Life's Essential Ingredients

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C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #34 Iris Grimm is coming from Atlanta, GA (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Iris via her website irisgrimm.com

About our guest: Iris grew up in East Germany. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, Iris moved to West Germany to attend college where she received a BS degree in Business Management and Communication from the University of Applied Sciences in Mainz. 

Iris dreamed of living abroad, and in 1995, to took flight to work in Atlanta, Georgia. After five years spent in unfulfilling jobs, Iris launched her journey into professional coaching and has not looked back.

For over 22 years, Iris has learned to use a variety of coaching approaches, techniques, and tools. Iris has studied diverse topics – such as -  leadership development, emotional intelligence, emotional competence, neuroscience, advanced communication, personal growth, public presentation skills, mindfulness, happiness – you name it. Iris is an avid learner, not only for her growth and leadership development but for that of the people she serves.

Iris, thanks for jumping on that plane back in 1995 and for continuing to challenge yourself to be the best you can be.   Iris, welcome to the show!

TOTD – “Our task must be to free ourselves … by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” – Albert Einstein                                                                                                                   

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

I know you like to challenge yourself… talk about the tough mudder experience and then let’s talk about your improv experience…

I know you love being out in nature… what do you love and how have you incorporated that space into what you do to help people play to their strengths?

What got you into coaching, leadership, podcasting…

Love the Tedx talk, congrats.  What was the highlight, how much prep went into getting ready, how good did it feel when you walked on and off the stage?

LOVE DOG GONE LEADERSHIP…. What is the gist of that course?

Emotional Competence – an 8 session curriculum…what were the highlights of that program?

Last book or books you recommend?

Legacy 

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #33 Jim Salvucci is coming from Newburgh, NY (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Jim via his website guidanceforgreatness.com and On Leading with Greatness (blog/podcast): jimsalvucci.substack.com

About our guest: Jim's career spans over 30 years, much of which was as a college administrator.  His goal was always to help set higher education and its institutions on a more successful path.  He helped leaders at every level to become their best selves and to cultivate the best in others by refocusing on the organization's mission.

After seeing the increased need for this kind of specialized thinking and support in the corporate world, Jim moved into the corporate arena where he offers his experience and commitment to leaders and emerging leaders.

Jim, thanks for your years of dedication to all your students and staff and thanks for sharing your many gifts with the world.   Jim, Welcome to the show!

TOTD – “The range of what we think and do is limited by what we fail to notice.   And because we fail to notice that we fail to notice, there is little we can do to change; until we notice how failing to notice shapes our thoughts and deeds.”

                                                                                                                                   RD Laing

In this episode:

I know you are a huge Bob Dylan fan… tell me about how that came about…

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

What got you into coaching, leadership, podcasting…

The power of synchronicity… stress, immune system, oxytocin….

Self-awareness

Too much information…how do you help your clients filer what is important and what they can delegate?  Eisenhower Matrix

Why is being flexible and open to change so important?

Great coaches and mentors…

What do you love about reading?

Last book or books you recommend?

Values that define you?

Decision making – any tips for helping people not waste energy…

Enhancing the skill of giving and receiving feedback… how do you do that for your clients

Dealing with Burnout 

Legacy 

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #32 Edward Miskie is coming from New York City (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find via his website edwardmiskie.com and Instagram @edwardmiskie

About our guest:

Edward is an actor, author, producer, singer, songwriter, and someone yet to be defined.  Edward is a sole survivor of a rare cancer and tells his life story in his book "Cancer, Musical Theatre, and Other Chronic Illnesses.”

Edward’s story is a fantasy, non-fiction, funny-as-cancer-can-be musical theatre fever dream fueled by chemo, alcohol, sex, & heartbreak. Edward navigates his way through the painful realities of being a full-time cancer patient - indecencies, heartbreaks, wins, shenanigans & more. 

Edward is a creative who is constantly finding new ways to express who he is and to bring humor, love, insight, passion, talent, and inspiration to all.  Edward, thanks for sharing your many gifts and talents and for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients.  Welcome to the show!

TOTD – “I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch, which I've got held up for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

                                                                                                              George Bernard Shaw

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

Originally from Lebanon?

The importance of family…

How did you get into acting?

Congrats on writing your book, what was the inspiration.  How good did it feel to get the artists proof?

What was life like before cancer and what was life like after?   

Support allowing yourself to receive it as well as providing it…

Talented singer… listened to HUNGRY… enjoyed it!

How have the arts shaped who you are today?  

Self-doubt…

Being where your hands are… the importance of being in the moment 

Legacy 

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #31 Michelle DeKeyser is coming from Franklin, Wisconsin (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Michelle via her website: connectingmamas.com (great site with an incredible blog…)

About our guest: Michelle is a wife and mom of three kids who participated in various mom groups, ran a few, even joined some book clubs, but envisioned something different as she found herself looking around still wondering what did she like to do that didn’t involve the kid’s activities. As she worked to discover her own passions, she realized that there is no one size fits all program, but the true key to figuring out your passion and making your goals happen is finding connection in a supportive environment. 

 Michelle envisions connecting mamas by building a support system to remove the loneliness and isolation that can be felt in motherhood. She holds a MA in education, spent 8 years in the classroom, and traveled around the world for 13 months before starting her own family and becoming a stay-at-home mom. 

 Michelle, thanks for dedicating your life to help mother’s and families all over the world and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients – welcome to the show!

 TOTD – “To put the world in order we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”           Confucius

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

 In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

What do you love about Wisconsin?

The importance of family…

Family meals…

The importance of self-awareness and self-love…

Legacy 

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #38 Kyle Gillette is coming from Lynden, Washington (inform, inspire, & transform) 

You can find Kyle via his website blueshirtcoaching.com and blueshirtcoaching.com/podcast

About our guest: Kyle is the founder and CEO of Blue Shirt Coaching. His mission is to help leaders shift their mindsets and habits to become the leaders they are meant to be. After running four different businesses and seeing two of them succeed, Kyle knows what it’s like to have businesses fail and succeed. Kyle has been a small business coach to dozens of companies and ran a men’s mentoring program for three years. He believes that every company should have a culture of accountability and growth with self-aware leaders who empower their teams. 

Kyle, thanks for sharing your many gifts with the world and for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients.   Welcome to the show!

TOTD –“Life is an exciting business, and most exciting when it is lived for others." - Helen Keller                                                                                                 

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

Congrats on your businesses –What is the one thing you would share  (a lesson learned so to say) with a listener who is thinking about starting a new business?

What got you into coaching?

(I know this is part of your BLUE acronym but this question has to do with your personal development…The importance of self awareness and when did you develop it and how to you help your clients develop it?

Please share a success story that just fills your heart with love!

What is a blue leader?

People who have helped you along your journey…

Books you love to read and recommend

The people in your circle and the influence they have in your life… 

ROLES – finding our way…

Accountability

Process of growth and development?

Tips for developing a specific part of your game?

Legacy 

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #30 Katja Schleicher is coming from The Netherlands 

You can find via her website katjaschleicher.com

About our guest: With three languages, two passports and a European heart, Katja travels across borders constantly to bring people and ideas closer through communication. She speaks at conferences about communicative misunderstandings and how to initiate change through communication. Known for her provocative style and her sense of humor on stage she looks deeper into our communication troubles – and is not afraid to talk about them.

Katja has degrees in both German and English in Language, Literature, Linguistics, and Psychology.  For more than a decade Katja has passionately crafted her style and has shared her gifts with clients all over the world.  Katja, thanks for helping many people communicate more effectively and thanks for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients.   Welcome to the show! 

TOTD – “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink… although, you can make it thirsty.”  Unknown

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

What is intercultural communication?

The importance of transparency?

Flexibility in how you deliver information/meet…having the right format for the right purpose

The importance of reading the room 

How important is LISTENING

What is the process for becoming a speaker?

Last book or books you recommend?

Enhancing the skill of giving and receiving feedback… how do you do that for your clients

Legacy 

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 BONUS Episode James Roberts III is coming from Vacaville, California (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find James via Instagram @jamesr_4l

About our guest:  James is a student-athlete and senior starting guard on the 13-5 Vacaville Boys Basketball team.  A few words to describe James: hooper, healer, inspirer, bucket filler, hope dealer, influencer, believer, brother, son, friend, communicator, team player, good dancer, dedicated, hard worker, and someone undefined. 

Words his teammates use to describe James – adaptable, passionate, coachable, versatile. 

Coach Duane Kaman states, James is a senior guard that is a fearless, blue collar player.  He is dependable, consistent, and coachable.  He leads our defense and provides whatever the team needs on a daily basis while never complaining.  James is a great team player with plenty of skill to play all positions.   We are blessed to have him on the team.

James, thanks for sharing your many talents with your family, your team, your teammates, Vacaville High School, and the greater Vacaville community.   Welcome to the show.

TOTD – “Humility is not thinking less of yourself.  It’s thinking of yourself less.”  C.S. Lewis

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

 In this episode:

Getting to Know James

Text from James mother:

Take your pick:  Warriors or Lakers, 49ers or Raiders, Giants or A’s.  

Hamburger or hot dog, Mexican food or Italian, sweet or savory, and finally… best pizza in Vacaville?

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

Something most people might not know about you?

How do you like to spend your free time?

Go to when you are hungry?

Steven Spielberg calls you and says, James, I want to make a SUPERHERO movie about you and want to know who should be cast in your role, what are your superpowers and what do you stand for?

Hero 

Highlight

Hardship

 Basketball

You are on the bus to Reno and the bus breaks down:  who on your team is going to fix it, who on your team is going to cook the food, and who will provide the entertainment?

Any pregame ritual?

Toughest place to play

Best player you ever played against

Biggest difference between James as a soph vs. senior

What do you love most about being on a team?

What ingredients do you bring to your team?

What ingredients could be added to allow your team to play to it’s full potential?

What do you need to play to your full potential.

What does it feel like running out of the locker room in front of a packed house, when the lights turn off and you hear your name in the starting line up?

What actions did you take and do you continue to take to make that happen.

What does the Wood vs. Vacaville game mean? 

What do you most appreciate about Coach Kaman?

 Future Plans

Plans for the future?

Dental School

College Basketball  

Advice for a parent or young person listening?

Last thing you listened to, read, witnessed … that “took your breath away”, made you really stop and think?

Legacy  -  John Alston quote then…When the final buzzer sounds and you realize your hs career is over, what do you want to feel in your heart and what do you want to leave behind.

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #29 Dr. Kevin Gazzara is coming from Phoenix, Arizona (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Kevin via his website www.magnaleadership.com, [email protected], https://magnaleader.co/GIFT

About our guest:

In 2007, Kevin departed the corporate world with two of his colleagues to start Magna Leadership Solutions - a management and leadership consulting firm.  Kevin has more than 30 years of management, leadership, organizational development, and teaching experience in industries spanning from heavy equipment to high tech.  Kevin is a professor at 6 different universities and is the co-author of The Leader of OZ: Revealing the 101 Secrets of Marvelous Leadership for the 21st Century.  

Kevin’s development of the Task Quotient (his dissertation for his PhD), gained him the  “Future HR Leader” award from Human Capital magazine and for the past 20+ years, Kevin and his team have been helping people find their purpose and engage with their work so that they can develop, acquire, and be in a state FLOW.   We will discuss FLOW in greater detail throughout this episode.

Kevin, thanks for developing your many gifts and for having the courage to stand tall and share them with the world.   Welcome to the show!

TOTD – “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”  Lao Tzu

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

The new PQ program

Task Quotient (TQ)..flow and getting balance to keep motivated and engaged….increases motivation, empowerment, and engagement…

Doing vs. Delegating? Am I restricting personal or professional development by me doing it vs. allowing someone else the opportunity to develop?

Task Types…assessment tool…raise satisfaction…

Developing your leadership passion… engineering people to be there best… was there an inspiration early in your career…

The importance of context in application to challenges, layoffs, leadership, learning…

Personal Growth and Development.. to bring and add value to your skill set and therefore, your company…

Growth Mindset…

BECOME IRREPLACEABLE…TODAY IS THE DAY TO THINK WHAT IS NEXT…creativity and innovation…

Chat GPT…thoughts and the potential to replacing jobs…. How do we adapt to bring value…

Team work and how do you teach it…
What is leadership? 

Legacy 

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #28 Richard Friesen is coming from San Jose, California 

You can find Richard via his website https://conversations.money and https://conversations.money/gift

About our guest:

Richard works with professionals and business leaders who want to increase their personal effectiveness with joy and grace. His neuroscience-based Mind Muscles™ model gives his clients the opportunity to reach their goals with online training, simulations, interactive exercises, group support, and real-time decision processes.

Richard has been a broker, floor trader, and built and sold a successful options trading firm and financial software company. He is also the inventor of ten significant trading interface patents. This combined with his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and neuroscience focus, brings a unique framework to business, investing, and career success.

Richard is also the author of “A Private Conversation with Money” the book observes the main character “Joe” dealing with conflicts, self-sabotage, and belief systems around money and wealth.

 Richard, thanks for sharing your countless gifts with the world and for being our guest on Life’s Essential Ingredients.   Welcome to the show.

 TOTD – ““Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.”                                                                                                                       EPICTETUS

Build a habit - to create intention - to live your purpose!

 In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

Congrats on your book…what was the highlight of writing it?  Experience the 10 keys to financial freedom…

Decision making – real time decision processes and long-term decision making…let’s explore…

Great coaches and mentors…

Let’s talk about self-awareness and agency…

RAS and visualization…

What is Joy and Happiness?

Last book or books you recommend?

Legacy 

Send us Fan Mail

C4 Leaders – the ONLY nonprofit to utilize the pizza making process to create space for our companions to be seen, heard, and loved.   We also write children’s books, host this podcast, and use the most amazing handmade, hand-tossed, sourdough pizza to bring out the best in each other.   Please check out PIZZADAYS.ORG to support our important work. 

Season 3 Episode #27 is Dan Clouser is coming from Colorado (inform, inspire, & transform)

You can find Dan via his website https://danclouser.com

About our guest: Baseball was one of Dan’s first loves.   He played growing up and when his playing career was over, he needed to find a way to stay involved with the game.  So Dan founded and ran a nonprofit youth sports organization called the BIG Vision Foundation, which for the next 30 years would consume his life.  Dan coached teams, ran tournaments and was in charge of a 130 acre sports complex.  Dan loved every second of that life until he didn’t.  In 2019 Dan had a calling from God and knew he was being called for a different purpose.

The calling, according to Dan, sounded crazy, but it was destined to happen… Dan sold most of his material possessions, loaded up his wife dog and hit the road to see what life had instore.

Dan thanks for having the courage to take a leap of faith, thanks for spending much of your youth – investing in the lives of young people, and most importantly, for sharing your many gifts with the world.   Dan, welcome to the show. 

TOTD – “My life is my message.”  Reporter asking Gandhi to describe his work…

In this episode:

What was life like growing up?

What are your life’s essential ingredients?

What is life like living in an RV?

What do you love about the game of baseball?  Teaching, coaching, leading…

The importance of family…speak to how your time with family is different now that you live on the road…

Book – The Journey of My Mother’s Son, The Beauty of a Diamond, and Four Paws and Six Wheels Across America – great blog about your journey…congrats and how did you get started in writing?

PODCAST – The Journey of My Mother’s Son… Many Little People, Many Little Places 

The Chance Meeting of People and the GIFTS we receive when we are present to receive them…

What is Freedom?

Legacy