This dialogue highlights the significance of creating meaningful connections and the joy that comes from building impactful connections and fostering a culture of inclusion within personal and professional relationships. They discuss the power of rituals and micro habits to guide you through each day and the beautiful connection between your physical environmentand your energy.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome

01:27 A Word From Our Sponsor

02:27 Soulful and Corny Connections

03:24 Space to Feel

06:36 Set the Tone for Your Day

11:25 Send Loving Energy Into Your Day

15:13 Rituals to Guide Your Day

21:18 My Soul Nest is my Sanctuary 

26:07 Beauty Through the Pain

31:17 Follow Your Energy to Find Your Moments

36:29 Natural Authentic Connection

44:41 When Things No Longer Fit

50:23 Still Relevant After 50

53:15 Appreciating Relief

55:29 Simple Pleasures in Choosing Yourself

59:43 What Wants to be Awakened Within You

More about Michelle Herndon

Michelle Herndon is a prominent leader in her industry. She is best known for her meaningful insights, mentorship andleadership. 

Michelle began her career in hospitality at the famed Patina restaurant in Los Angeles.  A very special time in the culinary world which has had great impact on her personal and professional life. 

Before joining BOKA Restaurant Group, Michelle had an illustrious career including time spent in HR staffing, Diversity & Inclusion training for Limited Brands.

Over the last decade Michelle has enjoyed a successful relationship with BOKA Restaurant Group as Director of PrivateEvents. Michelle has collaborated and created revenue generating private events programs for six restaurant openings for BOKA in the Chicago area.

She is currently the Director of Culture + Community for BOKA Group, where she is furthering diversity programs and services within the company-including creating and leading mentorship program for People of Color and within the LGBTQ+ community. She is known for her ability to bridge differences and create impactful connections within her company. She leads the recruiting department for the entire group, where identifying diverse talent while ensuring equity is her company’s mission.

Michelle graduated from the University of Illinois/University of Barcelona and received a Bachelor of Arts, Spanish. She hasalso earned her Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. She additionally spends time professional lifestyle coaching for her currently growing project SoulNest.

Connect with Michelle

Instagram @TheMichelleHerndon

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Melanie Foote-Davis and Emmy Beeson explore the conceptof toxic productivity and its impact on personal and professional wellness.Emmy shares her journey from a high-pressure leadership role to embracing mindfulness and self-care, emphasizing the importance of creating conditionsfor growth and collaboration in leadership. They discuss the significance of rest, emotional health, and the need for leaders to model healthier behaviors.The conversation highlights practical tools for finding joy and gratitude in everyday life, ultimately advocating for a more harmonious and aligned approach personally and professionally.

Chapters

00:00 Embracing Change: The Passage of Time

04:03 Awareness and Decision-Making: A Shift inPerspective

08:04 Toxic Productivity: Breaking Free from the Cycle

11:01 Recognizing Patterns: The Body's Signals

14:03 Creating Healthier Work Environments

17:00 Mindfulness and Presence: The Gift of Awareness

20:07 Leadership and Cultural Expectations: A NewApproach

23:16 Transformative Experiences: Learning from Nature

26:20 Creating Conditions for Success: IntentionalLeadership

36:27 Unraveling the Knots: A Journey to Freedom

41:21 Listening to the Body: The Importance of Awareness

46:39 Creating Conditions for Growth: Leadership andResponsibility

01:00:50 Finding Joy and Gratitude: Embracing the Present

01:08:25 Building Safe Spaces: Nurturing Relationships

More about Emmy Beeson

Emmy Beeson is an executive leadership coach with over 20 years of experience guiding middle and senior-level leaders to navigate change, lead with authenticity, and build high-performing teams. As a former CEO and Superintendent in both K-12 and Career Technical Planning Districts, Emmyunderstands the complexities of leadership — from managing multi-million dollar budgets to balancing community expectations — and brings that real-worldinsight into her coaching practice.  

Emmy specializes in helping leaders grow their personal andprofessional wellness while building practical strategies for time management, delegation, and organizational change. Emmy is a Board Certified Coach with an Executive Leadership Coaching Certification from Bellevue University.  

Her background in career-technical education gives her a unique perspective on bridging the gap between education and industry, helping leaders create meaningful change that lasts. Emmy’s passion lies in uncovering shared visions, building capacity for growth, and supporting leaders in embracingtheir authenticity.  

​Emmy holds degrees and licenses from Ohio Dominican University, the University of Findlay, and Ashland University. Whether guiding executives through organizational transformation or helping individuals rediscover theirpurpose, she is committed to equipping leaders with the skills and mindset to thrive.  

Connect with Emmy

Emmy Beeson, The Change Coach

Emmy’s The Toxic Productivity Culture blog

Linkedin.com/in/emmy-beeson

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In this enlightening conversation, Melanie Foote-Davis and Barbara Burgess explore the themes of self-discovery, joy, and the importance of setting boundaries. Barbara shares her journey of embracing 'enough' and how simple moments, like achalk experience with children, can lead to profound insights. They discuss the power of giving and receiving, the challenges of perfectionism, and the art of saying no to create space for what truly matters. The conversation emphasizes the importance of authenticity, gratitude, and choosing joy in everyday life, encouraging listeners to embrace their own journeys of self-discovery and connection.

Chapters

00:00 The Chalk Experience: A Journey Begins

09:27 The Power of Play and Connection

14:55 Gracious Giving: Gives Back to the Giver

21:36 Courageously Vulnerable

30:36 Navigating Relationships and Boundaries

37:09 Embracing Imperfection and Growth

38:19 Sovereignty and Personal Authority

41:18 The Allure of Authentic Experience

46:28 Navigating Boundaries: The Power of No

51:39 Audit Your Energy Inventory

57:55 Delightfully Be With Other Human Beings

More About Barbara Burgess

Barbara Burgess is an author, mother, executive, and unapologetic dark-chocolate lover who’s embraced the beautiful messiness of life. She founded Corluma (cor =heart, luma = light), a Chicago-based consulting firm, wrote and performed a one-woman show “The Extraordinary Experience of Being Ordinary” and most recently wrote her first book, Enough: Finding Peace in a World of Distractions, Hustle, and Expectations.

Known for her humor, vulnerability, and practical wisdom, Barbara shares simple shifts to help people remember they are enough and have enough. Her ego is kept in healthy check by two teenage children and career adventures that includedselling candy bars for Nestle Foods, launching Grainger into internet commerce, a brief marketing stint at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and most recently overseeing operations, marketing, and finances as the COO of a non-profit. Like all of us, Barbara says, she’s still figuring it out.

Connect with Barbara

Website: www.corluma.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barbaraburgess1Book: www.beenough.com

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In this engaging conversation, Melanie Foote-Davis and Michele Aikens explore the themes of creativity, and the power of words. They discuss how societal expectations can limit our potential and the importance of embracing our inner compass. The conversation emphasizes that it's never too late topursue dreams, the significance of slowing down for self-reflection, and the need to challenge the 'at least' mentality. They also highlight the wisdom that comes with aging and the potential for new beginnings. Ultimately, the discussion encourages listeners to reclaim joy and freedom at any age and to create a legacy of possibilities.

Chapters

00:00 Creativity Ignited

04:14 Words as Creative Tools

06:33 Align Actions to Your Vision

07:24 From Limitations to Possibilities

10:18 Navigating the Inner Compass

13:16 The Weight of Irrelevance

16:10 Disrupting Complacency

19:11 The Power of At Least

23:16 Connecting to Purpose

26:10 Rediscovering Creativity

28:39 When Your Dreams Keep Calling

29:16 The Importance of Reflection

31:10 Your Inner Compass is Guiding Your Path

33:58 When We Risk Losing Connection

35:31 Stillness Offers Access to Your Leader Within

40:17 Trust the Beauty and Power of Rest

43:10 It's Never Too Late: Embracing Age and Possibility

51:00 Contributions to the World: Beyond Material Success

54:17 Healing Through Possibilities

58:10 Reclaiming Joy and Freedom

More about Michele Aikens

Michele Aikens, MA, ACC is the CEO & Lead Coach of Clear Sight Coaching & Consulting, Inc., a certified professional coach, and a credentialed member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF). With a background in leadership,executive women’s coaching, team development, and transition coaching, Michele helps individuals and organizations navigate challenges with insight, empathy,and humor. She has worked with leaders from organizations including Chief, McDonald’s, The Obama Foundation, ThredUp, and U.S. Cellular.

Beyond her coaching expertise, Michele is a transformational speaker and facilitator, helping individuals gain clarity, unlock their potential, and move toward their purpose. As an author of five books and three dramatic plays, she uses storytelling to inspire growth and change. Her life mission is to “turn onlights for people so they can see that what is in them is greater than what is around them.”

Michele holds a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. She is certified by the World Business Executive Coaches (WBECs) and the Global Team Coaching Institute (GTCI) as a team coaching practitioner.

She is married to Nate Aikens, and they are the proud parents of two adult children.

Connect with Michele

MicheleAikens.com

[email protected]

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Linkedin 

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This is a heartfelt invitation to explore the profound impact of slowing down and becoming present. Melanie and Jae Gibbs delve into the healing power of mindfulness and the wisdom found in stillness. Discover how embracing the present moment can lead to deeper connections with ourselvesand others. Learn practical ways to integrate this practice into your daily practice. Tune in for an enriching conversation that encourages you to find the medicine in slowness. Embrace the joy of being truly present.

Chapters

00:00 Connection Through Somatic Training

02:49 The Power of Space Holding

05:48 Exploring the Depth of Somatic Work

08:23 The Importance of Slowing Down

11:17 The Medicine in Slowness

14:41 Honoring Ancestral Connections

35:22 Understanding Trauma and Family Dynamics

37:48 The Role of Community in Healing

41:244 Connecting with Ancestry and Heritage

43:52 The Power of Movement and Expression

46:48 Gratitude and Connection

49:35 Choosing Joy Amidst Life's Challenges

53:14 Grief as a Portal to Joy

56:36 The Gift of Connection and Community

More about Jae Gibbs

Jae is a Space Holder and Somatic Companion, deeply devoted to our individual and collective freedom, through re:membering the healing and empowering embOdiment lineAges alive within us. Jae’s approach is person-centred, trauma-sensitive, ancestrally-anchored and shaped through a decolonising lens. Her practice honours each person asresourceful, creative and whole, beyond what can be seen with our eyes or spoken with our mouths. Jae offers one toone body-oriented coaching and group explorations cultivating rituals of rest, rites of being and paths of play. She supports wisdom seekers and cycle changers to re:member your truest essence and explore ways to become grounded in the guidance of your whole being.

Connect with Jae

OurLivingTree.co.uk

Instagram: @our_living_tree

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LeeAnn shares the importance of finding joy in simple things, the healing power of storytelling, and how embracing emotions can lead to a more fulfilling life. LeeAnn sharesher journey of creating a one-woman show, the birth of her 'Adventure Girl' persona, and the significance of taking risks.

They also delve into the concept of collecting regrets as a means to fuel future growth and the practice of gratitude and presence in everyday life.

More about LeeAnn Marie Webster

LeeAnn Marie Webster is the creator of No Regrets Formula™and host of the Full Self Expression Forum. She is an attorney turned international Keynote speaker, Moth Story Slam winner, and entrepreneur with 20 years’ experience in marketing and business development in a range of industries.

LeeAnn has a substantial event background, having successfully produced 130+ virtual summits and founding the largest speed dating company in Southern California. Her entrepreneurial journey started when she became the first person to host a speed dating event outside of the Jewish community, ultimately creating the largest speed dating company in Southern California (“Rapid Dating”).

Her first national TV appearance was as a contestant on MTV’s Remote Control. Since then, her entrepreneurial insights have been featured in NBC, The Huffington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and dozens more.

Through her No Regrets Formula, she helps women leaders find a deeper sense of connection to themselves in order to feel more engaged, increase confidence, and live a more joyful life. She is also the creator of Fancy Meeting Me Here, her inspirational one woman show.

Connect with LeeAnn

https://RegretReleaseMethod.com

Linkedin.com/in/leeannmariewebster

Instagram: @leeannmwebster

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Elena shares her transformative journey of self-discovery, exploring the themes of personal growth, the significance of the seven-year cycle, and the importance of listening to one'sinner voice. She reflects on her experiences of deconstructing her life, the pain of letting go, and the joy of rebuilding her identity through love and acceptance.

The discussion emphasizes the need for trust in oneself and thepower of relationships, both with others and with oneself, as essential components of a fulfilling life.

Whos’ Elena Orth

Elena is a life enthusiast who has a way of changing perspectives. Her inherent curiosity has led her to become an architect, a Somatic Coach, a Yoga teacher, a Reiki practitioner, a Shiatsu bodyworker, a writer. She is amazed by the kaleidoscope of identities one person can take on and is endlessly compassionate about the depth of human emotion.

In her personal life experiment she chose to deconstruct all the pillars of her identity structure in one big stroke of radical renewal: she quit her safe job, left a long-term relationship, and moved from her city to a tropical island - forced by the growing pain of anxiety attacks and nearing burnout, and fueledby the deep hope that despite the darkness in a life that didn’t feel like her own, there is a light much brighter and warmer than she could even imagine.

Today she is here to hold a loving space for anyone ready to meet themselves and to navigate darkness with an open heart. In her Somatic Coaching programs she guides womento grow their capacity to be with their emotions, and catalyze pain and misalignment into pathways to real, authentic growth.

Connect with Elena

https://www.bendyminds.com/

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In this episode, Melanie celebrates the National Day of Joy and emphasizes that joy can be accessed in the present moment without needing extra resources. She shares simple practices to experience joy, such as savoring food, self-hugging, and connecting with nature. The conversation encourages listeners to choose joy daily and recognize their worth.

A Moment of Gratitude for our sponsor. Michele Aiken

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In this conversation, Melanie Foote-Davis and Tesha McCord Poe explore the themes of grief, joy, and resilience. Tesha shares her personal journey of loss, including the deaths of her husband and father, and how she found ways to process her grief through writing and humor. They discuss the importance of community, the lasting impact of love, and the mission behind Tesha's company, Joy-Raising, which aims to empower organizations to raise funds with joy. The conversation emphasizes that grief is a personal journey without a timeline, and that finding joy amidst sorrow is a choice we can make. They explore the multifaceted nature of leadership within philanthropy, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and the dignity of both giving and receiving. They discuss the challenges of fundraising, the emotional complexities surrounding money, and the necessity of fostering a supportive community. The dialogue alsotouches on personal growth, the healing power of joy, and the significance of choosing how to engage with life and others.

More about Tesha

Tesha McCord Poe, J.D./M.B.A., is the CEO and Founder of Joy-Raising, LLC, a consultancy dedicated to diversifying philanthropy by engaging people of color as donors and professionals, and supporting nonprofits through inclusive advancement strategies. With over a decade of senior administrative experience and a career total of over $100million raised—including multiple six- and seven-figure gifts—Tesha brings unmatched insight to fundraising, executive leadership, and organizational change.

Her experience spans roles as Interim Head at The Girls’ Middle School, Chief Advancement Officer at Castilleja School, and Chief Development Officer at Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and Associate Head of School at Hillbrook School. Tesha’s personal journey as a faculty child, student, parent, administrator, and trustee in independent schools shapes her bold, values-driven leadership style.

Joy-Raising’s flagship event, The Summit, convenes professionals of color in philanthropy for inspiration and connection. A sought-after speaker and TEDx presenter, Tesha co-authored Beyond Widow and serves on multiple nonprofit boards. She holds degrees from Barnard College, Columbia University, and Northwestern University, and lives in California but is known to find herself traveling and working in beautiful places in the U.S. and beyond

Connect with Tesha

Joy-Raising

The Summit: A Joy-RaisingExperience

LinkedIn

Book: Beyond Widow by Patty McGuigan and Tesha McCord Poe

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Radical Love Book

In this episode I invite you to play with joy. I share a beautiful quote by Kaylyn Johnson of Effie's Paper, reminding us that "joy is not cancelled. "

I encourage viewers to go on a treasure hunt for joy, to find simple moments that bring them happiness. I invite everyone to take five minutes each day to do something that contributes to their joy. Join me in exploring different ways to experience joy and savoring the delicious moments that life offers.

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