How’ve you been? How often have you answered that question with “busy”? All too often we read about the latest planners, apps, and practices that’ll help organize our hectic schedules, so we can find a few moments of peace. Cara Bradley is here to tell you that living a fully awakened life doesn’t add any more time in your already busy schedule. It doesn’t require you to do anything more and it doesn’t cost you a thing.

Cara Bradley is the author of On The Verge: Wake Up, Show Up and Shine. She’s also a mental strength coach, yoga and meditation teacher, lifelong entrepreneur and former pro skater for Roller Blade. Bradley’s three decades of mind training, movement, and personal transformation has been adopted by Villanova University Football and Basketball, Yale University Soccer, and Penn State University Basketball teams.  She’s also a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen, Mindful Magazine, and many others.

Shift beyond your to-do lists and drama-filled stories and discover what it means to LIVE on the verge!

Key Takeaways:

You’re on a roll! Look at you…buzzing away, checking things off your to-do list, multitasking like a CHAMP and nothing’s shifting your focus. But, are you living in the experience you’re having? Would you even know how to recognize it if you did? Here’s what to look for… [4:53].

You’re looking for more! Research says the top 2016 New Years resolution is “to enjoy life to the fullest,” but doing so doesn’t need to cost you a dime or add to your busy life. Ready to live in high definition? Find out what that means… [8:05].

You’re a player in the game! The comparison game, that is. Getting lost in your own self-judgment? And no matter what you do, the constant self-loathing won’t let loose? The ONE thing you need to do to rid yourself of your critical habitual pattern is… [16:08].

You’re starting your day! Having consistent morning routines, even just one simple thing, like having hot coffee or getting a quick snuggle in with your child before you’re off to work, can set the tone for your state of mind. The one phenomenal morning practice that’s GUARANTEED to give you the best start of your day is… [19:37].

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play! 

Ever feel like you’ve had your head stuck in the sand and missed all the good stuff going on around you? At the same time, what are those awesome possibilities? Where does your skillset fit in and how can you launch a second act that’s more meaningful with your true desires?

As a 15-year veteran of the financial services industry, Tanya Ezekiel enjoyed working on Wall Street. It wasn’t until she tapped into some spiritual thinking that she bravely chose to leave the industry halfway through 2008.

She turned to kite-surfing, connecting with nature and her body, to determine what she wanted next. In 2010, she launched her career as a coach. Now an executive coach, Tanya guides entrepreneurs and C-suite executives—and professionals at every level in between.

Key Takeaways:

Un-dig yourself! Tanya recalls feeling like an ostrich with her head in the sand, missing all the wonder of the world going on around her. If you feel you’re missing out on life, here’s how to make a shift… [08:12].

Focus on your path! They say, “What you think, you become.” Understand how changing your thoughts can lead to new ideas and opportunities; a path inevitably destined to lead to a more rewarding career and personal life starts here… [12:12].

Pass the flashlight! Make sense of uncertainty while navigating uncharted waters. How you can begin a process (a.k.a. tap into your inner compass) that is uniquely yours... [20:00].

Let’s do this! Staying committed to a new-found journey involves being able to accept help from outside resources to manifest a better life. Does this sound surprising? Familiar? Either way, listen up here for a tidbit of truths … [22:49].

Roll with it! Aligning what you’ve done in your past professional pursuits with what you want to do next as a career is possible. The “how” is the magic formula… [29:07].

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play! 

What’s your body language right now? Smiling? Arms crossed? Shoulders up or at ease? The way you communicate, verbally and physically, is shaping the world around you. But wait! Before you make another move or say another word, listen as Michelle Gielan shares her eye-opening, scientific research on why doing things different RIGHT NOW will change your world completely.  

Michelle Gielan is a game changer in the field of positive psychology. The former CBS News anchor is the Founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research, Executive Producer of The Happiness Advantage Special on PBS, a featured professor in Oprah’s Happiness course, and to top it off, has partnered with Arianna Huffington to study how transformative stories fuel success. Looking to turn your work, family, and personal life right-side up? Look no further!

Get ready to broadcast happiness (it’s possible!) from the kitchen table to the conference room and create a ripple effect that will transform people’s moods and behaviors all around you.

Key Takeaways:

Good morning! Did you know that just three minutes of negative news in the morning can lead to a 27% higher likelihood of you having a bad day? You have the power to fuel the outcomes you’re hoping for. The SECRET to better days ahead found at [3:39].

Once upon a time… how you tell a story can make or break your day and that of others. The MAGIC TRICK of sharing ANY news, good or bad, that leaves your listeners ready to take action and wanting more at [8:09].

You’re DOOMED... or are you? Do you look at a stressful event as a threat or a challenge? The way you interpret information leads to your success. EMBRACE what’s coming your way through the three dimensions of optimism at [10:26].

Booooo! Living or working with a negative person? The idea that you can’t change other people is disempowering and scientifically FALSE! Get ready to influence and change the naysayer in your life by doing this ONE thing [16:50].

Hello sunshine! Is your reflection gloomy and dark? There is a way to look beyond the bad traffic, spilled coffee, and paper cuts; yes, it’s possible! The daily habit that will stop your wallowing – FOR GOOD - at [21:56].

Michelle Gielan and her husband, Shawn Achor, will be hosting a PBS special called Inspire Happiness. It airs nationwide December 2016. Check your local listings.

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play! 

Do you spend your day living a life that works for you? That brings you meaning and fulfillment? Too many of us live our lives depleted, exhausted, and humorless. We’re paddling as hard as we can, yet we’re still falling a little short.

Samantha Bennett, bestselling author of Get It Done: From Procrastination to Creative Genius in 15 Minutes a Day, reminds us that you don’t have time to not live your life completely “lit up” from the inside out.

Bennett stresses that there isn’t a right way to do anything, there’s just your way. Nothing is unachievable or unchangeable. Listen to the few simple practices you can do in your everyday life that will encourage you to live more authentically, fully, and infused with passion.

Key Takeaways:

• The real you. You’re being the best version of yourself in every situation, in every relationship, and somehow it’s just not working. It’s not about putting more hours in or taking a weekend trip to recapture some zen. Uncover the REAL questions you MUST ask yourself in order to make your current situation work for you at [7:22].
• The morning routine. What does your morning look like? Checking emails, getting the kids ready, making appointments, maybe getting in some breakfast…reclaim the first moments of your day! Mix it up by trying this ONE morning routine that will make a monumental difference down the road [16:12]. (Hint: it’s not yoga)…
• The mantra. Your car broke down this morning, your partner has bad news, and you’ve missed a deadline. Are you letting such moments overwhelm you? Take your power back! The ONE phrase you can repeat anytime you need to embrace a challenging moment and decide how your own story is told… [20:48].
• The backlash. Making life changes means taking a little risk and sometimes it feels as though the universe is there to remind you of the dangers of roaming through uncharted territory. Before you throw in the towel, listen to the BEST advice on how to push forward in your greatest moments of doubt at [25:22].
• The real game changer. You tried the mantra, you do the morning routine, and they’re just not working. Good news! There’s one final thing you can try. The ONE practice that will get you out of any emotional, mental, spiritual, or physical rut you’re in… [30:22]. (Major upside! It only takes five minutes.)

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play! 

Have you ever thought you could do something better? That there’s a part of your life that you wish was more fulfilled? Thomas Sterner breaks down the science behind our sense of fulfillment and shares how the practice of focus and discipline can lead us to the ultimate life worth living. Yes, you CAN have it all!

Sterner is the author of Fully Engaged and The Proxy Mind. He’s an accomplished musician, composer, and technician in various fields of music.  He’s also skillful in athletic pursuits ranging from archery to golf. But most of all, he speaks worldwide about the process of engagement and fulfillment to transform the living experience.

Get ready to look at your life in a whole new way and to feel complete satisfaction at this very moment.

Key Takeaways:

• Your endless quest. If you get a good education, you’ll get a good job, make good money, and live happily ever after, right? Find out why your psychological need to have more is stronger than ever at [4:41].
• Your pursuit to happiness. Take a mental photo of your life right now. What do you see? Are you living your best life yet? There’s a sense that something’s missing, but what? The answer is at [7:58].
• Your present self is waiting. Have you ever driven somewhere and wondered how you got there? Or you’re talking to someone while texting with someone else? This state of distraction feels normal, but it’s not. The REAL way to knowing you’re fully engaged in any moment is [11:53].
• Your practicing mind. You’ve discovered your mind-body connection with the real world – step one is done! Now keep the connection alive. The ONE thing you can do to continue to fully experience the big and small moments in your life is [20:03].

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play! 

As the founder of Dating with Dignity and with more than 25 years of personal relationship and dating experience, Marni Battista has dated, was married for 17 years, divorced, and then successfully dated again (and married!) in the 21st century. Marni is a certified professional Dating and Relationship Coach and Expert, writer, and nationally recognized print and online magazine expert covering dating and relationships in such media as Cosmopolitan Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Men’s Fitness.

Marni’s weekly dating and relationship web show, The Dating Den, has over 2.6 million views, and she was named one of the 10 Best Women’s Dating Experts.

Most important, as a divorcée for more than 10 years, Marni truly understands what it feels like to be lonely and sick of wasting time on dates with men that go nowhere.  And she just so happens to be stopping by with her newest book, How To Find A Quality Guy Without Going On 200 Dates.

Take off the rose colored glasses and put your love goggles on instead. This is the real deal fairytale on getting the life, the love, and the true happiness that you desire.

Key Takeaways:

The waiting game! You’ve gone on a million gazillion dates. Where is he – the love of your life? If you want to re-engineer your course to get a different, more fruitful result, it doesn’t start with focusing on your potential love interest. Here’s what’s actually missing from the equation [7:40]. 

Pop quiz! The one question you never stopped to ask yourself, but should, when it comes to getting what you want in love and happiness. Hint: you can apply this very question to every area of your life…it’s that simple and powerful [9:10].

Lather, rinse, and repeat! Too busy to “check-in” with yourself? How present are you from moment to moment? This self-soothing exercise will peel back the layers to what you truly “need…” not just what you think you need (call it a Jedi mind trick). And the bonus: you can build it right into your schedule and it costs absolutely nothing. [13:48].

Crack the code! Want to be free from self-deprecation? Want to have progress over perfection? How to change your optic lens so when life isn’t going as planned, it’s not a fail. It’s THIS very thing that will break you out of imprisonment and into empowerment [20:56].

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play! 

Imagine for a moment, that you and your family decide to leave your home country on a boat; the journey then includes two years in a refugee camp. You’re welcomed into the new country and settle in one of the rougher neighborhoods of Philadelphia, where violence, crime, poverty, and dropping out of school are the status quo. What do you do with that? What meaning do you find?

If you answered, you go to Harvard, have a very challenging time assimilating, so you teach yourself neuroscience, self-directed work to expand your neuro plasticity (the brains ability to change), develop mind hacking techniques for healing and raising potential, then you must already know our guest.

Due Quach (pronounced “Zway Kwok”) is the founder of Calm Clarity, a social enterprise that combines science and mindfulness to help people across the socioeconomic spectrum master their minds and be their best self. Calm Clarity creates social impact by using revenues from corporate training services to deliver the same high-quality training to disadvantaged groups such as low-income first-generation college students and inner city teenagers.

If you’ve ever come across adversity, here’s the key to finding a more meaningful way.

Key Takeaways:

Ditch the uncertainty! How do you find your identity, fight stigmas, and embrace who you are? The no-fail mindset you need to succeed… [7:02].

Be the misfit! Competition and comparison can weigh us down. You might look at your best friend and wonder why he/she has the good grades or the coveted dream career. The signs that you might be looking too far outside yourself and why being the “smartass” will set you on the right path… [11:18].

Feed the brain! Self-defeat or self-care? Which would you choose every day? The science behind listening to your body’s rhythms and the balancing act that places you on solid (not shaky) ground… [20:25].    

Version 3.0! You don’t have to “selectively” be your best self – you can be your best in every situation. It involves turning on a switch…once that light is on, it naturally and effortlessly shines bright. Learn more about this trick here… [31:29].  

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play! 

It’s bubbling to the earth’s surface. It might be permeating beneath your feet. It places you more and more into the ground rooting you to something real and promising. As a society, we’re tilling the soil and overturning injustices in favor of inviting “IT.” That pulse or heartbeat that we long for – that “IT” – represents something holistic, organic, tender, and demonstrative.

Today’s guest can attest to this seismic societal shift. He believes our universe is transitioning through some big growing pains. And with that declaration, he’s answering the big questions: Who are we? And exactly where are we going?   

Duane Elgin is an internationally recognized author and speaker regarding our planetary transition. His books include:  The Living Universe, Voluntary Simplicity, Promise Ahead, and Awakening Earth. With Joseph Campbell and other scholars, he co-authored Changing Images of Man.

He has done numerous studies of the long-range future since the early 1970s—first while working as a social scientist on a Presidential Commission on the American Future, and then with the futures group in the think-tank, SRI International. Duane received the Peace Prize of Japan, the Goi Award, in Tokyo in 2006 in recognition of his contribution to a global “vision, consciousness, and lifestyle” that fosters a “more sustainable and spiritual culture.”

Key Takeaways:

Move the masses! As the saying goes, “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito.” Likewise, if you can answer this ONE question in only six words, you can evoke a ripple effect across any great divide. Shake things up here… [10:40].    

Those awkward teen years! You had the braces and that stunning shade of blue eyeshadow. You were moody, volatile, and dealing with an influx of hormones. Growing up means coming to a rite of passage. The world is experiencing the same pubescent phase ushering in climate change and political upheaval. So, how does humanity grow from cocoon to butterfly? Some sage advice for you and generations to come… [12:10].

Sowing seeds of maturity! What message would you deliver to your adolescent self? Here’s what that letter might actually look like – hint: you’ll no longer idolize the star athlete of your high school, but instead, you’ll probably end up going “global…” [14:50].   

Pie in the sky! If you could build an economy of your choosing, what would it look and feel like? Would humanity become more humane? How would technology factor into the advancement of our society? Start your own “think tank” right here… [22:26].    

Go big or go home! Every day when you wake up you want to play big. You want to harness a presence and be intentional with your purpose. If you resonate with this, then you are an agent of… [30:41].

Raw, real, and inspiring! That’d be a good way to frame this episode of The Meaningful Way. Most people don’t discuss it, but we all live with a voice in our heads…  

Ted McGrath knows a thing or two about the voice inside all of us – he’s a theater performer, speaker, and best-selling author. He has created 5 household brands and made millions teaching coaches, speakers, and service-based business owners, how to turn their life story, and life experience, into a lucrative business that impacts millions and makes millions. 

People have traveled from 23 countries, around the world, to experience transformation in their lives and businesses through Ted’s seminars – these include Message To Millions, Superstar Speaker, and SHIFT.  Ted is also on a mission to train millions of facilitators in a process that transforms consciousness and works to solve real world issues like hunger, disease, poverty, addictions, and education. 

All of this had led to Ted’s latest endeavor – The Good Enough Movement where he believes people all around the world are struggling to follow their message, their calling, and their gift, because they just don’t feel “good enough”. Get ready to shatter everything you ever thought about yourself – let’s roll!

Key Takeaways:

People please! When you want to meet someone else’s expectations and defy the odds, do you end up “crushing” your goal or letting it crush you? The raw and scary lesson for anyone seeking outside approval… [3:00].  

Gut check! You’ve achieved your targets, followed the rules, and have pleased everyone around you. Yet, that nagging inner voice keeps saying, “I feel so empty. Is this all there is?” What you should be examining ASAP in order to re-align your purpose -- hint: it takes more than a trip to the chiropractor to straighten yourself out… [5:37]. 

Show and tell! What happens when you grab a megaphone and share your life story with the world? The good, the bad, the honest? Quite simply, you find yourself. Learn the three step process that creates an impact and jumpstarts your inner revolution at [9:10].   

Branch out baby! Like a “rolling stone” you can’t get no satisfaction. You notice at any given time, there’s at least 20 percent more you could be tapping into, leveraging your capabilities, and expanding your horizons. Challenge the notion that your talents are limited to one key area of your life – it all starts with the big “R…” [20:00].  

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play! 

Hello…? Were you even listening?

How often do you find yourself drifting off during the middle of a conversation? For everyone, that’s pretty often. A Harvard study shows that 47% of the time our mind is somewhere else, other than what we’re doing. No more! It’s time to PAY ATTENTION and communication expert, Rob Kendall, is here to blow the whistle and bring you back to the present moment.

Over the last three decades, Kendall has become an accomplished artist, a co-founder of a tech company, a co-founder to organizational leaders on five continents, a non-executive director of a BAFTA and Emmy-winning visual effects company, as well as an award-winning author. His latest book, Workstorming: Why Conversations At Work Go Wrong And How To Fix Them draws on his collaboration with over 70 high-profile organizations, among them the 2012 Olympics.

Whatever your role is, Kendall argues that your success depends on your ability to communicate with others. As an internationally recognized authority on the dynamics and practices of effective conversation, you just might want to listen in.

The BEST conversations of your life start NOW!

Key Takeaways:

Hello! Your voice can break down walls, initiate change, and determine your happiness. It’s true! But how do you find it…your voice? The answer to this age-old question begins at [6:39].

Game on! Much too often our conversations are like tennis matches. We bounce responses and questions off one another at lightening speed. Yet, so much of a REAL conversation is grounded in the gift of attention. Learn how to listen more deeply at [9:57].

Information overload! Our mind is bombarded with distractions that are ruining our conversations, connections, and productivity. No more! The ONE habit you need to break that’s killing your ability to focus is… [13:57].

Let’s talk! Having more meaningful conversations can build better connections with those around you -- at home and at work. The BEST thing you can do, however, to get the ball rolling at your next “hello!” is… [20:45]

Lesson learned! You know you shouldn’t, but you’re checking emails in a meeting when your boss asks you a question – you’re busted! The real reason why it’s so easy to get distracted and the powerful way to shift out of multi-tasking mode at [24:01].

Tune in and turn the volume up for a dose of inspiration and life lessons. That’s how we Live Lead and Play!