Connect For Podcast

Smart Cities are utilizing technology to anticipate and solve problems, like potholes, before they occur.  Our city's infrastructure (roads, sewer systems, internet, etc) when paired with community needs (education, housing, jobs, etc) is a complicated system. Jennifer Sanders, the Executive Director at Dallas Innovation Alliance, joins me to discuss how her work is utilizing innovative ways to integrate technology into our cities to solve these issues in real-time. 
Jennifer talks about her tireless dedication to her career and how her work ethic, if it isn't balanced with self-care and rest, can lead to burnout and sometimes illness. Thanks to her puppy dog and the support of good friends, she is constantly reminded to slow down and focus on her health even if that means she has to put a project on hold (for a day ;)).   
 
Jennifer is doing incredible work! Follow her on LinkedIn or on the Dallas Innovation Alliance Website. 

In this episode, Ben Magill, the Associate Vice Chancellor of Economic Opportunity at Dallas College, discusses the collection of experiences that led him to where he is today. From his time in Argentina as an exchange student, his short musical career in Austin, to the passionate work dedicated to the anchor institution he represents at Dallas College.

We talk about Ben's compassionate leadership style and how empathy is at the center of his work.  The Community College is no longer a destination for a few, it is now a catalyst to address social determinants of health beyond its campus. Ben is so approachable, smart, funny, and talented. This episode is so rich!! Enjoy. 

You can learn more about Ben and his work on LinkedIn or the Dallas College website.

Listening and learning. This episode is all about opening ourselves to the honest and difficult conversations around racism and how we all play a part, consciously and subconsciously.
Brittani Hite is the Founder and Strategic Director of Ethos Equity Consulting, a social impact firm rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this episode, we talk about the disparities that exist in our neighborhoods, our communities, and our places of work, and how just admitting that those exist, is a step towards social equity. 

We break all the rules and talk about politics, religion and share personal stories about life that are both hilarious and devastating.

The work Brittani is doing is very challenging and deeply personal.  She approaches her work with love, empathy, compassion, and grace. 
You can learn more about Brittani and her work on her website, on LinkedIn, or on Instagram. 

Do you ever push yourself to exhaustion? Are you on the brink of breaking on a regular basis? In this special edition of the Connect For Podcast, Valerie and I discuss burnout and how our society's definition of success is all wrong.

Tune in to hear how a guest's no-show taught me an important lesson about rest.  We are taught that 100% attendance and pushing when the going gets tough are the best ways to prove your worth. After further reflection, this can actually keep us from reaching our full potential. 

My ultimate goal with these conversations is to get to the core of what makes us human. In this episode, my guest puts that all into perspective. 

Dana Compton, Director of Business Development for Ridgemont Construction, tells us her story and how it is divided into "before" and "after" her life-changing diagnosis. Dana is a bright light whose contagious optimism lifts your mood with every encounter. 
Many may turn down a dark path after receiving the same diagnosis, but Dana has taken a different approach. With the advice of a close friend, Dana is not focusing on her pain but instead on all the beautiful things she has yet to see. 

An example of this is Dana's hobbies including golf and performing.  Dana co-hosts a hilarious podcast called "Scandalous Diamonds" where she and her friend, Jennifer Lusk, dissect Jackie Collins' novels and share lavish jewelry.

Get the tissues ready!

If you want to learn more about Dana, follow her podcast on Instagram or her career on LinkedIn.  

In this episode, Andrew Harper discusses his unlikely journey into a creative career. Growing up with expectations of following a definition of success that did not match his own, Andrew talks about the emergence of the "creative class" and how veering from the paved path in front of him changed his life for the better.

We also discuss his family's commitment to broadening their worldview through fostering and how that has fulfilled them in ways that never imagined. This episode is so special. I was so inspired by Andrew's story and his outlook on life: "happiness is not based on circumstances." 

If you want to learn more about Andrew and his work, you can find him on the PMG website or on LinkedIn. 

She was born with ambition and a clear vision.  My next guest, Kourtny Garrett, the President & CEO at Downtown Dallas Inc,  is determined to work tirelessly to make a positive impact in the community. In this episode, we learn when she fell in love with cities and why she has made it her life's work to transform Dallas.  Although she has struggled with mental health issues such as anxiety, Kourtny approaches it the same way she would any other challenge in her life, with intention, strategy, and grit. We not only learn about her work ethic and the impact it's had on  Dallas but we also learn important lessons about rest and restraint.

You can follow Kourtny and her work at Downtown Dallas Inc on their website or on a variety of social platforms.  

I am so happy to introduce you to the very talented and intelligent, Dr. Veronica Bordes Edgar, a bilingual neuropsychologist who focuses on treating children with various neurodevelopmental disorders.  In this episode, we learn about why she is a unicorn in her field and how cultural differences impact your brain, and the way psychologists assess patients. We also learn about how the most prevalent disorders are evolving as we learn more about the brain and the research she is doing to advance treatments for her patients.  I stumbled through this episode trying to keep up with her and I learned so much!

You can learn more about Dr. Bordes Edgar and her practice here or here. 

Have you ever considered how design impacts your life on a daily basis? My next guest has built his architecture practice on designing spaces that complement function versus designing something simply because that is what people expect. For example, have you ever thought about how your kitchen is laid out or about the shape of your kitchen table? How would you design that differently if you were able to erase all that you know about traditional kitchen design and focused simply on how you use it?

Patrick Craine is an architect, creative thinker, problem-solver, and artist. In this episode, we learn about his life and the experiences that have shaped it.

You can learn more about Patrick and his architecture firm on his website. 

Inspired as a teenager, Kristen Miller always dreamed of owning her own shop. She bounced from an assistant job to a corporate job and finally took the leap to open the doors to All Good Things, a warm and inviting shop nestled in Dallas's Bishop Arts District. Kristen tells us about her journey to get there and the experiences she had and the people she met along the way that turned a wish into reality.

You can follow All Good Things on:
Pinterest: @allgoodthingsshop
Facebook: @allgoodthingspaper
Instagram: @allgoodthings.shop
Website: https://www.allgoodthingspaper.com/