In this episode, I sit down with Adair Curtis to discuss work, the rules of design, partnership, family, as well as the dynamics of working with a spouse.

We talked about what it's like to work alongside your spouse, how to build a home (and a life) where everything has a purpose, and what it really means to let cameras into your most intimate moments.

Adair opens up about the emotional weight of living in the public eye, the way strangers feel entitled to opinions about your relationship, and why visibility for the LGBTQ+ community still matters so much. Plus, his take on authenticity in the beauty industry and the unspoken rules he's had to break to live on his own terms.

Takeaways

• Design philosophy: Everything in a space should be essential and tell a story.
• Intimacy in reality TV: The conversations around parenting and the decision to become parents were deeply intimate and thought-provoking. Reality TV often portrays real and emotional experiences, unlike the artificiality of some other media portrayals.
• Sharing personal experiences with the world can lead to public scrutiny and misrepresentation, impacting the portrayal of one's life.
• The challenges of living in the public eye and dealing with public opinions and scrutiny can be emotionally taxing and require a strong sense of self-worth and boundaries. Celebrity rules and privacy
• Visibility and LGBTQ+ advocacy
• Authenticity and individuality in the beauty industry
• Impact of societal rules and personal experiences

Chapters

• 00:00 Styling Hollywood and Intimacy in Reality TV
• 39:00 Challenges of Living in the Public Eye
• 01:01:09 Navigating the World of Celebrity
• 01:13:29 Impact of Societal Rules and Personal Experiences

Produced by Jon Teste

The conversation with Dr. Kirsten Lyke covers her remarkable journey from childhood dreams to becoming a leading vaccinologist. It explores the themes of resilience, following one's passion, and the science behind mRNA vaccines. The conversation covers the understanding of vaccines and the misconceptions surrounding them, the impact of lockdown and vaccine efficacy, the mix and match study and its influence on national policy change, and the challenges in science funding and the rise of anti-science sentiment. The conversation covers the passion for dengue research, the impact of the COVID pandemic, community engagement and naturalist activities, global health and responsibility, vaccine communication and trust, science and religion, field work vs. lab work, and the future of American science. Dr. Kirsten E. Lyke shares insights on these topics, providing valuable perspectives on each theme.

Takeaways

• Persistence
• Following Passion Vaccine misconceptions
• Impact of lockdown
• Mix and match study
• Challenges in science funding Passion for Dengue Research
• Impact of COVID Pandemic
• Community Engagement and Naturalist Activities
• Global Health and Responsibility
• Vaccine Communication and Trust
• Science and Religion
• Field Work vs. Lab Work
• The Future of American Science

Chapters

• 00:00 The Science of mRNA Vaccines
• 32:00 The Impact of Lockdown and Vaccine Efficacy
• 42:38 Challenges in Science Funding and Anti-Science Sentiment
• 01:14:55 The Future of American Science

Produced by Jon Tester

This is a special live recording of Nancy and the Everdare Advisor crew at Social Media Breakfast in Minneapolis, MN, on the morning of May 22, 2026.

The conversation delves into the questioning of established rules, the impact of AI on work, the need for intervention in organizations, the challenge of established rules, the amplification of broken systems, and the importance of addressing burnout. Key takeaways include the recognition that the future of work is not solely a technology story, the necessity for leaders to be vulnerable and open to input from their teams, and the pervasive issue of burnout that needs to be openly addressed. The conversation delves into the challenges of questioning leadership, personal branding, and the fear of burnout in the workplace. It then explores the gap between communication and leadership, the impact of AI adoption on inclusion, and the need for radical accountability in AI implementation. The discussion also addresses the importance of building psychological safety in the workplace and the need to break down harmful work rules. Throughout the conversation, the themes of psychological safety and reimagining career paths emerge as key takeaways.

Takeaways

• The future of work is not a technology story
• Leaders need to be vulnerable and open to input from their teams
• Burnout is a pervasive issue that needs to be addressed openly Importance of Psychological Safety
• Reimagining Career Paths

Chapters

• 00:00 Addressing Burnout
• 35:12 Questioning Leadership and Personal Branding
• 41:41 AI Adoption and Inclusion
• 46:45 Radical Accountability and AI Implementation
• 58:57 Breaking Down Harmful Work Rules

Produced by Jon Tester

The conversation explores how hustle culture and capitalism have completely distorted our relationship with sleep. It also talks about why being exhausted shouldn’t be treated like a personality trait or status symbol. The conversation covers everything from historical sleep patterns and relationship sleep myths to sleep procrastination, sleep disorders, fertility, and why so many people still know shockingly little about sleep health. Along the way, it highlights the radical act of actually prioritizing rest in a culture obsessed with productivity. Also: sleep masks are underrated and no email has ever been important enough to justify ruining your REM cycle.

Takeaways

• Sleep is not a personality trait
• The impact of sleep on relationships Sleep impacts fertility
• Challenges in reaching older males with sleep education

Chapters

• 00:00 The Culture of Sleep
• 05:04 Discovering the Passion for Sleep Medicine
• 09:58 Educating Corporations About Sleep
• 14:55 The Cultural Rule of Sleep
• 21:03 The Impact of Capitalism on Sleep
• 29:07 The Snooze Button and Sleep Quality
• 34:52 The Unseen Impact of Sleep Disorders
• 45:05 Transition to Entrepreneurship
• 51:54 The Lack of Sleep Education
• 57:00 Rapid Fire Questions

Produced by Jon Tester

The conversation explores the journey of Alexis Kantor, her strategic leadership, and the internal struggles she faced at Target. The conversation covers the decision to leave, corporate values and leadership, fostering LGBTQ+ homelessness, building Virtu AI, and challenging the rules.

Takeaways

• Authenticity and self-trust are powerful drivers of strategic leadership.
• Strategic influence and decision-making can lead to meaningful change within corporate environments. The importance of making decisions based on personal values and team loyalty
• The power of CEOs to drive change in corporate systems
• The impact of fostering LGBTQ+ homelessness and the lessons learned
• The significance of equity and access in the workplace
• The need to challenge and change unfit systems

Chapters

• 00:00 The Ones
• 06:20 Quiet Pilots and Strategic Leadership
• 12:14 Influence of Family and Personal Values
• 17:18 Passion for Intimate Apparel and Global Leadership
• 25:20 Leaving Target and Internal Struggles
• 31:39 Internal Disillusionment and Strategic Decision-Making
• 37:40 The Decision to Leave
• 49:08 Fostering LGBTQ+ Homelessness
• 01:00:46 Building Virtue
• 01:10:05 Challenging the Rules

Produced by Jon Tester

The conversation delves into Anila's journey with trichotillomania, a body-focused repetitive behavior, and the intersection of cultural expectations and self-image. Anila's courage and resilience are highlighted, along with the importance of awareness in addressing BFRBs and breaking the shame cycle. The conversation delves into the importance of awareness in behavior change, the methodology of love, strength, and awareness, the challenges of teaching entrepreneurship while navigating personal struggles, and the impact of emotional authenticity in entrepreneurship. It also explores the purpose of pain and finding meaning in suffering, as well as the journey of self-discovery and continuous learning. The themes of emotional authenticity and vulnerability as a form of currency in certain spaces are highlighted throughout the conversation.

Takeaways

• Body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) are common but often unknown mental health conditions
• The power of awareness in addressing BFRBs and breaking the shame cycle Awareness is the key to changing behavior
• Emotional authenticity and vulnerability can function as a form of currency in certain spaces

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding BFRBs and the Power of Awareness
• 35:18 Building Awareness for Behavior Change
• 40:22 Teaching Entrepreneurship and Personal Journey
• 46:52 Navigating Entrepreneurship and Personal Story
• 58:05 The Purpose of Pain and Finding Meaning in Suffering
• 01:07:42 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Learning

Produced by Jon Tester

The inaugural episode of 'Don't Tell Me What To Do' features Larissa Loden, the founder of Larissa Loden Jewelry. The conversation explores themes of autonomy, rebellion, and resilience in the context of entrepreneurship and personal growth. Larissa's journey as an entrepreneur and a mother sheds light on the challenges of balancing work and family, as well as the pressure to conform to traditional business norms. The discussion also delves into the value of authenticity, the impact of capitalism on entrepreneurialism, and the importance of unlearning the 'growth at all costs' mindset. Larissa's candid and no-nonsense approach to life and business sets the tone for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation.

Takeaways

• Autonomy
• Resilience

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Don't Tell Me What To Do
• 08:03 The World's Okayest Entrepreneur
• 17:23 The Value of an Organization
• 26:14 Unproductive Time and Self-Reflection
• 37:51 Rapid Fire Questionnaire

Produced by Jon Tester

Don’t Tell Me What to Do is a bold, thought-provoking podcast about power, systems, and the invisible rules shaping how we work and live. This isn’t another business podcast or self-help playbook. It’s a cultural interrogation of authority, conformity, and the structures we rarely question.

In this trailer, you’ll get a preview of what’s ahead: sharp conversations, candid insights, and honest reflections on the tension between ambition and expectation. Each episode is designed to give you language, clarity, and the confidence to challenge the systems you operate in, without the noise of corporate clichés or generic career advice.

Built for leaders, creators, and operators who know something feels off (but can’t quite name it) this podcast explores the deeper dynamics behind work, decision-making, and influence. Expect solo episodes, guest conversations, and short provocations that question the status quo and spark new ways of thinking.

If you’ve ever felt friction with authority, questioned the rules, or suspected the system might be the problem… you’re in the right place.

Subscribe now and be part of the conversation.