Make Life Less Difficult

Send us a message! My guest today is Jessica Zucal. Jessica is an organization system innovator and change enabler.  As a NeuroLeadership trained coach and Emotional Intelligence practitioner, she supports leaders in creating new mindsets that free them from inhibiting believe systems and helps them unlock greater leadership potential. Jessica is the Director of Organization Change & Transform...

Send us a message! My guest today is Louiza Kiritopoulos-Adams. Louiza is an organizational psychologist and an executive, leadership development, and performance coach.  She has over 20 years of leadership experience across diverse industries and global markets.  She’s deeply passionate about unlocking human potential to create a lasting impact at both organizational and market levels. Louiza and...

Send us a message! My guest today is Ravi Ram. Ravi is a returning guest and I’m so grateful to have another conversation with him here on the podcast.   Ravi's career and life are guided by his passion for helping others develop, feel a deep sense of connection and belonging, and have fun in the process. He finds meaning in being a source of warmth, energy, and inspiration for others, and hi...

Send us a message! My guest today is Shimrit Nativ. Shimrit is a Success & Freedom Mentor, CEO and founder of Master Your Path Academy. Having built a 6-figure business in a matter of months, when she first started out, with no prior experience, Shimrit is the perfect example of what's possible when you have a desire & drive to create a significant impact. As a Transformational &...

Send us a message! My guest today is Kenny Leahman. I first learned a piece of Kenny’s story from an article in Yahoo News with the headline: Retired CIA officer opens up about coming out as gay during ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ era: ‘I was terrified every single day.’ Immediately, I wanted to have Kenny on my podcast and today is the day I get to share our conversation with you!  We got to meet in p...

Send us a message! My guest today is Seth Yelorda. Seth has a decade of expertise as a leadership coach and organizational development consultant. His approach centers on clarifying vision, developing leadership skills, and fostering a transformative organizational culture. Seth is skilled in aligning team dynamics and programs to achieve optimal effectiveness and synergy.  Seth and I first met in...

Send us a message! My guest today is Anna Sparks. Anna is a returning guest and it’s so great to get to talk with her again! Our previous conversations have been focused on books we read and discussed together.  If you haven’t listened to them, they are episodes 15 and 34, and we talk about the books Professional Troublemaker:The Fear-Fighter Manual by Luvvie Ajayi Jones, and Unbound, A Woman&apos...

Send us a message! My guest today doesn’t really qualify as a guest, as much as a co-contributor.  Russ Watts has been regular guest, sharing stories, reflections, hosting conversations, and contributing in so many ways to making life less difficult.   Russ is a leadership coach, outdoor enthusiast, mountain adventurer and athlete, and dedicated father and husband.  He lives in Italy with his fami...

Send us a message! My guest today is Stephen Barry. Stephen is a massage therapist living in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Stephen is someone who I have wanted to have on the podcast for years, so it’s truly a delight to finally share this conversation here. Stephen originally connected with me after I was on a podcast called Everyone’s Agnostic.  We had a number of things in common including our...

Send us a message! My guest today is Gai Ben Dor. Gai is a leadership development and change management expert, coach, and facilitator who works with leaders and organizations worldwide. He is an international keynote speaker specializing in leadership and excellence. Gai has a fascinating story – well, many fascinating stories, really.  I was fortunate to meet Gai through the Georgetown Universit...

Send us a message! My guest today is Allison Ebert.  Allison is an Education Specialist with the U.S. Department of State.  She’s also a Leadership Coach through Georgetown University’s Institute of Transformational Leadership and has a Master of Education in Leadership and Management. Originally from Minnesota, Allison has been living and working in Germany for the last 20 years. Allison and I me...

Send us a message! My guest today is Lynn Ellen Queen. Lynn Ellen is an executive coach working with clients from around the globe.  One of her core values is making a difference, which she truly does, as you’ll soon hear through her stories here. Lynn Ellen also makes a difference in her volunteer work, serving on several non-profit boards. In our conversation today, Lynn Ellen shares two stories...

Send us a message! My guests today are Jerome Deroy and Julienne Ryan. Jerome and Julienne are hosts of the podcast, Leadership Story Talks.  I was fortunate to meet Jerome and Julienne through the kind introduction of Nadine Keller and Linda Knox of Precision Sales Coaching and Training .  Jerome is the CEO of Narativ , a company that helps companies activate behavioral change from the inside out...

Send us a message! My guest today is Dr. Adam Dorsay. Adam is a licensed psychologist and a certified executive coach working in private practice. He specializes in assisting high-achieving professionals—including tech executives, entrepreneurs, and professional athletes—with relationship issues, stress reduction, easing anxiety, and attaining more happiness in their lives. Adam delivers lively an...

Send us a message! My guest today is Dan Henderson. Dan is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and ICF-credentialed coach with nearly three decades of experience in high-growth software and technology companies. As the founder of Gravity Insights, Dan leverages his extensive background to provide leadership coaching and consulting services, guiding business leaders through complex transitions and c...

Send us a message! My guest today is Annie Peguero. Annie is on a mission to help leaders transform fear into confidence and lead with balance and purpose. An adoptee, former federal law enforcement officer and military spouse, Annie’s journey has taken her from navigating her own identity and reinvention to her decades-long work of empowering leaders worldwide to embrace authenticity and resilien...

Send us a message! My guest today is Megan Broker. Megan is an executive coach whose mission is to empower leaders to enhance their self-awareness and influence, enabling them to drive greater effectiveness and positive change. With a career spanning nearly three decades marked by award-winning corporate roles within the telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and consulting sectors, Megan has solidif...

Send us a message! My guest today is John Burdock. John is the Executive Art Direction for JannPaul Diamonds.  He also works closely with the CEO in diamond research and development. This conversation is a very special one to me, as John is also my oldest nephew.  He is the third of my nieces and nephews to be a guest on the podcast and I always love having these conversations and learning from th...

Send us a message! My guest today is Adela Warkentin. Adela is a certified executive coach dedicated to empowering leaders through a holistic and transformative approach.  Her work is rooted in a passion for helping others lead with intention and integrity, making a meaningful difference in both their personal and professional lives. Adela focuses on authenticity, self-awareness, and impactful lea...

Send us a message! Hey Friends!  It's episode 200!  I can hardly believe it!  I'm so incredibly grateful for this journey, for all of my guests, and for all of my listeners!  I love doing this podcast, having these conversations, and am a better person because of this experience and journey! The Make Life Less Difficult podcast has been listened to in 134 countries!  I love this global r...

Send us a message! My guest today is Dr. Wencke Meteling. Wencke is a leadership coach with a unique blend of passion, creativity, and energy that uplifts everyone around her. Wencke draws from an impressive background—spanning continents and disciplines—to bring depth and vision to her coaching practice. With over 15 years of academic research, teaching, and leadership experience in institutions...

Send us a message! Welcome to an episode that’s a bit different.  Today, there are four of us talking and sharing experiences from the perspective of Foreign Service life – mainly as spouses and one contractor.   If you happened to listen to episode 162 which was about fitness, you may recognize these amazing women – Hillery Midkiff, Susie Csorsz Brown, and Morgan Loosli.   The four of us all met...

Send us a message! My guest today is Mary Seals.   Mary is an Administrative Assistance for the non-profit, Capitalize for Good.  She has a degree in psychology, is a fellow Foreign Service spouse, an accomplished dog trainer, and mother of 4 wonderful children. Mary was a guest on episode 114, sharing about her family’s amazing Giant Schnauzer, Pax.  If you haven’t listened to that conversation,...

Send us a message! My guests today are Kerri and Steve Boone. Kerri is a registered nurse and a certified health coach, and Steve is the CEO of Wilkins Medical Group.  They live in east Tennessee. My connection with Kerri and Steve is through the beautiful expansion of our family, as one of my nieces married one of their sons a year and a half ago. You’ll hear more about our meeting and surprising...

Send us a message! My guest today is Tony Cerella.   If that name sounds familiar to you, let me tell you there’s a twist to this.  The Tony who joins me today is the son of the Tony who has joined me previously and shared about his journey of retiring from a career in the U.S. Army!  And if you are a regular listener, you might recall that other members of the Cerella family have also been guests...