Make Life Less Difficult

Send us a message! Today's guest is Stuart Voeden. Russ Watts is hosting this inspiring conversation with Stuart.  Thank you, Russ! In their conversation today, Stuart and Russ explore Stuart's journey from corporate burnout to embodied artistic practice, and how confronting one's shadow, embracing intuition, and "coming at life sideways" can make existence less difficult...

Send us a message! My guest today is Kathryn Broullire. Kathryn and I connected through the Georgetown Leadership Coaching mentorship program and from our first interaction, it has felt like a connection that was meant to be! Kathryn is a Learning and Development expert and has worked in the educational space for over 13 years.  She's completed the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching pr...

Send us a message! Today my conversation is with Russ Watts.  Russ co-hosts and guest-hosts here on the podcast, so his is a familiar voice to many of you.  Russ and I have been co-creating and co-facilitating storytelling experiences since 2019. It was such a delight to sit down with Russ and dive into a conversation today.  We made no plans, just pressed record and started sharing. Our hope is t...

Send us a message! My guest today is Derrek Cooper. Derrek is an executive coach and had a masters in applied positive psychology.  If his name is familiar, you may have heard his conversation here on the podcast with Russ.   Today, Derrek and I get to have a great conversation that I think you'll find very inspiring, especially if you find yourself in some kind of transition.  We talk about...

Send us a message! My guest today is Niki Mathias. Niki is an author who is helping the world better understand what it means to be a highly sensitive person.  Her upcoming book, Derby and the Dandelions, explores this through the unique lens of a teenage girl and her best friends. I'm very excited to share this conversation because I learned so much from talking with Niki.  Her stories and s...

Send us a message! My guest today is Lisa Lewis Daniels. Lisa is a returning guest and you can hear my first conversation with her on episode 265. Lisa is the founder and CEO of Lionheart Society.  She helps her clients find their identity, purpose during life transitions.   Today, Lisa shares more about her own transition, more about her time in what she calls the Messy Middle (a phrase I know I...

Send us a message! My guest today is Kenny Leahman. Kenny is retired from the Central Intelligence Agency after a 24-year career.  He now is a coach, educator, and consultant who helps others discover what really matters by focusing on values-based living and leadership.  Kenny says, “Make choices based on what matters.  If it doesn’t matter, let it go.” Kenny was a guest on Episode 215, and if yo...

Send us a message! My guest today is Tony Cerella. Tony is a returning guest and if you haven't listened to our previous conversations, please check them out.  They are a series of 3 conversations about Tony's transition into retirement after 23 years in the US Army. Now, 2 years post retirement, Tony shares about a recent experience he had: wandering.  Going places without knowing. Here...

Send us a message! Today's guest is Derrek Cooper.  Russ Watts is hosting this conversation! Derrek brings a rare blend of lived experience, leadership insight, and academic rigor to his coaching. From serving aboard submarines in the U.S. Navy to leading global teams as a software executive, his 25+ year career has spanned industries, continents, and complexity. With a Master’s in Mechanical...

Send us a message! My guest today is Jason Frohnmayer. Jason is a retired U.S. Diplomat, having served his country in a variety of capacities at overseas posts and in Washington D.C.  Throughout his career at the U.S. Department of State, he managed grants and drafted media products to ensure accurate information dissemination on global initiatives. He also created content surrounding community-bu...

Send us a message! Our guest today is Tom Bohnic.  Russ brings this beautiful conversation to us in today's episode. Tom spent most of his professional career leading business transformation and service innovation at scales from Fortune Global 50 to Start-ups from both consulting and internal executive-level positions.  It was the challenges of real-world engagement in complex business challe...

Send us a message! In today's episode, my good friend, Titus Mott, asks me about my recent 50 days of rock climbing adventure for my 50th birthday.  It's amusingly intimidating to be the guest on my own podcast and I'm so grateful to Titus for taking the time to do this episode with me! Thanks to everyone who supported me from near and far for this epic life adventure! See picture h...

Send us a message! My guest today is Stephanie Peña. Stephanie is an accomplished vocalist, actress and voice-over artist. Previously cast on an NBC sitcom, a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Screen Actors Guild, Stephanie can currently be found on Netflix, Audible, iTunes, Amazon, YouTube and Vimeo.  In our conversation today, Stephanie shares her insights...

Send us a message! My guest today is Jennie Snyder. Jennie is an executive leadership coach.  She works with leaders during defining moments in their lives and leadership—navigating transitions and seeking impact that matters. Our conversation today touches on Threshold Moments, what it means to be a Companion for others and for ourselves, and how discernment serves us in telling our stories. Conn...

Send us a message! My guest today is Donna Gandt. Donna  is the founder and lead coach at PSYCHĒ6, bringing over 30 years’ experience in leading people, projects, and change.  Today she shares pieces of her journey transitioning out of the corporate world into her work of leadership transformation, as well as her experience with breast cancer, and what it takes to redefine success. Donna has navig...

Send us a message! My guest today is Béa Victoria Albina. Béa is a returning guest and I'm so excited to share this second conversation with you where we dive deeper into her book,  End Emotional Outsourcing: How to Overcome Your Codependent, Perfectionist, People-Pleasing Habits and Reclaim Your Life . You'll learn more about how to take care of yourself and truly love those around you...

Send us a message! My guest today is Lisa Lewis Daniels. Lisa brings a unique blend of professional experience, academic achievement, and transformational coaching expertise to her work with individuals, couples, and families. After the birth of her son, Lisa, Founder and CEO of Lionheart Society, LLC faced the challenge of balancing a stable, loving home with her career ambitions. ​Despite countl...

Send us a message! My guest today is Jessica Vogt. Jess is a holistic leadership development coach who supports people with a foot in many worlds -- culturally, professionally, or personally. Jess is a returning guest and I highly recommend listening to our first conversation on Episode 233 where she shared pieces of her story growing up as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults). Today Jess shares more abo...

Send us a message! My guest today is Kelly Kienzle. Kelly is a returning guest and today we are talking about her book, Alchemy Workbook: Journey into Your Next . Alchemy Workbook blends art, journaling, and guided self-inquiry to help you chart a path from “what was” to “what’s becoming.” Inside, you’ll explore playful prompts, visual exercises, and intriguing practices that reveal patterns, poss...

Send us a message! My guests today are Christopher Henze and Dominique Debroux, the Director and Producer team for the film, Wise Women: Humanity's Untold Origins . I'm thrilled to share this conversation with you and cannot recommend the film enough.  There's so much to be discovered about the role of older women in our societies and world. About the Film Wise Women – Humanity’s Un...

Send us a message!  Our conversation today is hosted by Russ Watts. Russ, thanks so much for bringing this conversation to Make Life Less Difficult.  Russ is talking with Conrad Coleman, and I cannot wait for you to hear this conversation. I listened to it and it will have you on the edge of your seat. As Conrad shares some of his sailing adventures, Conrad has circumnavigated the world multiple t...

Send us a message! My guest today is Guryan Tighe. Guryan is an experienced leadership coach, workshop facilitator, and communications strategist whose clients describe her as a “Fear Technician”. She founded her company, FOURAGE, on the belief that understanding and working with our fears, rather than trying to conquer them, yields more professional success and personal fulfillment.  In her book,...

Send us a message! My guest today is Mona Khan. Mona is a culture alchemist and joy cultivator who helps teams co-create with clarity, navigate conflict with care, and show up fully — no masks, no holding back. She helps teams embrace the joy of difference: thinking differently, acting differently, doing differently. She nurtures them to turn those differences into superpowers. Collaboration stops...

Send us a message! Hello and welcome to the first officially released episode of 2026!   I’ve got a great conversation with Jennifer Berryhill to share with you today that I think is very timely with the new year. Before jumping into that conversation, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the start of this new year.  If you happened to listen to the last episode, you’ll know that there I reflec...

Send us a message! This is the last episode of 2025 so I wanted to share a few reflections before jumping into the main conversation.  2025 has been a year with lots of change. Many friends have experienced their lives majorly disrupted in unexpected ways. Completely turned upside down. In my personal journey, I lost my dad which was a catalyst for lots of reflection and subsequent growth. My iden...