More In Common

Our daily lives revolve around communication.   When communication is ineffective, or lacking, the goals of companies and teams are on the line. Conversations take place numerous times throughout a day, and we can’t escape them.   Therefore, we must find a way to embrace them.   Our guests, Essential Partners, immerse us in the world of conversation and discuss how they create mission driven space...

What does being genuine look like?   Genuine people are simply who they are, all the time.   A genuine person forges their own unique path not fearing the opinions of others. Simply, they are comfortable and confident with who they are.   Our guest, TJ Bonaventura, discusses his journey to becoming the version of himself that feels genuine. In the past, his struggles of having a harsh inner critic...

What are your thoughts on being a Christian?   Our brains have a natural tendency to automatically judge and compare which often prevents us from listening and connecting to another's way of living.   When you first read the word “Christian” you instantly internalize your own biases and reflect those on the person that you are describing.   The reality is our identities come from many different pl...

What do you fight for?      Movements, religion, and love are a few of the many things people spend their lives fighting for.   When you find a cause or life purpose that ignites a burning passion within you, you will forever be destined to fight all your life to keep it alive and known.   A successful businessman, author, and our guest Jim Lowry embodies what it means to fight for that passion. F...

  Have you ever wondered what box you fit into?   Naturally, our mind creates metaphorical boxes where we categorize ourselves and others. Many of us tend to find comfort and safety within our box, despite its restrictive nature.   Only a handful of people dare to step or think outside the box. Quite a cliche, we know.   Our guest Sherwyn Cooper is reflective of the achievement obtained when you s...

Competitive stress culture: have you experienced it and if so at what cost?   The competitive stress culture’s narrative of success pushes the idea that you must be constantly busy and stressed out to achieve a great amount of success. And if you are not stressed or busy, you are not that successful. Redefining success through self-reflection and mindfulness can reshape the emphasis and associated...

  To all the women out there, how hot are you feeling?   And we don’t mean looks; we’re talking menopause.   To all the men out there, take notes, this applies to you too.   The stigma surrounding menopause prevents many women from feeling comfortable discussing the natural aging processes of the female body. It's important to create an open dialogue for women to share their experiences and have a...

“That could never be me.”   Have you ever heard or thought about this phrase before? Maybe when you were passing a homeless person on the street or discussing someone who’s political views differ from yours.   The ability to provide compassion to those who you dissociate from or disagree with, is the philosophy behind genuine compassion. Providing compassion to those who are likeminded is easy and...

Inter-generational trauma is talked about a lot in the context of the oppressed.   Our guest, Dr. Donald Grant, has set out to discuss the full impacts of racism through the inter-generational trauma of the oppressor. Not as a matter of sympathy but a matter of completing the picture and truly breaking down the racist institutions and structures of this country.   We are all affected by the demons...

The experiences that come with aging are some of life's greatest lessons.  As we go about life creating new experiences, we are constantly guided by the past, influencing current decision making, perspective, and how we view ourselves. Our guest Simone Knego, discusses how her age and experiences have taught her important lessons which have changed her perspective of the world. Her experience of a...

Division is all around us. Division as we experience it today comes in the form of political affiliation, race and even religion. Conversations within these divided topics tend to become hostile and rarely conclude with understanding or peace; let alone a consensus.   Our guest Melissa Weintraub has dedicated her life to the facilitation of these conversations and deliberation amongst strong relig...

Women throughout history have demonstrated the power and strength to change the world, regardless of their circumstances.   Today those inspiring and empowering woman movements continue. Although these movements are positive, toxicity can still exist within.   As self-starter, entrepreneur, and a girl boss herself, Michelle Wintersteen offers a conversation that is motivating and honest. She comme...

It’s only human to question our purpose.    So often it seems impossible to pursue a life of purpose while we have bills piled up and food to eat. When we do pursue our purpose that choice doesn't always reflect our parent’s desire for our lives or societies life mold.   Isabelle Stillman represents a balance between having jobs she's passionate about while contributing to society in a way that gi...

Imagine checking a box asking you to define your ethnicity and yet there is no box that accurately represents you. Many people have experienced this issue when filling out forms of all kinds. It's the lack of versatility and accurate descriptions in those boxes that fail diverse individuals. Our guest Leona Maple discusses her personal life and the struggle of juggling all of her cultures and reli...

Cheering crowds, blinding lights, and electric energies that run through arenas create an insatiable love for the game amongst all sports fans. This type of love is what our guest, Kwame Mason, holds for the game of Hockey. Kwame found this love, not only through playing the sport, but in researching the unfamiliar history of talented black athletes in the game of hockey.    His curious nature to...

The effects of gentrification is profoundly harmful to the neighborhoods it consumes.     Most not personally impacted by gentrification view the process as positive and transformative. But for the longtime residents it is not a benign process. As money moves in, the original culture and demographics are forcefully changed.  Our guest Dawn Hicks does a wonderful job revealing the ugly truths gentr...

The concept of understanding becomes complex when we don't quite relate to another's feelings. The wonderfully talented Kristen Bell discusses her life as an empath among other things. Her personal experiences and innate ability to empathize help drive this passionate conversation that explores her sense of self and those around her.  Bell's humorous and engaging nature brings light to a variety o...

It's a feeling only a select population in America will face in their lifetime that warrants a discussion amongst the overall population.   Our discussion is about the black experience in America and a self-reflection on the topic of race, racial relationships, both the advantages and disadvantages. B. Dave Walters provides excellent insight into those experiences, which deserves to be discussed w...

 On occasions, the discussion of mental health arises. This conversation is especially pertinent during a world-wide global pandemic.   Our long term friend Jason Ferrari and a fellow podcaster of "The Not Your Parents' Basement Podcast,"  joined us for an in-depth discussion about struggles managing his mental health. Between finding the right therapist and faking normality, at times, life can be...

We all too often think of growing old as a bad thing. Perhaps we confuse diminished abilities with diminished value. Our life is too often considered as being “over” when we get old.    Music executive Adrian Miller, challenges this perception stating that “we calibrate over as gray and old.” His image of the passage of time is much different. He directs us to craft a perception of life that honor...

Josh Adam offers a coaching/personal perspective behind his successes using the power of self-reflection, to answer the question; What does it mean to be human? ⁠  Leading a team is not an easy task, every coach has unique tactics and coaching techniques to maximize their teams successes. Josh Adam uses the power of self-reflection for his team's success stating that “success is a byproduct of us...

Wendy Kim is a #1 International Best-Selling Author of the book, Beyond Blending In : An Immigrant Daughter's Guide to Overcoming Cultural Bonds For A Life of Authenticity and Abundance.   Wendy loves to read and is the mother of 2 amazing kids who she loves to surf with!   She is also a Professional Public Speaker and Empowerment Coach. Wendy is committed to empowering women of color to find thei...

Julian A Lewis II is a Marketing Practitioner, rocking a Salesperson’s Fedora. In constant pursuit of his Ikigai, a Japanese term meaning purpose, he maximizes his time seeking ways he can make an impact beyond himself. Currently retired from corporate, he’s focused on empowering others through audio as the CoFounder of StudioPod, a podcasting production and media company. Oh, and he’s an Adjunct...

Patrick is on a mission to inspire others to challenge the old models of life, igniting our free thought, creativity, knowledge, and inner truth through the practice of holistic conscious living. His journey to holistic wellness living started under the guidance of my father who through practices of nutrition, meditation, karate, tai chi and knowledge of ancient history and philosophy helped me la...

Megan Nadin is a singer-songwriter born and raised in Thunder Bay, Canada with a truly identifiable voice, both captivating and inspiring. Her mission? To be an honest and authentic voice to those in need. To provide hope through altruistic platforms, which she knows can and will change lives. While Megan’s vocal prowess and ability to emote is often interpreted as a seasoned professional, many ar...