The Skill Set

In this episode, Cheryl shares a memorable story from her past that highlights unexpected twists and enduring reflections. Join Cheryl for a compelling conversation that touches on vulnerability, beauty, and the lasting impact of a single moment. The Skill Set is an Imagine a Place Production Connect with The Skill Set: Follow The Skill Set on Instagram Follow The Skill Set on LinkedIn For more in...

Cheryl Durst’s latest conversation is with Solomon Renfro, a talented sneaker designer at New Balance, who shares his unique journey from studying interior architecture to becoming a footwear visionary. Solomon and Cheryl dig into the psychology behind fashion choices and the cultural significance of sneakers. With keen observations on trends, human behavior, and the art of design, Solomon offers...

In this special episode host Cheryl Durst and executive producer Adriana Morton listen to voicemails left by attendees for Cheryl during NeoCon 2023 in the OFS showroom. Cheryl answers questions on topics like staying inspired as a designer, the future of the workplace, and the difference between interior design and interior architecture. Tune in to hear Cheryl's in-depth responses these questions...

An Olympian, a writer, a public speaker — Winter Vinecki has done it all. From a very early age, she has been in constant motion, pushing herself to be the best she can be and pursuing life’s next challenge. In addition to competing all over the world, she somehow manages to find the time to advocate and share her father’s legacy. Listen to Cheryl as she discusses Winter's perfectly appropriate na...

Why are we as humans so fascinated by true crime and programs like “Criminal Minds” and “Mindhunter,”? Complex criminal behavior and understanding the “why” and the “who” behind violent crime, led me to an intriguing opportunity to talk with former FBI criminal profiler Mark Safarik. Now the president of his own behavioral science consulting firm, Mark has had a unique career with over 30 years of...

People, paperwork and polar bears — Nicki Boyd’s career revolves around these three things and much more. As the curator of applied behavior at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, she is responsible for educating and advocating for the animals and programs under her care. In this conversation, we discuss the characteristics of “the modern zoo” as well as what it means to build trust and be a stewar...

What happens when your ability to live your life is questioned? When simply to authentically exist in places where other’s limited imaginations won’t allow the reality of “you”? Welcome aboard a Skill Set Vignette that details an ordinary business trip that required extraordinary grace, calm and sense of self. Join me for “Seat 6A, Traveling While Black”. The Skill Set is an Imagine a Place Produc...

In many ways, Pierre Jean Gonzalez surpasses expectations, and has done so his entire life. From beating the odds of his social circumstances to coming out as queer amidst prejudice to eventually appearing as the acclaimed Alexander Hamilton in the national touring company of the renowned musical, “ Hamilton ”, Pierre is truly non-stop. Tune in to hear our discussion on being a change-maker and th...

I am so honored to have had the opportunity to talk with Rebecca Walker and learn from her directly about her experience as a writer, feminist, and activist as well as the influence her parents had on her love of art, craft, and memorializing a life well-lived. In this poetic conversation, Rebecca Walker invites us to lean into beauty and to help empower others to use their voice to instigate chan...

I am joined once again by my producers, Adriana and Doug, to talk about “stuff” — the skills, experiences, memories and more accumulated over our lifetimes that give us purpose and mold us into who we are. The Skill Set is an Imagine a Place Production Connect with The Skill Set: Follow The Skill Set on Instagram Follow The Skill Set on LinkedIn

I’m honored and proud to call Llisa Demetrios — grandaughter of influential designers Ray and Charles Eames — a friend and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to learn more about her upbringing and how having access to such iconic industry changemakers impacted her experience and shaped her unique skill set. In this conversation, we discuss the skill of legacy-keeping as well the importa...

In this short episode, which I like to call a "slice of life," I share a very personal story from my childhood that shaped who I am today and informed both my dignity and my defiance. The Skill Set is an Imagine a Place Production Connect with The Skill Set: Follow The Skill Set on Instagram Follow The Skill Set on LinkedIn For more information on this episode, visit our webpage!

The Skill Set Studio: Bucket List My producers Doug and Adriana join me for a special episode in which I share my learnings from a recent keynote speaker and dive deep into bucket lists and their connection to our skill sets.  The Skill Set is an Imagine a Place Production Connect with The Skill Set: Follow The Skill Set on Instagram Follow The Skill Set on LinkedIn  

Storytelling: The Skill of Creativity, Self-Assuredness and Peacemaking J.D. Netto is what I would describe as a multiplicity of beautiful things — he is a best-selling author, artist, entrepreneur and so much more. J.D. firmly believes that art releases us to our destinies and he has used this admirable ideal to connect with those who may feel like misfits or outsiders as well as to discover and...

Tattoo Artistry: The Skill of Purpose, Precision, and Expression Steph Tamez is more than just a tattoo artist — they are an anthropologist, historian and expressionist using the art of tattooing to bring culture to skin and help people tell their story. Through this unique art form, Steph has earned a vulnerable sense of trust with their clients through a technique that is both marvelous and meth...

Connection: The Skill of Preparedness and Reading the Room As Director of Strategic Sales for IIDA, Tracey Thomas’ career is built on connections—whether with customers or peers or even just her personal relationships, she uses her intentionality and acute emotional intelligence to make people comfortable without compromising herself. She has mastered the art of observing subtlety while also teach...

Dr. Manny Hernandez and Dr. Colleen Mullen each seek to diagnose need and provide excellent healthcare, to their patients.  As physicians and care providers—Colleen as veterinarian and Manny as a healthcare design consultant and ER physician—they both exercise an abiding sense of awareness of and relentless passion for meeting  the physical and emotional needs of their patients. Through a warm and...

In celebration of National Back To School Month, I host third grade teacher and summer-camp innovator, Juan Edgar Gonzalez Jr .  With an almost-evangelical commitment to building lifelong learners, he shows us how authenticity and the practice of honoring others where they are could be the most important skills to develop as leaders and mentors. In this episode, we discover the gift of enthusiasm...

A modern-day Hercules, air traffic controller, Navy veteran, and world record holder, Mike McCastle seems to exist at the convergence of concentration and clarity. Although incredibly authentic and down-to-earth, he demonstrates superhuman strength when it comes to his capacity to tune out the noise and keep all the balls in the air. This month, I dive deep into Mike's strong sense of purpose that...

At first glance, Dr. David Langer and Allison Asarch have very little in common—David is a neurosurgeon and Allison is an aspiring country music star. But through a thoughtful discussion about what skills are necessary to be successful in each of their careers, I uncovered a unique quality they share: an aura of calmness that makes them popular with both patients and fans alike.  In this month's e...

What are the skills that inform your work, your life, your direction? Call them street smarts, emotional intelligence, soft skills, or pure grit: beyond the degrees, certifications, and resume items lies a different — perhaps more important — world of abilities. These are the skills that truly make us good at what we do, and offer clues to who we are and where we might be headed. Host Cheryl S. Du...