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

Here are a few ways to connect: 

• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode
• Follow Renewal Fuel on Instagram
• Connect with us on LinkedIn

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

Here are a few ways to connect:

• Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode
• Follow Renewal Fuel on Instagram
• Connect with us on LinkedIn

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.

Be sure to follow Mode to Joy for new episodes, and connect with us on Instagram @renewalfuel

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.

Connect

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.

What if a chance encounter changed the entire trajectory of your career and set you on an impassioned path to change the lives of others? For Cara Feldman Hunt, it did.

A conversation with a stranger building a nonprofit set Cara on a path she never could have planned and set her on a mission to change healthcare. Today she is the Director of the OSHER Center for Integrative Health at the University of Vermont, leading an initiative achieving reductions in ER visits, testifying at the state house, and working to make Vermont a living laboratory for what better healthcare can look like.

In this episode, Monica sits down with her dear friend to talk about her path to build something meaningful, why relationships and patience are the most underrated career tools, and what it really means to wake up every morning knowing your work matters. Cara also shares what she has learned after 18 years in the field and why she believes our healthcare system can and must change.

If you have ever felt called toward work that is bigger than a job title, this one is for you.

What if dreaming big brought you to the big stage? For Rodd Cyrus - now starring on Broadway as Harry Houdini in Ragtime – that means making his debut at the very theater he once made his lunch spot when studying across the street at Juilliard.

In this episode, Monica sits down with her longtime family friend for an honest, joyful and inspiring conversation about what it really takes to live the life of a working actor. While they discuss high times like cast albums, promos for the Tonys and parades – Rodd also opens up about the realities of winning and losing auditions, the importance of finding community with casts and colleagues and finding the quiet, fierce belief in himself that carries him through all the ups and downs along the way.

This one will motivate you. As Rodd inspires: dream big, protect your imagination, and always find the determination to get back on the saddle.

What if your first CEO job was running a 22-room hotel at age 15? For Eric Chernik, that's exactly where the adventure began.

In this episode, Monica sits down with her decades-long friend and former Stanford classmate Eric Chernik, seasoned CEO, connector, and strategist to trace the compelling path from young entrepreneur to corporate leader. Eric shares why as a CEO he prioritized people, how he unlocked career-defining opportunities, and why adventure is at the heart of his passion for life and informs his outlook.

You'll leave with a fresh perspective on building diverse teams, leading with transparency, and making your own luck, plus five unforgettable life rules from the person who shaped Eric most: his amazing mom.

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to lead a business and love your life, this one's for you.