MINDSET ZONE

"The Zone of Proximal Growth, that zone just outside our comfort zone, but not too far out to paralyze us, yet enough to stretch us and to expand us a little." -Ana Melikian In this episode, the host, Ana Melikian, shares an insightful story from her vacation in Portugal that dives deep into the nuances of cultural perceptions and stereotypes. Drawing from an experience at a "typical" Portuguese r...

"How can we transform something obsolete into something new that honors the past and brings innovation and joy?" -Ana Melikian In this episode, the host, Ana Melikian, takes us on an intriguing journey through the streets of London, where she discovers a reinvented red telephone booth that serves as an inspiring metaphor for innovation and adaptability. Ana emphasizes the significance of transform...

"We live in what I call today, a phygital world, physical and digital." -Giles Crouch In this episode, the host, Ana Melikian, dives into the intricate relationship between humanity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with special guest, digital anthropologist Giles Crouch. Ana shares her experience of using an AI avatar as an introduction for her talks, sparking a rich dialogue on the human side of...

"Connecting possible with practical is where the near future framework is focused." -Neil Redding In this episode, the host, Ana Melikian, delves into the fascinating intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and human potential with guest Neil Redding. Neil Redding, a keynote speaker, author, innovation architect, and near futurist, brings his extensive expertise in spatial computing, virtual...

"Choose to press the pause button." -Ana Melikian In this episode, the host, Ana Melikian, challenges listeners to imagine themselves as pencils—a seemingly simple tool with untapped potential. She delves into how the pencil symbolizes our innate ability to create, express, and make an impact and the crucial need to "sharpen" ourselves regularly to maintain effectiveness and precision. Ana emphasi...

"Mindsets are habits of mind." -Ana Melikian In this episode, the host, Ana Melikian, revisits a significant discussion on leveraging the power of mindsets to unlock human potential. Originally recorded in January 2023, this rebroadcast celebrates the release of her book, "Mindset Zone," which delves deep into how our mindsets can shape our possibilities. Ana outlines three primary approaches to u...

"Mindsets are habits of mind." -Ana Melikian In this episode, the host, Ana Melikian, celebrates the release of her new book, "MINDSET ZONE: Actualize Your Human Potential." Ana discusses the motivation behind writing the book and shares insights about the diverse definitions of mindset and their origins. She explains how she sees mindsets as habits of mind that can be changed and optimized for pe...

"There's a bigger purpose for you." -Dawn Marie Rapaport In this episode, host Ana Melikian is joined by Dawn Marie Rapaport, the inspiring founder of HELP (Homeless Engagement Lift Partnership). Dawn Marie shares her remarkable journey from experiencing homelessness herself as a child to creating a transformative organization that now serves over 300 schools with their H.E.L.P.Snackz program. Daw...

"AI is a 100-foot wave. It's going to disrupt everything directly or indirectly." -Ana Melikian In this episode, host Ana Melikian, delves into the intriguing topic of AI and its impact on our emotions and humanity. Ana explores how AI, much like a 100-foot wave, is a force of disruption that brings with it a mix of excitement and apprehension. Ana discusses various audience reactions to AI, rangi...

"Celebrating craft, celebrating what you're good at, is what I wanna spend my life's work on." -Adam McKee In this episode, host Ana Melikian is joined by Adam McKee, a visionary small business owner and craftsman from Lincoln, Nebraska. Adam delves into the ethos of celebrating craft in both business and life, sharing his experiences from taking over Contemporary Woods, a custom cabinetry busines...

"You will find the critical points in your life where you defy expectations." -Ana Melikian In this episode, host Ana Melikian delves into her personal and inspiring journey of defying expectations, both self-imposed and those set by society. Ana shares fascinating stories from her life, from her experience as a speaker with an accent in three languages, to more profound experiences like dealing w...

"Colors evoke emotions conditioned by personal associations, our culture, and historical context." -Ana Melikian In this episode, our host, Ana Melikian, immerses herself in the vibrant world of hues as she unravels the significant role colors play in our lives. Like her cherished collection of scarves, Ana views colors as a means to transform our appearance, mood, and mindset. She delves into how...

"We have to be able to see the space between the stimulus and the response." -Ana Melikian, Ph. D. In this episode of Mindset Zone, Authors Unite founder Tyler Wagner interviews Ana Melikian, PhD, for a transformative discussion on the systemic approach to human potential and the management of burnout. Ana introduces the listeners to her profound PIE method, emphasizing the power of pause, increas...

"You can find nature everywhere if you look. The the impetus for this tree hugging capitalism was, yes, protecting nature, but also valuing people." -Nicole Fende In this episode, Ana Melikian is joined by Nicole Fende, a former CFO and investment banker turned business coach for creatives. Co-founder of Creatopia, Nicole, shares her refreshing perspective on "tree-hugging capitalism," where makin...

"Intention is more important than attention." -Ana Melikian In this episode of the MINDSET ZONE, host Ana Melikian delves into the importance of intentionality and mental fitness in navigating life's challenges. She emphasizes the power of cultivating intention in our daily lives to achieve our goals and aspirations. Ana highlights the significance of redirecting our attention with purpose and int...

"My trademark brand of positivity is called positosis." -Chris Toledo In this episode of the Mindset Zone, host Ana Melikian talks with Chris Toledo, a former professional basketball player turned motivational speaker, about his career journey and the pivotal role positivity played in his success. Toledo shares his experiences from playing basketball in college and professionally in Mexico to teac...

"It is an odd reality of being human that we are always changing, yet we dislike change. Especially too much, too fast." -Giles Crouch | Digital Anthropologist In this episode, host Ana Melikian explores the paradox of human evolution amidst technological advancement, with a focus on identity shift in the digital era. Drawing insights from an article by digital anthropologist Giles Crouch, Ana dis...

"98% of the atoms in your body are removed and replaced every year." -Udo Erasmus In this episode of the Mindset Zone, host Ana Melikian discusses the transformative power of nutrition, particularly focusing on the role of fats and oils in human health with guest Udo Erasmus, a renowned figure in the field of health and nutrition. Erasmus, the author of 'Fats That Kill' and a pioneer in understand...

In this episode of the MINDSET ZONE, host Ana Melikian delves into the concept of being boxed in and the ways in which we categorize things in our lives. Ana shares her insights on how our brains are wired to simplify and categorize, leading to the tendency to put things in boxes or categories. She reflects on her experience working with clients who resist being boxed in, particularly in defining...

” If the people are serving the system, you have an inversion of value. If it gets extreme, you have a perversion of value, to where the system actually, instead of serving people, abuses people.” -Mitch Axelrod In this episode, Ana Melikian is joined by Mitch Axelrod, a business strategist and advisor, to discuss the importance of serving people in business and the impact of technology, automatio...

In this episode, host Ana Melikian explores the concept of choice and its impact on our lives. She delves into the idea of always having a choice, examining it from different angles and shedding light on its complexities. Ana discusses the powerful message present in the work of authors like Edith Eva Eger and Viktor Frankl, highlighting the nuanced understanding of choice in the face of challengi...

In this episode, your host, Ana Melikian, delves into the concept of the Zone of Proximal Growth (ZPG) and its implications for personal and professional development. Ana draws from her background in psychology and her own experiences to explain the ZPG, highlighting the potential for growth just beyond our comfort zones. By sharing her own adventurous foray into indoor skydiving, Ana illustrates...

In this episode, host Ana Melikian discusses the widespread impact and looming potential of artificial intelligence (AI) that is causing a fast-paced disruption. She highlights the importance of adopting the right mindset to successfully navigate this AI disruption, moving from a reactive to a proactive mode, increasing self-awareness around thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to AI. Ana als...

In this episode, the host, Ana Melikian, explores the revolutionary impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). She relates AI to other significant shifts in human history, like the agricultural and industrial revolutions. Ana emphasizes that while AI will introduce considerable changes that we can't foresee, it's our responsibility to choose our response to these changes and apply AI wisely. Ana poin...

In this episode, host Ana Melikian discusses how to increase personal and organizational impact while avoiding burnout. Reflecting on the 'Ready, Set, Go' approach, she explores tendencies like perfectionism and being a quick starter and the common practice of either over-preparing or rushing into actions. Drawing from her experience and observations, she concludes that success lies in a balanced...