Cut Through the Noise with Dave Turano

Society is made up of systems. We sanction governments, companies, and schools, so that we can operate in a shared space. We create milestones – like having children, getting promoted, or owning a home – that become the maps by which we organize and live our lives. Most systems come with good intentions. Many of our systems allow us to find purpose and contribute to the world. But there are a lot...

Attitudes toward law enforcement vary in this country. Some communities generally trust their police. Others clearly need reform. But officers all wear the same uniform–even one controversy affects us all. In 2006, Ed Cronin took over as the Chief of Police in what was then called "crime city." At the time, Fitchburg, MA had a higher murder rate per capita than Boston, and a dropout rate of minori...

Chances are, you're hiring. And it's not hard to find candidates. LinkedIn is a worldwide network of professionals, many of whom are #opentowork. You can post your job on Indeed or Zip Recruiter and have a dozen applicants in minutes. But are they the right candidates? We talk a lot about relationships on this podcast. While the digital age should make connecting easier, our online platforms are s...

Curiosity is innate in children. Kids want to understand why things are the way that they are, and they want to contribute in meaningful ways to the world around them. But society hasn't set up a system that celebrates curiosity. Many schools–both public and private–aren't set up to nurture a child's talent. Many children are coddled out of developing their own resilience and problem-solving skill...

You write all the time. Texts, memos, presentation headers, tweets, posts on LinkedIn. And emails. So many emails. But experience doesn't beget effectiveness; even the best writers make mistakes. And writing is high stakes–how we convey our ideas, concerns, questions, and feedback will determine how others see us as professionals and as people. In this episode, we hear from Erin Lebacqz, the found...

In the US, the college search is its own era in young adulthood. High schoolers and their parents travel the country in search of the right fit. Students are encouraged to find a campus that gives them "that feeling" – that affirming jitter that says, "this is where you belong." And for many of us, helping a child navigate the college process is its own emotional, mental, and financial obstacle. W...

The loneliness epidemic isn't a secret. Even before COVID, Americans were feeling more isolated from friends, from family, from their colleagues, and from themselves. We know that the problem is pervasive, and we know that it applies to all types of organizations. How do you attract and retain the right people, if they don't feel loyal to their colleagues or to the company? Author, speaker, and ad...

Rachel Chaikof was one week old when her mother, Melissa, suspected that something was wrong: she didn't startle at the sound of a slamming car door. Rachel was diagnosed with Usher Syndrome, a genetic condition which causes either inherent or progressive deafness. But being deaf was not an absolute: as a child, Rachel became one of the first children to receive a Cochlear Implant by way of an FDA...

Some people are completely comfortable at work. They know what they bring to the table, and they're comfortable asking questions and challenging the status quo. But many also feel out of place, and they pick up on small actions that only make them feel less comfortable speaking up. Limor Bergman, a software engineer, noticed that women in her male-dominated field often struggled to feel included a...

What is ability? We all have distinct abilities, challenges, and gifts. And focusing on what you can do is far more important than focusing on what you can't do. John Cronin was in his last year in high school, and he needed to figure out what to do next. He thought about what he loved and what he was good at. He landed on socks. Crazy socks. With the help of his dad, Mark, John started to design...

So many people just want to be happy; there's so much talk about finding happiness, you'd think it was a scarce resource. But perhaps what makes happiness so elusive is that it's so plentiful. We all have the capacity to find it, grow it, and live it. So why aren't we happier? Tamara Zoner believes that happiness is a choice. There are more circumstances in your control than you think, and evaluat...

We all know takers. They're the people who show up when it's convenient and contribute only when they gain something in return. But even so, there are just as many people eager to give more than they receive. EA Csolkovits started out as a janitor in the home of June Martino–she's the lady that believed in Ray Kroc's McDonald's before it was McDonald's. After realizing how approachable she was, he...

All day, you're looking at things. You look at your email, your Instagram feed, your colleagues, your clients, your own face in a Zoom call, your loved ones. Not being able to see or read well – or not liking how you look with glasses on – is distracting and frustrating. This week, Dave sits down with Rick Young of Boston Vision, who walks us through the surgical options available to those who wan...

On this podcast, we talk a lot about the consequences of inaction. What's worse–saying something and rocking the boat, or suffering in silence? Growing up, Jerry Fu learned to be silent and avoid conflict. But as he grew older, he learned that yielding to others' expectations can be toxic, for both himself and the person on the other end. In his career as a pharmacist, he learned a similar lesson...

Everywhere, professionals are looking for the right job, and companies are looking to hire them. But companies can't afford to hire the wrong people. We need people who are competent. We need people who are engaged. We need people who will not compromise the safety of our workplace. As a Certified Protection Professional (CPP), David Sawyer recognized that all companies were worried about safety....

Parenting is tough. We want to do it right, and we constantly have to make decisions that we know can impact our children for the rest of their lives. Today, we hear from Debbie Godfrey, founder of Positive Parenting, where she gives workshops and tools to parents who are looking to feel more competent at life's most important job. Ultimately, our job as parents is to "work ourselves out of a job"...

We know that diversity is good for us. Whether it's diversity of personnel, of activities, or of opinions, hearing new perspectives and sitting with discomfort are some of the best things we can do for ourselves, our organizations, and our communities. But paying lip service isn't enough. How do we actually do it? Today, we hear from Jeff Le, a public policy adviser for corporate leaders and polit...

With so many roads and so many routes, both the young and the old are looking for guidance as they create fulfilling lives. Today, we hear from storyteller, author, and educator, Sam Thiara. Through his work as a professor, Sam Thiara learned how to mentor young people in their pursuit of finding what they want to do and who they want to be. Thiara believes that you find direction when you look in...

Marketing isn't known for being sexy. Finding customers can feel like chasing, and many companies scare people away when they only talk about themselves. In this episode, marketing consultant Tim Fitzpatrick teaches us how to get back to the basics. Marketing well requires looking at data to see what customers we're attracting and why. It comes down to pinpointing our ideal customers, listening to...

Young people everywhere are looking to share their talent and passions. In next week's episode, Harry Beard talks about how creatives of Generation Z build momentum around their passions. With platforms like YouTube, we can learn anything we want, so long as we have the dedication and discipline to do so. And in our ever-connected world, we can also find and speak to important people if we want, s...

Gaining the trust of your audience is one of the greatest challenges of leading. Darrell Williams, former Communications Response and Officer for the White House, teaches us that our credentials, while meaningful and noteworthy, don't necessarily earn us respect from others–but getting to know people and showing them that we care for them will. In this episode, we learn how to maximize our gifts b...

Divisive content is all around us. In our history, in our social media, and in our news, we see stories that highlight our differences and polarize us as humans. Today, we speak with John Noltner, photographer and storyteller, who has for years been on a mission to find what connects us. Shortly after the election of President Obama, Noltner felt troubled by our nation's racist rhetoric, which unc...

Many of us know how to fill our time. But are we filling it with quality pursuits? In this episode, we sit down with Chris Bond. Chris was in his forties when he learned that he had a heart condition that required surgery. During a sedentary, humbling recovery, Chris had to re-evaluate where he was devoting his energy. Now, he's thankful that his doctor uncovered a problem that's been in his heart...

Sometimes, you have to obstruct the system to achieve justice. Today, we're joined by Janice S. Lintz, Founder and CEO of Hearing Access & Innovations. When her daughter was diagnosed with hearing loss before the age of three, Janice joined the legal fight to ensure that her daughter had access to learning opportunities. When she sought justice against her abusive husband, she learned the true lab...

After decades as a surgeon, Dr. Michelle Gordon realized that her job was making her suffer. She was also going through menopause, and she began redirecting her efforts to helping women use science-backed strategies to understand their bodies and minimize their suffering. People suffer in all kinds of ways. Ailments, resentments, and traumas can cloud our perspective and determine the stories that...