Warriors at Work

This week we bring you a conversation from last year with Rodney Salomon and Mychal Mills to explore again the balance of light & dark in our everyday lives. They shared with us the importance of building connections with each other and opening up our inner child space so we can safely accept the shadows that exist around us . We also tapped into how to be mindful and aware of our bodies and breathing for our own personal growth. These paths empower us to deal with personal and professional situations as adults to create balance and bring back joy into our lives.

Rodney Salomon
I've been rockin' with KYDS since: Inception. Here's what I live by: "At first I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am starting to change myself" – Rumi. I value: Knowledge of Self, Unconditional Love, Giving Life to Others. I like working with KYDS because: The energy, the connection, the family environment. A space where I can be authentic, vulnerable, and real. The ability to discover myself while helping others discover who they are. Making an impact on the impacts the soul of an individual.

Mychal Mills
I've been rockin' with KYDS since...2014. Here's what I live by: "Live each day with Purpose. Live each moment with Presence". I value: Passion, Purpose, Empowerment. I like working with KYDS because: I love awakening youth to discover their highest self.

Konscious Youth Development & Service (KYDS) is a 501c3 non-profit conscious youth development organization that transforms Youth, Schools & Communities through holistic practices.

Since it takes the transformation of entire communities to sustain the upliftment of our youth, KYDS also offers holistic wellness programming for youth, school administration, educators, parents, and community.

Please join us again next week as we continue our Warriors At Work conversations that help guide us to transforming our personal & professional lives.

(6:40) What are Rodney & Mychal’s impressions of the world, as teachers who live everyday what they practice & teach?

(9:10) They explain the concept of “pain bodies”, being conscious of our physical self to address our health and wellbeing.

(13:08) Rodney & Mychal discuss exploring our own embodiment, how it has to start with ourselves before we can share with others.

(17:01) What would it be like to work with them in a business environment? How can we bring their approach into our professional lives?

(23:33) How they teach compassion and the importance of finding it for ourselves before we can share it with others.

(27:40) A discussion about “purification of the ego” and how we can learn that having one is not always the embodiment of negative & darkness in ourselves.

(33:21) Rodney & Mychal wrap up our conversation by sharing experiences in their own lives with darkness and how they learned from it.

Connect with Rodney Salomen & Mychal Mills
https://www.konscious.org

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We are sharing with you this week an earlier conversation with Brie Doyle that delves into our dark side and how we can find a way to “alchemize our pain into power”. Brie shares her insight into finding a safe space for those feelings, otherwise they can metabolize in our bodies. Simple things like paying attention to your breath can tell you so much because as she so eloquently shares with us “your body keeps the score”.

Brie Doyle hosts retreats for healing and transformation in the US and abroad. She specializes in curriculum development and facilitation, modernizing ancient practices, curating ritual and ceremony, and implementing research-based, experiential, growth opportunities utilizing the latest psychotherapeutic and somatic techniques.

Her book about the power and practice of retreating as self-care, YOU SHOULD LEAVE NOW, came out in July 2021. She also writes contemporary fiction, both general and YA.

Please join us again next week as we continue with conversation about the balance between lightness & darkness in our lives.

(8:00) Why do we resist darkness and negativity so much?

(11:39) We all know what it feels like to suffer, the more we share these experiences the more we can feel connected to each other.

(12:43) Why did Brie decide to create retreats to allow people to tap into their darker sides.

(15:28) What has Brie noticed over the years, especially related to the time of Covid, related to how darkness has played a part in our lives.

(17:40) What part of me is resisting this, and why now? – from Brie’s book. Can asking ourselves these questions help us to become grounded.

(21:38) Jeanie and Brie discuss a powerful quote from Catherine May, “Live a life you can cope with, not what others want from you”.

(29:25) How do you feel? Pay attention to your physiological response to a decision you need to make. Simple things like paying attention to your breath can tell you so much. The body keeps the score.

(32:14) Brie shares experiences with her own dark side and journey

(35:01) Jeanie opens up about her own dark side and feelings about health & mortality.

Connect with Brie Doyle
https://www.briedoyle.com

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Jeanie chats with the founder and CEO of Noetic Consultants, Nancie McDonnell Ruder. We chose to replay this episode because you’ll quickly learn that Nancie and her team are so much more than marketing strategy and research and training. She takes such a personal and textured approach to her clients and to the world around her. Jeanie and Nancie dive into the ingredients of a good day, as well as a tough day. They share personal rituals and practices that help keep them on the course of their own evolution and growth and happy life.

With over 20 years experience in marketing strategy, marketing training, branding and consumer research, Nancie loves building brands and helping people get better equipped to do so. She began her professional career with the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago, Illinois, where she served clients such as Procter & Gamble, Eli Lilly, The Gap, Lexmark Computers and Hoerchst Marion Rousseau. She launched Noetic Consulting in 2002 with the mission to “equip the people who build the brands using consumer research, brand strategy, training and other services and tools”. Through Noetic, Nancie has provided strategic guidance to clients large and small, including: AT&T, Discovery Channel, Georgetown University, McCann Worldgroup, Nike, Vail Resorts, Samsung Electronics, SC Johnson, Baywa Renewal energy and others.

This is a very personal and practical conversation that you’re sure to enjoy!

(1:45) Jeanie shares how she met Nancie

(4:36) Nancie’s personal philosophy

(8:25) Nancie describes her ideal day & routines

(15:30) How to shift your energy

(16:48) Noetic’s Core Values

(23:13) A proud moment from Nancie’s 19 & 3/4 years in business

(25:50) Nancie reflects on a unique client and learning experience from her past

(28:20) Nancie & Jeanie discuss their support circles

(37:45) What can we walk away with from this conversation?

Connect with Nancie McDonnell Ruder
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancieatnoetic/

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This week we are sharing a previous conversation we had with Naketa Thigpen that resonates today as much as it did in 2020. Words like self-care and pause are not common phrases you hear among ambitious, hard charging, forward thinking trailblazers but it should be! Naketa shares her wisdom on the power of the pause and what means to to re-charge your spirit as a strategy. As we continue to manage through the personal and professional challenges of life, please choose to give yourself the time to be in this conversation.

Naketa Ren Thigpen is an expert Balance and Relationship Advisor, Psychotherapist, Trauma Specialist and Author. Her energy and practical advice will fill your soul with the love and fuel you need to live your best life!

(5:00) Naketa shares with us her idea of “pausing” and how empowering it can be to embrace it

(8:40) What does Naketa see in personal/professional lives and what advice is she sharing with them?

(12:40) Guilt and shame, what are they about and how do they come up in Naketa’s work?

(18:40) “I already know” can be the most dangerous sentence. Naketa explains why.

(22:28) What does “recharging your spirit” mean and how is this strategy important for your own routine?

(32:28) How does the word NO play into the idea of permission to pause, and giving balance to work and life?

(36:50) What is Naketa working on personally, in her own life, that she can share with us?


Connect with Naketa Thigpen
https://www.linkedin.com/in/naketathigpen/

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We are bringing our conversation back, from 2020, with Sharon Lipovsky during a time where we can tap into the power of visioning and go beyond our current perspective. Visioning and designing are not just words we use as avenues to self-discovery. They are powerful instruments of learning that help individuals and organizations unlock the greatness within. The talented and creative Sharon Lipovsky brings her wisdom to this subject through the work of her company, Point Road Studios.

Sharon works with individuals, organizations and teams who are ready to set a vision, lead with intention and act on purpose. In our conversation, we talk about how our deeply held convictions and our greatest watershed moments play a part in Sharon’s “Designing Yourself Method” and “Visioning”. Sharon reminds us of the internal shifts that can occur when we reconnect with our imagination, listen and surrender. If you have been feeling a stirring for something more in your life, this conversation is for you!

(3:55) How did “Designing Yourself Method” become a key point of Sharon’s brand?

(13:02) What are the companies and individuals who engage Sharon asking her to help them achieve?

(14:45) How does fear and imposter syndrome play into Sharon’s approach & method?

(23:05) Sharon shares with us her work around the concept of “Visioning”.

(26:26) How does Sharon work with people who often are looking for a plan that is tangible and concrete while helping them to have vision that feels right to them?

(28:26) What results does she see with companies and individuals around her concepts of “Designing Yourself” and visioning?

(32:15) Sharon shares with us her own podcast and some of its key moments.

(36:20) We have a discussion about love in leadership.

(41:30) Where does Sharon receive her inspiration from?

(44:48) Wrapping things up learning about what brings Sharon joy, what frustrates her, how she handles fear and more.

Connect with Sharon Lipovsky
https://pointroadstudios.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-lipovsky-a072a65/

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This week we reflect on our resilience and gratitude as ingredients for positivity and whole-hearted living by bringing back a conversation from 2019 with Maria Sirois. She is an inspirational speaker, consultant, author and Licensed Clinical Psychologist working in the field of wellness and positive psychology for over 20 years. Maria’s work focuses on the resilience of the human spirit and has helped leaders and teams around the world manage through situations of chronic stress, conflicting goals and failure.

Maria Sirois is an expert in the fields of Positive Psychology and Mind/Body Medicine. She is a licensed clinical psychologist, inspirational speaker, author and workshop leader who travels the continent lecturing on topics such as resilience, flourishing, happiness, authenticity and recovery from loss. She is adjunct faculty with leading international Positive Psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar in his 10-month certificate program in positive psychology. An author as well, her book, Every Day Counts: Lessons in Love, Faith and Resilience is used as a teaching resource for hospices and wellness centers. See contact info for links to website and TEDx Talk on Living An Authentic Life.

(3:00) What brought Maria to this work with optimism? What should we understand about the concept of optimism?

(7:35) What are some of the reasons and challenges that cause teams, organizations and individuals to engage her?

(14:10) What is activating optimism? What is the process/training like?

(24:00) Maria shares details about the programs and certifications that she offers.

(28:00) Imagining her work at maximum capacity, what would that look like?

(31:25) What are the most important things to take away from the concept of optimism?

(39:17) What brings Maria joy in her life and what frustrates her? What scares her and how does she handle her own fears?

Connect with Maria Sirois, Psy.D.
https://www.mariasirois.com

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This week we delve into managing stress, anxiety and learn the power of our thoughts with Laura Depko. Laura’s expertise in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) helps her teach individuals to navigate the connections between thoughts, feelings and behavior. She will help us to learn to identify potential triggers to stress and anxiety and show us how we can better handle these events in our lives.

Laura is one of the only clinicians in the country who is certified in: CBT, CBT-Insomnia, and CMPC (certified mental performance consultant, pending). Laura has over a decade of experience in the clinical field, including partnerships with colleges and is clinically licensed in New Jersey, Vermont, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.

(4:14) Why did Laura choose to do this work, specializing in CBT?

(7:00) Laura helps to define anxiety and discuss some examples that can trigger it.

(12:23) Where does Laura begin when assisting people how to handle their anxiety?

(13:10) Laura shares her process of how to “catch, check & change” your thoughts to ground yourself.

(14:20) Thoughts and anxiety can trigger a physical reaction, how can we deal with that?

(17:18) Laura shares how she teaches people to deal with insomnia.

(20:10) Laura explains how cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) works?

(22:30) What can we do to manage our thoughts better?

(25:29) We learn the process of “better, but believable” that Laura uses to manage her thoughts.

(29:29) What trends has Laura noticed as I related to mental health in the workplace?

(37:18) How does Laura manage stress in her own life?

(39:07) What would Laura like people to take away from this discussion?

Connect with Laura Depko
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-depko-756b47191/
https://www.depkoct.com/

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This week we introduce you to Robert Mulhall, CEO of Kripalu, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to empowering people and communities. He introduces us to concepts like “shadow work”, a way of bringing awareness to hidden areas of our personalities and behaviors so we can embrace and incorporate them into our conscious life. He also shares how organizations and teams can bring out the best in their employees. Finding true purpose can bring people alive and enrich the organizations and teams that they are a part of. Though we can not control the events in our lives, Robert shows us how we can lead and plan holistically as we move toward their outcomes.

Join us again later this month as we continue our conversations on wellness and enriching our personal and professional.

Robert Mulhall brings two decades of experience in diverse industries, including public health, leadership development, and education, finance, organizational consulting, and executive coaching. He is passionate about service and deeply curious about how people can facilitate sustainable transformation to enable more peace, justice, and freedom in our world. Robert’s career has enabled him to cross the private and public sectors multiple times as a manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers; cofounder and CEO of an award-winning social enterprise; a director of programs for Concern Worldwide Innovation’s Unit in India, Africa, and New York (in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF); and as a coach and consultant with The Crossland Group for businesses and organizations in fields such as human rights, banking, media, IT, well-being, and others.

(4:10) We learn about Robert’s background and his journey that brought him to leading Kripalu

(5:52) What does personal Freedom mean to Robert?

(7:17) What was it like taking the helm of Kripalu during a pandemic?

(13:20) A discussion about how organizations can show up for their employees and build cultures of care.

(17:25) What skills does Robert rely on when leading his own team & organization?

(21:30) Learning that love has a place in our personal & professional lives. We center our lives around it, why can’t organizations discuss it too?

(26:00) Robert shares the concept of Shadow Work, and how it is important it is to bring awareness to hidden aspects of our lives.

(37:33) How can we bring shadow work into our personal & professional lives?

(46:54) What can other leaders and organizations learn from Kripalu that they can bring into their culture?

(52:10) What does Robert see in the future?

Connect with Robert Mulhall
https://kripalu.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertmulhall/

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This week we empower ourselves to find a connection to our soul and our own truth as we live our dreams. Shelley Paxton, Chief Soul Officer and author of Soulbbatical, joins us for a beautiful conversation about how learning to “surrender” is an important aspect of true success. Success in life should be measured from the inside, by listening to and following your soul. This conversation will begin to give us the tools we need that can lead to becoming successful versus being “success-empty”.

Shelley Paxton spent 26 years as a highly regarded marketing and advertising executive stewarding some of the world’s most iconic brands like Harley-Davidson, Visa, McDonald’s, and AOL. In 2016 she walked away from the corporate world to nurture her soul and discover her purpose. She christened herself Chief Soul Officer and called the journey her Soulbbatical. It did more than change her life, it became her calling.

In 2018, Shelley opened the doors of her own company with the mission to liberate the souls of leaders and organizations, by inspiring them to realize their greatest purpose and potential. Shelley’s intention is to help her clients discover, as she did, a way of being that is aligned with their authentic self (soul) and deeply rooted in a commitment to living and leading courageously. As a certified professional coach, she works with individuals, entrepreneurs, and executives at Fortune 100 companies like Lowe’s, Inc. and Mars, Inc.

(4:50) What does surrender mean to Shelley and we begin our discussion around the power of it.

(9:50) How can we embrace the idea of surrender without viewing it as a weakness or accepting defeat?

(13:12) How does Shelley help people to embrace the idea of trust & surrender? She shared with us her own journey to learning how to embrace it.

(22:00) We discuss about how to “dance with fear”, leaning into it so you can learn to control it.

(28:40) What expressions/mantras has Shelley found herself embracing more often than others?

(35:00) How do Shelley’s old identities (like CMO at Harley) find their way into her current one as Chief Soul Officer?

(44:50) A discussion about understanding who you are, at your core, and learn to love what you discover.

(49:30) Chatting about “becoming Shelley Paxton” and talk about her successes and what the future holds for Soulbattical.
Connect with Shelley Paxton
https://soulbbatical.com/

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This week’s conversation with Allyson Hernandez starts with a discussion about her new book, Ballad of Dreams. From there she shares her life experiences, the highs and lows, but also what it means to be a “multi-passionate creative” person. We learn to shed fears and hesitation and jump into the passions that bring us joy in life. We also touch upon the importance of giving ourselves space and self-care while living our best creative lives. Learning to balance ourselves when creating and bringing ourselves forth into the world is just as important as taking that first leap.

Allyson is a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur. What does that even mean? It means she is not just one thing. None of us are.

She is an author, Executive, Career & Life coach, actor, singer, composer, Keynote Speaker, and mom.

Her debut novel that originated as a Musical, Ballad of Dreams, was published in January 2022 thanks to New Degree Press! You can get your paperback or ebook copy on Amazon and barnesandnoble.com today here: https://www.allysonhernandez.net/book.

She also founded AH Coaching Group, LLC, to work with rock-star leaders to embrace their extra, develop their leadership muscle, crush their creative and professional goals, and turn their dreams into reality. She believes, when people are their most authentic selves, they are the most successful in leadership and in life.

(5:38) What does Allyson most identify with in her life and what does it mean for her as a “multi-passionate creative”?

(7:49) She shares her experience expanding her footprint in the world through her new novel.

(12:33) Who are the people she brought into her circle during the early days of writing her musical/novel?

(17:26) What were some of the obstacles that she had to overcome in those early days?

(21:13) What are some of the key messages she wanted to share through her novel?

(25:25) How did she capture the personalities and life experiences that her characters embody? She shares how tapping into her own experiences helped her create the world in her novel.

(30:15) What does she think her grandmother and aunt, whom the novel is based upon, would feel about her experience writing it.

(32:15) She shared with us some of her recent successes, like being on the Tamron Hall Show.

(38:00) What is important and happening in her life “right now”?

(44:50) Who are the people that Allyson follows and admires? Why?


Connect with Allyson Hernandez
https://www.allysonhernandez.net

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