Podcasts about resources one

There are a lot of different opinions and feelings about the neurodivergent experience during the holiday season. The reality is that they will be vastly different for each individual, and there isn't a right way to experience the holidays. In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, dive into the complexities of navigating the holiday season as neurodivergent individuals, offering valuable strategies for managing stress, setting boundaries, and finding moments of connection. Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode: Understand the challenges of masking or unmasking publicly and at holiday events, as well as the importance of setting boundaries to protect one's energy and sensory needs during gatherings. Identify strategies for managing stress and anxiety during the holiday season, including ways to do self-care and prioritize value-based activities.  Learn how to release expectations, find compromise, and create moments of joy and connection that result in more meaningful personal experiences in cross-neurotype relationships and prioritize well-being for every neurotype. We all have different likes and dislikes, as well as perceptions and experiences, so do your best to release any expectations around how you should experience and feel about the holiday season, and try to create an environment and experience that honors your unique wants and needs.  Resources: One of Dr. Neff's first blog posts ever written was on navigating their first holiday season after the discovery that they were Autistic, so if you want some more Autistic holiday musings here you go: Autism and the Holidays: Reflections: neurodivergentinsights.com/blog/neurodivergent-holiday-reflections    A Thanks to Our Sponsor, Gifted Learning Lab! ✨ Gifted Learning Lab: We would love to thank Gifted Learning Lab for sponsoring this episode. If you're raising a bright neurodivergent kid and you'd like to feel more confident and less stressed as a parent, you can get free parenting resources and supportive coaching from The Gifted Learning Lab and Dr. Danika Maddocks. The Gifted Learning Lab is designed for parents of emotionally intense or sensitive gifted and twice-exceptional kids and teens, including those who are autistic, PDAers, ADHDers, or otherwise neurodivergent.  Danika is a former gifted kid and a late-identified autistic who combines intuition, compassion, and humor with practical strategies that help you build a calmer and more connected family life. She has supported twice-exceptional kids and families for over a dozen years as a teacher, therapist, award-winning researcher, and parent coach.  If you've tried other parenting advice without success, The Gifted Learning Lab might be right for you - all the ideas and strategies are tailored to the strengths, needs, and characteristics of intense gifted and twice-exceptional kids. Danika helps you understand your kid's intensity from the inside out so you can connect with your child during tough moments and know what they need to thrive.  You'll learn to work with your child's brain and you'll feel more confident letting go of traditional parenting approaches that aren't a good fit for your child or yourself. If you're also neurodivergent yourself, you can use many of the strategies and tools from The Gifted Learning Lab to bring more ease and compassion to your own life too. Right now, The Gifted Learning Lab is offering a free email mini course to help you defuse and prevent power struggles with your gifted or twice-exceptional kid - in an affirming, supportive way. If you feel stuck in endless negotiations or arguments, check out the free power struggles mini course at www.giftedlearninglab.com/power.   Transcript PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, so it is like a couple of days before Thanksgiving. It's like super dreary and raining outside here in Asheville, and you're sick. And the holidays are coming up. So, I think we wanted to talk about at least a lot of the major American holidays that are coming up. So, I think we want to talk about just neurodivergence, and holidays, and how to navigate them, and how to protect yourself and safeguard your own energy and mental well-being. MEGAN NEFF: Absolutely. Yeah, it's complex, isn't it? PATRICK CASALE: It's hard. I think, regardless of whether you are neurodivergent, neurotypical, I think the holidays are hard for a lot of people, for a lot of reasons. And I think they can bring up a lot of emotion, I think they can bring up a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety, a lot of dread. I think they bring up a lot of almost like, for those of you who are high maskers, having to perform, or show up a certain way, and act as if like you feel a certain way about being there. So, yeah. I think [CROSSTALK 00:01:06]. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah. Absolutely. And then the guilt of feeling a certain way about being there. Like, if you don't enjoy it, but all of the shoulds, "I should enjoy this." Yeah. Yeah, the combination of like, the cultural pressure of like, this is the happiest time of year. Like, time to connect with family and X, Y, Z, and then the internal experience, if that's not your experience, yeah. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, and I think it's further complicated when you might, you know, be neurodivergent and you might be struggling internally if you, especially, have not discussed outwardly or publicly with family, friends, colleagues, whoever you might spend holiday time with. And I also think there's complications that may arise if you are unmasking publicly at a holiday event, or if you recently talked about it publicly, and then your family or friends or whoever have a million questions about your experiences feels like hell. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, like to have private conversations, but not in a private setting. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, exactly. Sorry [CROSSTALK 00:02:16]- MEGAN NEFF: Yeah. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, so we want to talk about strategies, we want to validate those of you who are like, "I hate the holiday season in general. Like, I don't participate, I don't have people to spend time with. I don't look forward to them." Like, society throws this message in our faces of how we're supposed to perform and how we're supposed to feel. So, I get that, and I'm definitely one of those people. I don't enjoy the holiday season, never have, never will, don't look forward to it, dread it, can't wait till it's over. How about you? MEGAN NEFF: I actually like it. PATRICK CASALE: Okay. MEGAN NEFF: But I haven't always… you weren't expecting that, I know. I haven't always liked it. But I think in the last few years, so I definitely didn't like it before. In the last few years, once we've understand our family and our family needs, like we've taken a pretty serious to have like a cozy, comfortable holiday season, like the four of us. So, things kind of actually slowed down. Now that's definitely not always been the case. I think, discovering we used to travel and that was horrific, that was so terrible. I do not recommend traveling while neurodivergent with neurodivergent children during holiday season. So, I don't enjoy… So, like this week in the US is Thanksgiving for folks who still celebrate the holiday that I think we should probably stop celebrating. That's another episode, but like that, I've always, always disliked, because it's like you go into a room, there's lots of people, it's kind of fancy, there's a lot of smells. Like, I've always really disliked that holiday. But again, this family, like the four of us are going to hang out and partly complicating factors, which most people just aren't thinking about anymore, but like exposure. Like, to go to a large family gathering, COVID, when I get it and my daughter gets it, it knocks us out. And so I'm still thinking about exposure, which a lot of folks I realize aren't, so there's that. PATRICK CASALE: It's a good point, you know, because I know you've been battling long COVID. So, for those of us who, you know, we did that episode on chronic health and just illness in general with Mel, and I think that's another factor. Yeah, I mean, this episode is not going to come out before Thanksgiving, but like talk about sensory hell well, walking into a massive busy room with, like, all the smells, all the things, all the textures, like all the people. It can be so overwhelming so quickly. And I myself am also looking forward to just being at home with my wife. My dad's coming up today. And that is it. And we are not doing anything. And that feels pretty perfect to me. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah, absolutely, yeah. And so I think when we can lean into the comfort of the season it can be nice. Like, for Christmas season, you know, I love the smell of pine or for whatever that fresh tree smell is. I love the twinkly lights, not the bright lights. I love hot chocolate and like warm fuzzy blankets. So, I think when I can lean into the smallness of the holiday, and release the pressures of making it big, I've actually been able to enjoy the season. But most people can't release those pressures of the big and I definitely did enjoy it before I could do that. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, I agree with you. Myself, you know, I celebrate Christmas, but like, it's only because my wife does. I'm Jewish but like, not by religion, but by ancestry. So, I would err on the side of like, not giving a shit about any of it. It feels so commercialized like all around. For me it's very much like my autistic side where I'm like, this feels wrong, this feels like black and white to me. I don't enjoy any of this. It feels like… what's the word I'm looking for? Not commercial, again, that's what I already said. But it feels so capitalist, you know? Like, the whole cycle of it. So, like, for me, I just want it to be over. I know my wife enjoys it. So, I think that's another challenge when we've talked about cross-neurotype partnerships and different needs, in general, as human beings. Like, trying to show up if you do have a partner or a family who want to participate, who are looking at things, and then trying to figure out like, how do I get myself there or at least able to be there? MEGAN NEFF: So, this is kind of divergent. But are you running a Black Friday sale, because you're a business owner? PATRICK CASALE: I am not. I hate Black Friday sales, too. Like, I'm just like, I can't do it. What do I do? Like, fit a couple of $100 off a retreat registration or like… it's just not for me? MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, no. Like, it's so interesting speaking of the commodification of this time of year. Like, I always feel so torn of like, everyone in entrepreneur land is like, "You should be prepping for Black Friday for months." And like that just feels, I don't know, I don't have good feelings about it. Think I'm going to put together like a neurodivergent gift guide. But yeah, it's a weird thing as a business owner, the commodification of this season of like, do you lean into that? Do you just like, no. PATRICK CASALE: I'm one of those people though, like, if it's like, everyone tells me I'm supposed to be doing something I'm not going to do it. That's just always who I am. I didn't watch Game of Thrones for years, because everyone was like, "You have to watch this show. It's amazing." I'm like, "No, this is stupid." And then all of a sudden, I've watched it 60 times on repeat. But yeah, that's been my mentality around basically everything despite whether it impacts me negatively as a business owner or not. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. No, I like that, I like that. So, yeah, commodification, I mean, that can be a stress of the holidays, right? Just the financial aspect for people. I think family, like, if anyone has, like, anyone has a dysfunctional family, which most of us to some extent do like the holidays can be hard. But if you have lost someone, like we talked about grief a couple of months ago, holidays can be excruciating, the sensory aspect, the shoulds. Like, yeah, what have we missed? There's a lot of reasons [CROSSTALK 00:09:05]- PATRICK CASALE: Well, you know, like, struggling with sobriety or if you're struggling with substance use in general, the holidays are typically a time where that's going to ramp up quite a bit. Whether it be for coping, [INDISCERNIBLE 00:09:22], like whether it be for coping, whether it be through navigating loneliness or feelings of I don't feel connected to this or feel like I don't belong. So, you're going to see a lot of that as well. MEGAN NEFF: Absolutely, absolutely. Yeah, for sure, for sure. PATRICK CASALE: Wondering about like, and you know, also holidays tend to come with like, if you're working, right? For an employer, holiday parties, and get-togethers, and gatherings are situations where you may have to really, you know, figure out a way to either manage that energy, and that boundary, and that sensory overload, and that social expectation for your job's sake, or you may decide like I can't participate in this. And does that have ramifications for my career or for my co-workers and colleagues and I relationships? MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, absolutely. And gosh, yeah, work social events can be really complex to begin with for autistic people, because the context shift and the role shift, but it's not clear. It's like, okay, so at work we don't talk about personal things, but then when we have a holiday party we do, but like, it's still limited. Like, I think, in general, those work social events are really complicated to navigate. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah. PATRICK CASALE: Absolutely. And then you're talking about small talk hell once again, never looked forward to those. Always found reasons or excuses to try to get out of them. So, I think it's important to also think about like, okay, we're talking about what the holidays can bring up. Some people may have good association, some negative, etc. But boundary setting, ways to manage some of the stress and anxiety as you're going into a season where you're supposed to feel happy, and joyous, and connected. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah, because if you're feeling disconnected, it makes it all the more apparent. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, absolutely. And I think it always feels for me, like, "Oh, what's wrong with you? You know, how come you don't look forward to three months of fucking Christmas music going on in [INDISCERNIBLE 00:11:33] that you go to, to go shopping?" I'm just, like, looking forward to Reese's changing the trees, and then eggs, and like all the seasonal Reese's, I'm really excited about that. But boundary-setting wise, I think it's important to have some strategies so that you can kind of try to set boundaries with family, and friends, and colleagues, as you're going into a couple of month's stretch where you really want to protect your energy, you really want to sensory soothing, you really, maybe don't want to have certain demands placed upon you. So, I think it's important to think about strategies and techniques where you can at least have some of that in place. You know, I know, it's not always possible for you to say like, I'm not going to participate in this, but to the best of our abilities to have some strategies, I think would be ideal. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, absolutely. And some of it, like back to cross-neurotype relationships, some of it might come back to strategies in like, if someone's partnered with their partner, because I think those are sometimes the hardest conversations of like, one partner really wants to travel to see their family but traveling is really hard for the other. Or just, in general, one partner might want to be doing a lot of holiday events outside the home while that's hard for the other partner. So, I think starting conversations in that partnership, with someone's partner is probably really crucial, especially, if like, one's extroverted and one's introverted or, you know, one likes to be out of the home more. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, absolutely. I think start those conversations, you know, obviously, we're talking like this is going to release probably sometime in December but going into 2024, start those conversations early next year too. Like, be proactive in that communication, because, for us, you know, I've talked about my relationship on here before, my wife has a very large family, they all get together for the holidays. They love it, she looks forward to it. But we've kind of had this like, agreement where for Thanksgiving week we won't go anywhere, we won't go to her family's, we won't go to all the gatherings. But like for Christmas, we'll go for the day so she can see our nieces and nephews unwrap presents. And like for me, that's a concession I'm totally willing to make. It also allows me to, like, conserve that energy a little bit more then. You know I have to prepare to be on the go all the time. MEGAN NEFF: Absolutely. So, yeah, like you all have found a compromise that works for you two. Yeah, yeah. I think compromise, the other word that comes to mind is differentiation. Like, I think there's this weird idea that couples always have to do things together. Like, one couple can… like, I get that it's not ideal not to maybe spend the holidays together, but like, one person can travel without the other, one person can go to an event without the other. Yeah, there might be questions but like, we don't have to do everything together just if we're partnered. And I think sometimes we forget that. PATRICK CASALE: I feel like you've mentioned this like on 10 different episodes now, that exact, like, sentiment of couples do not have to do everything together. So, that could be a whole freaking series, I think, of autistic or just cross-neurotype partnerships and neurodivergent partnerships. But yeah, I agree, 100%. And finding that compromise, finding that balance, and yeah, there might be some conversations to navigate, but I do think it's probably in the long run better off for everyone all around if they come to that agreement, for sure. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. And then I've mentioned this on the podcast before, too, but like, I like to overlay pacing systems. And a pacing system is just like any system that helps you think through how to pace your activity with, like, a value system. So, for me, and for like a lot of neurodivergent parents, yeah, I'm pretty fine not seeing my family during the holidays, but I want my kids to have memories with their cousins. So, like, that's a high value for me. So, maybe this is confusing, because I use like the light system for both. Like, that's a green light value. Like that's a high value and like a red light activity for me. Like, it takes a ton of energy. But like, I intentionally make that choice. And similar for you to like go see your wife's family. So, I think, also thinking through both like energy expenditure, but also values, and then figuring… like spending your red light energy expenditures on green light values. Like, you don't want to be spending red light energy on, like, low-value things. That's just not the good use of our energy expenditure. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah. MEGAN NEFF: So, then, again, figuring out like, what can we drop during the holiday season that's not a high value, but perhaps a high energy cost. PATRICK CASALE: Agreed 100%. It's a great way of looking at it, and I think prioritizing. And it's kind of doing that cost-benefit analysis, right? Of like, this is worth it to me, but I know it's also going to drain me. So, just having to put the tools in place to mentally prepare for that, and then support your nervous system and your sensory system afterwards however you need to. I think the one thing that I'm thinking about holiday related, I don't know why, maybe it's just my own dysfunction and family systems, but is like uncomfortable conversations at the dinner table. And I think for those who are like, you know, whether you're new to your diagnosis, and you're talking about it publicly, there might be some scrutiny, there might be questions, there might be, like, maybe even some ableism that comes up and we just did an RSD series, so hell, we certainly can create a whole [INDISCERNIBLE 00:17:31] RSD at these situations. So, maybe just creating some, like, conversational cue cards for yourself too of like, you know, some [CROSSTALK 00:17:40] some scripts or things like that, that can be helpful for you as well to set those boundaries. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, I think having scripts kind of pre-thought-out, or boundary scripts is so helpful. Like, actually, I don't want to talk about that here. If you want to talk about that one-on-one, if that's true, if you're happy to talk one-on-one. But having thought through, yeah, how to kind of get out of those sticky situations beforehand can be really helpful. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, absolutely. MEGAN NEFF: Do you have any like go to, like, well, phrased sentences of that kind of shuts down a conversation? PATRICK CASALE: I've always been good at like saying like, "Okay, if this conversation is becoming uncomfortable, how can we switch the conversation to something that everyone's interested in talking about?" And that's usually like, "Oh, like, let's talk about the football game that's on TV right now." Or, like, "Let's talk about whatever else, and bring the conversation away from the attention on you and back to some feels more neutral or more common ground for everybody that everyone can participate in." It also, like, takes the pressure off of feeling like the spotlight is just, like, shining on equally and I have now, like, to respond, or communicate, or participate. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah, yeah. PATRICK CASALE: Also- MEGAN NEFF: Okay, I had… Oh, go ahead. PATRICK CASALE: Sorry, go ahead. MEGAN NEFF: No, go ahead, I'm kind of changing gears, so… PATRICK CASALE: I just have the avoidance strategy of just not going so like, that's always [CROSSTALK 00:19:10]- MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I was thinking you're like, I don't really have that experience of avoiding awkward things, because what I do is I shut down when I'm in large sound groups. And it's interesting. My dad who, you know, we've been talking a lot about, he's also a psychologist. So, we've been talking a lot about my neurodivergence last few years, who like, "Yeah, I'll look over the table and it's like you're just not there." So, I shut down, which like, then I just am kind of listening to everyone else's conversation. And group conversations are really hard for me, which is sometimes evidenced in this podcast. So, I just get really quiet, shut down. What I didn't realize… And it's interesting, my spouse used to like, "Babe, are you okay?" And this was pre-diagnosis. And he'd worry about me. And was just like, "Okay, she's in her little shutdown mode." But what I didn't realize, I think this isn't perhaps helpful for people, was, you know, that is a stress state and the body needs to release that, the body needs to complete the stress cycle. When I would go home back when I was drinking, speaking of like drinking holiday season, I would often be like, "I need a drink." Like, after I got home. And now looking back, it's like, okay, my body was in this kind of frozen, immobilized stress state, looking for a way to get out of that stress cycle. Turns out, spoiler, that's not a great way to actually complete the stress cycle. But just to know, like, even if you're not feeling anxious and agitated, if you're feeling shut down, like, when you're done with those events, your body still needs to release that, whether it's like going on a really grounding walk in the cool air, or like taking a gentle bath. Like, your body needs to do something with that. And I think that's just a helpful thing for people to be aware of during the holiday season. PATRICK CASALE: Absolutely, 100%. I tend to do that too in group conversations around like a dinner table or something when multiple people are talking at once, where I'm like kind of doing this internally, and I can't focus, or really, like, participate, then I start to shut down, and then I become really quiet. So, yeah, that stress state is definitely real. So, pay attention to that for yourselves and just kind of monitor that. There may not be something you can do in the immediate scene of like, "I can release this right now." But just like Megan said, that great strategies when you are out of that environment, being able to get that stress out of the body, because you certainly don't want that to build up and just because, there are, you know, complications or issues. MEGAN NEFF: And taking breaks. Like, if someone's spending a long day somewhere, like can you get outside. You know, is outside less than overwhelming, but like the cool air that like just getting fresh air, again, if air quality is fresh. I'm getting kind of out of… because I think part of it is being in a, you know, like enclosed space with lots of bodies that I know that's part of what's hard for me. So, taking breaks, sensory breaks throughout the day. So, again, so that that stress kind of has a chance to come down so it's not just building, building, building all day, yeah. PATRICK CASALE: I was always the person that'd be like volunteering to go run errands, you know, if, "Hey, can anyone go pick this thing up?" "Yep, sure. I'll go do it. Like, let me get the hell out of here." MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. PATRICK CASALE: So, yeah, putting yourself into situations like that, where you can take a break, get outside. MEGAN NEFF: I think that's a great reminder, because like, a lot of us want connection, right? And it goes back to, I don't know that we'll release in this order, but last week, we recorded on attachment and belonging, and we want it, a lot of us. It's just, well, I'll speak for me. Like, I want it, it's just hard for me. So, I think finding ways, same for me, it's like, okay, if I can do the dishes, if I can find a way to stay busy, if I can run an errand. Like, are there ways to feel connected to whatever is happening, whether it's with the family or the friend group, but in a way that is more tolerable. So, I love that you like become the errand person. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, I do that now, you know, even in retreat settings when I have my partner there, I'm like, "Yeah, I'll go get the food. Like, I'll go do the thing." So, I can kind of like, take, like, a test on myself. Like, where am I at? Just kind of gauge it and reset a little bit to my best of my ability. And that's always been pretty useful. So, I'm just trying to do more of that stuff. And like, I remember when I was living in New York before I moved to North Carolina, like dating someone whose parents were divorced, my parents were divorced, having to go to four different places in one day, and like- MEGAN NEFF: Oh my gosh. PATRICK CASALE: You know, put on the show of like, "Oh, I so want to be here and like can't wait to spend this couple of hours." And I just remember how horribly exhausting, like, all of that was. So, yeah, just identifying ways for you all to ground, regulate, sensory soothe, take breaks, set boundaries, all the things that work for me. MEGAN NEFF: I would not connect, because I think part of what can be painful about the season for us is sometimes, like, we're seeing other people connect or we're at least seeing on social media the illusion of people connecting, and even in like the movies, the holiday movies. Like, a lot of them are very connection-focused. So, finding ways that, I think, help us feel deeply connected to people in our lives during the season, I think that could be in the kind of holiday self-care bucket if we're putting together a little holiday self-care toolkit. PATRICK CASALE: Absolutely, agree, 100%. I think connection is paramount. And just finding those ways to connect with one or two people that you can in whichever way that you can, super important. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. PATRICK CASALE: Also, like, the, you know, theme of like, receiving gifts and gift giving, always been a struggle for me. But my wife's doing, like, special interests, like, gift giving for me, and it has changed the way I receive things so drastically, like opening something up and being like, "Oh, I don't know how to react to this." To actually like being pretty genuinely excited or content with, like, some of that stuff. So, that's been a nice thing to have that shift too, because I myself, like, struggle when my reaction isn't what the other person wants it to be. MEGAN NEFF: Oh, gosh, yeah, that could be a whole thing. Like, yeah, opening gifts in front of people, it's awkward, because there's like this expectation and like, a lot of us don't hide our faces very well, like, if we're disappointed. I remember early Christmas I had like a response and I was a kid, but I had response to something my aunt gave me, and I very much remember the like, "We don't do that." But now, like, I hate opening gifts in front of people. I get so awkward. Yeah, gift-giving feels really inefficient to me, especially, again, in my partnership, like we share the same funds. So, I'm like, why would we gamble spending money on something that we don't know if you'll like? So, we actually just buy our own gifts but then wrap them for each other, which I think it's so much more efficient. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, I like that strategy. MEGAN NEFF: Logical, not efficient, logical. PATRICK CASALE: Okay, it's very logical. Yeah, yeah. We share a joint bank account. So, like, whatever I'm buying you is coming out of the same money, right? Like, yeah, it's a- MEGAN NEFF: So, don't you want to like it? Like, why would we risk spending money on something that you're not going to like? PATRICK CASALE: Yeah. And you don't want to hurt the other person's feelings, especially, if you care about them. So, you're like, "Fuck, I hate this gift, but I don't know how to react to this." Yeah, it's a whole thing of, again, it's just holidays are complicated, weird timing, for sure. And then like, I don't even want to get started on the idea of like, okay, it's about to be the new year. So, new year, new you. Like, [CROSSTALK 00:27:59]- MEGAN NEFF: Oh my gosh. PATRICK CASALE: …place like, and I can only start them January 1, 2024. I can't start them anytime other than that, and if I don't- MEGAN NEFF: Magical day. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah. MEGAN NEFF: Yeah, yeah. Talk about logic, like, okay, so yeah, I actually do kind of also enjoy the like, it's my ADHD, right? And like, I love challenges. I love novelty. So, I do kind of get excited about New Year resolutions, but I feel embarrassed about it, because I know the issues with it. But I do actually kind of get excited about, like, a point to reflect on the last year and a point to like kind of set intentions of like, what do I want this next year to look like? What do I want the rhythms and the habits to be? So, again, talk about commodification. I don't love all that happens around that. But I do like the invitation to pause and reflect. PATRICK CASALE: I agree. I love the pausing and the reflection. I love timelines, in general. Like, I like kind of looking back and zooming out a bit, because I don't feel a sense of like contentment, or pride, or satisfaction, or presence a lot of times in my day-to-day. So, to zoom out, it's like, this feels good. Like, it feels nice to be able to, like, put things in linear order too. But yeah, I don't love the like, okay, it's the new year, now I'm going to change everything about me and I'm going to do these new things. And like, it's why gym memberships lasts for like a week, and then nobody ever goes back. It's one of those things. I sound really cynical today. And I just realized I just hate the holiday season. And that's just my reality, so… MEGAN NEFF: You're allowed to have that. I mean, I think that's actually one of the tips I gave, is like release any expectations about, like, how you should feel about this season, right? Whether it's you should like it or… Like, and I think that's perhaps one of the most starting helpful points is just releasing any expectations we have about how we should experience this season. PATRICK CASALE: Absolutely. MEGAN NEFF: So, you're modeling that, well done. PATRICK CASALE: And yeah, I'm just hearing myself out loud. I'm like, "I hate that." That really bothers me. MEGAN NEFF: Well, maybe you're hearing it because I'm like, usually with you, with all the cynicism, and today I'm like, countering, "I'm like, yeah- PATRICK CASALE: Yeah [CROSSTALK 00:30:34]- MEGAN NEFF: …but this is not my experience." PATRICK CASALE: Right. I like that though. MEGAN NEFF: When you and I have different experiences on something, weird. PATRICK CASALE: It is good to highlight that, you know. Not all profiles have to be exactly the same, so… MEGAN NEFF: Mm-hmm (affirmative). PATRICK CASALE: I don't know if I have anything else. I can keep talking about this. MEGAN NEFF: Feel free. I'm also fine. Like, I think a short episode is fine. And feel free to keep talking. PATRICK CASALE: Yeah, yeah, I think we talked about everything. I wanted to hit today just kind of, like, being aware of you not feeling well, too. I don't want to drag this out if we don't have to. So, I think everything we talked about is good. For those of you listening, just find the little spots and the little moments that you can embrace or connect to. And I think that it takes a lot of the pressure off of like, this was supposed to feel this way or be experienced this way. Or I was supposed to show up this way and really try to take some of that intense, like, societal expectation off of you if you are in a part of the world right now that's gearing up to celebrate a lot of these holidays that are coming up. MEGAN NEFF: Mm-hmm (affirmative). PATRICK CASALE: Okay. MEGAN NEFF: That's well said, can't add anything, hopeful of that. PATRICK CASALE: Well, this episode will come out, probably, early December. So, for those of you who are listening, we appreciate it and hope you can kind of just create whatever you need to create in the next couple of weeks too, and take care of yourself. So, for all of you listening to Divergent Conversations, it's on all major platforms and YouTube. New episodes are out every single Friday. Like, download, subscribe, and share. And, goodbye.

When you think about sales how does it make you feel? For most people they feel icky and greasy. Sales doesn't have to be that way. You can implement a sales strategy into your fundraising approach so that you have a constant stream of people coming into your network for you to build stronger relationships with. What you'll learn: → why having a sales strategy doesn't mean you have to be salesy. → why a sales mindset works for nonprofits. → ways to motivate your team to keep pushing forward. → ways to keep things simple. → when it's time to expand. Want to skip ahead? Here are key takeaways: [5:40] To have an effective sales strategy doesn't mean throwing everything in people's faces. Think about servers at a restaurant. Great servers know the menu, what recommendations to make, ask you if you want desert. You don't feel like you're being sold to but you are.  Plus, that restaurant is paying attention to ticket totals and tips to help determine who gets the best sections. [10:53] It starts with building relationships and making connection. If you just keep coming back to people to ask for money and not learning about what their motivations are and who they are then you'll eventually run that well dry. [15:17] Create a better breakdown of your fundraising goal to know who to target. If you're looking for a certain amount of donors at a certain average gift then you can track where you're at and which audience you should be targeting.   [23:02] Keep reviewing goals and ensure the team is motivated. Figure out how members of your team like to be appreciated. Ensure that the goals that you're setting have a why attached so people feel excited to help get there. Don't forget to celebrate. [26:13] Encourage listening and providing value to your audience. Avoid going in to a meeting expecting to close. Go in ready to get to know someone and excited to learn. Come into the converation ready to provide value and knowing some things about the person you're talking with. Resources One-on-One Digital Marketing Therapy Sessions [book] Selling with Dignity by Harry Spaight Harry Spaight Founder, Selling with Dignity Harry Spaight, a renowned sales consultant, author and Founder of Selling With Dignity, and keynote speaker, prioritizes service over pushy tactics in his unique approach to sales. Drawing on his mission background and extensive experience in competitive sales, he offers valuable insights to improve sales performance and drive substantial revenue growth and performance. Learn more: https://sellingwithdignity.com   Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

Do you plan your marketing first or your fundraising first? For me, the answer is always your sales or fundraising goal. Marketing is meant to support your organizational goals. Don't get lost in the trap of working in silos where one isn't supporting the other! What you'll learn: → why your fundraising plan comes first. → how data can help drive decisions. → pay attention to audiences. → creating a culture of communication. Want to skip ahead? Here are key takeaways: [2:09] Build your fundraising plan first. When they know the goals that are laid out it makes it easier for marketers to put their plan together. This also helps to ensure that priority is giving to the activities that are going to support the revenue streams the organization is prioritizing. [2:39] Ask for the right data to support the financial goals. Building your goals around true data will also help you create financial goals that are attainable. This data can come from your donor data in your CRM as well as your marketing data sources like social media or your website analytics. [4:46] Create your plan based around your target audience. For example, are you focusing on corporate sponsors, increasing grant dollars, bring in new monthly donors, etc. This is again about prioritizing the activities you do. [12:40] Maintain open lines of communication. As the plan starts moving forward, make sure both sides are communication what's working and what's not. As funds come in it's important to strategize on areas you might need to pivot or what areas you need to double down on. Resources One-on-One Digital Marketing Therapy Sessions Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-click Learn more about The First Click: https://thefirstclick.net Schedule a Digital Marketing Therapy Session: https://thefirstclick.net/officehours 

Marital distress happens. Pain will occur. And when it does, our attachment styles will kick into full gear. Soon we will be behaving according to a script that was written a long time ago. However, these powerful scripts can be rewritten.  In this episode of Breaking Bread, Kaleb Beyer explains what attachment styles are, how they are written, how they can be rewritten and the difference it makes in the marriage relationship. Four Attachment Styles: Secure Attachment – when distress occurs, pain shared in relationship and soothed through the relationship. This attachment style is healthy. The Past: Often a secure attachment is constructed when caretakers have not dismissed emotions from children nor have they catastrophized matters. Avoiding Attachment – when distress occurs, the avoider turns down its volume by moving away from relationship and does not seek soothing for the distress from spouse. This attachment style is unhealthy. The Past: When in distress, a child seeks soothing from caretaker but does not find it. The              caretaker is not present, or is overwhelmed. The child learns independence and internalizes the struggle. Pleaser Attachment – when distress occurs, the pleaser turns up its volume and pursues the relationship in an anxious and hypervigilant way. Distress is only soothed when the spouse is pleased. This attachment style is unhealthy. The Past: When a child was in distress, it intensified distress in caretaker. Child learned that they                were responsible for the pain in others. Vacillator/chaotic attachment – when distress occurs, responses are very unpredictable. Matters can be exaggerated or underappreciated. This attachment style is unhealthy. The Past: When distress occurred in childhood, confusion played out. Addiction or abuse may have been present. When distress in your relationship turns unhealthy, seek to do the following. Recognize what happens internally when you are distressed. Do you pursue? Avoid? Vacillate? Seek to make space for the distress you feel and slowing down the automatic script. Understand your spouse engages with distress according to an attachment style also. Seek to share with your spouse the automatic script that plays out when you are in distress and acknowledge how this can be unhelpful for your spouse. Express your desire to learn a new and nonreactive way to relate to your spouse that soothes distress through relationship. Accept that this process of rewriting scripts takes time. Resources: One easy and quick way to identify your attachment style is to take the following quiz – The Love Style Quiz. This quiz takes about 15 – 20 minutes to complete and is designed to help you discover your primary attachment style. How We Love: Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage  Authors: Milan & Kay Yerkovich This book seeks to show how early life experiences create an underlying blueprint that shapes your beliefs, behavior, and expectations in your marriage. The authors identify four styles or blueprints and provide principles to help you break free of negative patterns and enhance intimacy.

We get so caught up in social media, comparison, being busy, hustling for our worth, juggling a life that we don't even want. It's time to make the change, to be the change and design a new, more fulfilling life of contentment and purpose. Are you always on the go, looking for a more slow-paced life? Are you living life to the busy and not to the full? Take the summer and let go of social media, let go of posting all your activities and insstead, embrace the ooey gooey goodness of your life. Rascal Flats song Mayberry: LyricsPeter Bregman Quote:"Being bored is a precious thing, a state of mind we should pursue, once boredom sets in, our minds being to wander, looking for something exciting, something intersting to land on. And that's where creativity arises."Scripture: Phil 4:6-8Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Do you want to live a life of regret?  3 ways to finding YOU again, to letting go of what doesn't serve you, to discover what's important.Resources:One of my favorite books: the Compound Effect by Darren Hardy reminds us:“You alone are responsible for what you do, don't do, or how you respond to what's done to you.” ...“Small, Smart Choices + Consistency + Time = RADICAL DIFFERENCE” It's the compound effect, each small choice builds on another. Amy Carney's Summer Printables on Creating a Summer of SignificanceStephanie's Bio:Stephanie Pletka is a motivational speaker, author of Living Your Best Life and radio show host of Motherhood Mindset on Faith Talk Radio 1360 in Phoenix. She produces a weekly podcast to help women navigate the messy parts of motherhood. Get ready for entertaining stories and 3 actionable steps to finding the goodness in the hard places. It's time to be encouraged to chase your dreams and write your story.Grab a copy of Living Your Best Life or download your audible for moms on the go.Subscribe to stephaniepletka.com for mom hacks, tips and upcoming events.@stephaniepletka IG See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Show Notes & Resources “One individual can really affect change and the best version of the world starts with the best version of ourselves,” shares Shelly Tygielski. As founder the global mutual aid organization called Pandemic of Love, she has connected more than 2 million individuals in need with people who can provide resources. Tygielski discusses the power of radical self-care and community with Host Greg Muzzillo. She also shares insights from her book, Sit Down to Rise Up, on ways to achieve our own mind, body, and emotional balance.Chapter Summaries0:40 - Introducing Shelly1:55 - Rise Up6:22 - Radical Self-Care10:45 - Toxic Positivity15:55 - Communities of Care19:30 - Mutual Aid23:10 - Rising Tide Lifts All Ships27:55 - Our Purpose is to LoveKey Takeaways: Sense of agency is really just the ability to be reflective and have awareness and be introspective about how our actions can actually affect other people and affect the world.The best version of the world starts with the best version of ourselves.When we look at what self-care is now on the internet, or we search up on Instagram, the hashtag self-care, the things that come up really don't qualify as self-care, because the term has been hijacked by the industrial wellness complex. So we associate self-care with things that cost money, right? Like, bath bombs or green juices or a Peloton. And it's not that those things can't contribute to your health, et cetera, but really that's not what self-care is. So when I talk about self-care, I'm really talking about communal care. I'm talking about how do we intricately weave these webs of safety nets for each other, and then in a radical way, take on the moral obligation to take care of one another. When a rising tide lifts all ships and that's the idea is that we all can contribute to that rising tide, all of our ships rise. Our purpose really is to love, to not only love, but to allow others to love us. The most powerful words a salesperson can say, although you never say it quite this way, is I have a problem and I need your help.Resource LinksBook: Sit Down to Rise Up: How Radical Self-Care Can Change the WorldLinked InInstagramTwitterShelly's Facebook‼️CONNECT WITH MILLION DOLLAR MONDAY‼️ Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube→ → → LEAVE US A REVIEW!

What You'll Learn From This Episode: Why asking for help is important Starting that 'difficult conversation' with your team Benefits of having a coach Related Links and Resources: One of the biggest skills that leaders don't have is coaching skills; don't know which questions to ask or when to use questions. Questioning is a powerful tool inside communication because it gives a chance for others to share what they discovered and how they want to move forward. I created a free resource to help understand to coaching skills. If you want to get those 15 questions go to www.genehammett.com/questions and download it. You can then mix them with your next conversation so that you are more of a coach in that role than telling someone what to do next. Summary: Gene Hammett is the best-selling author of The Trap of Success, a book about breaking through to new levels of growth. He has leadership insights have appeared in large publications like Inc, Entrepreneur, and Success Magazines. Since 2014, his show, Growth Think Tank has been recognized by Inc., Business Insider, and Entrepreneur for its consistent content about leadership and cultures in fast-growth companies featuring more than 300 founders/CEOs from the Inc 5000 List. Here are the highlights of this episode: Gene mainly works with CEOs and owners of fast-growing companies. The common problem that he notices is that these folks has been spending so much time managing the work, and less time managing or leading the people. Unfortunately, some even resist having difficult conversations about tensions, stress, or something similar. These are things Gene helps them see their blind spots, to let them excel as a leader. These leaders are also feeling overwhelmed in joggling several stuff at the same time, so he lets them realize what will be their next role; "what's next for me? how do I spend my time?". Some leaders also resist asking for help; they would rather suffer feeling overwhelmed and may have anxiety than seek assistance. But those who ask for help would actually feel a sense of relief, more clarity, and more confidence to move forward. Gene says almost everyone will benefit from a coach or a wise council that can help them see a different perspective. Hopefully someone who understands where you going through or has been there before that can give you insights and then let you get out of that emotional struggle or stress. He believes that the predictable growth comes from better leadership. Gene's Valuable Free Action (VFA): "Do you feel any tension of a missing conversation between you and an individual or you in a team?" because that tension is a signal to be proactive in having that difficult conversation before it gets worse than it already is.

What You'll Learn From This Episode: Why asking for help is important Starting that 'difficult conversation' with your team Benefits of having a coach Related Links and Resources: One of the biggest skills that leaders don't have is coaching skills; don't know which questions to ask or when to use questions. Questioning is a powerful tool inside communication because it gives a chance for others to share what they discovered and how they want to move forward. I created a free resource to help understand to coaching skills. If you want to get those 15 questions go to www.genehammett.com/questions and download it. You can then mix them with your next conversation so that you are more of a coach in that role than telling someone what to do next. Summary: Gene Hammett is the best-selling author of The Trap of Success, a book about breaking through to new levels of growth. He has leadership insights have appeared in large publications like Inc, Entrepreneur, and Success Magazines. Since 2014, his show, Growth Think Tank has been recognized by Inc., Business Insider, and Entrepreneur for its consistent content about leadership and cultures in fast-growth companies featuring more than 300 founders/CEOs from the Inc 5000 List. Here are the highlights of this episode: Gene mainly works with CEOs and owners of fast-growing companies. The common problem that he notices is that these folks has been spending so much time managing the work, and less time managing or leading the people. Unfortunately, some even resist having difficult conversations about tensions, stress, or something similar. These are things Gene helps them see their blind spots, to let them excel as a leader. These leaders are also feeling overwhelmed in joggling several stuff at the same time, so he lets them realize what will be their next role; "what's next for me? how do I spend my time?". Some leaders also resist asking for help; they would rather suffer feeling overwhelmed and may have anxiety than seek assistance. But those who ask for help would actually feel a sense of relief, more clarity, and more confidence to move forward. Gene says almost everyone will benefit from a coach or a wise council that can help them see a different perspective. Hopefully someone who understands where you going through or has been there before that can give you insights and then let you get out of that emotional struggle or stress. He believes that the predictable growth comes from better leadership. Gene's Valuable Free Action (VFA): "Do you feel any tension of a missing conversation between you and an individual or you in a team?" because that tension is a signal to be proactive in having that difficult conversation before it gets worse than it already is.

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:25, ESV We know Bible study is important, but when you open your Bible are you left wondering where to start? Or if you've been studying it for years, do you struggle to dig deeper into the stories you know well?  Join me this week as we learn about the LOOK Bible study method! It's easily adaptable to the season of life you're in. Whether you're short on time or have all the time in the word, you can study God's word! Resources “One-on-One with Jana Magruder on Engaging Kids In A Lifetime of Faith”  Abide: 40 Ways to Focus on Jesus Daily YouVersion App Million Praying Moms Fully Known Bible Study OverACup Patreon Community Connect with Tara:  Instagram Tara L. Cole  Facebook - Tara L. Cole Writer OverACup Community Facebook Group OverACup Patreon Community

“I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11, CSB We all want to develop a lifetime of faith in ourselves and those we love, but it starts with getting into God's Word.  In this month's episode, learn the simple practice of how to memorize scripture quickly and easily, even if you've failed in the past!  Resources: “One-on-One with Jana Magruder on Engaging Kids In A Lifetime of Faith”  Ep. 20: 3 Reasons Why Mothers Matter Sharpen Your Sword Workshop  Sharpen Your Sword Workshop Workbook+ Patreon OverACup Community Connect with Tara:  Instagram Tara L. Cole  Facebook - Tara L. Cole Writer OverACup Community Facebook Group

What You'll Learn From This Episode: How to take a proactive approach in business Avoid the mistake of making 'shortcuts' The importance of just 'asking' Related Links and Resources: One of the things I used a lot is I used 'letters'. Of course, there's LinkedIn and such but I also send letter. I write down with my handwriting and send letters to people. You write and send it out to postal and it works wonderful. Summary: Alex Lyhovez is a web entrepreneur, storyteller, blogger and VP marketing and biz dev at YozmaTech, a hub of top-notch developers from Ukraine that empowers startups worldwide. With over ten years of experience in global markets in the market-tech industry, He helps companies develop and implement marketing strategies and build sales teams engaged with your company or product. Here are the highlights of this episode: 00:57 Alex's ideal Client: For the sake of our listeners, Yozma is 'initiative' in Hebrew; taking a proactive approach. Alex's ideal client could be either a start-up of a 1 person that has an idea and has a vision or it's a well-established company with let's say 100 employees that does processes in a smarter way and cost-efficient way. 1:50 Problem Alex helps solve: He helps entrepreneurs or companies, for example the cost of arbitrage of developers. He outsources for them through other companies or other countries. The business where smartsourcing comes. Alex said that it's not just out staffing or taking a person and put him in the right slot. It's taking the process that can save their time, resources, and money. 3:17 Typical symptoms that clients do before reaching out to Alex: Alex helps entrepreneurs and company owners having the same symptoms; they have a dream and they take this dream, and they hold it tight with their heart and they say "ok, then now what?". Then they start developing this product, this service, this SaaS, etc. and then they realize the hard truth that nobody will wait for them; the market is not waiting for their fancy schmancy product. They started to face the hard reality that they spent so much money and then one day, realizing that the money is gone, or they just burn it on processes or taking the wrong people along the road or paying them too much or too high because you think they deserve it. 5:22 What are some of the common mistakes that folks make before finding Alex and his solution: Alex admits that he's not a web developer but he's a great storyteller and a great marketer. And if he will try to learn it, he'll lose a lot of time. While giving it to someone else who's good at developing but is not a marketer. So, one of the common mistakes he sees is that you think you can learn it to save money, but you're actually losing money. "I will just learn it, I will squash it later. I can teach myself to build a website, I don't need someone who can build it." And then you really do teach yourself how much money, how much time you invested in this while giving a talent who really knows this and within 2 or 3 days, he'll build a great website rather than one month. Another thing is he thinks that we all have this idea that 'fast, fast, fast'... "let's do it fast, let's go through the market, let's shoot this post…” you work too fast and you're not really thinking about something holding up. You're just doing it like patches on your pants when it has a hole. They are always looking for shortcuts, which Alex says is a very common mistake which he highly recommends to avoid because it will cost you a lot of time. 7:43 Alex's Valuable Free Action (VFA): Alex really appreciates the American culture with its power of networking. He doesn't see it as a one-sided communication. If you hear what they have to say and ask questions, he believes that people will be willing to help. 9:23 Alex's Valuable Free Resource (VFR): One of the things he uses is writing handwritten letters. Nowadays Alex says people are still accustomed to opening...

What You’ll Learn From This Episode: How to take a proactive approach in business Avoid the mistake of making 'shortcuts' The importance of just 'asking' Related Links and Resources: One of the things I used a lot is I used 'letters'. Of course, there's LinkedIn and such but I also send letter. I write down with my handwriting and send letters to people. You write and send it out to postal and it works wonderful. Summary: Alex Lyhovez is a web entrepreneur, storyteller, blogger and VP marketing and biz dev at YozmaTech, a hub of top-notch developers from Ukraine that empowers startups worldwide. With over ten years of experience in global markets in the market-tech industry, He helps companies develop and implement marketing strategies and build sales teams engaged with your company or product. Here are the highlights of this episode: 00:57 Alex’s ideal Client: For the sake of our listeners, Yozma is 'initiative' in Hebrew; taking a proactive approach. Alex’s ideal client could be either a start-up of a 1 person that has an idea and has a vision or it's a well-established company with let's say 100 employees that does processes in a smarter way and cost-efficient way. 1:50 Problem Alex helps solve: He helps entrepreneurs or companies, for example the cost of arbitrage of developers. He outsources for them through other companies or other countries. The business where smartsourcing comes. Alex said that it's not just out staffing or taking a person and put him in the right slot. It's taking the process that can save their time, resources, and money. 3:17 Typical symptoms that clients do before reaching out to Alex: Alex helps entrepreneurs and company owners having the same symptoms; they have a dream and they take this dream, and they hold it tight with their heart and they say "ok, then now what?". Then they start developing this product, this service, this SaaS, etc. and then they realize the hard truth that nobody will wait for them; the market is not waiting for their fancy schmancy product. They started to face the hard reality that they spent so much money and then one day, realizing that the money is gone, or they just burn it on processes or taking the wrong people along the road or paying them too much or too high because you think they deserve it. 5:22 What are some of the common mistakes that folks make before finding Alex and his solution: Alex admits that he’s not a web developer but he’s a great storyteller and a great marketer. And if he will try to learn it, he’ll lose a lot of time. While giving it to someone else who's good at developing but is not a marketer. So, one of the common mistakes he sees is that you think you can learn it to save money, but you're actually losing money. "I will just learn it, I will squash it later. I can teach myself to build a website, I don’t need someone who can build it." And then you really do teach yourself how much money, how much time you invested in this while giving a talent who really knows this and within 2 or 3 days, he'll build a great website rather than one month. Another thing is he thinks that we all have this idea that 'fast, fast, fast'... "let's do it fast, let's go through the market, let's shoot this post…” you work too fast and you're not really thinking about something holding up. You're just doing it like patches on your pants when it has a hole. They are always looking for shortcuts, which Alex says is a very common mistake which he highly recommends to avoid because it will cost you a lot of time. 7:43 Alex’s Valuable Free Action (VFA): Alex really appreciates the American culture with its power of networking. He doesn’t see it as a one-sided communication. If you hear what they have to say and ask questions, he believes that people will be willing to help. 9:23 Alex’s Valuable Free Resource (VFR): One of the things he uses is writing handwritten letters. Nowadays Alex says people are still accustomed to opening...

Phil Gaines, retired Director of South Carolina State Parks, returns to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting park visitation and user groups. While the pandemic has reduced the number of new visitors in national parks, there are still some encouraging trends for park rangers. For instance, while bottom-line attendance may be down, certain demographics like women, youth, and seniors are making more frequent trips to parks. As Phil explains, though more time is needed to monitor these trends, such patterns are worth statistical analysis as new markets often lead to new activities. Additionally, when you consider disruptive innovations and social media, the stage is set for new crazes to emerge. Like mountain biking, geocaching, and Instagram hotspots the past decade, there will be new rages at some point; hence, why rangers should not be discouraged about temporary retention and focus more on the voice of their audience. Resources: One of Us: https://www.amazon.com/One-Us-Biologists-Among-Bears/dp/1525548514 Connect: www.parkleaders.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/  

Barrie Gilbert, a bear biologist and author of ‘One of Us: A Biologist’s Walk Among Bears’, joins the show to discuss his research and resources.    Having survived a near-fatal attack by a bear in 1977 In Yellowstone Park, Gilbert has devoted his career to wildlife discovery. For over four decades, Gilbert’s scientific inquiries have inspired a new generation to study bear behavior and habitation preservation. Ultimately, his work has changed the narrative concerning the perception of grizzlies in national parks. As for his book, “One of Us” examines the integrity of hunting as well as the years Gilbert spent in Yosemite studying black bears. To him, if the public concept of bears is to improve, we must replace the Louis and Clark mindset for one seeking to enhance their environment. Only then can we promote safe practices regarding the man and bear relationship. Resources: One of Us: https://www.amazon.com/One-Us-Biologists-Among-Bears/dp/1525548514 Connect: www.parkleaders.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/

This is Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. As we plan for this year, many of us will face a budget crisis, whether it be in our personal finances, our family finances, or perhaps for a group or organization to which we belong. In addition, we continue to face a pandemic affecting family, friends, and loved ones, some of whom who may have succumbed to the virus, heightening our stress and anxiety. At times, we may develop a sense of loss and loneliness. Often the demands, pressures, and responsibilities of life can seem overwhelming, and they always will be, if we rely solely on our own resources. Let us pray for the grace, the courage and the confidence to take our concerns and crosses to Our Heavenly Father, the source of consolation, so that we can say with renewed faith and confidence, “I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me.”

What You'll Learn From This Episode:How to remove self-doubt, start being honest with yourself, and finding your 'singularity'Define your 'real' and 'ideal' goalsHow to be the 'dandelion' and not the 'orchid'Related Links and Resources:One, I've got a series of FREE webinars you can download. Number two, we have the 'Tremendous Leadership' podcast. And number three, we have 2 weeks of FREE Ebooks. On the website they will see the banners, all three resources, at www.tremendousleadership.com Summary:Dr. Tracey Jones brings a unique approach to motivation including a call to action and tools to make it happen. Tracy is an author, speaker, Air Force Academy graduate, decorated Veteran, international leadership expert, scholar, and researcher. President of Tremendous Leadership, carrying on the legacy of her father Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, Tracey has released 10 books including her newest title available now, SPARK: 5 Essentials to Ignite the Greatness Within.Here are the highlights of this episode:1:49 Tracey's ideal Client: My ideal client is really anybody; individuals or organizations out there who are saying to themselves 'the status quo has got to go." I don't care if you're 2 or 200. I was on a call with people last night and they're 70. So, anybody that really wants to raise the bar on life, maybe they're feeling a little bit stuck like they're in the next season and they want the clarity and the tools to get to the next level of what they know, but there's something else for them to do.2:27 Problem Tracey helps solve: Well, I think most people, it kind of goes a different way. There's some that have the problem of self-doubt, where you just don't have the self-efficacy or the belief in yourself. You know it's there but you're not sure how to get there. Number two, there are some people that are really difficult to be honest 'with ourselves'. So, I really help people to get in there and say "listen, only you who's going to unpack this" and so, from my 'tool sergeant' taste, I'm like really with tough love, and getting people to be honest with themselves. And then lastly, deconstructing all the noise; a lot of the problem with people's failure to achieve greatness is they were too busy being pulled into too many different directions. So, I help them target their singularity. And Jim Collins' book 'Good to Great', what's that thing you do better than anybody else.3:28 Typical symptoms that clients do before reaching out to Tracey: Well I am a doctor, so I will diagnose this; negative thoughts, you're sad you're depressed, you're in a rot, you're tired, your physically sick, you dread Monday mornings, that's a big signal. Your failure to focus, quitting too soon, I would like to say to people I'm 'slacktose intolerant'. There are so many things you want to do but you just can't get there. And you may have lack of support or resources, so you're terribly frustrated because you want to do something but you just can't connect the dots.4:17 What are some of the common mistakes that folks make before finding Tracey and her solution: The biggest mistake is, I say to people "one year from now if you haven't change, what's going to happen?" and they say "there's no way" but we lose track if we don't take action. That failure to gain singularity, and that failure to gain being focused and direct of what you're supposed to do, that's really a common mistake. And that will manifest in lots of health, perhaps loss of family, loss of resources. We only have so many minutes on this planet and we need to make the best in all of them.4:59 Tracey's Valuable Free Action (VFA): Draw two circles; one to the left one to the right. Write 'real' and 'ideal', this is where you are, this is where you want to be. Not what you're doing right now, but what you like to do. And then begin to look at what you're going to bring forward from the real to the ideal and what you're going to leave behind. This will give you a really good orientation.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:How to remove self-doubt, start being honest with yourself, and finding your 'singularity'Define your 'real' and 'ideal' goalsHow to be the 'dandelion' and not the 'orchid'Related Links and Resources:One, I've got a series of FREE webinars you can download. Number two, we have the 'Tremendous Leadership' podcast. And number three, we have 2 weeks of FREE Ebooks. On the website they will see the banners, all three resources, at www.tremendousleadership.com Summary:Dr. Tracey Jones brings a unique approach to motivation including a call to action and tools to make it happen. Tracy is an author, speaker, Air Force Academy graduate, decorated Veteran, international leadership expert, scholar, and researcher. President of Tremendous Leadership, carrying on the legacy of her father Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, Tracey has released 10 books including her newest title available now, SPARK: 5 Essentials to Ignite the Greatness Within.Here are the highlights of this episode:1:49 Tracey’s ideal Client: My ideal client is really anybody; individuals or organizations out there who are saying to themselves 'the status quo has got to go." I don't care if you're 2 or 200. I was on a call with people last night and they're 70. So, anybody that really wants to raise the bar on life, maybe they're feeling a little bit stuck like they're in the next season and they want the clarity and the tools to get to the next level of what they know, but there's something else for them to do.2:27 Problem Tracey helps solve: Well, I think most people, it kind of goes a different way. There's some that have the problem of self-doubt, where you just don't have the self-efficacy or the belief in yourself. You know it's there but you're not sure how to get there. Number two, there are some people that are really difficult to be honest 'with ourselves'. So, I really help people to get in there and say "listen, only you who's going to unpack this" and so, from my 'tool sergeant' taste, I'm like really with tough love, and getting people to be honest with themselves. And then lastly, deconstructing all the noise; a lot of the problem with people's failure to achieve greatness is they were too busy being pulled into too many different directions. So, I help them target their singularity. And Jim Collins' book 'Good to Great', what's that thing you do better than anybody else.3:28 Typical symptoms that clients do before reaching out to Tracey: Well I am a doctor, so I will diagnose this; negative thoughts, you're sad you're depressed, you're in a rot, you're tired, your physically sick, you dread Monday mornings, that's a big signal. Your failure to focus, quitting too soon, I would like to say to people I'm 'slacktose intolerant'. There are so many things you want to do but you just can't get there. And you may have lack of support or resources, so you're terribly frustrated because you want to do something but you just can't connect the dots.4:17 What are some of the common mistakes that folks make before finding Tracey and her solution: The biggest mistake is, I say to people "one year from now if you haven't change, what's going to happen?" and they say "there's no way" but we lose track if we don't take action. That failure to gain singularity, and that failure to gain being focused and direct of what you're supposed to do, that's really a common mistake. And that will manifest in lots of health, perhaps loss of family, loss of resources. We only have so many minutes on this planet and we need to make the best in all of them.4:59 Tracey’s Valuable Free Action (VFA): Draw two circles; one to the left one to the right. Write 'real' and 'ideal', this is where you are, this is where you want to be. Not what you're doing right now, but what you like to do. And then begin to look at what you're going to bring forward from the real to the ideal and what you're going to leave behind. This will give you a really good orientation.

We face serious danger from Houston hurricane. I’m not talking about just any old storm, but one that originates in the Gulf of Mexico, rides up the Houston Ship Channel and destroys our petrochemical complex. Several thousand tanks filled with toxic substances might buckle and spill their contents into the environment. This would poison our area for decades to come. Let's prevent that. Terence O’Rourke of the Harris County Attorney explains the threat, why we have no protection in place and what we can do to get us to safety. Resources: One-pager by the University of Boulder, Colorado, presenting the problem. The Ike Dike, presented by Texas A&M University. Video explainer of Galveston Bay Park. Brochure of Galveston Bay Park by the architecture firm Rogers Partners.

In this episode we learn about our spiritual support team, and the guidance that we have available to us on our human journey. Personally, connecting with my spirit guides, has helped me feel more loved and supported, and provided a wealth of information for myself and my clients. This is your chance to learn more about how to connect with your own spiritual guidance. We are all spiritual beings in physical form. When we come into our human bodies, we forget much of the wisdom of our souls. Our spirit guides serve to keep up that connection to our highest selves. Spirit guides are highly evolved beings that exist in non-physical form. Some of our guides have lived before in physical bodies and others have not. But they are all drawn to us because they have their own special gifts to share. Our guides can connect with us in many different ways, and they are working for us even when we are not aware of their presence. We each have at least one guide that is assigned to guide us from birth into death. We also have other guides that may come and go depending on our needs at various stages of our lives. Guides can also be more well-known figures like archangels, saints, Gods and Goddesses, but these are not typically our primary spirit guides. Guides can assist us with all sorts of things, like writing a book or decorating your home. There are spirit guides that specialize in all sorts of tasks, who are drawn to us when our intention is clear, and we ask for their support. Guides are not typically our deceased loved ones. Though our loved ones do watch over us and may occasionally provide guidance as needed. Our souls have free will, which means that our guides can advise and support us, but they cannot do the work for us. Resources:One of my favorite books about spirit guides is Ask Your Guides: Connecting to Your Divine Support System by Sonia Choquette.I also offer more tips and tools for connecting with your spirit guides in my self-paced, online course, Activating Your Intuition: https://victoriashawintuitive.com/courses/activating-your-intuition/Want to learn more about my work, or suggest a topic for a future episode? Go to https://victoriashawintuitive.com/.

In this episode we talk about our namesake topic, intuition, and how we can learn to connect with and trust our own inner wisdom. Many people come to me wanting to learn how to awaken their intuition and trust in their own inner guidance. If you have ever wondered about the power and potential pitfalls of trusting your intuition, then this episode is for you! Here are some of the highlights: Your intuition is your spiritual GPS system: at your core, you are a spiritual being, temporarily having a human experience for your own learning, growth and enjoyment. Intuition connects you back to your latent spiritual wisdom.Everyone is intuitive because we are all spiritual beings. Most of us lose touch with our intuitive knowing because we live in a society that places more value on our conceptual, thinking minds and does not provide a framework for understanding our intuition. Intuition works best when we are able to still our thinking mind and be fully present with ourselves and our experiences. Mental noise often blocks and distorts our intuition.Unlike thought, the voice of our intuition is usually very calm and clear, and without a strong emotional charge. Sometimes our unconscious biases and learned associations can look like our intuition. For example, you may have an off feeling about someone who reminds you of a kid who bullied you in middle school. It is important to be aware of these biases, and not to confuse them with our true intuitive knowing. Intuition is different from wishful thinking. People sometimes confuse their intuition with what they would like to see happen. Intuition works best when we do not have a strong attachment to outcomes. Our intuition is never wrong, however our minds can misinterpret our intuitive wisdom. Resources: One of my favorite books on trusting your inner wisdom is Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette. You can also check out Activating Your Intuition, my new online, self-paced course for tapping into your intuitive knowing: https://victoriashawintuitive.com/courses/activating-your-intuition/For more information on all things intuitive, or to suggest a topic for a future episode visit me at https://victoriashawintuitive.com.

Principles of minimum viable audiences focus the efforts of business managers down to their core supporters and early adopters. They force attention on the specific people that the operation can help, and enables connection to happen with those people. It encourages conversation with those people and maintains the passion for the project. Most social enterprises don't need any help focusing on the social mission. What would happen if we put just as much care and attention into the products and services that we're offering? Specifically making a minimum viable audience can help you do that.   Let's collaborate together to help social enterprises maintain operations throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. You can join the conversation on Social Enterprise Connect. Resources: One of Seth Godin's Blog posts on MVA Geoffrey Moore's Crossing the Chasm --- Marketing Social Enterprise is a project of Strategy Made Simple - StrategyMadeSimple.ca Please visit our website for more social enterprise development articles, podcasts, and features and to see what coaching can do for your social enterprise. --- Do you have questions about Marketing Social Enterprise? Please tweet @MatthewRempel or email Matthew@StrategyMadeSimple.ca. Sign up for our newsletter.   Listen on iTunes Google Play Stitcher Strategy Made Simple: Keep it simple.

Joel Drake, a technology specialist, joins the show for the most actionable episode yet. We are discussing the top four must-dos for advisers and their clients to stay secure in today's digital world. Download the one-page checklist and follow along at InnovatingAdvice.com. We also discuss leveraging the tools you already have for increased efficiency. You'll Learn The importance of cybersecurity and the #1 thing advisers can do to increase their level of security. Where to start with cybersecurity and why you should bring your clients along on the journey. How facial/emotion recognition software impacts risk tolerance outcomes. What one of the most underutilized tools that advisers already have is. What to watch out for in technology and solutions marketed to financial advisers. Guest Bio Joel Drake is a Systems Analyst at TownSquare Capital. Joel's role is all about helping TownSquare Capital and its advisors leverage technology to enable them to spend more time focused on providing value to their clients. Resources One-page checklist with links: Cybersecurity: Top Four Must-Dos Joel's LinkedIn TownSquare Capital website NVISO: Facial Recognition Genivity FP Alpha PreciseFP Orion Advisor Tech LaserApp

Hogwart’s favourite half-giant teaches us three important life lessons throughout the course of the seven books. What are they? Loyalty? Being a good father figure? Well, although these are traits that many people think of, I believe they are least interesting for our purposes here. Instead, let’s talk about: #1 Building Better Boundaries. Hagrid is an anti-teacher in this respect – he shows us what happens when we fail to build healthy boundaries. This is apparent not just in his naïve love of all things monster, but in the varied and horribly hilarious examples I give from the whole series. #2 Acknowledge your strengths. We all know Hagrid is physically strong, but he is more resilient and mentally tough than anyone – especially Hagrid – gives him credit for. I discuss exactly how, and how to start giving YOURSELF credit. #3 ??? In this episode you will discover: *The difference between taking responsibility and taking the blame *Some powerful questions to ask yourself if you feel people are asking too much of you *The very rare ability Hagrid shares with Harry, Dumbledore, Sirius and Hermione   Potter Fan of The Week Our featured listener is Kristen Chavez from the Your Biggest Fangirl podcast http://www.yourbiggestfangirl.com/ To be featured, just go to http://www.theshiftinside.com/harry/   Podcast of The Week ...is Caskets and Cocktails   Quote of the episode: ‘Life doesn’t get easier for Hagrid just because it should’.   RESOURCES One-to-One coaching: http://www.theshiftinside.com/harry-potter-coaching/ Episode 1 of The Eating Coach on Harry and the hero’s journey: http://eatingcoach.libsyn.com/ec0001-from-struggle-to-adventure Find Caskets and Cocktails at:  https://anchor.fm/casketsandcocktails

In this bonus episode of Music and the Church, Dr. Tanya Riches continues discussing The Hillsong Movement Examined: You Call Me Out Upon the Waters, a new collection of essays that she and Dr. Tom Wagner co-edited. Earlier in Episode 8, Tanya talked about Hillsong’s music, how women lead worship in the church, and how she and Tom approached Hillsong as scholars working on the inside and outside of the church. Enjoying this podcast episode? Click here to find other Music and the Church episodes, or subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Today, she's giving an overview of the book's 15 essays, and discussing her chapter on women's ministries at Hillsong, especially the Sisterhood (starting about 14 minutes in). She shows how many Hillsong women internalize an identity that doesn’t reflect their own experiences. Contrary to a so-called "princess theology," the women Tanya interviewed said that they had empowering experiences of leadership and training in the church. Resources: One essay author in the collection is Dr. Mark Porter—a recent guest on Music and the Church! He discusses his new book, Contemporary Worship Music and Everyday Musical Lives, on Episode 4.

Randgold Resources (RRS) operates in countries most international businesses avoid, exercises no control over the price of its one product, and pays a smaller dividend than several of its peers. Despite this, it is one of the most expensive stocks in the FTSE 100.For this special podcast, Investors Chronicle reporter Alex Newman tries to uncover the allure of this gold miner, and gold investments in general. Featuring Randgold chief executive Mark Bristow, Panmure Gordon commodities and mining analyst Kieron Hodgson, and Alistair Hewitt, head of market intelligence at the World Gold Council.Produced by Alex Newman, with music from Blue Dot Sessions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Drew McLellan has worked in advertising for 25+ years and started his own agency, McLellan Marketing Group in 1995 after a five-year stint at Y&R and still actively runs the agency. He also owns and runs Agency Management Institute (AMI), which serves 250+ agencies small to mid sized agencies (advertising, digital, marketing, media and PR) every year, so they can increase their AGI, attract better clients and employees, mitigate the risks of being self employed in a such volatile business and best of all let the agency owner actually enjoy the perks of agency ownership. AMI is the only agency network that is run by an active agency owner. It offers: Public workshops for agency owners, leaders and account service staff Owner peer networks (like a Vistage group or AAAAs forums) Private coaching/consulting for agency owners Annual primary research with CMOs and client decision makers about their work with agencies The highly praised podcast Build A Better Agency Drew often appears in publications like Entrepreneur Magazine, New York Times, Washington Post, Agency Post, AdAge, CNN, BusinessWeek, and many others. The Wall Street Journal calls him one of 10 bloggers every entrepreneur should read. He also speaks at leading agency conferences and is often cited in agency centric content for his expertise in the industry. When he’s not hanging out with clients or agency owners, Drew spends time with his daughter, traveling and cheering for the Dodgers. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Drew’s background Drew’s one-on-one meeting agency management system Why you need to employ this system the day you hire your first employee Why it’s so hard to find and retain great employees today Drew’s research that shows that employees want to learn and grow more than anything else Why your employees want more one-on-one time with you Drew’s form for running this meeting Why being fair to every employee doesn’t mean treating them all equally Why having these meetings will boost the time you have instead of taking it away Setting quarterly growth goals with your employees and checking in weekly on progress Having employees share good news, ask for what support they need to do their job, getting input they need from you, share potential issues, and anything else to include in these meetings Why you need to put these meetings on your calendar Why yearly reviews are not enough Resources: One-on-one meeting document Ways to contact Drew: Website: agencymanagementinstitute.com Email: drew@agencymanagementinstitute.com Twitter: @drewmclellan LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drewmclellan Facebook: www.facebook.com/drew.mclellan A transcript of this episode is available at http://systemexecution.com/the-agency-management-system/

Trading Strategies For Trending Markets - Part 3 Trading Strategies For Trending Markets In episode 64 of the Desire To Trade Podcast, I decided to discuss a very popular topic: defining a trading strategy. I recorded a 3-part Guide To Forex Trading Strategies so we can set you up with a plan as soon as possible. Part 1 is available here! Part 2 is available here! I've seen a lot of traders trading with absolutely no plan expecting they would succeed, so I want to make sure I address this topic. In fact, you've probably already heard the saying "trading is simple but not easy", right? Well, it is when you have a plan and a strategy to execute on. I agree that executing on that plan will be the hardest part, but we have to cover things step-by-step here. In Part 3 of the Guide To Forex Trading Strategies, I'm explaining how to trade in a trending market. That can be a highly profitable type of trading, especially due to the fact that trends are usually strong in the Forex market.   What's Covered In This Episode? How to identify a trend What areas you can consider trading in a trend The indicators that can help you trade pullbacks/retracements What to expect in trend trading Keys to make any trading strategy more profitable And much more! What is one thing you are going to implement after listening to this podcast? Leave a comment below, or join me in the Facebook group! Resources One book to read: Stan Weinstein's Secrets For Profiting in Bull and Bear Markets Another book: Technical Analysis for the Trading Professional My lesson: The Exclusive Lesson: Understanding The Market DesireToTRADE's Top Resources DesireToTRADE Forex Trader Community (free Facebook group!) Complete Price Action Strategy Checklist One-Page Trading Plan (free template) DesireToTRADE Academy About The Desire To Trade Podcast Subscribe via iTunes (take 2 seconds and leave us a review!) Subscribe via Stitcher Subscribe via TuneIn Subscribe via Google Play See all podcast episodes

The Guide To Forex Trading Strategies - Part 2 Show notes: http://www.desiretotrade.com/guide-to-forex-trading-strategies-part-2/ In episode 64 of the Desire To Trade Podcast, I decided to discuss a very popular topic: defining a trading strategy. I recorded a 3-part Guide To Forex Trading Strategies so we can set you up with a plan as soon as possible. Part 1 is available here! I've seen a lot of traders trading with absolutely no plan expecting they would succeed, so I want to make sure I address this topic. In fact, you've probably already heard the saying "trading is simple but not easy", right? Well, it is when you have a plan and a strategy to execute on. I agree that executing on that plan will be the hardest part, but we have to cover things step-by-step here. In Part 2 of the Guide To Forex Trading Strategies, I'm explaining how to trade in a sideway market. That is where I do most of my trading. I explain how you should go about trading breakouts and reversals and the type of indicators I use to trade in that environment. Resources One book to read: Stan Weinstein’s Secrets For Profiting in Bull and Bear Markets The Exclusive Lesson: Understanding The Market DesireToTRADE’s Top Resources DesireToTRADE Forex Trader Community (free Facebook group!) Complete Price Action Strategy Checklist One-Page Trading Plan (free template) DesireToTRADE Academy About The Desire To Trade Podcast Subscribe via iTunes (take 2 seconds and leave us a review!) Subscribe via Stitcher Subscribe via TuneIn Subscribe via Google Play See all podcast episodes