Your Fellow Human

What if you weren’t afraid to face the challenges life threw at you?

What if you chose to make a list, weren’t afraid to ask what you sucked at, and genuinely wanted to know the answer?

Today I want to introduce you to Jake, Jake is one that sees whatever is in front of him as an opportunity to learn, grow, and approach life with excitement for what comes on the other side of its challenges

There are many things that mark Jake as a man I admire, but some that stand out are; the way he pursues growth both within himself and in how he can support others to do the same, the way he steps into action for those around him without hesitation, and the way he hears with his whole heart those around him

He shares with me why a blank slate, a lot of youtube university, and willingness to pursue a passion in his career are things he’s proud of, why he is grateful for the acceptance he has found within his culture, and why having a bucket list is so much more than a thing to say

We talk about the peace found in “campfire conversations,” our gratitude for moments with people who aren’t afraid to share or hear another’s heart, and why shutting off Netflix is something he recommends

So tune in today and meet Jake, a man that demonstrates in his actions what it is to care for others, one who looks to lift up those around him, and one who values who he is becoming

And to you Jake thank you, thank you for your spontaneity, for being an encourager, a man unafraid to step into action for your friends and team, for allowing me to know you, share a part of you, and be able to call you a treasured friend

You are a genuinely kind soul and I’m forever grateful that life’s crazy events landed us all together @heyjake94

What makes someone stand out to you?

Have you ever been in a crowded room and felt a familiarity with a stranger?

Today I want to introduce you to Nadia, a woman choosing to not only learn what's needed to create her life, but also one who seeks out opportunity to pass that on to the next generation.

We talk about the importance of finding love within ourselves first so we have something to share with others, how that allows us to be fully the best version of ourselves and in turn support those we love to be the same.

She shares how she is proud of starting a new life in NYC but how she looks forward to someday returning to Tunisia and contributing back to her home country.

She shares about her work as a self taught photographer, her career change that led to computer programming, and the way she gets to pour what she has learned into the next generation as a teacher.

She shares why she feels as though she becomes a little bit of everyone she meets, and why she loves who that is allowing her to be.

We talk about the difference in knowing if we are representing ourselves honestly or if someone else is misunderstanding us, and both why and when we need to learn to be ok with what others may misunderstand.

Nadia is one who is not just easy to feel at ease with, but also one who authentically loves reaching out and sharing time and space with others, she is one who shares so much wisdom in what her 23 years have taught her, and one who I believe gives us all a chance to remember how important it is to know our value in a practical way.

So tune in today and meet Nadia one that has felt like a friend since I first connected with her in a crowded room, and one that I'm excited to share this intimate conversation of ours with you.

And to you Nadia, thank you, thank you for accepting an invitation to coffee and allowing a brief encounter to become a friendship, thank you for allowing me to share so much of your beautiful life with my community here, and for the reminder that no one is "too much." @throughnadiabseyes

What if the odds weren't in your favor?

What if those around you didn't believe in you or you weren't favored to succeed?

Today I want to introduce you to Aya, a talented filmmaker, genuine and sweet friend, and one that pours her whole heart into whatever or whomever is before her

She shares about the joy she feels when she accomplishes something she has set out to do, why it's important to her to put everything she has into the goals she has set for herself, and how that is paralleled by the fear that can arise in the challenging moments as she builds her business

We talk about how when we look back things can feel easy and make sense when we see the full picture but how important it is to simply enjoy the process, the journey and what we learn along the way

She shares her desire that we would view each other as support and inspiration rather than competition, and her hope that female voices would be genuinely valued and amplified within her field

We talk about the excitement of the coming year, what it feels like to see what is on the horizon because of the foundation that hard work sets before us.

She shares about the importance of pursuing your dream, why asking yourself not "what if it doesn't" but instead "what if it does? is something that can impact our next steps.
 
So tune in today and meet Aya, one who is passionate, ambitious, not afraid to push hard after what is on her heart, and one who pours that heart fully into whatever and whomever is before her.

And to you Aya thank you, thank you for allowing me to share a part of your incredible heart and passion for life and humanity, thank you for the friend and genuine sweet soul that you are, thank you for the way you so intentionally are present for the day before you, I am honored to know you, learn from you, be reminded to pursue my own dreams, and am truly grateful for people like you in this world that value connection so deeply @lostinyaland

What could you learn if you met 10K people?

How could you impact the world if 10K people met you?

Today I want to introduce you to Rob, a man on a mission to do just that, to connect with, get to know, learn from, and share a part of himself with 10 thousand people around the world

I met Rob as a part of his project that he is almost 7 years in on, and one he expects will take another 7 to complete. Rob is one who I believe is succeeding in his mission to infuse empathy into the world through human connection. His consistent dedication to his project has already allowed him to meet with and learn from over 5K amazing people!

Getting to sit down and share a part of Rob's story is something I am honored to be able to do, to give you a chance to see what inspired him and what keeps him going on this path he has set before himself.

We talk about the importance of making others feel seen and heard, why everything on top of time with the people he cares about is a luxury, and why he values delayed gratification.

He shares why saying I love you to friends is a practice he is grateful for, why understanding that we are not all dealt the same cards is important when we evaluate our own actions and how we view another's, and his hope that we might not allow ourselves to fall into the pattern of comparison.

We talk about the challenge of knowing what specifically needs to be done to succeed as an entrepreneur, the art of talking to and connecting with others, and what it looks like to use that ability to help others begin a conversation with someone new.

So tune in today and meet Rob, one that is on a mission to connect with humanity, one who sees the value in what we can learn from each other, and continually invests his time and resources to share that with others. Rob is a gentle, easy to connect with human, he is a listener which stood out to me so much; in a world where we listen to respond, or worry what might be going on around us, Rob is genuinely present with whomever is in front of him.

And to you Rob thank you, thank you for your willingness to listen and share time with me as a part of your own project, and thank you for your time in being a part of mine. You have reminded me the power in listening, of not worrying how some may perceive us, and the power in learning from someone else. I'm excited to see where life continues to take you as you continue to pursue what you have set before yourself with joy and consistency. @robs10kfriends

What if you were able to approach every person, place, or idea with a blank slate?

What if you could see a culture, a person, or even your own potential without a preconceived opinion?

Today I want to introduce you to Jerome, Jerome is one who as chosen to use his own culturally diverse upbringing to allow him to see those around him for who they are, he is one that does this with a genuine desire to learn and expand his knowledge and experience both of that individual and of the world around him

Jerome is one that it takes little time to see the openness and heart present in him, and in my experience as a result, takes little time to remind those around him how much good is truly present in this world

We talk about why his recent trip to Afghanistan has been the most unique experience of his life so far, why factors out of his control and the unknown of that experience impacted him, and why he wishes we all would experience a culture fully before making a judgment on it

He shares what growing up playing football was like, how sports taught him resilience, to work though hardships, to never give up, and to work with others. He shares why he believes hard work is something we can all press into no matter our upbringing or circumstances, and how we all experiences ups and downs but if we put in the work, it will pay off

He shares why he is proud of reaching his childhood goals within his career, why it matters to him to bring value into the world, and the importance of being able to take a step back and expand our vision of what and who is in front of us

So tune in today and meet Jerome, one that values with his actions the opportunity to connect and learn from humanity, someone who chooses to see the good in what an often be perceived as struggle, and one who reminds us all the impact we can have when we choose to move forward hand in hand with humanity regardless of our culture, experience, or appearance

And to you Jerome, thank you, thank you for your heart to connect and see others with a blank slate, for the way you are choosing to make a difference in this world by how you learn and share the stories life brings to you, for your time in sharing this conversation with me, for your trust in allowing me to share a part of your story with others. Thank you for being a strong voice and kind soul proving that there are truly more good people in this world than not, you are a conscious space of acceptance and I am grateful to know you @jerometraveller

What if someone asked you for help with something your confident in?

What if you could show up in the world and contribute in a way that displays your talents?

Today I want to introduce you to Paul

Paul is one that continues to live a very full life, a life focused on sharing his unique ability, and helping others tap into their own

As a 29 year veteran, a husband, father, grandfather, and founder of Hero’s Haven a PTSD program by Vets for Vets; Paul is a man that has found purpose in helping others find and live out their own

I met Paul quite literally on the side of the road as he was working a cattle drive headed 110 miles to the Grand Canyon

He is one that after only a few moments with him, you are made aware of the humanity and heart for others present in him

He shares with me how over his 30 years of marriage his wife and him have parented 43 children through foster care, foreign exchange, adoption, and biological

He shares how the loss of his dad as a late teen had an impact on his PTSD in the military, how understanding that and being able to create space for safe and healthy conversation around mental health and the military led him to help others

We talk about the importance of loving your partner where they are, complimenting and encouraging them to be their best, and how that allows both them and us to show up in the world in a beautiful way

So tune in today and meet Paul, a man that values connecting with others, someone who values supporting and encouraging others to live up to their potential, and one who chooses to share himself so that others might feel whole again

And to you Paul, thank you, thank you for being able to make a friend anywhere, for your trust in allowing me to know you and learn from you, for the way you choose to value humanity, for your service to the country I call home, and for the reminder to not fear sharing my own weaknesses so that others might find their strength, you are a treasured soul and I am honored to know you @herobands

What if you only saw what someone said to you?

Not what they looked like, not what they have accomplished, but simply how they made others feel?

Today I want to introduce you to Tavi

Tavi is a man that speaks with value, listens with interest, and chooses to be present with humanity

He shares his love for learning, the reason being willing to fail and not be good at something is so important, and the value in being present

We talk about relationships, the importance of honesty in them, but more importantly the ability to be honest without fear

He shares about a time when he needed to take a step back to be ok, the importance of that time, and why that break gave him peace on who he is

Tavi is many things, a body builder, an aerospace engineer, a business owner, a football athlete (soccer for those of us in the states), and has amassed a sizable social media presence as a result of his hard work

But…

He is also a father, a committed partner, a friend, a part of his family, a human who chooses joy, and one who values presence deeply

So tune in and meet Tavi, and let him remind you the value of presence

And to you Tavi, thank you, thank you for sharing your light with the world, thank you fir being such a friendly and warm soul, thank you for sharing your family with me, for the reminder that happiness often confuses people, thank you for the gift of your presence in this conversation and others, for allowing me the honor of sharing a part of your story with the world.

You are a remarkable human for what is seen in the way you speak to and spend time with those around you @Tavicastro

Today I want to introduce you to Vito, Vito is many things that one might find success and value in

As a multiple world record free diver, free dive coach, and all around athletic and creative human, it would be easy to see him as someone who might measure success based upon his achievements 

To see him as someone who might value such metrics and be defined by them

Yet these are all things he has accomplished, and who he is goes far beyond those titles

We talk about why anything that allows for freedom, in spirit or sport speaks to him, the joy he feels in seeing others succeed, and how his childhood shaped him

We talk about the significance of what we are doing and not overvaluing something that doesn’t matter as much as what we share with others

So tune in and meet this genuine human @maverick2go

Today I want to introduce you to Norberto 

A magician by trade and a human desiring to remind us all of the magic within us

We talk about what it looks like when we focus on the magic within us, how we can forget to focus on the things in life that are meant for us, and why it’s possible for everyone to live a magical life

He shares about his desire to be what he is meant to be, to live out his purpose, and why he is proud of having a good heart 

Tune in today and meet Norberto, a man who desires for each of us to know the magic of the life we get to live

What invokes authority in your life?

There’s this idea, spoken or not, that certain people and places demand respect… authority…

As if their existence alone has earned such a right to be valued over another 

As if their role, title, or association holds power to validate or invalidate your own..

But where does this idea come from? 

Today we are talking all about authority, leadership, and the impact our parents had on us, a message to the women in Iran and an opportunity to learn more of what another's corner of the world is like HERE