The Nth Degree Podcast with Tracy Timm

There are few names that have brought as much notoriety asBreneBrown over the last few years.She sprang on the "scene" in 2010 with her TEDx Houston talk:ThePower of Vulnerability.But Brene's story goes back even further than that.For her entire academic and professional life, Brenehasdedicated herself to the study and practice of social work. Shehasa Bachelors... Masters... AND Ph.D. (NBD) in Social Workandremains a research professor in the subject for the UniversityofHouston to this day.In short, she's a badass.A badass who's out to prove that vulnerability is not whatwemade it out to be. Vulnerability is not weakness. Vulnerabilityisnot shameful. Vulnerability is not for the faint of heart.Vulnerability... is courage.I had the privilege of seeing Brene Brown speak (in person!) atacharity event last week benefiting the Dallas Children'sAdvocacyCenter. I managed to snag some pretty decent audio from theevent,and I'm excited to share it here with you today!The episode is not an interview, but rather, Brene'sincrediblespeech to over 1,500 people that day.This episode is an incredible example of what it means toembracevulnerability, espouse authenticity, rise up when you'vefallen, andbest of all, shake the haters off-- once and forall!I hope you enjoy listening to Brene as much as I did.Play by Play:1:30 Shout out to DCAC2:30 I got to listen to my idol give a speech… so now youdotoo!4:20 A deviant with a good cause4:50 Introducing Brene Brown5:00 Peanut butter and 8 hours of Downton Abbey6:00 A total God moment6:50 Why Brene has vowed to “be in the arena” and live abravelife7:30 Your daily decision: courage or comfort?8:20 Is vulnerability courage or weakness?9:20 The one decision that has made Brene “dangerous”accordingto her husband9:45 Why you need to shake the haters off… once and for all10:30 How to know if someone’s opinion of you really matters12:00 What happens after you dare greatly, fall down, andcan’tget back up12:45 Brene’s best story of daring greatly gone wrong…andgetting back up14:00 What’s actually worse than being vulnerable14:40 What do men and women who “rise strong” have in common15:15 The reckoning, the rumble, and the revolution16:15 Why everything is possible… 6 months from now17:20 What happens when you run out of lunch meat atBrene’shouse?18:00 Brene goes down a rabbit hole and then totallyredeemsherself19:30 The most powerful line in the world20:20 What’s the “story” you’re telling yourself right now?22:00 Why we are neurobiologically wired for story22:45 The trouble about being hard wired for story25:00 What happens when you walk away from a conflict with26:00 The one variable that men and women who revel in joysharein common27:00 The best case I’ve ever heard for donating to causeswhenyou don’t feel like you have anything to give28:00 The epitome of daring greatly

Have you ever had a conversation with a total stranger-- on a
plane, on a bus, on a train-- that totally changed your life?
I know, I know. That's a bit much. But seriously.
Have you ever sat down with zero intention of talking to the
person next to you only to realize three hours later that you never
stopped talking and the plane is already landing?!
I have.
And it happened to me in Burma, of all places!
And I'm thankful that I can call that person a friend to this
day.
Natalie Brown and I actually met before this fateful flight. But
I bet if you ask either of us, we had only been acquaintance up
until that moment. I believe that it was that flight and that
conversation that finally bumped us up into the Friend Zone.
We had a conversation that was so vulnerable, so humble, and so
meaningful that I've only had it matched a handful of times to this
day.
I know you've had these experiences, too-- one person says one
thing and all of a sudden... you feel...
Understood.
Heard.
Loved.
All of a sudden you realize...
You are not alone.
I wanted to bring Natalie on the show today to give y'all that
exact same perspective.
Natalie is actively going through a bit life transformation now,
and she was brave enough to come on the show and share her
experiences with you here today. It's raw. It's real. It's a
revelation.
I know you'll love her as much as I do.
This episode is perfect for you if you want to:

Learn more about yourself
Start to find ways to embrace calm despite the chaos life
Build confidence and courage
Let go of the limiting beliefs and expectations that others
have for your life
Really be transformed by someone who understand you

Oh, and we talk about traveling the world two times before
you're 25.
NBD.
So here, with all my life and all my light, is Natalie!
 
Play by Play:
1:50 Why Natalie Brown is the
bees knees
2:40 Please, don’t ever do this
in Burma… please
4:45 Welcoming Natalie to the
show
5:05 Natalie’s
background
5:35 How to do really effective
self-discovery
6:50 How to avoid feeling like
you’re going “backwards” in your life
7:45 Letting go of what other
people think about your decisions
8:40 The best way to get rid of
the limiting beliefs and expectations of other people (even when
they mean well!)
10:15 What the heck is this
whole “ego v. intuition” thing
11:30 The book that helped
Natalie tell the difference between her ego and her intuition
talking
13:10 Natalie’s best practices
for tapping into your intuition and letting go of your
ego
14:15 Where you can find the
courage to reach out when you feel the most vulnerable
15:20 Natalie’s current
transition and how she’s dealing with making big life
decisions
16:20 How Natalie got a job by
telling someone she didn’t want it
17:10 How authenticity, even
when it’s hard, can work in your favor
17:40 Natalie’s biggest life
transformation—what it actually feels like to make real change in
life
18:50 Is growth a struggle or
enjoyable?
20:10 How to take a “life
break” and get some perspective
21:20 The importance of cooking
and eating for your own well-being (not what you’re
expecting!)
22:40 The impact of yoga of
Natalie’s life and outlook
23:40 The one thing that is
always accessible to you, no matter how you feel
24:20 The best case I’ve ever
heard for meditation (it’s not that hard, it’s working, keep
going!)
25:40 How to stop only doing
the things you’re good at so you can actually grow as a human
being
27:00 My weird meditation
exercise that works miracles for me
28:00 Natalie’s second trip
around the world—the where, why and how
30:10 How to choose the place
you want to travel wisely
31:10 Natalie’s transformative
experience in Cambodia and what it means to be human
anywhere
32:10 How to hit your biggest
goals by starting small
33:15 Natalie takes a stab at
“the meaning of life”
34:30 How to rest in
restlessness (finding peace in the chaos)
36:15 How to plan for the
future while taking life day-by-day
38:20 How to let go of the
haters
38:30 Natalie’s plan for
figuring out her life and accomplishing her dreams
39:20 Using “design thinking”
to rapid prototype your life and your business
41:40 What fills Natalie’s
spirit and how to find what fills yours
43:10 How Natalie learned to
really love herself
45:30 Natalie’s #1 piece of
advice for you
46:00 I called an audible and
asked Natalie a bonus question—it was totally worth it
46:30 How to embrace
change
48:10 How to get in touch with
Natalie
49:15 How to get in touch with
me
49:30 Don’t forget to hop over
to iTunes—subscribe, rate, and review!
50:50 Do more of what you were
created for, now!

You know that one kid who always knew what he wanted to "be" when he grew up?
A doctor. A pilot. A lawyer.
Captain Jack Sparrow.
It didn't matter what he wanted to be. All that mattered was that I had no idea what I wanted to be. And that kid annoyed the crap out of me because of it.
Today's guest would have been that kid.
Thank goodness we had the good fortune of meeting when we were adults.
I know that doesn't exactly sound like a glowing introduction, but stick with me here.
I've always been fascinated by people who are able to look at their lives in totality rather than focusing on the day-to-day. I'm amazed at young people and adults who already know what they want their legacy to be and contemplate their impact on the world at large.
I've never had that kind of perspective, naturally.
I work hard to be a positive person and do more good than bad in any given day. I love unceasingly and give whenever I have a little extra. I even pay all my taxes.
#thanksObama
But vision? My future? A legend?
I just never thought that way.
But today's guest, Edgar Seah, knows that his life has a bigger impact than he can ever imagine. He lives every day trying to give more than he takes. He has systematically eradicated his carbon footprint, and is slowly but surely chipping away at the opportunity divide that exists across our world.
In short, he's a badass.
A badass... with a bigger purpose.
Edgar is the Founder and former CEO of SEO Africa, a non-profit aimed at developing leaders across Africa who will one day give back to their local communities. He worked for almost 10 years in the finance industry and was able to retire in his early 30's. He attended Carnegie Mellon and has travel around the world... not once... but twice (and counting).
Did I mention he's a badass?
I hope you enjoy our conversation about how to see our lives as having more impact than we could ever imagine and how each of us can cultivate a desire to give more than we take in our life time.
Play by play:
0:50 Sunday, rainy Sunday
1:20 Tracy’s introduction to the phenomenon that is the crawfish boil
2:00 Why we’re here today
2:30 How I happened to meet Edgar in Africa of all places
3:20 Why first impressions are still really important and still usually wrong
4:20 The story I didn’t know about Edgar
5:50 Edgar’s background story and his route to Budapest
7:30 Edgar’s short stint in the Singaporean Army
8:20 Transitioning from army lieutenant to college freshman
9:00 Why would anyone leave Singapore to come to the United States?
10:15 How a business and economics major fell in love with the non-profit world
11:35 What the heck is SEO and why didn’t I hear about it in college?
13:20 How to take seemingly opposite experiences and make something cohesive out of them
14:00 How Edgar decided to go into banking, but not for the reasons you might think
15:45 How you can get perspective on your own life so you can make better plans
17:10 Seeing what you’re doing as a stepping stone rather than feeling stuck
18:30 Why you don’t have to let everyone in all the time
19:15 How do you commit to where you are when you know that eventually you want to be somewhere else
21:00 Why you should stop putting pressure on yourself to do everything now
22:00 How to order the events of your life so you can continuously grow while being continuously present
24:00 Why money is so much more than things and comfort
24:40 How to know when it’s time to quit
25:20 The #1 method for figuring out if you should stay or you should go
26:30 Traveling around the world for the second time…
26:50 What the heck is Semester at Sea and why didn’t I know about this in college?
29:00 How to know where to start when you’re starting over
30:30 If you don’t know this woman, you need to get to know her
31:20 The one chapter of the one book that made the biggest impact on Edgar’s life
32:50 Two amazing rules for an amazing life
35:00 How to offset your global footprint for the rest of your life
37:00 How to turn the scary things in life into things that motivate you
38:00 What do our lives really mean (yes, we’re getting deep) and why there is meaning in our short existence
39:00 Why the world would be a better place if everyone would give more than they take
40:30 How to empower young people to give back to their communities in the future
43:00 Knowing your role
43:30 What to do when you’ve done it all
44:40 What challenges Edgar found really surprising along the way
45:45 Building self-confidence over time (don’t discount the military!)
46:30 Keep it simple…
46:50 Edgar’s #1 piece of advice for you
47:40 How to get in touch with Edgar
48:10 How to get in touch with me
49:00 My challenge for you this week…

Do you ever wonder when you'll have enough money or enough time to do the things you REALLY want to do in life?
 
My guest today, Robert Collier, does not.
 
That's because... he's already doing it!
 
No, Robert is not a millionaire or a trust fund baby. He didn't win the lottery or cash in on a class action suit. He's also not a "starving artist" who enjoys physical freedom at the expense of financial... well... expenses.
 
Robert is just a normal guy who's mastered some incredibly practical ideas to achieve his high and worthy life ideals.
 
He'd also like to thank Gandhi for the inspiration for that phrase.
 
In today's episode, I interview Robert J. Collier of practicalidealist.net. Robert is a blogger and online business owner who's goal is to help others achieve their greatest goals in life by implementing small, practical strategies that encourage financial freedom and personal success. He loves traveling, meditation, business, and of course, people.
 
During our conversation, Robert and I talk about how achieving our life's work doesn't have to be a pipe dream. Rather, by being clear on our mission and values and utilizing some simple methods to increase productivity and decrease waste, we can make our dreams a reality. This episode is great for you if you've ever wanted some down-to-earth practical advice about how to get your life together and get moving on your bucket list... today!
 
I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. There's plenty of laughter throughout because I was continuously floored by Robert's ability to put complicated ideas into simplified terms. Make sure you have a notepad with you. This one's a doozy!
 
Here's a play by play:
2:50 Robert’s background story
3:25 How to navigate an early fork in the road of life
6:20 Shout out to Robert’s dad who survived a double lung transplant
6:30 What exactly is practicalidealist.net
7:15 Finding inspiration in silence
8:25 Why Gandhi still has the goods, especially in today’s world
9:25 Robert’s favorite methods of self-discovery
12:30 How do you get started when you have no idea what to do (with anything in life)
13:50 The greatest gift of Robert’s life
15:05 How to pay better attention to the positive (insightful) input of others
16:40 Listening to the opportunities you have to use your gifts
17:45 How Robert is figuring out what he was created to do in life
19:10 The secret method that keeps him going and learning along the way
19:20 The story of Buckminster Fuller
21:40 How to maintain peace and serenity while you’re going through the process of finding your way in life
24:40 Goal-setting 101
26:20 How to let go of what “realistic” means for other people when it’s different for you
29:00 How to write your own “life list”
30:20 Strategies for making the time AND FINDING THE MONEY to do all the things you want to do
31:35 How to automate your finances so that your money works for you
33:25 How to negotiate your employment contract to maximize your vacation time
34:35 What makes us happier: more money or more time off?
35:15 What activities actually make you the happiest of all
37:00 How to cheat the “No Vacation Nation” system and get the most time off possible
40:50 Robert’s #1 piece of advice for you

Imagine you're 90 years old.
 
You're sitting on the front porch of your house. You're curled up in a rocking chair made of wood with a few feather pillows. An afghan is resting across your lap, keeping you warm. You're looking out onto the front yard of your home,and you're reminiscing about your life.
 
You think about a decision you made when you were 25 years old.
You smile.
You know that was a great decision.
 
In this episode, Leana shares this incredible method for decision-making along with an insanely large number of other tips to live a life of no regrets. And... even if we've already experienced regret... how to shake it off and keep moving forward.
 
Leana's bright spirit, hilarious sense of humor, and no nonsense advice really make this podcast one that you do not want to miss. Today's episode is great for anyone who's ever felt like it's too late to make a change, wants to know how to create a mindset that embraces transformation, and wants to laugh hard enough to possibly pee their pants.
 
Hopefully not in public.
 
Enjoy!
 
Here's a play by play, in case you only have a little time with us!
1:00 Shout out to my Chicago friends!
1:25 Leana’s mini-bio and fearless transformation
2:20 Leana’s “path less traveled”
3:15 Leana’s 20 year background that she no longer uses
4:00 The most influential person in Leana’s life and the gift she received
6:00 Why Leana and I think you don’t have to do the thing you wanted to be when you were a little kid
6:45 Can you “force” the creative process?
8:05 The #1 that holds people back from being creative and making change
8:55 How to tell the negative voice in your head to shut up already
9:40 That one moment when Leana finally slayed her Fear Dragon
10:30 Leana’s only and biggest regret in life
11:15 The two types of regrets and which one you absolutely need to avoid
12:05 The difference between what fuels you and what holds you back
13:05 Leana’s life’s meaning and joy
13:40 Why you should never say “it’s too late”
15:10 What helps Leana feel more self-assured as she takes risks in life
16:35 What to do if your passion can’t pay the bills
17:55 The biggest change in mindset since college and why it’s really hurting our growth
19:05 Why Leana would keep writing even if she’ll never be a best-seller again
19:30 How to turn your mindset toward loving the process as opposed to the outcome
20:45 Letting go of limited beliefs and expectations of others
21:30 The sneakiest thing you can do to increase your self-esteem
22:40 How people keep you in THEIR comfort zones just so THEY can feel better
24:00 What’s the best response to a well-meaning person who tells you to play it safe when you really want to take a risk
25:05 The way Leana makes major decisions and why you should try it in every part of your life
26:45 How to live with regrets and move on with your life despite wishing you could have done something differently
27:10 How to ensure that nothing you do is ever wasted
29:00 Key individuals who helped Leana through her major life changes
30:30 The importance of paying attention to the positive reinforcement of others
30:45 Why you should ALWAYS tell someone what they are amazing at and never let potential go unnoticed
31:30 My obligatory Marie Forleo reference
31:45 The best first step after getting positive feedback
32:15 My favorite story about listening to the messages of others
33:30 Leana’s incredible plans for the future
35:00 Contact Leana at leanadelle.com
35:20 Leana’s #1 piece of advice for you and your big life transformations
36:10 Connect with me @thetracytimm
36:50 Fun new stuff coming up on the website soon!

Let me channel one of my favorite TED talks of all time for a moment.
 
Drew Dudley, I’m lookin’ at you.
 
Can you remember the last time someone said something or did something that made your life fundamentally better?
 
Maybe it was a teacher you told you that you were good enough. Maybe it was a childhood friend who held your hand when you feel down. Or maybe it was a total stranger who put their cell phone down while they were interacting with you and actually looked you in the eye.
 
I mean… it’s the little things, right?!
 
In today’s podcast, I share the story of how two sentences in a spam email changed my life forever.
 
This podcast is great for you if you have ever questioned if you were good enough, wondered if you had anything worth saying, or put off making a decision because you were scared of what others would think.
 
Here’s a play by play of some of my favorite moments:
1:00 How someone had a huge, profound, crazy impact on my life
1:20 Why I’m just like you guys… and question EVERYTHING!
2:00 Opening the kimono on doubt
2:30 That time I broke down in Mexico because I couldn’t make a freaking decision
3:25 The major questions and doubts I have all the time
4:35 The best analogy for the “God will save me” decision-making process confusion
6:45 What reassurance do you need to feel like you’re making good decisions?
7:00 Are you failing to see the obvious answers to our hardest questions?
8:00 The one person who gave me the courage to start sharing my stories
8:30 My brush with an Olympian
9:30 How two unlikely lives came together
10:30 Please don’t go looking for this article I wrote…
11:10 That one time procrastination worked out in my favor
12:00 If you’ve ever felt bad about yourself, just compare yourself to this moment of mine…
13:00 How one person’s email changed my life forever
14:00 When simple words of praise are miracles in and of themselves
15:00 One of my top 5 TED talks of all time
15:30 If you’re still missing the signs, listen to this
17:00 The most meaningful things in our life just might not be things
17:15 How to connect with me on all the (social media) things!
17:40 Subscribe, leave a rating and review
18:00 How to get even more great content at your interwebs fingertips

In this episode, I interview peer, Jennifer Baugh. Jenn is the Founder and Executive Director of YCP, a Young Catholic Professionals organization that strives to connect young people for networking with each other, exploring leadership, and discovering their faith. Jenn has an incredible story of going from MBA student to high-powered consultant to waitress to executive director. She's seen her fair share of struggle, but she found an intriguing way out of it-- she actually allowed other people to help her! I'm so excited to share Jenn's story of transformation, because she reminds us that it's in the moments we want to reach out the least, that we need to the most.

This week, I'm interviewing peer and dear friend, Brad Myers.
 
Brad and I had the fortune of meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding (again, where all good things happen!) about two years ago. In the time since our serendipitous introduction, we've become so much more than friends. We challenge each other when things are going well, we console each other when they are not, and we celebrate the little moments in life in between.
 
I brought Brad onto the show, because he has a particular gift for accepting and embracing change. In fact, he even seeks it out from time to time! Brad is an incredible inspiration for all of us because of his ability to cultivate a growth mindset and take on the world with full steam ahead, regardless of his circumstances.
 
 
0:30 Welcome
4:45 Brad’s introduction and life story
5:45 Brad’s take on how to choose the right college for you
6:45 Following the career path after Lehman’s collapse
8:40 Brad’s transition from New York to Chicago and why he chose to leave
9:55 What you can learn from a job you absolutely hate
12:05 The draw to move back West comes in the form of entrepreneurship
13:50 The real difference between entrepreneurship and big business
15:10 Are you born an entrepreneur or can you learn to embrace that freedom over time?
16:40 Brad’s adventure as the best “beanie” salesman in the country
18:25 Why Brad no longer sells beanies even though his company grew to over $1mm in revenue
20:20 How to know the type of work you were created for
21:10 Brad’s vision for his life
22:20 Brad’s no-nonsense tactic for creating a plan for your career
23:55 What to do when fear is holding you back from your dreams
25:40 The major places that Brad draws from for support and mentorship
27:40 Brad’s father’s #1 piece of advice for a fulfilling career
28:45 How to connect with other people when you’re in your darkest moments
30:00 Why you have to give before you get
31:20 The power of coaching
32:00 Brad’s life changing story of coaching high school hockey
34:00 The difference between “role” in sports and “role” in work
35:00 How to be honest with yourself about your strengths and then leverage them
37:00 How to advocate for yourself in business
38:10 Getting over barriers and demons that keep you from chasing your dreams
39:25 Brad’s shocking personal story of struggling through business school
40:40 How to know if your dream is going to make you happy and feel worthwhile
41:10 How to deal with being busy and overwhelmed
42:25 Brad’s approach on cultivating a “change” mindset and redefining himself
43:55 Brad staring into the abyss of 2 months left in business school and no job to speak of
44:40 How to find peace within the chaos of life’s transitions
45:25 Brad’s #1 piece of advice for your life

In this episode, I interview friend and mentor Jeff Schiefelbein. Jeff is a Founding Partner and Chief Culture Officer of 5, an Irving, Texas based energy advisory firm, and founder of Texas A&M’s popular ride-sharing program, CARPOOL, which has now been franchised country-wide. He's an incredible example of someone who is living their authentic values and beliefs throughtout his entire life-- work, family, and personal space.
 
This episode is great for anyone who wants to..
•Learn more about their own skill sets
•Have the courage to seize more of the opportunities that arise in life
•Slow down the train of life
•Make the boring parts of your job less boring
•Be more present
•Be more fearless
•Find a mentor
•Really move the needle in your growth as a human being
•Do more dynamic and amazing things with your life
 
Jeff can be reached @JSchiefelbein.

In this episode, I interview life-long friend and peer Ramin Baranpourian. I reconnected with Ramin about 9 months ago, and it was his life story that inspired me to start this podcast in the first place! Ramin started a successful asset management company, and reached a societal version of success at only age 25. Underneath, however, he was depressed and unhappy with his life circumstances. Today, he works as a high school science teacher, and  is "the happiest he has ever been." In this episode, Ramin teaches us valuable lessons on how to make our transitions in life more seamless than ever before.