This Epic Life

Netta Jenkins is a force of nature. She’s currently on family leave from her position as VP of Global Inclusion for Ask Applications, a branch of publicly-traded IAC. She welcomed her first child in April.

When Netta was in high school, her parents moved into a wealthy, predominantly white community. That experience— and much of the resistance and racism her family encountered— helped shape Netta’s voice, as a champion of inclusion for all. Netta is a woman of color by birth, but when you hear her speak you suddenly believe there could be solutions that include everyone. In addition to her many responsibilities with Ask Apps, Netta has spoken at over 50 industry events, panels, and conferences in the last year alone.

I had the pleasure of coaching Netta around her thought leadership and positioning framework.

But she doesn’t stop there. Netta has always been an entrepreneur at heart, and recently launched Dipper, a platform for professionals of color to review their workplace in a transparent environment. She’s also finishing her first book, and has been invited to speak at Google when she returns to work in September. Do you see what I mean? Force. Of. Nature.

Netta challenges the predictable assumptions that we have to choose— between family or a career, or between a great role within a successful company, or impact beyond its walls. This week’s episode looks at what’s possible when we unleash our voice everywhere.

In this conversation we cover:

Netta Jenkins is the VP of Global Inclusion for Mosaic Group and Ask Applications, an Interactive Corp company (NASDAQ: IAC).

She leads the company’s mission to foster an inclusive, collaborative and forward-thinking workplace. She currently runs a career development program for many diverse groups, including women, people of color, LGBTQ, and differently-abled.

Beyond her full-time leadership role, Netta has been a regular featured speaker on Diversity and Inclusion, and women empowerment. She recently co-founded Dipper (ourdipper.com), a community for professionals of color to share their workplace experience. In the few weeks since launched, Dipper has amassed thousands of reviews.

Of Netta’s inclusion work, Forbes has said she “…has a strong understanding of what empowering people in the workplace can do for the growth of the company”. Under Netta’s leadership, Google has said “IAC Applications (now known as The Mosaic Group and Ask Apps) is a star example of a company pushing towards gender equality as well as overall cultural equality.”

Netta Jenkins lives in New York City.

Connect with Netta:

Netta on LinkedIn

Twitter

Instagram

Netta Jenkins.com

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Lisa Congdon does a remarkable job of staying true to who she is while building what I can only describe as an Art Empire— all since the age of 40. She picked up the paint brush at 32, went pro at 40, and hasn’t looked back. She has amassed an incredible following for her work across all social platforms, and written 8 books along the way.

She is an inspiring example of creating art, and possibility through disciplined, consistent practice. Her work ethic, and therefore her output is completely Other Level.

Lisa has been so generous in documenting and sharing her process of becoming a professional artist. She’s a fierce supporter of her fellow artists, and features many of them in her books.

Her latest book comes out next month on Chronicle: “Find Your Artistic Voice— The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic”.

In this conversation we cover:

Illustrator and author Lisa Congdon is best known for her colorful drawings and hand lettering. She works for clients around the world including Comme des Garçons, Ernie Ball, Crate and Barrel, Facebook, MoMA, REI, and Harvard University among many others.

She is the author of eight books, including the starving-artist-myth-smashing Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist and her latest book Find Your Artistic Voice: The Essential Guide to Working Your Creative Magic (August 2019). 

Lisa was named one of 40 Women Over 40 to Watch in 2015 and she is featured in the 2017 book, 200 Women Who Will Change the Way you See the World. She lives and works in Portland, Oregon.

FInd her everywhere online @LisaCongdon. www.lisacongdon.com

Connect with Lisa here:

Lisa Congdon Art + Illustration

Lisa on Instagram

Lisa on Twitter

Lisa on Facebook

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Every once in a while we bump into people who somehow earn a great living, and build a great life— simply by being themselves.

If life is a journey of self-discovery, self-acceptance, and ultimately leveraging our power of  Being Ourselves… These people don’t waste too much time in discovery and acceptance, because they have too much impact to create by virtue of their Being.

My friend Evan La Ruffa is one of these people. If the guy isn’t installing the craziest, hippest, and most cutting-edge art for corporate spaces, he is evangelizing the value of art to executive leaders of brands like Adidas.

Evan La Ruffa is the founder of I Paint My Mind, an organization that transforms people and spaces by connecting artists, businesses, and communities through art.

He currently serves as the Executive Director and Leader Curator.

Evan has one of those vibes you can feel a block away before you get there. He’s covered in tats, rocks some heavy gauge ear-wear, and yet he’s so genuinely joyful that he can hang with anyone.

Evan La Ruffa is the founder of I Paint My Mind, an organization that transforms people and spaces by connecting artists, businesses, and communities through art.

He currently serves as the Executive Director and Leader Curator.

Over the last 6 years, I Paint my Mind has amassed an incredible collection of over 1100 pieces of original art, which they have exhibited in over 65 businesses and communities.

You can browse their collection at IPaintMyMind.org.

I Paint My Mind

Evan La Ruffa .com (speaking and consulting site)

Evan on LinkedIn

Facebook

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There’s no topic that fills us with fear, regret, and confusion quite like suicide. You can tell by the title of this episode, it’s a departure from our usual interview format.

*If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the suicide hotline 24 hours a day at 1-(800) 273-8255.

***Friends and Family: Please know this is NOT a meditation on my own suicide. 

The intention behind this “Meditation on Suicide” episode is to create perspective, and hopefully meaning in an act that holds so much heaviness, and finality.

We lost an old friend recently, who took his own life. Although his loss itself is so much bigger than however he passed, his death filled us with such shock, and sadness.

I recorded this 37-minute reflection as an attempt to gain perspective on something that initially left us with more questions than answers.

The format was: Meditate for 60 minutes, chant, then speak for 40. (Plus, minor editing for content, and to intersperse with music.) Recorded Sunday, May 5th 2019.

In this episode, we explore the emotions, regrets, and many lessons following a sudden passing.

We also look at the struggles of life— and suicide— from both the physical body (ego), and soul’s perspective.

We conclude by celebrating an epic life well-lived, ending with a short chant. This episode is respectfully dedicated to the loving memory of Zachary Hirt, and all who loved him. The cuisine in Heaven just got a whole lot zestier. Zack was an outstanding Executive Chef, and Founder of Nuevo Modern Mexican in Cleveland, and Akron, OH.

Paramahansa Yogananda used to share the story of a dying youth in India, who, hearing the sobs of grief around him, cried: —

“Insult me not with your cries of sympathy.

When I soar to the land of eternal light and love; it is I who should feel for you. For me, disease, shattering of bones, sorrow, excruciating heartaches no more.

I dream joy, I glide in joy, I breathe in joy evermore.”

Om Shanti, Amen. We love you, and we miss you Zack.

Zachary Hirt was the Executive Chef, and Founder of Nuevo, a 2-location “modern Mexican” with locations in Akron, and Cleveland, OH.

The man loved jazz albums, hosting epic game nights, bringing people joy through food, and video games. He will be missed.

Zack realized he wanted to cook while taking Home Economics class in 1988. Born and raised in Highland Square, he has always worked in and around Akron. His first paying job was at the Akron Art Museum, where he served soda at art lectures.

Since then he has been working in the foodservice industry such places as the Mustard Seed Market, Piatto (under Roger Thomas), The Bistro on Main, and the Amber Pub, where he was the Executive Chef. The opening of Nuevo (opened in 2014) ended an 8 year stint as the sauté chef at Crave in downtown Akron.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the suicide hotline 24 hours a day at 800-273-8255.

Resources and support for preventing suicide can be found here.

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Today, we’re sharing a special episode for International Coaching Week, which is a weeklong celebration by the International Coaching Federation.

Our theme today is vulnerability. We get into the predictable, default patterns we use to sabotage our success. Many of those weeds develop in early childhood, so we take a trip back and share what shaped us adults, and as coaches. This conversation ranges from easy-going, to face-palming embarrassing and squirmy…. But maybe that’s just me.

Note: I’m working on a personal breakthrough around letting people into my process more, versus sharing the shiny façade.

What do you think about when you think about coaching? Maybe it’s an athletic coach who has shaped your life off the field, or a music teacher who helped you fall in love with practicing.  Maybe you’re thinking about coaching others professionally, or hiring your own coach to accelerate your projects.

I committed all of 2018 to a year-long training. On the second day, I was assigned a mentor coach.

I’ve been working with today’s guest every week since. Robert “Bob” Conlin has coached me through some pretty deep internal struggles, and the outer expansion of my business over the last 18 months.

Bob Conlin is the perfect guest to showcase the power of coaching— and also what deep, heart-centered work it can be. You’ll hear the guy doesn’t hold anything back, whether in sharing his own vulnerability, or exposing his clients to theirs.

Bob reminds me of a loving description Paramahansa Yogananda made of his Guru, Swami Sri Yukteswar: “’Softer than the flower, where kindness is concerned; stronger than the thunder, where principles are at stake.'”  That’s Bob. He’ll be your bud 1 minute in celebrating a win, and then sit on your back in a Camel Clutch position like the Iron Sheik, until you drop your story and create what you said you wanted to create.

Bob Conlin is a credentialed ACC Coach (soon to be PCC) by the International Coach Federation, and holds an MBA from Benedictine University and a baccalaureate from Purdue University.

He has completed Level 1 training in the Gottman Method, which is a research-based approach to relationships. His philosophy (and superpower) in his coaching comes down to heart, and relationships. KC Note: In my experience, he is a warrior for connecting me to my heart, and bringing light to my relationships in all areas of life..

Bob is the author of the forthcoming book “Why Your Relationships Suck: How to Create Strong Relationships with Courage and Heart”. He also shares a couples’ coaching practice with his wife Shona Moeller, a powerful coach in her own right. I’d highly recommend them for couples: “We Meet Again Coaching“.

Conlin Coaching

Bob Conlin on Facebook

Conlin Coaching LLC on Facebook

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Leo Babauta could be one of the most steady, devoted practitioners of personal change I’ve ever witnessed.

Leo has written for over a dozen years about his many victories, and struggles in creating lasting, positive change— all on his immensely popular blog Zen Habits. Along the way, he’s conquered everything from smoking, to becoming a minimalist, to running ultra-marathons, to writing 4 books, raising 6 kids, and so much more.

Zen Habits has been a beacon of hope for literally millions of readers over the last 12 years. Leo’s lucid, practical teachings come straight out of his own personal experimentation. Because he’s a minimalist, he spares us a lot of the flash, choosing to focus on the most clear, proven paths toward personal habit change.

Leo is an insatiably curious person. This served him well in his early career as a journalist, but it’s really interesting how it serves him now as a writer, coach, a parent, and in delivering workshops around the world.  He’s one of those people who’s always asking a fresh, better question— one that creates the most possibility.

I honestly loved this conversation, and I’m so excited to share it with you. As a long time fan of his writing on Zen Habits, I admitted to Leo that while we were tossing the football on a beach in Costa Rica last month, I had a fantasy that he was my Dad. 

We go deep into his long journey of personal transformation, and call out the major themes of what he learned in upgrading so many habits, unschooling their children, to showing up to write at a level that has built such a massive audience.

We also get into the art and science of asking great questions, designing powerful workshop experiences, and facilitation. This has been a major area of focus for Leo recently, and it was so much fun to geek-out on everything he’s learning. Pay close attention to what Leo shares around our relationship to uncertainty, and how that relationship impacts our ability to change.

Also, listen for the ways Leo reignites his own curiosity, and how that powers his writing, and his business.

Please enjoy this far-ranging conversation with the friendly, and exquisitely chill: Leo Babauta.

Leo Babauta is a simplicity blogger & author. He created Zen Habits, a Top 25 blog with 2 million readers. He’s also a best-selling author of four books, including Essential Zen Habits: The Art of Mastering Change, Zen Habit’s Beginner’s Guide to Mindfulness, Ultralight: The Zen Habit’s Guide to Traveling Light and Living Light, and Zen to Done.

Leo is also a husband, father of six children, and a vegan.

He splits time between California, and his native home of Guam.

He started Zen Habits to chronicle and share what he’s learned while changing a number of habits, and has since expanded into offering various programs, workshops, and coaching.

Zen Habits on Facebook

twitter.com/@zen_habits

LeoBabauta.com

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How do some people break out of conventional jobs, and completely reinvent their living on faith— like becoming an international spiritual teacher? That’s exactly what today’s guest, Dr. Michael Lennox has done.

At least a couple times a week, I talk to someone who struggles with finding their voice, and then using it to speak, or teach their truth. This can show up with executives who are defining their leadership style, an entrepreneur stepping out to give her first TED talk, or a yoga teacher who wants to expand his impact beyond the studio.

In my experience, all of us have something unique, and powerful to teach. But sadly, far fewer of us have the audacity to teach publicly in a way that can positively influence the masses.

Today we’ll meet a spiritual teacher who is so unconventional, he can shape-shift from profound insight, to hilarious theatrics— all in service of his Mission. Dr. Michael Lennox embodies the phrase: “possibility unleashed.” When you read his daily Astro Alerts (short for Astrology Alerts), or watch his videos, you know immediately the guy knows his stuff. But also, that he has a huge heart, and sense of urgency to empower others.

I’m always fascinated by those who defy all the well-meaning parental advice, or downright stifling education systems, and fully unleash their voice.

In the conversation that follows, we dig into Michael’s journey of becoming a spiritual teacher, and the sacrifices he made to walk his path. This includes his deep inner work, and his devotion to daily practice. We get into what’s being asked of all of us in these chaotic times, and how to leverage what astrologists call our North Node. This is our destined path, and it shows up a little differently than the characteristics we know from our primary (sun) sign.

What if the current challenges our planet faces required each of us to step forward and put our unique skills to work— for the upliftment of humanity?

Dr. Michael Lennox makes me consider these possibilities as a reality, and then surrender to the challenge, and sacred responsibility of being a teacher. If you’re looking to own your voice, or to build a substantial income as a spiritual teacher, you need to hear this.

Dr. Lennox obtained his Masters and Doctorate in Psychology from The Chicago School. His Doctoral Dissertation, Astrology and Personality, is published by Lambert Academic Publishing. He is the author of two books on dreams, including Dream Sight: A Dictionary & Guide for Interpreting Any Dream and Llewellyn’s Complete Dream Dictionary.

Dr. Lennox leads workshops and retreats all over the United States and conducts a worldwide private practice based in Southern California.

He has been seen on Sci Fi Network’s The Dream Team, and has also been featured on NBC’s Emmy award winning Starting Over, Soap Talk, The Wayne Brady show and many others. His radio appearances talking about the power of dreams number in the hundreds.

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Today’s tech start-ups spend so much time positioning themselves as experts in company culture, it’s easy to forget they haven’t yet celebrated 20 years in business. What about a company that keeps innovating and expanding, while walking its talk with cutting-edge, people-first business practices—in its 86th year in business?

Famous Supply is a 4th-generation family business headquartered in Akron OH. It was founded in 1933, and currently employs close to 1000 associates.

Marc Blaushild is the current President and CEO, a role his Dad and Grandfather held before him. His two sons— Brian and Kevin— also hold executive leadership roles.

In this 40-minute conversation, we’ll learn how a CEO of a culture-first company empowers all associates to lead. Marc shares how Famous continues to deepen its commitment to its purpose while simplifying a logistically-complex operation.

This also carries over to his approach to maximizing his own time and energy. Marc has one of the most unique, and powerful approaches to making time for what matters most. I’m so excited to share his process with all of you.

We discuss how Famous developed its 40 Fundamentals, which drive desired leadership behaviors across the organization.

At some point, every interview we produce surprises me.

The end of this conversation is just incredible. I love the stories Marc shares, when I ask what insight he would offer his sons about leading the organization. This is what 4 generations of leadership looks like, and it’s the opposite of what you might expect. Pay close attention to the type of Dad that Marc is, and how his family has permanently expanded to include 4 generations of associates, and customers.

This conversation is a Master Class in humility, curiosity, family, and leadership.

Marc joined Famous Enterprises in 1985, after graduating from The Ohio State University. He has worked on many sides of the business, before taking on the President and CEO role in 2004.

Famous Enterprises is a privately held business with 40 locations primarily in Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Marc is active in many industry association groups, and has sat on many boards as an advisor. He’s also very active in the company’s role as a giving organization in the communities they serve. Famous partners with the Make-a-Wish Foundation, organizes events for Parkinson’s research, and supports many other charities.

Marc and his wife Sherri live in Moreland Hills, Ohio.

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Lodro Rinzler reminds me what’s possible when we surrender to our path. That’s not to say the guy doesn’t have an incredible work ethic, but as you’ll hear, there’s an immense power and grace to embracing who we’ve always known ourselves to be.

For most of us, it’s easy to ignore, or drown out that little voice that reminds us Who We Really Are.

Not Lodro.

I’m blown away by his consistency, passion, and his commitment to not only walk his path, but to also train other teachers to find their own.

After leaving college, he was recruited to lead one of Boston’s largest meditation centers. Around this time he began leading numerous workshops throughout the United States, and to date has taught meditation at locations as diverse as Google, Harvard, and the Obama White House.

In 2015, he founded MNDFL (spelled capitol MNDFL), which is NYC’s premier drop-in meditation studio. Over the last couple years MNDFL has expanded into three studios, an online portal of teachings, and a non-profit arm which brings meditation into the education system.

We cover a ton of ground in the conversation that follows, beginning with the darkest year of his life.

We hear Lodro’s tips on navigating an increasingly uncertain world, and his relaxed approach to writing, and publishing so many books. We conclude with an epic bequeathal. I couldn’t help but pass on a gift (related to last week’s Susan Piver episode) that gave us both a good laugh.

Lodro Rinzler is a Buddhist meditation practitioner and teacher. He took refuge in the Buddhist tradition around the age of 6, and considered monastic vows as a teenager, before choosing to stick it out in our noisy world as a teacher.

After leaving college, he was recruited to lead one of Boston’s largest meditation centers. Around this time he began leading numerous workshops throughout the United States, and to date has taught meditation at locations as diverse as Google, Harvard, and the Obama White House.

In 2015, he founded MNDFL (spelled capitol MNDFL), which is NYC’s premier drop-in meditation studio. Over the last couple years MNDFL has expanded into three studios, an online portal of teachings, and a non-profit arm which brings meditation into the education system.

It has recently been named the “best place to meditate” by New York Magazine.

Lodro is the author of six books including the best-selling “The Buddha Walks into a Bar…”, Walk Like a Buddha, The Buddha Walks into the Office…, Sit Like a Buddha, How to Love Yourself (And Sometimes Other People) and Love Hurts: Buddhist Advice for the Heartbroken.

His books translate Buddhist meditation principles for modern times, and have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and on CBS, FOX, and NBC News.

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How do you get the most out of a team, or organization? Team dynamics and business culture can be a fluffy subject, but not for a seasoned HR exec in NYC’s tech industry. This conversation is a must for every passionate organizational, or culture designer.

Deb Josephs is a Chief People Officer who has helped shepherd massive business, and organizational growth over her 25+ year career. Just a couple months into her new role with NCC Media, we sat down for a candid conversation on leading culture change, ways to elevate emotional intelligence (EQ), and how to properly align compensation, and manager development to drive business performance.

Deb is one of 4 female executives on NCC’s 8-person leadership team, which has recently been redesigned by their new CEO Nicolle Pangis. Deb and I also spend time on Diversity & Inclusion, if metrosexual fashion is an indicator of high EQ, and how to best support organizations as an outside coach or consultant.

Deb is one of those people who drops so much wisdom, that I wish I could record our conversations to share with other leaders. This time, I can! Her experience is vast, and her strategies are proven, practical, and actionable. As you’ll hear in this conversation, Deb has led more organizational change in the first few months of her new role than many HR leaders will face in their career.

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