Shine

In this wise and authentic interview, I speak with my friend and colleague Tami Simon about her leadership journey as the founder of Sounds True. Sounds True is a company on a mission to impart spiritual wisdom and thus be in service in the waking up and healing of our world. Sounds True is a company that publishes over 800 spoken-word audio and music recordings, books, multimedia learning resources, and online educational programs from those prominent in the fields of spirituality, psychology, health, and healing, and original works by writers and lecturers Andrew Weil, Pema Chödrön, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfield, Ram Daas, Tara Brach, the Dalai Lama, and is also publishing my upcoming book Shine-Ignite your inner game to lead consciously at work and in the world. In this interview, we learn from Tami’s 35+ year career, she shares about her leadership wisdom to aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs, the inner game practices she uses to embody a strong and inclusive culture and lastly we learn how she is shining her unique light to promote greater consciousness work and in the world. This interview kicks off the 3rd season of the Shine podcast and 2021 with a powerful message.

Key Takeaways:

[1:50] Carley introduces the 2021 focus on how the inner game rules the outer game and introduces a leader that embodies conscious leadership — Tami Simon.

[7:25] Tami reflects on the inception and mission of Sounds True publishing company and the need to disseminate spiritual wisdom.

[13:45] The evolution of a multimedia company that effectively delivers dharma to the world, including in Carley’s personal life.

[19:29] Tami’s definition of dharma and the importance of communicating the essential truths of humankind.

[20:35] The best-selling programs at Sounds True focus on meditation, breathing, the seven chakras, empaths, self-care, and desire.

[24:33] Tami aims to touch in with herself throughout the day by connecting with the whole self, including the head, heart, and body, and asking herself “what is needed right now?”.

[28:51] Tami is committed to learning and growing by increasing intimacy with those she is closest to by allowing vulnerability and sitting with grief.

[32:51] The value of leaning into vulnerability, recognizing the fragility of our lives, and embracing the capacity for loving and losing.

[37:46] The guiding lights and consciousness practices that support the culture of Sounds True, including dealing with conflict with kindness.

[43:33] Valuable pieces of wisdom that only come with running a company for 34 years.

[48:48] Nourishing the self in the midst of entrepreneurship can be achieved by connecting with nature and committing to your own health and balance.

[52:51] Tami reflects on lessons she has learned from key conversations, including facing challenges with motivation and optimism.

[1:00:00] What inspires Tami as she continues to move forward with her meaningful work.

[1:02:50] Carley shares four questions that will increase your inner game as you move into the new year.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Four Sigmatic — use discount code SHINE for 15% off

Shinebook

Free Conscious Leadership Workshop

Sounds True

Waking Up in the World

In this inspiring interview with my friend Anne Therese, we speak about the importance of doing the inner work and cultivating a strong conscious inner game so we can each take a stand to lead in a way that supports life and builds the kind of workplace and world that we want to live and thrive in. Anne and I both speak to the importance of and the how-to of climate activism and optimism. As we near the end of the year, this feels like a perfect ending to a perfect transformational storm. May it serve you well.

“It’s OK for our hearts to be broken over the world. What else is a heart for?”

– Joanna Macy

Anne Therese co-founded Role Models Management in 2017, a talent agency that puts ethics, sustainability, and social justice at the core of our business. She also started the climate optimist podcast and is creating an inspiring following with her passion on this topic around the world.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] Carley reflects on the journey of this year and introduces today’s guest, climate activist and optimist Anne Therese.

[4:38] Anne shares the why behind the passion and optimism she brings to the world.

[10:30] How Anne transformed herself from angry activist to climate optimist.

[13:54] Is it really okay to be angry and anxious about the current state of the world?

[18:07] The power of approaching activism and climate change with a “we” mindset, open mindedness and an attitude of fun.

[21:49] The daily practices that lend to Anne’s optimism include gathering strength from her community and cultivating respect for her body.

[25:48] The role that connecting with nature plays in achieving balance and clarity.

[32:58] How to fully feel the emotions that come with the awareness of the suffering and love that we have for the planet.

[38:16] Optimism and healing can be found in the gift of presence and the power of active hope.

[40:10] Conversations that have given Anne hope and inspiration in her quest for change.

[45:08] Understanding the intersection of limiting plastic consumption, death, and slowing down.

[52:40] Carley shares the experiences she has had with composting, limiting waste and changing her habits.

[57:30] Six climate actions you can take right now and as you move into the new year.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Four Sigmatic — use discount code SHINE for 15% off

Shinebook

Free Conscious Leadership Workshop

The Climate Optimist

The Action Squad

Hey Change Podcast

Kiss the Ground

One Tree Planted

Give Love

In this powerful interview, I speak to my friend Chip Conley on how we build the inner game of authenticity. Chip shares his modern elder view on the gift of transformation that the pandemic is offering to us individually and collectively. Chip and I also speak to our deep connection with nature and the wisdom nature can inspire as our teacher. Chip talks about the authenticity equation of self-awareness + authenticity= courage.

As you move into the end of the year, authenticity is one of the most important skills we can each cultivate to create a workplace and world where everyone can thrive. Chip Conley is the founder of the Modern Elder Academy located in Baja, CA. Prior to this endeavor, he has been a long time successful entrepreneur, a graduate of Stanford's Business School, and was influential in running Joi de Vivre hospitality. Additionally, In 2013, he advised the CEO of Airbnb Brian Cheskey in his role as Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy for Airbnb.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] Carley invites listeners to share in a practice of gratitude and reflects on the inner game quality of authenticity.

[5:49] Self-awareness plus authenticity equals courage — today’s guest Chip Conley embodies authenticity as a human and as a leader.

[7:10] What does conscious leadership mean to Chip? It starts with intentionally giving awareness to it and giving service leadership to your work.

[9:49] A conscious leader shows up differently in order to serve in the way that they want to, and that means being responsible rather than reactive in your interactions with others.

[12:42] How to create space that allows for creativity in an environment that demands constant reactivity.

[17:16] Spying on the divine will create a generativity and provide the wisdom that allows you to create a difference in the world of others.

[22:52] There are miracles happening all around us if we are able to be the noticer. Chip shares his journey with healing from a cancer diagnosis and the healing it has enabled him to give others.

[28:14] How can disruptions like we’ve seen in 2020 serve us as we move forward to the new normal? Chip explains the phases that move us toward a deeper level of transformation.

[36:28] The transactional relationships in the working world need to be moved to transformational relationships.

[37:10] Chip’s books that highlight being a conscious leader and utilizing emotional equations to create greater authenticity.

[42:26] A call to action to lead with both transparency and authenticity and to reject the actions that are not serving our work and our relationships.

[47:02] Carley shares three questions that you can ask yourself in order to better increase your own game of authenticity.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Four Sigmatic — use discount code SHINE for 15% off

Shinebook

Free Conscious Leadership Workshop

Chip Conley

Chip Conley’s TED Talk

Wisdom at Work

Modern Elder Academy

In this interview, Scott and I discuss the important topic of leading from love. Scott Shute leads the compassion and mindfulness programs for LinkedIn. Mindfulness allows us to see things as they are with presence and compassion and is the act of being with the suffering of whatever is occurring in the moment. Compassion is going from “me” to “we.” At LinkedIn, they define compassion as the capacity of having awareness of others, a mindset of wishing the best for others, and the courage to take action.

By choosing to practice meditation and thus grow our mindsets to something greater than our past experiences, traumas, or narratives, we can choose what we want to believe and thus what we will become. From a place of presence, we can choose love over fear. Leading from love at work and in the world is one of the greatest qualities we can cultivate right now. Love is how we will build bridges, change unhealthy systems, and step towards healing the divide.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] All you need is love! Love is the inner game conscious quality of November, and love is the key to healing from trauma.

[4:49] Consciously choosing a new path and practicing new patterns of thinking will dictate a future worth showing up for.

[7:35] Ask yourself — do I want to lead from fear or from love?

[11:43] Compassion links conscious leadership in business and moves from thinking about me to thinking about we.

[14:07] Scott Shute shares the spiritual journey that led him to practicing meditation.

[19:16] Practicing meditation has benefitted Scott’s personal and professional relationships, and he notices its benefits most when he doesn’t do his daily practice.

[21:55] How does meditation and mindfulness lead to greater compassion for self and others?

[26:10] Scott and Carley each share the inner work that they are currently working on in these uncertain times.

[31:14] Scott highlights the work that he does as LinkedIn’s Mindfulness and Compassion senior leader in developing greater presence and sharing it with others in a professional setting.

[38:52] Action steps for operationalizing compassion and making mindfulness a successful daily practice in a global company.

[40:48] Identifying the key points of individual and team behavior that will best move a company toward working together as one.

[44:48] How does a business platform that is leading and loving with compassion affect communities, the world and the planet at large?

[47:35] LinkedIn’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement and the emphasis they have placed on diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

[52:19] Scott shares insights into his upcoming book and the voice of the inner critic that at times keeps him from being his best and most compassionate self.

[59:52] How can you overcome the fear and uncertainty that creates anxiety in this VUCA year?

[1:01:35] Scott sees hope in the relationships that are being strengthened and the opportunities that are emerging with the challenges of these uncertain times.

[1:04:52] Carley encourages listeners to join in the second part of her free conscious leadership workshop.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Four Sigmatic — use discount code SHINE for 15% off

Shinebook

Free Conscious Leadership Workshop

Scott Shute

Wise at Work

The Full Body Yes: Change Your World and Your Work From the Inside Out by Scott Shute

In this nourishing conversation, Danielle and I speak about all our passions, the science and healing power of mushrooms, food as medicine, how to increase our inner game of well being, and her pathway towards being a mycologist and supporting the education of mushrooms for healing, and collective awakening and flourishing. Danielle Ryan Broida, RH (AHG) is a key player in the worldwide mushroom movement. As a Registered Herbalist (RH) of the American Herbalists Guild (AHG), Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Instructor of Mycology, and National Educator of Four Sigmatic, Danielle is teaching the world about the importance of a life on functional mushrooms. You don’t want to miss this episode, it's shroom good.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] Carley offers insights into the reasons she is voting for Joe Biden and presents questions listeners need to ask themselves before voting.

[9:37] How can we heal ourselves and our planet through the power of self-care and mushrooms? Carley introduces the interconnectedness we share with mushrooms and her guest Danielle Ryan Broida.

[13:40] Conscious leadership and the importance of self-care, or filling our own cup before we begin to pour out to others.

[16:25] Danielle shares some of the guiding mantras that lead the work at Four Sigmatic including innovation, independence, and growth.

[18:36] The four criteria of adaptogens and how they react to internal and external stressors.

[22:23] Functional mushrooms and their first tier and second tier components for healing and well-being.

[26:35] Danielle recalls her experiences with mushrooms in Thailand, India, Indonesia and Bali.

[30:14] Recoining the animal kingdom as a queendom in which fungi connect every living thing in our Mother Earth together.

[33:19] How can mushrooms help to heal our lives and our planet? The role of mycoremediation and the powerful characteristics of mushrooms including reishi, chaga, and lion’s mane.

[43:30] The benefits of tremella and its relationship with water.

[46:35] How to find the perfect balance of functional mushrooms and bring their healing benefits into your daily routine.

[52:37] Resources to guide you in learning more about the benefits of functional mushrooms.

[54:10] Danielle shares the hope she feels in alternative and sustainable options for wellbeing.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Four Sigmatic — use discount code SHINE for 15% off

Shinebook

Danielle Ryan Wellness

Mushroom Academy

American Herbalists Guild

I Will Vote

I interview Dr. Maysa Akbar on her view of how to be an anti-racist, how we can begin to fight racial injustice, and walk through a detailed roadmap for those of us feeling the call to show up and create and build a more just and equitable world. In her book, Beyond Ally, Dr. Akbar showcases racial justice work through the creation of the Ally Identity Model, which details the stages of allyship in dismantling systemic oppression. She is a groundbreaking psychologist, best-selling author, and healer. Dr. Akbar is a thought leader and expert in racial trauma, allyship, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is also an assistant professor at Yale University in the School of Medicine.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] Carley Hauck shares the October focus on well-being and practices of self-care that will enable us to flourish in difficult times.

[3:59] Introducing guest Dr. Maysa Akbar, who shares her upbringing and the life experiences that led her to work as an expert in racial trauma, allyship, diversity and inclusion.

[12:02] How leaning into her past has led Maysa to cultivate resilience, agility and flexibility.

[15:15] Becoming an effective ally starts with developing a partnership with an opposed or marginalized community to seek racial justice.

[19:33] Maysa shares the response to her new book Beyond Ally and focuses on the efforts of those that are fighting to create partnership in an equitable world.

[23:00] The importance of knowing the next step to take when moving beyond allyship and when reconciling with the past.

[26:42] Carley shares her steps toward activation as an ally and the understanding she has developed along the way.

[29:37] The stages of the Ally Identity Model and how anyone can begin the journey toward allyship from where they currently are.

[37:19] Where do most people currently fall on the Ally Identity Model? Maysa shares a snapshot of America today compared to where it used to be and where it has the potential to go.

[42:18] Strategies for effectively hospicing out old systems that are keeping our country divided starts with taking ownership of our history, spending time together and showing compassion.

[46:13] Maysa shares the way to continue the conversation and to embrace your ability to affect change at this time.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Four Sigmatic — discount code SHINE

Shinebook

“Trump bans ‘anti-American’ diversity training” BBC News article

Maysa Akbar

Integrated Wellness Group

Beyond Ally: The Pursuit of Racial Justice, by Dr. Maysa Akbar

”How are we getting along?” Carley’s recent solo episode on the Shine podcast

This month’s topic of resilience speaks to your ability to rise from all of the challenges that life may serve you. In this interview Anne Grady and I speak about her personal and professional struggles, her recipes for resilience, and how mindset plays such an important role in finding the silver lining amidst difficulty and discomfort. If you find that you are being hard on yourself with all of the changes and uncertainties in today’s world, remember that success means growth. If you are learning and growing in each mindful moment, you are successful.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] Carley Hauck addresses climate changes, this month’s topic of resilience and her guest speaker and author Anne Grady.

[5:20] What does conscious leadership mean to Anne? It starts with being present to the needs of your team and honoring your connections with individuals.

[7:40] Resiliency is the new leadership currency, and the right team provides its members the physiological safety that is modeled by its leader.

[13:00] Leaders have to experience setbacks as part of their success. Remember that the definition of success is growth.

[16:24] Anne shares the life experiences and tools that have helped her develop a stronger, more resilient, and courageous inner game.

[23:00] What is the role of faith and trust in enduring all that you will face in this life? Anne emphasizes the value of recognizing the fact that you have already survived the hardest challenges of your life so far.

[28:54] Resilience as the ability to get back up again is a power and and a contentment that can only come from within ourselves.

[34:55] Anne shares her motivation behind writing Mind Over Moment and its accompanying journal.

[41:01] The value of our scars, the stories they tell, and the lessons we learn from them.

[44:25] We cannot heal our wounds if we are continually placing blame on other people. Ask yourself, “what am I putting out into the world? Am I perpetuating positivity or pain?”

[50:22] The fundamental attribution error reminds us that we are all doing the best we can — giving people the benefit of the doubt will serve us all well.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Four Sigmatic — discount code SHINE

Shinebook

Anne’s Ted Talk

Mind Over Movement

Mark Nepo is a poet and spiritual adviser who has taught in the fields of poetry and spirituality for over 30 years. Nepo is best known for his New York Times #1 bestseller, The Book of Awakening. He has published 12 books and recorded six audio projects. A cancer survivor, Nepo writes and teaches about the journey of inner transformation and the life of relationship. In this powerful interview, Mark Nepo and I speak to how we can cultivate deeper levels of love and resilience in this time of disruption, transformation, and division. We are at a precipice of creating a whole new world that moves away from “othering” by a simple mindset shift of seeing that we are more together than alone. Being wholehearted is living with more truth, kindness and meaning amidst the suffering in the world.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] Carley Hauck introduces Mark Nepo and the topic of inner resilience to lead with more meaning, truth and kindness.

[8:35] How can we live and lead in these difficult times with love and kindness? It starts with inner resilience.

[11:25] Mark shares his cancer journey and the grief and loss that he had to process in order to move forward.

[14:53] Surrender means cooperating with the truth as we meet it, and suffering makes clear what we need to see most in the moment we need to see it.

[21:00] Our inner hierarchy of needs requires that we take time to develop and shine our inner light. Deepening our roots and widening our trunks will allow us to weather the challenges of our time.

[26:46] Mark shares how he learned to discern fear and pain in his cancer journey so that he could surrender and cooperate with the truth as needed.

[31:07] Fear has its place in our lives, but we cannot allow it to overinflate in our lives during difficult times. Mark teaches how to face your fears in a manageable way.

[37:50] What tools are in your toolbox to help you right-size your sense of things to help you overcome pain and fear as it comes?

[44:42] How do we embrace the dark so that the light can shine through, allowing us to build a better world? Consciousness is darkness made light and quiet bravery in the face of fear.

[49:49] Carley shares her practice of embracing a heightened awareness in the triggering interactions that she shares with others.

[55:11] Mark shares the details of his upcoming webinar that will speak to the power of togetherness, what gives him hope in the future of our world today, and a stanza from his powerful poem.

[59:03] Carley shares an ingestible resource for developing resilience in today’s constantly changing landscape.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Four Sigmatic — discount code SHINE

Shinebook

Mark Nepo

Mark Nepo Webinar — More Together Than Alone

The Book of Soul: 52 Paths to Living What Matters by Mark Nepo

More Together Than Alone: Discovering the Power and Spirit of Community in Our Lives and in the World by Mark Nepo

In this solo episode, Carley explores the concept of seeing whiteness and how to have important conversations about race at work. Carley will share an essential 3 part framework to support you to have brave exchanges that can foster more compassion, equity, safety, inclusion, and collaboration in the workplace.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] Carley Hauck introduces the critical topic of today’s podcast — bridging differences in our workplaces and in our world.

[4:48] Carley’s diversity story and how it has shaped her views of discrimination, oppression, slavery, racism, and the importance of the inner work that affects how we show up.

[7:01] Introducing the inner game skill of greater self awareness, emotional intelligence, empathy, resilience and how it enables us to build bridges and lead consciously.

[10:23] How can we bridge our differences in ways that enable collaboration and creative solutions? It starts with getting comfortable with discomfort and a willingness to try and try again.

[12:43] The initial inner skills that will allow you to bridge differences including assuming positive intent, becoming a better listener, employing mindfulness exercises, and practicing self-compassion.

[18:05] Three steps to guide you through difficult conversations about race including acknowledgement and validation, curiosity with compassion, and focusing on solutions.

[23:10] Three powerful resources that can support you in your efforts to heal the division and divide of our world.

[25:47] Racism is a form of trauma — how can your commitment to your inner work allow you to promote inclusion and healing?

[27:22] Carley explains how you can prioritize your self-care by utilizing food as medicine.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

“Befriending Your Inner Critic” by Carley Hauck

Seeing White

Beyond Ally

Embodying Courage

Four Sigmatic

How leaders are judged in a difficult time is not necessarily what they said or did, but how they made people feel. Leaders who are genuinely empathetic and concerned for the needs of those they represent will come across as honest, sincere, and authentic. In this interview, we speak of the essential inner game quality of emotional intelligence and how this, combined with self-awareness, creates greater social awareness and relationship mastery. When we think and feel into the bigger problems we as a human race, society, and business need to solve, it all comes down to relationships. Find the path forward to a socially responsible workplace and the world with Johanna Lyman.

Johanna Lyman is the Principal Consultant and Practice Leader for Culture and Inclusion at Kadabra. She is a dynamic, energetic Leadership and Culture coach and consultant with nearly 30 years of experience in leadership development and culture change. She is adept at combining coaching, training, and facilitation to help clients build sustainably profitable businesses while creating deep meaning in their work. She believes that inclusion and diversity should be seen as the natural outcomes of building great cultures.

Key Takeaways:

[:01] Carley Hauck introduces the importance of cultivating greater emotional intelligence as one of the conscious inner game skills that will allow you to develop relationship mastery and connect with others on a greater level.

[6:36] Introducing Johanna Lyman, who shares the experiences that led her to knowing why conscious leadership in business, integrity and recognizing our shared humanity matters to her.

[10:53] The tools for inner work that Johanna has been engaging in to help her through this VUCA time include meditation, a social media fast, and recognizing the gifts of the pandemic and the lessons we can learn from them.

[17:48] Emotional intelligence and the importance of being present in uncertain times to allow us to develop an increased sense of self-awareness.

[23:14] These unprecedented times have given us the opportunity to change the world from a place of abundance or scarcity to a place of sufficiency.

[27:53] How the flying trapeze and bouldering can teach us to let go of the things we are used to holding onto in order to move toward something better.

[30:50] The four aspects of emotional intelligence as they relate to upping the inner and the outer game and our ability to lead consciously.

[38:17] Everyone is feeling more than they’ve ever felt before in this pandemic, and the weight of the feelings is resting on leaders who have not been trained to manage it all. What can be done about it? Start with the Zoom In, Zoom Out practice.

[42:48] How to refine the critical piece of emotional intelligence in all that we are learning in these unprecedented times.

[46:08] Supporting leaders and workplaces in the important conversations that need to be taking place right now starts with embracing the fact that mistakes are going to be made.

[50:12] The various levels of learning that can effectively create change, including addressing and unraveling racism.

[55:37] Prioritizing people over the planet and protecting people of color so that we can save our planet and create a more equitable workplace for everyone.

[58:38] Johanna shares a message of hope for listeners to become the cultivated leaders the world needs now.

Resources:

Leading from Wholeness

Carley Hauck on Instagram

Carley Hauck on LinkedIn

Lead From Light Daily Rituals

Conscious Company

Kadabra (SJLC)

Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business by John Mackey and Rajendra Sisodia

The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship With Your Money and Your Life by Lynne Twist