Welcome back to the latest episode of Humans of Authenticity with the first Australian guest on this channel. Andrew Gosbell is the Chair of Each, a for-purpose organization delivering health and support services that improve lives and strengthen communities, and an Advisor at the Associations Forum (Australia).

'Compassion' is a big word, so rather than defining what it means, Annie Storey shared with me what 'compassion' looks like in her path in this episode of Humans of Authenticity.

This is a fun episode that contains two 'firsts' for me. Yingxi (Cimo) Chen is the first scientist on my channel. She is a cancer researcher and health equity advocate. She serves as a commissioner at the Montgomery County Commission on Health, working with underserved communities facing health vulnerabilities. She is a good friend, and I love our chit-chat every time, so I decided to invite her to this channel. This is also the first time I have delved deeper into the realm of DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) on this platform. I am not a DEI practitioner, and I've been trying to expose myself to this practice over the last few years. As a learner, I believe that the positive experience that Cimo shares is the exact reason why we should promote and practice DEI much more. As a wise person* said to me once, 'It's not just diversity of demographics. It's the diversity of ideas that we need to embrace.'

We discussed Cimo's experiences navigating different cultures and advocating for health equity. I admire her passion and dedication to bridging health disparities. I also appreciate her scientist's mind as she articulates different building blocks of 'respect.' I hope this episode gives you some excellent food for thought, as it did for me.

* That is Justin Ponder from Uplifting Impact: https://www.upliftingimpact.com/about

As the first episode this year, I'm sharing a new perspective I would love to hear more often - whimsy.

In this episode, I speak with psychologist and speaker Nabil El-Ghoroury on his whimsical approach to life and work. The conversation also reflects on the power of courage and a robust support network. Beyond personal narratives, Nabil shares valuable insights on the positive effects of being whimsical in a professional workspace.

00:00 Welcome

00:50 Nabil El-Ghoroury

02:23 Living with courage

06:42 Fear and risk-taking

08:20 The power of a support network in risk-taking

09:53 Diversity in decision making

10:29 Whimsical

12:05 Finding whimsy in professional life

14:25 Whimsical expression and childhood influence

19:35 The struggle of authenticity and whimsy

20:30 The catalyst for change

23:11 The power of authenticity in professional life

23:38 Nurturing whimsical ideas in a professional context

25:21 Balancing whimsy and professionalism

29:01 Impact of whimsy in leadership

32:56 Looking forward: goals and whimsy

36:46 Whimsy in grief

38:08 Final thoughts

As we approach the end of 2023, I am thrilled to share with you the 10th episode of Humans of Authenticity, featuring Maunda Land, MBA, CMP, CAE, as we explore the topic of 'Happiness'.

Maunda Land is a well-known figure in our community, originally from Michigan, who is passionate about empowering people from underrepresented communities to achieve their goals. In this episode, we delve into Maunda's life journey, career, values, and her insights on happiness. We also got a sneak peek of her daughter's book 'I am Happy', which you can now purchase at https://www.hannahishappy.com/.

During our conversation, we discuss the significance of setting ambitious goals, having a positive attitude, and believing in oneself to accomplish them. We also highlight the importance of embracing happiness at every stage of life and share a strategy to clear our minds of the distractions of everyday life so we can enjoy happiness every step of the way.

I hope this episode brings you joy as we wrap up 2023. Thank you for your continued support and for following Humans of Authenticity. I look forward to sharing more episodes with you in 2024.

A first on Humans of Authenticity, I'm so honored to have a United States Marine Corps veteran Carlos Cardenas, CAE sharing his story with me on this episode.

Born and raised in Chicago's Little Village, Carlos takes us through his cultural roots, sharing the impact of his upbringing in a vibrant immigrant community. From there, we delve into his transformative experience as a United States Marine during 9/11, exploring the discipline, challenges, and personal growth that shaped him.

In this episode of the Humans of Authenticity, I invited Janice Haskins, PhD, a DELP friend, to share her journey towards embracing her identity at different professional and personal points. From self-discovery to leadership experiences, Janice talks about her family's role in her walk toward becoming a more confident and genuine person, significantly inspired by her daughter. This podcast episode delves into meaningful conversations around building trust, setting personal and professional goals, and the importance of feedback for personal growth, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their leadership skills. Furthermore, Janice emphasizes the importance of prioritizing humanity over business in leadership roles, revealing her underlying mantra of viewing her team members as whole human beings.

In the 7th episode with my DELP friend, April Tone, we discussed how we approach failure and success to broaden our perspectives and prepare for what's ahead. Three things stood out to me in this episode, but I'll admit that I'm biased since I was a part of it.

The 6th episode of Humans of Authenticity is here. I can't believe I'm halfway through the first season of this production. Thank you so much for your support, subscription to this newsletter, and tuning into my channel. Which platform are you listening to this episode on today?

Let me know in the comments. Joining us today is Shan Haugabrook, one of the DELP Scholars in my class this year. This is one of those short and sweet episodes that just hit the right spot for me. We looked at another layer of communication, in addition to insights from Danielle's comment on culture and Jourdie's on the intention of messages. This time, we look at the art of listening in communication. Are you listening to understand? Are you listening to respond? I have so much to work on this.

The other thing I love about this episode - and I'm biased- is that Shan was very open to sharing both her strong will and fragile side. For this, I'm so grateful.

Now it's your turn. Enjoy the conversation today, and thank you again for your support. It means the world to us.