Le vital corps Salon

Megan (aka Megz) has also been a friend and mentor. And as friends, we share a megaton of nerdy intersections.

Our conversation takes a winding path, from career talk to being vulnerable and creative. We start things off by talking about how she stumbled into UX Design. Our conversation then switches to showing up in life with raw honesty. With some more twists and turns, we dove into the importance of shedding all our BS and forming strong relationships with people. 

Feedback seems to be a recurring topic here in Le vital corps Salon. Megz and I dissected this topic a bit more in this episode too. Specifically, she shared how she survived some pretty cruel and devastating feedback. Also, she shares how to stand up to “idea bullies” in the workplace. Because Megz is a creative human, we talk about how she came to be known as the "Painting Lady" and the nourishing aspects of having a daily, habitual creative practice. 

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Megz:  Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
• Color with Purpose: An Unconventional Coloring Book for Remarkable Humans, Megan Atkinson (book)
• General Assembly
• Moose Lodge
• Detroit Free Press
• Listening Loudly
• When TED Lost Control of Its Crowd
• Little Miss Chatterbox (book)
• Coach Jennie
• Vincent Brathwaite
• Learning How To Learn, Barb Oakly and Barb Oakley on LvcS
• Amarilys Henderson
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Jingmai O’Connor. She's a professor at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and PaleoAnthropology (IVPP) in Beijing, China. After completing her PhD,  she moved to Beijing, where she has been working for the past 10 years. She became IVPP’s youngest full professor in 2015. Her research explores the evolution of flight in the Dinosauria, the dinosaur bird transition, and the biology of stem-avians (aka flying dinosaur birds). 

Jingmai is also an advocate for data sharing and equality in science. While we totally geek out on flying dinosaurs in this episode and other science-y topics, we also talk about dispelling misconceptions about living a life of science. 

Our conversation is a great example of how someone - like Jingmai - brings her whole self to work. We dig (pun somewhat intended) into fossil-finding and how moving to China was so important to her career as a paleontologist. We also explore highly transferable lessons from surviving academia, releasing the emotions from criticism/feedback, and how to handle confrontation and consequences. I really hope you dig this conversation with this “punk-rock” paleontologist. Remember, flying dinosaur birds. C’mon, that’s neato. 

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Jingmai:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
• Meet Jingmai O’Connor, The Punk Rock Paleontologist (article)
• Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Dr. Luis Chiappe
• University of Southern California
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
• Dr. Donald Prothero
• Occidental College
• Dr. Zhonghe Zhou at the IVPP
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aja believes that a successful community is not made up of individuals working separately, but of individuals working collaboratively on all fronts. Through her work at Good Work Institute, she helps to unite individuals, enabling them to come together and work for the greater good.  

Today we're going to talk about some of the things Good Work Institute (GWI) is doing like the creation of emerging models of organization. If that term is new to you, don’t worry we’ll get you up to speed. Also, Aja and I encourage you to explore this topic further if it piques your curiosity. We also talk about GWI’s mission towards just transition to help with a fair shift to an economy that is sustainable and equitable for all. 

As usual, we turn to personal development topics, too. Because while it’s important to talk about the big topics, it is equally important to understand how and why guests, like Aja, got to where they are today.  Aja shares about her journey to establishing her own identity (becoming more than “mom”), how she learned to lean on others even though she is fiercely independent, and how she set out to stop limiting herself and her collaborations in the workplace (a.k.a. shedding her workplace armor). 

We tackled so many topics in this episode! If you're curious, I encourage you to check out some of the work Aja and the team at GWI are doing.  

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Aja:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
• Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery
• Good Work Institute (GWI)
• Movement Generation (for just transitions)
• Evelyn Wright on LvcS
• Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman (book) 
• GWI’s Just Transition - Part 1
• Sustainable Economies Law Center
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In her previous roles as executive assistant for a major cannabis brand and as a compliance manager for Humboldt Brothers, a network of medical marijuana production firms in Northern California, she gained expertise in local regulation and state legislation. Seeking to unite her commitment to climate change and regenerative land management, she worked as a research and lab contributor assistant at Hudson Carbon before joining Hudson Hemp.

Inspired by a childhood spent on organic farms, Melany is motivated by the potential of cannabis as the future of food, fuel, fiber, and medicine. She brings a savvy and focus to her role as VP of Brand Development at Hudson Hemp and now Treaty. 

We geek out on farming, specifically regenerative agriculture. We talk about her roles at Hudson Hemp and Treaty, plus how she got involved working in the cannabis/hemp industry. We take on rituals and what benefits they create for her. Of course, we talk about cannabis - the industry as a whole, the various choices of cannabis for the consumer, and her contribution to shaping the cannabis space in New York State. If you were ever curious about the cannabis industry and how regenerative agriculture can help our planet, then you’re in for a treat.   

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Melany:  Website | LinkedIn | Instagram
• Treaty - Melany is offering a generous 20% promo for LvcS listeners. Use VITALCORPSWELLNESS when you checkout.
• One Fair
• Hudson Carbon
• Bard College
• Old Mud Creek Farm
• Stone House Grain Farm
• MoMa PS1 Exhibit
• Humboldt Brothers
• People Need People
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At her company, Sustainable Energy Economics, she consults on energy policy for local, state, and national governments as well as environmental organizations.

Evelyn is also the founder of a project here in the Hudson Valley called Commonwealth Hudson Valley. It’s a web publication promoting a more just, democratic, and sustainable economy in the Hudson Valley and beyond. She also serves on the board of the start-up Kingston Food Coop. She is the co-author of Cool Tools for Hot Topics, a resource guide for leading group processes. If that wasn’t enough cred, she has a PhD in Ecological Economics from Rensselaer. 

Evelyn shares a wealth of information when it comes to climate change and creating a sustainable economy, which are just two of the many reasons I invited her to join me in le salon. I learned a ton during our conversation and hope you do, too. 

We dig into climate change and energy policy work, specifically what it is and why it’s so very important to our world today (and for our future). Evelyn walks us through her work where she focuses on some of the what-ifs around carbon emissions. For example, what if we change future natural gas prices, future electric vehicle costs, and future solar costs at the same time? How do different combinations of those affect our energy system differently? Yes, she is asking the BIG questions...and answering them.

We also dive into another one of her passions, cooperative business models, and her desire to be part of solutions that affect (and hopefully boost) community. Of course, we tackle topics related to walking the line between burnout and growth, like cognitive differences, protecting yourself from the depression and grief about our world, and expanding your growing edges. 

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Evelyn: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
• One Fair
• Kyoto Protocol
• Commonwealth Hudson Valley | Their Overall Vision | On Coops | On Kingston Evergreen Project
• Alternatives to Hierarchy presented by Commonwealth Hudson Valley
• Earth Designs (Landscaping) Cooperative
• Good Work Institute
• Kingston Food Coop
• Repair Cafes
• New Economy Coalition
• Democracy Collaborative
• Katharine Hayhoe on LvcS
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susie's extensive experience in arts, museums, festivals, and heritage includes roles with Historic Royal Palaces, Artichoke, and Battersea Arts Centre. In 2016, she was producer of London’s Burning, a festival to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London, including London 1666, a 120-metre-long sculpture created by hundreds of young Londoners, which was spectacularly set alight on the River Thames. In 2018, Susie became a Commissioner of Historic England.

Susie and I talk about creating space and exploring the human impact of conflict through art. The irony of touching that last topic today on September 11th is not lost on me. It hits me in the feels and takes me back to a very sad, but life-changing, time in NYC for me.   

We also dive into Susie’s role at Imperial War Museums, because seriously, it’s an incredibly fascinating role and not entirely shocking that Susie's in it when you learn more about her zigs and zags. We also discuss the role of museums in the public space and as perspective builders. After all, we could all use a change in perspective sometimes, don’t you think?

Of course, we touch on topics related to burnout and living life on your own terms, like how to courageously say I don't know, mitigating over-stimulation by innate curiosity, and curiously meanadering. You’ll find out what all of that means when you listen to this episode. 

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Imperial War Museums: London, Churchill War Rooms, HMS Belfast, North, and Duxford
• Yemen: Inside a Crisis
• Aimee Gardner on LvcS
• Rebel Sounds Live at IWM
• London's Burning (2016 art installation/festival)
• David Mitchell:  “Trees're always a relief, after people.”
• Start with Why, Simon Sinek (book)
• Artichoke
• George Bernard Shaw: “You see things; and you say “Why?” But I dream things that never were; and I say “Why not?”
• Howard “Sandman” Sims at the Apollo Theater: Wiki | Video
• How to Turn Your Mindless Doodles Into Productivity Enhancers (article)
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like many women to grace this podcast, Patti is no stranger to burnout. She’s grown Awestruck Ciders as sole owner-operators with her partner and has been adding staff, ramping up production, and impressively increasing sales. Patti’s got some amazing insights from the experience. She’s even implemented a few anti-burnout “rules” that we’ll unpack. 

Blind spots at work aren’t often discussed. Today, we consider what they are and how to navigate them from Patti’s experience. In fact, blind spots led Patti to her realization that sometimes founders just don’t make the best CEOs. At points, she’s thought about walking out of her own company and opens up about that for us to learn.

Also, it’s easy to get caught up in clocking long hours at work like it’s a badge of honor. Yet, we fail to see how that badge of honor can be incredibly toxic to ourselves and the people around us. Towards the end of the episode, Patti shares with us how Awestruck is set to do some good, regenerative work. 

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Patti on social media: Website | Facebook | Instagram
• Butterfly peas
• Headspace
• Peter Drucker
• StrengthsFinder 2.0 - on Amazon list already
• Cliff Olin
• Michael Gibbore of Ascent Management Services
• Bullet Journal
• Malcolm Gladwell
• Good Work Institute and Matthew Stinchcomb
• Phantom stock
• Reynolds and Reynolds Taproom (in Woodstock)
• Tree Fruit Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University
• Kelly interviews Kara on LvcS
• Radio Kingston
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a distinguished legal career spanning more than two decades in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut, Krishna has joined Grace Farms Foundation. She has worked with global leaders and international organizations to identify ways to combat human trafficking in conflict as well as ways to create more transparency in global supply chains. This is part of her work at Unchain. 

Krishna came into my orbit when I went to see a talk she moderated at Grace Farms. Krishna is so generous with her knowledge of these complex issues in her various talks and in this episode, too. In this episode, we hear her story and dig deep into modern-day slavery. We look at awareness issues, what she is doing to combat them, and what we can do to take action. 

Krishna and I also discuss the divide between our consumption of goods in the North and how that correlates to modern-day slavery that is happening in countries in the southern hemisphere. We explore transparency - where it’s needed and how to create it. We unpack all of these massive, complex topics and look at how we can see this in our own lives.  

As you listen to this episode, I challenge you to look at how modern-day slavery is affected by our choices as consumers and look at the resources that Krishna has so generously given us.

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Krishna on social media: Grace Farms: Website | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn Unchain.org: Website | Facebook | Instagram
• 9/21/19: Combat sexual violence against women and girls in conflict zones with Dr. Denis Mukwege at Grace Farms
• Chelsea Collier on LvcS
• United Nations University
• WPP (advertising firm)
• Chocolate and Forced Labor
• Tony's Chocolonely and blockchain
• BMW cobalt sourcing
• BMW using blockchain
• UK Modern Slavery Act (2015)
• France’s Duty of Vigilance Act (2017)
• Australia’s Modern Slavery Act (2018)
• California’s Transparency in Supply Chains Act (2010)
• A new State Department report on human trafficking shows the growing focus, and pervasiveness, of the terrible trade
• Human trafficking in America among worst in world: report
• Project Drawdown: Website | Book
• 13th Amendment
• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies
• Sandy Hook shootings in Connecticut
• Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff (book)
• Buddhist Four Noble Truths
• Sapiens by Noah Harari (book)
• Tracey Crouch, former Minister of Loneliness in London
• Brené Brown
• Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
• Elie Wiesel Nobel Peace Prize speech
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carmen's story as a heretic and change agent at CIA is featured in Adam Grant's bestseller Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World. Carmen is passionate about many things, but namely intelligence analysis, strategic thinking, and the diversity of thought and innovation. 

In this episode, Carmen and I talk about the culture of the CIA and why she surprised many of her friends in the 80’s with her views. As the self-proclaimed “Analyst of Little Things,” Carmen breaks down what that means and how it has helped her in the world of intelligence analytics. We also talk about handling pushback when introducing new ideas and how to be an effective change agent, or rebel at work.  

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Carmen on social media: Website | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
• Rebels at Work: A Handbook for Leading Change from Within by Carmen Medina (book)
• RecoveringFed.com
• CIA site
• Georgetown University
• Creative Confidence by Tom Kelley (book)
• Ludwig Wittgenstein by Ray Monk (book)
• IDEO
• Dr. Amanda Sammann of The Better Lab
• Sharon Rowe (LvcS episode) of Eco-Bags Products, Inc.
• Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by Adam Grant (book)
• Intellipedia
• Five Nouns, Five Verbs for Leaders (blog post)
• My favorite phrase as a manager, “Wouldn’t it be fun?”
• SXSW - South By Southwest
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes, I unexpectedly bump into a guest at an event, conference, or randomly out in the world.  Other times, a friend, like Andrew over at the Sounds and Vision podcast, will suggest a guest because they know who or what will make me geek out - like today’s guest, Katharine.

Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist to some and a self-proclaimed Jezebel of climate change. Her research focuses on understanding what climate change means for people in the places where they actually live. (Breathe! She’ll describe what that means in this episode in a non-science-y way for us layfolks). As a first time beekeeper and lover of long walks in nature, climate change is definitely something I think (ok, worry) about on the regular. Katharine’s also the host of the PBS digital series Global Weirding. She's been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People and Fortune’s 50 world's greatest leaders. 

In this episode, we talk about climate change, including how it’s affecting those of us living in Northern America. We also talk about how we talk about any complex issue, like climate change, and what we can actually do to change it in our own unique ways. We talk about girl power (and the impact of daughters on their conservative dads). We chat about science-y and religious-y smokescreens, including how to recognize and dismantle them. We tackle toxic trolling and the toxic package of fear and loss. 

Selected link love + resources from the episode

• Connect with Katharine social media: Website
• Studies on climate change and mental health: UCSUSA Article | Alpha.org Article | EcoAmerica Article
• Katharine’s TED Talk on climate change 
• The Farady Institute for Science and Religion
• Global Weirding (YouTube series)
• Evie Sobczak (biofuel invention turns algae into fuel)
• Greta Thunberg 
• Project Drawdown: Website | Book
• Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, 3rd Edition: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships by Marshall Rosenberg (book)
• SkepticalScience.com
• Planet Stewards (formerly known as Climate Stewards)
• Years of Living Dangerously (TV series)
• Sounds and Vision podcast with Andrew Loog Oldham
• Photo credit: Ashley Rodgers
• Kickass Theme Music: “Things Are Getting Better” Written by Rishi Dhir. Performed by The High Dials.
• Stay in the loop about future Le vital corps Salon episodes or with Kara: Twitter | Instagram | The List (sent monthly-ish including helpful health + lifestyle information)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.