Living Fully Conversations

In this episode of Living Fully Conversations, John Bigelow, owner of JM Cellars, shares how he left a thriving tech career to become an award-winning winemaker. He opens up about the power of embracing simplicity, the unexpected advantage of a little naivety, and the pivotal moments that led him to a more purpose-driven life. John’s journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to pursu...

Seattle resident Jennifer Zinda has always loved having adventures in the mountains, especially with her children, and when her son suggested that it had always been her dream to live in a mountain town, she decided to finally make this dream a reality. Jennifer, who is a people person and a self-proclaimed “joy seeker,” was admittedly a bit nervous about spending six weeks on her own, living and...

In this inspiring conversation with James Beard award-winning chef and renowned Seattle restaurateur, Tom Douglas, you’ll hear about his journey to elevate Northwest cuisine in Seattle, starting with his first restaurant, the Dahlia Lounge which aspired to marry an innovative and elevated menu with warm, informal hospitality. Tom's 35-year journey has been nothing short of remarkable. From a singl...

In this episode, John and his wife, Kelle, speak with two Highland advisors and certified Wealth Confidants, Kyle Thomas and Colleen Kroeger, about how to best approach providing financial assistance to their adult children.  In this conversation key questions are raised and addressed:  How do you provide financial help in a way that is equitable among your children?  How do you ensure you are hel...

Throughout life, you’re often warned about the downsides of middle age— bodies and brains change, social circles shift, and ageism can rear its head at work. It's no wonder many approach this phase with dread or fear. But what if you viewed this stage in life not as a crisis, but as a "chrysalis"?  In this conversation, John speaks with New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and CEO of t...

In this conversation, John speaks with Lisa Mayfield, founder of Aging Wisdom, a provider of senior care services & management in the greater Seattle & Bellevue areas about the challenges faced by the "sandwich generation" – individuals in their forties and fifties who are simultaneously caring for aging parents and raising their own children. Topics include resistance to help, the burden of care...

Did you know that one of the most powerful things you can do for your family is quite simple? Develop a strong family narrative by telling stories. In this interview between John and Dr. Marshall Duke, a professor of psychology at Emory University, you’ll learn about the impact of sharing family stories in order to build resilience in children. You may have seen Dr. Duke featured on Good Morning A...

Generosity is often a secret and untapped joy creator. When we use our talents, resources and energy to make an impact in our world, we all thrive. And the truth is, everyone can do something, big or small – it all contributes to the wellbeing of our community. Jeff Piha, a CPA at Sweeney Conrad, experienced his own journey of generosity which led him to donate blood marrow to a boy he didn’t know...

A conversation between John Christianson, CEO and Founder of Highland Private Wealth Management and Dr. Michele Borba, one of the foremost authorities on child development. Dr. Borba is the best-selling author of UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in an All About-Me World, and more recently, Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine. An educational psychologist an...

Explore the intersection of money, relationships and purpose through curious & lively conversations with professionals, business leaders, authors and specialists. Join John Christianson, founder and CEO of Highland Private Wealth Management, to gain insight and inspiration for connecting your money to a life of meaning and purpose. Let us know what you'd like to hear on the show by emailing john@h...

Mike Erwin lives life by three principles: faith, family, and service. He truly understands the impact of selfless service and community. Mike is a graduate of The U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was commissioned as an officer and went on to serve three combat tours with the 1st Cavalry Division and 3rd Special Forces Group. After his third deployment, Mike founded Team Red, White & B...

Join me as I revisit just a few of the many inspiring conversations I had this year, including: Margie Warrell, Author Duncan Campbell, Friends of the Children Khe Hy, Rad Reads Kendra Vandermeulen, NCF Northwest To learn more about turning meaningful wealth into a meaningful life filled with passion and purpose, connect with me on social media at @jcchristianson or send me an email at john@highla...

Often, we equate giving solely with the act of donating money, but it is so much more than that. Giving can be a transformative act, moving you beyond yourself and cultivating a genuine ability to empathize with the struggles of our fellow human beings. I experienced this firsthand while serving with my wife at Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission (UGM). This organization seeks to see, hear, know and lo...

Be positive. Think on the bright side. We’ve all heard advice like this at some point in our lives. We also know that changing your mindset isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. While studies do show that thinking and speaking negatively can have a hugely adverse effect on us, “being positive” just isn’t a realistic solution for many people. Today’s guest, Trevor Moawad, emphasizes a different strat...

Millennials make up the largest generation in our country. How are they navigating life’s major financial milestones as they get older? What are the unique challenges they face and how does money affect their relationships? Erin Lowry helps millennials get their financial lives together. Erin is a personal finance expert and the author of the Broke Millennial series, including her new book, Broke...

Khe Hy calls himself an accidental entrepreneur—he started his own business, RadReads, when he got tired of the “winners and losers,” scarcity mentality he experienced during his fourteen-year career on Wall Street. Today, Khe spends his time writing and speaking on money, the different levels of financial independence, mortality, and more. Go check out Khe’s website at https://radreads.co/ for mo...

Parents have tremendous influence over their kids when it comes to money. As kids of all ages head back to school, it’s a great time for families to reevaluate the way we address money. On this special episode, I discuss: —The importance of talking to your kids about money —Tips for handling allowances and budgeting —How to instill money-skills in an age-appropriate way To learn more about turning...

Patrick Sweeney is turning fear on its head to help others live a more fulfilled life. Patrick is a full-time adventurer. He’s on a mission to help others use fear as fuel. The key to unlocking your inner adventurer might not be what you think. Patrick encourages people to embrace fear rather than avoid it in order to grow and make better decisions. Even though Patrick’s an Olympic level rower, he...

One of the main reasons people seek out financial professionals is because money can be so complicated. A great financial advisor is someone you can trust. A person who can listen and translate what you want and need in your life into actionable plans, and who understands your values and how to align your money with them. It can go beyond being an advisor to what I consider being a confidant. Fina...

One common misconception around generosity is that you have to have abundant financial resources in order to affect change. But philanthropy can go beyond writing checks -- we all have time, talent, and experience we can contribute to make the world a better place. I met today’s guest, Amitabh Shah, in New York when I was speaking at the Harvard Club recently for my book tour. I was struck by his...

Navigating the emotional and practical challenges of having aging parents is one of the difficult realities of life. Most people don’t want to talk about it -- after all, managing our own finances and lives can be demanding enough! It’s a complicated situation, but waiting too long to have essential financial conversations with loved ones can lead to serious problems down the road. Today’s guest,...

Beri Meric is the co-founder and CEO of IVY: The Social University, a community that unites rising leaders through a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact. After attending Harvard Business School, Beri and his co-founder were inspired to bring the benefits of leading universities to entrepreneurs, creatives, and innovative professionals all over the world. Beri’s mission is to spark a new renai...

Former NBA star Troy Murphy has made it his mission to assist clients in managing their newfound resources. He’s also committed to creating financially prepared, responsible, and savvy consumers. Troy entered the professional sports world at age 20 to play for the Golden State Warriors and found himself and his teammates grappling with how to handle their new financial reality. Unlike wealth creat...

While we’ve all heard that “money can’t buy happiness,” our society makes the accumulation of money and material possessions look like the ultimate aspiration. My guest today, Margie Warrell, emphasizes the idea of what she calls “enoughness” in her work as an author, speaker, and advocate. Margie is the author of four bestselling books and has been referred to as “an international authority on br...

Craig Hall is an author, civic leader, and philanthropist who has started multiple businesses, including HALL Group when he was just eighteen years old. Today, HALL Group’s business interests include everything from winemaking to early-stage investments in promising startups. I was surprised to learn from Craig that entrepreneurship has declined dramatically over the last thirty years. Craig explo...