Learning From Your World

There's a lot of conversation about AI, the economy, and the future of work. But what's actually happening? In this episode, I sit down with Connor Lokar, Senior Forecaster and Keynote Manager at ITR Economics, to discuss why today's job market feels so different, how AI is influencing hiring, and what individuals and organizations can do to prepare for the future. We discuss: - Why today's job ma...

In this episode, I sit down with Alastair Greener, speaker, author, researcher, and host of the Generationally Speaking podcast. We discuss: - Alastair's insights from his research on communication across generations. - How stereotypes can get in the way of connection. - Why our formative experiences shape how we see the world, and what it takes to build trust and understanding across differences....

In this episode, I sit down with Brad Steckart, founder of Sit By Me, an app designed to help people connect in real life, in real time. We talk about the story behind the app, why starting conversations can feel harder than it should, and how technology can serve as a bridge to real-world connection rather than a replacement for it. Brad also shares the personal experiences that shaped his work a...

Strong relationships are not found, they're built. In this episode, I talk with relationship expert and leadership educator Carole Robin, former Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty member and co-author of Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues. Together, we explore the practical skills that help people build trust, strengthen communication, and cr...

Most leaders struggle because they’re trying to figure it out on their own. In this conversation with Allen Hauge, we talk about what changes when you’re in the right room. After more than 30 years working with CEOs, Allen shares how trust, vulnerability, and the right peer community help leaders gain clarity, and make better decisions. In this episode, we discuss: - Why leaders make worse decisio...

Making friends as an adult is hard, especially when you move somewhere new and don’t know anyone. In this episode, I talk with Holly Cooke, founder of The Lonely Girls Club, about what it actually looks like to build friendships and community as an adult. Holly shares how she started the London Lonely Girls Club, why showing up matters more than confidence, and what it takes to keep going when thi...

Happiness was never meant to be an individual pursuit. In this conversation, Nic Marks, founder of Friday Pulse and creator of the Happy Planet Index, explains why happiness evolved as a social emotion, and why our brains light up in connection with others. We explore why so many of us are stuck in “okay” lives, why individualism has unintentionally disconnected us from what makes us thrive, and h...

What actually helps you trust again after you’ve been hurt or manipulated? In this episode, author and educator Tracy A. Malone joins me to talk about what it takes to rebuild self-trust after narcissistic abuse. We unpack why awareness alone isn’t enough, how “sweet words” without consistent action break trust, and why self-forgiveness is often the hardest (and most freeing) part of healing. We e...

Love is not chemistry, compatibility tests, or waiting for someone who magically “gets us.” According to Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt, the couple behind Getting the Love You Want, love is a practice that rewires us over time. In this episode, we talk about how two therapists who literally wrote the book on marriage came within inches of divorce, and why their relationship became...

In this episode, divorce coach Karen McMahon and I unpack why the same relationship patterns keep showing up, even when the people change. We look at the childhood dynamics that shape how we communicate, handle conflict, set boundaries, and respond under stress. Karen breaks down the difference between being victimized and seeing yourself as a victim, why people-pleasing and perfectionism form so...

We often talk about connection, but rarely about affection - the love we give and receive through our words, actions, and touch. In this conversation, Dr. Kory Floyd, professor and author of The Loneliness Cure, helps make sense of how affection shapes our health and our relationships. We talk about how our families and culture teach us to show love, why the same gesture can land differently with...

We’re not in a connection crisis because we don’t care.  We’re disconnected because our environment (our systems, our tech, and our pace) makes real connection harder than ever. In this opening episode of The Connection Series, I share the personal and professional journey that led me to the question:  What is real connection, and how do we rebuild it in a world designed for disconnection? In this...

In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and a leading voice in moral development, we explore what it really takes to build character and live with purpose. We discuss: - What Really Drives Action: Why character is about behavior, not just beliefs, and how to act on what matters most. - The Power of Purpose: How even simple goals (like a push-up contest) ca...

Is empathy enough to create real change? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and lifelong advocate for character development, about why empathy alone doesn’t create change, and what it really takes to live with integrity, purpose, and courage. We discuss: - Why Empathy Isn’t Enough: What most people get wrong about empathy, and how too much of it can block...

What if your mind was never meant to fit the system? In this episode, Perry Knoppert shares what happened after he gave everything up, and what he built. From living without a home to founding the Octopus Movement, Perry explores the power of nonlinear thinking and creating outside the lines. *This is Part 2 of our conversation. In Part 1, Perry shares how his  journey began.   We talk about: The...

What happens when someone steps outside the system? In this episode, Perry Knoppert, founder of The Octopus Movement, shares the story of the seven months he spent without a home. What began as a personal decision rooted in curiosity quickly became a deeper experience of disconnection, challenge, and insight. With honesty and reflection, Perry talks about: Why he gave everything up, and what happe...

After an overwhelming response to our first conversation, I had to bring Chelsey back for round two! In this follow-up, the licensed psychotherapist and author answers listener questions, breaking down narcissistic behavior and how to heal from toxic relationships.   We explore: Grandiose vs. covert narcissists - how they manipulate differently. Why narcissists distort reality and avoid responsibi...

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jody Olsen, former Peace Corps Director and global leader, about embracing courage, building trust, and making bold life decisions. From her unexpected leap into the Peace Corps in the 1960s to leading the evacuation of 7,000 volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Olsen shares her journey of stepping into the unknown, making high-stakes decisions, and fosteri...

In this episode, I talk with Todd Cherches - CEO of Big Blue Gumball, NYU professor, TEDx speaker, and author of Visual Leadership - to explore how visual thinking transforms leadership, communication, and problem-solving. We explore why leadership isn’t just about titles, but about how you see, think, and connect with others.    We discuss: Why leadership is about influence - not job titles. How...

In this episode, I explore the critical role of connection in mental health with Dr. Chinwé Williams - licensed counselor, trauma therapist, and co-author of Beyond the Spiral and Seen. We discuss how anxiety and despair impact the brain, why true healing requires relationships, and how we can foster deeper, more meaningful support systems in our lives.   We discuss: - Why feeling seen is essentia...

In this episode, Cheryl Ilov returns to dive deeper into the philosophy of martial arts, the neuroscience of movement, and how training rewires both body and mind. We explore the principles that make Ninpo Taijutsu more than just self-defense - it’s a lifelong practice of resilience, strategy, and adaptability. We discuss: Why martial arts builds mental toughness, problem-solving skills, and confi...

In this episode, I talk with Cheryl Ilov (movement expert, author, and podcast host) about how training in Ninpo Taijutsu helped her heal from trauma, rebuild her confidence, and redefine her sense of strength. After years of resistance, she discovered that martial arts offered a unique path to empowerment. At 57, she became her teacher’s first female black belt, proving that transformation is pos...

In this episode, I talk with Avery Thatcher, burnout specialist and former ICU nurse, about rethinking stress management, recovering from burnout, and building sustainable energy resilience.   We discuss: Why managing energy works better than managing stress—and what most strategies get wrong. The four types of energy and how they each lead to burnout. How burnout is shaped by larger societal pres...

In this solo episode, I share the backstory of Learning From Your World - why I started this podcast, how it's evolved, and the surprising themes that have emerged from my conversations.   I discuss: How the book I wrote at 16 led to the podcast. Why connection and courage are the two forces that shape our lives - and how they reinforce each other. The "two wheels" analogy - how connection creates...

In this episode, I talk with Chelsey Brooke Cole, licensed psychotherapist, speaker, and author, about understanding narcissistic behavior, healing from narcissistic abuse, and fostering personal growth after trauma.   We discuss: - The difference between narcissistic traits and narcissistic personality disorder. - The cycle of narcissistic abuse and its impact on victims. - Recognizing red flags,...