Embark

Tired of the news cycle? Sick of the constant drip, drip, drip of downbeat information?

So are we, so Jack and I decided less news media consumption, more turning up the volume and indulging our passion for listening to music.

We couldn't help but watch the State of the Union Address, though.  We wander into political territory, before going to the happy place of sharing favorite bands, and wondering if Rock 'n Roll is still a thing. If it's not, is it time to re-think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?  Broaden the tent to encompass all genres? I like that idea. It feels democratic, and  since I embrace all kinds of music, it seems right.

We also talk about altered states, aka cosmetic surgery. Many celebrities are doing an about face on their old - er, former - faces, with mixed results. What do you think?

Also, in light of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, there is incredible need and ways for your to help. Check your local consulates to donate in-kind items like blankets, tents, jackets, diapers, hats, gloves and other clothing.

You can also donate to unicefusa.org or https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org.
Thank you. 


Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Reach out at  [email protected].

Thanks for listening.

You have two ears and one mouth, so you probably listen twice as much as you talk.
Nah, not even close. Most of us, in fact, don't know how to listen. We've never really been taught.

Can we learn  how to listen?

Glad you asked. We have a listening expert, a PhD in Listening. Okay, she's a PhD in Communications.  Dr. Laura Janusik wasn't always a great listener. She thought she was smarter than whoever was talking, and uncomfortable with lulls in the conversation was a 'filler-inner." Like most of us. She got over it, though and so can we.

Our conversation covers text and subtext, what respectful listening is and why you don't need to agree to just listen and understand.

Laura Janusik one of the world’s leading experts in teaching and training listening is  a dynamic trainer, researcher, speaker, coach, and consultant, 

She uses her MBA and PhD in Communication to help coaches listen well, hear more, and change lives. Her approach to communication, both oral and written, is practical and other-centered. 

Past president of the International Listening Association, Laura is published both nationally and internationally. Her research and ideas are cited in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and US News and World Report. Read more here.

How's your year going? Jack has dubbed the month of January 'the Monday of the year', and it's feeling that way with the crazy shenanigans going on in the House of Representatives, secret documents unearthed in garages and tell-all bios by whiny Royals. Although we not-so-secretly crave a crown of our own. (I'm polishing mine now.)

Jack and I do find  silver linings, and cock-eyed optimists that we are, share admiration for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin and gratitude for his remarkable recovery from cardiac arrest his suffered two weeks ago. It's always a win when we all come together to rally behind someone. 

We also talk about the power of awe, the wonder we find in nature, people we admire, the miracle of birth. Those things that put our lives and perspective. A reminder we are not the center of the earth but part of something greater than ourselves.

All the same, we think y'all are pretty great. 

Send in your comments, ideas and feedback at  [email protected].

Thanks for listening.

Now that most of us are remote, there's a whole lot of writing going on. Emails, social posts, newsletters, web content.  Writing, or at least good writing, is something many of us find difficult.  Erin Lebacqz is here and guides us  to show up as our best selves, on paper(or screen),  at least.

We talk about why conciseness and clarity matter, and how how you can convey a respectful, empathetic message to people, regardless of their beliefs, background, educational level and experiences.  Why verbs can be a communicators best friend, and how to use them to best effect.

Hear about writing intelligence, which is much like emotional intelligence, but with, you know, written words.  In other words, Erin shares how we can come across and a caring expert who responds to the reader's needs.

About Erin:

Author and international educator Erin Lebacqz helps you write with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence. Erin’s curriculum and book, High-Value Writing, capture Erin’s 25 years of experience working with business and academic writers around the world. 

Erin’s interactive sessions engage learners in purposeful discussions that respect their desire for intellectual growth while also providing practical strategies learners can immediately apply in the workplace. 

You can learn more about Erin’s instructional style through her videos on her YouTube channel: High-Value Writing.

Connect with Erin on LinkedIn

The lights! The decorations! The presents! The throw down at the dinner table.

Ah, the holidays. They can be joyous occasions to spend with family. Or, they can be emotional landmines, filled with resentment, competition and angry exchanges over a difference of opinion.

Before you walk out in a huff -- before dessert hits the table, no less - let's take five, or ten to compose ourselves. Jack and I discuss some of the pitfalls of family get togethers, and hopefully share some ways to prepare yourself to face your nearest and dearest. 

You might surprise yourself with your self-control, diplomacy and actual love you have for those weirdos you call family.  Let's make nice and make merry.

If all else fails, Jack is here for you to provide emotional support and holiday wisdom.

Happy Holidays!

Our phones are ubiquitous. I mean, we don't leave home without them. So, let's use them for more real time conversations?

My guest, Mary Jane Copps has some answers and also some compelling reasons to reach out and touch someone: Just call them on the phone.


Mary Jane, also known as MJ or to her many followers, The Phone Lady has shown hundreds of professionals how to use the phone to ramp up their business. Recently a cohort of her clients experienced mind-boggling close rates of 30 percent. 

In this episode, MJ provides compassionate insight on why our conversation (or lack thereof) has become so uncivil. She also  shares how we can listen, even when we really don't understand another person. That giving attention is not only a way to show respect, but show love.

Read one of her recent articles HERE.

No matter what platform or mode she chooses to communicate: email, phone, in person or text, MJ  delivers a message that is memorable, effective and moves people to action.  

Did your personality change as a result of the Covid pandemic?  According to an October article in the New York Times, possibly. 

Whether the changes are long-term or permanent remain to be seen, but there's no denying the events of the last almost three years has affected our behaviors.

Jack and I talk about what some of those long term changes mean, the high cost of college tuition and what one university is doing about it, the long road to adulthood and why nominees for the  2024 presidential campaign are not set in stone.

Tis the season to be thankful, and Jack Monson and I get there, eventually. In the meantime, we talk about passive-aggressive greetings and faux concern, a new season of Yellowstone,  and a yearning for more humor in advertising and culture.

What are we grateful for? Well, Thanksgiving, for one, Mel Brooks,  Nick Kroll and really good pizza. In fact, Jack suggests we add a brand new holiday following this week's feast in  honor of  our favorite doughy treat.

Orrin helps frustrated and overwhelmed entrepreneurs understand how they create their beliefs and emotions, so that they can change them in order to fuel high performance behaviour and massively increase their results

His expertise lies in the fields of Personal Development, Faith and Work, Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) and Emotional Intelligence.

We talk about how the stories we grow up with about ourselves influence our self-perception and sense of agency, what leadership looks like, and how to lead ourselves to influence others.

YouTube Orrin Lieuwen
LinkedIn Orrin Lieuwen
Facebook Lionheart Leadership
Instagram @lionheartleadership
TikTok @lionheartleadership

Social Joey Radio's Jack Monson and I once again talk about our differences on the political front, but form a united front on our shared disdain of Reality TV.  Our conversation soon leads to a political discussion and how the media magnifies the bad behavior of politicians. As usual, we have different takes on the attack of Paul Pelosi, our preferred midterm elections outcomes and our take on current circumstances as we see it. We agree way too much is spent on getting people elected, and not enough on the people those would-be leaders are supposed to represent. 

Know someone you disagree with? Start a conversation, get curious and listen. We're with you. Let's embark on what unites us.