People. Process. Progress.

Imagine a young man growing up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, excelling on the baseball diamond, then trading his cleats for the uniform of a U.S. Navy submariner. This video interview and podcast episode, My Dad Kept Us Safe: A Nuclear Engineer's Journey, isn't just a conversation; it's a window into a life working in the nuclear power industry fueled by dedication, a thirst for knowledge, and a desire to make a positive impact.

The Problem:

How to transition from the U.S. Navy Submarine Service to the U.S. Nuclear Power industry

The Hope:

Navy skills and know-how will translate to the private sector

The Plan:

Begin transition planning while in the Navy and step into the private sector

The Solution:

Highlight the skills that transfer from the Navy to the private sector, share the reality, not the hype and fear-mongering about nuclear power, and discuss how human-centered engineering saved lives.

Thank you all for listening to this second, and more detailed, part of my conversation with my Father George Pannell. His passion for nuclear power and doing the right thing will stay with me forever.

Stay safe, consider the human factors, and Godspeed,

Kevin

More at https://hopesnotaplan.com

In How the Body Dies, I help prepare the listener for what it is like when their loved one moves through their last moments on Earth. Death is a difficult topic, but knowledge about death can empower us and mentally prepare us for when our loved ones are ready pass on. In this short episode we talk through the stages of physical death.

The Stages:

1. Decline in body functions
2. Altered consciousness
3. The Final moments

As hard as seeing death, particularly seeing our loved one’s die is, remember that hope is not a plan and that with some preparation, we can fuel our hope and better prepare our mind, body, and spirit to support our loved one’s journey to the afterlife.

Stay safe, spend time with your loved ones, and Godspeed,

Kevin

If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone you think could benefit. For more on caring for an ailing loved one or parent, visit hopesnotaplan.com and listen to the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow the show on Instagram and Twitter @hopesnotaplan and visit the Facebook page and YouTube channel, both called Hope is NOT a Plan

End-of-life care can be difficult, but planning is crucial to help have more productive conversations, shore up potential care plans, and, ultimately, face the truth of what’s to come. Feeling overwhelmed or scared is normal, but avoiding the topic can cause more problems later. In this episode, How to Support Your Parent's End-of-Life Care Planning, I’m sharing five considerations to help you support your ailing or end-of-life parent in the most action-oriented and efficient manner.

The Problem:

Your parent is sick or at the end of life, and you're unsure what to do

The Hope:

Your parent has a peaceful and smooth transition to the afterlife

The Plan:

Share what worked and the challenges of traveling the end-of-life road with my Father

The Solution:

Talk through how open the conversations, diving into care options, reviewing the medical and legal considerations, taking stock of finances, and not forgetting to take care of myself all played key roles in keeping me present for my dying Father and my Mom.

Thank you for choosing the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast. I hope the plans in these episodes help you balance your life, mind, body, and spirit.

Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed,

Kevin

More at https://hopesnotaplan.com | IG & Twitter: @hopesnotaplan

This one's going to hit a little close to home. You might have noticed I've been a bit off schedule this past week. That's because I was helping to take care of my Dad, George Pannell. As I shared in the previous episode, Dad passed away after a two-year long fight with metastatic prostate cancer on the morning of April 2nd.

Today, I'm sharing how my Dad, George Pannell, held onto hope while keeping his fighting spirit and actively participating in his care plan.

So, take a listen to this, Dad. This one's for you. You may be gone, but the lessons you taught me, the way you faced your challenge – that will stay with me forever. Thanks for showing me what it means to truly fight.

Stay safe out there, wash your hands, and Godspeed y’all,

Kevin

My Father, George Pannell, passed away this week after a courageous battle with cancer. Like us, he had hoped AND devised a plan to fight the horrible disease. And fight he did. A lot of his fighting spirit came from growing up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and as a U.S. Navy Submarine Warfare qualified Sailor.

The Problem:

Coming of age in a steel town during the Vietnam War

The Hope:

Choosing his own path in life would provide a better outcome

The Plan:

Leave Aliquippa and join the U.S. Navy

The Solution:

Became an Enlisted Submarine Warfare qualified U.S. Navy Petty Officer and moved into the Nuclear Power industry

I was fortunate to record this discussion in June 2023 and dive deeper into the stories I heard growing up. Please join me in honoring him by listening to his story.

I love you, Dad,

Kevin

More at https://hopesnotaplan.com

Today I want to reiterate the core message of Hope is NOT a Plan related to self-defense. Relying solely on hope is not enough to succeed in life, especially in self-defense situations. So, during today’s episode, I will share some broad self-defense and martial arts insight, as well as some specific information about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), my chosen combat sport.

The Problem:

No confidence or overconfidence by untrained people to defend themselves

The Hope:

I will rise to the occasion if a violent situation happens

The Plan:

Share mindset and resources from my 5 1/2 years training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The Solution:

Emphasize the benefits of confidence, fitness, awareness, and martial skills that come from training in legit combat sports and how to get started by visiting a gym, asking others and online, and finding your martial arts "Why?"

Stay safe, get some training, and Godspeed,

Kevin

Hey everyone, welcome back to the Hope is NOT a Plan podcast, Radical Candor in Risk Management | Five Minute Friday 02, I'm your host, Kevin Pannell. Today on Five Minute Friday, well, Saturday edition I suppose, I’m diving into a concept crucial for project success: Radical Candor and Risk Management. As an example, my radical candor is that I was traveling yesterday, got home, got some work done, then took advantage of time with my wife and kids. I apologize for not delivering on a Friday, but here we are, and here we go…

Key Concepts:

• Not glossing over risks
• Kim Scott's concept of Radical Candor
• Include the team
• Honesty in Project Management

Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

Today, Beyond the Song: Unpacking "We Are the World's" Project Management Secrets on we're tackling a project that aimed to change the world – literally. We're talking about the iconic charity single, "We Are the World," as highlighted in the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night in Popi, and the herculean task of bringing together some of music's biggest egos for one, history-making night.

The Problem:

Need to raise money to help starving people in Africa

The Hope:

The biggest stars in music will come together to help

The Plan:

Write a blockbuster song and record the unique voices of modern superstars

The Solution:

Break down how the key roles played of The Architects (Leader's Intent), The Conductor (Project Management), The Artists (Resource Allocation), The Gamble (Risk Management), The Secret Weapon (Communication Panning), and The Legacy (Celebrating Wins) were a project management masterclass

Stay safe out there, wash your hands, and Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

Exercise is hard. Building up the motivation to exercise when depressed or in a depressive mood is even harder. In Moving Your Body When Depression Holds You Back | Five Minute Friday 01, I'm sharing five practical and action-focused steps we can take to get ourselves moving and get the endorphins flowing through exercise when depression has its grip on us.

• Remove friction
• Realistic expectations
• Find fun
• Celebrate wins
• Ownership and accountability

Stay safe, wash your hands, and Godspeed y'all,

Kevin

*Read more, listen, and subscribe at https://hopesnotaplan.com

Hey everyone, and welcome back to Hope Not a Plan! I'm your host, Kevin. Today, on Conquer Depression: Move Your Body and Feel Better, we're diving into a powerful tool that can significantly boost your mental health and even combat addiction cravings: exercise.

The Problem:

You feel stuck in depression or a depressive period in your ife

The Hope:

A pill, a talk, a book, or something external will snap you out of it

The Plan:

Share the healing power of exercise for lessening depression and reducing addiction cravings

The Solution:

Highlight the reality of how pulling ourselves out of depression and moving past anxiousness can be accomplished by getting the mood bosting benefits of exercise, pushing past lack of motivation, moving a muscle to change a thought, using exercise to fight addiction cravings, and making exercise fit our needs.

If you're struggling with mental health or addiction, please reach out for help. You are not alone. There are resources available, and support groups can provide invaluable guidance.

Stay safe, wash your hands, get after it, and Godspeed,

Kevin