In this episode of the Indomitable Podcast, Di welcomes actor, singer, and creative coach Gregory Halpin to share his story. From facing discrimination as a gay child in the 70s to living in New York crafting his own one-man show, Gregory’s story is all about learning how to overcome your harshest inner critic and building a stronger creative practice.

Additional Links

- Follow Gregory on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/gregoryHalpen/

- Learn more about Gregorys’ Coaching Practice and podcast at https://www.gregoryhalpen.com/

- Learn more about Di’s books and speaking opportunities at https://diciruolo.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

01:21 The Artist's Life

02:55 Building Your Song into Your Voice

06:09 Overcoming Your Inner Critic with Creative Practice

08:01 Repeated Feelings and Bad Creative Habits

09:54 Reaching Back For The Others Behind You

12:32 Interrupting Anxiety

14:27 Moving Away From Toxic Relationships

19:45 Gregory's Show

22:13 The Nurturer Archetype

23:53 Childhood and Coming Out

27:28 Cultivating Intimate Friendships

29:35 Seeking Older Men in Relationships

30:27 Family Dynamics and Personal Identity

31:54 Using Sarcasm as a Defense Mechanism

32:54 Why It's Harder To Share

35:52 Working with Creatives to Overcome Obstacles

39:10 The Impact of Creativity and Releasing Artistic Work

41:32 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Shared Experiences

42:45 Giving Yourself Permission to Create

45:02 Redefining Success For Yourself

47:29 The Creative Juices Podcast and Supporting Creatives

49:02 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Di recalls the lessons she's learned in season one of the Indomitable podcast, sharing more details of her journey as a neglected and abused foster child and the factors that ultimately led her to finally write her book 'Indomitable: a Foster Care Story.'

As Di continues to share her story, she upholds her lifelong journey to advocate for those who think differently, finding new ways to help heal our collective trauma and be the adults we needed in our most challenging moments.

Make sure to subscribe to be alerted when season 2 of the Indomitable Podcast returns on April 9, 2024!

Additional Links

Chapters

– 00:00 Introduction and Background

In this episode, Dani James, an American living in Sweden, shares her journey from growing up in South Dakota to hitchhiking in California and the car accident that led to her recovery living in Sweden and becoming an influencer and author.

Additional Links

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Background

03:11 – Hitchhiking in California

05:19 – Car Accident and Recovery

19:24 – Moving to Sweden

25:01 – Parental Leave and Family Life in Sweden

33:19 – Lack of Community Support for Parents in the US

36:34 – Comparison of Parenting Support in Sweden and the US

41:02 – Raising Free-Spirited Children

44:58 – The Impact of Nature and Sustainable Travel

47:16 – Writing a Book to Inspire and Share Personal Journey

48:07 – Connect with Dani Rosenblad James

This week, Di interviews Steve Jones, the indomitable CEO of pocstock.com, a global stock media platform that focuses on people of color and aims to change the way the world sees and represents diverse communities.

Starting out as a 16 year old kid in Brooklyn making his own rent to the CEO of a global stock media platform hasn't been easy. Driven by his entrepreneurial spirit and creativity throughout his life, Steve joins the Indomitable Podcast to share his leadership values, how he strives to debunk harmful stereotypes, and how he continues to fight for a more equitable future for all.

Additional Links

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to POCstock and Steve Jones

02:12 – Steve Jones' Journey and Entrepreneurial Spirit

04:09 – Discovering the Gap in Diversity and Inclusion

05:20 – Creating a Legacy and Impacting Lives

08:12 – Becoming the Adult You Needed

09:27 – The Power of Creativity

10:26 – Leadership Do's: Knowing Yourself and Empowering Others

12:47 – Seeing People and Enabling Their Purpose

14:02 – POCstock's Mission and Impact

16:19 – Pushback Against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

20:14 – The Black Dad Challenge

31:28 – The Reality of Black Fatherhood

32:09 – The Importance of Quality Interactions

33:11 – Challenging Stigmas and Stereotypes

34:12 – The Influence of Social Norms

35:04 – Love and Support Matter More Than Structure

35:46 – Questioning Opinions Without Understanding

36:10 – Supporting POC Stock

37:31 – Amplifying Positive Content

38:48 – The Favorite POC Stock Hoodie

39:38 – Wrapping Up and Gratitude

Workplaces across the globe from tech startups all the way to NGOs are experiencing an epidemic – toxic leadership continues to drive worker burnout, turnover, stress, and mental health decline. In this episode Di welcomes Kasia Musur, the founder of VENT, to share her expertise in toxic leadership and its impact on individuals, organizations, and society.

If you've experienced layoffs recently, are currently job searching, or having a difficult time finding a solid work/life balance, don't miss this episode of the Indomitable Podcast!

Additional Links

Connect with Kasia at toxicleadershipvent.com

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Kasia and VENT

01:33 – Understanding Toxic Leadership

03:02 – Recognizing Toxic Leadership

06:02 – Toxic Leadership Across the World and Industries

07:41 – The Drive Behind Toxic Leadership

08:27 – Identifying Toxic Leaders and Creating Safe Spaces

10:08 – The Impact of Toxic Leadership on Workplaces

12:13 – Incentives for Businesses to Change

13:33 – Shifting the Perception of Toxic Leadership

17:29 – Driving Change Towards Healthier Work Environments

19:40 – Challenging Toxic Leadership Stereotypes

23:27 – Strategies for Businesses to Address Toxic Leadership

27:24 – The Cycle of Toxic Leadership

33:13 – The Work of VENT

34:55 – Tools and Strategies for Addressing Toxic Leadership

38:01 – The Fulfillment of Working on VENT

38:33 – The Fulfillment of Hearing Stories

39:26 – Providing a Safe Space

40:06 – Becoming the Person They Needed

40:36 – Working with Kasia

41:31 – Appreciation for the Podcast

42:07 – Connect and Support

42:36 – Closing Remarks

In this episode, Lauren Chava Rose shares her journey leaving her family and finding herself as an author and psychotherapist specializing in trauma. Di and Lauren discuss their own stories and the myth of reconciliation in families who'd rather protect abusers.

Additional Links

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Lauren Hava-Rose

01:04 – Lauren's Background and Writing Journey

03:43 – Living with Complex PTSD

04:53 – Leaving Everything Behind and Finding Herself

06:50 – The Healing Journey and Identity Transformation

08:15 – Starting from the Bottom and Rebuilding

11:19 – Leaving the Family and Estrangement

13:35 – Betrayal and the Decision to Walk Away

14:34 – The Freedom of Leaving and Reclaiming Self-Worth

18:15 – The Myth of Reconciliation in Family Dynamics

20:34 – The Importance of Telling Your Own Story

23:36 – The Meaninglessness of Apologies from Abusers

29:55 – The Power of Being Heard and Believed

32:00 – Letting Go of the Fantasy of Reconciliation

33:11 – Supporting Others in Going Low Contact or No Contact

33:41 – Supporting Those Going Low Contact

34:35 – Healing Guilt and Breaking Patterns

35:05 – Recognizing Toxicity in Relationships

36:43 – Breaking Generational Curses

38:23 – Working with Lauren Chava Rose

40:23 – Gratitude for the Journey

Damali Shepherd, a photographer and writer, shares her journey in capturing the essence of her clients through photography. She discusses the importance of creating a safe and supportive environment for her clients to overcome their insecurities and express themselves authentically. In this dicussion, Di and Damaly emphasize the importance of finding that thing within yourself that needs healing and using it to help others heal as well.

Additional Links:

– Book Damaly at: https://damalyshepherd.com

– Follow Damaly on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/bydamaly/

– Book Di for speaking or buy her books at https://diciruolo.com

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Damali Shepherd

02:23 – Capturing the Spark of Joy in Photography

04:00 – Helping Clients Overcome Nervousness and Insecurities

06:37 – Exploring Personal Branding Photography

09:25 – Coaching Other Photographers

13:33 – Navigating Social Media as a Photographer

18:32 – Balancing Personal and Professional Identity

26:20 – Transitioning from a Corporate Job to Photography

31:23 – Living Your Best Life and Helping Others Heal

32:15 – What's Next on the Journey to Becoming Your Highest Self

33:13 – Expanding Damali, the Brand

34:28 – Writing a Book and Sharing Your Thoughts

34:47 – How to Work with Damali

36:10 – Client Travel

37:24 – Working with Damali

38:21 – Conclusion

In this episode, Christina Frye discusses her holistic marketing approach and the importance of understanding human psychology in marketing. She introduces the concept of marketing archetypes and explains how they can help business owners find their unique marketing lane. She also challenges the need for constant comfort and how getting out of our comfort zones (like cold-dipping!) can build fortitude and faith in ourselves.

Additional Links

– Learn more from Christina at https://innatemarketinggenius.com

– Learn more about Di at https://diciruolo.com

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Background

02:24 – Understanding Marketing

03:06 – Using Human Psychology in Marketing

05:05 – Marketing Archetypes

08:00 – Helping Business Owners Find Their Lane

09:06 – Overcoming Resistance to Change

11:21 – The Generosity Practice

12:53 – Using the Generosity Practice in Marketing

14:05 – Saying No and Finding Your Ideal Clients

16:01 – The Role of Psychic Ability in Marketing

19:15 – Understanding Human Behavior

25:18 – Applying Marketing Principles in Daily Life

29:54 – Cold Plunging and Embracing Discomfort

30:32 – The Benefits of Getting into the Ocean

31:24 – Challenging the Need for Constant Comfort

32:41 – Traveling to London and the Perspective on History

34:34 – Finding Joy in Unexpected Places

36:03 – Future Goals: Speaking at Conferences and Group Programs

38:46 – How to Connect with Christina Frei

40:14 – Closing Remarks

Content warning: Domestic Abuse, Alcohol/Drug Addiction, Death

Stephanie Jordan shares her journey through two marriages overcoming codependency, domestic abuse, addiction, and the sudden loss of her second husband. She discusses the challenges of healing from trauma, codependency, and the many misconceptions about widowhood and how to comfort those grieving.

Additional Links

Episode Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Background

03:33 – First Marriage and Divorce

09:46 – Second Marriage and Overcoming Addiction

18:11 – Loss of Second Husband

25:00 – Misconceptions about Widowhood

30:07 – Supporting Those Who Have Experienced Loss

31:35 – The Disconnect from Death in Modern Culture

32:29 – Lack of Support for Widows/Widowers

33:28 – The Overwhelming Impact of Grief

34:34 – The Spiritual Impact of Death

35:38 – Supporting Those Who Have Lost

36:36 – Comforting Others in Grief

38:28 – The Disappearance of Community

39:49 – The Lack of Support from Friends

42:47 – The Need for Better Support Systems

45:27 – The Disconnection from Death in Society

46:44 – The Importance of Being Present in Grief

47:28 – Connecting with Stephanie Jordan

In this episode, Di interviews Wendela Whitcomb Marsh who shares her personal journey and expertise in late-diagnosed autism. She discusses the challenges of coping with tragedy and moving forward, the misconceptions about neurodiversity, and the uphill battle of diagnosis in adults with neurodivergence.

Additional Links

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and Background

02:23 – Coping with Tragedy and Moving Forward

05:18 – Late Diagnosis of Autism

09:55 – Misconceptions about Neurodiversity

16:06 – The Challenges of Masking

19:48 – The Uphill Battle of Diagnosis

25:58 – The Importance of Labels

28:41 – The Importance of Social Skills in Education

30:49 – The Need for Increased Funding for Special Education

33:20 – The Growing Awareness of Neurodiversity in Schools

36:09 – Personal Experience and Parenting

42:02 – The Increase in Autism and ADHD Diagnoses

46:38 – The Unique Skills and Challenges of Neurodivergent Individuals in the Workplace

49:06 – How to Connect with Wendela and Learn More