Around the Table with Brenda Harkins

In this episode we are talking about knowing what drives your culture. What is the undercurrent that people feel when they work with you, work for you, hang out with you, or live with you? As we said in the last episode, YOU are your culture. The leader sets the culture. So, what is leading you? Cultures where people show up with all they have got even when times are hard, resources are scarce, an...

Episode 34 - Building a Culture of Trust You. Are. Your Culture. Whether in your family, workplace, social circles, or place of worship. How you, as a leader, show up and respond. That is your culture. Not the mission statement on the wall. (Or refrigerator) YOU. You are your culture. Whether the situations are stressful or celebratory, your response to those situations determines the culture you...

Episode 33 - Faith in the Fearful and Fragile with Brent Butler If you have ever had life throw you a curve ball, this episode is for you. Have you ever experienced fear from life, health, relationships, or career being out of your control? Fear from what your mind imagines might happen? Have you ever fragile in areas where you have always known strength? Brent Butler understands. He is a man of f...

Episode 32 Show Notes: Relational Intelligence - How to Enter Tense Conversations Last episode we talked about how to connect with others in an authentic way. It’s great to know how to do that. In this episode I share 3 ways to actually enter those tense conversations. Choosing to initiate a conversation for the purpose of connecting with someone we already have some tension with takes courage. It...

Episode31 - Relational Intelligence: Connecting With Others in an Authentic Way  Emotional Intelligence has gotten a lot of attention in recent years, as it should. But Relational Intelligence and Emotional Intelligence are not the same. Emotional Intelligence causes us to be more aware of our emotional wellbeing and focuses on identifying and regulating those emotions. Relational Intelligence def...

Episode 30 - Creating a Now Legacy  Do you think of “legacy” as something old people leave when they die? I want to challenge that thinking and awaken some intentionality for creating a legacy. One we get to live out now, as well as leave behind. Legacy is expressed through the convictions, values, and beliefs we live out.  “Live out” are key words here.  We can’t keep them private and expect to b...

Episode 29 - Inspiration by the one and only...Bob Goff How many of you wonder if Bob Goff REALLY answers that phone number in the back of his books? Well, he does! I am a personal witness.  What thought do you wake up with?  Bob Goff wakes up saying, “Nothing to Prove. Nothing to Lose.”  And to him, that equates to a truth he has taught his grandchildren...and each of us, too.  “I am strong. I am...

Episode 28 - The Unhealthy Fight to be Right It’s time to re-examine what it means to win. Because winning in life doesn’t equal losing in relationship. If you would like to have conversations that stretch you to love bigger, rather than pump you up to win arguments, and keep your opinion on steroids, then this episode just may spark some ideas for change. Why do we feel such a need to...defend ou...

Episode 27 Show Notes: Take a Pause The world is a lot right now. A lot of pain. A lot of fear. A lot of anger, confusion, and accusation. A lot of misunderstanding. A lot of violence. A lot of hate. So what do we do about that? The temptation is to disengage. Or attack. Neither seems the answer. How do we make an impact? A positive difference? Is it even possible? I believe it is, if we go where...

Episode 26: Your Dreams Mean Something We all dream. Some of us remember our dreams in vivid detail. Some barely remember having a dream at all. But we all dream. This episode shares a dream I had last year, in July of 2024, that is still just as important and impactful as it was then. It had a message for me, but it also has a message for you. I want to share this dream for two reasons. First, I...

Episode 25 - Overcoming Defeat The difference between those who give up and those who overcome often comes down to the community we have. Or don’t. We take pride in “doing it myself”, and yet what if our best achievements come by doing it with a team? The right team, of course. Not just any team. A supporting cast, if you will. After all, every great story has a great supporting cast. Doing things...

  Episode24 - DON’T GIVE UP! With guest Jonah Brian Cruz Melchor   In the last episode we talked about brokenness, but in today’s episode we take a personal look into the life of a man who knew nothing but brokenness throughout his childhood and even in to much of his adulthood. Jonah Brian Cruz Melchor shares some of his healing journey, past and present, and how he is learning something we all n...

  Episode 23 - Brokenness and Tables Brokenness is a big topic. There is personal brokenness and relational brokenness all the way up to world brokenness. But it starts in the heart. Of each person. Why is our world so broken? Because people are so broken. And people are broken mainly because of receiving what God never intended them to have, or not receiving what He did intend them to have. What...

Episode 22 - Connecting Through Conflict Connecting through conflict is an insightful approach to growing relationships. We are at our most vulnerable when we are emotionally hot because our passions and convictions are showing whether we want them to or not. This allows us the opportunity to see into another’s heart beyond the anger, hurt, or frustration of the moment. It allows us the opportunit...

Episode 21 - The “How-To” of Treasuring Time Prioritizing time according to our core values sounds wonderful, but how do we actually do that? We often have trouble getting out of the routine that allows the world’s demands to set our schedule. We don’t even understand how to get out of that routine because it has felt so normal for so long. Moving into a new mindset and committing to allow our cor...

Episode 20 - The Gift of Time Time is a scarce resource. That’s how many people view it, anyway. I am learning to view it more as a precious gift. One to be valued and treasured. In this episode, I want to share with you how to have less frustrating days, more meaningful moments, and greater intentionality with the hours we are given. You can have a different relationship with time. One that is pr...

Episode 19 - New Year's Resolutions People generally have a love/hate relationship with New Year’s Resolutions. Some people despise them and swear they don’t work. And then there’s people like me...I love New Year’s Resolutions. Actually, I just love new beginnings and fresh starts and New Year’s is an intentional time to do that, although we can do that any time of the day, week, month, or year....

Episode 18 - Authenticity and Attachments In keeping with the theme of restoring, healing, and/or strengthening our relationships, especially in this world of uncertainty and extreme differences, this episode challenges you to take a look at the two things mental health professionals tend to agree on as the most important factors for our growth as a person: 1)Authenticity 2)Attachments We all need...

Episode17 - Love or Fear Every thought we have can be traced back to a root of either love or fear. Research from neuroscience continues to prove this fact. Fear keeps us disconnected, shaken, and bent on avoiding pain. Love keeps us connected, peaceful and desiring truth despite the pain. Wherever you are sending tumult — whether from your family, your personal relationships, your work situation,...

Episode 16 - Two Opposing Realities: Let Your Voice Be Heard  There is a very real phenomenon of two opposing realities. Darkness and Light. Truth and Lies. Fear and Love. These realities are everywhere. We are in a time where your voice is needed to speak to these realities. Your experiences matter. And your experience is needed to help someone else shift to the best reality. Learning to share yo...

Episode 15 - Are We People or Issues?   Different perspectives. Different beliefs. Different values. We become enemies over these. But what if we didn’t? Jesus didn’t share the same perspectives, beliefs, and values as all those He loved. All those He broke bread with. All those He sat with and talked within their homes. All those He was criticized for loving by the religious leaders. When we lay...

Episode 14 – A Fresh Perspective on Different With whom do you think of differences as being refreshing? That neighbor with a political sign different than yours? That coworker who does things in the hardest way possible? The one who is always finding fault? Or always positive? The family feuds? The one with the cup half full? Or empty? Differences are perspectives. For those who don’t hold your v...

Episode 13 - Yes, You Are a Leader! Leadership is for all of us. It is how we lead ourselves. It has to do with how we look at those around us who need assistance accomplishing what they are called to do just as much as it has to do with positions or titles. We all have opportunities to lead in a way that encourages and makes a way for others when they can’t do it alone. In this episode I want to...

Episode 12 - Unoffendable and Responsive  In this world we live in, it can be hard to stay calm, loving, and peaceful. Especially when situations that anger, grieve, and sicken us are all around. I have been given the message of “loud is not a language” and yet, this past week has been one of the hardest ones I have had to live that out. To not be loud in attitude or reactions. But those who follo...

The power of acknowledging mistakes is great. The difference we can make in people’s lives by simply being honest, transparent, and accountable. To acknowledge where we have misrepresented ourselves, others, or even God. To say with conviction... I am so very sorry. We all hurt people. What do we do with that? How do we bring healing in the places we have caused hurt? Today’s episode addresses the...