizers in the Bay Area, becoming a more social shut-in, doing math on the synthesizer, and Moroccan rhythms. Greg Zifcak - "Chaabishaav" https://ziftracks.bandcamp.com/album/chaabishaav Greg's Website: https://www.gzifcak.net/ Hit the Patreon: www.patreon.com/basecampbeta Opening music: Beau Wanzer - Basement Dwellers basecampbeta808@gmail.com

Send us Fan MailWhat if the safest path is not actually the safest one?In this episode, Aggie and Cristy sit down with Melissa Anderson, President of Search.com, to talk about building a career by trusting instinct over convention. Melissa shares how she turned bold, uncertain choices into major opportunities, from moving to Ireland after college with no job, to scaling startups, leading innovation, and navigating acquisitions.This conversation goes beyond business. Melissa opens up about decision making, risk, leadership, spirituality, and why staying grounded is critical for success. She shares how optimism and self trust have shaped her path and why women need to stop putting themselves last if they want to lead powerfully.If you have ever questioned your path or felt pulled toward something bigger, this episode will challenge how you think about risk and success.What you will learn in this episode: How to make decisions without letting fear lead Why the “safe” path is often not the safest How to navigate and scale ideas without a clear roadmap Lessons from acquisitions and deals that fell through How AI is reshaping business and opportunity Why grounding yourself leads to better leadership and decisions The importance of self trust, optimism, and intuitionKey Takeaway: When you stay grounded and connected to yourself, you make better decisions and stop missing what matters.Guest: Melissa Anderson President of Search.comConnect with Melissa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-anderson-2007721/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.a.anderson.31---Subscribe and ReviewIf you loved this episode, drop us a review, share it with a badass woman in your life, and subscribe to Badass Women in Business wherever you get your podcasts.Stay badass. Stay bold. Build it your way.Keep up with more content from Aggie and Cristy here:Facebook: Empowered Women Leaders  Instagram: @badass_women_in_businessLinkedIn: ProveHer - Badass Women in BusinessWebsite: Badasswomeninbusinesspodcast.comAthena: athenaac.com

Kelly welcomes futurist Bob Johansen back to the podcast to discuss his book “Navigating the Age of Chaos.” Bob introduces us to the term BANI, which describes the world we live in now: Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible. Spoiler alert – improvisation is a skill one needs to navigate this world. “In the mid-2010’s, everything […]

You ever notice the moment you think you figured it all out… and suddenly the ego shows up wearing a linen shirt and calling itself healed?In Episode 5 of Two Bald Dudes, Joe and Romain talk about what really happens after awakening begins. The ego does not disappear. Sometimes it gets louder.This episode explores:Spiritual ego and imposter syndromeIdentity lag and thinking you have “arrived”Why healing is not linearThe spiral nature of growthEgo as protection versus ego as overprotectionThe body as your guideHow awareness brings you back to the present momentJoe shares reflections on thinking awareness work was a straight line, only to realize it feels more like leveling up in a video game where a new dragon always appears. Romain reframes ego as a protective mechanism, like a helicopter parent that sometimes overdrives.The reminder throughout the episode is simple:Awareness isn't linear. And neither is healing.If this resonates, like the episode, share it, and download the weekly journal that accompanies each conversation.Follow Romain @romain_rouveyrollisFollow Joe @inspirecreatemanifest

What happens when life feels both wide open and wildly uncertain? In college, that's often where real growth begins. In this episode, Gianna Colarich reflects on stepping away from past paths and learning how to build a new life that doesn't need to fit neatly into any box. We'll also explore the pressure to have a perfect post-grad plan, and why you don't have to have everything all mapped out. Because sometimes the most meaningful path forward isn't a straight line—it's one that leaves room for creativity, courage, and adventure. Featured Majors: Media and Communications, Theatre

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Markus Buehler, the McAfee Professor of Engineering at MIT, to explore how seemingly different systems—from proteins and music to knowledge structures and AI reasoning—share underlying patterns through hierarchy, self-organization, and scale-free networks. The conversation ranges from the limits of current AI interpolation versus true discovery (using the fire-to-fusion example), to the emergence of agent swarms and their non-linear effects, to practical questions about ontologies, knowledge graphs, and whether humans will remain necessary in the creative discovery process. Markus discusses his lab's work automating scientific discovery through AI agents that can generate hypotheses, run simulations, and even retrain themselves, while Stewart shares his own experiences building applications with AI coding agents and grapples with questions about intellectual property, material science constraints, and the future of human creativity in an AI-abundant world.Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to Marcus Buehler's work on knowledge graphs, structural grammar across proteins, music, and AI reasoning05:00 - Discussion of AI discovery versus interpolation, using fire and fusion as examples of fundamental versus incremental innovation10:00 - Language models as connective glue between agents, enabling communication despite imperfect outputs and canonical averaging15:00 - Embodiment and agency in AI systems, creating adversarial agents that challenge theories and expand world models20:00 - Emergent properties in materials and AI, comparing dislocations in metals to behaviors in agent swarms25:00 - Human role-playing and phase separation in society, parallels to composite materials and heterogeneity30:00 - Physical world challenges, atom-by-atom manufacturing at MIT.nano, limitations of lithography machines35:00 - Synthetic biology as alternative to nanotechnology, programming microorganisms for materials discovery40:00 - Intellectual property debates, commodification of AI models, control layers more valuable than model architecture45:00 - Automation of ontologies, agent self-testing, daughter's coding success at age 1150:00 - Graph theory for knowledge compression, neurosymbolic approaches combining symbolic and neural methods55:00 - Nonlinear acceleration in AI, emergence from accumulated innovations, restaurant owner embracing AI01:00:00 - Future generations possibly rejecting AI, democratization of knowledge, social media as real-time scientific discourseKey Insights1. Universal Patterns Across Disciplines: Seemingly different systems in nature—proteins, music, social networks, and knowledge itself—share fundamental structural patterns including hierarchy, self-organization, and scale-free networks. This commonality allows creative thinkers to draw insights across disciplines, applying principles from one domain to solve problems in another. As an engineer and materials scientist, Buehler has leveraged these isomorphisms to advance scientific understanding by mapping the "plumbing" of different systems onto each other, revealing hidden relationships that enable extrapolation beyond what's observable in any single domain.2. The Discovery Versus Interpolation Problem: Current AI systems, particularly large language models, excel at interpolation—recombining existing knowledge in new ways—but struggle with genuine discovery that requires fundamental rewiring of world models. Using the example of fire versus fusion, Buehler explains that an AI trained on combustion chemistry would propose bigger fires or new fuels, but couldn't conceive of fusion because that requires stepping back to more fundamental physics. True discovery demands the ability to recognize when existing theories have boundaries and to develop entirely new frameworks, something current AI architectures aren't designed to achieve due to their training objective of predicting the most likely outcome.3. The Role of Ontologies and Knowledge Graphs: While some AI researchers argue that ontologies are unnecessary because models form internal representations, Buehler advocates for explicit knowledge graphs as essential discovery tools. External ontologies provide sharp, analytical, symbolic representations that complement the fuzzy internal representations of neural networks. They enable verification of rare connections—like obscure papers that might hold key insights—which would be averaged away in standard AI training. This neurosymbolic approach combines the generalization capabilities of neural networks with the precision of formal knowledge structures, creating more powerful discovery systems.4. Emergent Properties and Agent Swarms: Just as materials science shows that collections of atoms exhibit properties impossible to predict from individual components, AI agent swarms demonstrate emergent behaviors beyond single models. When agents are incentivized not just to answer questions but to challenge each other adversarially, propose theories, and test hypotheses, they can spawn new copies of themselves and evolve understanding beyond their initial programming. This emergence isn't surprising from a materials science perspective—dislocations, grain boundaries, and other collective phenomena only appear at scale, fundamentally determining material behavior in ways unpredictable from studying just a few atoms.5. The Commoditization of Intelligence: The fundamental AI models themselves are becoming commodities, as evidenced by events like the Moldbug phenomenon where people built agents using various providers interchangeably. The real value is shifting from who has the smartest model to how models are orchestrated, integrated, and deployed. This parallels historical technology adoption patterns—just as we moved past debating who makes the best electricity to focusing on applications, AI is transitioning from a horse race over model capabilities to questions of infrastructure, energy, access speed, and agent coordination at the systems level.6. Human-AI Collaboration and Creative Control: Rather than wholesale replacement, AI enables humans to operate in an intensely creative space as orchestrators sampling from vast possibility spaces. Similar to how Buehler's 11-year-old daughter now builds sophisticated applications that would have required professional developers years ago, AI democratizes access to capabilities while humans retain the creative judgment about direction and meaning. The human role becomes curating emergence, finding rare connections, playing at the edges of knowledge, and exercising the kind of curiosity-driven exploration that AI systems lack without embodied stakes in their own survival and continuation.7. Technology as Evolutionary Inevitability: The development of AI represents not an unnatural threat but the next stage of human evolution—an extension of our innate drive to build models of ourselves and our world. From cave paintings to partial differential equations to artificial intelligence, humans continuously create increasingly sophisticated representations and tools. Attempting to stop this technological evolution is futile; instead, the focus should be on steering it ...

Katarina Marossy is a talent architect and cultural operator redefining what modern creator representation looks like. Known as a disruptor in the industry, she has built a reputation for being deeply connected to Black and Brown creators while simultaneously carving out space in the automotive content world, two verticals rarely bridged with intentionality.A true entrepreneur at heart, Katarina founded Disrupt MGMT before co-founding Stealth TLNT, a next-generation talent management company focused on long-term brand building, equity participation, and scalable creator businesses. Within its first three months, Stealth generated over $1.2M in topline revenue and secured exclusive representation for powerhouse creators such as Collins and Devan Key, signaling both velocity and vision.Her approach goes beyond traditional brand deals. Katarina is focused on placing talent on cap tables, structuring influence-for-equity partnerships, and building operational systems that allow creators to evolve from personalities into enterprises.

As we approach the end of our season highlighting alumni from the University and the impact that the David Eccles School of Business has had on their lives and careers, we welcome back guest-host Annesley Womble, who talks with Dalton Wright, General Partner at Kickstart, a seed-stage venture capital firm with offices in Salt Lake City and Denver.Dalton shares his unique career journey, which began with his involvement in the University Venture Fund and progressed to significant roles in venture capital, including helping to develop Utah's first seed fund through Kickstart. He also discusses his non-linear career path, which included launching a startup and strategically working in venture capital in Mexico.The University of Utah played a critical role in supporting Kickstart during its early formation, providing guidance and infrastructure as the company navigated the challenges of launching a startup. Kickstart's initial investment meetings were held at the University of Utah Technology Transfer Office, and the University was instrumental in the firm's successful launch. Dalton also helped develop the Campus Founders Fund, a student-run investment fund established after his return to Utah. Today, the fund has invested in more than 30 student startups, including one that now generates several hundred million dollars in annual revenue. This University of Utah initiative has helped launch the careers of many students into the venture capital industry.Dalton emphasizes the importance of embracing change, redefining risk, and maintaining curiosity amid the evolving technological landscape. This episode is filled with insights on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and the value of pursuing passion over a linear career path.Eccles Business Buzz is a production of the David Eccles School of Business and is produced by University.fm.Eccles Business Buzz is proud to be selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 70 Business School podcasts on the web. Learn more at https://podcast.feedspot.com/us_business_school_podcasts. Episode Quotes:Why the best career opportunities often look uncertain at first[10:31] When Kickstart was launching, I saw that as my opportunity to learn seed-stage venture capital with somebody who was the founder, the entrepreneur in that category. And so I was lucky enough to get the job as the first hire with the fund. We had $4 million under management at the time. This is the 2008 Great Recession. So I can empathize with any cohort of students who's graduating and wondering, like, is the world going to change forever? And will there ever be employment opportunities for me again? You know, nobody wanted to fund our fund. People saw it as like a community service project support entrepreneurs, but nobody was looking at it as these guys are going to go build like a franchise venture capital fund. But, you know, most good things look like that in the beginning. They're not yet exciting, they're not yet successful, and you have to be able to suspend what you see in the present moment and imagine what this thing can become in the future.Getting comfortable with fear and risk can help you explore a non-linear career path[11:57] There's one point right after graduating from college where my peers were all pursuing the linear path, and I'm not in any way saying, "Oh, like, they made the wrong choice," because, like, I mean, so many people have different preferences, values, things that they're trying to optimize for. So I never am trying to, like, say, "But my way is like, let me give someone else advice," because my way was my way, and it might not work for somebody else who even wants the same thing, let alone something entirely different. So I decided very early on that I was going to condition myself to feel comfortable with my fears and feel comfortable with the risks that I was taking. And so I think reframing what a risk is is really important if you want to take the nonlinear path.On why knowing your “why” matters more than money when building a startup[35:16] I've encouraged students to really think about the why behind what they're doing. And if it's to make money, a lot of money, it's like you can use that as a motivator, but there's also a lot of maybe easier ways or better ways, faster ways to have that need met. And so when you're grinding it out and you're not making money as a founder, and all of a sudden it's like, Hey, you can go take the consulting job and immediately have like a nice salary. Or you could potentially go get that, what causes you to say, Why would I ever consider that? And so I think if you know why you're building the thing and it's like truly rooted in the problem that you're trying to solve, the customers that you're serving, the change that you want to make in the world, if it's rooted in that, then you can lean on that through the down times to inspire you through that.Show Links:Dalton Wright | LinkedInProfile | Kickstart FundDavid Eccles School of Business (@ubusiness) | InstagramUndergraduate Scholars ProgramsRising Business LeadersEccles Alumni Network (@ecclesalumni) | Instagram Eccles Experience Magazine

Novelists Maggie O'Farrell, Stacey Halls, and Ruta Sepetys on turning research into living scenes, building non-linear structure that still feels clear, and writing voice and dialogue that make the past feel immediate. Timestamps:00:01:30 Maggie O'Farrell00:26:14 Stacey Halls00:49:33 Ruta Sepetys You'll learn:The importance of "reading like a writer" to reverse-engineer time, tense, and technique from books you love.How to structure a non-chronological narrative using flowcharts and “breadcrumb trails” so readers never feel lost.Where to look for small, specific historical details that unlock character, scene, and momentum.A practical way to treat research as idea-generation, not “homework you must finish” before you start drafting.A simple plotting method (index cards + one-sentence scenes) that helps you see the whole book at a glance.Why a first draft is allowed to be rough, and how that mindset can help you write faster and finish.How “writing toward a feeling” can guide structure when you can't see the whole plot in advance.Ways to keep going through the long middle by focusing on the work itself, not external noise.How to use collaboration and expert readers to pressure-test cultural and historical authenticity. Resources & Links:Join our LWS community!Maggie's full episode and notesStacey's full episode and notesRuta's full episode and notes About the authors:Maggie O'Farrell is the bestselling author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait, noted for lyrical prose and inventive structure; her craft insights span sentence-level cadence, non-linear timelines, and historically grounded voice.Note: Our episode with Maggie was done in collaboration with Arvon, the UK's leading creative writing charity. Arvon believes everyone can benefit from the transformative power of creative writing. It hosts residential, online and community-based writing courses and events, embracing over 6,000 people each year, tutored by some of the most respected writers in the UK today. Find out more at arvon.orgStacey Halls is the UK author of The Familiars, The Foundling, and Mrs England, known for vivid period settings, propulsive plotting, and character-driven suspense; she outlines with index cards and drafts quickly before deep revision.Ruta Sepetys is a Lithuanian-American novelist (Between Shades of Gray, Salt to the Sea) whose work uncovers suppressed histories with YA-accessible clarity; she emphasizes collaboration, ethical research, and a clear “why” for every project. For show notes, transcripts and to attend our live podcasts visit: podcast.londonwriterssalon.com.For free writing sessions, join free Writers' Hours: writershour.com.*FOLLOW LONDON WRITERS' SALONTwitter: twitter.com/​​WritersSalonInstagram: instagram.com/londonwriterssalonFacebook: facebook.com/LondonWritersSalonIf you're enjoying this show, please rate and review this show!

This episode with intuitive channel and energy translator Jessica Taylor is filled with synchronicity, remembrance, and multidimensional insight. From the moment we connected, Jessica was delivering synchronicity after synchronicity that spoke directly into my own experience. In this conversation, she shares how her connection with the Pleiadians and other higher consciousness beings opened through years of meditation, psychic development, and group intention work, and how that evolved into direct voice channeling. In this episode, we explore: How Jessica began channeling the Pleiadians in meditation Why more people are "coming online" as channelers at this turning point in human consciousness The karmic loop we are revisiting from Atlantis and Lemuria and how this timeline is different Nonlinear time, parallel timelines, and how all incarnations are happening simultaneously The soul, the egoic "ghost" layer, and what really happens after we die How past life memories and mythic stories are actually energetic connections and dimensional bleed throughs What the Pleiadians share about 3I Atlas, solar flares, and the waves of energy impacting collective awakening The coming split in realities between old Earth and New Earth and how our frequency determines what we experience Why meditation and intentional frequency work are some of the most powerful tools you have right now Jessica also shares deeply about: Growing up sensitive to spirits and phenomena and learning to navigate those experiences Her dark night of the soul and how it opened the door to psychic and mediumship training Living in Cornwall and the Avalon-Arthurian energies of that land Working as an energy translator and what that really means when it comes to translating transmissions from higher consciousness into human language Throughout this episode, we talk about starseeds, reincarnation, Atlantis and Lemuria, the map of consciousness, solar activity, and the New Earth frequency split. You will likely feel waves of resonance and activation as you listen. If this conversation lights you up, you are not alone! Many of us are remembering our multidimensional nature, ancient lifetimes, and soul missions in this lifetime. Connect with Jessica Website: https://www.jessicataylorintuitive.net/  Instagram: https://instagram.com/@jessicataylorintuitive  Follow Jessica for new transmissions, event announcements, and multidimensional insights.   Explore More Support at KaraGoodwin.com I invite you to explore the many offerings waiting for you at https://www.KaraGoodwin.com:

In this solo episode of the By Any Means Coaches Podcast, Coleman Ayers breaks down the concept of nonlinear pedagogy, reframed as the nonlinear progression model, and explains why learning, development, and skill acquisition in basketball are rarely clean, linear processes. Drawing from research across sport, education, and motor learning, Coleman challenges the traditional “start simple and build up” mindset and makes the case for starting closer to (or slightly above) an athlete's true challenge point to accelerate learning and improve transfer to the game.Through practical basketball-specific examples like shooting footwork, ball screen decision-making, warmups, and youth development, Coleman explains how nonlinear structure and nonlinear progress work together. He outlines why struggle is not only acceptable but necessary, how regressions should often replace progressions, and why coaches must reframe expectations around visible improvement. The episode closes with actionable rules of thumb to help coaches design more efficient, engaging, and game-representative training environments.Timestamps:00:01 – Introduction to nonlinear pedagogy and why learning isn't linear 01:28 – Nonlinear structure vs. nonlinear progress explained 02:39 – Traditional linear progressions and why they fall short 04:08 – Starting with difficulty and regressing instead of building up 05:09 – Inefficiency of linear models and wasted training time 06:32 – Engagement, autonomy, and mental toughness benefits 07:14 – Giving athletes time to struggle and self-organize 08:28 – Why linear progressions don't transfer well to games 09:13 – Addressing concerns about bad habits and technique 10:58 – Confidence, psychological momentum, and game reality 11:50 – Example: shooting footwork and nonlinear application 13:00 – Example: handling aggressive ball screen coverages 15:19 – Starting live, then regressing with purpose 16:05 – Rules of thumb: start 10% harder, regress more than progress 17:25 – Finding challenge in warmups 18:41 – Whole–part–whole and play–drill–play frameworks 20:27 – When it makes sense to start simple 22:01 – Youth development, experimentation, and learning windows 24:25 – Advanced challenges making basic skills easier 26:34 – Nonlinear progress and managing expectations 28:00 – Spacing, consolidation, and why breaks matter 30:30 – Final takeaways on embracing the chaos of learningCoaching Resources: https://www.byanymeanscoaches.comBAM Blueprint Book: https://www.byanymeanscoaches.com/modern-basketball-blueprintIf this episode challenged the way you think about player development, be sure to check out the By Any Means Coaches Certification and Coleman's book, The Modern Basketball Blueprint, where these concepts are explored in much greater depth. If you enjoyed the episode, share it with another coach, and we'll see you next time on the By Any Means Coaches Podcast.

In this episode of Hidden Wisdom, Meghan sits down with Nelson Whiting—bestselling author of Your Problem Isn't Pornography, certified clinical hypnotherapist, and founder of No Limits Hypnotherapy—for a grounded, expansive conversation about hypnotherapy as a form of deep repentance: getting beneath behavior to the belief systems that drive shame cycles, anxiety, compulsions, and spiritual disconnection.Nelson explains how real change happens when the conscious and subconscious mind come into agreement, why “time heals” is often a myth, and how prayer, meditation, and clinical hypnosis can help quiet survival mode, restore inner safety, and create rapid transformation through new perspective and new choices. They explore the spiritual implications of inner work, the role of agency, and why healing often requires moving from self-criticism into self-love—so you can reconnect with God, truth, and your highest identity.You'll also hear discussion on spiritual discernment (including “false spirits”), the balance of masculine and feminine within healing, and a powerful closing reflection on being “born again” as a spiritual rebirth—held in what Meghan calls the cosmic womb.Learn more about Nelson: NoLimitsHypnotherapy.com (sessions + resources)0:00 Meet Nelson Whiting + what this episode covers1:50 Nelson's story: seminary teaching → illness → calling to hypnotherapy4:00 Early hypnosis experience + the power of the mind6:05 Training with Dennis Parker: “gospel foundation” + adversarial protocols9:04 Faith as decision-making; bringing subconscious online12:21 “Your Problem Isn't Pornography”: why behavior isn't the root13:22 How lust patterns form: imagination → memory → emotion → action17:41 Why common “solutions” are slow (support groups, blockers, confession)20:49 Repentance as inner work: thoughts → emotions → beliefs22:37 Repentance = learning; freedom to get it wrong (baseball study)27:54 Prayer as therapy: “be still and know” + intention behind stillness30:55 Survival mode, the amygdala, and rapid change through neuroplasticity32:01 Synaptic pruning: creating “space” between you and temptation36:19 Spiritual impact: self-criticism, energy depletion, separation from God41:12 Anxiety/depression as thought-patterns; perspective changes everything45:38 Hypnotherapy vs guided meditation (why customization matters)52:24 Nonlinear change: “you can jump to the new self”54:56 Agency: why “God take it away” can keep people powerless57:35 Masculine/feminine balance Hidden Wisdom initiates truth-seekers into the Mysteries, guiding listeners toward a lived experience of the Divine that awakens and transforms faith—without dismantling family or community. This podcast is perfect for women (and men) exploring faith renovation, spiritual awakening, Christian mysticism, sacred wisdom, and embodied spiritual growth. Pursue your Journey: ✨ Hidden Wisdom App – Coming Spring 2026! Pathway programs, community, library, events and more! Join the waitlist for updates, sneak peeks, and discounts!

Send us a textIn this Coffee Nº5 episode, I sit down with Kat, Founder of Ground AI, to dismantle the myth of the linear career. We go from Hollywood sets to building revenue engines, getting real about why the traditional funnel is broken and how to use data to build actual momentum—not just noise.We'll talk about:Why the "straight line" career is a myth—and a trap.The reality of the "Broken Funnel" and why you can't track ROI the old way.Why being an early adopter (like Kat on YouTube in 2006) pays off.The difference between AI hype and AI that actually drives revenue.Why retention beats ROAS every single time.Knowing when your brand is actually ready for automation (hint: you need a baseline).For more information, visit Kat Garcia's LinkedIn and Instagram.Subscribe to Lara's newsletter.Also, follow our host Lara Schmoisman on social media:Instagram: @laraschmoismanFacebook: @LaraSchmoismanSupport the show

Send us a textLiving with IBS can slowly take over your life — your food choices, your confidence, and your ability to travel or socialize. For Sarah, it meant extreme food restriction, canceled trips, significant weight loss, and being told by providers that her symptoms were “just stress.”In this episode of the IBS Nutrition Podcast, Sarah shares her honest IBS journey — from being dismissed and not getting the right medical testing, to finally being heard, rebuilding her nutrition, and reclaiming her life.Sarah lived with debilitating abdominal pain, diarrhea up to eight to ten times per day, nausea, vomiting, food fear, and significant weight loss for nearly a year. Despite following restrictive diets, eliminating major food groups, and even undergoing gallbladder removal, her symptoms continued to worsen. In this episode, Sarah shares what finally helped her heal, why IBS recovery is not always fast, and how personalized care and advocacy changed everything.This conversation highlights an often overlooked truth. IBS healing is not linear, and longer recovery timelines are common, especially in severe or complex cases.In This Episode, You'll Learn:✔️ What severe and long standing IBS symptoms can look like✔️ Why extreme food restriction and elimination diets can worsen IBS over time✔️ How lack of proper testing can delay accurate diagnosis and treatment✔️ The role of stress, anxiety, and the gut brain connection in IBS symptoms✔️ Why working with an IBS trained dietitian matters✔️ How structured food journaling and reintroduction rebuild confidence with food✔️ What life looks like after IBS symptoms improve, including eating out and traveling✔️ Sarah's advice for people who feel stuck, dismissed, or afraid to eatTimestamps:[00:00] When Sarah's IBS symptoms began[03:52] Weight loss, malnutrition, and feeling dismissed by providers[06:01] Extreme food restriction and ongoing symptoms[08:01] Why general diet advice was not enough[11:02] Diets tried before joining the program[13:10] Gallbladder removal and unanswered questions[14:12] Missing medical testing and advocating for care[20:43] Stress, journaling, and symptom patterns[26:45] Eating out again and rebuilding confidence[28:10] Travel, volunteering, and life after IBSGet our help:

WANTED: Developers and STEM experts! Get paid to create benchmarks and improve AI models. Sign up for Alignerr using our link: https://alignerr.com/?referral-source=briankeating One of the most powerful AI systems we've ever built is succeeding for reasons we still don't understand. And worse, they may succeed for reasons that might lock us into the wrong future for humanity. Today's guest is Anil Ananthaswamy, an award-winning science writer and one of the clearest thinkers on the mathematical foundations of machine learning. In this conversation, we're not just talking about new demos, incremental improvements, or updates on new models being released. We're asking even harder questions: Why does the mathematics of machine learning work at all? How do these models succeed when they suffer from problems like overparameterization and lack of training data? And are large language models revealing deep structure, or are they just producing very convincing illusions and causing us to face an increasingly AI-slop-driven future? KEY TAKEAWAYS 00:00 — Book explores why ML works through math 02:47 — Perceptron proof shows simple math guarantees learning 05:11 — Early AI failed due to single-layer limits 07:12 — Nonlinear limits caused the first AI winter 09:04 — Backpropagation revived neural networks 10:59 — GPUs + big data enabled deep learning 15:25 — AI success risks technological lock-in 17:30 — LLMs lack human-like learning and embodiment 22:57 — High-dimensional spaces power ML behavior 27:36 — Data saturation may slow future gains 31:11 — Continual learning is still missing in AI 33:46 — Neuromorphic chips promise energy efficiency 41:49 — Overparameterized models still generalize well 45:05 — SGD succeeds via randomness in complex landscapes 48:27 — Perceptrons remain the core of modern neural net - Additional resources: Anil's NEW Book "Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI": https://www.amazon.com/Why-Machines-Learn-Elegant-Behind/dp/0593185749 Get My NEW Book: Focus Like a Nobel Prize Winner: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FN8DH6SX?ref_=pe_93986420_775043100 Please join my mailing list here

Forward momentum doesn't have to roar. This week we lean into Aquarius season's clean, future-facing energy and explore how small, decisive actions can open big space in your life. We explore how to trust instincts, measure nonlinear progress, and embody The Emperor's clean, grounded authority in daily choices. Think clear boundaries, values-led routines, and simple, dated actions that break inertia. Along the way, we invite you to track both linear milestones and nonlinear gains, training your attention to witness progress without perfectionism. Key themes include:• weekly energy points to empowered decisions• guidance to trust instincts without second guessing• image of open space and decisive movement• momentum framed as steady, not explosive• journaling prompt on nonlinear progress• uncovering the deeper why beneath goals• measuring character, resilience, and perspective• tarot focus on The Emperor and sovereignty• practical steps for small, dated actionsIf this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review with one decision you're ready to make. Your reflection might be the spark someone else needs to move forward.Tune in next week for a new episode to support and empower your light.--Your Heart Magic is a space where heart wisdom, spirituality, and psychology meet. Enjoy episodes centered on mental health, spirituality, personal growth, healing, and well-being. Featured as one of the best Heart Energy and Akashic Records Podcasts in 2025 by PlayerFM and Globally Ranked in the top 5% in Listen Notes.Dr. BethAnne Kapansky Wright is a Licensed Psychologist, Spiritual Educator, and Akashic Records Reader. She is the author of Small Pearls Big Wisdom, the Award-Winning Lamentations of the Sea, its sequels, and several books of poetry. A psychologist with a mystic mind, she weaves perspectives from both worlds to offer holistic wisdom.FIND DR. BETHANNE ONLINE:BOOKS- www.bethannekw.com/books FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com/drbethannekw INSTAGRAM - www.instagram.com/dr.bethannekw WEBSITE - www.bethannekw.com CONTACT FORM - www.bethannekw.com/contact

Send us a textIn this Coffee Nº5 episode, I sit down with Allison McNamara, Founder and CEO of MARA Beauty, to explore the non-linear path from media to building a science-backed skincare brand. A grounded conversation about discipline, focus, and earning clarity over time.We'll talk about:Why non-linear careers often lead to stronger foundersBuilding a science-backed brand without shortcutsHow discipline shapes product and growth decisionsThe reality behind scaling and retail expansionWhy focus matters more than speedWhen brand clarity finally clicksFor more information, visit Allison McNamara's LinkedIn and Instagram.Subscribe to Lara's newsletter.Also, follow our host Lara Schmoisman on social media:Instagram: @laraschmoismanFacebook: @LaraSchmoismanSupport the show

Today, we are joined by Nick Baltas to examine how narratives, signals, and structural design are reshaping trend following at the start of 2026. The conversation moves from investor storytelling and information digestion to a sober review of what truly drove dispersion in 2025. We explore why speed and universe choice mattered more than expected, why recent outcomes may be misleading, and why reacting to performance is often a mistake. The discussion then turns technical, unpacking new academic research on nonlinear momentum, signal construction, and the deeper mechanics behind trend following's defensive behavior during stress. The episode closes with a reminder that discipline, not prediction, remains the strategy's core advantage.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT's TRUE ? – most CIO's read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Nick on Twitter.Episode TimeStamps:00:00 - Introduction and welcome01:05 - A disrupted start to 202603:10 - Narratives, information, and price formation07:06 - Why stories often fail to move markets09:31 - Recurring themes and market attention10:59 - Strong early conditions for trend following12:01 - Dispersion across strategies in 202515:06 - Familiar patterns in an unfamiliar year18:42 - Speed versus universe in trend design23:17 - Why recent outperformance can mislead31:08 - Institutional views on trend following40:21 - Nonlinear time series momentum research50:30 - Autonomy of trend and crisis...

Outline00:00 - Intro03:18 - Early days: why control, M. Athans, and IDSS12:21 - What is gain scheduling?33:37 - Paradigm shifts & the ‘90s: Minnesota → Texas → LA 42:19 - Robustness & fundamental limitations of nonlinear systems57:35 - Set-valued control & estimation01:04:52 - Game theory & multi-agent control 01:28:18 - Learning & dissipativity in games & multi agent AI01:45:03 - KAUST: building something new01:53:33 - On human-algorithmic interaction01:59:07 - Advice to future students: control, jiu-jitsu, and chatbots in education2:10:02 - OutroLinksJeff's website: https://tinyurl.com/52btmmz7CSM interview: https://tinyurl.com/49wh98x7Domain: feedbackcontrol.comM. Athans: https://tinyurl.com/nhbw66waPhD thesis: https://tinyurl.com/5eyxkfm6IDSS: https://tinyurl.com/bdenwy6dResearch on gain scheduling: https://tinyurl.com/55se8zcr Overview of LPV systems: https://tinyurl.com/3ksff58b Åström's lecture: https://tinyurl.com/33mxkkfe Necessity of the small gain theorem: https://tinyurl.com/mjn9eeb4 Sensitivity reduction for nonlinear plants: https://tinyurl.com/23tej5ypRespect the unstable: https://tinyurl.com/3yww5eds Differential inclusion: https://tinyurl.com/4yvc8vccLectures on game theory: https://tinyurl.com/4z8hh3rnDynamic fictitious play: https://tinyurl.com/yc6wsxjjCooperative control and potential games: https://tinyurl.com/4hbmrt72Dissipativity theory in game theory: https://tinyurl.com/3theyc7xPopulation games, stable games, and passivity: https://tinyurl.com/zxwtzv6wGame theory and control: https://tinyurl.com/yencrwm3Higher-order uncoupled learning: https://tinyurl.com/37Support the showPodcast infoPodcast website: https://www.incontrolpodcast.com/Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/5n84j85jSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/4rwztj3cRSS: https://tinyurl.com/yc2fcv4yYoutube: https://tinyurl.com/bdbvhsj6Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/3z24yr43Twitter: https://twitter.com/IncontrolPInstagram: https://tinyurl.com/35cu4kr4Acknowledgments and sponsorsThis episode was supported by the National Centre of Competence in Research on «Dependable, ubiquitous automation» and the IFAC Activity fund. The podcast benefits from the help of an incredibly talented and passionate team. Special thanks to L. Seward, E. Cahard, F. Banis, F. Dörfler, J. Lygeros, ETH studio and mirrorlake . Music was composed by A New Element.

We recorded this special live episode of Design Better at Sequoia Capital in Silicon Valley, with our Experts in Residence: Irene Au, Kevin Bethune, and James Buckhouse. Longtime listeners will recognize these names—Irene appeared on Episode 1 of Design Better, we explored Kevin's remarkable journey from nuclear engineer to Air Jordan designer in episode 72, and we visited James at Sequoia Capital for a live AMA last year. Together, they've shaped how businesses build, how design operates at scale, and how creativity thrives inside technology and venture capital. Irene Au led the design practices at Yahoo! and Google during their formative years. Now a Design Partner at Khosla Ventures, she coaches designers, executives, and founders from seed stage through exit. Kevin Bethune is a multidisciplinary design and innovation executive. His career spans nuclear engineering, product creation at Nike, and formal design training at ArtCenter. Kevin wrote two MIT Press books—Reimagining Design and Nonlinear. And he's the host of the TV show, America ByDesign on CBS. James Buckhouse is a Design Partner at Sequoia working with founders from idea to IPO to design companies, products, and cultures. His multidisciplinary career spans film (Shrek, Madagascar, The Matrix), fine art (exhibited at the Whitney Biennial and Guggenheim), ballet, and technology (Senior Experience Architect at Twitter). Over the course of this conversation, we cover the evolution of design in technology, the value of diverse backgrounds in design, how technology is reshaping what designers do and how they work, cross-cultural design perspectives, and much more. *** Premium Episodes on Design Better This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you'd like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription, where you'll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books: You'll also get access to our monthly AMAs with former guests, ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops, and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. And subscribers at the annual level now get access to the Design Better Toolkit, which gets you major discounts and free access to tools and courses that will help you unlock new skills, make your workflow more efficient, and take your creativity further. Upgrade to paid *** If you're interested in sponsoring the show, please contact us at: sponsors@thecuriositydepartment.com If you'd like to submit a guest idea, please contact us at: contact@thecuriositydepartment.com

What if your career doesn't follow the plan you originally imagined-and that turns out to be your biggest advantage?In this inspiring episode of the DaliTalks Podcast, host Dali Rivera sits down with sisters Nancy and Amy Harrington, founders of The Passionistas Project, to talk about their unconventional career journeys-from music and graphic design to television, Hollywood, and ultimately building a global online community for women.Nancy shares how her dream of becoming a DJ led her into graphic design and entrepreneurship, while Amy opens up about her path into television, internships at MTV, and working in post-production and visual effects at Warner Brothers. Together, they reflect on the power of staying flexible, embracing unexpected opportunities, and recognizing that no experience is ever wasted.This conversation is a powerful reminder for students, parents, creatives, and career-changers that success doesn't require a straight path-it requires curiosity, courage, and the willingness to evolve.IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:• Why career paths rarely turn out exactly as planned• How early interests can lead to unexpected opportunities• The value of college experiences-even when plans change• Why flexibility is one of the most important career skills• How internships and early jobs often come down to timing and luck• What working in Hollywood is really like behind the scenes• When it's time to walk away from a career that no longer fits• Why women often have to fight to be heard in business• How The Passionistas Project became a global women's community• Why you don't need permission to pursue what you wantCONNECT WITH NANCY & AMY HARRINGTON

(00:00) — The first spark: Dr. Gray asks when medicine became real.(01:34) — Military plans, cold feet, and choosing community college: He skips the Air Force and starts at McDonald's while exploring options.(02:50) — Hospital volunteering clicks: Serving patients water and meals feels right.(03:57) — Dodging family careers, then trying healthcare: After business, HVAC, and computer science, healthcare gets a look.(05:03) — PA vs MD crossroads: Realizing his reasons for PA pointed to wanting to be a physician—and surgery.(06:35) — Work ethic and upbringing: Family moves from a tough neighborhood shaped his drive.(09:41) — Early C's and the “not a science person” myth: Motivation and maturity change outcomes.(11:28) — Six-year undergrad and the pivot: Business transfer degree to UMBC biology and honors in philosophy.(13:12) — Why gap years: YouTube guidance, mentors, research, and phlebotomy.(15:36) — Inside admissions at Brown: The competition he witnessed.(16:36) — What likely stood out to Brown: Authentic story, first-gen identity, jobs, and solid metrics.(18:09) — Getting personal in the personal statement: Why vulnerability matters.(19:57) — One-and-done and the gift of virtual interviews: COVID made it financially possible.(21:48) — Will AI end virtual interviews?: Concerns about cheating and tech trust.(24:34) — AI in the OR and pathology: Augmenting surgeons and decoding tumors.(25:30) — The first interview invite memory: Relief and pride in the lab.(27:06) — If he could change admissions: Predicting academic success and centering people over scores.(29:03) — Transparency, the MCAT, and US News incentives: How rankings skew behavior.(33:09) — Final words to struggling premeds: Your timeline is your own—keep going.Ryland didn't grow up planning on medicine. After high school, he nearly joined the Air Force, worked at McDonald's, and enrolled at community college to explore paths—from business and HVAC to computer science. Hospital volunteering felt different. He became a phlebotomist, considered PA school, and then realized the reasons drawing him to PA actually pointed to becoming a physician—with a strong pull toward surgery.It wasn't linear. Early C's in science and a six-year undergraduate path (business transfer to UMBC biology with honors in philosophy) forced him to confront the “not a science person” label. With time, maturity, and motivation, he turned it around, took two gap years for research and service, leaned heavily on YouTube guidance, and sought mentors who helped shape his essays and application strategy.Ryland shares why he aimed for a one-and-done application, how virtual interviews during COVID made that possible, and what it felt like to see his first interview invite. He reflects on serving on Brown's admissions committee, what authentic stories communicate beyond metrics, and why getting personal matters. Plus, a candid discussion on AI's impact on interviews and training, the perverse incentives of rankings, and his message to premeds: your timeline is your own—and you can do this.What You'll Learn:- How to pivot after early C's and reframe the “not a science person” myth- Deciding PA vs MD by clarifying what truly draws you to patient care- Using community college, gap years, and mentoring to strengthen your application- What admissions values beyond MCAT and GPA—and why authenticity matters- How AI and rankings may shape interviews and the premed landscape

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli sits down with David Ross, VUCA strategist and author of Confronting the Storm: Regenerating Leadership and Hope in the Age of Uncertainty. David is a renowned expert on VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) environments and has spent his career advising organizations on how to thrive amidst complexity and disruption. With a background as an ecologist, David brings a unique perspective to leadership—one that emphasizes the interconnectedness of the issues facing businesses and society today. His deep understanding of wicked problems, those challenges with no straightforward solutions, forms the backbone of this engaging conversation.The discussion centers around how leaders must adapt to the rapidly changing business landscape, where traditional approaches no longer work. David argues that the old leadership models—based on control and linear thinking—are ill-suited for the challenges we face today. Instead, he advocates for a more collaborative, emotionally intelligent, and resilient leadership style, one that embraces uncertainty rather than fighting it. He explains how technology, climate change, and societal shifts are creating a world that's more BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible), and what leaders need to do to stay ahead.Throughout the episode, David draws on his extensive experience advising CEOs and leadership teams, offering practical insights into how organizations can navigate the unpredictability of today's environment. He also delves into the importance of hope and optimism, even in times of crisis, and how leaders can turn challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation. Actionable Takeaways:You'll learn why traditional leadership models based on control and linear thinking are no longer effective in today's VUCA world—and what you need to replace them with.Hear how embracing uncertainty and fostering resilience can transform how your organization responds to crises and wicked problems.Discover the power of emotional intelligence in leadership and why listening is just as important as speaking in today's collaborative environments.Find out what David means by a BANI world (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) and how leaders can adapt to thrive in these unpredictable times.Explore the importance of hope and optimism in leadership and how turning crises into opportunities is key to long-term success.Understand why future literacy and foresight are critical tools for leaders looking to anticipate change and guide their organizations through complexity.Learn why David believes that normalcy has left the building and how leaders must evolve to lead effectively in this new reality.Hear David's insights on why collaboration—not isolation—is the future of leadership and how diverse perspectives fuel innovation.Gain insight into why scenario planning is a powerful tool for leaders to prepare for multiple futures and make better strategic decisions.Connect with David RossDavid Ross Website Confronting the Storm: Regenerating Leadership and Hope in the Age of UncertaintyDavid Ross LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

In this solo episode of the Optimal Aging Podcast, guest host Chris Liddle takes the mic to explore why the traditional, linear ways of thinking don't serve aging clients or the fitness professionals who work with them. Drawing from his experience coaching adults 50+ both online and in-person, Chris dives deep into non-linear thinking, systems design, and holistic strategies that foster client trust, retention, and business sustainability.You'll learn why older clients aren't less motivated—they're simply less tolerant of friction. Chris shares actionable strategies for fitness professionals to better serve this powerful demographic by rethinking how they show up, structure sessions, and design long-term career stability. He also explains why Jay Croft's book Selling Longevity is essential reading for your 2026 business plan.If you serve people over 50 or want to build a resilient fitness business, this episode is packed with insights you can put to work right away.Guest Host: Chris Liddle Instagram: @christianliddleMentioned Book: Selling Longevity by Jay Croft – https://a.co/d/iumKfjTEpisode Topics & Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction by Chris Liddle 01:00 – Why linear thinking fails with aging, fitness, and business 03:00 – What is non-linear thinking? And why it matters after 40 04:00 – Systems thinking: Creating calm, consistent client experiences 05:30 – Case study: The impact of trainer punctuality 06:30 – Nervous system regulation and gym environments 07:30 – Why older clients quietly leave broken systems 08:00 – Another example: Listening to client feedback and adapting programs 09:00 – Holistic thinking: Seeing beyond just the workout 10:00 – Why older clients care about gym cleanliness, systems, and trust 11:00 – Linear vs. lateral income thinking in fitness careers 12:00 – What's a media kit? How trainers can stabilize income 13:00 – Ethical brand partnerships and user-generated content 14:00 – Enhancing income stability with strategic collaborations 15:00 – Time to reflect: Audit your systems, time, adaptability, and fragility 17:00 – Why Jay Croft's book Selling Longevity is a must-read 18:00 – The power of clarity, messaging, and Prime Fit Content 20:00 – Using guest experts like dietitians to build trust and results 21:00 – Nutrition's role in holistic client transformation 22:00 – Divergent thinking and designing calm, reliable systems 23:00 – Final thoughts: Which system, if improved, would make the biggest impact?Resources Mentioned:Selling Longevity by Jay Croft – https://a.co/d/iumKfjTPrime Fit Content – https://primefitcontent.com

End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/framework Architects often feel stuck and overwhelmed when dealing with the challenge of growing their firms beyond the exhausting hustle-and-grind stage, especially when the traditional path to growth feels slow, risky, and filled with staffing headaches. Many try to "stay small" to avoid these pains—only to face inconsistent cash flow, constant stress, and limited creative freedom. Enoch & Rion explore a bold and unexpected path to growing an architecture firm—one that challenges long-held beliefs in the industry. Along the way, they reveal why so many small practices stay stuck, and what keeps talented architects locked in old models that drain time, energy, and joy. You'll hear stories from firm owners who broke out of the grind, the hidden risks of staying small, and a surprising route that can give instant stability and creative freedom. By the end, you'll see the industry from a new angle—and feel pulled toward a different future. The "invisible desert" nearly every firm must cross—and the shortcut few know exists. A counterintuitive move that can turn years of slow growth into a single bold leap. The surprising reason a bigger firm can be easier to run than a small one.

Kristen peels back the glossy layers of the personal development world and gets radically honest about what real growth looks and feels like. Spoiler alert: it's not always pretty—and it's definitely not linear.If you've ever thought, “Why am I still dealing with this?” or felt stuck in self-help shame spirals, this conversation is your permission slip to ditch the unrealistic timelines and redefine what growth really means.Kristen dives into:Why consuming personal development content isn't the same as doing the workThe danger of turning personal growth into a self-shaming toolWhat it means to turn in your “victim card” and reclaim radical responsibilityHow to spot when you're stuck in a pattern vs. truly evolvingThe nature-inspired reminder that nothing in life grows endlessly—and that's okayPlus, she shares a heartfelt personal reflection about fulfillment, redefining success, and how breaking her own patterns led to unexpected transformation.Whether you're working on your mindset, relationships, business, or just trying to become the best version of yourself—this episode will meet you where you are.Key Takeaways:Growth is not a straight line—expect spirals, setbacks, and seasons.Awareness without action is a trap. Real change requires implementation.Stop treating yourself like a never-ending project to fix.True growth happens when you love yourself through the process—not once you “arrive.”Fulfillment metrics matter more than performance metrics.Timestamps:00:58 – Welcome back + the truth about "growth drama"02:52 – Consuming vs. integrating personal development04:50 – Turning in your victim card and owning your agency07:34 – The shadow side of self-help culture12:23 – When personal growth turns into self-shaming19:24 – What nature teaches us about healthy growth patterns23:52 – Revisiting old wounds from a new level of awareness27:46 – How Kristen manages her own defaults around hustle30:19 – Why fulfillment > achievement33:21 – A new lens for your lifelong journeyMentioned in This Episode:Join Sondera Signature Membership – Weekly coaching, transformative tools, and deep work to help you break patterns and build a meaningful life. (Special offer ends November 1st—don't miss it!)Love the podcast? Drop a quick rating and review on Apple or Spotify. It helps more people find the show—and we'd love to shout you out on Instagram. Tag @thekristenboss with a screenshot and your biggest takeaway.

In this episode, Daria Burke discusses the non-linear path to healing and how to find wholeness after trauma. She shares her experiences growing up in Detroit with parents struggling with addiction, the impact of adversity, and her path toward self-discovery and integration. Daria also explores the complexities of healing, the importance of embracing all parts of oneself, and the power of nature and personal growth as metaphors for transformation and hope.Exciting News!!! My new book, How a Little Becomes a Lot: The Art of Small Changes for a More Meaningful Life, is now available for pre-orders!Key Takeaways:Exploration of trauma and its impact on personal development.Discussion on resilience and the capacity to heal from past experiences.The concept of integration as a means of reconciling different aspects of oneself.The role of inherited legacies and environmental factors in shaping identity.Examination of coping mechanisms, including dissociation and adaptive avoidance.The nonlinear nature of healing and the importance of self-compassion.Insights into various therapeutic modalities, including somatic therapies.The significance of control and surrender in the healing process.Metaphors illustrating the journey of healing, such as the growth of hydrangeas.Emphasis on the ongoing nature of personal growth and the importance of community support.If you enjoyed this conversation with Daria Burke, check out these other episodes:Healing Painful Patterns and Finding Freedom with Radhule WeiningerWhat Brings Healing, Strength, and Connection with Dani ShapiroFor full show notes, click here!Connect with the show:Follow us on YouTube: @TheOneYouFeedPodSubscribe on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyFollow us on InstagramThis episode is sponsored by:Persona Nutrition delivers science-backed, personalized vitamin packs that make daily wellness simple and convenient. In just minutes, you get a plan tailored to your health goals. No clutter, no guesswork. Just grab-and-go packs designed by experts. Go to PersonaNutrition.com/FEED today to take the free assessment and get your personalized daily vitamin packs for an exclusive offer — get 40% off your first order.Grow Therapy – Whatever challenges you're facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Sessions average about $21 with insurance, and some pay as little as $0, depending on their plan. (Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plans. Visit growtherapy.com/feed today!Delivering the WOW; Check out Richard Fain's new book, a behind-the-scenes look at how he transformed Royal Caribbean into a world-class company through culture, innovation, and intentional leadership. Available now on Amazon and wherever you get your books.AGZ – Start taking your sleep seriously with AGZ. Head to drinkag1.com/feed to get a FREE Welcome Kit with the flavor of your choice that includes a 30 day supply of AGZ and a FREE frother.Smalls – Smalls cat food is protein-packed recipes made with preservative-free ingredients you'd find in your fridge… and it's delivered right to your door. For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/FEED! No more picking between random brands at the store. Smalls has the right food to satisfy any cat's cravings.LinkedIn: Post your job for free at linkedin.com/1youfeed. Terms and conditions apply.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.