Jazzed About Work

On this episode, guest host Tom Hodson talks with career coach Bev Jones about what it actually takes to feel jazzed about the work you are doing. Tom and Bev explore the elements of an engaging work life, like a sense of purpose, tasks and activities that are satisfying, and opportunities to talk and do things with people you like and respect.

Shoreen Maghame knows how to help people communicate in effective, strategic ways. She began her professional life as a broadcast and print journalist, and at a young age she found herself with a front row seat at the O.J. Simpson trial. Shoreen’s experience reporting on high profile stories was the foundation of her current role as a communications strategist and coach for major corporations. Now at global PR firm Burson-Marsteller, she teaches clients how to build credibility, how to handle crises, how to protect reputations and how to get their messages across in a highly competitive marketplace.

Professor Geoff Dabelko recently was awarded the prestigious Al-Moumin Award for Environmental Peacebuilding. Throughout his groundbreaking career, Geoff has been showing security and environmental groups how their objectives are often the same.  On this episode, he explains how tensions over shared or limited resources can be an opportunity for promoting peace and collaboration, rather than simply a trigger for more conflict.

Toby Haberkorn is a certified job search strategist and an experienced, savvy recruiter. And on this episode she’ll answer some of our questions about just what those headhunters may be looking for.

Columnist and broadcaster Clarence Page is one of the nation’s most insightful and respected commentators. When Clarence won the prestigious 2018 Kiplinger Award for distinguished lifetime contributions to journalism, the judges said that he has distinguished himself in every medium in a rapidly changing news environment, tackling the thorniest issues with good humor and humility.

Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Gretchen Dietrich climbed the ranks to become Commander of a Medical Support Squadron, located at NATO headquarters. Then she went to Washington, proud to be one of the leaders engaged in transforming the delivery of health services for military personnel and their families.

The Foster Harris House is a lovely little inn, in the Virginia wine country. For the new owner, Klaus Peters, running the House is a post-retirement labor of love.

But Klaus started his career in hospitality at the bottom, as a 14-year-old kitchen apprentice. Eventually he worked his way up to a waiter’s job, and at age 18 he answered an ad to become a waiter at a Texas hotel.

But then – once he learned to “treat everybody like a Somebody” – Klaus’ career took off and he was managing a resort at the age of 26.

On this episode, Klaus talks about how to empower your career by treating other people with respect.

Austin Belcak loves his job in New York City at Microsoft, where he manages digital advertising projects. But what’s attracting more public attention is his side gig as a job search expert. What Austin does through his firm, Cultivate Culture, is help recent grads to use “unconventional strategies” to snag jobs at leading tech companies -- just like he did.

Yvette McGee Brown was the first African American woman Justice on The Ohio Supreme Court. Today, after years in public service, Justice Brown is a prominent attorney in private practice at the firm Jones Day, in Columbus, Ohio.

But her path to success wasn’t always easy. Little Yvette was born Ohio to a single, teenaged mother whose goal was just to get Yvette through high school without getting pregnant. Her mother insisted that Yvette learn to type, so she would always have a job.

On today’s episode, Justice Brown talks with guest host, and retired Judge, Tom Hodson about the keys to her success. Her career has been empowered by mentors, role models, listening to a broad range of people, and a willingness to take up challenges.

Journalist John McCaslin covered the White House and Congress for three decades, as a syndicated columnist, top radio host, and prominent TV news show personality.

Noting John’s knack for uncovering political shenanigans, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos declared: “John McCaslin knows everything you always wanted to know about Washington but were afraid to ask.” 

On this Jazzed About Work episode, John talks with Bev about his media career, from the peak of Washington journalism, to his current gig as a small town newspaper editor.

Along with fascinating stories, John shares his concerns about the current state of newspapers. And he offers tips for journalists who may be just starting out in today’s rapidly evolving multi-media industry.