Mode To Joy

What does it take to build a legacy business? John B. Cruz, President and CEO of Cruz Companies, and his son Justin Cruz, COO, are the second and third generation of one of the largest Black-owned construction, real estate development and property management firms in the United States. Their story starts with founder John Bertie Cruz, a carpenter of Cape Verdean descent who started a business in 1948 Boston out of necessity, and why that decision changed the trajectory of a family and ultimately of a community.

Monica sits down with John and Justin to talk about their journey, what it means to work alongside family, why lasting success in construction comes in generations not quarters, and what it means to be committed to building something that uplifts others. It’s an inspiring conversation about perseverance, purpose-driven business, and what it looks like to build something not just for yourself, but for the people who come after you.

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What do the runways of Paris, a patient navigation center in Harlem, and the United Nations General Assembly have in common? For Felecia Webb, Chief Strategy Officer at the Partnership on AI, they are all chapters in one continuous mission: ensuring everyone has access to the opportunities that shape their future.

Monica sits down with Felecia to talk about her remarkable career pivot from Parsons-trained designer to global AI equity advocate, and what it took to walk away from 12 years at Ralph Lauren to pursue work that truly lit her up. They dig into what AI actually is, how to protect your ideas when using free AI systems, why you can be over-mentored and under-sponsored, and why this moment in the AI revolution might be your moment to try something bold.

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From luxury beauty to the Forbes CMO Hall of Fame, Marisa Thalberg has built one of the most dynamic and intentional marketing careers in the country. But what makes her story so compelling isn't the killer resume. It's the honest, winding, deeply human path she took to get to the top of her field.

In this episode, Monica sits down with Marisa for a conversation that covers leading with confidence and overcoming obstacles to succeed at the senior level, the cold gray New York City day she finally said yes to California and Taco Bell, what she learned about leading with empathy rather than intimidation when driving change in a resistant organization, and why she founded Executive Moms after one very telling new mommies lunch in New York City. She also shares the advice she'd give any ambitious professional starting out: the combination of genuine passion and the right attitude is more powerful than most people realize.

This one is for anyone who has ever stood at a fork in the road and wondered whether the leap was worth it. Spoiler alert: it usually is.

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What does it look like to commit 50 years to a sport, to win a National Championship, to play at the professional level, and to coach at elite universities? For Dave Esquer, head coach of Stanford Baseball, it looks like a life built entirely around creating community, caring deeply and bringing out the best in people.

In this episode of Mode to Joy, host Monica Lyle sits down with her dear college friend Dave Esquer, head coach of Stanford Baseball, for a warm, honest, and deeply inspiring conversation about leadership, culture, resilience, and what it really means to build something that lasts. From saving a program that was minutes away from being shut down forever at Cal to returning home as head coach at Stanford, Dave's story is such a compelling one. You don’t want to miss it. 

This is the kind of story that stays with you, and you won’t want to miss it.

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What does it look like to walk into a room where you're the only one who looks like you, face an industry that wasn't built for you, and respond not by shrinking but by building an entirely new table? For Yvette Lee Bowser, it looks like 40 years of pioneering, producing, and mentoring while committing to wake-in-joy every single morning.

In this episode, Monica sits down with her Stanford classmate and dear friend Yvette Lee Bowser, the award-winning writer, producer, and showrunner who created Living Single at 27 and became the first and youngest Black woman to create and run a prime time series.

Yvette opens up about turning frustration into fuel, why she believes art is a living archive that holds what memory cannot, and how she went from unpaid apprentice on A Different World to building a table big enough for the next generation of storytellers. She also shares her closing words, which might be the most Mode to Joy thing anyone has said on this podcast yet.

Embrace your why. Live in purpose. Wake up with joy. Make your mark.

For the full show notes, visit https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-yvette-lee-bowser 

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What happens when ever-increasing leadership roles, from Disney to Morningstar, bring you back to where it all began? For Liz Brigham, it looks like 26 years of making deposits into a vision she could not yet fully name, until one day a tweet changed everything.

In this episode, Monica sits down with her longtime friend and coaching client Liz Brigham, Executive Director for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Jay Hurt Hub at Davidson College.

Liz is a builder by nature and by calling, and this conversation is full of practical wisdom for anyone who leads people, builds teams, or is trying to figure out what their next move looks like.

She shares her framework for product marketing and leadership, her philosophy on feedback, and why she believes coaching will become the most critical managerial skill of the next decade. 

This insightful episode is a masterclass in building with intention.

For the full show notes, visit https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-liz-brigham

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• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode
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What happens when your “weird little hobby” turns into a community of 10 million followers, a James Beard Award, an Emmy, a Smithsonian feature, a university lecture circuit, a global following, and a debut book that hit number one on Amazon before it even came out? You get Alexis Nikole Nelson, also known as the Black Forager, and one of the most joyful, grounded, and trailblazing voices on the internet today.

In this episode, Monica sits down with her cousin Alexis for an honest, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation about foraging, content creation, and what it really looks like to build a career out of something that genuinely lights you up.

Alexis opens up about the pandemic TikTok post that started it all, the New York Times interview that made her realize she couldn't keep living a double life, why she turned down brand deals that didn't align with her values even when it cost her money, and how she built a different kind of success by leading with joy and curiosity every single day. She also gives us a peek inside her runaway hit of a debut book, “Happy Snacking Don’t Die,”

Equal parts heart, smarts, and humor, this one will make you want to go outside and pay attention to what's growing around you, and you just might grow in knowledge along the way.

For the full show notes, visit https://www.renewalfuel.com/modetojoy-alexis-nikole-nelson

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What does it mean to truly nourish the community? What does it take to grow a social good business from 100 meals a day to 30,000, become employee-owned, survive a pandemic on the front lines, and then launch a whole new nonprofit because the need is still not fully met? For Sheldon Lloyd, it looks like just another chapter.

In this episode, Monica sits down with her longtime friend and co-founder of City Fresh Foods, a Boston institution that has spent more than 30 years feeding seniors, school kids, and communities while quietly building generational wealth for the people who work there. Sheldon shares the real story behind the growth, including the bank that said no, the pandemic deliveries he made himself when drivers called out, and the Juneteenth moment when City Fresh became employee-owned. He also opens up about his new nonprofit venture, Family Fresh, a supper club model bringing healthy, dignified meals to community spaces for $5 or less.

If you have ever wondered what it looks like to let a mission carry you through 30-plus years of building something real, this one is for you.

For the full show notes, visit the full episode page on our website here.

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It started when Chris LaFranchi was six years old. His uncle dunked his head into a California tide pool, and a water world fascination began that day that ultimately led him to his current calling. Decades later, that moment of childhood wonder is the foundation of One Reef Worldwide Stewardship, a nonprofit he founded that partners directly with Indigenous Pacific Island communities across seven countries to protect coral reefs, preserve ancient cultures, and build resilience in the face of a changing climate.

In this episode, Monica sits down with Chris for a wide-ranging conversation about following a spark across a lifetime, what Pacific Island elders taught him about humility and conservation, and why helping other people succeed became his greatest source of energy. He also opens up about the very real challenges of building a nonprofit from scratch, including moments of inspiration and moments of self doubt and learning to unlearn everything his formal education had told him about solving problems.

If you have ever felt called toward something bigger than yourself and wondered whether you are the right person to pursue it, this one is for you.

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Follow Mode to Joy for new episodes wherever you listen to podcasts, and connect with us on Instagram @renewalfuel.

Join Monica Lyle and her guests for engaging and thought-provoking conversations on the Mode To Joy Podcast. These honest, open episodes will inspire you to lean into what you’re naturally good at, and help you discover ways to spark joy in your own life and career.