More Than Work

For the first time on More Than Work, the podcast is doing a feed drop! This means that another podcast is dropping into this feed. Welcome Creativity Found podcast! The host and creator of Creativity found interviewed the host of More Than Work, Rabiah Coon, and that episode is featured here this week. We get into a few things I don’t get to dive into much like why I started comedy, where my creativity stems from and why I started this podcast! 

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

I have enjoyed meeting and getting to know Claire over the past year or more. She has a special podcast that gives a lot of inspiration and it was an honor to be her guest. I am glad to share this episode with you and will be back with a regular interview next week!

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Find Claire and Rabiah

Creativity Found: creativityfound.co.uk

Rabiah Coon: https://www.rabiahsaid.com 

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Mentioned in this episode:

New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

This week’s guest is Liz Benditt, founder of The Balm Box and part-time professor at the University of Kansas.

She earned her undergraduate degree in Broadcast Film Communications. Following school, Liz worked at Disney before pursing her MBA at to USC. During her career, she has worked for major retailers and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Four cancer diagnoses and recoveries over the course of 8 years launched her company. After receiving gifts that were well-intentioned but not useful, she wondered if other people felt the same. Though the idea came to Liz back in 2017 but it wasn’t until the pandemic that she had time to explore it. In 2020, The Balm Box launched. The unique site provides shoppers with practical gifting options for cancer patients. 

Throughout her life Liz has also been involved in her community but in 2016, her political advocacy started after the election of Donald Trump. In 2017, in response to a school superintendent’s view of the safety pin movement, Liz and others founded Education First Shawnee Mission, and advocacy group for her local school district. She’ll also be on the board of the National Charity League.

Hear about where she found her positivity in adversity and more in this episode. She also shares advice on self-advocacy regarding health and otherwise.

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

I say it a lot but I’m really fortunate to get the chance to speak with the people I do while creating More Than Work. Liz is an extraordinary woman. There are many gifting website that people can visit of course but not all have been created so thoughtfully. After seeing close friends and family go through cancer and thinking of what I could do to help, I can say a site like hers is invaluable. We chat about service and her community involvement politically and otherwise. We also delve into acknowledging our own privilege. Lastly, as someone who has had to advocate for my health, I am truly inspired by how she has fought so hard for hers. Liz is so honest and grounded and I hope you love listening as much as I did.

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Find Liz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBalmBox  

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/BoxBalm  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balm-box-llc/ 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Hallmark: https://www.hallmark.com/ 

National Charity League: https://www.nationalcharityleague.org/ 

Education First Shawnee Mission: https://educationfirstshawneemission.org/ 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

Tragic SCOTUS Ruling on Roe v Wade

Help those impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

This week’s guest is Andrew Taban, school board candidate and activist.

Andrew grew up in Santa Clarita, CA, a community north of Los Angeles. Some may recognize it as the home of Magic Mountain. He is now running for William S Hart Union School District Trustee Area 2.

Andrew’s participation in his community started at age 13. He became an activist in response to school budget cuts taking away the chance for kids to take part in a promotion ceremony from junior high to high school.

In high school worked in the GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) and joined board of PFLAG. He has worked as an education advocate and youth-based non-profits including Lifeworks in Los Angeles which is part of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. We talk about all of this work and how he was impacted by the homeless youth who had come out and has helped facilitate conversations with parents.

During State Assembly person Christy Smith’s term, Andrew worked as the education liaison in the State Assembly. His current platform for his school board campaign is three-pronged focusing on representation, funding and student wellness.

Learn more about Andrew and may spark your own activism along the way!

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

It’s Pride Month and I’m very proud to have had the chance to speak with Andrew for this episode. He is one of the people I thought of when I started the podcast because he has been so authentic in how he lives his life and pursues his goals since that first day. This episode is also my way of honoring the LGBTQIA+ this month which is very important to me. Happy pride. 

At the top of the show, you’ll hear a pre-roll which indicates I support a woman’s right to choose. I do, wholeheartedly. The decision made by SCOTUS last week was appalling and is scary. I stand 100% in opposition to it and was proud to participate in the project to add this pre-roll in support of women to my podcast. Thank you to Arielle Nissenblatt from Squadcast for thinking of this and getting the project started.

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Find Andrew

Website: https://www.andrewtaban.com/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndrewTabanCA 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewtaban.ca/ 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Christy Smith: https://www.christyforcongress.org/ 

PFLAG: https://pflag.org/ 

LifeWorks : https://lifeworksla.org/

Betty White: https://www.facebook.com/bettymwhite 

Dolly Parton: https://dollyparton.com/ 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

Tragic SCOTUS Ruling on Roe v Wade

Help those impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

This week’s guest is Martin Henson, activist and Executive Director of the BMEN Foundation, an organization that is focused on providing community and support for issues specific to black men.

The founding of BMEN came out of looking at the way men in general were responding to MeToo and the need for a conversation that focused on the experience of black men and the subjects of consent, experiencing sexual harm themselves and holistically looking at the new landscape. 

BMEN has strived to be inclusive of all black men doing work to make sure that the conversation isn’t just around the heteronormative experiences but also work with the queer and transgender community. 

Martin earned his Master’s degree in counselling and did that as a practice before moving into activism. We discuss why he made that transition in this episode. For a while, he was an activist with Black Lives Matter and then moved on to practice more restorative justice.

Growing up in the church had a huge impact in how was taught to treat other people. His father was a pastor. He also went to community centres and his mom currently runs one. Stepdad taught him to be of service and also about black history. We talk about navigating his upbringing in the South and in churches to come together with his values now.

In this chat, we also discuss how self-care plays a big role for Martin as he engages in emotionally difficult work. Don’t miss this episode.

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

Martin Henson is a world shaker. He has taken his skills as a counselor, his life experiences and his interest in justice and equality and brought them together into the organization he founded. His life is filled with leaning into difficult conversations for the greater good. In editing and listening back, I was again inspired by him and I am proud to share his message and grateful he shared it with me.

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Find Martin

Martin’s Website: https://www.martinhspeaks.com/

Martin’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/tillwefree

Martin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-henson-06325b63/ 

BMEN Foundation: https://bmenfoundation.org/ 

BMEN Twitter: https://twitter.com/BMENFoundation

BMEN Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BMENfoundation/ 

BMEN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BMENFoundation/ 

BMEN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmen-foundation/ 

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Mentioned in this episode:

Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesmatter.com/ 

Transgender Emergency Fund: https://transemergencyfund.org/ 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

Tragic SCOTUS Ruling on Roe v Wade

Help those impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

This week’s guest is writer, actor and comedian, Philip Simon.

Philip started out as an actor, attending the Guildford Theatre School before landing his first professional gig in a commercial. After a long run as Daddy Pig in a staged puppetry production of Peppa Pig, he decided it was time for a change and enrolled in a course at The Comedy School in London.

On the stage performing standup comedy is where Philip feels immense joy. We chat about his work and also the sudden impact of COVID lockdowns on performers. While unable to entertain audiences in person, the father of two acted as head teacher for his kids and also created “School’s Out Comedy Club”, an online comedy program for kids. Out of that came a kids’ comedy book and the opportunity to give back. Profits from book sales go to the charity FareShare which fights against hunger in the UK.

Philip also teaches sex education in Jewish schools and hosts the podcast “Jew Talkin’ To Me” with fellow stand up comic Rachel Creeger. He’ll be at Edinburgh Fringe this year with two shows so check out the details below. You’ll want to find out where to watch him after listening to this one!

Note from Rabiah (Host):

I have to admit, editing this one was not easy. Sometimes I spend a lot of time reflecting on what a guest said. Sometimes I even cry. In this case, I did a lot of laughing! I am always grateful to my guests for taking the time to share stories about themselves and to listeners for taking the time to hear them. For me, it was particularly important timing for me to listen to someone talk about loving comedy the way Philip does. It was also a lot of fun. Let me know what guests resonate with you or what joke you heard that you like best!

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Find Philip

Website: www.philipsimon.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilipsComedy/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilipsComedy/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@philipscomedy

Jew Talkin’ To Me: https://pod.link/1519680527

Kids’ Joke Book: philipsimon.co.uk/shop

School’s Out Comedy Club at Edinburgh Fringe: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/school-s-out-comedy-club

Jew-o-Rama at Edinburgh Fringe: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/jew-o-rama

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Comedy School (Camden): https://thecomedyschool.com/

Joe Bor: http://www.joebor.co.uk/

FareShare: https://fareshare.org.uk/

Rachel Creeger: https://www.rachelcreeger.com/

Marcus Rashford: https://www.instagram.com/marcusrashford

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

Tragic SCOTUS Ruling on Roe v Wade

Help those impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

This week’s guest is Antonella Pisani, CEO and Founder of Eyeful Media.

Antonella started out as a web developer and moved into marketing roles working in e-commerce at ProFlowers, Guitar Center, JC Penney and Fossil gaining experience in all aspects of digital marketing.

After 20 years working at large companies, Antonella took a year off to travel to places she could have never gone to while working full-time. When she returned, she went into part-time consulting for Dallas-based Peacock Alley. From there, Eyeful Media was born!

Antonella spoke about founding her own marketing agency and very importantly about building the value of service into the culture. She is personally passionate about volunteerism and service, and has fully incorporated this into her company. This value is core to how people treat each other internally, interact with the client and interact with their community. 

Antonella also talks about her daily practice that helps her balance running a company, building her team and her path to leaving corporate life.

Listen and find out all about it!

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

Fully disclosure, I have known Antonella for almost twenty years but I learned so much about her in this conversation. She was my boss for a while and prior to that a coworker and a friend. I was excited to talk to her about her company after following her on LinkedIn for years. It was a pleasure to learn more about her even after so long and I’m proud to share this with you. This one will definitely make you think about your own values and how to make them part of your daily life. At least I hope it will!

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Find Antonella

Eyeful Media: https://www.eyefulmedia.com/  

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

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Mentioned in this episode:

Peacock Alley (https://www.peacockalley.com/)

Russell Lowery-Hart (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellloweryhart)

Inc. 5000 List: https://www.inc.com/profile/Eyeful-Media 

The Go-Giver: https://amzn.to/3Nwzwma 

Brené Brown Dare to Lead Values List: https://brenebrown.com/resources/dare-to-lead-list-of-values/ 

Renata Sahagian Episode of More Than Work: https://www.rabiahsaid.com/podcast/episode-5-renata-sahagian

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

Tragic SCOTUS Ruling on Roe v Wade

Help those impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

This week’s guest is Jazeen Hollings, She is a writer, artist and as she puts it, future ghost, from Toronto, Canada. She is also a professional video editor by trade.

After starting out as a Philosophy major and then moving into graphic design as an undergraduate, Jazeen fell in to video editing. 

Now, she has taken a big step and decided to pursue writing as a career. Jazeen is entering the University of British Columbia’s MFA program for writing full-time in the Fall.

We chat quite a lot about making the choice to pursue a creative career and how sometimes it isn’t even a choice but necessary! For anyone who has been wondering if they should take the plunge and do the thing, Jazeen might who you need to listen to today (whatever day that is)!

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

I had a lot of fun speaking with Jazeen. I got a little self-conscious that we talked a bit more about comedy than I would with a guest normally but she was interested and asked me questions when I asked her questions. It was a real conversation. That’s what I wanted the podcast to be but I’ve forgotten that from time to time and go from chat mode to interview mode when I’m nervous. And yes, I do get nervous at these recordings. This week, enjoy the chat! 

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Find Jazeen

Website: https://www.jazeen.com/ 

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jazeenhollings

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Mentioned in this episode:

Margaret Atwood: http://margaretatwood.ca/ 

Alex Garland: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0307497/ 

Stephen King: https://stephenking.com/ 

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

Mentioned in this episode:

Tragic SCOTUS Ruling on Roe v Wade

Help those impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

This week’s guest is Andrew Alexseyeko. He is the founder of two tech companies and co-founder of KOLO which is an organization helping those on the front lines of the war in Ukraine.

Recently, Andrew fled his home in Kiev due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He spoke to me from a city in Western Ukraine where he is currently residing and working.

After spending some years as a product manager, Andrew founded the software development company Storypoint and software reseller and implementer Partnerway. The latter seeks to help businesses in Ukraine digitize and adopt technology.

When the war started, Andrew worked with peers and friends in the tech industry to build the Help Ukraine Win (https://helpukrainewin.org/) website. Then, they founded KOLO, a fund to assist the Ukrainian military purchase items they need such as vests, drones and night vision tools.

Through crisis, Andrew has found a different purpose and has also seen a change to the way a team works together too. It redefines the culture. To that end, Andrew has decided to take no profits from his businesses until the war is over and will be putting the funds into supporting Ukrainian refugees and the army.

Lastly, Andrew and his team are creating a platform for those in Ukraine looking for work in tech, to match with those hiring. The war has also taken a toll on how businesses operate inside the country and others interact with Ukraine from outside the country.

Note from Rabiah (Host):

For many of us outside Ukraine, we talk about being heartbroken and what is happening there, and outraged. There is very little most of us can do other than give money. I feel very humbled by Andrew and his story. It is a privilege to share it with my listeners. Both he and I would love to hear from you. The link to KOLO is below if you want to donate.

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Find Andrew

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

KOLO: https://www.koloua.com/en

Storypoint: https://storypoint.team/

Partnerway: https://partner-way.com/

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Mentioned in this episode:

Conductor: https://www.conductor.com/

Aura: https://www.aura.com/

Diana Tereshchenko: https://twitter.com/Ditereshchenko

Bohdan Kit: https://twitter.com/bohdan_kit

Martijn Verbove: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martijnverbove

Product Hunt: https://www.producthunt.com/

Andrew Ng: https://twitter.com/AndrewYNg

Veronika Didusenko: https://www.rabiahsaid.com/podcast/s5e9-veronika-didusenko

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!

This week’s guest is Douglas E. Noll, lawyer turned peacemaker. 

Doug was raised in California and left the state to go to Dartmouth where he earned an undergraduate degree in English. In 1974 he returned to California entered law school, eventually graduating with honors.

Doug spent 22 years working as a civil trial lawyer, trying over 250 cases during that time! He realized in that time that though the work was interesting, his heart wasn’t in it.

Concurrently, Doug started studying martial arts and earned a 2nd degree blackbelt in one discipline before moving to Tai Chi at the advice of his teacher. As he explains, it was the teachings of Tai Chi that led him to the epiphany that he needed to do something else…something that would make an impact.

You’ll hear more in the episode but at nearly 50 years old, Doug quit his job and started a Master's program in Peacemaking and Conflict Studies offered at Fresno Pacific University which he completed. He also became a certified energy healer (panic healing) and arhatic yoga practitioner.

Along with Laurel Kaufer, he founded Prison of Peace, a wonderful organisation bringing conflict resolution to the incarcerated as well as others. Hear about it in the episode. Additionally, he is a mediator for private conflicts. 

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

I’ve been really lucky to find guests who exemplify what this podcast is really about. Doug is definitely one of those. I really loved the synchronicity that took place in Doug’s story with him asking a question and then receiving an answer that created a whole new path. I won’t say more. I’ll let Doug do the talking. Enjoy!

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Find Doug

Website: https://dougnoll.com/ 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DouglasNoll 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dougnoll 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtAHXdBT1Y0Pl7SGrM_HcFw 

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/b990204361f85f4a8ac1a25a9a0920

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Mentioned in this episode:

Fresno Pacific University: https://www.fresno.edu/graduate/program/peacemaking-and-conflict-studies-ma 

Pranic Healing: https://www.worldpranichealing.com/

John Allman (Caltech): https://www.bbe.caltech.edu/people/john-m-allman

Matthew Lieberman (UCLA): https://www.psych.ucla.edu/faculty-page/lieber/

Laurel Kaufer: http://www.kaufermediation.com/ 

ACEs Study: https://acestoohigh.com/

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr: https://amzn.to/3srdZ68 

This week’s guest is Genesis Amaris Kemp. She’s a visionary life coach, motivational speaker and podcast founder.

Genesis started out working in hospitals and intended to go to medical school. But, she ended up spending over a decade in the oil and gas industry. Her first role was as an imaging clerk (scanning papers all day!). Through curiosity, networking and learning, Genesis ended up in project and program management. In fact, she did it again when she went to work for a Fortune 500 company showing what real grit and humility is needed to start anew.

In late 2020, Genesis lost her job just one week following her father’s death. She took the opportunity to self-reflect and ultimately realized what her gifts are and how she could monetise them. In doing so she became an entrepreneur. 

In May 2020, Genesis’ book, “Chocolate Drop in Corporate America: From the Pit to the Palace” was published. You’ll hear about the inspirational read about overcoming systemic racism in the workplace and climbing the corporate ladder. 

Genesis also hosts the GEMS podcast. Episodes are a mis of solo episodes and coffee chat style conversations with guests to educate, inspire, and motivate listeners. DEIB is also a theme of the show.

Get to know Genesis in this episode!

Note from Rabiah (Host): 

Genesis and I chatted a while ago but due to some theme months and a backlog, I did not get this one edited until now. When it is a while between a chat and an edit, I feel like I’m experiencing the conversation again for the first time and this was the right time to hear her story again. We dig into going through job and life changes and also chat about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. I hope you’ll enjoy and learn from this one.

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Find Genesis

Website: https://beacons.ai/genesisamariskemp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GenesisAKemp 

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genesisamaris.kemp.3/ 

Chocolate Drop in Corporate America: From the Pit to the Palace: https://amzn.to/3LKZq51

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Unexpected Journey: Fire and Gold by Dedrick Moone: https://amzn.to/3FcqtUh 

Calendly: calendly.com/ 

Tiffany Haddish: https://twitter.com/TiffanyHaddish 

Melissa McCarthy: https://twitter.com/melissamccarthy 

Rabiah’s appearance on GEMS Podcast: pod.link/1562876878/episode/

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More than Work Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: @morethanworkpod Please review and follow anywhere you get podcasts. Thank you for listening. Have feedback? Email morethanworkpod(at)gmail.com!