Ready Living Podcast

We’re biologically wired to seek predictability and control, so when life throws us curve balls like a career identity crisis, work burnout, or job loss, our confidence can waver.

In this Ready Living Podcast episode, career transitions coach Emily Rothberg talks about navigating change, shifting mindsets, and finding clarity amid chaos, especially during uncertain and rapidly shifting times.

She invites us to question the outdated labels we may be clinging to that no longer serve who we are or want to become. She explains that true alignment starts by asking “What do I want? What do I need? What do I value?” Using frameworks drawn from psychology and client-tested coaching practices, she shares how dissatisfaction with the present, creating a compelling vision for the future, and taking small achievable steps can form the foundation for lasting change.

She delivers practical, no-nonsense advice for those navigating today’s complex marketplace, explaining the difference between reactive and proactive job searches, how to develop a strong value proposition – what she calls the answer to “If you hire me, here’s what will be different or better for your organization” – and how to effectively use resumes and AI to distinguish ourselves.

She also talks about the concept of moving from selflessness to self-fullness, encouraging us to explore what we value, love, and excel at, and then align that with the people and communities who energize us so we can become the architects of a life and career that truly reflect our evolving selves.

Emily’s approach blends empathy and strategy, empowering listeners to reclaim their agency, own their story, and design a future rooted in authenticity and purpose.

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How do we humanize work in an era where technology, control, and efficiency often take precedence over purpose, people, and genuine connection? Rachel Happe challenges the very foundation of how we think about work, arguing that organizations need to move beyond viewing employees and customers as mere inputs into a financial machine and instead see them as the very source of meaning, energy, and long-term success.

A leading voice in community-centric work cultures, she criticizes traditional organizational governance, calling them a mechanistic system built for control and not human flourishing. Our institutions, she argues, are designed like machines, optimized for efficiency at the expense of engagement. As a result, many workplaces have become soulless, sacrificing excellence in favor of reliability and average performance.

But there’s a better way. Good governance invites feedback and fosters agency. And giving people greater control creates the conditions necessary for high performance. By designing governance systems that act more like trellises – structures that support growth rather than constrain it – leaders can create the conditions for creativity, trust, and shared success.

Beyond the workplace, she also explores how our shifting relationship with work has reshaped civic life. She calls for a rebalancing that allows us to reclaim time for community, relationships, and reflection.

Rachel is the founder of Engaged Organizations and co-founded The Community Roundtable in 2009, where she published groundbreaking research that documented the discipline and importance of fostering community-centric cultures. Her clients included BASF, AMEX, Microsoft, and the World Bank Group, among others. Her writing has been published in Harvard Business Review, CMSWire, and Information Week. She is the author of Becoming Hybrid – A Team Collaboration Handbook (2022).

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Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) possess a unique neurological trait that enables them to move through life with extraordinary perception, recognizing subtle details, emotions, and connections that others might overlook. They’re exceptionally intuitive, creative, and empathetic. Yet high sensitivity isn’t a condition one acquires, it’s an innate trait affecting roughly 20% of the overall population.

In this Ready Living Podcast episode, educator and international keynote speaker Esther Bergsma unpacks the science and psychology of high sensitivity and shares insights into what it truly means to be an HSP. She is the best-selling Dutch author of The Brain of the Highly Sensitive Person: Why you shouldn’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, the Director of Hoogensitief.NL, a platform dedicated to understanding and embracing this trait (English content available), and a member of the Supervisory Board of Highly Sensitive Men.

Esther breaks down the science behind the HSP brain, explaining why high sensitivity isn’t merely about emotional depth, it’s also a powerhouse of strengths – HSPs excel in roles that require diplomacy, leadership, and creative problem-solving. She explains how HSPs can harness their abilities in a variety of personal and professional settings, and argues that highly sensitive leaders bring unparalleled value to organizations by fostering supportive, people-centered workplaces that drive success.

She also dispels the common myths that few men are HSPs and that all HSPs are introverts. In reality, there is a 50/50 gender HSP split, and around 30% of HSPs are actually extroverted.

For parents raising highly sensitive children, Esther provides important advice on creating an environment where youngsters can thrive. She stresses understanding their unique needs and recognizing the profound impact their surroundings have on their well-being.

Whether you’re looking to embrace this unique trait or simply want to understand the HSPs in your life better, Esther’s insights offer practical tools to help HSPs thrive in today’s world.

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Divorce isn’t just emotionally difficult, it’s also one of the biggest financial changes people experience in their lives. Unfortunately it often has a devastating financial impact, especially on women and children. The repercussions of divorce extend far beyond the immediate separation, affecting overall economic well-being, retirement security, and long-term financial stability.

In this Ready Living Podcast episode, Michelle Petrowski, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), breaks down the financial realities of divorce and how women can protect themselves before, during, and after.

She shares practical insights into the preparatory steps women need to take if they’re considering or facing divorce. From gathering financial documents and understanding debt obligations to safeguarding credit scores and setting up independent bank accounts, she outlines a comprehensive approach to financial self-protection. She also discusses key aspects of asset division, social security benefits, and the crucial differences in divorce laws depending on whether spouses live in a community property or equitable distribution state.

Beyond divorce, she offers advice on how women can protect their financial future, even if they remain married. She emphasizes the importance of premarital discussions and agreements, proactive financial planning for stay-at-home parents, and ensuring that both partners recognize and account for the contributions made within a marriage, both financial and non-financial. By addressing these considerations early on, women can avoid potential vulnerabilities later in life.

As the founder of Being in Abundance, a financial planning and wealth management firm, and founder of Being Mindful in Divorce, Michelle is passionate about helping single, divorced, and widowed women create financial stability and wealth. She believes that when women have more financial security, they have more choices, and that these choices afford them the opportunity to be leaders in their families and communities.

Whether thinking about getting married, already married, or facing divorce, this episode will help listeners make informed decisions about their future. Michelle’s insights offer a roadmap for women to take control of their financial well-being and navigate major life transitions with greater confidence.

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Have you ever ignored your gut instinct because you didn’t want to “overreact”? Or risked your safety because you felt pressured to be agreeable… even though the situation made you uncomfortable? In this Ready Living Podcast episode, self-defense expert Nicole Snell teaches people how to prepare so they can move through the world with confidence and a fearless mindset.

Nicole is an award-winning international speaker, TEDx Speaker, trainer, survivor, and self-defense expert specializing in gender-based violence prevention and empowerment. She is a Credentialed Victim Advocate and multidisciplinary educator who has trained every branch of the U.S. military at hundreds of installations around the world, and trained millions of people globally in academia, corporate industries, and outdoor recreation.

Her own journey to empowerment began in childhood when she found solace and strength in the great outdoors. Now, she’s dedicated to changing outdated narratives around safety and helping people learn the skills they need to live limitlessly. As founder of Girls Fight Back and Outdoor Defense, and creator of the course Yes I'm Hiking Solo© :Self-Defense for the Outdoors, Nicole teaches self-defense strategies that include but go beyond just physical techniques.

Self-defense, she argues, also includes awareness, intuition, and knowing how to set firm boundaries. Setting boundaries is something many people – especially girls and women who are conditioned to prioritize politeness over personal safety – need to learn. She argues it’s time to reject the pressure to be “nice,” especially when well-being and safety are on the line.

This episode dives into the power of situational awareness, the importance of recognizing what’s normal in your environment, and how to spot when something feels off. It also breaks down essential self-defense strategies, including the “3 Rs of Self-Defense” and the “Physical Self-Defense Formula,” giving listeners practical tools to protect themselves in a variety of situations.

Additionally, Nicole shares expert insights on self-defense tools like pepper spray and the critical step people must take if they choose to carry them.

Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a solo traveler, or just someone who wants to feel more confident in your daily life, this episode is full of practical advice to feel safe, set boundaries, and live boldly.

In this Ready Living Podcast episode, Daniel J. Solove, one of the world’s foremost experts in privacy law and the #1 most cited law professor in the law and technology field, talks about technology’s impact on privacy, how the law often fails to adequately protect privacy, and what needs to be done to safeguard our personal privacy freedoms.

Dan challenges the traditional, narrow definitions of privacy and argues against what he calls “privacy essentialism”—the idea that privacy has clear, fixed boundaries. Instead, he proposes an approach that acknowledges the nuanced and evolving nature of privacy violations.

The way privacy is conceptualized, he explains, has profound implications for how laws are crafted, interpreted, and enforced. And unfortunately, he argues, the law too often falls short, particularly when it comes to addressing the impact of technology.

He describes how legislators and judges often get “brain freeze” when faced with cases involving technology, leading to a failure to recognize harms that should be apparent. Whether it’s the lack of a comprehensive federal privacy law in the U.S. or the messy patchwork of existing regulations, he paints a picture of a legal system struggling to keep up with the pace of technological change.

Dan explains how the design of technology—from social media algorithms to data collection tools—affects the choices people make about sharing their personal information. He notes that “control the design, control the decision,” highlighting how tech companies intentionally create platforms that encourage data sharing and polarizing content to maximize profit, often at the expense of societal well-being. Regulators, he argues, have been hesitant to address these design issues.

He also raises alarm bells about the darker side of surveillance and the unprecedented power governments and corporations now wield through big data and artificial intelligence. With algorithms capable of analyzing vast amounts of personal data to draw highly detailed—and often biased—inferences, the potential for abuse is enormous. He warns that this level of surveillance could pave the way for authoritarian regimes to target dissenters and control populations, drawing chilling parallels to historical examples like Nazi Germany.

This episode is a must-listen for everyone who cares about privacy and the future of our society.

Dan is the Eugene L. and Barbara A. Bernard Professor of Intellectual Property and Technology Law at the George Washington University Law School, and the founder of TeachPrivacy, a privacy and cybersecurity training company. He is the author of over 10 books and more than 100 articles; the #1 most cited law professor born after 1970, and the #1 most cited law professor in the law and technology field, having been cited in thousands of publications, excerpted in numerous casebooks, and discussed in many judicial opinions, including those by the U.S. Supreme Court, federal courts of appeal, district courts, and state supreme courts.

His newest book, On Privacy and Technology, comes out March 2025.

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What drives someone to pursue a Ph.D. in public health? For Kevin Cevasco, it all began with a story about a high schooler nearly dropping out to help pay his family’s rent during his mother’s medical treatment.

In this Ready Living Podcast episode, Kevin recounts fascinating parallels from past outbreaks—like the Black Death in fourteenth century Europe and smallpox in the 1800s—to help us understand the various ways humans react to public health crises.

He looks at why people cling to misinformation in the face of evidence, why prevention efforts sometimes struggle to gain political support despite saving countless lives, and the important role cultural and religious leaders can play in advancing community health.

He also explains how public health efforts, from vaccination campaigns to better infrastructure, rely on proactive policies, adequate funding, and the trust of the communities they serve.

Kevin shares why studying patterns of disease isn’t just about medical data— it’s about people and their capacity to work together for the common good. He highlights the ways we can all contribute to a healthier and stronger society.

This episode will leave you with a deeper understanding of why public health matters and help see it as a shared responsibility.

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In a world often fractured by division, renowned architect Eddie Jones, founder of award-winning firm Jones Studio, offers a bold, transformative perspective of the border and challenges us to view it as a bridge between cultures, economies, and human experiences. Through architecture and a profound belief in the power of design, he illustrates how thoughtful infrastructure can reshape not just landscapes, but perceptions and lives.

Eddie’s vision for border architecture is rooted in the belief that design can transcend politics and foster shared humanity. His firm’s work on the Mariposa Land Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, exemplifies this philosophy. Inspired by "Border Lines," a poem by poet laureate Alberto Ríos, he began the design process by embracing the cultural duality of "Ambos Nogales," the name given to the twin cities of Nogales in Arizona and Nogales in Sorona, Mexico. Rather than defaulting to traditional symbols of division like barbed wire, the firm envisioned a port of entry where human dignity was central. They integrated open space and a garden to create a sense of welcome rather than distrust.

Beyond the symbolism, these innovations have real-world implications. Efficient and humane border design between the U.S. and Mexico plays a critical role in sustaining economic stability. Mariposa Land Port of Entry ceased being an economic choke point and became more of a passage that reflects the shared lives of those on both sides. Land Ports of Entry like Mariposa are a lifeline for the agriculture industry, particularly in Arizona, where produce shipments and labor depend on streamlined crossings. By reducing wait times and improving working conditions for thousands of migrant laborers, Jones Studio’s design enhances commerce and improves lives on both sides of the border.

Eddie firmly believes that architects are uniquely positioned to solve complex societal problems. Trained at the intersection of art and engineering, they possess a rare blend of creative and analytical thinking that enables them to tackle multifaceted challenges. He points to their built-in capacity to think across disciplines, anticipate future needs, and balance human-centered solutions with practical constraints. He argues that the profession’s objective problem-solving abilities can bring fresh, innovative solutions to policy-making, and suggests that architects run for public office.

Eddie also shares his deep love and reverence for the creative process, particularly in a time when digital tools dominate the field. He remains committed to hand-drawing his designs, a practice he finds profoundly meditative. This tactile connection allows his designs to evolve organically, with each line carrying intention and emotion.

Eddie’s work demonstrates that architecture is far more than constructing buildings—it’s about designing spaces that reflect human passion, embody shared values, and solve real-world problems.

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Have you ever wondered what would happen to your beloved companion animal if something happened to you? It’s a question many of us would rather avoid, but one we can’t afford to ignore. In today’s episode, we explore this often-overlooked topic with Professor Ashley R. Dobbs from the University of Richmond School of Law.

Under American law, pets are treated as property, much like a chair or a laptop. This reality means that simply naming a friend or family member to take care of an animal companion in a will won’t be enough to ensure the pet’s well-being. What if that person’s circumstances change? What if they’re unable or suddenly unwilling to fulfill the promise when the time comes? Without the right legal structures in place, your beloved pet’s future could be left to chance.

Ashley explains why setting up an animal trust is the most secure way to provide for your companion after you’re gone. Unlike a mention in a will, an animal trust can legally enforce your wishes and provide funds directly for your pet’s care, without the delays of probate court.

She describes the basics of how to set up an animal trust, from choosing the right caretaker to determining the financial support needed. Her practical advice helps people plan ahead, protect their pets, and avoid the heartbreak of seeing a beloved companion end up in a shelter or on the street simply because no one was prepared.

Ashley understands the importance of protecting your companion animal and having peace of mind. She is an expert on animal-related matters whose past work includes drafting proposed federal legislation related to tax incentives and pet trusts; providing legal counsel to organizations such as the Jane Goodall Institute, the Humane Society of the United States, and other local and national animal welfare organizations; serving as curriculum advisor to the American Prosecutors Association’s animal cruelty prosecution program; and chairing the educational subcommittee for the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.

What if we could create a world where compassion, resilience, health and justice form the foundation of society?

Physician Hope Ferdowsian, author of Phoenix Zones: Where Strength Is Born and Resilience Lives, and co-founder and president of Phoenix Zones Initiative, shares insights from over two decades of work caring for individuals experiencing violence, displacement, and other hardships, while also working on policy approaches to addressing structural inequities and exploitation.

Through the powerful stories of individuals she’s met – Ayanna, a young girl rescued from child marriage; Doc, a physician who sought asylum after suffering imprisonment and abuse; Grace, a woman who fled her home after experiencing severe violence; and Love, an injured dog found laying on the side of the road – she shows how resilience and compassion can rise, even when faced with great challenges.

Reflecting on her roots, Hope explains, “I grew up on a small farm in Oklahoma, and I learned pretty early about human rights violations around the world, in part through my parents and my Dad's history as an immigrant to the United States. And like a lot of kids who grow up around animals, I also was concerned about animal suffering in addition to human suffering.”

In this episode, she introduces listeners to "Phoenix Zones" – safe havens that uphold the principles of liberty, compassion, justice, and dignity. She argues that just as structural violence can permeate societies, so can structural resilience. “We need to be morally consistent in our application of compassion,” she says, suggesting that just as the big global challenges we face are intertwined, so are the solutions. “One of the only ways we’ll solve these great challenges is to expand our circles of compassion without bias, without prejudice. Truth is, compassion is contagious.”

Hope is a double board-certified internal medicine, preventive medicine physician with a master’s degree in public health. She was named a Humanitarian of the Year in the American College of Physicians in 2017. Currently a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, she previously held faculty positions at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, and Georgetown University School of Medicine.

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