The Opposite of Small Talk

Today's leaders need more than power and control to get the best from their teams; they need to connect. In this episode Michelle K. Johnston shares powerful findings based on interviews with leaders around the globe that shows how leaders' ability to connect with themselves, their teams, and their organizations defines their ultimate success—or failure. It's a seismic shift in leadership… do you...

You don't have to be working in commercial real estate to appreciate this episode and learn valuable insights about what it means to raise your hand and lead a volunteer organization. Tiffany English is the immediate past president of CREW Network, an organization that is transforming the commercial real estate industry by advancing women globally. In this episode Tiffany talks about the importanc...

Maria Belanic lost her oldest son to cancer in 2009 and now serves as a grief specialist with a mission to empower mothers on the roller coaster of grief shifting their experience of brokenness to inner peace. In this episode we discuss what grief is, why it is misunderstood, and what to say (and what not to say) to someone who is grieving. Are you ready to choose your life? Join the 'Choose Your...

After attending auctioneering school for fun, Dia Bondi translated the techniques she learned into a program called Ask Like an Auctioneer that prepares women to ask for more and leave nothing on the table. In this episode, Dia shares what the zone of freaking out is and why it's a good thing, the importance of knowing the why behind your ask, and how shaping your question to get a yes is limiting...

The world needs superheroes… and not all superheroes wear capes, but they all possess superpowers. Michael Tertes, founder of The University of Superheroes , believes each person has a unique set of superpowers to offer the world. In this episode Kristy and Danielle speak to Michael about his passion for this work and a few simple ways to begin the journey to discovering your superpowers within.  

When Keith Rovinelli applied to be a firefighter, he expected to leave his uninspiring day job behind to follow in his father's footsteps. But during the firefighter application process something unexpected happened. Keith started a new job in HR, using a different set of skills to serve people through supporting their development, which he found rewarding and fulfilling. When the offer came in fr...

This win at all costs, never show weakness, don't ask for help style of masculinity is not serving us well. It causes division and keeps us separate. This is because in unhealthy masculinity, the need to dominate causes lack of willingness to listen openly to others and an inability to connect on a human level. There is another way. In this episode Christopher Veal, the author of The Whole Man, jo...

Have you ever wanted to change something about your life and struggled to take the leap? Then this episode is for you. From being a native New Yorker who packed up her life and moved to San Francisco in 2016, to more recently transitioning out of a 20 year career in commercial real estate to become a Co-Active Institute trained coach, Danielle McCombs is no stranger to big life changes. In this ep...

Pictures, models and frameworks, metaphors, and storytelling are all ways we can communicate ideas visually. In this episode, Kristy and Danielle talk with Todd Cherches about the importance of visual thinking and communication and explore the tools, tips, and techniques that help turn your vision into reality.

Filter Quality (FQ) is how well an individual can prioritize what deserves their response and what doesn't. Danielle and Kristy talk with Dr. John Tuders about why filtering is so important and how to apply a process including a personalized set of filtering questions to any situation to make better decisions about what deserves your most precious and finite resource… your time.

In this episode Elena Sonnino shares insights about how to inhabit your joy using small nudges. A nudge, according to Elena, is a pattern disruptor that meets you where you are and helps you to take a step forward. It turns your walls into windows or doorways. The best part is, nudges are easily accessible. At the end of the interview, Danielle challenges Kristy to complete a week of these nudge a...

n this episode we get curious about understanding masculine and feminine energy and finding your feminine genius with career coach and spiritual guide Gina Marotta . We all have both masculine and feminine energy and while a healthy state is an integration of the two everyone has a home-base energy that is where they are their best selves. Those with a feminine home-base can feel unfulfilled in ma...

Are you curious about a career change but feeling like it means walking away from all that you've accomplished so far? What if that idea couldn't be further from the truth? In this episode Monique Valcour, executive coach and speaker, shares the mindset shifts we need to make career changes that align with our values and interests and bring us what we want in both our career and life. We also talk...

The meaning of work has been forever changed by our experiences over the last couple of years. Now more than ever, there is broader recognition of the importance of wellbeing to help individuals and businesses thrive. Danielle and Kristy talk with Mari Ryan, author and speaker, about workplace wellness and what individuals and companies can do to ignite engagement and fuel results.

Prior to recording our episode together, we had a blast with Linda Ugelow as she took us through some vocal warm up exercises. We are sharing this session so that you can listen and practice along with us. Save it for your next big work presentation or practice every morning so that you're ready to speak as you move through the day. Enjoy!

Have you experienced stress and anxiety around speaking? Maybe you've found ways to cope with it so that you can do the work presentation or give a toast at an important event. But what would it be like if you could move past the fear and actually enjoy time in the limelight? In this episode Linda Ugelow, an author and speaking empowerment coach, shares the Inner Freedom Framework that helps her c...

Danielle and Kristy talk with Dr. Elia Gourgouris, the happiness doctor, about the paths to lasting happiness. We contemplate being grateful in the midst of adversity, why forgiveness equals freedom, and the influence of our personal brand on our lives. Later, Kristy shares a new strategy for journaling and how it has changed the volume and content of her daily journal practice.

At just 7 years old Guy Mercandante started gambling at his parent's neighborhood poker game. By the time he was 9, he was memorizing cards and winning games with older teenagers while smoking and drinking coffee. As the years went on, the stakes got higher as he gambled in all night games while maintaining multiple day jobs. At 26, with the encouragement of his brother, Guy went into recovery and...

In this episode we are talking about The Great Resignation, and how we should be calling it The Great Realization . While there has been much published on the topic, Mike believes that we are talking about the wrong things. It's not about compensation, benefits, or even flexibility.... it's about giving employees autonomy, development opportunities, and human compassion. We need to stop asking "wh...

When you have a physical ailment, it's natural to focus on finding a physical solution. But you are so much more that just a physical being. You are emotional and social and intellectual and more. In this episode Danielle and Kristy talk with Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a physician and a Mental Health & Wellness Coach, about holistic wellness. We cover what burnout looks like, ideas to care for all aspects...

In this episode Danielle and Kristy talk with Janese Murray, a thought leader in the field of diversity and inclusion, about race in the United States. We touch on critical race theory; what it is, what it isn't, and what you can do about it. We talk about why laws are important but not enough, and how personal stories can make big impacts in the hearts and minds of individuals. The outlook is opt...

If you think that working hard is enough to ensure career success, you're missing a big piece of the pie. Susan M. Barber, the author of The Visibility Factor, shares how a pivotal conversation with her mentor opened her eyes to the importance of visibility and changed the trajectory of her career. In this episode we talk about what it means to be visible at work and why it's important, Sue shares...

As children we have a natural tendency towards the superpowers of curiosity, resilience, authenticity, compassion, and playfulness. Somewhere along the way, the customs of adulthood lead us to prioritize efficiency and control. In this episode, we talk with Lynae Steinhagen, co-author of the new book The Five Lost Superpowers . We talk about appreciative inquiry (looking for what is working), the...

Confucius told us that if we choose a job we love, we'll never work another day in our lives. This idea that we need to find our singular passion is a message that starts in our childhood and weighs on us as adults. Terri Trespicio is challenging us to rethink the conventional wisdom around what we need to succeed in her new book, Unfollow Your Passion . In this episode we talk about owning your s...

We've all been there. That feeling of complete overwhelm and too much to do, when you say 'Yes' to every opportunity that comes towards you. In this episode we talk with Becky Morrison , author and happiness coach, about untangling the mess of your to do list so you can make intelligent decisions on what to let go of and then make better decisions moving forward. We cover why it's so hard for most...