Mode To Joy

It started when Chris LaFranchi was six years old. His uncle dunked his head into a California tide pool, and a water world fascination began that day that ultimately led him to his current calling. Decades later, that moment of childhood wonder is the foundation of One Reef Worldwide Stewardship, a nonprofit he founded that partners directly with Indigenous Pacific Island communities across seven...

Join Monica Lyle and her guests for engaging and thought-provoking conversations on the Mode To Joy Podcast. These honest, open episodes will inspire you to lean into what you’re naturally good at, and help you discover ways to spark joy in your own life and career.

What if a chance encounter changed the entire trajectory of your career and set you on an impassioned path to change the lives of others? For Cara Feldman Hunt, it did. A conversation with a stranger building a nonprofit set Cara on a path she never could have planned and set her on a mission to change healthcare. Today she is the Director of the OSHER Center for Integrative Health at the Universi...

What if dreaming big brought you to the big stage? For Rodd Cyrus - now starring on Broadway as Harry Houdini in Ragtime – that means making his debut at the very theater he once made his lunch spot when studying across the street at Juilliard. In this episode, Monica sits down with her longtime family friend for an honest, joyful and inspiring conversation about what it really takes to live the l...

What if your first CEO job was running a 22-room hotel at age 15? For Eric Chernik, that's exactly where the adventure began. In this episode, Monica sits down with her decades-long friend and former Stanford classmate Eric Chernik, seasoned CEO, connector, and strategist to trace the compelling path from young entrepreneur to corporate leader. Eric shares why as a CEO he prioritized people, how h...