Charley Johnson was a successful executive and entrepreneur who was inspired to make a drastic career change and create the global "Pay It Forward" Experience after reading the book and watching the movie of the same name.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Charley talks about the warning signs he experienced when "living for Fridays," being propelled by the urge to keep moving forward, wanting to make today better than yesterday, being inspired by building something massive, and learning about personal authenticity from oneself rather than others.

Links

Pay It Forward Experience website

Pay It Forward book by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Pay It Forward movie (with Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment)

Karen Kenney is a yoga teacher, mentor, writer, TV show host, and entrepreneur. After her mother was tragically murdered when she was only 12 years old, Karen found herself on a long and challenging quest for forgiveness, healing, and finding her own place in the world.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Karen talks about masking the pain of her mother's death, her difficult journey to forgive and make sense of her experience, the value of mentors (Marianne Williamson for her), being defined by labels, doing the work that your heart pulls you to, and removing the barriers to love in your life.

Links

Karen Kenney's website and blog

Karen Kenney on Facebook

Karen Kenney on Twitter

The Yoga Show with Karen on YouTube

Josh Kaufman is a bestselling author (The Personal MBA, The First 20 Hours) who teaches people how to master practical knowledge and skills.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Josh talks about his transition from a Fortune 100 company to his work as a researcher and author, shares his journey toward self-empowered education (rather than spending huge money on business school tuition), reflects on developing expertise and confidence without having "traditional" credentials or authority, and discusses the psychological and intellectual principles of rapid skill acquisition.

Links

Josh Kaufman's website

The Personal MBA website

The Personal MBA on Amazon

The First 20 Hours website

The First 20 Hours on Amazon

Mike Bodkin is a wilderness guide and Executive Director of a non-profit organization called Rites of Passage.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Mike shares about building something as "a love affair" despite the financial challenges, separating making a living from giving your deepest gifts, being part of the cycle of nature, the value of doing big things together, and tells a story about how "it's not what you do, but what you don't do that kills you."

Links

Rites of Passage website

Rites of Passage on Facebook

AJ Leon used to be an "unremarkably average" financial executive in Manhattan, and in a stunning moment of clarity, decided to "stop, once and for all, living some other dude's life." In partnership with his wife Melissa, AJ reinvented a multi-faceted nomadic life as a writer, designer, entrepreneur, and humanitarian in a quest to change the world.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, AJ shares the story of walking out of his office four days before his wedding, why he cancelled a book contract with a big publisher, reflections on traveling and working with his life partner, tales from a unique "MisfitConf" event in Fargo, and a "Good Misfit" humanitarian project to build a windmill in Africa.

Links

Pursuit of Everything community and blog

The Life and Times of a Remarkable Misfit essays

Good Misfit - building a windmill in Kenya

AJ Leon on Twitter

The Pursuit of Everything on Facebook

Alana Levandoski is a singer, songwriter, and author who discovered that life as a professional recording artist left her unhappy and unfulfilled. Feeling "betrayed by music," Alana left that world behind and embarked on a musical pilgrimage to heal and to rediscover herself, writing a book and an album called I Am a Sparrow about that journey.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Alana shares the title track from I am a Sparrow, and talks about basing her identity on the expectations of others, how she coped with the pressure of being a star, her road trip to "fall back in love with music," and the power of old stories for healing.

Links

Alana's website

Alana Levandoski on Facebook

Alana Levandoski on Twitter

Recording Roots documentary

Stories

Allerleirauh (Brothers Grimm)

Allerleirauh/Donkeyskin annotated (SurLaLune)

Allerleirauh synopsis (Wikipedia)

Iron John (Brothers Grimm)

Iron John synopsis (Wikipedia)

Iron John: A Book About Men (Robert Bly)

Alana's Music

I am a Sparrow (CD and book)

Hymns from the Desert

Lions and Werewolves

Unsettled Down

Pat Flynn is the host of the very popular Smart Passive Income podcast and website. Pat worked hard in his chosen discipline of architecture and did everything "right," but discovered that one day he didn't have a job any more - and then reinvented his life to be of service in a different way. Pat recently published a memoir called Let Go to tell his story.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Pat talks about coping with an unexpected change in his professional life, reinventing his work to be of service in a new arena, the business value of transparency, the value of telling our stories, and being congruent between his online personality and the "real Pat."

Links

Let Go on Amazon

Let Go day website - live webinar June 17 (1200 PDT/1900 GMT)

Smart Passive income

Smart Passive Income on Facebook

Alison Elsberry is an expert at supporting mothers to empower their spiritually-gifted children. Coming from a more-traditional health care background, over time Alison has recalibrated her work to be more congruent with what she feels called to do in the world.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Alison talks about honoring the unique gifts of others, personal insights she learned from working in the health care system, redefining failure and success, being ready for "something wonderful" that lies ahead, and her journey to uncover and live into her authentic self.

Links

Alison's website

Alison Elsberry - Divine Motherhood on Facebook

Joel Blunk is a musician, storyteller, and pastor who followed his childhood ambition to play professional football and had an opportunity to play in the NFL, only to find that his journey took an unexpected turn.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Joel shares some unique perspectives on authenticity, discussing his career as a collegiate and professional athlete and coach, lessons he learned from missed opportunities, the role of music and the power of story, and using personal talents for something beyond self.

Links

The WheelHouse on State College Presbyterian Church website

The WheelHouse community on Facebook

The War is Over - written and performed by Joel

Nature and the Human Soul (Bill Plotkin)

Dan Andrews is the co-host of the very popular Lifestyle Business Podcast and Tropical MBA. Dan managed to get off the typical entry-level career track, and successfully re-invented his life as a location-independent entrepreneur living mostly in Southeast Asia.

In this episode of A Congruent Life, Dan talks about his journey from "career" to entrepreneur, building businesses that matter, synergies that come from working with people sharing similar values, social media and podcasting, and finding your own authentic story.

Links

Lifestyle Business Podcast website

Tropical MBA