Circle Up & Get REAL Podcast

In today's episode, I chat with my friend Sue Paulson, a 2-time cancer survivor and a survivor of a near-death experience, all of which have awakened her to her own magnificence, which she now mentors others to understand for themselves. Sue is the author of several books, including her memoir, Magnificent Misery, about her health journey. In our conversation, Sue shared her personal journey with...

In today's episode I share some ideas from books I'm reading right now, and I apply what I'm learning about leadership to current day affairs. Against advice from many, I talk today about politics, but not from a political lens, rather from a leadership one.  I refer specifically to passages from Richard Rohr's "Falling Upward," and Bob Chapman's "Everybody Matters." Leadership is not management,...

Today I'm exploring a thought I first heard about from Steve Jobs: You can only connect the dots of your life looking backward. What have each of us learned about our lives from that perspective? And how might it shape the choices we make from today forward? We'd love to have you join us at the Enlightened Leadership Lab on Mondays from 4-5 central. You can get more information at www.emergentcult...

In today's episode you get to sit in on a conversation between two old friends who haven't connected in a while.  Phil Gerbyshak is a blogger and author, and one of the people most influential in my journey into online writing. Phil and I talk about how important friends are, whether they are near in proximity or near and dear to our hearts. He shares his journey from being an IT help desk manager...

In today's stream-of-consciousness episode I talk about how what we notice becomes our way of seeing the world. Do we see problems first or possibilities first? When we get clear about noticing what we notice, so much can shift: IF we use our power of choice. I mention the Enlightened Leadership Lab, where we practice emergent conversations on a weekly basis. You can find more information at emerg...

When we meditate or even when we are quiet - by ourselves in nature or even, potentially, at a public location but still by ourselves - it occurs to me that thoughts and feelings occur to all of us. What kinds of occurrences are you present to in your own life? What do you do with those "random" thoughts? Today I mention books by The Arbinger Group: Leadership and Self Deception and The Anatomy of...

In today's episode I share some of my recent Wonders and Ponders regarding what it really means to be United, and how we came up with that name for our country. I also explore the original meanings of democracy, republic, and the motto "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." Join me as I wonder how our country has gotten where we are and whether this is what our founders intended for us. I mention the...

There's sure a lot to talk about in our world these days! Are we more committed to fighting against and resisting what we don't want or to stepping into the unknown to create something we prefer instead? If we aren't telling our own stories, someone is telling them about us. Let's step into the space we hold open for true dialogue, even if the outcome isn't guaranteed. It's worth the risk if we go...

I've been doing some deep pondering these days (surprise!) and also pairing that with some of the conversations I've been having and books I've been studying. That's a dangerous combination for anyone who prefers NOT to think and wonder and ponder. So if that's not you, feel free to skip this one.   If you are in the community of people who find themselves waking up to curiosity and know somehow t...

My Indiana Fever basketball team left it all on the floor last night in an overtime loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the semifinals. On paper, they never should have gotten that far, but the heart and the culture of this team didn't buy into that story. What can we learn about heart and soul and spirit from this team? How might we apply these lessons to infinite games and infinite mindsets?

Skeptical or Cynical. It's sure been a week in America. I don't even have to date stamp this - just go back and check out any news source and you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about. Wherever you turn, you can find someone or something to be upset about, and lots of good reasons to feel that way. Does that mean that all the things that were good yesterday went away? Or is it the world we liv...

There is something magical about technology which allows us to connect over thousands of miles as if we were in the same room. In this episode I chat with Marcia Werner about her adventures in moving her family from the U.S. to France.  We had a delightful chat about Marcia's life journey, including her career transitions from real estate to coaching and her recent move to France with her family....

Back in the days before COVID (they all run together for me now), I had a podcast called Bock Talks. The foundation was Leadership, Communication, and Accountability, and the branding was BE IT, SAY IT, OWN IT. I think I was on to something, but, as is my tendency, just before I gain some traction, I move on to something else. Eventually people catch up and then they are engaged in something I've...

Today's guest is Liz Campbell, the Experience Director for Emerging Prairie (EP), a Fargo-based resource that provides: A platform to share knowledge, success and experiences The pulse of the region's entrepreneurial activity A network of passionate individuals shaping the region's future Among Liz's many projects at Emerging Prairie is TEDx Fargo, one of only a very few locations to have held a 2...

Today is a Wonder and Ponder day and my wonder is about advice. As a certified Life Purpose and Career Coach, I've been trained how to be an effective coach, and that's quite distinct from my current corporate work as a consultant. Coaches do more asking, and consultants do more telling. That line has become a bit blurred over the years, and my style has transformed a bit. I've gotten pretty good...

In today's episode I have a dialogue with Jesse Cruz, an entrepreneur and speaking coach from Rochester, NY who helps speakers get paid to travel the world with their families. Jesse shared his journey from being a veteran and youth advocate to becoming a successful speaker and coach who helps others make a living through speaking. Jesse discussed his development of a "lead through story" framewor...

Today's guest is a former co-worker of mine who, although we only worked together for less than a year, made a huge impact on me in a very positive way. Dan Austin has been a corporate executive for 25 years for Fortune 100 and entrepreneurial ventures. He currently lives in Florida where he coaches team members to Connect, Contribute, and Continue (among many other life lessons). In this episode...

Today I'm wondering about preferences: why we like the things we like, and what happens when we forget that it's OK to like different things. I share some of my own stories about when I thought I was wrong for liking different things than my friends, and how that had me question my own values. Values and preferences are not the same thing. Values guide our behavior and decisions in deeper ways - l...

Today's guest is Mark Berntson, someone I've known his entire life. Mark is a guitar teacher in West Fargo, ND where he splits his loyalty between the West Fargo HS Packers and the West Fargo Sheyenne HS Mustangs. Mark is a true connector, certainly through his music, but also by inviting people to join him for coffee dates and baseball games, all on his dime. Mark demonstrates the power of relati...

Mark French is nearing the end of his epic 2024-2025 photographic journey through the lower 48. When he started this adventure, his plan was to document the beauty of each state he visited in his trusty Dodge Journey SUV which doubles as his living and work space. While that was part of the experience, Mark shares some of the unexpected joys and a few heartaches that came with that intention.  His...

I'm facilitating another cohort of the REAL Me: Intensive course and today's lesson is on Energy. As I'm contemplating our agenda today, I'm pondering some situations in my life recently that have shown me pretty blatantly that awareness and understanding are not the same. Awareness means we perceive the fact of something. We have knowledge about it. Understanding involves comprehension, perspecti...

Often, the effectiveness of a communication exchange isn't so much what's said as how it's said. I've had some really amazing conversations in the past few days, some of which really surprised me. One in particular wasn't planned, and with that spontaneity a really enjoyable connection was enhanced. What are you noticing about the conversations and dialogues, discussions, debates, that are happeni...

Today is the 20th anniversary of the launch of my coaching and consulting business, so I'm reminiscing about who I've become over this 2-decade career.