Irish poet, James Stephens said, curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will. This week’s mashup theme is our core value of curiosity. In EP011 Tom Ferguson, program director for the Imagine H2O accelerator program discussed with us why curiosity is one of an organization’s seven super powers. Imagine if your employees were empowered to become 15% smarter each year, knowing that knowledge compounds over time. In EP30 we spoke with New York Times best seller, Jon Acuff and he told us about the career savings account from his book Do Over. He tells why your job title doesn’t inhibit your ability to grow. And finally in EP023 Greg Wukasch, external affairs manager at the San Antonio Water System drives home how curiosity inspires the courage necessary to be an effective leader.

Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. This week’s mashup theme is our core value of empathy and serving with empathy. In EP17, we spoke with Chris Long, the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Michigan State University. Dean Long reminded us of the value of taking the time to invest in true engagement with your audience—only then does education have the opportunity to be transformative. In EP23, Greg Wukasch, our mentor at the San Antonio Water System, recapped for us the Transformative Issues conference on Affordability hosted by AWWA and WEF and how the closing panel of both water professionals and non-water community advocates drove home how empathy means inviting everyone to the table that needs to be. In EP13, Blue Drop President, Alan Heymann shares a story that demonstrates how empathy begins within, internally, with your own employees. Brand buy-in begins with them. And finally, in EP16, we talk with fellow communication startup WaterPIO aka Mike McGill. Empathy requires putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, even…maybe even especially, your biggest opponents. We chat with Mike about both he and our experiences with Erin Brockovich and what it taught us about the power of walking a mile in someone else’s shoes.

The definition of authenticity is to be genuine or for something to be what it is claimed to be. In this week’s mashup the theme is our core value of Authenticity. We pulled from episodes with Todd Danielson, Chris Wolff, Rob Barnitt, and Megan Yoo Schneider. In EP020 Todd Danielson, Chief Utilities Executive at Avon Lake Regional Water reminds us that being authentic is about recognizing what you bring to the table so you see the value in what others bring. In EP024, Adventure Hydrology rock star, Chris Wolff, told us that authentic stories are everywhere. All you have to do is be willing to ask and listen. In EP022 Rob Barnitt, CEO and founder of Dropcountr, explains how technology can help provide the information utilities need to be more transparent and authentic in the eyes of their customers, and finally from EP007, one of our very firsts, Megan Yoo Schneider, President and founder of Seven Management and Consulting, Inc, demonstrates the power of owning your truth and living an authentic life. Our biggest differentiator is being yourself.

This week's mashup is all about making connections. Kendall Haven from EP25 who is a researcher and author of the brain science behind the power of storytelling reminds us that if you want to connect, you have to make it all about your audience. We spoke with Sarah Zink in EP26 about emotional intelligence. If you want to make connections you have to build relationships and when it comes to relationships you have to start with yourself. You have to know yourself before you can even begin to understand someone else. Tia Lebherz from EP28, who is a star networker herself, gave us some advice on networking for professionals just getting in the water game. We end with three stories from Khun Khunaraka who is a portfolio manager at Water.org. We’ve been sharing these stories in presentations lately because they were so powerful at making us feel connected to people doing the work that matters, just like us, all across the world.

The H2duO highlight three snippets from a few of their boldest guests during season one in this Water in Real Life mashup. Hear three different perspectives from three people who represent completely different areas of the water sector as they talk about boldness as it relates to ethics, branding, communication, and the power of having the really tough conversations.

In 2015 Stephanie read Start by Jon Acuff and texted Arianne to say "You HAVE to read this book." Two years later we're celebrating our first year of business with our company, Rogue Water. It feels perfect to mark the end of season one of our podcast with one of our heroes. Finishing what you start is just as important as starting it and Finish is the last book Jon wrote. He collaborated with the University of Memphis to do a study on why people don’t finish things. We talk about Finish, we talk about how you have to find time, it doesn’t find you, and how humor can humanize your story. We also talk leadership, professional development, speaking and more.

Khun Khunaraksa of Water.org talks to the H2duO about the role communication, collaboration, and microfinancing are playing in solving the global water crisis.

The H2duO chat with Tia Lebherz, director of outreach and special projects with the California Water Efficiency Partnership. We chat about the immense value of bringing all water users to the table, dispelling myths around contentious regulations and water issues, and the impact and outcomes of conducting a listening tour.

The H2duO had 36 hours to take in the largest water conference in North America, WEFTEC, before heading to another conference to present. If they had to sum up their experience in one word it would be: people. The energy of WEFTEC and the potential for connections is unmatched and every person should experience this type of water nerd magic at least once in their lives.

Sarah Zink shares with the H2duO why emotional intelligence is so important for any organization that wants to innovate ideas and cultivate leaders.