Choice not Chance: Simplifying Success

Host Marie Chindamo welcomes Michelle Jennae, creator of the EDG Butterfly Map and founder of Everyday Genius X365, to discuss how brilliance is inherent in everyone but often dimmed by rigid schools and workplaces. Michelle shares leaving a government job after seeing capable people “calcify” into conformity, and explains her framework for reclaiming genius through polarities—paired tensions like...

Host Marie Chindamo introduces an interview recorded in July 2025 with Brittany Hirson, CEO of South Bay Energy, a boutique retail energy supplier in New York and PJM. Brittany recounts joining the startup as a college intern in 2013 and rising to CEO by following strong leaders, building relationships, taking initiative, and embracing learning before feeling ready. She discusses leading by exampl...

Strategic Restraint: Navigating Competing Priorities with Discernment Marie returns to the Choice Not Chance podcast after an eight-month pause, explaining it was driven by competing priorities and a commitment to quality rather than burnout or lost passion. She reflects on how high-achieving leaders often struggle not with a lack of options but with too many meaningful opportunities, arguing that...

EP015 – Freedom Mindset: Tethered to Nothing, Anchored to Purpose “Freedom mindset is saying, I'm making conscious choices to do and act on things that will benefit my long-term growth, and requires you to remove the things that aren't going to contribute to that.” Marie Chindamo   In this first episode of season two of 'Choice, Not Chance: Simplifying Success,' host Marie Chin...

Empowering Young Women: The Journey of Wonder Girls In this episode of 'Choice, Not Chance: Simplifying Success,' host Marie Chindamo interviews Natalie Maniscalco and Irene Robles, co-founders of Wonder Girls. They discuss the inception and mission of their nonprofit organization that empowers high school girls through leadership building, community service, and confidence workshops. Th...

In this episode, Marie welcomes Dr. Steven Padnick, a psychologist with extensive experience in treating stress-related and psychophysiological disorders. Dr. Padnick discusses the importance of recognizing and addressing stress and anxiety, emphasizing that anxiety is a natural and helpful signal indicating that something is out of balance. By tuning into one's inner thoughts and feelings an...

“Things happen, change, go back, and cycle. That's what happens. So, you adjust. Even through your career, something changes that you didn't plan on. How am I going to adjust to going forward to be the best I can be in this new environment?” Dr. Bryan Frank [Ep 013]:  This episode focuses on how flexibility and seizing opportunities can lead us to realize our fullest potential. My guest...

“ We connect on an emotional level. We don't connect through facts and figures. There's a statistic that we remember 70 percent more information that's told to us through stories than through facts.” Tessa Rawson [EP011] - From Thought to Influence: Owning Your Narrative with Confidence.  In this episode of 'Choice, Not Chance: Simplifying Success,' host Marie Chindamo int...

 “The key to navigating power dynamics is knowing your own power. It doesn't matter if you're in a position of authority. Your power lies in your values, your boundaries, and your ability to act in alignment with them.” Marie Chindamo [EP010] - The Strength of Quiet Confidence: From Chaos to Clarity In this solo episode of 'Choice, Not Chance: Simplifying Success,' host Marie C...

In this episode of 'Choice, not Chance: Simplifying Success,' host Marie Chindano welcomes Mahrukh Imtiaz, a podcast coach and trusted advisor, to discuss overcoming fears, embracing imperfection, and finding inspiration. Mahrukh shares her journey of transitioning from a corporate job to becoming a successful content creator and podcaster, highlighting the importance of starting imperfe...

In this episode of 'Choice, Not Chance. Simplifying Success,' host Marie Chindamo discusses a thought-provoking topic on the importance of communication, especially for individuals with high cognitive function but no capacity for language. Guest Elaine Keuning, a speech and language pathologist, shares her experiences and methods in working with individuals with Rett syndrome, a neurolog...

Empowering Choices with Elisa Padilla: From Sports Executive to Inspirational Leader In this episode of Choice, Not Chance, host Marie Chindamo interviews Elisa Padilla, a seasoned executive in the sports and entertainment industry and current Chief Marketing Officer at the New York Red Bulls. Elisa shares insights from her impressive career, her approach to leadership, and the genesis of her insp...

In this episode of 'Choice, Not Chance. Simplifying Success,' host Marie Chindamo interviews Chris McAuley, an accomplished speaker and actor known for his expertise in business storytelling and presentation skills.  We emphasize the importance of authenticity in human connection and how to craft your message so it has the greatest impact. Chris shares valuable insights on common communi...

 "Rely less on wishful thinking and creating a mental picture of where you want to be. That picture sits in the forefront of your mind to the exclusion of everything else and when you make that happen, when you make that a priority, you'll determine where your energy should go and where your energy no longer belongs." Marie Chindamo   [EP003] - Choice, Not Chance: Simplifying Succes...

In this episode of Choice Not Chance: Simplifying Success , I sat down with my sister, Laura Longo. We discuss Laura's remarkable 25-year career in education, how she manages various responsibilities from kindergarten through 12th-grade science programs, and her pursuit of a Ph. D. Despite her demanding career and raising three children, Laura shares her secret to balancing it all, highlighti...