My guest today is Dan Henderson.

Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and ICF-credentialed coach with nearly three decades of experience in high-growth software and technology companies. As the founder of Gravity Insights, Dan leverages his extensive background to provide leadership coaching and consulting services, guiding business leaders through complex transitions and critical transactions. His unique blend of practical experience and formal training enables him to offer insightful and actionable advice tailored to the nuanced challenges faced by today's executives.

Throughout his career, Dan has held pivotal roles, including founding executive positions, leading global mergers and acquisitions, and spending half a dozen years as an early-stage venture capital investor at Virginia Venture Partners where he invested in startups that went on to achieve valuations in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Today Dan’s passion is nurturing the growth of other business leaders with the compassion and understanding that comes from having walked in their shoes.

Outside of work, Dan volunteers as a business advisor. He is an accomplished musician, playing fiddle and singing in an award-winning bluegrass band, Pictrola, which performs regularly at music festivals, concert venues, and performing arts centers.  Dan lives in northern Virginia with his wife, two daughters, two dogs, and a menagerie of other pets.

In our conversation today, Dan shares pieces of his story of learning about ADHD, what it meant to learn about his own ADHD as an adult, and how he has come to help others with ADHD to better understand their brains.

Dan, thank you for this great conversation!  Thank you for sharing these pieces of your story and journey.  Thank you for sharing the wisdom you have developed.  You have helped me understand things about my brain that have made a huge positive impact and I know that many others could say similar things!

You’ll find links in the show notes to learn more about Dan and the work he does in the world!

Learn more about Dan and his work: https://www.gravityinsightsgroup.com/
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-henderson-33164/

Books mentioned in our conversation:

• Your Brain's Not Broken by Tamara Rosier
• The ADHD Effect on Marriage by Melissa Orlov
• Brain Hacks by Lara Honos-Webb

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My guest today is Annie Peguero.

Annie is on a mission to help leaders transform fear into confidence and lead with balance and purpose. An adoptee, former federal law enforcement officer and military spouse, Annie’s journey has taken her from navigating her own identity and reinvention to her decades-long work of empowering leaders worldwide to embrace authenticity and resilience. She has lived across the U.S., Italy, and Japan, and her work draws from global perspectives and lived experiences.

Annie is a Georgetown-trained executive leadership coach, and the creator of the B.R.A.V.E. Framework and founder of The Lion’s Garden Academy, a neuroscience-based method for leadership development and personal growth. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Fear Alchemy which equips leaders with the tools to navigate fear and uncertainty with clarity and courage for greater impact.

Annie holds a BS in Special Education, a Master’s in Park Resource Management, several certifications from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and a certification in executive leadership coaching. A lifelong learner and wellness advocate, Annie is committed to empowering leaders to find alignment and brave expansion on the other side of fear in their personal and professional lives. She lives in Northern Virginia with her retired Marine husband and two daughters and loves outdoor adventures, alcohol-free living and impromptu dance parties in the kitchen.

Annie is also an amazing storyteller and we first got connected through the telling of stories.  You’ll hear about that story in a minute, as well as other inspiring stories of Annie’s life.

Annie, thank you for this wonderful conversation.  Thank you for your bravery, your stories, your reflections, and your wisdom.  I love the connection with you, the discovery in this conversation, and hope for many more conversations and stories in the future!

Connect with Annie:

• Annie's Website: https://www.thelionsgarden.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniepeguero/
• Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lions-garden/id1412692951

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My guest today is Megan Broker.

Megan is an executive coach whose mission is to empower leaders to enhance their self-awareness and influence, enabling them to drive greater effectiveness and positive change. With a career spanning nearly three decades marked by award-winning corporate roles within the telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and consulting sectors, Megan has solidified her reputation as a beacon of guidance and transformation.

Megan’s superpower is quickly establishing rapport and resonating deeply with those she encounters. Throughout her career, she has exemplified her dedication to guiding others toward a meaningful alignment with their values and igniting their inner compasses to lead purposeful lives.

Megan is the author of the book, The Pause Effect: Now you can Lead and Belong. In her book she does a beautiful job of weaving together lessons she learned from starting a blended family into leadership lessons at work.  The connections are masterful and relatable at so many levels!

Megan lives with her husband in Colorado. She is a proud mother and stepmother, whose journey continues to unfold amidst the enchanting complexities of blended families. Through these experiences she embraces both the joys and challenges, perpetually discovering the magic in the messiness of life’s intricate tapestry.

Megan, thank you for this beautiful conversation.  From the first moments of meeting you, I knew conversations with you would be personal, meaningful, and thought-provoking.  I’m grateful for the reflections and wisdom you share and hope for many more conversations in the future!

You can find links to Megan’s website and book below.

Megan’s Website: https://www.meganbrokerconsulting.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-broker/

Book: The Pause Effect

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My guest today is John Burdock.

John is the Executive Art Direction for JannPaul Diamonds.  He also works closely with the CEO in diamond research and development.

This conversation is a very special one to me, as John is also my oldest nephew.  He is the third of my nieces and nephews to be a guest on the podcast and I always love having these conversations and learning from the next generation in my family.

In our conversation today, John shares about his journey of learning about his brain and working to better understand his emotions.  He shares how he learned about his OCD and has found and created strategies to help him manage obsessive thoughts and anxiety.  This is hard work and we talk about the difficulty of understanding our brains and emotions so that we can better manage our thoughts and feelings so that we can choose more helpful behaviors rather than being controlled by reflexive reactions.

One of the books John mentions is You are Not Your Brain by Drs. Jeffrey Schwartz and Rebecca Gladding.  I’ve included a link in the show notes in case you want to check that out.

I’ve also included links to John’s YouTube Channel where he has almost 10,000 subscribers and a couple of tutorials, one of which has been watched nearly 272,000 times. 

John, thank you for this great conversation!  Thank you for sharing these pieces of your story and journey.  Your ability to articulate what you experience and discover is of great help to many people and I’m extremely proud of you and grateful to be your aunt!

John's YouTube Channel, Epic J Creations: https://www.youtube.com/@EpicJCreations

Popular Tutorials:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpjKwQkgc8c
• https://youtu.be/f1t7bC4_Nto?si=EQ-mnH53odVyBPcm

Book: You are Not Your Brain by Drs. Jeffrey Schwartz & Rebecca Gladding

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My guest today is Adela Warkentin.

Adela is a certified executive coach dedicated to empowering leaders through a holistic and transformative approach.  Her work is rooted in a passion for helping others lead with intention and integrity, making a meaningful difference in both their personal and professional lives.

Adela focuses on authenticity, self-awareness, and impactful leadership.  She guides clients in discovering and leveraging their strengths and through her 360-degree exploration process, she helps clients unlock their full potential, fostering growth in confidence, mindfulness, and influence.  

Originally from Montenegro, and currently living in Germany, Adela has had many international experiences and found growth through the challenges of these transitions as well as career transitions.

We talk about these transitions in our conversation today, as well as the beautiful privilege of experiencing the full spectrum of emotions as humans.  This idea really stood out to me as sometimes I don’t appreciate the full spectrum of my emotions, but truly, they are a gift.  Adela also shares this amazing inspiration: “We are, as human beings, much stronger than we think we are and we don’t give ourselves credit.”  If you are going through a challenging time, I hope you will find encouragement and hope, knowing you are much stronger than you likely give yourself credit for!

Adela, thank you for sharing these pieces of your story.  Thank you for your insight and energy, your enthusiasm for a full and fulfilling life! You are an inspiration and I look forward to future conversations with you!

You’ll find links below to learn more about Adela and her work and to contact her.

Links:

Website: https://www.adelawarkentin.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adela-warkentin/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adelawarkentin/

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Hey Friends!  It's episode 200!  I can hardly believe it!  I'm so incredibly grateful for this journey, for all of my guests, and for all of my listeners!  I love doing this podcast, having these conversations, and am a better person because of this experience and journey!

The Make Life Less Difficult podcast has been listened to in 134 countries!  I love this global reach and all my listeners and guests from so many places around the world!

In this episode, I share some of the stories that prompted me to create this podcast, how stories have impacted my life -- both hearing others' stories and sharing my own, and the philosophy that underlies this work that I do.

I'm also starting something new: I have a "Buy Me a Coffee" page.  This is a way to support this work if you feel so inclined.  I do not want to engage ads or paywalls for this content.  That being said, it takes a lot of time and financial investment to support this podcast and I would be grateful for any contributions to support this work!

Here's a link for supporting in this way: https://buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

If you have not yet been a guest and would like to be, please reach out!  If you have been a guest and want to come back -- please reach out!  

I am so looking forward to the next 200+ episodes and conversations!

With so much love and gratitude,
Lisa

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My guest today is Dr. Wencke Meteling.

Wencke is a leadership coach with a unique blend of passion, creativity, and energy that uplifts everyone around her. Wencke draws from an impressive background—spanning continents and disciplines—to bring depth and vision to her coaching practice. With over 15 years of academic research, teaching, and leadership experience in institutions across Germany, the UK, and the US, Wencke brings a wealth of insight into the power of historical perspective and the courage to lead authentically.

In our conversation today, Wencke shares pieces of her journey that include a transition from academia and being a historian to a distressing diagnosis of breast cancer – both an incredible disruptor of her life and a door to new directions and purpose.  Wencke is now dedicated to helping others find purpose and potential.  She coaches one-on-one and in teams or groups, often in the setting of nature and immersive farm retreats, partnering with horses.  If you have not heard of Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL), you are in for a treat, as Wencke shares her own journey of learning from equine partners and how she now creates those spaces for others.

Wencke, thank you for this amazing conversation.  Thank you for sharing these pieces of your story, the reflections of learning you have done – and continue to do – and your wisdom for pursuing and creating the path that truly brings you joy!

Please check out the links below to learn more about Wencke and the work she does in the world.  You’ll also find a link to watch her video for the song you’ll hear toward the end of our conversation.


Here’s a link to Wencke's song & video:

https://vimeo.com/1026142964

Roseanna Stanton and Wencke's website (Fairbrooke Farm is near Gaithersburg, MD):

https://www.connectwitheightwire.com/

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wencke-meteling-256836290/

Gus’ home: Leighton Farm alias Thoroughbred Placement Resources, Upper Marlboro, MD,:

https://goodhorse.org/

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Welcome to an episode that’s a bit different.  Today, there are four of us talking and sharing experiences from the perspective of Foreign Service life – mainly as spouses and one contractor.  

If you happened to listen to episode 162 which was about fitness, you may recognize these amazing women – Hillery Midkiff, Susie Csorsz Brown, and Morgan Loosli.  

The four of us all met while living and working Sri Lanka, starting back in 2020.  At this point, I am now living in the US, Hillery and Susie are still in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Morgan and her family are living in Shanghai.

We recorded this conversation in the spring of 2024, and it got lost in my folders, so hence the delay in publication.  As I listened to it recently, I appreciated the stories and decided it needed to be released into the wild!

IF you are not connected with the Foreign Service, a warning that there are a number of acronyms that you will hear and likely not understand.  The most frequent one is probably EFM which stands for Eligible Family Member – the term given to spouses and children who are considered dependents of Foreign Service Officers.  Susie, Morgan, and I are in the role of EFMs.  Hillery is a contracted officer and her husband is an EFM.  Other than that, I think you’ll be able to follow just fine despite the other acronyms.

We are talking about careers, finding professional fulfillment, and unique challenges that are associated with living and moving internationally.  Sometimes in countries where we have permission to work in the local economy, and sometimes in countries where we do not have permission to work locally.  A certain number of jobs exist at our US Embassies and Consulates that are specific for EFM employment – Susie and Morgan will share about some of their experiences in those positions.  I have chosen to develop my own business and have also worked on a part-time basis as a trainer for the Foreign Service Institute, the training center for the US Department of State.  

Susie, Morgan, Hillery – thank you for this conversation.  Thanks for sharing the ups and downs and realities of this interesting life we live.  I’m super grateful for your friendships and how we stay connected across the globe!  (And quick note that Hillery does indeed drop the F bomb at one point in our conversation, so it’s marked explicit.  She’ll appreciate the shoutout for that.  You are welcome, Hillery!!)

And with that, let me turn this over to our conversation that is graciously hosted by Susie.

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My guest today is Mary Seals.  

Mary is an Administrative Assistance for the non-profit, Capitalize for Good.  She has a degree in psychology, is a fellow Foreign Service spouse, an accomplished dog trainer, and mother of 4 wonderful children.

Mary was a guest on episode 114, sharing about her family’s amazing Giant Schnauzer, Pax.  If you haven’t listened to that conversation, you will definitely want to add it to your podcast queue!

When Mary told the story of Pax, it was a story of transformation – transforming from being “not a dog person” at all to being a “total dog person”, grateful for the transformation Pax brought to her family, as well as many others through her work as a therapy dog.

In today’s conversation, Mary shares another story of transformation.  This time about transforming from being a member of a close-knit faith community to stepping away from that very faith community.

Religious and faith communities can bring amazing good into our lives and at times, amazing pain and disappointment.  Unraveling our belief systems and structures is not an easy task.  Having had a similar journey myself, I’m so grateful for Mary sharing these pieces of her journey with us today.

Mary, thank you for coming back on the podcast.  Thank you for sharing courageously – for living courageously!  You are an inspiration and your willingness to share the questions, the difficulties, the steps, the transformation will inspire many others as well.

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My guests today are Kerri and Steve Boone.

Kerri is a registered nurse and a certified health coach, and Steve is the CEO of Wilkins Medical Group.  They live in east Tennessee.

My connection with Kerri and Steve is through the beautiful expansion of our family, as one of my nieces married one of their sons a year and a half ago.

You’ll hear more about our meeting and surprising point of connection in our conversation, but in short, after several superficial interactions, Kerri and Steve and I connected deeply through shared experiences of loss and grief.

I do a lot of work in storytelling and this entire podcast is built on the belief that we connect through our stories and that hearing other people share their stories can make life a little less difficult – knowing we aren’t alone.  Despite this foundational and core belief that I hold, I continue to be surprised at the unexpected connections that arise – such as this one with Kerri and Steve.

At times people will ask me, does it always need to be a sad story?  One of loss or grief?  No, absolutely not, and I love telling and hearing funny stories as well.  There is the reality, however, that it’s more difficult to share our stories of pain, so when we do and we connect with someone else who understands our pain, that creates a deep resonance in us as humans.

I say all that because this conversation is such a beautiful reflection of it all – why I started this podcast, why I tell my story, and why I invite others to share their stories.  While it doesn’t fix things, while it doesn’t take the pain away when there’s pain, sharing does indeed make life a little less difficult.  

And Kerri and Steve are committed to sharing their story of loss and grief with others as a way to connect, support, and encourage their fellow sojourners on this journey of life.

Kerri and Steve – thank you!  Thank you for sharing these pieces of your story.  Thank you for sharing the reflections and transformations you have experienced along with the pain and grief.  Thank you for your generosity and desire to be present with others, whatever they might be going through.  I’m grateful for this connection.

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