Mind Blend

We like to think we make our own decisions. But how often are we actually following the crowd or our own patterns without realizing it? Dr. Loretta Breuning returns to Mind Blend to explore why humans are naturally wired to seek protection, belonging and social approval, and how those instincts can shape everything from what we buy to what we say in a meeting. We talk about why separating from the...

On September 11, 2001, Carol Lin became the first American national anchor to report the attacks on the World Trade Center. Twenty-five years later, on the anniversary of that historic day, she joins Mind Blend to talk about something beyond the headlines: the human being behind the role. In her memoir, When News Breaks , Carol looks back at a career shaped by breaking news, ambition, identity, lo...

What if your next chapter doesn't require you to start over? In the final episode of The Human Side of Change , Dr. Claire Handby brings together many of the ideas we've explored throughout the series, and turns them into practical ways to move forward. Claire is an executive coach, mentor and transformation specialist, and author of Uptick: Clarity, Courage and Confidence for Your Next Ch...

Reinvention rarely looks like a clean break from one life into another. More often, there’s a messy middle: questioning the path you’re on, letting go of something you’ve invested years in, figuring out what comes next, and rebuilding your confidence and identity along the way. In this episode 3 of The Human Side of Change , Joseph Liu draws on his own career reinventions and more than 100 convers...

The Human Side of Change Episode 2 In episode 1, we explored what we should do when AI can do more of the work that once helped us develop our skills, judgement, and experience. In this episode, we take the conversation somewhere more personal: Who are you without your job title, with Erris Langer Klapper , executive coach and organizational psychologist, to explore the complicated relationship be...

AI can write, analyze, create, research and solve problems faster than ever. So as these tools become more capable, what should we actually be doing ourselves? In this first episode of The Human Side of Change , Craig Friedman joins me for a refreshing conversation about how we can use AI wisely while continuing to develop the human capabilities that matter: judgement, curiosity, critical thinking...

Mind Blend is now on Patreon ! If you like the episodes so far, please support Mind Blend to keep the conversations going. https://patreon.com/MindBlendPodcast . Tao Grandmaster and physician Dr. Zhi Gang Sha joins Karen, alongside leading teacher Alexia Cito, to explore the ancient Tao concept of soulfulness —and why it may be the missing complement to mindfulness in today's fast-paced world....

Death, grief, and loss are topics many of us avoid—yet they touch every life. In this episode, I sit down with grief counsellor, spiritual teacher, and researcher Jock Brocas to explore what these experiences can teach us beyond fear and sorrow. Together, we discuss why grief is about far more than death, how loss can challenge our identity and worldview, and why integrating grief instead of not &...

How do we navigate an increasingly complex world without surrendering our own judgment? We live in a world full of answers, yet many of us struggle with decisions, uncertainty, and taking action. In this episode, I mind-blended with counsellor John Cuturilo to explore why. We discuss avoidance coping, how our minds can mistake discomfort for danger, and why anything that requires significant menta...

In the last episode, Bruno Cignacco and I explored psychological safety and why people perform better when they feel safe, respected, and supported. In this episode, I mind-blended with Nika Brunet, founder of Calm Nest Collective, about the stress signals we learn to normalize, why burnout looks different for everyone, and how our environments quietly influence our energy, focus, and wellbeing. D...

Layoffs, uncertainty, and relentless pressure have left many professionals feeling depleted. Yet many organizations still rely on fear, whether intentional or not, as a way to drive performance. Dr. Bruno Roque Cignacco argues that fear may actually be one of the most expensive strategies a company can adopt. When people operate in survival mode, creativity, trust, collaboration, and innovation su...

Ultramarathon runner, coach, and entrepreneur Ekaterina (Kate) Preobrazhenskaya didn't start running to conquer mountains or complete 125-kilometer races. Like many people, she started simply to stay fit. Over time, running became a teacher—revealing lessons about ambition, balance, resilience, and the often-overlooked role of recovery. In this conversation, Kate shares how she balances elite-leve...

The final episode of the Aging According to Everyone Else mini series. In this episode, I mind-blended with Dr. Noelle Nelson, clinical psychologist, speaker, and author of The Longevity Secret , to explore what actually keeps people vibrant as they age. From a chance encounter on an airplane that sparked years of research into aging, to discovering ballroom dancing in her 70s and now competing in...

Episode 2 of the series “ Aging, According to Everyone Else ” We tend to think of aging as something physical — changes in how we look, how we move, how our body feels. But what if the bigger shift isn’t happening in your body… but happening in your mind? In this episode, I mind-blended with Tanya Leake, a health and wellness coach who takes an age-positive approach to aging — one that focuses les...

First of three episodes in the “Aging, According to Everyone Else” series. What if aging isn’t the problem — but how we respond to it is? In this conversation, Karen sits down with Mary Westheimer for a refreshingly honest and unexpectedly fun take on getting older. From ripped jeans to debunking misconceptions about “old people” , Mary brings humor and perspective to the everyday realities we don...

The mic flips—and things get a little more revealing. In this episode, Sai Ramachandran puts Karen in the hot seat to explore what’s behind Mind Blend : the way she thinks, the questions she asks, the experiences that shaped it and what’s coming. From growing up across cultures to navigating a career as the “connector” between different worlds, they unpack how those experiences led to the creation...

4th and final episode of the mini series - Rewriting the Script of Your Life. We all carry something—beliefs, assumptions, and patterns that quietly shape how we show up. In this episode, I mind-blended with Raúl Pereyra, executive coach and founder of RTP Learning , to explore “the bag”—and how it often holds us back without us realizing it. We talk about self-doubt, the inner critic, and why gro...

Episode 3 of 4 of mini - series: Rewriting the script of your life: stories of courage, reinventing, and becoming who you were meant to be. In this episode, Rachael Lawrence shares how life’s hardest moments — depleted of confidence from solo motherhood and toxic leadership —  became the foundation for her confidence and voice in midlife, because she chose to. We explore the power of intentionally...

Episode 2 of 4 of the mini series - Rewriting the script of your life - Stories of courage, reinvention, and becoming who you were meant to be. Ever felt like you know exactly what to do—but still don’t do it? In this episode, I mind-blended with Albert Bramante to unpack the real reason behind that invisible wall. We explore why self-awareness alone doesn’t change behavior, how fear and self-sabo...

Episode 1 of 4 of the mini-series: 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 - Stories of courage, reinvention, and becoming who you were meant to be. Taking your passion seriously can feel risky, especially when it starts as “just a hobby.” In this episode, I mind-blended with pastry chef and business owner Tracy Wong, about the courage it takes to pursue something you truly care about. From baking cakes...

In this episode, I mind-blended with Dr. Larry Schooler, communication scholar and conflict resolution practitioner, to explore why politeness isn’t the same as thoughtfulness—and why that distinction matters more than ever. From silent meetings to emotionally charged emails, we unpack how unexamined communication escalates tension, drains energy, and erodes trust. Larry shares practical ways to p...

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Roxanne Daleo , founder of MindWorks for Children, about how expressive arts and mind–body techniques can help anxious children reconnect with their inner strength and why these tools matter just as much for adults. Roxanne shares her own journey from being misdiagnosed with a learning disability in second grade to graduating from Harvard and dedicating her life to...

A deep dive into ancient wisdom, modern dating challenges, and understanding our unconscious patterns in relationships through Kabbalah and personality codes. In this episode, Karen is joined by David Bederman , a spiritual teacher and behavioral strategist who explores the hidden wiring behind how we love, attract, and connect. Drawing from ancient wisdom, psychology, and his own lived experience...

In this episode of Mind Blend , I speak with leadership coach and author Dr. Rosemarie Downer , who offers a surprising and powerful lens on leadership through the metaphor of the giraffe. Giraffes don’t rush. They don’t make much noise. And yet, their presence is undeniable. They see farther than anyone else, learn from places others can’t reach, and lead in ways that create independence rather t...

First Daughter Disrupter: Breaking the Cycle of Responsibility A deep conversation about firstborn daughters who carry everyone's weight and how to redefine leadership with ease, grace, and power In this episode, I mind-blended with Adaku Mbagwu , founder of HEAL and self-described First Daughter Disruptor , to unpack the unseen emotional labor carried by firstborn daughters—and anyone who has...