Flip the Tortilla

Phoebe Atkinson, clinician, positive psychology expert, and co-facilitator of Women's Leadership Program at Rutgers, shares how we can increase our ability to connect with others in the workplace. Genuine connection fosters new ways to gain valuable mentors. While this can feel intimidating, knowledge and practice can turn you into a maestro of mentoring!

Disclosure: I love Oofos recovery shoes. I sought out Darren Brown, their Head Of Marketing to learn more about what makes this company and their products so amazing. Not only do they make shoes that make you say "aaah" they give back in a big way. If you know about Oofos, you know. If not, I hope you can take a moment to learn about how passion wins.

Being an "adult" can suck the sense of play and creativity out of us! Samantha Lomow, CEO of Playworks! has successfully led major change efforts at companies like Foot Locker and Hasbro. She shares valuable lessons on the importance of play and creativity in our careers and how we can get back to leveraging our inner child.

Best friends, Allie and Elle, are in their early 30's, have wildly successful careers, and are balancing the demands of families and motherhood. Allie has held positions at Modern Work and Security, Microsoft, and Mastercard. Elle is an attorney who worked in the Obama administration and was featured in the book, Yes She Can: 10 Stories of Hope & Change from Young Female Staffers of the Obama White House. She now works at a major pharmaceutical company. Together they talk candidly about confidence, careers, and choices and share some great insights!

From professional dancer to C-suite leader and expert in health tech, Alissa Hsu-Lynch is an accomplished executive and a master at creating new possibilities. Alissa has held management positions at J&J, Google, and Bausch Health and is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. She shares invaluable lessons on how to grow a portfolio career by growing your skills and creating new options.

Kat is one of those people that epitomizes resilience and determination. The first to attend college in her family, Kat overcame tremendous barriers to gain an impressive education at some of the best schools in the country. After earning great success at several large healthcare companies, Kat co-founded Artemis Factor, a highly successful project management firm that partners with life sciences companies.

I was recently watching Tik Tok videos about macro dieting and stumbled upon Aurora Cristiano ("Bicep Blonde"). Aurora decided she wanted to get healthier, and while raising a small child and managing a professional career, she lost 35 pounds and competed in her first professional bodybuilding competition. Her approach intrigued me, and I wanted to share her insights on transformation with you. I think you will enjoy this "Flip the Tortilla" story!

You are in for a real treat with this episode! Dr. Groppel talks with us about how to be more healthy (and happy). Dr. Groppel is a global expert in the field of human performance and served as the co-founder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles and books, most notably The Corporate Athlete. Dr. Groppel was recently inducted into the USTPA Hall of Fame. He role models what he teaches and shares how he climbed Kilimanjaro after a bilateral knee replacement.

In January 2023, Sandra Velasquez went on Shark Tank and pitched Nopalera, her line of skin care products derived from nopal, the prickly- pear cactus. Velasquez, who is of Mexican heritage and has a background in sales, wanted to create a brand that celebrates her Latino heritage while creating clean, sustainable products. She started the business out of her Brooklyn apartment in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sandra received an offer from one of the Sharks but turned it down. Today, Nopalera (www.nopalera.co) is thriving and is valued in the double-digit millions. She bet it all on her vision and abilities to build an inspiring, thriving business. Lots of great lessons in this episode!

Flip the Tortilla is back after an unexpected four-month hiatus! After undergoing a routine knee replacement in March, Denice woke up in the hospital with some complications, including a pulmonary embolism and excruciating pain from a herniated disc. Denice talks about her journey through unrelenting pain, uncertainty, moments of despair, and the incredible power of meditation, breathing exercises, and positive thinking in her recovery, She hopes her learnings can help anyone that is experiencing mental and/or physical pain. We are all in this together!