Infuse Compassion

Deep listening takes work. It takes focused energy. It can be exhausting. Sometimes it feels uncomfortable. And the benefits are worth the effort. In this episode, Amy and Mark share their thoughts on our conversation in the last episode with Oscar Trimboli, author of “How to Listen: Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication” and host of the Deep Listening podcast. We explore the philosophic...

Deep listening changes not just how we hear others, but how we relate to ourselves. In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, Amy and Mark talk with Oscar Trimboli, host of the “Deep Listening” podcast and author of “How to Listen,” about what it means to listen beyond the words. Oscar defines deep listening as hearing what isn’t being said as much as what is—and explains why it starts wit...

Compassionate leadership doesn’t happen by accident. It requires intentionality. Join Amy and Mark in this episode as they reflect on the stirring conversation from last week’s episode with Coach Jim Johnson. We highlight some of our favorite principles that Coach Jim shared, including: • The importance of knowing the people you serve as individuals. • The power of clarity in communication and cor...

Leadership lessons don’t always come from the office. This week’s Infuse Compassion guest shares leadership principles he learned up close on the basketball court and in the locker room. Coach Jim Johnson was at the heart of a miraculous moment that became a phenomenon 20 years ago as the coach of Greece Athena’s boys high school basketball team. You may remember the story and YouTube video of “J-...

Kindness and leadership – true leadership – go hand in hand. In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, Amy and Mark discuss what we learned and how we were inspired by our conversation in last week’s episode with Cindy Smarsh, creator of the K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code. Listen in as we share our examples of the key principles of the K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code and how you can apply the principles in y...

Kindness in business is sometimes considered soft, even fluffy. But this week’s Infuse Compassion podcast guest sees it differently. Cindy Smarsh has done the research to “crack the code” for successful business leadership, and she found that kindness is the key. Listen in as Cindy shares how she developed the K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. Code, eight components that improve leadership, strengthen teams, and l...

Leadership begins from the inside. Amy and Mark focus on the concept of “whole-self leadership” that Liz Watt shared with us in our last episode. We talk about key points of Liz’s THRIVE framework and how they tie to infusing compassion into the world. Join us as we discuss: - The power behind some of the questions Liz suggested as part of her THRIVE framework. - What gets in the way of following...

What does it look like to thrive? In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, Amy and Mark talk with author and speaker Liz Watt, co-creator of the “Be Healthy Utah” conference and the creator of the THRIVE framework about her journey through her own health challenges that led to her mission to help others. In this conversation, you’ll learn: - The THRIVE framework -- Team, Health, Resilienc...

You can’t see people without looking up. And one of the biggest factors pulling our eyes down is often in our own hands. In this episode, Amy and Mark reflect on our conversation with Talmage Erickson, one of “The Screen Guys,” and his mission to infuse compassion by connecting outside of technology. We talk about our own experiences and efforts to reduce screen time, and the negative impact we’ve...

Life beyond the screen is possible—and it’s worth fighting for. This week, Amy and Mark talk with Talmage Erickson, co-creator of “The Screen Guys,” about digital discipline and reclaiming real connection in an always-on world. Talmage shares research on how excessive daily screen time affects youth—disrupting sleep, study time, family interactions, and mental health. While technology can be helpf...

Your body will speak to you – first in a whisper, then in a shout -- that your work is out of alignment with your purpose. In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, Amy and Mark reflect on their conversation with Jen Pestikas, founder of Brave Women at Work, and share their own stories of how their bodies “keep score” when they ignore inner signals. They unpack what it feels like physicall...

What if your career wasn’t meant to be a ladder, but a lattice—where sideways or even downward moves move you closer to your purpose? In this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast, Amy and Mark talk with Jen Pestikas, founder of Brave Women at Work, about recognizing when your work is out of alignment and how to make a compassionate “career leap.” Jen shares her story of burnout, how “her body...

Our neural pathways create defaults in how we react in emotional situations. The only way to change these neural pathways is to slow down, be aware of your thoughts, and stay curious. In this episode, Amy and Mark discuss what we learned from Lindsay Schiess in our last episode about overcoming the challenging emotions we can so easily face in today’s achievement-focused world. Join our discussion...

Many people today are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and self-critical, according to this week’s guest, psychologist, counselor, and speaker Lindsay Schiess. At the heart of these emotions is a sense of lost connection, starting with connection to themselves. Lindsay shares her experiencing counseling and coaching individuals and teams to build resilience and create stronger relationships. In this...

In our hectic world, feeling isolated can happen to many of us. Amy and Mark reflect on what we learned in the last episode from Karen Eddington about the “leave me alone era.” We discuss: • How isolation contributes to burnout. • The importance of creating community – not just co-workers – in the workplace. • Personal applications and examples of Karen’s research from “The Under Pressure Project....

“Leave Me Alone.” Sometimes people say that with words, sometimes with actions. And the “leave me alone” culture is pervasive today. In this episode, we talk with Karen Eddington about her research findings for “The Under Pressure Project,” which identified mental isolation as one of the key reasons people feel pressure. Without feeling seen and understood, people can’t move forward, and every pro...

Sometimes the winding journey of life leads us on paths away from compassion for ourselves and others. When the physical, mental, and emotional pressures of these unproductive paths catch up to us, we need to follow the warning signs to get back on a healthier path. Join Amy and Mark as they discuss their conversation last week with Dr. John Rivera about the importance of seeing others and yoursel...

Showing up at work just for a paycheck takes a toll on our mental and physical well-being, regardless of the status of your position. As a physician, Dr. John Rivera experienced this toll personally – and it changed how he started seeing patients. Join as for this episode of the Infuse Compassion podcast to hear Dr. John share his path toward finding greater meaning and value in his work by seeing...

Hiring is difficult work. Managers are often left evaluating people’s worth based on a resume and answers to a few basic questions. If we don’t take the time to see the potential in applicants, we often miss out on valuable, loyal contributors. Listen in as Amy and Mark discuss their perspectives on our conversation last week with Heather Nemelka, founder of Elavare, a non-profit dedicated to help...

Women entering (or re-entering) the workplace after spending time to raise children face unique challenges. Heather Nemelka, our guest this week on Infuse Compassion, knows all about those challenges because she lived them herself. Now as the founder of the nonprofit Elavare, she uses this experience to help other women in this stage of life to face and overcome those challenges. This episode is v...

We’ve all seen – or experienced – times when comparison created division between people. When this happens, it keeps us from being the best version of ourself and moves us away from the results we want. In this episode, Amy and Mark share their thoughts about our conversation last week with Kathie Gwilliam, who has studied and speaks on the dangers of unhealthy comparison. We share our personal pe...

We make comparisons all the time. It’s completely natural. But when we use comparison to make ourselves better than or less than others, comparison is dangerous and costly. On this episode of Infuse Compassion, we talk with Kathie Gwilliam about the research she has done on the cost of comparison and how to compare in more healthy, productive ways. Listen in to learn: • How our choices can keep co...

Business – and life – often comes with challenging circumstances. Success comes by going beyond those circumstances and making adjustments that focus on strengthening teams and culture. In this episode, Amy and Mark share key takeaways from our conversation in the last episode with Hanna Bauer, CEO of HEARTnomics. Join us as we discuss: - The importance of noticing subtle signs that psychological...

If your business is a living organism, how do you ensure the heart keeps it alive? In this episode, we talk with Hanna Dafne Bauer, founder and CEO of HEARTnomics. As the survivor of a rare childhood heart condition, Hanna knows the importance of the heart personally and in business. We talk about how to keep the systems of organizations working well and working together to achieve success. Listen...

We know trust is important in relationships, but sometimes building trust seems elusive. Amy and Mark spend this episode reflecting on our conversation with Susan LaPlae Miller in the last episode. Listen in as we talk about: - Behaviors that build trust in organizations. - The power and importance of listening without judgement in building trust. - The importance of being aware of how our thought...