Skeptical or Cynical.

It's sure been a week in America. I don't even have to date stamp this - just go back and check out any news source and you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about.

Wherever you turn, you can find someone or something to be upset about, and lots of good reasons to feel that way.

Does that mean that all the things that were good yesterday went away? Or is it the world we live in now?

I don't pretend to know everything. But there are some things I know, and I know I know them.

But is it safe to share knowingness these days? 

Today I talk about what I'm observing and experiencing from social media and in conversations, both virtual and in person. 

I mention the book "What Happened to You?" by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey.

There is something magical about technology which allows us to connect over thousands of miles as if we were in the same room.

In this episode I chat with Marcia Werner about her adventures in moving her family from the U.S. to France. 

We had a delightful chat about Marcia's life journey, including her career transitions from real estate to coaching and her recent move to France with her family.

We talked about Marcia's personal motivations and experiences, particularly focusing on her approach to change and her coaching practice that helps others navigate life transitions.

We also talked about the conditions which caused Marcia and her husband to consider moving their family from Florida where their kids experienced safety concerns no kids should have to endure to France, where their 5-year-old can walk to school without any fear.

I was inspired by our conversation to remember to actually take action toward what you truly desire, even if others in your space might not be able to imagine doing the same.

If you'd like to connect with Marcia about coaching, please look her up at her website, MarciaWerner.com.

Back in the days before COVID (they all run together for me now), I had a podcast called Bock Talks. The foundation was Leadership, Communication, and Accountability, and the branding was BE IT, SAY IT, OWN IT.

I think I was on to something, but, as is my tendency, just before I gain some traction, I move on to something else. Eventually people catch up and then they are engaged in something I've moved on from.

I don't think Personal Accountability is something to move on from.

I had the pleasure of helping spread John Miller's message of QBQ for about 10 years as a facilitator of his material, and the message became a part of my being, not just my teaching.

So today I'd like to revisit the concept of Personal Accountability as we see it in 2025.

On this episode I mention the book and training program called QBQ by John Miller (https://qbq.com/), Peter Block's book "The Answer to How is Yes," (https://amzn.to/4lYaaOO), and the Landmark Forum (https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/).

Today's guest is Liz Campbell, the Experience Director for Emerging Prairie (EP), a Fargo-based resource that provides:

• A platform to share knowledge, success and experiences
• The pulse of the region’s entrepreneurial activity
• A network of passionate individuals shaping the region’s future

Among Liz's many projects at Emerging Prairie is TEDx Fargo, one of only a very few locations to have held a 2-day event.

Liz is a connector of people, always wanting to know what makes them tick and how she can help them succeed. She is an enthusiastic believer of personal development and growth, and can often be found in the front row at concerts, catching up with friends at local breweries and coffee shops, or wandering around Downtown Fargo.

She calls Fargo home, where she lives with her husband, Scott, their kids Sophie and Noah, and their adventurous corgi, Toby.

In this conversation, Liz pulls back the curtain on the TEDx Fargo process, and shows us what it takes to ensure that event is one of EP's signature offerings. Connect with Liz on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizcampbellfargo.

Today is a Wonder and Ponder day and my wonder is about advice.

As a certified Life Purpose and Career Coach, I've been trained how to be an effective coach, and that's quite distinct from my current corporate work as a consultant.

Coaches do more asking, and consultants do more telling.

That line has become a bit blurred over the years, and my style has transformed a bit. I've gotten pretty good at giving advice.

But taking it? That can be a different story.

Thanks to Ricot and Jody who joined the conversation live.

If you'd like to learn more about my coaching and consulting work, check out my website at www.jodeebock.com.

In today's episode I have a dialogue with Jesse Cruz, an entrepreneur and speaking coach from Rochester, NY who helps speakers get paid to travel the world with their families.

Jesse shared his journey from being a veteran and youth advocate to becoming a successful speaker and coach who helps others make a living through speaking.

Jesse discussed his development of a "lead through story" framework and his experiences organizing events during the pandemic, including his transition from charging $10 to $97 per person while overcoming self-doubt and financial challenges.

The conversation concluded with Jesse's evolution into full-time entrepreneurship, his writing and publishing journey, and his current focus on hosting inclusive business networking events that combine family travel opportunities.

You can find Jesse on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jesse.cruz.5

Today's guest is a former co-worker of mine who, although we only worked together for less than a year, made a huge impact on me in a very positive way.

Dan Austin has been a corporate executive for 25 years for Fortune 100 and entrepreneurial ventures. He currently lives in Florida where he coaches team members to Connect, Contribute, and Continue (among many other life lessons).

In this episode Dan and I explore the deep shift from external validation to authentic service. We reflect on personal growth, unconscious leadership, competing desires, emotional healing, and the power of real connection in business and life.

From neuro-linguistic programming to spiritual practice, this conversation offers practical insights on influence, purpose, and how to lead with presence.

You can find Dan via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaustin/

Today I'm wondering about preferences: why we like the things we like, and what happens when we forget that it's OK to like different things.

I share some of my own stories about when I thought I was wrong for liking different things than my friends, and how that had me question my own values.

Values and preferences are not the same thing. Values guide our behavior and decisions in deeper ways - like integrity, connection, compassion, truth. Preferences are more like our style of expression. They're how we dress our values, not the values themselves.

I reference the Enlightened Leadership Lab (www.enlightenedleadershiplab.com).

You can find out more about other offerings at my website, www.jodeebock.com.

Today's guest is Mark Berntson, someone I've known his entire life.

Mark is a guitar teacher in West Fargo, ND where he splits his loyalty between the West Fargo HS Packers and the West Fargo Sheyenne HS Mustangs.

Mark is a true connector, certainly through his music, but also by inviting people to join him for coffee dates and baseball games, all on his dime.

Mark demonstrates the power of relationships in everything he does, including what he shares on his Facebook page on peoples' birthdays.

Even his Facebook profile picture is an AI created version of him resembling Mr. Rogers (which isn't a far stretch).

Join us in this dialogue where we reminisce about growing up in the same home town, with parents who were teachers, and the influences made for each of us.

Follow Mark on his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/readychild

Mark French is nearing the end of his epic 2024-2025 photographic journey through the lower 48. When he started this adventure, his plan was to document the beauty of each state he visited in his trusty Dodge Journey SUV which doubles as his living and work space.

While that was part of the experience, Mark shares some of the unexpected joys and a few heartaches that came with that intention. 

His goal is to live his life with no regrets, and during this conversation, he shares some of the lessons he learned with me and also with a high school classmate and her husband, Suzanne and Bob Schultz, who joined us for this coffee shop conversation.

Shout out to Bully Brew Coffee, where we shot this episode, and the partner who kept Mark caffeinated throughout his travels.

To find out more about Mark, visit his website, www.mafrenchphoto.com where you can also purchase photos and contribute to a charity that's near and dear to Mark (you'll hear a bit about it in this episode).