Divisive stories are all around us. Today, we speak with John Noltner, who is on a mission to find what connects us. Shortly after the election of President Obama, Noltner felt troubled by our nation’s racist rhetoric. So he did what all good journalists do: he set out to find as many stories as he could, and to gain others' trust in the process.

Find his stories, his bio, his photos, and his blog at apomm.net. Like this episode? Be sure to share it around and write us a review.

Many of us know how to fill our time. But are we filling it with quality pursuits? Our guest today was in his forties when he learned that he needed major heart surgery. Now, he’s thankful that his doctor uncovered a problem that’s been in his heart since birth. He’s also thankful that he can choose how to spend his time.

Find Chris at timesupllc.com, where he helps small operations value and sell their companies. Like this episode? Be sure to share with others and write us a review.

Sometimes, you have to obstruct the system to achieve justice. Today, we’re joined by Janice S. Lintz, Founder of Hearing Access & Innovations. When her daughter was diagnosed with hearing loss, Janice joined the legal fight to advocate for equal access. Then, when she sought justice against her abusive husband, Janice was labeled an “obstructionist”—and in the face of corruption, that’s exactly what she wants to be. Like this episode? Share with your friends and write us a review on Apple Podcast

After decades as a surgeon, Dr. Michelle Gordon realized that her job was making her suffer. She was also going through menopause, so she started helping women use science-backed strategies to understand their bodies and minimize their suffering.

Ailments, resentments, and traumas can determine the stories that we tell ourselves and others. So how can we all minimize our suffering? Focus on what we can control: our perspective. Find Dr. Gordon at menopausemovement.com.

The definition of success changes based on who you ask. Today, we hear from Dr. Ruth Gotian, who studied extreme high-achievers, from Nobel Prize-winners to Olympians, for the common traits that set them apart. The first shared trait? They prioritize fear of not trying over fear of failing. Find Dr. Gotian’s The Success Factor wherever books are sold, and download her Passion Audit for free at ruthgotian.com/passionaudit.

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Last week, we talked about taking ownership and speaking up. This week, Dave sits down with Catherine Dorian, a high school English teacher, writer, and millennial. How do we prepare students to take ownership over their learning and their actions? Catherine teaches part-time at a private school in Massachusetts. She also helps organizations find purpose and attract customers through storytelling. Find her at catherinedorian.com. Like this episode? Be sure to share it with others and write us a review.

Ghosting is easy. Ignoring a phone call, not responding to an email, or quitting a company without warning are all ways that we can avoid confrontation. But the right to remain silent—the right to not express frustration, provide a dissenting opinion, or admit to wrongdoing—is making us cower and hide when things get hard.

No guest today: just Dave, his ideas, and the microphone, saying what needs to be said. Like this episode? Be sure to share it with others and write us a review.

Many companies strive to be more diverse, inclusive, and equitable. Many company leaders struggle to take transformative steps to do so. In this episode, we hear from Omar L Harris about how to do Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work thoughtfully. The first step? Listen and be open to understanding all that you don’t know.

Find Omar at omarlharris.com. Like this episode? Be sure to share it with others and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.

Too many of us misuse our power. Whether we’re gossiping about someone or becoming the victim, we’re relinquishing responsibility—becoming the opposite of empowered. Today, Christian De La Huerta helps us redefine courage and power. His book, Awakening the Soul of Power, is available wherever books are sold. Find him at soulfulpower.com, and subscribe to his newsletter for more methods in mindfulness.

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We all know that reading is good for us. So why don’t more of us make time for it? Dr. Danny Brassell, known as “the world’s reading ambassador” doesn’t just preach the importance of reading—he models curiosity and seeds this quality in others. Dr. Brassell is an educator and author. Go to readleadandsucceed.com for a free copy of his book, and join his book club at lazyreaders.com. Like this episode? Be sure to share with your friends and write us a review on Apple Podcasts.