The Wisdom movers

Have you ever wondered why certain people push your buttons—and whether your own reactions might be making things worse?

In this episode, Ilene Marcus, author of Managing Annoying People and inventor of the iLean-Pan, shares practical lessons from more than 25 years of leadership experience managing over 10,000 employees across government, nonprofit, and corporate organizations. With honesty and humor, she explores difficult personalities, emotional reactions, personal blind spots, and the behavioral patterns that can undermine our relationships and performance.

We discuss how to handle frustrating situations without losing your composure, why self-awareness is essential to effective leadership, and how changing your response can help you regain control. Ilene also shares her innovative approach to solving everyday problems and turning frustration into something productive.

Get Ilene’s book, Managing Annoying People:

https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Annoying-People-Maximize-Performance/dp/1530496268

What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t your circumstances, but the identity and beliefs you’ve carried for years?

In this episode, Leo Dulay, author of You Are Not Your Past and a hypnotherapy and NLP coach, shares how losing his 22-year career at AT&T pushed him to question who he was beyond his job. That experience became the starting point for a deeper personal transformation and a mission to help others break free from limiting beliefs and emotional patterns.

We explore subconscious change, anxiety, self-sabotage, outdated identities, and Leo’s Release Exercise—a practical approach he developed to help people let go of the past and move toward a different future.

Connect with Leo and explore his book, coaching, and companion app:

https://leodulaycoaching.com/

What happens when intelligence becomes abundant, but good judgment remains rare?

In this episode, Andrew Quillen, founder of AndMaverick, shares lessons from his work across OpenAI, Spotify, Coinbase, and Stripe, and his experience advising founders, executives, investors, and governments. We explore why organizations struggle to turn AI investment into real business value, how AI is changing the way companies operate, and why better technology alone cannot replace sound leadership and decision-making.

Andrew also explains his MAO Framework—Model, Action, and Orchestration—and discusses sovereign AI, the lessons of the FTX collapse, entrepreneurial risk, and what it takes to challenge conventional thinking when the stakes are high.

Learn more about AndMaverick:

https://www.andmaverick.com

What if the biggest problem with AI isn’t how we prompt it, but how quickly it forgets what matters?

In this episode, Ben Finklea, founder of ArmBrain and longtime marketing leader, explores why important client context, decisions, and commitments often get lost when executives manage multiple clients and AI tools. We discuss the role of AI memory, what technology can genuinely do for business leaders, and how to distinguish practical uses of AI from the hype.

Ben also shares lessons from moving from marketing services to SaaS and explains why remembering the context behind the work could be just as important as generating the next answer.

Learn more about ArmBrain:

https://armbrain.io/

Ben’s website:

https://armbrain.ai/

What happens when the biggest problem facing a CEO isn’t the market or the competition, but a difficult relationship at the leadership table?

In this episode, Liz Crowley, founder of HR Collaborative Solutions, shares more than 25 years of experience helping CEOs and senior leaders navigate high-stakes conflict, eroded trust, performance issues, and difficult conversations. We explore why capable leaders can become stuck in people problems, how to separate facts from emotion, when a relationship can be repaired, and when it may be time to plan a clear and respectful exit.

Liz explains how unresolved leadership conflict can quietly drain focus, delay decisions, and cost a business momentum—and what leaders can do to move from conflict to clarity.

Take Liz’s Conflict Readiness Assessment:

https://link.hrcollaborativesolutions.com/widget/quiz/M5WuRb2kh8I90ye1C3NF?notrack=true

What if some of the patterns holding you back are operating beneath your conscious awareness?

In this episode of The Wisdom Movers Podcast, Anna Machkalov, a certified hypnotherapist with over 23 years of experience in cosmetic medicine, explores the fascinating connection between the conscious and subconscious mind. We discuss anxiety, self-sabotage, confidence, emotional triggers, relationships, habits, and how understanding the mind can help us create lasting change.

Anna shares a compassionate, practical approach to working with the subconscious rather than fighting against it, offering insights for anyone looking to better understand themselves and create healthier patterns.

Connect with Anna Machkalov:

Website: https://annamachypnosis.com

What happens when people from different cultures, backgrounds, and experiences come together—and choose to understand rather than divide?

In this episode of The Wisdom Movers Podcast, Mathias Lemos Castillo shares his journey as a bilingual community engagement consultant, cultural bridge-builder, and founder of MLC Consulting. Born and raised in Uruguay before moving to the United States, Mathias brings a unique perspective on cross-cultural communication, community building, inclusive leadership, and creating spaces where meaningful dialogue can happen.

We explore how organizations can bridge cultural differences, build stronger communities, communicate across diverse perspectives, and turn inclusion into something practical and meaningful.

Connect with Mathias Lemos Castillo:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlemoscastillo/

What if some of the things you consume every day are quietly affecting your health—and you don't even realize you're dependent on them?

In this episode of The Wisdom Movers Podcast, Norbert Heuser shares the extraordinary journey that took him from a life-threatening health crisis 45 years ago into a lifelong exploration of food addictions, alternative medicine, wellness, sleep, water, and the effects of modern technology on our lives. His experiences eventually led him to write Every Coffee Drinker Is a Drug Addict and develop health-related technologies based on his research.

We explore caffeine and food dependence, hidden health habits, sleep, water quality, technology and electromagnetic radiation, and Norbert's philosophy that true health requires harmony between body and mind. His story is ultimately about curiosity, questioning what we take for granted, and continuing to search for solutions.

Connect with Norbert Heuser:

Website: https://improveyourlifewithnorbert.com

What if the most important advantage in the age of artificial intelligence isn't technology at all, but the uniquely human skills we bring to it?

In this episode of The Wisdom Movers Podcast, Stephanie Sylvestre explores the rapidly changing world of AI through the lens of leadership, entrepreneurship, ethics, and human potential. From explaining LLMs, SLMs, and AI agents to discussing responsible AI and the social impact of technology, Stephanie makes complex ideas practical and accessible.

We also explore the human skills that remain essential in an AI-driven world—resilience, creativity, resourcefulness, problem-solving, and critical thinking—and how leaders can prepare themselves and their organizations for what comes next.

Connect with Stephanie Sylvestre:

Email: [email protected]

What happens when the struggles that once made you feel like an outsider become the very experiences that give you a voice?

In this episode of The Wisdom Movers Podcast, Noah May shares his journey through depression, anxiety, self-doubt, and the challenges he faced from a young age. An Auburn University journalism graduate and host of three podcasts, Noah has transformed difficult experiences into a reason to speak openly about mental health and encourage others who may be facing similar battles.

We explore mental health, resilience, finding your voice, journalism, podcasting, and how the experiences we go through can shape the person we ultimately become.

Connect with Noah May:

Website: https://www.noahspodcasts.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noahspodcasts

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@noahspodcasts?si=7aV-NoI5z3uH1JeP