Chasing the Sun: Your Chief Wellness Podcast with Mark Mohammadpour

I recently spoke with Lise Harwin, employee communications manager at the Port of Portland (Oregon). Lise is an expert in internal and employee communications and truly lives and breathes the Port of Portland brand.

Recently, Lise and I realized that we share a similar weight loss journey. We chatted for almost an hour about her story so I broke it up into two parts! Today we talk about:

The importance of being AWARE of what you’re eating.

How much we overemphasize the body mass index (BMI).

Tips to think about before you join a gym, head out to restaurants, or travel.

How Lise makes her mental and physical health a priority.

The ONE thing Lise has never regretted.

About Lise:

For 18 years, Lise Harwin made a career in media relations — pitching organizational stories ranging from life-saving at a Level 1 trauma hospital to life-affirming at the American Red Cross to life-changing in higher education. Now she’s turned her corporate raconteuring and social media savvy inward, transitioning to employee engagement and communication for the Port of Portland – owner and operator of PDX, America’s Best Airport. Lise has helped bring a modern perspective to the 125-year-old organization, embracing Portland’s quirky reputation at every turn. When she’s not proving that working for government isn’t what you’d expect, she’s picking the lineup for Portland’s only all-ages summer music festival and seeking out the city’s best cocktails. And while she doesn’t write for fun as much as she used to, you can still find her signature affinity for alliteration in the Apartment Therapy archives.

Hi! Thank you for listening to my podcast for 50 episodes now! I spend a few minutes chatting about what the podcast means to me, and what I've learned since launching my company, Chasing the Sun. Enjoy, and thank you!

I recently spoke with Lise Harwin, employee communications manager at the Port of Portland (Oregon). Lise is an expert in internal and employee communications and truly lives and breathes the Port of Portland brand. 

Recently, Lise and I realized that we share a similar weight loss journey. We chatted for almost an hour about her story so I broke it up into two parts! Today we talk about:

We had a great chat. Part one is up, and stay tuned for part two next week!

About Lise:

For 18 years, Lise Harwin made a career in media relations — pitching organizational stories ranging from life-saving at a Level 1 trauma hospital to life-affirming at the American Red Cross to life-changing in higher education. Now she’s turned her corporate raconteuring and social media savvy inward, transitioning to employee engagement and communication for the Port of Portland – owner and operator of PDX, America’s Best Airport. Lise has helped bring a modern perspective to the 125-year-old organization, embracing Portland’s quirky reputation at every turn. When she’s not proving that working for government isn’t what you’d expect, she’s picking the lineup for Portland’s only all-ages summer music festival and seeking out the city’s best cocktails. And while she doesn’t write for fun as much as she used to, you can still find her signature affinity for alliteration in the Apartment Therapy archives.

This week, I share part two of a two-part conversation with Vice President of Matter Communication's Portland, Ore. office, Meghan Gardner! As an agency office leader, business executive, busy traveler, and most importantly, parent, Meghan is my PR hero this week! This week, we chat through a number of topics, including Meghan’s team at Matter and advice that she has for new professionals. How she helps her team incorporate health and wellness. The difference between macro and micro culture when it comes to agency life. Building trust with your team. The talent here in Portland, Oregon. The transition from tactician to manager. The importance of mentorship. How to think multiple steps ahead for your team.

Check out part one here!

About Meghan Gardner, Vice President, Matter Communications: As head of Matter's Portland office, Meghan brings both an eye for detail and clarity of strategic vision to every client program. Her media relations, C-suite communications counsel, and messaging strategy skills have delivered exceptional results for brands from Netflix and Nordstrom to Avid Technologies, Acme Packets (now part of Oracle), Eli Lilly and Company, and the Business Roundtable. Meghan’s career spans two decades, two continents, and both U.S. coasts. Her yoga mat comes with her everywhere she goes. And at last count, Meghan owned five library cards. About Matter Communications: Website: https://www.matternow.com Twitter: @MatterComm Instagram: @MatterComm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattercommunications LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/matter-communications/

This week, I share part one of a two-part conversation with Vice President of Matter Communication's Portland, Ore. office, Meghan Gardner! As an agency office leader, business executive, busy traveler, and most importantly, parent, Meghan is my PR hero this week! This week, we chat through a number of topics, including -What Meghan’s experience has been like moving to Portland -What brought Meghan to Matter, her role at the company and in Portland -What was it like moving a family across the country -Advice Meghan has for new professionals who make a life change like moving to another city -Working remotely -Business travel tips Stay tuned next week for part two!

Check out part two here! 

About Meghan Gardner, Vice President As head of Matter's Portland office, Meghan brings both an eye for detail and clarity of strategic vision to every client program. Her media relations, C-suite communications counsel, and messaging strategy skills have delivered exceptional results for brands from Netflix and Nordstrom to Avid Technologies, Acme Packets (now part of Oracle), Eli Lilly and Company, and the Business Roundtable. Meghan’s career spans two decades, two continents, and both U.S. coasts. Her yoga mat comes with her everywhere she goes. And at last count, Meghan owned five library cards. About Matter Communications: Website: https://www.matternow.com Twitter: @MatterComm Instagram: @MatterComm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattercommunications LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/matter-communications/

Tatiana Skomski and Colby Reade live with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's Disease respectively. We had a great chat about their career, how they live with their condition, and discuss advice for managers and those who live with or are working with those with similar conditions. 

I so appreciated their time. And so will you!

About Tatiana:

Tatiana has 3 years of both agency and in-house public relations and social media experience. Additionally, she is the founder of Simply Balanced with Tati, a simple girl’s guide to navigating life, health and fitness with chronic illness. She is a certified holistic health coach in training and is passionate about living life simply and balanced. She is an ulcerative colitis fighter and, although she is in remission, she still has daily struggles with her health. Her hopes for Simply Balanced with Tati is to give a voice to women everywhere living with chronic illnesses and to create a community of strong, fearless women who want to better their relationship with themselves, their diagnosis, food, their bodies and their overall wellness. You can follow along on her journey via instagram @simplybalancedwithtati and via her (soon to be launched) blog www.simplybalancedwithtati.com

About Colby:

Colby Reade, APR,  is the Director of Communications for the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. A Portland native and graduate of the University of Oregon, Colby started his career as a journalist before transitioning to public relations full time.

His background includes several years working for some of the region’s leading PR teams, including work on behalf of Microsoft, JELD-WEN, Alcatel-Lucent, The Portland Clinic, HEALTHWORKS, and Avangrid Renewables.

In his free time, Colby serves on the board of PRSA Oregon and has volunteered his time to support the marketing and outreach efforts of numerous nonprofits, such as SMART, Boys and Girls Aid, Junior League of Portland and WVDO. But the most important role he fills is husband to an incredibly talented wife and father to a brilliant daughter.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/colbyreade

Podcast: Coffee with Colby

It's a really special day in the world of Chasing the Sun! We've become a fully-fledged company, focused on health coaching for communicators, marketers, and public relations professionals. 

This would not have come without the love and support of my hero, Christine! 

Christine and I talk about our own personal health and wellness journey. It's a really special chat, and I hope you enjoy it! 

It's close to Labor Day here in the U.S. I have ONE quick tip to enjoy the weekend as you so deserve! 

Sorry to say this, but fall is approaching fast! I share three tips on how to prepare for the fall season. Enjoy! 

I played tennis for the first time in years, with a $20 tennis racket my parents bought back in the 1980s. I had a great time, and it helped cure my exercise boredom. What is YOUR new activity to mix up your exercise routine? Let's discuss!