My guest today is Jessica Zucal.

Jessica is an organization system innovator and change enabler.  As a NeuroLeadership trained coach and Emotional Intelligence practitioner, she supports leaders in creating new mindsets that free them from inhibiting believe systems and helps them unlock greater leadership potential.

Jessica is the Director of Organization Change & Transformation at Evans Consulting and she serves as faculty in the Georgetown University’s Organizational Development Graduate Certificate Program.  Jessica identifies herself as an extreme animal lover and she’s trained to partner with horses for her coaching and leadership development programs.

Jess and I met several months ago through a work opportunity and during one of our meetings she mentioned something about an appointment for her cancer treatment.  It took me by surprise and was a poignant reminder that we never know what all is going on in someone’s life.

In our conversation today, Jess generously shares about her journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2024.  At the time of our recording it was almost one year exactly from when she learned she had cancer.  You’ll hear her reflections on how she’s engaged with this life disruption and has come to identify cancer as one of her greatest teachers.

Jess, thank you so much for this conversation.  Thank you for sharing these pieces of your journey.  Your ability to share the inner journey with us in your outer world is an incredible gift.  Your openness to growth and learning is inspirational and I hope you continue to share your story at any opportunity that comes your way!

If you’d like to learn more about Jess and her work, there’s a link to her LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-zucal-3323795/.

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My guest today is Louiza Kiritopoulos-Adams.

Louiza is an organizational psychologist and an executive, leadership development, and performance coach.  She has over 20 years of leadership experience across diverse industries and global markets.  She’s deeply passionate about unlocking human potential to create a lasting impact at both organizational and market levels.

Louiza and I met through the Georgetown University coaching program and her presence in my life has been an incredible gift ever since!

In our conversation today we dig into what it means to make life less difficult (from a variety of angles), the connection between our minds and bodies, the value of feedback – and which feedback to take in, which to let go, and really exploring who we are – truly are – as people.

Louiza, thank you for this inspiring conversation.  Thank you for capturing the heart of why I do this podcast and articulating it so well.  Thank you for the beautiful and gracious reminders to do the work to know ourselves.  And for the encouragement to show up, see each other with kindness, to give back and pay it forward, and find the enjoyment in life.

Connect with Louiza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louiza-kiritopoulos-adams/

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My guest today is Ravi Ram.

Ravi is a returning guest and I’m so grateful to have another conversation with him here on the podcast.  

Ravi's career and life are guided by his passion for helping others develop, feel a deep sense of connection and belonging, and have fun in the process. He finds meaning in being a source of warmth, energy, and inspiration for others, and his varied hobbies over the years—from playing tennis and the flute, to improv comedy, to yoga—reflect his ongoing commitment to living at the intersection of personal growth and joyful play. 

Ravi believes that each person has a unique and beautiful gift to offer the world and hopes that each of us can authentically pursue what makes us feel most alive.

In our conversation today we explore the pressure of making the right decision, how to respond when it feels like we’ve made the wrong decision, and how to embrace a posture of experimentation in life.  We talk about how creativity and curiosity are powerful antidotes to depression and anxiety, and the fear and excitement of starting or trying new things.

Ravi, thank you for another fantastic conversation.  Your transparent and authentic reflections are incredibly inspiring.  I’m so grateful to have you in my life and I look forward to more conversations!

To learn more about Ravi and the work he does in the world, you’ll find links below:

Ravi’s website: www.raviram.me

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravisram/

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My guest today is Shimrit Nativ.

Shimrit is a Success & Freedom Mentor, CEO and founder of Master Your Path Academy.

Having built a 6-figure business in a matter of months, when she first started out, with no prior experience, Shimrit is the perfect example of what's possible when you have a desire & drive to create a significant impact.

As a Transformational & Success Coach and Mindset Expert, Shimrit has helped hundreds of driven and creative individuals across the globe create and sustain a consistent baseline of confidence, success and fulfillment.

I our conversation today we talk about co-creating our collective reality, the mindset needed to move in this direction, and the skills one can strengthen to create the life you want.  One of the powerful ideas Shimrit shares is that “freedom of thought is a skill.”  I think this is so important and relevant for each of us as we consider how to make life less difficult for each other and for ourselves.

Shimrit, thank you for sharing your stories, reflections and wisdom with us here today.  Thank you for making the world a more fulfilling and freedom-filled place!

To learn more about Shimrit and the works she does, you’ll find links below:

Links

https://www.shimritnativ.com

https://www.instagram.com/shimritnativ/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/shimritnativ/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shimrit-nativ/?originalSubdomain=de

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_2lYEmKoB-UGJXosvVl0Og

Freebie: Free 3 day workshop  “All the way to the top” https://workshop.shimritnativ.com/allthewaytothetop

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My guest today is Kenny Leahman.

I first learned a piece of Kenny’s story from an article in Yahoo News with the headline: Retired CIA officer opens up about coming out as gay during ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ era: ‘I was terrified every single day.’

Immediately, I wanted to have Kenny on my podcast and today is the day I get to share our conversation with you!  We got to meet in person last year and I’ve learned more about Kenny’s story, his work of dropping cover – in the professional sense, in the sense of coming out as gay, and as you’ll hear, in other ways in life, for we all have things we choose to keep undercover.

Kenny is retired from the Central Intelligence Agency after a 24-year career.  He now is a coach, educator, and consultant who helps others discover what really matters by focusing on values-based living and leadership.  Kenny says, “Make choices based on what matters.  If it doesn’t matter, let it go.”

Kenny, thank you SO much for being part of my life and sharing these pieces of your story and life here on Make Life Less Difficult.  Your story is deeply impactful, your wisdom is poignant and prescient, and your vulnerability is inspirational.  

Kenny is offering a new workshop, Discover, Decide, and Do What Matters.  You’ll find links below to this workshop, Kenny’s website, and the article where I first read about him.

 Kenny's website: https://www.kennyleahman.com/

Article from YahooNews!

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My guest today is Seth Yelorda.

Seth has a decade of expertise as a leadership coach and organizational development consultant. His approach centers on clarifying vision, developing leadership skills, and fostering a transformative organizational culture. Seth is skilled in aligning team dynamics and programs to achieve optimal effectiveness and synergy. 

Seth and I first met in a personal development program almost 15 years ago.  As our paths reconnected a few months ago, it was awesome to hear about the work he’s doing in the world and learn some about his personal journey.  

In our conversation today, Seth shares pieces of his journey including the learning and transformation that has come from having a child with special needs.  He introduces us to this idea of building our soul muscle.  I love that and am inspired to do the sometimes-difficult work to build my soul muscle.  Seth has a clear vision for his life and is passionate about helping others find their vision.  You’ll hear the passion and inspiration in our conversation today!

Seth, thank you for joining me in this conversation.  Thank you for your authentic and passion-filled sharing, your wise reflections, and your powerful convictions.  I’m so glad to be reconnected with you!

To learn more about Seth and the work he does, you’ll find links in the show notes.

Seth’s website: https://visionclarityconsulting.com

Connect with Seth on LinkedIn

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My guest today is Anna Sparks.

Anna is a returning guest and it’s so great to get to talk with her again! Our previous conversations have been focused on books we read and discussed together.  If you haven’t listened to them, they are episodes 15 and 34, and we talk about the books Professional Troublemaker:The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones, and Unbound, A Woman's Guide to Power by Kasia Urbaniak.  Great books.  Great conversations!

This time, Anna agreed to return and share more of her own journey and reflections.  As you’ll hear, she’s got enough wisdom and insight to write her own book!

We talk about a variety of topics, but one of the things we get into is Adult Stage Development.  This is a fascinating model that looks how adults continue to develop in their ways of experiencing, reacting, and engaging in the world.  When I first learned about this model, it was life-changing!

Anna, thank you for coming back on the podcast!  Thank you for sharing these pieces of your journey, your reflections, and your wisdom.  I can’t wait for our next conversation!

To learn more about Anna and the work that she does, you’ll find links in the show notes.

Connect with Anna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-sparks/

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My guest today doesn’t really qualify as a guest, as much as a co-contributor.  Russ Watts has been regular guest, sharing stories, reflections, hosting conversations, and contributing in so many ways to making life less difficult.

Russ is a leadership coach, outdoor enthusiast, mountain adventurer and athlete, and dedicated father and husband.  He lives in Italy with his family.  Russ and I have been collaborating on storytelling workshops and retreats since 2019.

A number of weeks ago, Russ mentioned that he was contemplating pain as a teacher.  I immediately was interested in hearing more, especially knowing the times of extreme pain that Russ has experienced in his life with two life-threatening mountain incidents (check out episode 4 to hear those incredible stories!).

So, today’s conversation is a dive into pain.  While we often strive to avoid pain (and let me say, that certain pain is definitely to be avoided), there’s also pain that can indeed teach us, grow us, and transform us.  Sometimes this pain is physical and by choice (for example training for a long distance run or hike or other type of adventure), sometimes the pain is emotional and not by choice (loss, endings, disruptions, health scares).

Join us for the conversation today.  We certainly don’t have even a fraction of the answers, we just jump into the discovery process to see what can be brought to light.  If this topic interests you, we welcome you to reach out and join us for future conversations.

To learn more about Russ and the work he does, as well as our storytelling workshops and retreats, you’ll find links in the show notes.

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My guest today is Stephen Barry.

Stephen is a massage therapist living in the Nashville, Tennessee area.

Stephen is someone who I have wanted to have on the podcast for years, so it’s truly a delight to finally share this conversation here.

Stephen originally connected with me after I was on a podcast called Everyone’s Agnostic.  We had a number of things in common including our upbringing in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  And stepping away from that faith community.  Stephen also recognized my last name and asked if I was related to Doug Tilstra.  My father-in-law, Doug Tilstra, had been one of his professors in university and, as you’ll hear in Stephen’s story, has remained a prominent friend and support to him.

In our conversation today, Stephen shares pieces of his story of leaving religion, coming out as gay, nearly giving up on life, and re-finding community, faith, and love.  Embedded in this is an amazing story of friendship and making life less difficult for each other.

Stephen, thank you so very much for this conversation.  I feel so grateful to be connected.  Thank you for sharing your stories with authenticity, vulnerability, love, and compassion.  You make the world a better place!

If you’d like to connect with Stephen, you’ll find links below.

https://www.facebook.com/barryorchestra

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My guest today is Gai Ben Dor.

Gai is a leadership development and change management expert, coach, and facilitator who works with leaders and organizations worldwide. He is an international keynote speaker specializing in leadership and excellence.

Gai has a fascinating story – well, many fascinating stories, really.  I was fortunate to meet Gai through the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching network and before we even talked th first time, I was hoping he’d say yes to being on the podcast!  

One piece of Gai’s story is that he participated in the Marathon Race at the Beijing Paralympic Games as a guide for a blind runner and later led him on a journey through the Himalayas toward Mount Everest. He is also a social entrepreneur, having founded several social enterprises focused on education, sports, and the integration of people with disabilities.

With a background as a lawyer and accountant, he brings a diverse perspective to leadership, transformation, and personal growth.

Today, Gai is part of KONU, an international consulting firm specializing in leadership development and change management.

Gai, thank you for this wonderful conversation. Thank you for sharing these pieces of your journey and story.  Thank you for your reflections, your wisdom, and your inspiration.  I’m so grateful to know you and host this episode!

To learn more about Gai, find links to his Ted talk and more here:

 Connect with Gai:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaibendor/
• Gai's Website: https://www.gaibendor.com/en
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaibendor/
• TEDx Talk link: https://youtu.be/goiyLgCzgSI?si=XZ_GC2e4x_ovIziw

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