Podcast Season 2, Episode 5 - with Amber Hubert - 4/14/2026

I met Ambra Hubert because she put out an idea in the Weird LinkedIn community. A spontaneous, creative, truly wonderful idea to publish a Zine for and about and BY the community. I had no idea what a "Zine" was - I had never even seen one! But Ambra was so warm and generous and enthusiastic, and the contributions poured in. At the last minute, I felt the call of inspiration and submitted a hand drawn sketch drawn on Engineering Computation pad. And now I can call myself a published artist.

That experience introduced me to Ambra, and, in doing so, made it clear to me that I wanted to meet her, so I instigated a coffee chat. (This is often how I end up meeting podcast guests!) 5 minutes into our chat about life, survived trauma, and creativity I knew I was not going to accept "No" to my podcast invitation. Luckily, she didn't put up a fight!

Ambra is a lifelong creative who made a sharp turn into business - working in corporate communications, heading up community at a startup, co-founded a poetry press, started and edited a zine, and is now running a weekly newsletter that helps people tell the stories of personal transformation and taking their own sharp turns. She has lived in five countries, speaks three languages, and brings all of herself into everything she does.

In this conversation, we talk about what it means to show up as yourself in a space that was never designed for that. We talk about Weird LinkedIn - not as a hashtag, but as a genuine act of rebellion against performative connection. We talk about the Weird Professional Zine, and Permission Slips newsletter and how community became Ambra’s drug of choice. We talk about the things that just pop into your head. About the side quests that felt like detours but turned out to be preparation. About why people don’t answer the hard questions about themselves - and what community has to do with finally being willing to show up authentically.

Somewhere in the middle of all of this, we both realized that what we’re each doing - in our own ways - is very much related at its core: Helping people feel safe enough to be real.

Connect with Ambra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambra-hubert/
Permission Slips: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/permission-slips-7419778664252338176/
Weird Professional : https://lnkd.in/g6a34bJF
Engineering Your Life: https://www.engineeringyourlife.net 

Podcast Season 2, Episode 4 - with Jason Koster - 2/27/2026

Jason Koster is a friend I've known for many years. We used to hike and backpack all over Arizona. He joined me for more stretches of the Arizona Trail than anyone else. And when I decided to gear up for a 23-day traverse of the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Jason said yes to joining me, lugging a high resolution camera and tripod to take epic photos of the sights on the highest altitude scenic trail in the US.

It is my pleasure to introduce my listeners to Jason - who embodies both the soul of an artist and the engineering ingenuity involved in solving problems as they arise. Jason is a photographic artist. And what started as a way to share beautiful places with his parents became something much larger - panoramic landscape photography that doesn’t just capture a scene, each image tells a story.

A conversation between light and shadow, rock and water, the left side and the right side of a world that doesn’t fully fit in a frame. This conversation is ostensibly about his panoramic landscape photography project. But it became something else entirely - something bigger and more meaningful.

We talked about what 23 days in the wilderness does to a person. About the songs that get stuck in your head when fear creeps in. About filtering water and how it somehow feels like cheating death. About broken spoons, blown-out boot laces, and duct tape as a life philosophy. We talk very seriously about how life (and the trail) is truly about the journey and not the destination - and how the landmarks you spend months anticipating can't quite compare to the quiet miracle of just being out in nature and wonder. And we talk about what it means to be an engineer learning to live more like an artist. To plan enough to survive - and be open enough to for transformation.

This episode is an adventure in and of itself. Buckle up and enjoy!

Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-koster-photography/
Jason's website: www.kosterart.net
Engineering Your Life: www.engineeringyourlife.net

Podcast Season 2, Episode 3 - with Darren Lyons - 2/11/2026

I’m really glad to welcome Darren Lyons back to Design Review. And I knew when we started talking again that this conversation was going to go somewhere good. Darren and I met through our Jungian life coaching program at CreativeMind University - where we got to know each other deeply, coached each other, and discovered just how much our paths overlapped. He is such a grounded and quietly wise man. And what he’s building with Lyons Life Coaching (LLC, LLC ;-)) is something the world genuinely needs right now.

In this episode, we talk about the people Darren works with - high performing professionals who have achieved much on the outside, but are quietly running on empty on the inside. People who know they want more, but feel like there is nothing left in the tank to get there. We talk about slowing down in a world that only rewards speeding up. About the difference between doing and being. About addiction - not just to substances, but to work, to screens, and to busyness itself - as a way of avoiding the present. We talk about trees. About yin and yang. About Winnie the Pooh and Taoism - and about why, if you could have figured it out yourself, you already would have.

This episode is truly a conversation between two people who have done the work and are still doing it.

I think you’ll feel that.

Connect with Darren: www.linkedin.com/in/darren-lyons-54584891/
Engineering Your Life: www.engineeringyourlife.net

Podcast Season 2, Episode 2 - with Tim Perreira - 1/21/2026

This is the second half of one of the most powerful conversations I’ve had so far on Design Review. You may find that this part will land more clearly if you listen to part one first, but please listen/watch in the order that works for you! Tim Perreira’s story - from origin through depression, rock bottom, and reset to walking across America - sets the stage for everything we discuss in this segment.

In part 2, we talk about the Integrated Man, Tim's new men's organization, as a living program - what it actually looks like, how it’s structured, who it’s for, as well as why Tim and his business partner Chris built it the way they did. We talk about the role of community, of ongoing support, of having people who show up for you even when you are tempted to isolate.

Tim and I also talk about what it means to have coaches when you are a coach - and why that matters more than most people realize. And we talk about shadow work. About projection. About the subtle scaffolding beneath our thoughts that shapes how we see the world, how we treat others, and how we treat ourselves.

Near the end of this conversation, I told Tim that I really felt witnessed by him, and I meant it. I think you'll get a lot out of this episode - I know I did.

Connect with Tim: www.linkedin.com/in/timperreira/
The Integrated Man: www.theintegratedman.com
Engineering Your Life: www.engineeringyourlife.net

Podcast Season 2, Episode 2 - with Tim Perreira - 1/21/2026

I met Tim on LinkedIn almost two years ago. He shared openly - about his work with men, his own struggles, and about a vulnerability that few people show. And something in me knew I needed to meet him.

Then I found out he was walking across America. Not just walking, but walking the entire distance without listening to music or podcasts. With nothing but presence, intention, and a willingness to surrender to whatever the road had to offer.

When I heard he was going to be walking through Arizona, I volunteered to help. I spent three days with Tim near the beginning of his walk - ferrying his gear, meeting him at the end of each day's walk, and talking over dinner before turning in. It was special. It was an honor to support this man and his mission.

This episode shares the beginning of that story. We delve into Tim’s path - from collegiate athlete to corporate sales, from rock bottom to inner work to coaching men, and to walking across North America. We talk about what it means to be in a world that doesn't teach men how to connect. We talk about The Integrated Man, the community he’s building with his partner Chris. And we begin to go somewhere I wasn’t entirely expecting - into the nature of consciousness, non-dualism, and what it means to really realize that we are not just walking through nature.
We are nature.

This one moved me deeply.
I think it may move you too.

** Please stay tuned for part 2, releasing soon!  Please follow/subscribe to be notified when it is released. **

Connect with Tim: www.linkedin.com/in/timperreira/
The Integrated Man:  www.theintegratedman.co
Engineering Your Life: www.engineringyourlife.net

In this episode of the Design Review podcast, Robert Haines speaks with Zachary Byrd about his coaching practice, Kykeon Coaching, and the Tesseract model he developed for self-discovery and personal growth. Zach shares his journey of transformation, the importance of spirituality and relationships, and how the Tesseract model serves as a tool for assessing one's aliveness. The conversation delves into the significance of crafting one's own myth, the role of inflection points in life, and the practical applications of the Tesseract model in coaching. Zach invites listeners to explore their own journeys and offers opportunities for collaboration.

Connect with Zach: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharybyrd/
See more of EYL: https://www.engineeringyourlife.net/

In this episode of Design Review Podcast, Robert Haines and Michael Sutherland engage in a deep conversation about self-discovery, creativity, and the importance of community. Michael shares his journey after being laid off, emphasizing the need to embrace discomfort and growth. They discuss the power of storytelling in connecting with others and the significance of authenticity in personal and professional life. Michael introduces the Reframe Project, a community initiative aimed at fostering critical thinking and collaboration among diverse individuals. The conversation highlights the importance of creativity, the challenges of societal expectations, and the vision for a future that embraces individuality and connection.

Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flectionpoint/
See more of EYL: https://www.engineeringyourlife.net/

In this episode of Design Review, Robert Haines and Sara Shahmohammad explore the complexities of life experiences, personal transformations, and the impact of change on relationships. They discuss how life's challenges can lead to profound insights and growth, as well as the emotional reactions that accompany significant life changes such as immigration. The conversation delves into the nature of human connections and how individuals often perceive their relationships through the lens of their own experiences. In this conversation, Robert and Sara explore the profound impacts of major life changes, the journey of surrendering control, and the transformative power of loss. They discuss how these experiences lead to greater self-awareness, empathy, and authentic love, ultimately embracing the messiness of life as a path to Freedom.

Connect with Sara:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-shahmohammad/
See more of EYL: www.engineeringyourlife.net

In this episode, Robert Haines interviews Bernadette Fah, who discusses her innovative concept of the 'Maximum Viable Person' and how it relates to personal growth and mental health. Bernadette shares her journey with neurodivergence and how it inspired her to create an AI Chief of Staff that helps individuals manage their tasks and mental well-being. The conversation emphasizes the importance of community support and the collective responsibility for individual well-being. Bernadette also shares insights on the challenges of prototyping her product and her aspirations for the future.

Robert's contact info
email:  [email protected]
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/robert-haines-a072334

Bernadette's contact info
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernadette-fah/
See more of EYL: www.engineeringyourlife.net

In this episode of the Design Review podcast, host Robert Haines speaks with Dani Maldonado, a social media expert and entrepreneur. Dani shares his journey into social media management, the launch of his new project, Your Social Media Academy, and the importance of authenticity in online interactions. He discusses the challenges faced by individuals in today's economy and the need for accessible social media education. The conversation also covers practical advice on finding virtual assistants and effective time management strategies for entrepreneurs. In this engaging conversation, Dani and Robert explore the transformative role of AI in content creation, the importance of vulnerability in personal branding, and the delicate balance between authenticity and professionalism in the digital space. They share personal experiences of failure and success, emphasizing the lessons learned along the way. The discussion also touches on the significance of genuine connections and collaborations in the ever-evolving landscape of social media and coaching.

Connect with Dani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-maldonado419/
See more of EYL: https://www.engineeringyourlife.net/