Podcasts about ted talks

You're not crazy. You're anxious.This week on Almost Adulting, Violet sits down with Mel Robbins to unpack high-functioning anxiety in love — why women attach fast, date potential, ignore red flags, and stay in relationships where they can't ask for what they need. Mel breaks down the 5 Second Rule, how to stop spiraling, time blindness, and the worst thing you can do when anxiety hits.They talk separation anxiety, loving someone who's wrong for you, being right vs. being connected, and the obvious signs he just doesn't like you.If you're successful but secretly overthinking everything in dating — this one will hit.Thanks for supporting our sponsors:Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at Shopify.com/adulting.Nutrafol: For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and freeshipping when you visit Nutrafol.com and enter promo code ADULTING.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this bonus Q&A episode from our Patreon vault, Marc Headley broke down how Scientology actually works on the inside: from Sea Org recruitment scripts and billion‑year contracts to what really goes on at Gold Base behind the gates and cameras. He explained the day‑to‑day mechanisms of control—sleep deprivation, production quotas, “ethics” punishments, sec checks, disconnection, and constant surveillance—and how those systems are designed to keep members compliant while protecting leadership and celebrities.Marc also talked about what happens when people try to leave or speak up, including smear campaigns, private investigators, legal intimidation, and online harassment, and offers practical insight into spotting high‑control tactics in any group, supporting loved ones still in, and why exposing Scientology's playbook has become a full‑time job in itself. We also tease something exciting coming from Marc's wife, Claire Headley, also a past ALBC guest.Get your ex-Scientology merch @ The SP Shop, and support The Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation at Comedy For a Cause on March 11: https://comedyworks.com/comedians/comedy-for-a-cause-an-evening-benefiting-the-michael-j-rinder-aftermath-foundationYou can also follow Marc at blownforgood.com and on YouTube @blownforgood and @TheAftermathFoundation.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of religious and psychological abuse, forced labor and overwork, harassment and intimidation of defectors, high‑control group tactics, stalking, and legal pressure campaigns.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.If you're ready to start searching safely online, go to surfshark.com/culty or use code CULTY at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You're Not a Tree. You're Allowed to Grow. | A Conversation with Dr. Celina PeermanOkay friends… this one is so rich.I got to sit down with Dr. Celina Peerman — organizational psychologist, leadership strategist, entrepreneur, wife of 30+ years, mom of two daughters — and truly one of the most thoughtful leaders in our Cedar Valley.And here's what we talked about:What happens when you're successful on paper……but your soul is nudging you for more?Not “burn your life down” more.But expand your lane more.Dr. Celina shares how after 15 years in HR and leadership, she began taking vacation days… not to rest… but to build something quietly on the side. And eventually, she had to name the reality:Something in her was calling for impact at a different level.We talk about:• Making the leap into entrepreneurship (and how scary that actually is)• Leading with doubt — and normalizing it• Clear expectations vs. organizational chaos• Confidence in leadership• Evolving over seasons of life• Grief, identity, and finding your authentic voice• What to do when something keeps nudging you• Why we desperately need “think time” in a noisy world• And why you're not a tree — you're allowed to moveWe dig into her new creative expansion, Beautifully Over It, and how stepping into authenticity has changed not only her personal life — but her effectiveness as a leader.This conversation is for the high-achievers.The leaders.The entrepreneurs.The ones who know there's more in them…But aren't sure how to step into it without losing what they've built.You don't have to burn your life down.But you are allowed to grow.Connect With Us:Website: https://www.youaremore.comFree Download: 5 Steps to Win Through AdversitySocial Media: Follow us on Facebook and InstagramEmail: amy@amywienands.comEpisode Minute By Minute:0:00 – Meet Dr. Celina Peerman1:45 – Why successful people still feel “there's more”3:15 – Taking vacation days to build a side vision4:30 – Making the leap into entrepreneurship6:00 – Doubt in leadership and how to normalize it8:45 – Clear expectations vs. accountability confusion11:30 – Leadership blind spots and confidence gaps15:00 – When life shakes you (TED Talk & website hack moment)19:00 – Grief, identity, and rediscovering her voice23:00 – The moment she wrote Beautifully Over It28:00 – The ripple effect on her daughters and family32:00 – Think time in a noisy world37:00 – Why we're not meant to stay the same41:30 – Don't rush healing45:00 – Authenticity as leadership power47:00 – “You're not a tree — you can move”Be intentional, stay focused, and remember you are more!

Robin Zander hosted a Snafu webinar for the Sidebar community on non-sales selling—think self-promotion for career transitions, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and product people. The goal: learn to "sell yourself" without the ick factor.   Participants shared fears: follow-ups feel intimidating, sales feels slimy, and success seems like a numbers game. Robin reframed it: selling is really about enrollment—being a chief evangelist for your work, not begging for attention.   Drawing on stories from his childhood pumpkin patch, his time as a personal trainer (where desperation lost him clients), and opening Robin's Cafe in San Francisco (raising $40k, serving multiple stakeholders, training staff with Danny Meyer's principles), he showed the difference between selling from need vs. service. Long-term success comes from genuine connection, curiosity, optimism, and passion.   Attendees explored their "authentic attitude" and reflected on times self-promotion felt good versus slimy. Exercises included mapping all the people who benefit from your work—employees, customers, managers, mentees, community—and practicing generosity in selling (a "Miracle on 34th Street" mindset: help customers even if it means sending them elsewhere).   In Q&A, Robin tackled: Asking for promotions as modeling for others, especially women and minorities Persistence in follow-ups (yes, emailing Mark Benioff 53 times counts) Relationship-based enterprise selling Avoiding fear-based AI marketing by knowing who you serve and what problem you solve Recommended reading: Setting the Table (Danny Meyer), Unreasonable Hospitality (Will Guidara), The New Strategic Selling.   Robin also shared upcoming Snafu conference details (March 5, Oakland Museum of California) and reminded everyone: Snafu = situation normal; all fucked up. 00:00 Start 01:06 Audience Fears About Selling Robin Zander welcomes 93 participants to the webinar Notes the session is interactive with exercises planned Encourages participants to drop questions in chat or interrupt him Last 15–20 minutes reserved for questions Robin introduces himself briefly Focuses on storytelling as a tool for self-promotion Shares experience as a community builder Runs a conference called Responsive since 2016 (not Snafu) Tools, structures, and company cultures for resilient organizations Two-day event each September on the future of work Focus on building resilience in organizations Observations on rapid change Technology and work-life changes happening at a fast pace Questions about resilience in individuals Traits needed in careers, personal relationships, professional relationships Ability to stay resilient through change Robin frames his expertise Emphasizes his strength in asking questions and fostering honest conversations Labels himself a reluctant salesperson Not the world's leading expert on self-promotion or selling Key lessons from research and interviews Two buckets matter in business and life: Example: Sidebar community forming coalitions for learning and action Operational excellence: being competent and at least as good as others Promotion/enrollment/sales: standing up, saying what you want, building coalitions Started interviewing people about influence and persuasion Started a weekly newsletter called Snafu Written by hand, not AI Shares lessons from his life and others about self-promotion and resilience Focus on courage to take action: raising hand, offering something valuable Core characteristics of self-promotion and selling yourself Connecting with others: art of connection Courage to ask: inspired by Amanda Palmer's TED Talk and book The Art of Asking Opposes traditional "always be closing" sales mentality Advocates for simply asking for what you want Current work mostly involves storytelling for large companies Clients include Supersonic, Airbnb, Zappos, and others 12:25 Service as the Core Principle Robin introduces the concept of storytelling for self-promotion Stories used to: Get promotions Build coalitions Propel career or organizational growth Emphasizes turning personal, career, or company stories into "commercials" Focus of today's talk: self-promotion with impact Core principle: service Showing up from a place of helping others Through helping others, also helping oneself Distinguishes between sleazy salespeople and effective self-promoters Childhood anecdote: Robin's pumpkin patch Tended plants all summer, learned responsibility and care Harvested pumpkins and sold them using a small red tin box labeled "money" Ran "Robin's Pumpkin Patch" for five to seven years At age five, father had him plant pumpkin seeds Engaged neighborhood kids for fun, collaborative promotion Explained product (pumpkins) enthusiastically to potential buyers Used scarecrow costumes and creative gestures to attract attention Lessons learned from pumpkin patch: Authentic enthusiasm creates value Helping people do what they were already inclined to do Early experience of earning and serving simultaneously Self-promotion is most effective when it's service-driven, not manipulative Applying childhood lesson to career and business Asking for a raise Persuading companies to choose one service over another Promoting oneself or others (e.g., Evan, web developer) Key principle: approach self-promotion from delight and service, not need or fear Authentic enthusiasm as foundation for: Interactive exercise for participants Not influenced by sleep deprivation or stress Could be inspired by childhood or adult experiences Opposite of fear; personal and unique for each participant Question posed: what is your authentic attitude when self-promoting? Examples shared from participants: Curiosity Passion Inspiration Service to others Observation Possibility Insight Value Helping others Creativity Belief in serendipity Optimism Key takeaway from exercise and story Promoting from delight, enthusiasm, and service Promoting from need or fear Two versions of self-promotion: Effective self-promotion aligns with authenticity and enthusiasm, creating value for others while advancing oneself 18:36 Gym Job and Needy Selling Robin shares the next story and sets up the next exercise Gym culture is sales-heavy Initial motivation: love of fitness, desire to help people Quickly realizes environment incentivizes personal trainers to sell aggressively Timeframe: ~20 years later, at age 20, moved to San Francisco First post-college job: personal trainer in gyms Early experience at gyms Key lesson from early failure Selling from need feels gross Promoting oneself from fear or desperation leads to poor results Recognizes similarity to unwanted sales calls received personally First authentic success in self-promotion Worked at Petro and World's Gym in San Francisco, Pilates instructor Owner confronted Robin after two weeks: no clients, potential clients being lost to others Threatened termination by Friday if no clients acquired Robin froze under pressure, approached clients but with needy, desperate energy Outcome: fired by Friday, left gym Encounters man in pain on Valencia Street, offers help as personal trainer Approach comes from genuine care, desire to serve Leads to three-year working relationship, consistent sessions, good income Next client: world-famous photographer Michael Light at UCSF swimming pool Client comes from natural connection, not pushy salesmanship Dichotomy observed: Pushy, need-based self-promotion → freeze, poor results Service-oriented self-promotion → natural connections, sustained relationships Exercise for participants Prompt: identify two moments: One time self-promoting felt slimy → what were you doing? One time self-promoting felt good → what were you doing differently? Two-minute reflection / chat participation Participant reflections/examples Slimy examples: Interviewing for a job during layoffs, giving desperate energy Selling P&L at a hyperscaler Selling computers and printers in UK post-college Sales emails getting ghosted Feeling inauthentic or performative, taking advantage of someone Good examples: Offering services out of care and love rather than ROI Showing impact of work to junior child Knowing services add real value and solve a challenge Being clear on what the other person needs Key takeaway Self-promotion feels different depending on intent and knowledge Slimy → desperate, inauthentic, unclear value to recipient Authentic → service-driven, clear value, connection-focused Effective self-promotion combines knowing your value and serving others, not just pushing for personal gain 25:35 Miracle on 34th Street Lesson Feeling good in self-promotion comes from genuinely helping, solving problems, and sharing information Santa Claus hired at Macy's to hold kids and give candy canes, but real goal: persuade parents to buy from Macy's Santa instead sends parents to competitor to truly serve them Macy's manager initially furious Outcome: customers feel genuinely served, return praising Macy's, become loyal fans Robin references Miracle on 34th Street (original version) Key insight: providing real value, even if it benefits someone else, eventually returns value to you "Put enough bread across the water, eventually good things come back" Participant reflections Slimy: knowing audience expects judgment, catering to them for approval Good: giving the gift of knowledge, providing service freely Takeaway: authentic self-promotion is rooted in service, generosity, and sharing expertise, not manipulating for immediate gain 27:45 Starting Robin's Cafe Through Service Robin shares a major professional turning point: opening Robin's Cafe in 2016 No restaurant experience beyond college busing tables Opened in three weeks, eventually grew to 15 employees by 2018 Worked in multiple industries: Pumpkin patch, personal trainer, circus performer Opened a café/restaurant in Mission District, San Francisco Courage and conviction came from clear focus on service to others Employees: create a great workplace, go-giver culture Investors: $40k raised from friends/family, provided value and potential return Landlords (ODC, nonprofit dance center): wanted success of business to support community Customers: diverse—tech workers, kids in dance classes, local community Robin himself: financial sustainability, learning, personal growth Key audiences served by Robin's Cafe Approach to challenges Used Danny Meyer's Setting the Table as a service-focused framework for employees Philosophy: "giving in order to get paid" Examples: spouse, kids, dog, manager, peers, mentees, clients, community, customers, extended family, mentors Served multiple stakeholders during crises: break-ins, flooding, city permitting, neighborhood issues Exercise: identify all the people who benefit from your work or success Key idea: the more stakeholders served, the easier self-promotion becomes, because it comes from service, not need or pressure Show up thinking: does this serve the person I'm talking to? Principle: selling yourself from a place of service Consider multiple stakeholders simultaneously Audience question: elaborate on applying this service mindset specifically to asking for a promotion Tying service to self-promotion in career advancement Result: asking for a raise, applying for jobs, pitching clients—all easier and more authentic 38:11 Promotion As Service Asking for a promotion from a place of service Example: doing the role already, deserving recognition, asking for what you believe you've earned. Personal perspective: advocating for yourself is a form of service to yourself Recognize other stakeholders in the process: Modeling courage and advocacy for the next generation Authority enables ideas to be taken more seriously Stories gained from new responsibilities enhance value to clients or teams People you mentor, especially women or underrepresented groups The organization: your promotion can make it stronger Your family or children: showing them what it looks like to advocate Concrete examples Outcome: trajectory of career positively influenced, demonstrated courage, modeled behavior Asking first time for a manager role Later asking for VP title as a director Courage and small steps Courage = acting despite fear, not absence of fear Practice by taking incremental steps toward what scares you Avoid masking or hesitation; direct action builds confidence and results Persistence and follow-up Busy people require patience and multiple nudges Example: Mark Stubbings emailing Mark Benioff 53 times before a yes Persistence = respectful, consistent follow-ups Role modeling for women and minorities Demonstrates that asking is a normal, expected, and service-oriented act Many don't ask for promotions or raises due to upbringing or cultural norms Modeling advocacy teaches the next generation, including children, to speak up Service mindset in practice Approach self-promotion by asking: is this good for the other person? Keep intention aligned with service, not desperation Books for guidance: Setting the Table – Danny Meyer: service-driven sales and employee culture Unreasonable Hospitality – Will Guidara: lessons from the restaurant world on giving value and delight Key takeaways for promotion and asking Serve yourself, your mentees, your organization, and your broader audience Take small, courageous steps to ask for what you deserve Follow up respectfully and consistently; don't assume silence = no Self-promotion becomes easier and authentic when rooted in service, not fear or need Snafu Newsletter Weekly newsletter written by Robin Covers influence, persuasion, and modern workplace dynamics A resource for ongoing learning and practical insights 56:55 Where to Find Robin Robin's newsletter covers influence, persuasion, and modern work. Snafu Conference Responsive Conference Robin Zander on social medias  

We're back — sharper, louder, and done explaining ourselves. This year, I'm retiring the long‑winded apologies and owning every choice without a TED‑Talk‑length disclaimer. A quick hit to kick off a cleaner, bolder season. Ghost Story Trailer “A ghost story that will scare the bejesus out of you — in the best possible way.” - Noel Anderson More Info: https://linktr.ee/noelanderson

What if confidence isn't something you're born with, but something you can practice into existence? In this episode, I sit down with world-renowned voice coach Caroline Goyder to break down the science and strategy behind powerful speaking. With over 9 million views on her TED Talk, Caroline shares how she went from being told she had “no presence” and a “thin voice” at drama school to becoming one of the most trusted experts in voice, gravitas, and executive presence. We also dive into breathing techniques that override your nervous system, the "Mafia secret" to stage presence, and why the most magnetic speakers are often the ones who try the least. Tune in to learn how to command any room with stillness and breath. In This Episode You Will Learn Why CONFIDENCE is a set of behaviors, not a personality trait. The "Mafia Secret" to why the most powerful person moves the least. Why LENGTHENING your exhale calms anxiety in time. How to use your DIAPHRAGM to project without straining your voice. How PAUSES serve as the most underrated speaking tool. Why standing up during virtual meetings changes your digital PRESENCE. Why introverts can be the most COMPELLING speakers in the room. The mindset shift that takes you from ANXIETY to AUTHORITY. Check Out Our Sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/monahan Quince - Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good and last from Quince. Go to quince.com/confidence Timeline - Get 10% off your first Mitopure order at timeline.com/CONFIDENCE. Northwest Registered Agent - protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/confidencefree Resources + Links Learn more at https://carolinegoyder.com/ Call my digital clone at 201-897-2553!  Visit heathermonahan.com Sign up for my mailing list: heathermonahan.com/mailing-list/  Overcome Your Villains is Available NOW! Order here: https://overcomeyourvillains.com  If you haven't yet, get my first book Confidence Creator Follow Heather on Instagram & LinkedIn Caroline on Instagram & LinkedIn

"The journey to understanding starts with asking better questions." — Dan Roth "If I can enlighten others and show how we can actually create a better system, a better world, in spite of how hard it may be, then I can go to sleep at night knowing I've done everything I can for my daughters." "I made a promise to God and my daughters that I would spend every hour of every day fighting to create a better world for them to grow up in." "This is about legacy. This is about them and looking at the world that we live in and saying, hey, we need to be better because our maga, he sure as hell ain't helping." In this reflective episode of Better Call Daddy, host Rena Friedman Watts and her dad, Wayne Friedman, sit down with the dynamic Dan Roth, a thought leader and TEDx speaker who challenges the status quo. Dan shares his transformative journey from social anxiety to delivering a powerful TED Talk, revealing how he reshapes the narrative around parenting and mental health. From the Streets to the Stage Dan opens up about his experience preparing for his TEDx talk, detailing the emotional rollercoaster of public speaking and the self-doubt that often accompanies it. He discusses how his personal struggles with body dysmorphia and eating disorders shaped his message, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability in creating meaningful connections with others. Empowering Change Through Parenting Throughout the episode, Dan explores the impact of parenting on mental health, advocating for a shift in how we approach discussions around emotional safety within families. He shares heartfelt anecdotes about his daughters, highlighting his commitment to creating a better world for them and all children. Building Bridges and Community Dan reflects on the importance of mentorship and community support, discussing how his experiences have led him to create initiatives that empower others. His passion for advocacy and social change shines through as he emphasizes the need for open conversations about difficult topics, from mental health to diversity and inclusion. Key Themes - The power of storytelling and vulnerability - Navigating the challenges of public speaking - The role of parenting in shaping mental health dynamics - Empowering communities through advocacy - The importance of asking better questions to foster understanding Episode Highlights (00:00) Welcome to the Better Call Daddy Show (01:20) Dan Roth: A Journey to TEDx (10:30) Overcoming Social Anxiety and Embracing Vulnerability (20:00) Parenting and Mental Health: Creating Safe Spaces (30:15) Building Community and Empowering Others (40:45) Wisdom from Wayne: The Balance of Personal and Professional Values Episode Keywords Better Call Daddy, Podcast, TEDx, Public Speaking, Mental Health, Parenting, Vulnerability, Advocacy, Community Building, Storytelling, Emotional Safety, Diversity and Inclusion, Personal Growth Connect with Dan Roth Speaker Bureau Connect with Reena Friedman Watts Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube Thank you for tuning in to Better Call Daddy—where stories of resilience, growth, and understanding come together! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share!

Lesley Logan sits down with Brad Walsh, photographer and host of the Empowerography Podcast, to explore what it really means to be seen. Brad shares how his journey from corporate work into storytelling and photography led him to amplifying women's voices—and why resilience isn't just about getting back up, but about creating a path for someone else to follow. They talk about authenticity, body image, and the shift from a “me first” mindset to leading with service. This conversation is a grounded reminder that sharing your story can create impact—often in ways you don't expect. If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co mailto:beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/#follow-subscribe-free.In this episode you will learn about:How his photography helped women see themselves in a new light.Using resilience as a permission slip for other women's strength.Realizing every body is beautiful regardless of the package.Shifting from a “me first” mindset toward service-driven work.Letting go of comparison by owning what makes your work unique.Episode References/Links:Empowerography Podcast - https://empowerographypodcast.comEmpowerography Podcast Email - https://www.empowerographypodcast@gmail.comEmpowerography Podcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/empowerographypodcastBrad Walsh LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradwalsh70/Brad Walsh Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brad.walsh.56/Empowerography Live Conference 2026 - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D7QAc3hFxGuest Bio:Brad Walsh is a podcast host/producer, photographer, a published #1 International Best-Selling Author and an International Speaker and who found himself wanting to inspire others during the pandemic. He birthed the idea of EMPOWEROGRAPHY, a Top 1.5% Globally Rated Podcast, a platform that highlights strong, inspirational, dynamic women who share their stories of success, triumph, resiliency and transformation. He had no idea that what started as a simple concept would take on a life of its own. He is excited to share this platform with you and continue to EMPOWER, ELEVATE and EDUCATE by amplifying the voices of women all over the world. He is so excited to share this platform with you and continue to EMPOWER, ELEVATE and EDUCATE by amplifying the voices of women all over the world. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. https://lovethepodcast.com/BITYSIDEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentCheck out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/memberships/perks/#equipmentBe in the know with all the workshops at OPC https://workshops.onlinepilatesclasses.com/lp-workshop-waitlistBe It Till You See It Podcast Survey https://pod.lesleylogan.co/be-it-podcasts-surveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates Mentorship https://lesleylogan.co/elevate/FREE Ditching Busy Webinar https://ditchingbusy.com/Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gLesley Logan website https://lesleylogan.co/Be It Till You See It Podcast https://lesleylogan.co/podcast/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan https://onlinepilatesclasses.com/Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjogqXLnfyhS5VlU4rdzlnQProfitable Pilates https://profitablepilates.com/about/Follow Us on Social Media:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lesley.logan/The Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq08HES7xLMvVa3Fy5DR8-gFacebook https://www.facebook.com/llogan.pilatesLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-logan/The OPC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@OnlinePilatesClasses Episode Transcript:Brad Walsh 0:00  It is un-fucking-believable. It is so powerful to be able to give that to another human being. And that's the most beautiful part for me as the photographer to be able to do that and show a woman who she truly, truly is.Lesley Logan 0:17  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:00  All right, Be It babe. This is a fabulous conversation you're about to hear. I'm so excited. I really enjoyed being on this person's podcast. They had the most amazing questions for me, and I was like, this person is very unique. I need to share their story on my podcast. And I was excited about it when I asked them. And now that I've interviewed them. I'm even more stoked about it. So you're in for a ride. You're in for a great conversation. I hope you feel like you're, you know, you're at coffee with us and chiming in. And I hope that this also inspires you to be it till you see it in a bigger, badder ass way, because you're amazing. That's not even a word, but I'm making it one. So here is Brad Walsh of the Empowerography Podcast and let us know what you think. Lesley Logan 1:47  Hey, Be It babe. Okay, we're gonna have a really fun conversation, because I already have had a wonderful conversation with our guest today, and after having those over on his amazing podcast, I had to have Brad Walsh, our guest today, over here on the Be It Till You See It podcast. So Brad, will you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at? Brad Walsh 2:04  Yes. Well, first of all, I'd like to say thank you so much for having me and bringing me on board on your platform. I'm excited to be here and share with your listeners a bit about me and what I do. So I am based in Toronto, Canada. My name is Brad Walsh. I am the host and founder of the Empowerography Podcast platform, which was created to help elevate and amplify the voices of women through sharing their stories. I also host women's empowerment conference online every year. We did our fifth one this year, and that's that's my thing. I love holding space and sharing, sharing the stage and shining a light on women to share their stories.Lesley Logan 2:40  So cool. Five, that's amazing. Congratulations. The first few are so hard. And then you get to five, and you're like, whoa, I'll keep doing this.Brad Walsh 2:51  Yeah, well, next year, actually, we're doing it live and in person here in Toronto.Lesley Logan 2:55  Oh, my God, that is amazing. In person is so powerful. Okay, but have you always been a storyteller? Like, have you always been like an event producer? Like, tell us the journey.Brad Walsh 3:07  No, the event producing is new because of Empowerography. Well, new. Five years new, I guess. The storytelling, yes, in a way, because I'm a photographer, so I tell stories visually through capturing images, through capturing moments in time. So yeah, storytelling has always been a part of the journey. My photography, that's my first love, my first passion. That's where everything started for me. I took a photography class in high school, and from the first moment I stepped into that class and into the dark room, it was first love. I fell in love with the art form, and I've been in a love affair with photography ever since. So it's been 35 years there around so, yeah, it's been an amazing journey. There's just something so magical about being able to capture an image in camera and then to develop the film yourself and to see an image come to life on a piece of paper is such a magical and beautiful process. I there's not enough words to describe the beauty in that. So that's where my journey began. I worked in corporate for 12 and a half years as an audio visual tech at one of the big four accounting firms.Lesley Logan 4:22  Like you know, I would never have thought that an accounting firm needed an audio visual tech.Brad Walsh 4:27  Oh, yeah, absolutely. Oh for sure, video conferencing, webcasting, meetings, off site events, yeah, absolutely, there's, yeah, there's a huge need for it, absolutely.Lesley Logan 4:39  Oh, well, that's so cool. I mean, least you got to experience the corporate side of things.Brad Walsh 4:43  Yeah, well, it was, it was for the first six years I loved it. The last six and a half were just terrible. I hated going to work. I didn't like my boss. I didn't love the work anymore. I fell out of love with it because I was constantly thinking about my photography, all the while, while I was working full time as an audio visual tech, I was running my photography business part time, but at that time, I was only creating I was creating art. I wasn't photographing people. I had no interest whatsoever in photographing people. That wasn't my thing. It was more architecture, landscapes, urban exploration, although that shifted a little bit for me during my corporate career, because I ended up getting, to put it politely, tasked with the responsibility at my corporate job, with doing the corporate headshots. Yeah, but I fell in love with photographing people.Lesley Logan 5:36  You're like, oh, you do photos? You can photograph a building, you can photograph a face.Brad Walsh 5:41  Yes, of course. And hey, why not? We've got this guy on staff. He could do this. We could save ourselves thousands upon thousands of dollars by having him do it for free. We don't have to pay him, because we're already paying him a salary. So I mean, that's where I fell in love with photographing people. I loved having that one on one time and that connection that you would get when you when a person sat in front of your lens, it just it created a connection there. And so through that, I a few, a few years after that, after my falling in love with photographing people, I was connected through a mutual friend to a boudoir photographer who was based in Florida, and I fell in love with her work and the mission and the message behind that genre of photography, with what you can help women accomplish in terms of body acceptance, self-love, self-confidence. And I ended up mentoring with her for six months. And when I was done my mentorship, it was just one of those light bulb moments. I just knew that that's what I've got to do with my photography business, when I make the jump, and that's where, that's really where my journey into the whole women's empowerment world started, is through the boudoir photography.Lesley Logan 6:49  Okay, this is so cool. I had no idea. So we had, yes, we had a boudoir photographer on earlier, and y'all are probably hearing this in 2026 so earlier in 2025, and I couldn't agree more. Like I, definitely, so back when I lived in LA, I had a girlfriend who wanted to work on boudoir photography, like, can you just, like, be my practice person? I was like, okay, like, whatever. But then you see the photos of yourself, and you're like, I had no idea the eye was so beautiful and like, that looks so amazing. Because, like, you know, first of all, most of all, most of us see ourselves in the lighting of our own homes, which is not always up to par. And you know, mirrors are interesting how they're not consistent. So like, you don't realize, like, the beauty that you have or the power that you have, and until someone does that. And yet, so many people are afraid of doing that, or think that they wouldn't be good enough for that. So I love this. So this is how you got into telling women's stories. And okay, but was it easy to switch? Was it did you have like this? Because I actually am sorry. I'm getting really excited right now. Okay, I'm halfway through my coffee this morning, guys, we are alive. So I love your journey, because it sounds like so many people. It's like I did this, and I kind of fell in love with it, and then I went to corporate, and then I was fine, and then I got bored, and then there was this other thing I was doing. And so I love this, because it's a journey that we all go on. But then to make the big switch to doing something you're really passionate about, there's still so much fear there.Brad Walsh 8:13  Oh, absolutely. I mean, with just back to the photography for a second, that gift that I am able to give a woman of her seeing herself for the very first time, like truly who she is. It is un-fucking-believable. It is so powerful to be able to give that to another human being. And that's the most beautiful part for me as the photographer, to be able to do that and show a woman who she truly, truly is. Because, as you said, you don't think about yourself. A lot of the women don't think about themselves that way. But then when they see the images, and they see who they truly are and how they're captured, it's inner and outer beauty, and it is so magical, the transformation that takes place in a 90 minute session with me is unbelievable. She walks in one woman, she leaves a completely different woman. And that is what it's about, is being able to show a woman herself in a brand new light, or a different light, a light that she's not used to seeing herself in, or a light that she's never seen herself in. That process. It's, it's, honestly, there aren't enough words to encapsulate the power in that. For me as a photographer, it is so beautiful.Lesley Logan 9:31  Yeah, because you're like, we wrote in something like a, like, a storyteller doula, but like, you are like, like, an empowering me, empowering women doula, you're like, and now go off and, like, impact the world, because it's why I do this show. It's probably why you do your your photography. It's like, I'm really good at what I do, and I love what I do, but my bubble of influence is this. It's whatever it can be, and if I can then influence another woman to be it until she sees it and does something that's so incredibly impactful. Her bubble of influence. And so all of a sudden, like, in my world, the way I envision this, it's like we get all these bubbles, and it's, like it can cover the whole world then, right? Because it's not about one person, it's about all the people feeling their power.Brad Walsh 10:14  That's right? And so with the photography, I got to a point I was probably about two years into my business full time, and I started to feel like I love this. This is amazing. What a beautiful gift this is that I get to do this, and I get paid to do this, but I want to reach more people. I want to have a bigger impact. I want my bubble to grow. And so I thought, Why don't I take the purpose, the mission, the values of the work I do as a photographer, and turn that into or transplant that into a podcast where I focus the platform solely on women. At the time and even now, I don't know of any other platform in the world out there that has a man as a host who solely, 100% focuses on amplifying and elevating the voices of women.Lesley Logan 10:57  Not gonna lie, Brad, when I saw what you're doing, I was like, what an interesting dude. I wonder why he does it.Brad Walsh 11:02  I so I thought, Well, I'm gonna give this to I had no experience interview. I had no idea how to interview someone. No clue. I just thought, you know what, fuck it. I'll figure it out. I'm just gonna jump in. So I reached out to seven or eight friends of mine, women who I had met through my photography journey, and I explained what my idea was for the platform, and of course, it was in its infancy back then, but I shared with them and asked them if they would help me get it off the ground by letting me interview them. They all said, yes. I did the interviews, I created the content, and at that same time, my photography business started to pick up traction. I was getting more inquiries, more booking. So I thought, Okay, I have to, I have to shift all of my energy, my focus, to the business. That's why I left corporate. I shut down the and shelved the podcast, focused on the business. And then, of course, we hit March of 2020. Screwed my business. I couldn't be photographing women. So I thought, Okay, well, you got two choices here. You can go through door number one and sit around and commiserate and complain about what's going on with over half the world. Or you could go through door number two and and see this as a gift that we've all been given and use it to put something good out into the world. We could use that right now. So I reignited the podcast, and here we are, five and a half years later, and it's been an absolutely incredible journey. I have interviewed some of the most beautiful, powerful, inspirational, resilient, courageous women. You being one of them, Lesley, and I mean, it has just been such an incredible journey. It has opened so many doors for me. I and at the foundation of it all is my mom, my grandmother. They are the the inspiration for it. My mom left my biological father when I was 10, he was running around on her having an affair. Back in those days, of course, women stayed home to raise the children while the husband was the one working. So when I look back on that, the fact that she had the strength and the courage to stand up after 15 years of marriage and say, No more. I don't have to put up with this shit. I'm taking my boys and we're leaving, and we left with nothing but the clothes on our back. We moved into a one bedroom apartment. Mom slept on a couch. My brother and I shared a bedroom, and she had to get a job after being out of work for 10 years, because she sacrificed to stay home and raise us and so when she was at work, my grandmother would step in. So for me, those two women are my heart and my soul. I wouldn't be the man I am today without them. And then, of course, all of the women that I've had the honor and pleasure of sitting down with and sharing in their stories, they have all contributed to who I am today because of their stories, because of the lessons and the insights I've I've received from all of these women I take inspiration from every single woman I interview, so they have all had a hand in creating who I am today.Lesley Logan 13:47  Brad, I couldn't agree more. Like I feel that in being able to interview people, even people who I don't really always agree with, I'm like, wow, that's an interesting way to be it until you see it. I probably wouldn't do it. But like, even in doing even in doing that, like, your ability to empathize and see people's whole people, because, like, we, we live in a world where people want to go that person did a bad thing, so they're a bad person. This person did a good thing, so they're a good person. And people are so complicated. They're so complicated. And when you know, growing up, you would hear about like, women who left or divorced people. And of course, the woman always gets the shade like because they're divorced, the divorce (inaudible) and knowing what I know now about when she could get a credit card, when she could get a bank loan, when she you're like, whoa, every single one of those women is the biggest badass I have ever heard of, because that would have been the hardest thing to do, like, because they're though the world was against them, and so like what strength and foresight and like to make sure that you guys saw something different. I, I am in the mood of like reading and re listening to women's stories from the past that have been painted in one way, and hearing the full capacity of it, you're like, oh, actually, you know that's that person is is stronger than we thought, or better than we thought, or cooler than we thought.Brad Walsh 15:07  Yeah. And I mean, then you add into the mix, if they've got children, they have to do what they have to do to help those kids. But to your point about hearing the full story, this makes me think of something I just discovered recently is the Salem witch trials, and what bullshit that was and what the real truth is, holy shit.Lesley Logan 15:30  You guys. We are. We are. I might have got chills. I got chills. We are recording this on Halloween. But like, I actually am in love with the acronym of WITCH, which is, like, woman in total control of herself. Like I am, like, obsessed with the song, I'm obsessed with the acronym, but you're correct, like the Salem witch trials, and also just the witch trials in general, which is just like, oh, she is a healer. She had power, or her husband's dead, and she has got money.Brad Walsh 15:53  She has real estate, yes, exactly. Lesley Logan 15:53  And they're just killing these women. Brad Walsh 15:57  I could not believe it when I went down that rabbit hole, I thought, Holy, fuck the amount of lies that we have been told about that and how women have been painted in such a horrible light, which is totally false, totally bullshit. Lesley Logan 16:11  In fact, you know what? Y'all I'm not saying that this is the most accurate statement, but I think if you've ever heard a historical woman being painted as this horrible person, I would just assume that there's probably a 180 story on that, like. Brad Walsh 16:26  Mary Magdalene? Lesley Logan 16:27  Okay, you read my mind. Because, like, you know, you're like, Oh, she's this poor sex worker home girl was fucking rich. She was she was absolutely bankrolling those dudes.Brad Walsh 16:39  It's crazy. The shit I have learned is unbelievable.Lesley Logan 16:43  Like, do you ever okay? Do you ever wonder, like, Is my whole life a lie? Like, was my whole like, my whole life was a lie? And sometimes I'm like, and so I have been reading there's, um, there's an Instagram channel that his name is for, like, I'm not remembering this moment, but she, like, talks about these, like, women in history that, like, we've just, like, erased, didn't listen to and I'm just like, made myself go every day I'm gonna read one, because it just makes me realize, Wow, we are stronger than we've ever been told we are. And in fact, like all these stories of history and people like, I think it's like these little digs to make sure women feel, Oh, I can't do it. Oh, bad things happen, right? Brad Walsh 17:23  Yep, it's horrible. Lesley Logan 17:25  Okay. The like, you've been platforming women, you've brought up the word resilience, and I, I'm someone who, like, everyone is like, Lesley, you're so resilient. And then what? Some days I just want to go fucking tired of being resilient. I just would, like to.Brad Walsh 17:39  I just spoke with someone the other day, and that's exactly what they said. I don't want to be fucking resilient. I'm so tired of that word.Lesley Logan 17:47  Like, I like, I like, I'm like, you know those, like, those punching bags where you hit them and they come back up again. I'm like, I just don't, I don't know if I should get back up or stayed. I don't know anymore. Like, just leave me. Let me be over here. Yeah, I guess, like, since you've interviewed so many women, you told so many stories, why should we want to stay resilient?Brad Walsh 18:10  Because it because I think that staying resilient by doing that you're giving a permission slip to other women. Because I think I see resilience as courage and inner strength being getting back up that eighth time after being knocked down seven times. That's what resilience is to me. And so when I think, when women do that, it's a permission slip for others, it shows other women what's possible. So yeah, I think, as much as you don't you hate the word, and I understand. I get it. I totally understand. But think about the other women that you are inspiring by doing that. And yes, of course, and there's nothing wrong with getting tired of hearing it. And maybe, maybe you don't have to get up every single time. But I think that by doing so it you are inspiring other women and showing you are proof of what's possible, in my opinion.Lesley Logan 19:00  Yeah, you're right. I mean, I'll keep getting back up, but I do, I.Brad Walsh 19:05  Somehow I can't see you staying down anyway. Lesley Logan 19:07  I don't even think I would know how to, but I, but I also, I also want to highlight that you said, like, it inspires others to actually maybe step outside and get outside, and I think, like, I think that's also why women have to tell their story, and I also think that's why your platform has to exist for women to tell their story, to have a platform if they don't have one, you know, because, like, so the other day, you don't know this, Brad, but I'll just tell you. So the other day, I got a comment on my YouTube channel, and it was like, Oh, I've loved your videos for so long, but you've been gaining weight, and it was better before.Brad Walsh 19:48  It was better. The content was better before you gained weight.Lesley Logan 19:50  Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because yeah. So I and first of all, they had they so they wrote in Spanish. Which is fine. Like, that's their language. No problem. There's Google Translate. So I see this, like, common in Spanish, and I know enough Spanish to, like, pick up. And I was like, that's not saying what it what it says. So I put it through, no, it said exactly what I thought it said. And then, of course, a couple of my subscribers on YouTube, like, they defended it in the best way that they could, which is, is fine, the person then doubled down. So even if we thought, like, maybe it's a cultural thing, like, look, we have, we have a place in Cambodia, and they will ask you, like, point blank, like, why don't you have kids? Why are you bigger? Why are you looking so old? And it's not here. We would take that as, like, what an asshole. There, it's like, if you're heavier or you don't work, you must be rich. Like, so, like, you know what I mean? Like, it's a different and that's a whole different thing, right? Like, to have weight on your bones is sign of money, where, here we're, like, a sign of wealth is, like, can you just be as skinny as possible, right? And then also, like, look like a child forever. So anyways, so they doubled down on it. So we are clear that it's not a cultural thing. This is their opinion. So I, you know.Brad Walsh 21:02  And this was a man, I'm assuming. Lesley Logan 21:04  Yes and I couldn't tell from the handle, until when I called them out and I said, Hey, like, I really hope that when your body changes and it will, that you have space and grace for yourself and others in your life that you love. Because I am, for the record, since you've called it out, 40 pounds heavier than the one I started this channel, and I am stronger and I'm healthier, and I have more longevity, and I will not tolerate fat phobic comments on this channel. Thank you so much, right? And then the person, like, didn't apologize, but was like, Oh, I didn't mean to offend you, which is like, Okay. And then they signed off, and it was a man. And I was like, fucking why the fuck, why is it always a man? Why? But then you know what, here's the thing, I will I will clarify. I've had many women say some nasty things too. So, so I, so I went to the point of the story is, I went on my Instagram account and I shared the story, and I said, you know, like, I am saying this for the women who actually do have to walk into a room that people question. Like, I still go, I'm like, thin passing, right? Like, if we're going to talk about, like, like, I can walk into room and no one's going, Oh, is she? Can she do the exercise? Like, you know, like, what is she doing here? Like, I that doesn't happen to me, but there are women who are in bigger bodies that that happens to and so I just, you know, shared like, this is wrong. Like, bodies do not, size of bodies does not determine if they're a good teacher, a good a good athlete. None of this stuff. The every comment was positive. Every comment was thanking me for sharing, because they felt so seen and so to your point, the resilience of like, I'm gonna get up, I'm I mean, like, if I could punch a bag, that's what I would have done. I'm not a violent person, everyone, but I do think you should punch a bag you know.Brad Walsh 22:46  Yeah or scream into a pillow, whatever it is you got to do,Lesley Logan 22:49  Yes, yes. And so I shared it, and we're talking a 500 comments of women, that is, it was overwhelming. How many people like we're saying, this is what I or like they'll say, like, thank you for saying this. Or some of them are saying, this is what I'm afraid of. And I had to say, like, this is why you have to post, because people don't see that real bodies are out there. They're all the only people who feel like they can post are these 20 somethings. And nothing wrong with the 20 somethings. If you're listening, like, enjoy the metabolism you have while you have it like, have the best time. But we do have to, if we have a story, tell it so that we can inspire other people, yeah.Brad Walsh 23:28  Yeah, for sure. And that, you know what this is, something I love about being a photographer too, is I got to photograph all types of bodies, and every body is beautiful. I don't give a shit what anyone says. Everyone's body is beautiful. It's just a different package that we're looking at that's all and I love that you had the courage to post about it and share it. Because again, and this is exactly what I was saying by you sharing, look at all the comments you got. Look at all the women that stepped up and said, thank you. This is exactly why women need to, not need to. I shouldn't say that. This is why women should be resilient and share and be vulnerable. And I know it's not easy sometimes to be vulnerable, to share your your inner stuff. Think of the impact you can have and who you can help. And that's why storytelling is so very, incredibly poor, important because, and I don't care, I've heard many times I don't have a story. Who's going to want to listen to my story. I guarantee you, as I sit here right now, if you share your story, it will impact one person's life, I guarantee it. And that's all that we're here to do, is have impact. So share your story, as scary as it might be, you can you can edit it. You can decide what parts you want to share. I'm not saying you have to go and share every single detail of your story, but share your story because you will inspire someone else, and maybe by you sharing your story and your struggles, whatever it is, maybe you will help prevent someone from having to go through a similar thing by sharing your story, because you're sharing how you got through it. Lesley Logan 24:14  Yeah. Oh, you. Oh, I love this, okay. I also love the idea like sharing your story even impacts one person. Because, like, if we just, like, who knows? Like, maybe, maybe women are 50% of the population, right? Like, let's just make it even, if you share one, if you share your story and impact one person, you can impact the whole other half of the world. You can impact even just the women around but you can impact, I do think that sometimes we get frustrated with with men sometimes, and it's like, Well, did any women in their life ever tell like, did any woman in their life ever tell them like, hey, don't say that thing that actually you know about others, or here's hey, when you said that, here's a story, like, here's my story, how like that might change it and and that takes courage and conviction. It's not always easy. Some family members suck. So maybe it's maybe it's a co worker, maybe it's a neighbor, but I do think it is important that even if we impact one person, we are changing the world and how it sees everybody.Brad Walsh 25:56  For sure, because that will also ripple out to the person that the people that surround that one person. So you are, in effect, impacting more than one person, because yes, you've impacted that one person directly, but indirectly, you've you've impacted the people around her, because it will uplift her and shift her way of thinking. It'll shift her mindset. It'll help her, which then, in turn, helps everyone else around her, because it lifts her up. Lesley Logan 26:21  Okay. So we've been saying that we should, you know, consider sharing a story of ourselves. We, you know, edit how we want. Where do you like? Where do you get started? What makes a good story? Like we got perfectionist listening. They're gonna want to know some action steps.Brad Walsh 26:36  Yeah, just, just be authentic. Don't bullshit. Don't try and be something you're not. Just be genuine. Tell your story shit. Figure out, drill it down to what you want to share. First, figure out to what part of your story you want to share, and then just share it with authenticity. Just be who you are. Don't put on some facade. Don't put on a mask. Take the masks off and share who you genuinely are. Because I think when you are genuine, when you are authentic, and I know authentic, everyone uses that word, but it's true when you're authentically who you are that resonates with people. People want to see the mess. People want to know that you're human if you're portraying this perfect person that's gone through, you know, with no struggles, no hassles, no, come on, be who you truly are. Share your struggles, but again, you could be selective in what you share. Just be messy, because we are all perfectly imperfect, and it's okay. I think people will resonate with that more when you're authentic and you're genuine, it just it resonates for people, I think.Lesley Logan 27:39  I think so. And I know, like, people have really ruined the word authentic. We got to bring it back, because it's such a good word. I really, and I I think, like, you know, I think some people go, Well, you know, Lesley, Brad, I don't have like, a tragic story. Like, I think people because all the stories they hear is like, somebody like, survived, like, falling off a cliff, and then they turned into, like, some TED Talk speaker, and it's like, hold on, like, you know, like it can, like your story is so it, it will make someone else feel so seen. Like it doesn't have to be that you serve you're the lone survivor of a car accident. You can, you know, you can actually have.Brad Walsh 28:17  No, your story matters. Lesley Logan 28:18  Your story matters. You're correct. It could be that you struggled in school, and then you like, led you to like doing art, and it made you realize, like, you know, art tells I think, that we all are harder on ourselves than we need to be.Brad Walsh 28:30  Oh yes, we are own worst critics, our own biggest hurdles. We are terrible to ourselves terrible. And something someone said to me quite a while back, is when, when I, because I went through I negative talk. Of course, we all do at some point here and there. And I had someone say, Would you speak that way to your best friend? Would you speak that way to your mother? No, of course you wouldn't. So why are you doing it to you the most important person in your life? You. Stop, stop the shit. You don't deserve it. You're amazing. You're incredible. Every single person has a beautiful light within them. It's just a matter of finding it and then shining it. But surround yourself with the right people. Find your like and heart minded people to surround yourself with. Community is everything, absolutely everything. Community, connection, it's community is relationships are currency. You need them. We all need them, but share your story. It's so important.Lesley Logan 29:35  So I get like, what comes up for me on that is like, one, I love that you said we are the most important person our own lives. Like, holy moly. Like, I've never heard it so succinctly, and it's just like, Duh I am if I don't feed myself and sleep and like, I'm the most important person. Yes, of course. And so love that. So you know maybe you can share from your own personal experience, or maybe from. Any of the women's stories you've heard. Like, when you are trying to be more yourself, authentic, share your story. Sometimes your community doesn't exactly like cheer cheer for you. Like, sometimes your community puts those little doubts in your head because of their own fears, of their own shit, and it requires us to, like, find either new community or or or new things to say to ourselves. Like, did you have to go through that when you were making a big transition from, like, corporate to being a photographer or being a podcaster?Brad Walsh 30:27  Like, how did you handle that? So there were a few things when I first, before I was when I decided I was going to make the jump, I had so many people saying to me, are you crazy? There's so many photographers out there, how, like, why would you even do that? It's so you have a you have a good paying job, you have benefit, like, but I'm not happy. So why am I going to stay in something? I'm miserable. So many people stay stuck in that position because it's comfortable, because it's easy, because I have benefits, but they don't want to be there. It's not on their heart. So why you think about the fact that we spend so many years of our lives working? Why the fuck do you want to be miserable every day? Find and you know, you hear the excuse, well, I can't, because I can't. I need money for this. I need money for that. I've got better Okay, great. Those are, those are your reasons. That's your reasoning. Find what you love, start doing it part time, until you can build something up enough that you can do that. I know you know, working a full time job and then pursuing this, but I guarantee you, if you find your purpose, your passion, something that lights you up, that just has creates such a fire in your belly, it will change everything for you. I say it's, for me, it was like winning the lottery twice. Once, because I found my purpose, second, because it impacts people. That's what we're all here for. So when I first left, yeah, I dealt with imposter syndrome. Who the fuck am I to do this? Why would anyone want to work with me, all the things, comparisonitis, I would sit there and, well, why is this person, this photographer, so far ahead of me when I'm here? And I thought I would be here, but all of these things and around that piece of it, I thought, well, when I So, the first thing I did was get a mentor. It was the first thing. He helped me get to the point where that comparisonitis and the imposter syndrome. Well, the imposter syndrome was still there a bit, but the comparisonitis stuff he helped me realize that my only competition is me, as long as I can look back at for me as a photographer and see that my work has grown, my work has improved, that's the only competition now, I don't give a shit what that person's doing as a photographer. It doesn't matter. It has no bearing on me. Because first of all, to compare, comparing someone that's at their five year and I'm at my two year, that's like comparing apples to oranges. You cannot compare the two. It's pointless, right? Secondly, no one has, again, speaking about the photography, no one has my eye. No one sees images the way I see them. No one provides the client experience that I can, because no one else is me. That's part of your superpower. That's part of your gift is nobody else on this planet can do what you do the way you do it, I'm saying. Yes, anyone. I mean, look. Lesley Logan 33:31  I love it. I tell people this. I tell people all the time, you are the only person who can do what you do the way that you do it doesn't matter what industry you're in doesn't matter what your dream is. Even if two people are baking an apple pie from the same recipe, it's going to taste different because of what they put into it, what the energy they put into it. Yeah.Brad Walsh 33:50  Give, give three photographers the same image to shoot the same thing to shoot, all three images, I guarantee you will be different in some way, shape or form, because we don't have the same eyes. We don't see things the same way. And so through that mentor helping me with that, I also I had a me first kind of attitude, too. When I first jumped into photography, like I would, I was starting to go in with, go into brands, companies, and say, you know, wanting to collaborate with them. And I was going and say, well, what, what can you do for me? Like, how can we work together? What am I going to get out of this? And my mentor said to me, said that, Brad, I'm You're going nowhere fast. You have to shift that mindset and go into these companies and say, How can I be of service to you? What can I do to help your brand? It will come back to you if you go in with a mindset of service. It's a fucking game changer, I promise you. It will change everything but the comparisonitis, the the imposter syndrome, the nerves, the fears, all of that thing, all of those things. I, the comparison, I just no more. I don't deal with that anymore. I'm done. I've got my tools. And this is the thing is, get a mentor. Watch videos on YouTube. YouTube University. It's a great place, talk to people who are in your industry. Talk to people that are further along in their journey. They have the experience and the wisdom. Ask questions, it can only lead you up. It's it's so helpful. Just trust in yourself, believe in yourself. And I know it's easy to say, but I'm telling you, it will change everything once you start to believe in yourself, don't worry about competition. I'm telling you, it doesn't matter what business you're running, what company. There is no such thing as competition. Competition comes from lack. You are unique. Lesley Logan 35:53  Yeah, I couldn't agree more. We coach a lot of Pilates studios and like, they'll be like, oh, so and so is going with this many classes, and they have this many performers, and I should have the same and I'm like, what are you talking about? You don't even know if they're successful. They look successful because they made it look pretty. We don't know that could be a way that their family is writing off the business and having a loss. It might be purposely there to lose money. And I say that because I had a friend whose whole existence for her business was to bring the couple's money down because their tax bracket was really high. So like, if I was comparing myself to her, who looks like she has it all together, I could have driven my business into the ground. Like, you have to, look, market research is real, do the thing, but then also, like you have to do it for you, and the impact you want to make and the service want to be. I love this so much. And I also couldn't agree more, like getting a mentor is like it was, and this might be a terrible joke, but for those who I went to public school, I was homeschooled, I went to private school. So I can say this, from this experience, I feel like when you get a mentor, it's like taking your your business, or your idea or your passion, and putting it in a little bit of a private school, putting in a little bit of a because you get extra attention, you have smaller class sizes, you you get someone who's really invested in you. And I'm not saying, like, public school teachers, you're amazing. Thank you for all the work you do, but, like, it just takes your thing to the next level, or you can still do all the things for free, but you've got to make sure that you're going, okay, my YouTube University, I this, I It's like I paid for this. I like invest in that to make sure that I'm applying those things I'm learning. Yeah.Brad Walsh 37:31  Comparison is the thief of joy. Do not compare yourself, because no one else is you. And listen, when I first jumped well before I actually jumped into photography full time, I was doing free shoots. Sometimes that's what you have to do, and that's okay. There's nothing wrong with that. I did the free shoot so I could enhance and hone my lighting skills. Because I had never worked with artificial light before. I'd always worked with natural light. I had to learn how to pose women properly. With boudoir if you don't know what you're doing with lighting and posing, forget it. You're fucked. That's it. It's over.Lesley Logan 37:54  Yeah, the opposite effect could happen. Brad Walsh 38:03  Yes, so I was doing free shoots for friends to hone my skills and to learn. That's how you learn. And I know people say, well, I don't have the money for a mentor, and there's nothing wrong with that. But what you can do is trade services, maybe, find someone you could trade services, what you can provide for them, and do it in trade. There's nothing wrong with that either. I'm hearing a lot more people talk about doing things in trade. There's nothing wrong with that. Lesley Logan 38:33  Yep, yeah. And especially, like, I think that it's easier to put a wall up than open a door, you know, and I think, like, if you don't have the money, and I've been there, y'all, I have been homeless. I've had, like, credit cards, max to the brim, student loans, all the things. And today there is a podcast for everything you want to do, and that person is giving you, I promise you, they're giving away all the stuff they coach on for free in the wrong order. So if you have you either have money or you have time, and so what you could do is take that free stuff, figure out the right order through experimentation, and not compare comparison, and you will get to where you can actually take the money and invest it so it will work out for you, but you have to believe in yourself. And I think that's really the hard thing is that so many people are hope, looking for other people to believe in them first. And this is where I don't know how to like, truly help everyone I want to help. It's like, how do we get them to believe in themselves enough to take the first step? Because they really are amazing, you know? And they're just, they don't know it, you know?Brad Walsh 39:39  You just have to support them. You just have and you have, it's conversations like you and I are having right now and then taking the time to sit with someone and talk to them and find out hey, why you feel if it's a friend or someone you want to help, why are you feeling this way? How can we help you get to the next level? What can we do to support you? How can we get you there? Because everyone has the ability within them. Every single person on this planet is capable of doing anything, anything, anything in the world that they want to do is possible, you just have to. It starts here with us. We are the foundation for all of it, you have to do the inner work. Lesley Logan 40:17  Oh, you are so, I could talk to you forever. I really hope this is an episode people like, like, I hope they're as fired up as I am from this, because it really there's, there's so much possibility out there. We're gonna take a brief break and then find out how people can find you, follow you, work with you and your Be It Action Items. Lesley Logan 40:39  All right, Brad, where do you hang out? You said Toronto. But where do you hang out online? How can people hear more of your amazing tips and these brilliant stories?Brad Walsh 40:43  Instagram, at Empowerography Podcast, my website, empowerographypodcast.com, and Facebook, those, those are the three places I'm on LinkedIn. I'm starting to build up a profile and following on LinkedIn as well. But those are the three main is Instagram, Facebook and my website.Lesley Logan 41:03  Yeah, yeah, no, I'm with you. I with you on the LinkedIn, like, oh my God, if you've been listening podcast for the over 600 episodes, where you guys, I still haven't gone. And honestly, here's where I'm at. I'm just gonna have someone do it for me. I I just, like, I'm not a corporate person, so I don't get half the stuff that it's doing. And I just, I just want to do other things. So that will be my 2026, 2027 goal is to just find someone just rock that LinkedIn for me, but, but I do love my I love my platforms I'm on, so y'all go check them out. Follow, check out the podcast. I mean, if you want to hear resilient stories from amazing women, like, what a great way to fill your cup each week, especially if your community isn't doing that for you. Like, you can start with just hearing a story on a podcast. Okay, Brad, you've actually given us some great tips, but we like them at the end, bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us?Brad Walsh 41:56  Something that my father always said is what's meant for you will never go by you. So if you don't get that thing that you are hoping for, and don't worry, it wasn't meant for you, and something bigger is around the corner, I promise you, just be patient. Wait for it. It will happen. The universe always has your back. It will never, ever let you down. So like I said, if you're not, if you don't get that TED talk, or you don't get that job you wanted, you don't get that client you wanted to work with, it's okay. It wasn't meant to be something else. I promise you, bigger is coming around the corner for you. So be patient and wait for it. It will happen.Lesley Logan 42:35  I think there's such a good like mantra to have, like, written somewhere, like, start your day with it, end your day with it. Like, because I have to say to myself too, like, what is for me will not pass me. Like, what is for me will not pass me. Because you do get doors, like, you're like, Oh, I'm excited about that. Someone asked you to do something. You're like, Yes, I'm in. And they go, Oh, we're going a different direction. You're like, Oh, it feels so deflating. And then you're like, but you have to remember that like, there's another reason why that space is open in your calendar, in your life. Yeah, yeah.Brad Walsh 43:05  That's right. I just sent an email off to invite a guest that I really wanted to have on the show. And they came back and they said, sorry, her calendar is full, so no. And I just thought, Okay, well, this I wasn't meant to interview her now, and no means next opportunity.Lesley Logan 43:22  Yeah, at least you got an email back. That's great. Sometimes people just don't even say no. And so you're like, should I bug him again? Like, that's a door open for later on going, like, in the new year, like, Hey, how's that calendar? Like we can we have the whole 12 months where we want to put it? Brad Walsh 43:37  That's right, that's right. Lesley Logan 43:39  Brad, thank you. What a great, well, for me on a Friday, interviewing you, what a great way to like end my week. I feel so fired up. For those of you who listen to us on a Tuesday, thank you for listening to the Be It Till You See It podcast. We are so excited to have you. Please make sure you share your favorite takeaways with Brad at Empowerography on Instagram or Facebook, or you can check out their website and listen to their podcast and share this with a woman who needs to hear it. You know, like, even that can be the helpful thing you can say to your friend, like, hey, you've been feeling stuck. Brad Walsh 44:10  He you should check this out. Lesley Logan 44:11  Check this out. Like, sometimes that's the thing that helps people get out of being stuck or being in a rut or feeling like they're not seen. So thank you for sharing it. Until next time, Be It Till You See It. Lesley Logan 44:21  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 45:04  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 45:09  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 45:14  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 45:21  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 45:24  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Mike has a conversation with Dr. Nita Farahany—speaker, author, Duke Law Distinguished Professor, and the Founding Director of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society—on the future of artificial intelligence in law school, legal employment, legislation, and our day-to-day lives.They discuss a wide range of AI-related topics, including how significantly Dr. Farahany expects AI to change our lives (10:43, 23:09), how Dr. Farahany checks for AI-generated content in her classes and her thoughts on AI detector tools (1:26, 5:46), the reason that she bans her students from using AI to help generate papers (plus, the reasons she doesn't ascribe to) (3:41), predictions for how AI will impact legal employment in both the short term and the long term (7:26), which law students are likely to be successful vs. unsuccessful in an AI future (12:24), whether our technology is spying on us (17:04), cognitive offloading and the idea of “cognitive extinction” (18:59), how AI and technology can take away our free will (24:45) and ways to take it back (27:58), how our cognitive liberties are at stake and what we can do to reclaim them both on an individual level (30:06) and a societal level (35:53), neural implants and sensors and our screenless future (39:27), how to use AI in a way that promotes rather than diminishes critical thinking (44:43), and how much, for what purposes, and with which tools Dr. Farahany uses generative AI herself (47:27).Among Dr. Farahany's numerous credentials and accomplishments, she is the author of the 2023 book, The Battle for Your Brain: Defending Your Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology; she has given two TED Talks and spoken at numerous high-profile conferences and forums; she served on the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues from 2010 to 2017; she was President of the International Neuroethics Society from 2019 to 2021; and her scholarship includes work on artificial intelligence, cognitive biometric data privacy issues, and other topics in bioethics and neuroscience. She is the Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy at Duke University, where she also earned a JD, MA, and PhD in philosophy after completing a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth and a master's from Harvard, both in biology.Dr. Farahany's Substack—featuring her free, interactive AI Law & Policy and Advanced Topics in AI Law & Policy courses—is available here. The app she recommends is BePresent. The Status Check episode Mike mentions, with Dr. Judson Brewer, is here.You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. You can read a full transcript of this episode with timestamps here.

420 Ted Talks: Let's Start Sharing Stories   In today's episode Sarah Elkins ruminates on her preparations for her Ted Talk, as well as seeing the need that had to be filled, and how she is filling that need in society with clarity and authenticity.    Highlights Seeing a problem and figuring out how you can fix it.  Let your ideas loose in the world, you never know who needs to hear it.  Bring yourself to whatever you do and good will follow.    Quotes "The answer wasn't to explain away what was happening." "I realized I wasn't just there to give a talk. I was there to bring who I am, and all of my strengths and all of my weaknesses."   Be sure to watch Sarah's TedTalk!   About Sarah "Uncovering the right stories for the right audiences so executives, leaders, public speakers, and job seekers can clearly and actively demonstrate their character, values, and vision." In my work with coaching clients, I guide people to improve their communication using storytelling as the foundation of our work together. What I've realized over years of coaching and podcasting is that the majority of people don't realize the impact of the stories they share - on their internal messages, and on the people they're sharing them with. My work with leaders and people who aspire to be leaders follows a similar path to the interviews on my podcast, uncovering pivotal moments in their lives and learning how to share them to connect more authentically with others, to make their presentations and speaking more engaging, to reveal patterns that have kept them stuck or moved them forward, and to improve their relationships at work and at home. The audiobook, Your Stories Don't Define You, How You Tell Them Will is now available! Included with your purchase are two bonus tracks, songs recorded by Sarah's band, Spare Change, in her living room in Montana. Be sure to check out the Storytelling For Professionals Course as well to make sure you nail that next interview!

The Michaelangelo to Bob Ross to Akira Kurosawa to Jason Griffin pipeline is strong. Master Collaborator and accomplished visual artist Jason Griffin is a Caldecott Honoree for his work with Jason Reynolds on their 2022 collaboration Ain't Burned All the Bright, their third book together (we'll talk about the others in this episode). But his work with our friend and future guest Winsome Bingham is what brings us here today. The 2024 multicultural, multi-generational picture book collab The Table will be followed in September by the amazing, poignant, gorgeous On Fridays. Check out our Instagram later this week (on Friday, actually) for some very cover-y things to be revealed! Resources to consume that were discussed in this episode: Elizabeth Gilbert's TED Talk featuring THE Tom Waits anecdote Akira Kurosawa's iconic blood spray oopsie _________ This episode's book reviews:  RAINBOW PANDA, words by Lisa Muchnik, pictures by Emilie Timmermans ALBERTO SALAS PLAYS PAKA PAKA CON LA PAPA, words by Sara Andrea Fajardo, pictures by Juana Martinez-Neal THE BLACK MAMBAS THE WORLD'S FIRST ALL-WOMAN ANTI-POACHING UNIT by Kelly Crull   The artwork for You May Contribute a Verse features our quokka mascot, Versey, and was generously created by the great Maddie Frost! Find her on IG @hellomaddiefrost or on her website Maddie-Frost.com    Our theme music is So Happy by Scott Holmes. You can find more of his music at scottholmesmusic.com     Love the podcast and wanna support more episodes like this? Find Community Shoutouts, Merch and our Patreon here!!    Find us on Bluesky @joshmonkwords, @brennajeanneret, and @jonseym0ur and as always, let us know what you think via a rating, review, or comment!

Following last week's conversations with ex-Corey's Angels musicians Margot Lane and Jezebel Sweet, director Marcie Hume joins us to talk about making Corey Feldman Vs. The World, the cinéma vérité documentary that starts as a quirky comeback chronicle and turns into an unexpectedly raw portrait of a former child star wrestling with trauma, ego, and the need to be believed.Marcie shares how she first got access to Corey Feldman, what it was like to embed with him, his band Corey's Angels, and their inner circle over years of on‑again, off‑again filming, and how the story kept shifting as his grievances, paranoia, and yearning for redemption played out in real time on and off camera. She also pulls back the curtain on the ethics of documenting someone who is both a survivor and a deeply unreliable narrator, the pressure from all sides—Corey, producers, fans, critics—to shape the narrative, and why she ultimately chose to keep the camera rolling long past the “hero's journey” arc in order to show something messier, more human, and uncomfortably honest about fame, fandom, and the stories we tell about abuse and accountability in Hollywood.Follow Marcie's journey on Instagram @cfvstw, at YouTube.com/@CFVSTW, and be sure to watch the documentary on Apple TV, YouTube, and Google Play.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of child abuse and sexual exploitation, emotional manipulation, trauma, PTSD, addiction, mental health struggles, and scenes of conflict and controlling behavior.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Give your skin a rest with clean, clinically tested skincare from OSEA. Get 10% off your first order sitewide with code CULTY at OSEAMalibu.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We get deep in the weeds of YouTube strategy this week, debating whether ThumbnailTest.com is actually better than YouTube's native A/B testing tool, and why creating "composite" thumbnails is the ultimate creator hack (even if they look ridiculous up close). We roast the lazy corporate use of AI—from terrible automated meeting recaps to unsolicited "improved" thumbnails that magically add fake tool walls to our shops. Plus, we discuss a $10,000 Roomba-style air purifier, the great AI data center RAM shortage that is turning PC building outrageously expensive, and Zac's secret to recording voiceovers: giving a private TED Talk in your office.Got questions? Email us at offthecutpodcast@gmail.comJoin the Aftershow: https://www.patreon.com/offthecutpodcastWatch Live: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcRJPIp6OaffQtvCZ2AtWWQMerch: https://www.spencleydesignco.comStart a Podcast: https://streamyard.com/pal/c/5926541443858432Follow the Hosts:Zac: @ZacBuildsEric: @SpencleyDesignCoDeric: @PecanTreeDesignProudly Sponsored By: KM Tools (kmtools.com/SPENCLEYDESIGNCO)WTB Woodworking (wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway)#Woodworking #DIY #3DPrinting #Maker #ContentCreation #OffTheCutPodcast #Sponsored #KMTools #WTBWoodworking 

New Episode

What if success isn't about pushing harder but allowing yourself to be pulled toward your purpose? In this episode, Seth Streeter shares how he helps people navigate major life transitions and discover their inspired life purpose as co-founder of Mission Wealth, a wealth management firm he started 25 years ago that now manages $14 billion in assets for 4,600 families across 34 US locations. Seth has been a financial advisor for 34 years, specializing in guiding clients through major life events while helping them live more fulfilling lives through assessments across 12 dimensions of wealth. After going through divorce and the financial crisis, Seth realized he was achieving traditional success but wasn't fulfilled, leading him to spend an introspective year attending retreats, meditating, and traveling to India. In the last eight years, Seth has led purpose-driven retreats for over 2,000 people, including nine-day retreats in Bhutan where leaders trek in the Himalayas and stay with monks. Seth spoke at Davos with Deepak Chopra on conscious leadership and leads the purpose community for YPO. Seth reveals the relationship that transformed his life: Joe Bosco, owner of an Italian restaurant in Fort Collins, Colorado where Seth worked as a dishwasher through high school. When Seth was looking at colleges and his parents wanted him to attend Colorado State, Joe Bosco said "you should check out Santa Barbara, California" because he went there for horse shows. Seth had never heard of Santa Barbara but applied to UCSB because of Joe Bosco and spent 27 years there, founding Mission Wealth, having his children, serving on 10 nonprofit boards, starting sustainable future.org, and doing a TED Talk, all because Joe Bosco suggested he check out UC Santa Barbara. Seth also credits Chip Conley, founder of MEA, as a mentor who showed him how to move from his head to his heart.   [00:03:40] Led Two Nine-Day Purpose Retreats in Bhutan In Asia for most of the trip Had 25 leaders in each group trekking in Himalayas Stayed overnight at monasteries, lived with monks Contemplated purpose individually, within companies, within world at large [00:04:40] Mission Wealth: 25 Years and $14 Billion Co-founded Mission Wealth 25 years ago Independent registered investment advisory firm 34 locations across US, manages just under $14 billion in assets About 4,600 families, team of 200 advisors and professionals [00:05:20] Started Leading Retreats Eight Years Ago In last eight years started leading retreats and coaching For different companies, leaders, different groups of people Takes paid time off to do it, spends vacations leading retreats About 2,000 people have gone through in-person programs [00:06:00] The 13 Inches From Head to Heart Great quote: "furthest distance many travel in lifetime are 13 inches from head to heart" As financial guy, had heart in what he did, loved helping people solve problems This work feels more intimate, more meaningful Really helping people give themselves permission to be best version of who they want to be [00:08:00] Started in Financial Services Right Out of College Right out of college, needed a job Was in student government at UC Santa Barbara, thought he'd be entrepreneur Dad was in government, mom was teacher, brother was police officer Family said "you need a job with benefits, security, and paycheck" [00:09:00] Went Through His Own Tough Journey Went through divorce, financial crisis, bumps in life Realized success script needed to be rewritten Was working hard but wasn't fulfilled, wasn't content Achieving success in traditional way materially but didn't feel fulfilled [00:09:20] The Introspective Year That Changed Everything Decided to do whole introspective year Went to retreats, read self-help books, listened to podcasts Got into meditation, went to India, did all these "woo" things That year opened up whole new framework for living [00:10:20] Push Energy vs Pull Energy As entrepreneur, had lot of push energy: building vision, growing team, charging hill Used that in Ironman, marathons, running nonprofits After personal reflection, started to adopt pull energy approach More of allowance, trusting doors close and open for reason [00:11:20] Speaking at Davos With Deepak Chopra Was asked to speak at panel in Malibu with five people Woman from Finland asked if he'd been to Davos, offered to get him in Three months before event, confirmed: Thursday with Deepak Chopra on Conscious Leadership in Era of AI Couldn't have pushed way into that opportunity, was being open and available [00:14:40] 12 Dimensions of Wealth Talk about wealth not just in financial sense but across 12 dimensions Impact families are having, quality of relationships, physical health, intellectual growth Seeing families grow true wealth feels very rewarding Lead purpose community for all of YPO [00:15:00] The Success Script and Grind Mentality Lot of people followed success script, did what they were taught Worked hard in school, career, moved through ranks or started company Rinsed and repeated grind mentality to get ahead Now 40, 50, or 60 saying "is this all there is?" [00:17:00] Woman Going Through Divorce Woman in mid-50s going through divorce Two daughters just graduated high school, going to East Coast for college Husband ended 30-year marriage right at same time From financial standpoint she was fine, but really struggling with identity [00:18:00] Converting Husband's Office Into Studio She loved working with single women's nonprofits, domestic shelters Also loved skincare, always did facials for daughters Helped her convert former husband's office into studio Became licensed aesthetician, did facials for women in community including free ones for women through tough times [00:19:20] The Inspired Life Purpose Exercise Had someone at retreat who was CEO, just exited food tech company in New York Did exercise called Your Inspired Life Purpose Four circles: innate gifts, skills, passion, what world needs most Look at how those four circles intersect [00:20:00] Paul's Life Manifesto CEO named Paul came up with amazing idea during exercise Went to room that night, wrote his life manifesto Next morning: "I was up most of the night, I now have life manifesto" Wanted to change food systems of North America leveraging technology [00:20:40] Started a Blog, Got Recruited by Patagonia Paul decided to start blog writing about his vision Just couple months later, recruiter read one of his blog posts Interviewed for new position Became head of Patagonia's Food Provision Company [00:24:00] Invested Heavily in Relationships Since High School Always had lunch meetings 12 to 1, five days a week at same restaurant Would book with clients, teammates, or people in community City council members, students, nonprofit leaders, business leaders Every single day asking: who is this person, what makes them tick, how can I support them? [00:25:00] Working at Italian Restaurant in Fort Collins Worked at Italian restaurant through high school to pay bills Was bus boy, dishwasher, had all the jobs Owner was Joe Bosco, owned restaurant in Fort Collins and one in Casper, Wyoming Was thinking about colleges, parents would pay for Colorado State [00:25:40] "You Should Check Out Santa Barbara" Wanted to do something different, applied to UCLA and Berkeley Joe Bosco said "you should check out Santa Barbara, California, they have university there" Used to go there for horse shows Had never even heard of Santa Barbara at the time [00:26:00] Chose UCSB Because of Joe Bosco Applied to UCSB, packet looked amazing, university on coast Ended up choosing UCSB as his university because of Joe Bosco Spent 27 years in Santa Barbara, half of his adult life Founded company there, had children there, on 10 nonprofit boards [00:31:00] Meeting Ashley Brilliant Mom was sixth grade teacher, had cartoons called Pot Shots by Ashley Brilliant in classroom Going through tough time in Santa Barbara, Ashley's cartoons spoke to him three days in row Wrote thank you note to Mr. Brilliant He replied, met for lunch at Chinese restaurant [00:32:00] The Fortune Cookie Message After meal, got fortune cookies Ashley's note said: "Finally, the answer you've been looking for is sitting across from you" Seth's said: "If at first it's a no, it may become a maybe" Decided to help Ashley start building business around his cartoons [00:34:40] Service Trip to Honduras Took son on service trip to Honduras, worked at orphanage Security guard had wooden leg, very archaic piece of wood with hinge 34 years old, probably made $2 a day, couldn't get new leg Decided to get him a leg [00:35:40] Getting Him a $10,000 Leg Took almost a year but got friend who was Paralympic athlete involved Got him fancy $10,000 leg that was molded and fit for him Had to get it down there strategically because shipping would mean it gets stolen He sent FaceTime video: first time he'd been able to slow dance with wife since car accident 10 years prior   KEY QUOTES "A lot of people followed the success script, worked hard in school and career, rinsed and repeated this grind mentality. Now they're 40, 50, or 60 saying 'is this all there is? I now have success, but there's a creative in me that hasn't been out to play.'" - Seth Streeter "The furthest distance many of us travel in our lifetimes are the 13 inches from our head to our heart. This work feels more intimate and meaningful because it's really helping people give themselves permission to be the best version of who they want to be." - Seth Streeter "I had a lot of push energy as an entrepreneur. But I started to adopt a pull energy approach, more of an allowance, trusting that when a door closes it closes for a reason, when it opens for a reason. I was being pulled to where I was supposed to be." - Seth Streeter CONNECT WITH SETH STREETER 

Okay so you know Rich talks about SEO a lot–and for good reason! It's a great way for your company to get anywhere from dozens to HUNDREDS of leads a month from people who are currently actively searching for what you sell. So recently Rich heard that Ted talks are 18 minutes long… and the idea of a Ted Talk, of course, is to get your most powerful message out there in as powerful a way as possible… but in a compact amount of time–18 minutes. Turns out, he only needs 16, but with this intro, it's 18. Here you go with the condensed and awesome version of how SEO really works.

After a month-and-a-half break and a big network move, your Russian big sister Violet Benson is back – and she's starting 2026 the only way she knows how: with tough love.Violet breaks down the four shifts that changed her life – and can change yours too.• setting real boundaries (and holding the door open when someone wants to leave) • radical self-awareness (aka stop lying to yourself) • knowing exactly who you are • and changing your perspective so you stop feeling like the victim in your own storyShe then breaks down why we romanticize the wrong people, the truth about “twin flames,” how you've been quietly self-sabotaging your love life, forgiving without apologies, and learning that sometimes the love story you're chasing isn't about another person – it's about yourself.Today is the day you take your power back and start gaining confidence again after losing yourself in love. This episode is your reset.Don't forget to leave a 5-star review when you're done listening.Thanks for supporting our sponsors:Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at SHOPIFY.COM/adultingSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 2 with Margot Lane and Jezebel Sweet, we dive more into the spectacle of Corey's Angels and the documentary Corey Feldman Vs. the World and what happens after you walk away from someone else's narrative and start writing your own. They talk about the emotional and professional fallout of leaving Corey Feldman's orbit, how it felt to watch their time in the band reframed on screen, and the mix of validation, frustration, and grief that comes with seeing the “behind the music” story shown on film.Margot and Jezebel also share how they're building their careers now—setting new boundaries in the entertainment industry, unpacking what they once normalized as “how it is,” and reconnecting with their own creativity, friendships, and instincts outside of the Corey's Angels mythology.You can watch Corey Feldman Vs. The World on Apple TV, YouTube, and Google Play (this is homework for next week's guest too!). Also follow Margot Lane at margotlane.com and on Facebook and Instagram @musicismargot. Follow Jezebel Sweet at JezebelSweet.com, on Instagram & YouTube @JezebelSweet, and her doc commentary on YouTube.com/@JezebelSweetSpeaks.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of emotional manipulation and controlling dynamics, objectification of women, abuse, drug use, crossing boundaries of sexual consent, and mental health and trauma processing.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rupert Sheldrake is one of the most controversial scientists alive. When his first book was published, its ideas were considered so taboo that one prominent journal suggested it should be burned, and his TED Talk was taken down following intense backlash from members of the scientific community. In this episode of the Align Podcast, Dr. Rupert Sheldrake explores the controversial concept of morphic resonance, telepathy, and the mystery of memory beyond the brain. Dr. Sheldrake shares insights on spiritual disconnection, depression, rites of passage, psychedelics, and offers wisdom for the next generation on living a connected life. ALIGN PODCAST EPISODE #582 THIS PODCAST IS SPONSORED BY: Go to https://ax3.life/align and use the promo code ALIGN for a 20% discount Get 15% off at Kaizen (clean electrolytes): https://LiveKaizen.com/align Go to Timeline.com/ALIGN and get up to 39% off your order of Mitopure Gummies OUR GUEST RUPERT SHELDRAKE, PHD, is a biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance. At Cambridge University he worked in developmental biology as a Fellow of Clare College. He was Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Hyderabad, India. From 2005 to 2010 he was Director of the Perrott-Warrick project for research on unexplained human and animal abilities, funded by Trinity College, Cambridge. DR. RUPERT SHELDRAKE

Back in the fall of 2025, Coach Marques Lowe (Gill podcast alum!) and the Vipers Track Club hosted a Central Illinois Pre-Season Coaches Clinic. To increase the value to other coaches, he has allowed those presentations to be published on the Gill1918 Project Podcast.Today we feature Part 2 of Olivet Nazarene University's Zontavious Johnson's (Gill podcast alum!) deep dive into coaching both the Short and Long hurdles. He's had great success in these events, so you're sure to get value from his talk. If you missed Part 1 from yesterday, go back and listen to that one first.Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears.Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, structure better workouts, enhance team culture, and more!Whether you're a high school, collegiate, or club coach, Gill1918 is your go-to resource for quick, high-impact coaching education from the best minds in the sport.

Welcome to another episode of the Better Than Fine podcast with your host, Darlene Marshall! This week's episode is your essential guide to getting things DONE, especially when motivation runs dry and willpower isn't enough.

Back in the fall of 2025, Coach Marques Lowe (Gill podcast alum!) and the Vipers Track Club hosted a Central Illinois Pre-Season Coaches Clinic. To increase the value to other coaches, he has allowed those presentations to be published on the Gill1918 Project Podcast.In the first part of a two-parter, Zontavious Johnson (Gill podcast alum!) of Olivet Nazarene University gives us a deep dive into coaching both the Short and Long hurdles. He's had great success in these events, so you're sure to get value from his talk. Check out Part 2 tomorrow!Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears.Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, structure better workouts, enhance team culture, and more!Whether you're a high school, collegiate, or club coach, Gill1918 is your go-to resource for quick, high-impact coaching education from the best minds in the sport.

Calling in from Istanbul, Bradley opens with impressions of a historically rich but complicated city — ancient cisterns, street cats, a shady taxi driver, and bomb-proof doors on a synagogue. Earlier, when he was in Madrid, Bradley took Abby to visit the Prado and the Thyssen, which got him thinking about the uncomfortable economics of museums: tens of billions in art, much of it in storage, underwriting tax breaks for wealthy donors while hungry people go unfed. How should we address these issues? The conversation turns to Marco Rubio's speech at the Munich Security Conference, which Bradley reads as an early audition for 2028, contrasting Rubio's smooth "I'm my own person" approach with Vance's unconvincing Trump imitation. On whether Americans are actually angry at Europe, he is skeptical — ordinary people on both sides seem to like each other fine, he says, and manufactured grievance is just what demagogues do.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Be sure to watch Bradley's TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Cognitive Scientist, Dr. Donald Hoffman returns to the mind meld! Are we, as Plato argued thousands of years ago, mistaking shadows on a cave wall for reality?

Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, shares insights from the world's longest study on happiness, tracking over 2,500 people since 1938. The core finding: A good life comes from caring for your body and relationships, as warm connections predict health and longevity better than cholesterol levels at midlife. Privilege doesn't guarantee happiness, as inner-city participants matched Harvard men in well-being.Guest Introduction:Dr. Waldinger is a Harvard Medical School professor, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and Zen master who directs the 85+ year Harvard Study. His TED Talk has over 50 million views, and he co-authored The Good Life with Marc Schulz, distilling study lessons on connection. He teaches meditation globally and psychotherapy at Mass General Hospital.Connect With Guest:Website: robertwaldinger.com Book: The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.TED Talk: "What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness".LinkedIn: Robert WaldingerWhat to do next: Click to grab our free guide, 10 Key Issues to Consider as You Explore Your Retirement Transition Please leave a review at Apple Podcasts. Join our Revolutionize Your Retirement group on Facebook.

This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp.In this episode, we're joined by Margot Lane and Jezebel Sweet, former members of Corey's Angels, the all‑female band and “angel” entourage formed and led by actor and musician Corey Feldman. Drawing on their experience, partially shown in the new documentary COREY FELDMAN VS. THE WORLD—a cinéma vérité chronicle of Corey's attempt to reboot his career—they describe what it's like to have the camera rolling long after the performance ends, how it felt to be inside the Corey's Angels brand while he negotiated the cost of childhood fame in real time, and what they see now that they're on the other side of that project.They talk about how what looked like a quirky Hollywood comeback vehicle came with an intense image regime, tight control over their time and presentation, and a blurry line between artistic collaboration and life inside Corey's carefully curated universe. They also unpack the power dynamics of working for a controlling boss, the emotional whiplash of loyalty, doubt, and disenchantment, and in Part 2, we chat more about what it's taken to reclaim their own narratives, music, and creative futures outside Corey's orbit.You can watch Corey Feldman Vs. The World on Apple TV, YouTube, and Google Play. Also follow Margot Lane at margotlane.com and on Facebook and Instagram @musicismargot. Follow Jezebel Sweet at JezebelSweet.com, on Instagram & YouTube @JezebelSweet, and her doc commentary on YouTube.com/@JezebelSweetSpeaks.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of emotional manipulation and controlling dynamics, objectification of women, abuse, drugging and rape, and mental health struggles.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Set your best health goals in motion. Access 20% off and begin your journey toward sustained wellness today at Piquelife.com/culty.Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com/culty.As an exclusive offer, new listeners can get their choice between organic ground beef, chicken breast or ground turkey in every ButcherBox box for a year, PLUS $20 off when you go to ButcherBox.com/CULTY.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The team tries to figure out what ridiculous topic they could fake a TED Talk on—leading to quantum physics nonsense, imaginary numbers, terrible life coaching, and a heated debate about cereal and responsibility.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the world feels overwhelming and out of control, where do we actually regain our power? This week on The Lo Life, Lo sits down with renowned psychologist, bestselling author, and TED speaker Dr. Guy Winch, one of the leading voices in emotional health, for a deeply timely conversation about boundaries, stress, and emotional resilience in chaotic times.Known for his bestselling books Emotional First Aid and How to Fix a Broken Heart, and TED Talks viewed by millions worldwide, Dr. Winch brings practical, real-life psychology to the everyday struggles we all face. Together, Lo and Dr. Winch unpack how to set boundaries with defensive partners, navigate tit-for-tat conflict patterns, and master the art of a healthy apology — especially when the other person struggles with accountability. The episode also explores the hidden signs of chronic stress, emotional overload, and how to focus on what's actually within your control when life, relationships, and the outside world feel overwhelming.Insightful, relatable, and highly actionable, this episode gives listeners the tools to protect their mental and emotional well-being, communicate more effectively in relationships, and stay grounded even when everything around them feels uncertain. A must-listen for anyone feeling emotionally stretched, relationship-fatigued, or craving healthier dynamics in both their personal and professional life.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Francesca Hogi worked as a corporate lawyer for over a decade, before making a rather drastic career switch - into a love coach. Her Ted Talk about unlocking your flirting superpowers has over a million views. She's also a best-selling author of How to Find True Love: Unlock Your Romantic Flow and Create Lasting Relationships. Regardless of whether you're in a relationship or single, connections are the backbone of society and Francesca says 'the blueprint for society's future'.

Carla Zanoni is a journalist, poet, and media leader who's held senior roles at the Wall Street Journal, TED, and now runs the engagement journalism program at CUNY's Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. She's also someone who went into recovery at 23 and has rebuilt her life more than once. In this episode of The Breadwinners, host Rachael Lowell talks to Carla about what she calls "the alchemy of surrender" - those moments when the playbook stops working and you have to get quiet enough to see what's actually true. We talk about the myth of the linear career path, why bringing your whole self to work isn't cringey when it's real, and what it means to lead from a place of integration rather than compartmentalization. If you've ever felt like you were supposed to chart a course from A to B but life had other plans, this one's for you. SHOW NOTESCarla Zanoni:https://www.carlazanoni.comhttps://carla.substack.comBooks:Knowing / Saber: In English y Españolhttps://www.carlazanoni.com/writingSocial:linkedin.com/in/carlazanonihttps://www.instagram.com/carlazanonicarlazanoni.bsky.social Bio: An award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience, Carla's work has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and TED Talks. She was the first Latina named to the Wall Street Journal's masthead and served as TED's first head of audience development. Today, she leads the engagement journalism program at CUNY's Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, produces and guides strategy for The On Being Project, and consults with publishers and thought leaders on media and narrative strategy. She shares personal essays in her monthly newsletter, The Em Dash. Carla is writing a literary memoir about coming of age in 90s New York — reconciling her immigrant childhood, the city's underworld, and the detours that led her here. "The Breadwinners" Season 7 is a joint production between Reworking Leadership and The Smart Friends Network generously supported by Ruth Ann Harnisch. "The Breadwinners" was founded by Rachael Lowell and Jennifer Owens in 2019.Host: Rachael LowellExecutive Producers: Rachael Lowell, Rachel SklarAudio Engineer: Ron PassaroOriginal Music: "Perfect" by Hannah BakkeRick Snell: GuitarCesar Moreno: BanjoNyssa Grant: FiddleErik Alvar: BassJustin D. Cook: Keyboard, Percussion, and OrchestrationVocals: Hannah Bakke, Cassidy StonerHannah Bakke: Music and Lyrics To stay up to date with The Breadwinners, please follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebreadwinnerspodcast Rachael Lowell is the founder of Reworking Leadership, a consultancy helping organizations align strategy, leadership, and culture when the pressure's high. Take the 2-minute SHIFT Snapshot at leadtheshift.ai to see where your leadership capacity is - and get a personalized report. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, review & share! Thank you for listening. Still we rise! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2 of our conversation with Sofia May, she continues sharing her experiences connected to Tara Mandala and the community around lama Tsultrim Allione. We get into the messy, nuanced territory where Buddhist teachings, spiritual leadership, and real-world power dynamics intersect. We explore what draws people to Tibetan Buddhist communities and retreat centers in the first place, and how things can get complicated when reverence, hierarchy, and human behavior collide. Sofia shared her perspective on navigating doubt, loyalty, and disillusionment, and what happens when your spiritual home starts raising hard questions instead of providing easy answers.We also zoom out to look at broader patterns across guru-centered and high-demand spiritual communities, including teacher-student dynamics, accountability gaps, community pressure, and spiritual bypassing. This conversation isn't about flattening every Buddhist or Tara Mandala experience into one story, but about building discernment, consent, and self-trust when engaging with any spiritual teacher or organization. If you've ever wrestled with concerns about a spiritual leader or practice community, this one's for you.Be sure to check out the article in Guru Magazine in which Sofia May first shares her Tara Mandala experience, and follow her comedy journey on Instagram or TikTok @sofiamaycomedy.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of child and sexual abuse, coercive influence, and religious/spiritual trauma.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in the fall of 2025, Coach Marques Lowe (Gill podcast alum!) and the Vipers Track Club hosted a Central Illinois Pre-Season Coaches Clinic. To increase the value to other coaches, he has allowed those presentations to be published on the Gill1918 Project Podcast.Up today is Part 2 of Mike Erb (Gill Podcast alum) speaking on How to be a Great Assistant Coach. This is a great discussion on what is expected of GREAT assistant coaches and how it can help improve your career. If you missed Part 1 yesterday, you might want to go back and listen to that first to get the whole picture.Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears.Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, structure better workouts, enhance team culture, and more!Whether you're a high school, collegiate, or club coach, Gill1918 is your go-to resource for quick, high-impact coaching education from the best minds in the sport.

Why are the biggest names in venture betting big on prediction markets? Aaron Miller, principal at Will Ventures, joins Bradley to talk about the evolution of platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket into a new kind of financial exchange and societal "source of truth." They dig into the states-versus-federal regulatory battle, the surge in American gambling behavior, and then turn to the messy restructuring of college sports. Do our old ideas about it make sense anymore?This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Be sure to watch Bradley's TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Do you feel like the gap between you and your partner's sexual desire is widening?Has managing a home, raising kids, and building a career left you feeling disconnected from your body and from sexual pleasure?You are not broken. And you are not alone.In this powerful episode, I'm joined by Dr. Maria Sophocles, board-certified OB/GYN, founder of Women's Healthcare of Princeton, nationally recognized menopause expert, and author of The Bedroom Gap. With over 1.2 million views on her viral TED Talk, “What Happens to Sex in Midlife,” Dr. Sophocles is leading the conversation on female sexual health, perimenopause, and closing the intimacy gap in long-term and short-term relationships.Together, we pull back the curtain on sexual health, menopause wellness, hormone therapy, vaginal health, and the cultural silence that has left so many women believing they've simply “outgrown” desire. You haven't. Midlife intimacy is possible when you understand what your body actually needs.When you realize that menopause wellness is about restoring what your body is missing (not pushing through discomfort), you can release the guilt and choose real support.In this episode, we explore:Vaginal health and vaginal estrogen: how targeted treatments restore comfort, and support long and short-term relationship intimacyThe truth about perimenopause and heart health and how estrogen therapy may help in early menopauseWhy Viagra widened the “bedroom gap” and what couples can do about itBioidentical hormone therapy and menopause relief: what's evidence-based, what's marketing, and what actually works3 practical ways to reduce painful intercourseSexual dysfunction in women: causes, solutions, and when to seek supportWhat current science says about hormone therapy so you can make informed decisionsThe connection between intimacy, longevity, and overall post menopausal healthYou were never meant to outgrow sexual desire, you were taught to deprioritize it.Your physical comfort matters. Your pleasure matters. And this next chapter of life can include confidence, connection, and vibrant intimacy.If you're navigating perimenopause, menopause, low libido, painful sex, or relationship disconnection, this conversation will give you clarity, science-backed guidance, and hope.Tune in to reclaim your anatomy, close the bedroom gap, and embrace midlife with confidence and heart.Much love,LaurieClick here to listen to Dr. Maria Sophocles first podcast interveiwClick here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit” Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting GoFree ResourcesClick here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.Click here for my FREE “Beginner's Guide to Somatic Healing”Click here for my FREE Core Values ExercisePlease leave me feedback. I cannot respond so if you'd like me to respond, please leave your email***********************DISCLAIMER: THE COMMENTARY AND OPINIONS AVAILABLE ON THIS PODCAST ARE FOR INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING LEGAL, MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED THERAPIST IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. YOU SHOULD CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IN YOUR STATE TO OBTAIN LEGAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY MEDICAL ISSUE OR PROBLEM.

Dr. Seth is a Professor of Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom. The author of over 200 research papers, Anil integrates psychology, philosophy, computer science, and neuroscience to explore how our brains generate subjective experiences. Outside the laboratory, Anil has a knack for communication, too. His TED Talk has reached nearly 15 million viewers, and his bestselling book Being You: A New Science of Consciousness takes a baffling topic and makes it relatable and engaging for general readers. Anil joins the podcast to explain why animals may be conscious, but artificial intelligence is not, and why, despite the potential for technological dystopias, he is optimistic about the future. Are you curious about consciousness? Don't miss out on our intriguing story "Can Digital Computers Ever Achieve Consciousness?" by Marcus Arvan on Templeton Ideas. What did you think of this episode? Let us know with a rating and a review! Join the conversation on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

In this week's episode I sat down with Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan. Cara is a visionary international disability rights advocate whose career has spanned humanitarian action, diplomacy, entrepreneurship, and storytelling. She is also a filmmaker and a passionate force for inclusion in the arts and media, most recently participating, owning and producing the short documentary film, Facing the Falls.We discuss her incredible career as an activist, the power and impact in seeing disabled people doing humanitarian work, why representation truly matters and much, much more.This episode was edited and produced by Ben Curwin. All proceeds from purchasing this episode will be split between ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠City Harvest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Food Bank For NYC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Join Always Looking Up on Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://jilliancurwin645746.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/AlwaysLookingUp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Cara: Instagram: @cara_yarkhan LinkedIn: Cara Yar Khan Website: https://carayarkhan.comWatch "Facing The Falls": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMa86VBidKE&t=1sWatch Cara's TED Talk, "The beautiful balance between courage and fear": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHgfcA6Vy24Follow Me: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jill_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ , ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@alwayslookingup.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillian_ilana⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jillianilana.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠alwayslookingup227@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Goodreads⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The StoryGraph⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Minneapolis:Stand With Minnesota: ⁠⁠https://www.standwithminnesota.com⁠⁠MN NOICE: ⁠⁠https://mnnoice.com⁠⁠Community Aid Network MN: ⁠⁠https://www.canmn.org⁠⁠Support Those Impacted By The Cutting Of SNAP Benefits:Feeding America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.feedingamerica.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠World Central Kitchen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://wck.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠No Kid Hungry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nokidhungry.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠List Of NYC Food Pantries: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/food_pantries.page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support Immigrant Communities (all links came from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chnge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠):The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chirla_org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.chirla.org/donatenow/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Immigrant Defenders Law Center (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@immdef_lawcenter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.immdef.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Inland Coalition 4 Imm Justice (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@ic4ij⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jornaleros⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have you ever walked into a room or given a presentation and immediately felt awkward? Or maybe you struggle with confidence or imposter syndrome at live gatherings or even on Zoom meetings? If so, this episode is for you.  As you'll hear from today's guest, confidence isn't the absence of awkwardness—it's feeling it, acknowledging it, and showing up anyway. And she has the tools to help you do just that. Vanessa Van Edwards is a behavioral researcher, the founder of Science of People, and the best-selling author of Cues and Captivate. Her 'You Are Contagious' Ted Talk is phenomenal and has over 6 million views for good reason.  Vanessa has spent her career studying the hidden cues and social signals that shape how people perceive us, and how we can take control of those signals to build trust faster and connect more deeply. In our conversation, Vanessa breaks down charisma into a simple, learnable framework: warmth + competence. We talk about the four ways we "signal" others with verbal and physical cues, why most people don't signal strongly enough, and how that can actually make you seem colder, less confident, or harder to connect with—even when you have great intentions. You'll also learn how to ask better questions to initiate conversations, how to nail the first 10 seconds of any interaction, and a few practical ways to show up with more presence and confidence. Trust me, this episode is a must-listen for anyone. KEY TAKEAWAYS Vanessa's "Miracle Morning" and Why Starting Energy Matters The Awkwardness Loop and How To Overcome It How Charisma Can Be Learned and Cultivated The Four Ways We "Signal" in Every Interaction Imposter Syndrome and Owning What You Don't Know Script-Breaking Questions That Boost Charisma The First 10 Seconds: First Impressions Matter Bonus Tip: Choose Positivity In The First 10 Words How to Connect With Vanessa & Get Her Newsletter Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/624 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube   Copyright © 2026 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC

Back in the fall of 2025, Coach Marques Lowe (Gill podcast alum!) and the Vipers Track Club hosted a Central Illinois Pre-Season Coaches Clinic. To increase the value to other coaches, he has allowed those presentations to be published on the Gill1918 Project Podcast.Up today is Part 1 of Mike Erb (Gill Podcast alum) speaking on How to be a Great Assistant Coach. This is a great discussion on what is expected of GREAT assistant coaches and how it can help improve your career. Today is Part 1, join us tomorrow for Part 2.Welcome to Gill1918, the track & field coaching podcast powered by Gill Athletics. Since 1918, Gill has been dedicated to empowering coaches with innovative equipment—now, we're bringing elite coaching education straight to your ears.Our goal is to create the Ted Talks of track/field podcasts bringing the annual track clinic to your ears DAILY! Topics will include but are not limited to covering key strategies, techniques, and training principles to help you improve athlete performance, structure better workouts, enhance team culture, and more!Whether you're a high school, collegiate, or club coach, Gill1918 is your go-to resource for quick, high-impact coaching education from the best minds in the sport.

Do you ever get home from work exhausted… but then your brain won't stop replaying everything that happened?In this episode, I'm joined by Dr. Guy Winch — psychologist, bestselling author, and the speaker behind one of the most-watched TED Talks on emotional first aid — to explain what's really happening when you “can't switch off”… and why that mental spiral is basically unpaid overtime.We break down why your mind treats rumination like you're still at work, how that quietly fuels burnout, and the practical ways to “fight back” — including a simple transition ritual that helps you shift out of work mode and actually recover (even if you're not physically tired).This episode will help you change your life by changing your mind, so you can stop doing mental overtime after work — and get your evenings (and your relationships) back.Dr. Guy Winch is a licensed psychologist and author of Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life and Emotional First Aid.-Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction(01:08) The Illusion of Physical Exhaustion(02:53) Ruminating on Work Issues(05:58) The Impact of Overworking(08:10) Neglecting Self-Care(09:52) The Importance of Emotional Health(11:41) The Rise of Mental Health Awareness(13:16) Practical Tools for Mental Well-being(14:03) Introduction to the Free Masterclass(14:33) Guest Introduction and Background(15:03) The Psychology of Rejection(17:05) Managing Mental Resources(19:15) New Book: Mind Over Grind(23:02) The Trap of Overworking(26:36) Defining Success Beyond Professional Achievements(27:25) Balancing Work and Personal Life(29:05) The Illusion of Social Media Success(34:32) The Importance of Transition Rituals(39:13) Feeling Stuck: How to Reframe Your Story(45:38) Final Thoughts and AdviceGet the FREE Move Your Mind Masterclass here:go.nickbracks.com/moveyourmindAccess FREE Move Your Mind training here:https://go.moveyourmind.io/trainingConnect with Nick:Instagram: https://instagram.com/nickbracksWebsite: http://nickbracks.comEmail: contact@nickbracks.comConnect with Dr. Guy:Website: https://www.guywinch.com/Check out his Book: https://www.guywinch.com/books/mind-over-grind/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Status Check with Spivey, Dr. Guy Winch returns to the podcast for a conversation about his new book, Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life. They discuss burnout (especially for those in school or their early career), how society glorifies overworking even when it doesn't lead to better outcomes (5:53), the difference between rumination and valuable self-analysis (11:02), the question Dr. Winch asks patients who are struggling with work-life balance that you can ask yourself (17:58), how to reduce the stress of the waiting process in admissions and the job search (24:36), and more.Dr. Winch is a prominent psychologist, speaker, and author whose TED Talks on emotional well-being have over 35 million combined views. He has a podcast with co-host Lori Gottlieb, Dear Therapists. Dr. Winch's new book, Mind Over Grind: How to Break Free When Work Hijacks Your Life, is out today!Our last episode with Dr. Winch, “Dr. Guy Winch on Handling Rejection (& Waiting) in Admissions,” is here.You can listen and subscribe to Status Check with Spivey on ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠. You can read a full transcript of this episode with timestamps here.

The Fathers do not treat speech as a social matter. They treat it as a matter of life and death. Because speech reveals what the heart lives from. A man may fast and remain proud. He may pray and remain full of illusion. He may withdraw outwardly and still remain inhabited by noise. But when he speaks, the truth emerges. The tongue betrays what the heart serves. Christ says with terrifying simplicity, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34 He does not say the mouth creates. He says the mouth reveals. Speech is the manifestation of inner condition. The Evergetinos preserves the fierce sobriety of the Fathers on this point because they knew that speech is not neutral. Speech either dissipates the heart or gathers it into God. Abba Arsenius fled from men not because he hated them but because he feared what his own mouth might do. He had been formed in the courts of emperors. He knew the seduction of words. He knew how easily speech strengthens the illusion of the self. He heard a voice saying, “Flee, be silent, pray always.” Not because silence is virtuous in itself, but because silence exposes the poverty of the heart. When a man falls silent, he encounters himself. He encounters the anxiety that drives speech. The need to affirm himself. The need to be seen. The need to exist in the minds of others. Speech often becomes the way the ego sustains its continuity. Each word reinforces the illusion that the self is real, stable, necessary. This is why idle speech is so dangerous. Not because the words themselves are always evil, but because they feed the false center. St. John Climacus writes that talkativeness is the throne of vainglory, the sign of ignorance, the doorway of slander, and the cooling of compunction. Every unnecessary word strengthens forgetfulness of God. Not dramatically. Quietly. Almost imperceptibly. The heart that was once gathered becomes scattered. The attention that was once turned inward toward repentance becomes turned outward toward managing impressions. A man begins by speaking carelessly. He ends by living carelessly. The Evergetinos recounts how the elders guarded their speech with ferocity. Not because they had nothing to say, but because they feared losing the presence of God. They understood that the more a man speaks, the more he lives outside himself. And the more he lives outside himself, the more he forgets God. Abba Poemen said, “If a man remembers that he must give an account of every idle word, he will choose silence.” Not because silence is safer socially. Because silence is safer spiritually. Christ Himself says, “For every idle word men speak, they will give account on the day of judgment.” Matthew 12:36 Every idle word. This is not exaggeration. It is revelation. Because every idle word strengthens a life lived apart from God. Speech gives substance to illusion. It allows the ego to feel real. To feel present. To feel established. This is why men fear silence. Silence removes reinforcement. Silence reveals instability. Silence reveals dependency. Silence reveals that without constant affirmation, the ego begins to tremble. The Fathers did not seek silence as technique. They sought silence as truth. In silence, a man begins to see that he does not yet exist in God. He exists in the reflection of himself in the minds of others. Speech sustains that reflection. Silence destroys it. This destruction feels like death. Because something is dying. The false self that lives from recognition. The Evergetinos shows us elders who would rather appear foolish than speak unnecessarily. Who would rather remain misunderstood than protect themselves with words. Because they had discovered something terrible and liberating. Words cannot save the soul. Only God can save the soul. And God is found not in noise, but in poverty. St. Isaac the Syrian writes that the man who has come to know himself guards his tongue as one standing before fire. Because he knows how easily the heart can be emptied of grace. Speech is not evil. But uncontrolled speech reveals an uncontrolled heart. The man who speaks constantly has not yet learned to stand before God. Because the man who stands before God begins to see himself truthfully. And seeing himself truthfully, he loses the need to speak. Not because he despises others. Because he no longer needs to sustain himself. His life begins to be hidden with Christ in God. And the tongue, once restless and hungry, becomes quiet. Not forced into silence. But stilled by the presence of God. This is the path the Fathers walked. They did not seek eloquence. They sought reality. And reality begins when the mouth stops protecting the self and the heart begins to stand naked before God. --- Text of chat during the group: 00:02:32 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 354 para 4 00:03:51 Angela Bellamy: I apologize for my mic. I didn't realize it had activated. 00:04:01 Angela Bellamy: Reacted to "I apologize for my m..." with

Everybody fails, doubts themselves and encounters unexpected obstacles on the path to whatever they're trying to achieve. But the choice to keep going in the face of difficulty, says Bradley, is what maximizes our own satisfaction and well being. He explains all this in the context of why the business community failed as a political force in New York City since Mayor Bloomberg left office. Plus, he talks about why the merging of philanthropy and commerce is often so fraught, questions Mayor Mamdani's decision not to force homeless people into shelter in the extreme-cold weather, and writes an ad for Pete Buttigieg that he contends is superior to Hugo's from last week.Discussed on today's episode:New York's CEOs Are Gearing Up for a Battle With Mamdani, David Freedlander, New York Magazine (02/05/26)This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Be sure to watch Bradley's TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

Three Point Stance - Ted Johnson's week at the Super Bowl's Media Row // Ted Talk: Super Bowl edition - The good, bad, and the ugly // Ted Talk: Super Bowl edition - Pinpointing where it all went wrong //

Ted Talk: Super Bowl edition - Pinpointing where it all went wrong

In Part 1 of this conversation with stand-up comedian and former Tara Mandala practitioner Sofia May, she joins us to talk about how a beautiful Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in the Colorado mountains—founded by western author lama Tsultrim Allione—slowly revealed a deeply culty underbelly beneath the goddess imagery and tantric empowerment language. Sofia traces her path from sincere Buddhist seeker to close student of lama Tsultrim inside Tara Mandala's residential community. She describes the powerful draw of the center's practices, trauma‑informed branding, and female‑centered spirituality, and how all that coexisted with secrecy, hierarchy, and a guru culture where doubt was pathologized and obedience was framed as devotion.We also get into the day‑to‑day dynamics at Tara Mandala—unpaid or underpaid labor justified as spiritual service, pressure to attend costly retreats and trainings, complex power plays in teacher–student relationships, and how survivors are now comparing notes about gaslighting, spiritual bypassing, and psychological harm in a place that promised healing above all. You'll want to read the article in Guru Magazine in which Sofia May first shared her experience, and stay tuned for Part 2.And be sure to follow Sofia May's comedy journey on Instagram or TikTok @sofiamaycomedy.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of sexual abuse and violence, spiritual and psychological abuse, financial and labor exploitation misogyny and boundary violations, and trauma.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Negotiation isn't a “business skill” — it's an everyday relationship skill. Today we sit down TED Talk speaker, best-selling author, and podcast host of Negotiate Anything, Kwame Christian. He is recognized as one of the world's top negotiation experts, and he got good at it by treating tough conversations like a learnable muscle (not a personality trait).  He breaks great negotiation down into three core skills—listening, curiosity, and emotion management—and offers a flexible framework (“compassionate curiosity”) that keeps things collaborative instead of combative. The big shift: do the internal work first (name your feelings, get clear on what you want), then enter the conversation ready to validate, get curious, and problem-solve—without handing your well-being to the other person. Skill, not talent Everyday negotiations Unlearn Hollywood Self-awareness first 3 core skills Compassionate curiosity Give Me Discounts! Check out Relationship Academy! ⁠ ⁠Cozy Earth⁠⁠ -  Black Friday has come early! Right now, you can stack my code “IDO” on top of their sitewide sale — giving you up to 40% off in savings. These deals won't last, so start your holiday shopping today! ⁠⁠Beducate⁠⁠ - Use code relationship69 for 65% off the annual pass. ⁠⁠AG1 - ⁠⁠AG1 has become my go to every morning. ⁠⁠Simple Practice⁠⁠ - If you're in mental health and not using simple practice then what are you doing??? ⁠⁠Spark My Relationship Course:⁠⁠ Get $100 off our online course. Visit⁠⁠ SparkMyRelationship.com/Unlock⁠⁠ for our special offer just for our I Do Podcast listeners! ⁠⁠Skylight⁠⁠⁠ - Use code “IDO” for $30 off your 15 inch calendar.  If you love this episode (and our podcast!), would you mind giving us a⁠ review in iTunes⁠? It would mean the world to us and we promise it only takes a minute. Many thanks in advance! – Colter, Cayla, & Lauren Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI didn't decide to reshape work. People did. And that distinction matters more than we like to admit. Dr. Rumman Chowdhury says the real story isn't about machines replacing humans. It's about the choices people in power are making—and the agency the rest of us still have. In today's episode, Jessi Hempel and Rumman unpack what responsible AI really means, why fear is the wrong default reaction, and how workers, leaders, and everyday users can shape a better technological future. Rumman Chowdhury is a leading expert in responsible artificial intelligence and algorithmic accountability. She previously led responsible AI efforts at Accenture, served on Twitter's product team before it became X, and advised governments in the U.S. and U.K. She is the co-founder of Humane Intelligence, an organization focused on independent AI auditing and public participation in technology oversight. Rumman and Jessi discuss: Why AI isn't “happening to us”—and how leadership decisions shape its impact What responsible AI looks like inside real companies and products The rise and fall of trust in Big Tech and Silicon Valley Algorithmic bias, content moderation, and the limits of internal oversight The root of why we fear AI The difference between techno-optimism and techno-solutionism How individuals can reclaim agency by understanding and engaging with AI If you want to hear more from Dr. Rumman Chowdhury listen to her recent Ted Talk here.  Follow Dr. Rumman Chowdhury on LinkedIn Follow Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube  Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple  Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify

Devin Schadt author and founder of Fathers of St. Joseph joins Trending with Timmerie: Episode Guide Addressing the most common complaint men have (2:11) For men - How to find and build that one really good friendship (28:43) One secret to a great marriage (48:50) Resources mentioned: Our guest Devin Schadt’s ministry: https://fathersofstjoseph.org/ Jesus’ Way: The 46-Day Lenten Journey To Be Unconquerable in Christ: https://shop.stewardshipmission.com/products/jesus-way TED Talk on Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkKuTCFvzI

In Part 2 of our conversation with author Tia Levings, we go even deeper into what it actually takes to leave a high-control Christian fundamentalist marriage and rebuild a life on the other side. Tia shares more about how religious doctrine, patriarchy, and fear were used to justify control, submission, and abuse, and how difficult it can be to recognize harm when it's framed as God's will or “biblical womanhood.”We talk about spiritual abuse, domestic abuse in religious communities, and the psychological gymnastics required to survive when obedience is treated as virtue and autonomy is treated as sin. Tia unpacks the long-term impact of purity culture, religious trauma, and coercive control, especially for women and children raised inside authoritarian belief systems. We also dig into grief, anger, and the slow, radical work of reclaiming agency after leaving a marriage and a faith structure that demanded self-erasure.As always, we look at the bigger patterns: how fundamentalist Christianity and other high-demand belief systems create conditions where abuse is normalized, victims are silenced, and leaving comes at an enormous personal cost. Tia's voice is clear, compassionate, and unflinching—and her story is a powerful reminder that survival itself can be an act of defiance.Paperback copies of A Well-Trained Wife are available February 20, and you can pre-order Tia's upcoming book, I Belong to Me, coming May 5. Follow her at tialevings.com and on social media @tialevingswriter.Trigger warning: This episode contains frank discussion of domestic and spiritual abuse, religious trauma, and misogyny.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Silence is one of the most misunderstood skills in leadership, communication, and life. Many people rush to fill quiet moments with explanations, reactions, or noise because silence forces awareness. It removes the ability to perform, defend, or control how others perceive us. This episode explores why silence feels so uncomfortable and why that discomfort is often a signal that something important is happening internally.The conversation breaks down how silence functions as a power move in high-pressure moments, not because it dominates a room, but because it regulates the nervous system. Troy shares how learning to pause instead of react creates clarity, steadiness, and intentional communication. The episode explores how silence can either trigger fear and old emotional patterns or become a stabilizing force, allowing you to respond with precision instead of impulse.Personal stories are woven throughout, including experiences with conflict, rejection, grief, and preparing for defining moments like public speaking and delivering a TEDx talk. These moments highlight how silence carries different emotional weight depending on context, and how the body often reacts to pressure as if every moment carries the same level of threat. The episode connects this to fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses, and explains how silence can help interrupt those patterns before they escalate.The episode also explores how silence builds trust and presence in professional settings. Speaking less, pausing longer, and choosing restraint often signal confidence and credibility more than volume or speed. Listeners will hear how silence can shift power dynamics in business, leadership, and relationships, while also demanding emotional discipline, self-control, and a willingness to sit with discomfort.Ultimately, this episode is about mastering silence as a form of self-leadership. It is not about withholding communication or avoiding hard moments. It is about knowing when silence serves you, when it sharpens your message, and when it allows you to own a situation without forcing it. Silence works, but it comes with a cost, and this episode challenges listeners to decide whether they are willing to develop the discipline required to use it well.