Angie Keilhauer is going places and she wants you to come along. As you will hear if you listen to this episode Angie has both grit and talent, and is well on her way to making her mark in the music industry. Long before appearing on the most recent season of NBC's wildly popular show "The Voice," Angie was playing in local bars, cruise ships, and pretty much anywhere that she could perfect her craft. She was also rejected from "The Voice" three times before having this final opportunity. Many of us would have already given up by then. What allows one person to continue to take risks? As you will hear, Angie Keilhauer possesses wisdom far beyond her years. You will probably hear it in her singing voice as well: there is a maturity and soul that has kept her persevering and continuing to say yes to the opportunities that have come and will continue to come her way. Angie's story reminds us that in order to fulfill our dreams, we must be committed even when no one is watching, and when we love what we do in life it not only shows...people will often want to be around us.

Shannon Huffman Polson not only knows what grit is, she has lived it. Shannon is now highlighting stories of bravery and resilience in the lives of other women in her Grit Project. As a native Alaskan, Shannon has always been drawn to adventure and the road less traveled. Whether it was venturing far from home to attend Duke University, or joining the army and being one of the first women to fly a military helicopter, she has dared greatly throughout her life. Shannon understands first-hand that just as there are moments of thrill and anticipation, there will also be loss and sorrow. Grappling with the tragic death of her father and step mother, Shannon embarked on a personal pilgrimage to make peace with her loss that she documented in her book "North of Hope." As you will soon hear for yourself, Shannon is someone who is shows up for life with a full heart--even during the difficult times. She has come to intuitively understand that hardship is often the birthplace for grit.

Karen Thompson Walker believes that fear is here to teach us. We often think of fear as something to avoid, but what if we could learn to view fear as a kind of harbinger to creativity and risk? Meaning, fear will almost always be partnered with the two. I'm not talking about things we should be afraid of such as putting ourselves in harm's way like walking down a dark and dangerous street late at night. I'm talking about something else: the kind of necessary fear we encounter when we try something new or challenge ourselves to be more, better, and even the best version of who we are. My guest today is the bestselling author Karen Thompson Walker, who is here to show us how fear can actually propel our imagination, as it forces us to imagine a different, possible future and how to cope with the fear that instills in us. In her own creative life, Karen has not only embraced her fear, but she's even allowed it to inspire her recent New York Times bestseller, "The Age of Miracles." And in her popular TED Talk "What Fear Can Teach Us," she explores the wisdom to be gained from fear. I'm not talking about the irrational kind, but the kind that acts as guardrails or warning signals as we find our way through the world. Whether or not you consider yourself a creative person, we have all experienced a resistance to fear in our lives in one way or another. And as the old saying goes, if we can't go around it, we must go through it. Maybe creativity and fear are "conjoined twins"--like Elizabeth Gilbert suggests--so you can't have one without the other. Maybe the point is...if we spend all of our energy trying to become fearless, we will miss the lesson of what our fear has to teach us. Anyone of us who is willing to move beyond their comfort zone will certainly feel it. Karen is doing meaningful work in revealing fear's surprising wisdom, and we now have the opportunity to hear more about her unique perspective.

Tom Corley believes that our daily habits play a much larger role in success than we might have previously understood. Tom grew up in a household that became familiar with the struggles of poverty. After dedicating three very focused years to researching the differences between the rich and the poor, Tom Corley has collected a series of habits that he believes can help shape our future into a more successful one. In his book "Change Your Habits, Change Your Life" he delves into the subconscious realm of how habits work, and offers practical ways that we can implement rich habits into our daily routines. Tom reminds us that good habits put us on the path of opportunity, and that when you find something you truly love, you will be surprised by your own persistence in making it happen. And, as Tom believes...if you change your habits, you will ultimately change your life.

Trina Laughlin has been a clinical social worker for twenty plus years specializing in trauma therapy. She specializes in helping others find their way from the darkness of loss to what can feel like rays of hope. And, here’s the thing about Trina...trauma isn’t something she studies from afar--she’s lived it, too. Back in 2007, two days before Christmas, her twenty two year-old son died unexpectedly. In order to process and cope with her loss, she began writing about the many layers of her grief, the unspeakable emotion of it all--and her writing eventually became a book that she calls, “Season of the Fallen Sun.” Trina reminds us that there is hope beyond even the most excruciating emotional pain, and that we need other people to help put us back together when our lives feel shattered. Trina is a powerful reminder that when we try to shut off or shut down our pain, we end up closing off our capacity to experience joy as well.

Dr.Ron Friedman is considered an expert in human motivation, and his research lends us some helpful answers to what motivates us and what keeps us engaged. In his book, The Best Place to Work, he offers insightful suggestions about how to improve our workplaces by appealing to our psychological needs of competence, relatedness, and autonomy. And you may be surprised to know that most of the changes Ron suggests have little to do with money. Ron believes that our workplaces could change for the better if only we learned how to better value human connection and accountability, as well as allow for the integration of work and our outside of work life rather than trying so hard to keep them separate. Ron offers practical tips you might end up using yourself... such as holding walking meetings, putting a window in your office, making time for exercise, and introducing your co-workers by describing who they are outside of work rather than just reciting their job description. If you feel like you are just barely getting by and are struggling to find motivation in the mundane, I’m confident that Ron’s findings will inspire you and spark some ideas about how to keep work and ultimately your life more interesting.

Coach Reed believes that "progress hinges on the gap between who will talk in private and who will act in public." Of all the quotes that runs through his head, that is the one that really resonates. It has become his morning mantra, because "until we act, every thing we do in private makes no change in the world." Coach Reed is a Sports Coach with a message for all of us...and, if you think this is a message for athletes alone you will be missing out. He has a unique perspective that is not only refreshing, but in my opinion... needed. As a coach for 20 plus years, he is passionate about many things and one in particular...and this is one I can get behind...Coach Reed is all about developing confidence in his players, rather than controlling them with fear. As the Executive Director of STAR Soccer Club- a 500 player club in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a Ted Talk alumni Coach Reed isn’t “just” about coaching kids. He also trains parents, coaches, and sports leaders alike on cultivating healthy communication in competitive environments. I think you hopefully agree that we need more kindness in our lives and in our world...perhaps of late especially in the political arena especially. As we’ll learn in this interview... kindness is not weak; instead, it requires the strongest kind of discipline we have to give. And really listening to another human being is a skill that takes time and commitment to develop. Like the saying goes: “be kind, everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”

Barbara Jenkins is a bestselling co-author and traveler who received the attention of National Geographic Magazine with a cross country trek she took with her ex husband back in the 70's. Don't be fooled. This woman is as vibrant today as she was back then. Barbara is a natural born storyteller who is all about the power of saying "yes" and she joins us today with wisdom to spare. When adventure came knocking, Barbara Jenkins answered. And it wasn’t just any adventure--but one that would take her on a walk across America and change the trajectory of her life forever. Some of you may be familiar with the New York Times best-sellers Walk Across America and The Walk West, written by Barbara and her then-husband, Peter Jenkins. In today’s interview, we get a glimpse behind the curtain into the story behind the stories, and the wisdom that Barbara has gathered along the way. Barbara has faced numerous challenges throughout her life: being hit by a car, walking pregnant across a mountain range in a blizzard, and then eventually raising three children as a single parent while simultaneously navigating a writing career on her own. Barbara’s story of resilience, extraordinary adventure, empowerment, and perseverance is a reminder that struggle is essential to growth. That even after one door closes, another door will open in due time if you’re willing to keep your head up and keep doing the work.