Mother's Day Spotlight

On this episode, I'm super excited to share this interview with my MOM - Joan (pronounced Jo Ann).   She talks about what it was like to be a woman in the 1950's.  During our conversation, Mom and I discuss the importance of family, travel, love and the power of choice. 

 Resilient

My folks were from Cedar Rapids, Iowa and met in high school.  They started out with little money, worked hard and had to start over again in their 60's.   I've always admired their resilience. 

Character

I asked Mom to share some wisdom for her 5 grandchildren.   

"If my grandchildren realized how important it is to be honest and decent, then that will get you through everything. ...."

"You are known by the friends you keep."

"Don't hide your light under a bushel."

Relationships

"Every couple remembers the time that they fell in love.  It's always just a moment in time.'"

For my Mom and Dad, their moment was at the top of a carnival Ferris wheel. You'll hear her relive the story.   

  "I remember the touch, the colors, the lights.."
 
  "It just happens.."

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Mom, Fitness Expert, Tiny Habits Coach

Brittany Power is a powerful woman.  She is a mom of six ---3 sons from a previous marriage, 2 stepdaughters & a toddler.   

Throughout her life, Brittany has used her struggles as life lessons. A Leukemia cancer survivor, she experienced the life changing loss of her younger brother and watched her Dad disintegrate from Alzheimer’s.   

Brittany knows life is tough but women are tougher.

Her success started with a rock bottom moment that was transformed because of habits & resilience. You'll hear more in our conversation.  You might want to take some notes.

According to Brittany, PINK SPRINKLED DONUTS are a lot like LIFE.

TINY HABITS FOR MOMS

Brittany and her Mom, Linda Fogg-Phillips, created the course  Tiny Habits for Moms.   As a mother of 8 children, Linda knows how to design systems that work.   Brittany and Linda will teach you effective strategies you can use immediately.   

In their course you'll learn:

• How to design habits that stick in 5-7 days
• What has been successful for other moms in the top 7 areas you juggle as a mom
• Fun ways to teach your kids behavior change

You can learn more about Brittany here. 

Buy BJ Fogg's book - Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything

Hi Friend - Thanks for listening!

Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

Do you struggle with sugar?  Are you on a journey to live a healthier life?   This is the interview for you.   

On this episode I talk with Certified Tiny Habits Coaches Andrea Spyros and Juni Felix.

Juni Felix is a bestselling author of You are Worth the Work – Moving Forward from Trauma to Faith.  She's a member of Dr. BJ Fogg’s Stanford University Behavior Design Teaching Team, a C.S. Lewis Institute Fellow, and a radio and podcast host.

Learn more about Juni at junifelix.com.   

Behavior Design expert Andrea Spyros shows leaders and their teams a simple, science-based system to solve challenges with ease. Her keynotes and workshops help organizations break through the Myth of Motivation to see real results.

Contact Andrea at [email protected] and learn more on her website: AndreaSpyros.com

Check out Juni & Andrea's new online course -    Tiny Habits for Sugar Free Living

They'll help you create a Sugar Free Master Plan using an internationally proven method for behavior change called 'Tiny Habits.'

I also recommend you buy BJ Fogg's book:  Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything

Hi Friend - Thanks for listening!

Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

Maci Wescott is a digital marketer and messaging strategist who brings words and solutions together like magic.  She works with clients on their copy, brand and launch planning.  I've experienced Maci's expertise first hand.   Maci dives deep to get to know her client and their business. 

But that's not where she started.   Listen in and you'll hear how Maci took an unpaid internship that changed her career.  

Since taking that leap, Maci has worked on more than 200 launches, some resulting in multiple six-figure success for her clients.  Her secret sauce is making sure  brand, values, and offers all align.

What makes Maci super savvy is her understanding of her own strengths and how to leverage them for her clients and their businesses.  She learned about her natural talents by taking the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment.  

Maci helps entrepreneurs develop their brand ethos, create evocative messaging and refine their offers for maximum impact.  You can connect with Maci at: 

https://www.maciwescott.com/

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Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

Listen in as three good friends meet over margaritas and talk about family and the meaning of friendship. I've wanted to do an interview with my two friends - Wendy Conklin and Grace Capwell - for some time.  Wendy is the founder of Chair Whimsy.   Grace Capwell is a strategic communications leader.   

Over the years we've shared our experiences as women......moms, wives, daughters, aunts and sisters.  We're all different ages and in various stages of our lives.   We met when our children were young and have been friends for years.   

Wendy, Grace and I sat around the dining room table and shared dinner, margaritas and stories about friendship.   And yes, we laughed a lot.   

Key Take Aways

• Good friends happen when you least expect it. Be open to the possibility
• You don't need a lot of friends, one or two is all you need
• Make friends with  interesting people who are doers, go-getters
• Be honest with your friends, tell them the pains not just the 'good' stuff
• Look for people who are real, down-to-earth and will meet you in the trenches 
• Keep struggling until you find deep, lifelong friendships

I'd love to hear your feedback about this episode.  You can connect with me via email at [email protected].  www.judyoskam.com 

Hi Friend - Thanks for listening!

Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

Travel - Just do it

Talking with Lea Lane is like having coffee or a glass of wine with a dear friend.  Interesting, educational and just plain fun.

Over the years, Lea's been to more than 100 countries. During the pandemic she started her award-winning podcast, Places I Remember with Lea Lane.   

Lea Lane has written more than a thousand travel pieces and columns, and contributed to Fodor’s guidebooks and Unofficial Guides. She’s authored eight books, including award-winners Solo Traveler,  Travel Tales I Couldn’t Put in the Guidebooks, and Places I Remember: Tales, Truths, Delights from 100 Countries. 

I know that Lea has so many stories to share - which means I need to do a follow-up interview or meet her somewhere on the road.  I've got so many questions about how she navigated life as a wife, mother, communications professional, writer and now starting a podcast and Youtube channel......as she turns 80 years old!   I love this.

Habits that work for Lea:  

• Work in the earlier part of the day
• Balance your work and life (her computer is always nearby!)
• Stay curious 

Quotes:  

People around the world are the same and can be a little different too.... we all love and care but we have little cultural differences.  

 Some of us have more luck than others, we were born in the right time and the right place.  So many times I have seen people who have been through many wars and many famines and this sort of thing and they're just like I am, they're  just not lucky and it makes you a better person if you realize this. 
 
Prioritize what you want to do.  If you're comfortable, do it.  

Realize that time is short - so find a way to get out and go.  Find someone to travel with or travel on your own. 

You can buy Lea's book - Place I Remember:  Tales, Truths and Delights from 100 Countries, on Amazon.

Places I Remember with Lea Lane - Podcast
Lea's Blog - Places I Remember
Lea Lane's column in Forbes
Bio Info

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Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

I'm honored to share this interview with my former Texas State University colleague Dr. Cassandra LeClair.  She's an author, professor, communication consultant, and motivational speaker.
 
Dr. LeClair's story is powerful. For many years as a child, Cassandra was the victim of sexual abuse.  For decades, she never told a soul. She shares the heartbreaking story of her abuse in her book Being Whole: Healing from Trauma and Reclaiming My Voice.

Cassandra's mission is to educate individuals about how to have effective and healthy communication to enhance their relationships. She works to help others gain understanding of their communication practices to improve their connections with friends and family members, in the workplace, and beyond.

In April 2018, Dr. Cassandra LeClair survived a car crash that not only broad-sided her daily existence, it sent her careening back to childhood trauma.  The car crash was the just the catalyst - the beginning of her journey to reclaim her voice.  Dr. LeClair spent her days teaching others to communicate effectively and share their stories all while keeping a devastating secret that prevented her from feeling truly whole and living an authentic existence.

Check out Being Whole with Dr. Cassandra LeClair podcast on your favorite podcast player.   

https://cassandraleclair.com/

Hi Friend - Thanks for listening!

Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

 Pivot  (verb)     to make a significant change in position, strategy, or process

On this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Personal and Professional Development Coach Pam Danyluk from her office in Canada. 

Pam Danyluk is an engineer-turned-coach, with a life story full of pivots.

Her personal experience with CliftonStrengths shifted the way she approaches not only her career, but the rest of her life as well.

In addition to coaching individuals and teams, Pam has helped hundreds recognize and appreciate their innate talent through facilitating CliftonStrengths workshops, webinars, university lectures and group coaching sessions.

Through her coaching practice - Awareness in Bloom - she uses her training and life experiences to help people transform their lives both personally and professionally.

SPECIAL OFFER:   Connect with Pam for a FREE coaching session. 
https://www.awarenessinbloom.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-danyluk/

Hi Friend - Thanks for listening!

Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

Improve your public speaking skills

In this episode, you'll learn 5 simple tips to help you become a more effective communicator. 

Andrea Spyros, Behavior Design expert and Tiny Habits Certified Coach, shows leaders and their teams a simple, science-based system to solve challenges with ease. Her keynotes and workshops help organizations break through the Myth of Motivation to see real results in all areas of operation.

Andy talked about her entrepreneurial journey and how she builds community in our season 2 interview (episode 34).  Because she's a professional speaker, I asked Andy to share some strategy about public speaking.  Practice Andy's tips and you'll most certainly improve your public speaking skills and increase your confidence.  #100%

When she's not practicing her presentations, you can find Andrea Spyros painting, playing bass guitar, or amusing her friends with geeky math jokes. 

Contact Andrea at [email protected] and learn more on her website: AndreaSpyros.com

Hi Friend - Thanks for listening!

Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.

Adoption, Culture and Family

On this episode I was honored to interview Natalie Pappas.  She was adopted from the Hunan Province of China when she was two years old.   I was there on that September day.  My husband and I adopted our oldest daughter from the same orphanage.  A life changing event.

Natalie Pappas created the online project Tiger Lily Stories to provide a space and a platform for adoptee voices and stories.  During our conversation, we talk about race, adoption and Asian American identity.

Pappas graduated from The New School in 2019 with a degree in Literary Studies.  Natalie is passionate about fashion, photography, and writing and pursues these interests in her creative and professional work. 


Tiger Lily Stories
https://www.tigerlilystories.com/

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Hi Friend - Thanks for listening!

Check out my TEDx talk. Why you should take action - then figure it out.