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Before getting into today's podcast with the inspiring Amadou Ba, I want to ask all of you, wherever you are listening, to think about your own life and some of the important things you feel you have been able to accomplish.

Maybe that was graduating from high school or university or maybe it was being accepted into a post-graduate masters or PhD program or perhaps it might have been getting your first career-changing job or even being promoted within your organization.

Whatever it was, I want you to reflect on the people who believed in you and supported you along this path. Who were these people?

When you think about these people, what was it they specifically did that gave you the confidence and belief in yourself to know and understand that you were absolutely on the right path?

Today's episode will be the 270th episode I've released on my Run Your Life podcast and the conversation you are about to hear is all about the power of human connection. We are really going to focus on the role that important mentors, educators and coaches have played in our lives in helping us to understand what is possible in our lives.

This podcast episode is with the amazing Amadou Ba, former 6ft 10 center who played 4 seasons with the University of Michigan Wolverines Basketball team from 2002-2006.

Amadou's story epitomizes what it means to embrace a truly resilient mindset and that when opportunities open up to us in life, we need to honor the talents and strengths we have by working as hard as possible. Doing so not only helps us to  access the best of ourselves, but also pushes us to fulfill the potential we have to make a difference in our lives.

What you will hear in this episode is Amadou's deep gratitude and appreciation for the people who believed in him and supported him along his journey to ultimately help him to go on to be a success student-athlete who graduated with a degree from the University of Michigan. 

As you listen to this episode, I hope you walk away reflecting on all of the people who gave you the support you needed to be successful in your life and that you always remember how important it is to keep giving back in your own ways to continue to make the difference in the world you desire.

Although our accomplishments are important, the world is so much more of a better place when we give back to others.

In closing, I want to thank my two friends Leticia Carino and Andy Duffield for being a part of this podcast and for sharing their own insight. Their contribution was much appreciated and made this conversation even more meaningful, so thank you Leticia and Andy.

So with that, let's now jump into my conversation with the inspiring Amadou Ba.

Connect With Amadou

LinkedIn

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As well, you can connect with Leticia Carino and Andy Duffield as well below: 

Leticia Cario

LinkedIn

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Andy Duffield

LinkedIn

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In today's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Derek Sivers, a remarkable individual whose openness to new experiences has profoundly shaped both his personal and professional journey. What I appreciate the most about Derek is how he's taken important life's lessons and transformed them into wisdom about the things that truly matter.

Derek's passion for learning is infectious, but what's truly fascinating is his refusal to be boxed into any single worldview. This philosophy has served him well throughout his diverse career as an entrepreneur, writer, and musician. Many know him as the founder of CD Baby, which he started in 1998. The company grew to become the largest seller of independent music online, generating over $100 million in sales before Derek sold it in 2008 for $22 million. In a remarkable act of generosity, he donated the entire proceeds to a charitable trust for music education.

But Derek's impact extends far beyond CD Baby. Through his blog and five books, he's become known for his concise, thought-provoking writing on business, life, and decision-making. In our conversation, we dive deep into his two latest works. The first, "HOW TO LIVE," presents 27 conflicting approaches to life, each making a compelling case for a different way of living. Rather than providing easy answers, Derek challenges readers to find their own path based on their unique circumstances and perspectives.

We also explore his newest book, "Useful NOT True," which examines the powerful concept of reframing. Derek makes a fascinating case that success begins with perspective, which then shapes our strategy and actions. He argues that while our initial thoughts might feel true, they're often obstacles we need to overcome. By recognizing that no single perspective holds absolute truth, we can make more informed choices in our lives.

Many of you might know Derek from his three compelling TED Talks, including my personal favorite about the dancing guy on a hill – a brilliant metaphor for how movements begin. Our conversation weaves through various aspects of his life, from his early days to his writing, but what really resonated with me was our discussion about the importance of changing our minds. Derek believes that what we consider absolute truths can actually restrict our growth and shut us off from new learning experiences.

His insights about the power of changing one's mind have particularly influenced my own thinking about life and work, making it one of the highlights of our conversation. I genuinely enjoyed my time with Derek, and I believe this discussion will offer you fresh perspectives on your own life, work, and what matters most to you.

Connect with Derek:

Website

His books can be found below:

Useful Not True 

How to Live

Hell Yeah or No

Your Music and People

Anything You Want

As well you can see any of Derek's Ted Talks below: 

Derek’s Ted Talks

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On the show today is the brilliant Nina Sossamon-Pogue, a multifaceted leader who has excelled across diverse fields - from gymnastics to broadcasting, corporate leadership, and authorship. .

In our conversation, we delve deeply into the true essence of resilience through Nina's extraordinary life experiences. Nina has a special gift to blend personal story, scientific research, and stoic philosophy. She presents a fresh perspective on what it means to be truly resilient. Rather than offering simple platitudes, Nina provides actionable strategies for embracing change and overcoming adversity, drawn from her own journey of transformation.

Her story begins in the world of elite gymnastics, where she trained and competed alongside Olympic gold medalists Mary Lou Retton and Bart Connor. Despite being widely projected to make the 1984 Olympic team, Nina faced her first major setback when she failed to qualify. Rather than letting this define her, she channeled her passion for the sport into earning a full scholarship to Louisiana State University. However, fate had other plans, and a severe knee injury brought her gymnastics career to an abrupt end.

What followed demonstrates the very essence of resilience that Nina now teaches. She successfully pivoted to broadcast journalism, where her dedication and talent led to her winning an Emmy Award. Building on this success, she then transitioned into corporate leadership and became a best-selling author, each step of her journey informing her unique perspective on resilience.

Throughout the episode, Nina weaves together several core themes that challenge conventional wisdom about resilience. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity in both success and struggle, integrating personal experiences with research-based insights. Her approach balances stoic principles with emotional intelligence, offering practical tools for maintaining course in high-stress environments. What makes her message particularly compelling is how she presents complex ideas about resilience in ways that are both accessible and actionable. 

I hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks for listening. 

Connect With Nina

Website

Linkedin

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

You can find Nina's books below: 

This Is Not the End

But I Want Both

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In this episode, Andy Vasily interviews Dr. Gordon Flett, a distinguished psychologist from York University and author of "The Psychology of Mattering." The conversation explores the concept of mattering—feeling valued and significant in others' lives—and how it differs from self-esteem. Dr. Flett draws from his 30 years of research to explain how mattering plays a crucial role in preventing depression, suicide, and antisocial behaviors.

Drawing from both personal experiences and academic research, Dr. Flett discusses how parents, teachers, and leaders can create environments where people feel genuinely valued. He emphasizes the strong correlation between mattering and hope, explaining how feeling significant helps combat hopelessness. The episode offers valuable insights for parents, educators, coaches, and leaders on fostering a sense of mattering in their respective settings.

We conclude with practical resources on mattering, which listeners can access through the show notes, along with Dr. Flett's contact information for those interested in learning more about his work.

Dr. Flett's Bio:
Gordon L. Flett, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada, where he has held a Canada Research Chair in Personality & Health. He is also the former Associate Dean of Research and former Director of the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research in the Faculty of Health at York University. Currently, Dr. Flett is an Associate Editor of the APA journal Canadian Psychology.

Dr. Flett is recognized globally for his seminal contributions to research and theory on the role of perfectionism in mental and physical health. This work includes the 2022 APA book on perfectionism in childhood and adolescents. Dr. Flett is also known for his leading role and many journal articles and knowledge mobilization activities on the nature and correlates of mattering. His 2018 book on the psychology of mattering is the first complete book of the mattering construct. Dr. Flett is also a member of the APA and Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, which has cited him as one of the top 25 most productive authors in psychology.

Connect with Dr. Flett:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter "X"

Free Access Articles Written by Dr. Flett

Aging and Feeling Valued Versus Expendable During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

An Introduction, Review, and Conceptual Analysis of Mattering as an Essential Construct and an Essential Way of Life

The Anti-Mattering Scale: Development, Psychometric Properties and Associations With Well-Being and Distress Measures in Adolescents and Emerging Adults

In-Person Versus Online Learning in Relation to Students’ Perceptions of Mattering During COVID-19

Faculty Perceptions of Mattering in Teaching and Learning: A Qualitative Examination of the Views, Values, and Teaching Practices of Award-Winning Professors

Addtional Articles Written About Dr. Flett's Work:

Do You ‘Matter’ to Others? The Answer Could Predict Your Mental Health
Why We Need to Feel Like We Matter

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I feel very fortunate to release today’s episode as I had a chance to sit down on Zoom with the brilliant Stef Okamoto, who is currently the Director of Manager Excellence for Service Now, a fast growing American software company based in Santa Clara, California.

Before moving to ServiceNow, Stef had a distinguished career at Microsoft for 23 years, serving the organisation in her last 7 years as the Leader of Management Excellence in Global Learning and Development. Having worked directly under former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmar and current CEO Satya Nadalla, Stef experienced two drastically different leadership styles, one that was strongly based on control and compliance and fear under Ballmar to a much more human-centred, empowering approach rooted in high support, trust, autonomy and deep learning under Satya Nadalla. 

Based on these experiences, Stef learned how she did NOT want to lead, but rather, how she could take action to become the very best leader possible and to do so with courage, vulnerability, and authenticity, but at the same time, not let these things get in the way of holding those who she led to the highest standards possible. 

During this time, she learned that it’s still necessary to be tough on people, but to do so with compassion, by providing them with a sense of high support in order for them achieve their true potential and to also help them find deep meaning in their work and a genuine sense of contribution to the organization. 

Stef’s wisdom and work ethic stems directly from early days in her life. As an elite athlete who not only played in the junior Olympics as a softball player, she also received an academic scholarship to play volleyball in college. It was through these experiences that she developed a resilient mindset that allowed her to be fiercely independent in order to show what she was truly capable of achieving in life. 

In our episode, we discussed, in detail, how she’s been able to stay deeply connected to her core values in life even through turbulent, challenging times and how she was able to overcome a harsh, negative inner critic in a way that helped her to construct an empowering personal narrative that ultimately gave her the self-confidence needed to take bold risks and to speak her genuine truth with respect and courage in order to truly find her place in such a competitive work environment. 

As you’ll hear in this episode, Stef is deeply passionate about the work she does and when I think of her story I think of a quote from Oprah Winfrey which is this: 

When thinking about Stef, there’s no doubt, she’s found her calling and continues to shine brightly in a world that needs courageous leaders to stand up and take action to bring out the very best in others. 

Stef and I would love to hear your thoughts and what resonated the most with you in regards to our conversation. So, please share any thoughts on social media, as well, if you know someone who would benefit from tuning into our episode, please share the link with them. 

As you listen, I hope you feel inspired to think even more carefully about your own purpose and the core values that drive you in the work that you do. You can find out how to connect with Stef in the show notes of today’s episode. 

Connect with Stefani Okamoto:
LinkedIn
Website

Other Credits:
Dr. Michael Gervais' Finding Mastery Podcast and his excellent Compete to Create Program
Dr. David Yeager's book 10-25: The Science of Motivating Young Pe

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In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to sit down with the brilliant Anne van Dam, an educator, leader, and consultant with a wealth of experience working in schools across the globe. And in our conversation, Anne shares her unique journey—from her early days as a learner to her current work helping schools and organizations build cultures that bring out the best in everyone.

Although she’s most recognized for her expertise in early years learning, Anne’s knowledge spans far beyond that as she brings deep insights into leadership, team culture, collaboration, and what it takes to help schools thrive in today’s ever-changing educational landscape.

Anne opens up about her personal journey—reflecting on how her early learning experiences shaped her as an educator and leader. We also discuss whether or not school helped her discover her passion and what might have better supported her learning during her formative years.

Having worked extensively in a variety of schools and roles around the world, Anne has invaluable perspectives on the role of culture in schools and organizations, so hearing that in mind, we also explore how the relationships we build shape the environments we create and the conditions necessary to foster a culture that elevates everyone involved.

We also dive into how the best educators and leaders use language to inspire and empower those around them and how the words we choose—especially in key moments—can have a profound impact on success.

Another key theme we discuss is the power of personal narrative—how the stories we tell ourselves shape not only our mindset but also our learning and growth. Anne reflects on the pivotal moments in her life that shifted her perspective and helped her evolve as a wife, parent, educator, and leader.

Even if you’re not an educator, there’s plenty in this episode that will help you understand the need for continuous growth and learning in life—and how to prioritize what truly matters.

I encourage you to connect with Anne—after hearing today’s episode. You can find out more about her in the show notes. Although Anne has been a guest on the podcast before, this is our first face-to-face interview, which we recorded last weekend in Budapest, Hungary. It was such a pleasure meeting her in person and getting to know her better. Thanks for listening.

Anne's Bio
Anne van Dam is an experienced educator and educational consultant who is deeply passionate about the role of play in children's learning process. She believes in the power of documentation as a tool for educators to reflect on and grow in their practice by exploring the various threads, ideas, and connections that underpin children's investigations.

Throughout her career, Anne has held various roles in the field of education, including teacher, curriculum coordinator, head of school, and vice-principal. Her international experience includes working in schools located in China, Singapore, Switzerland, and The Netherlands. 

Anne's passion for education and dedication to empowering educators and young learners led her to collaborate with the International Baccalaureate (IB) regional office in The Hague, where she worked with the PYP (Primary Years Programme) development team on the IB PYP review. Her focus areas during this collaboration included learner agency, early years education, inquiry-based learning, and aspects of creating a strong learning community.

Since 2015, Anne has been working as an independent educational consultant. Her primary goal is to support schools and educators in developing a shared pedagogy that recognizes and honors young children as incredible learners and meaning makers.
Connect with Anne:
Website

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Before diving into today’s conversation with my guest, Amy Sandler, I want you to pause for a moment and think about your own career journey, whatever that may be and reflect on all the places you’ve worked, the teams you’ve been a part of, and the experiences—both challenging and rewarding—that have shaped your professional life. 

Whether you’ve been in a leadership position or not, consider those everyday moments—the interactions, the wins, and the setbacks—that ultimately influenced how you felt in your workplace. When thinking about these things, what comes up for you and how did those environments shape your sense of belonging, growth, and self-expression?

How comfortable did you feel being honest and openly transparent about your emotions when dealing with both your triumphs and the struggles you had? And when it came to providing feedback to your peers or leaders, how safe did you feel doing so? Was your feedback heard and welcomed, or was it dismissed? 

These are all questions that tie into today’s conversation, where we’ll explore candor—not just the literal definition which has to do with the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech, but more so the deeper essence of creating spaces where openness and feedback can thrive.

I’m thrilled to introduce my guest, Amy Sandler, a leader whose work has helped shape how thousands of people think about communication in the workplace. 

Amy is the principal coach and podcast host of Radical Candor, where she has also served as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Content Officer at the Radical Candor organization. Over the years, she’s worked with countless people, from CEOs and leadership teams to recent graduates just starting their careers.

Amy’s leadership philosophy is rooted in empowering individuals to develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and compassion—qualities she firmly believes are essential for building strong teams and achieving shared success. 

Alongside Kim Scott, the brilliant author of the book Radical Candor, and CEO Jason Rosoff and the rest of their team, Amy has been part of groundbreaking work that’s helping organizations create environments where all voices are valued and feedback is embraced.

Amy is also a Harvard graduate with an MBA and an MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA. She’s a certified breathwork and meditation teacher, and she’s woven many of the guiding principles from these practices into her leadership coaching. 

On a deeply personal note, Amy has openly shared how coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community in the mid-90s catalyzed her own journey of inner healing and self-inquiry.

It was truly an honor to sit down with Amy for this conversation. We found so much flow in our discussion,,,, that we decided to make this a two-part series, where we’ll dive even deeper into her work with Radical Candor in our next episode together which will come out later in December. 

I think you’ll appreciate Amy’s thoughtful, empathetic style of communication and gain valuable insights from today’s episode that I hope you’ll be able to apply in your own personal and professional life. Thanks for listening.

Connect with Amy Sandler:
LinkedIn
Radical Candor Podcast
Radical Candor Book

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In this episode, Andy introduces Dimitra Kalogeropoulou, a bilingual Greek/English Registered Clinical Psychologist and certified Compassionate Inquiry practitioner. Dimitra’s journey is deeply inspiring—having overcome a serious drug addiction, she has been clean for over 14 years and now dedicates her life to helping others heal. Through her work, she provides a safe and compassionate environment where clients can explore the root causes of their pain and suffering.

The episode explores the principles of Compassionate Inquiry, a therapeutic approach that helps people understand and address the deeper emotional and psychological issues that contribute to their struggles. Dimitra emphasizes the importance of being present in the moment as a core aspect of healing, a concept she has embraced personally in her own recovery.

Andy expresses deep admiration for Dimitra's thoughtful and caring nature, describing her as a true gift to the world. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own mental health and wellness, and the episode offers valuable insights on how we can all cultivate resilience, insight, and freedom in our own lives. The conversation is aimed at inspiring those who may be facing their own challenges to embrace healing and transformation. Thanks for listening and please share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from tuning in.

Connect With Dimitra:
If you are interested in connected with Dimitra, you can find her here. 

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Today’s episode is a special one as I had the chance to interview Dr. David Yeager, professor of psychology at University of Texas at Austin and a co-founder of the Texas Behavioural Science and Policy Institute. 

Dr. Yeager is widely recognized for his groundbreaking research alongside the inspiring Dr. Carol Dweck, the author of the brilliant book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, and Dr. Angela Duckworth, who authored the very impactful book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, and well-known psychologist  and researcher Dr. Greg Walton from Stanford. Together, they've developed short but impactful interventions that shape adolescent behaviors in areas like motivation, engagement, healthy eating, bullying, stress, and mental health.

Dr. Yeager has consulted for major organizations including Google, Microsoft, Disney, and the World Bank, as well as advising for the White House and governments in California, Texas, and Norway. His work has been featured in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Scientific American, CNN, Fox News, the Guardian, The Atlantic and many more.

In our conversation today, we dive into his latest book, 10-25: The Science of Motivating Young People. This insightful book reveals the conditions necessary to empower young people to make better choices and achieve greater success in their lives.

Our discussion not only covers the key themes in his book, but we also explore Dr. Yeager’s personal experiences in life and the deeper significance behind his work. 

If you’re a parent, teacher, coach, or leader, you’ll find tremendous value in what David shares. He offers profound wisdom on how we can authentically support 10 to 25-year-olds, helping them reach their fullest potential and find genuine success in their lives.

Dr. Yeager’s book challenges the common myths that young people nowadays are apathetic, entitled, unmotivated and lazy. Instead, he encourages us to reframe this narrative and adopt proactive mentoring strategies that empower youth to contribute positively to their communities and the world. This shift, as we know, is essential for the betterment of our society.

I hope you leave this episode not only wanting to grab a copy of his invaluable book 10-25: The Science of Motivating Young People, but also inspired to change how you interact with important young people in your life in order to bring out their best.

Thank you for tuning in! I’d appreciate it if you could share this episode on social media, helping more people discover Dr. Yeager’s important work.

Connect with Dr. David Yeager
Website
LinkedIn

Buy David's book here

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In this short Wisdom of Alignment podcast episode, Andy emphasize the transformative power of adopting a learner's mindset, especially when it comes to challenging our own assumptions and stepping outside our comfort zones. We often cling to familiar beliefs, choosing comfort over growth. However, true development—both personally and professionally—occurs when we break this cycle by embracing discomfort, reflecting honestly on our habits, and being open to change.

Daniel Goleman’s insights on self-awareness are central to this, highlighting that understanding our emotions, strengths, and weaknesses is key to growth. This self-awareness allows us to recognize when our thinking is rigid and prevents us from evolving. More than personal growth, the article encourages creating a learning culture that fosters collective development through curiosity and vulnerability.

This episode’s importance lies in its practical strategies for leaders, coaches, and anyone looking to grow: embrace discomfort, cultivate self-awareness, and create a learning culture. It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t come from sticking to the status quo, but from consistently challenging our beliefs and making learning a lifelong process. By reflecting on where we might be stuck, we can break free from limitations and inspire those around us to do the same. This message is crucial for anyone striving to become their best self, lead others effectively, or build environments where growth thrives. We hope you enjoy this short episode and share it with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Thank you!

Connect with Andy Vasily
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