Join us for a three-part Friendship Series, a rebroadcast of a selection of our most popular episodes centered around the topic of friendship.  In the first installment, we travel back to the 9th episode of TOOST.  In this early episode, from February 2020, Danielle shares her best advice about how to make new friends and the practical strategies she used to find and make connections when she moved to a new city. 

TALK BIG QUESTIONS

Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life.

• As an adult have you found it difficult to make friends?

• Thinking back to your most recent connection with a new friend – under what circumstances did you make that connection personally or professionally?

• Was there a particular piece of advice Danielle offered in this episode that resonated with you?

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session. 

Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

Is there someone in your life that you would say exudes qualities like authenticity, boldness, and curiosity?  If so, today’s guest would likely tell you that person is exhibiting the ABCs of Charisma. In this episode, leadership expert Milam Miller demystifies charisma, revealing it's a skill anyone can develop; shares practical strategies for genuine connection; and valuable techniques for meaningful interactions and more impactful communication. Drawing from sports and leadership experience, Milam explains that true charisma is about making others feel seen and heard, not self-promotion.  His debut book The Charisma Craft:  A Modern Leadership Guide to Enhance Your “Rizz” Factor will be published on June 25, 2025. 

Guest’s Website: BCK: Be Confident & Kind | Leading in the Age of AI

Guest’s Book (Available June 25, 2025): About | Empower Your Leadership to Be Confident and Kind — BCK: Be Confident & Kind, Charisma Training for Leaders

TALK BIG QUESTIONS

Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life.

• Would you have labeled yourself as charismatic prior to this episode?  Has your view changed?

• What one technique discussed in this episode would you be most likely to incorporate into your daily interactions?

• Is there someone in your personal or professional life you feel you have a genuine connection with?

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session. 

Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads, personally or professionally, wanting to make a long held dream or goal a reality?  Today’s guest, Danielle Sprouls shares her transformative journey from commercial real estate to coaching and how it’s possible for anyone to make the powerful decision to “pivot,” face their fears, and grow both personally and professionally.  In this insightful discussion, she touches on points in her book, “WTF: Women That Flourish:  Transform Life’s ‘What the F#$k’ Moments Into Your Greatest Wins;” explores the importance of intuition, visualization, and taking bold steps; and offers practical tips on turning challenges into opportunities.

Guest’s Website: Unscripted Pivots | Career Coaching by Danielle Sprouls

Book Affiliate Link:  WTF: Women That Flourish: Transform Life's "What the F#$k" Moments Into Your Greatest Wins: Sprouls Esq., Danielle: 9798315383390: Amazon.com: Books

TALK BIG QUESTIONS

Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life.

• Have you had a light bulb or “what the f#$k” moment?  How did you react and how would you react now?

• What advice or encouragement would you give to a loved one if they came to you expressing they wanted to make a bold or drastic change personally or professionally?

• What is one practical piece of advice you took from today’s conversation?

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session. 

Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

In the latest installment of Coaches Corner, guest coach JL Heather, who holds over two decades of experience as an organizational transformation coach sits down with Danielle for a discussion on the topic of innovation and creativity.

Guest’s Website: About Centered: Leadership & Transformation Experts

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session. 

Today's guest is a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) expert.  If you are stateside, NLP may not be a term you’re very familiar with, but after today’s episode you may just find an appreciation for this fascinating area of study and how language and mindset can transform personal and professional experiences. Rebecca Bonnington sits down for a really enlightening conversation in which she demonstrates, using Kristy as her subject, practical NLP techniques, including how to change emotional states by manipulating sensory representations and understanding the power of self-talk; discusses how the body and mind are interconnected; and offers tools that can empower anyone to tap into their internal resources to create a desired change in their life.

Guest’s Website: Rebecca Bonnington - Tricres Ltd

TALK BIG QUESTIONS

Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life.

• Were you familiar with NLP prior to this episode?

• What one technique from this episode would you be interested to try in practice in your own life?

• What is one area of your life or desired goal do you think NLP might help you to reach?

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session. 

Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

In popular culture, there was a time where views of workplace relationships, between employees and managers, were seen through the lens of the likes of Emily and her over the top demanding boss, Miranda Priestly, in the 2006 movie, the Devil Wears Prada.  Fast forward to 2025, workplace culture has evolved and terms like, managing up, the focus of today’s conversation, have become normalized and encouraged.  Today’s guest is Melody Wilding, therapist, professor, executive coach and author of, Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge, released in March.  In her conversation with Kristy, Melody shares insights from her book on navigating workplace relationships through strategic conversations, they discuss key workplace communication strategies, and practical techniques.

Guest’s Website: Managing Up | Leadership Keynote Speaker | Melody Wilding

Guest’s book via our affiliate link: Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge: Wilding, Melody: 9780593444658: Amazon.com: Books

TALK BIG QUESTIONS

Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life.

• Have you had a managing up situation in your workplace?  How did you handle it and would you handle it differently following this episode?

• Did you identify as one of the four C’s discussed in the conversation? 

• What is one of the techniques that most resonated with you?

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session. 

Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

Have you ever dealt with a negative voice inside your head that is constantly discouraging you, second guessing you, or telling you that you aren’t good enough? Even if you don’t self-identify as a perfectionist, this episode explores those tendencies we all have to chase perfection in our everyday life. Our guest, Tara Cousineau, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist; meditation teacher; life learner on resilience, self-compassion and healing; author of “The Perfectionist’s Dilemma: Learn the Art of Self-Compassion and Become a Happy Achiever,” and yes, a recovering perfectionist. During our discussion, Dr. Cousineau shares strategies and helpful techniques for managing inner critics and provides insights into recognizing and reframing perfectionistic tendencies to create more joy and balance in life. 

Guest’s Website: Tara Cousineau, PhD, Psychologist, Author: The Perfectionist's Dilemma

Guest’s book via our affiliate link: The Perfectionist's Dilemma: Learn the Art of Self-Compassion and Become a Happy Achiever: Cousineau, Tara: 9781639109463: Amazon.com: Books  

TALK BIG QUESTIONS

Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life.

• Did you identify with some of the perfectionist tendencies in this episode?  

• Do you find that you show much more compassion for others than you do for yourself?  If so, why?

• What was one technique shared by Dr. Cousineau, in this episode, which you’d be interested to try?

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session. 

Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

When you use too many fillers it makes your message unclear and causes people to think you don’t have confidence in what you are saying. In this episode we are FINALLY talking filler words; why you use them, how to identify your unique fillers, and what to do about it. 

Get the free worksheet that goes along with this episode: The Um Worksheet

 🌱 Tap here to work with Kristy: kristyolinger.com

Follow on Instagram for more communication tips: @ko.communication

Many professionals have likely encountered mentorship at one time or another, but may be less familiar with a different type of networking known as sponsorship and its many unique benefits.  Today’s guest shares her deep insight into the key differences between mentorship and sponsorship, how sponsorship can open doors to stronger inclusivity in the workplace, and how you can take on this important role of sponsorship in your own workplace.  Our guest, Rosalind Chow, Ph.D. is a professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory, researcher, and author of the new book , “The Doors You Can Open: A New Way to Network, Build Trust, and Use Your Influence to Create a More Inclusive Workplace,” available now.

Guest’s Website: Rosalind M. Chow

Guest’s New Book (affiliate link):  The Doors You Can Open: A New Way to Network, Build Trust, and Use Your Influence to Create a More Inclusive Workplace: Chow, Rosalind: 9781541702752: Amazon.com: Books

TALK BIG QUESTIONS

Use these prompts to have the opposite of small talk in real life.

• Have you ever been mentored by or mentored someone else professionally?  How about sponsored?

• Do you find networking challenging?  Why or why not?

• Following the episode are you more likely to consider being a sponsor for someone else?

Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session. 

Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy’s website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger.

As we officially welcome spring, many rites of passage including graduation season are almost upon us.  If you are a member of the Class of 2025 or know someone who is graduating or has recently graduated, this episode includes an insightful discussion on real life skills that aren’t always taught in the classroom, but can prove extremely beneficial.  Our guest, Raffi Grinberg is an educator, business leader, and author of the new book (released March 25th!), “How to Be a Grown Up: The 14 Essential Skills You Didn’t Know You Needed (Until Just Now).”