Building Thinkers: Accessible Blueprints for Learning & Life
By Tracy Clark
Building Thinkers: Accessible Blueprints for Learning & Life Jun 24, 2022
How might we increase flow & and creativity to bring joy to work? with Paula Amiama
In this episode of the Building Thinkers podcast, Tracy interviews Paula Amiama about one of her twelve favorite problems: How might we increase flow & and creativity to bring joy to work?
Over the last decade, Paula worked across marketing, the arts, sustainability, innovation, and education. She’s had stops in start-ups, non-profits, and large corporate organizations.
Currently, Paula leads the global Skilling & Learning agenda at DB Schenker, a large logistics company. Paula’s deep and wide expertise from her self-proclaimed non-linear career path, experiences, and clear life-long learning brought such powerful and unique insights in our conversation.
Tracy and Paula discuss the importance of creating flow and autonomy in work, as well as strategies for shifting perspectives to find flow. They emphasize the need to protect time and set clear agendas to prioritize flow and creativity. The conversation highlights the role of leaders in supporting and prioritizing flow for their teams.
Takeaways
- Embrace non-linear career paths: Explore diverse interests to discover what resonates most deeply with you.
- Prioritize reflection and journaling: Gain clarity on your true desires and motivations for greater focus.
- Protect time for deep work: Schedule uninterrupted blocks for focused, creative activities that energize you.
- Leaders: Foster flow through reflection: Find fulfillment in your role and create a positive work environment by prioritizing deep thinking.
- Flow and autonomy boost motivation: Enhance productivity and job satisfaction by creating space for flow and individual choice in work.
Paula's Recommendations:
Books:
Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Podcasts:
Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin
We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle
School of Embodied Arts with Jenna Ward
Connect with Paula:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulaamiama/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulaamiama/
Substack: https://paulaamiama.substack.com/
How might we create space for mindset shifts in learning experiences? with Lily Higgins
In this episode, Tracy is joined by Lily Higgins, the founder of The Intervention Bureau, a learning experience design consultancy where she partners with agencies and thought-leaders to design signature sessions fueling her crusade against boring, ineffective workshops. They discuss the importance of creating space for mindset shift within learning experiences and the role of facilitation as an act of love. Lily shares insights on the power of play and the concept of life as a game. They also explore her signature “Serendipity Walk” experience. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of experiences and the importance of autonomy and ownership in learning.
Key Takeaways:
Facilitation is an act of love. Facilitators hold space for groups to tap into their collective wisdom and create something greater than the sum of their parts.
Autonomy is crucial for mindset shifts. Learners need to feel ownership over their learning journeys to integrate new ideas and make meaningful changes.
Life is a game, and we can redesign it. Game Thinking helps us see the world as a series of games with rules, roles, goals, time, space, and objects. We can change our behavior and shift systems by tweaking any of these elements. Instead of focusing solely on changing people's mindsets, we can look for ways to redesign the game itself.
Links & Recommendations:
Books:
The Power of Moments by Chip & Dan Heath: https://amzn.to/4cT75MB
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker: https://amzn.to/3UkmpdM
Free Play: Improvisation in Art & Life by Stephen Nachmanovitch: https://amzn.to/3Jjahn0
How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell: https://amzn.to/49UMvc5
Connect with Lily:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-higgins-980519b8/
The Intervention Bureau: www.theinterventionbureau.com
Book a 90-min experience design consultation with Lily: https://calendly.com/lilyhiggins/experience-design-consultation
How might "be where your feet are" become our primary way of being? with Hanna Finissi
In this episode, Tracy and Hannah discuss the importance of being present and intentional in our lives. They explore the impact of conditioned beliefs and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The conversation highlights the need to be fully present in each moment (be where your feet are) and the consequences of not doing so.
They talk about the practice of mindfulness through meditation and how it can lead to a life of peace and fulfillment and they discuss the obstacles to mindfulness, such as fear and the desire for safety and familiarity. They emphasize the importance of taking aligned actions and finding sustainability in growth and action.
Takeaways
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention on purpose in the present moment, non-judgmentally.
Practicing mindfulness through meditation helps to exercise the mindfulness muscle and live a life of peace and fulfillment.
Being fully present in the moment amplifies happiness and reduces ruminations about the past and anxiety about the future.
Taking aligned actions and finding sustainability in growth and action are key to living a fulfilled life.
Hanna’s Recommendations:
Books:
Frequency by Penny Pierce https://amzn.to/4ayHOW8
The Inner Matrix by Joey Klein https://amzn.to/3U1WzLx
The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer https://amzn.to/3TKhZLU
Podcasts
The Expanded Podcast
Where Should We Begin?
The Michael Singer Podcast
Find Hanna:
How might we create space for mindset shift in learning experiences? With T. Mark Meyer
In this episode of Building Thinkers Tracy interviews T. Mark Meyer, author of "The Art of Being Authentic." They dive deep into creating space for powerful mindset shifts that transform your learning and life experiences. They cover the following topics:
- Discovering your purpose: Uncover what truly drives you and learn to express it authentically.
- Confidence vs. self-esteem: Understand the key differences and their impact on your journey.
- Leading with authenticity: Explore how to be a more genuine and impactful leader.
- Redefining success in education: Move beyond traditional measures and create a more meaningful path.
- Staying true to yourself: Learn practical tools to stay aligned with your purpose, even when it's challenging.
This episode is your guide to the ongoing adventure of authenticity. Join the conversation and discover a fresh perspective on connecting with your true self.
For more information, check out the resources T. Mark shared below:
Books
The Art of Being Authentic by T. Mark Meyer https://amzn.to/3PwgPCu
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown https://amzn.to/3Pvze2f
True North by Bill George https://amzn.to/3Pvze2f
Socials
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troelsmarkmeyer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authentictmarkmeyer/
How might we use the power of habit to improve? with Jonathan Butterworth
In this episode, Tracy interviews Jonathan Butterworth about the power of habits and how they can be used to improve various aspects of life.
Jonathan shares his background as an entrepreneur and his experience in building people and teams. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the desired outcomes before implementing habits and making necessary sacrifices.
Jonathan also discusses the balance between hustle and rest, and the need to align goals and habits. He provides insights on maintaining focus in a distracted world and shares his approach to creating content and managing time effectively.
For more information, check out the resources Jonathan shared below:
Books
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius https://amzn.to/495qOoU
Code of the Extraordinary Mind by Vishen Lakhiani https://amzn.to/493YWld
The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgenson https://amzn.to/4cpuQvq
Podcasts
Lex Fridman Podcast https://lexfridman.com/podcast/
The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes https://lewishowes.com/sogpodcast/
Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett https://stevenbartlett.com/the-diary-of-a-ceo-podcast/
Socials
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanbutterworth/
How Might We Truly Put the Learner at the Center of the Learning Conversation? with Chris Skees
In this episode, Tracy Clark interviews Chris Skees, a learning product manager at Cisco Meraki, about putting the learner at the center of the learning conversation. Chris shares his background and journey in the learning and development field, highlighting the importance of understanding personas and meeting learners where they are. He emphasizes the need for learning professionals to talk to learners and gather data to validate assumptions and make informed decisions.
Chris also discusses the importance of measuring learning outcomes and connecting learning initiatives to business goals. He envisions a future where learning is personalized and engaging, leveraging technology to anticipate learner needs and provide targeted support.
In this conversation, Tracy and Chris explore the concept of a product mindset and how it can transform the way L&D professionals approach their work. They also discuss the learner-centered approach of Justin Welsh and the power of listening to learners' needs.
For more information, check out the resources Chris shared below:
Books
Transformed by Marty Cagan https://amzn.to/3TqRxXm
Podcasts
The Learning & Development Podcast: Developing A Digital Mindset With Myles Runham https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/developing-a-digital-mindset-with-myles-runham/id1466927523?i=1000514937966
The L&D Career Club Podcast: How to Become a CLO with David James https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-become-a-clo-with-david-james/id1540650959?i=1000609468785
Courses
Justin Welsh: LinkedIn OS https://learn.justinwelsh.me/linkedin
Socials
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cskees/
How Might We Help Activate Human Potential? with Sandhya Sudhakar
Tracy Clark and Sandhya Sudhakar discuss the importance of knowing oneself at work and how it’s critical to activating human potential. Sandhya shares her personal journey of experiencing burnout and leaving the corporate world to start her own business focused on helping individuals understand their innate potential and make choices that align with their true selves. They discuss the consequences of not knowing oneself at work, the role of self-reflection and the Enneagram in personal growth, and the need for rest and self-care. They also explore how leaders can create systems and structures that support individual differences and foster trust within teams. The conversation explores the importance of building trust and collaboration in teams and embracing our humanity at work.
For more information, check out the resources Sandhya shared below.
Books
Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most -https://amzn.to/3TLBCEq
The First, the Few, the Only: How Women of Color Can Redefine Power in Corporate America- https://amzn.to/43uvxQb
The Essential Enneagram - https://amzn.to/49aEqPU
Discovering Your Personality Type - https://amzn.to/3TkjcJm
Podcasts
Working Your Way https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/working-your-way/id1714936726
https://hbr.org/podcast/2018/02/lead-with-authenticity
Enneagram Resources:
Self At Work Guide: Discovering Your Enneagram Type
Enneagram Online Assessment: https://cpenneagram.com/compass
Socials:
Building AI-Powered Support for Diabetes Care with Shemmy Majewski
Tracy Clark & Shemmy Majewski talk about the inflection point of this moment in time when it comes to AI and Machine Learning and how Shemmy’s own journey with diabetes fuels his passion for harnessing its power to enhance the lives of those living with diabetes.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Shemmy Majewski
Books
Socials
Dlabs.AI - Company Site
Season 2 Trailer: A Season of My 12 Favorite Problems with Tracy Clark
The Building Thinkers Podcast is based on the realization that there is exponential potential and possibility in the things we build:
From websites to mindsets,
From freelancing firms to workout routines,
From leadership programs to checklists,
From that book proposal to the crucial conversation, we keep delaying,
From goals and habits to the soundtracks we play in our minds.
And these things we build have the potential to change our teams, our businesses, our families and in a non-hyperbolic way … really our lives.
But sometimes the insights, research, and application can seem out of reach or overly complex. There’s a lot of noise out there and opinions and even “best practices”
In Season Two of the Building Thinkers Podcast in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 Favorite Problems, these are my constant curiosities, my life’s work, the areas I’m always reading about, researching, and experimenting with in my personal and professional life.
And I want to go deeper, I want to – build thinkers.
I want to focus my attention and curiosity and growth intertwined in these topics. I want to talk with people who share these wonderings, who want to pause and question what they think they know and then also share the things they do actually know. The things they’ve learned... The things they’ve come to think of as If only people knew… in their industry, expertise, or project.
- Join the Learning Agility Cohort
The Building Thinkers Goal Guide
In this episode Tracy Clark steps through The Building Thinkers Goal Guide, a set of vision planning and strategic reflection activities for multi-potentialites.
Download the FREE Goal Guide Here - https://courses.buildingthinkers.com/goalguide
Looking for more support to make progress on your Big Idea? Learn more about The Learning Agility Cohort Here - https://courses.buildingthinkers.com/learningagility
Building Results Driven Leaders with Vaughn Sigmon
In this episode, Tracy interviews Vaughn Sigmon, a corporate executive turned entrepreneur and founder of Results Driven Leadership. From his executive role at Carmax leading a team of over 3,000, to his entrepreneurial role as the founder of Results Driven Leadership, Vaughn shares his insights and strategies on a wide range of topics including leadership, giving feedback, time management, and maintaining consistency.
They discuss the importance of being people-first in leadership and how successful companies prioritize their employees. Vaughn emphasizes the need for investing in employee development and providing regular feedback.
The conversation highlights the significance of building relationships with employees and aligning individual and organizational goals. They delve into the challenges of delegation and the power of consistency in achieving success. In this conversation, Tracy and Vaughn discuss the importance of consistency and growth in the creative and business world. They also explore the challenges of perfectionism and fear of criticism.
Takeaways:
Being people-first is a core value of successful companies, and leaders should prioritize the growth and development of their employees.
Investing in employee development and providing regular feedback are essential for fostering a learning culture within an organization.
Building relationships with employees and aligning individual and organizational goals are key to creating a motivated and engaged workforce.
Delegation can be challenging, but it is necessary for effective leadership and time management.
Consistency is crucial in achieving success and reaching long-term goals.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Vaughn Sigmon
Books
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together & Others Don’t | By Simon Sinek
How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In | By Jim Collins
The Game of Work: How to Enjoy Work as Much as Play | By Charles Conradt
Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead & Win | By Joko Willink & Leif Babin
Podcasts
The Business Mechanic Show - Vaughn’s Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/6NORvnwVVDwNamA6jp9tWM
Socials
Vaughn Sigmon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaughnsigmon/
Vaughn Sigmon’s Website - Results Driven Leadership - https://rdltraining.com/
My 12 Favorite Problems with Tracy Clark
In this episode, Tracy Clark explores the idea of holding a dozen of your favorite problems in mind and why it is a powerful reflection exercise. We talk about multipotentialites and how this activity can help us get more clear about what matters to us, even when there are lots of possibilities on the table. We dig into the question, what is the work we want to be doing? We also consider how the 12 Favorite Problems reflection activity can be a helpful filter for what we say yes and no to.
FREE Downloadable Template - My 12 Favorite Problems https://courses.buildingthinkers.com/pl/2148005479
Tracy answers the questions:
- What is this idea of holding a dozen of your favorite problems in mind?
- Why does this idea matter?
- How can you identify your 12 Favorite Problems?
Episode Resources: Recommendations from Tracy Clark
Books
- Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t - By Jim Collins - see the Hedgehog concept portion specifically
Socials
FREE Downloadable Template - My 12 Favorite Problems - https://courses.buildingthinkers.com/pl/2148005479
Building Organized Spaces with Kerry Ann Pearce
Tracy Clark & Kerry Ann Pearce talk all about building organized spaces and entrepreneurship. Kerry Ann shares her journey from the Bahamas to Buda, Texas where she launched and now runs her professional organizing services company, Luxxe Organizing. We talk about some of the reasons why people end up with too much stuff and too little space and how she approaches helping others decrease the stress of STUFF.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Kerry Ann Pearce
Organizing Recommendations: Please note these are Kerry Ann's affiliate Links below.
Velvet hangers- https://amzn.to/3SlHEvc
Pantry Storage bins- https://amzn.to/3QBrCw2
Over door organizers- https://amzn.to/40gmKQ2
Lazy susan- https://amzn.to/3QCEMbT
Closet storage bins- https://amzn.to/3QlvqQN
Glass food storage containers- https://amzn.to/49hZepO
BPA Free Plastic food storage containers- https://amzn.to/3SiUJ8w
Decorative baskets- https://amzn.to/40ic03G
Expandable shelves- https://amzn.to/3sf2DVP
Socials:
Kerry Ann’s Website - https://luxxeorganizing.com/our-services/
Kerry Ann on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/luxxeorganizing/
Kerry Ann on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Luxxe-Organizing/100071504570900/
And for any of our local Hays County listeners looking to get organized share the code #buildingthinkers when you reach out to Kerry Ann (infoATluxxeorganizing.com) for a special discount on your organizing project
Building Experiential Learning & Living with Romy Alexandra
Tracy Clark & Romy Alexandra explore experiential learning and jump into the deep end of the duality of learning and development work. In this episode, Romy shares opportunities she sees to bring more humanity into the learning space. We talked about the power of the rules of open space not only for learning experience design but also as a handy mental reframing tool she applies to her life. Romy shares how those involved in learning experience design can love our participants more than our design and what it looks like for that to play out in real-time ways in our sessions.
For more foundational information on what experiential learning design is, check out the resources Romy shared below.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Romy Alexandra
Books
Socials & Learning Links
Romy Alexandra on LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/romy-alexandra/
Learn with Romy - join her course Facilitation Finesse - https://maven.com/scaling-intimacy/facilitation-finesse
Learn with Romy - join her course with the Institute for Experiential Learning, “Facilitating Experiential Learning Online” - https://experientiallearninginstitute.org/programs-workplace-training-experiential-learning-theory-kolb-experiential-learning/programs-and-courses/facilitating-experiential-learning-online/
- Demystifying Experiential Learning with Romy Alexandra on the Workshops Work Podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqO2KxLxK8U
Building Customer Education Experiences with Jordan Hopkins
Tracy Clark & Jordan Hopkins talk all things customer education - including how to build customer education experiences that support informed, happy customers and better business outcomes. We talked about the power of simplicity in learning experience design and why less is almost always more. Jordan shares his take on how engagement isn’t always loud or overt and lessons he’s learned from traditional education, internal L&D work and customer education at Intellum.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Jordan Hopkins:
Books
Building Expertise: Cognitive Methods for Training & Performance Improvement | by Ruth Colvin Clark
eLearning and the Science of Instruction | by Richard Mayer and Ruth Colvin Clark
Map It: The hands-on guide to strategic training design | By Cathy Moore
Podcasts
Socials
Building Learning Agility
In this episode, Tracy Clark explores the idea of learning agility and why it is the ultimate competitive advantage for modern work and life.
Tracy answers the questions:
- What is learning agility?
- Why does learning agility matter?
- How might we begin to develop learning agility? Including three practical ideas for getting started with your own learning agility development.
Tracy shares how reflecting on her own learning story helped her recognize the power of this concept and its direct impact on her personal and professional growth.
Books
The Power of Habit: Why we do what we do in life and business | By Charles Duhigg
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less | By Greg McKeown
Limitless Mind: Learn, Lead & Live without Barriers | By Jo Boaler
Socials
All the Building Thinkers socials and such - https://linktr.ee/buildingthinkers
Build Your Thinker - https://courses.buildingthinkers.com/newsletter
Building Clarity & Motivation to Learn with Kristiaan Hartmann
Tracy Clark & Kristiaan Hartmann talk about building clarity and motivation to learn. Kristiaan spoke to his own challenge in making decisions at important crossroads in life and how he learned to trust his intuition take action and change course when necessary as he went from snowboard instructor at 17 to people manager to lecturer and entrepreneur.
Kristiaan shared how he and his co-founder at Prototype You use best practices from lean, agile, design thinking and behavioral design to help professionals get from inspiration to action. We talked about the power of a posture of experimentation and a bit about Kristiaan’s current business prototype where he is putting into practice the same methods he teaches to others to help entrepreneurs take meaningful action within a structure of trusted and supportive accountability.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Kristiaan Hartmann
Books
Socials
Building a Life of Adventure & Continuous Personal Growth with Alexia Raven
Tracy Clark & Alexia Raven talk about building a life of continuous adventure and personal growth. Alexia shares her mindsets and practices for making ongoing progress towards her goals personally and professionally.
Alexia gives a mini-master class on marriage and shares her potentially controversial viewpoint that marriage is “easy”. We talk through what prompted Alexia to move from Hollywood to the Hill Country and start her own company, Maverix Insights and Strategy, after over two decades of corporate work in the qualitative research space, including at the top executive levels as Vice President of Warner Brothers Discovery Global Research & Insights Group, and roles at iHeart Radio, Lin Television and FOX Broadcast Network.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Alexia Raven
Books
Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces that Shape Behavior | By Jonah Berger | I am fascinated by society & culture and why people make the decisions they do. Jonah Berger writes that we are all influenced by others and most of the time this is subconscious - we don’t even realize it.
The Millionaire Next Door | By Thomas Stanley & William Danko | I read this many many years ago, but it really changed my perception with money and how to manage it. Such a great resource.
Braving The Wilderness | By Brene Brown |At Warner Bros. we had the privilege of having Brene come speak to the studio. After that, I read her book and it gave me some real-world tips I use in my everyday life. What is the story I’m telling myself? I use that a ton!
Socials
Alexia Raven on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexia-raven-87b19b5/
Alexia's company website - Maverixinsights.com
Building Visual Thinking Practices with Manuel S. Herrera
Tracy Clark & Manuel S. Herrera talk about the power of drawing to make thinking visible. Manuel shares about creativity, art, visual literacy and why we sometimes may put our creative practices aside for a period of time. Manuel reflects on his career in education and edtech and the new opportunities opening up through his own illustrations and creative practices. We also talked about how Manuel learned how to illustrate children’s books and more about how several of his upcoming collaborations and projects came to fruition.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Manuel S. Herrera
Books
Podcasts
Socials
You can Manuel on Instagram & Twitter at @manuelherrera33
Building Courage from Within with Amanda Parker
Tracy Clark & Amanda Parker talk about building courage from within. With a remarkable career journey from NYC marketing to working with jaguars in Panama for the World Wildlife Fund and for clients such as the World Economic Forum, World Bank, Unicef, and General Assembly - Amanda’s experience in organizational and individual transformation shines throughout our conversation as she shares her insights and challenges us to consider what might be on the other side of that resistance we feel and leads us to a place where we find the courage to take the next right step forward. If you are ready to get unstuck and consider what courage looks like in your own life, take a listen and let me know what you think.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Amanda Parker
Books
- The War of Art | by Steven Pressfield
- The Untethered Soul | by Michael A. Singer
- You Are a Badass |by Jen Sincero
- Living a Committed Life |by Lynne Twist
Podcasts
- Podcast Episode - Marie Forleo interviewing Lynne Twist
- How to Live by Sharad Lal All about how to live a good life.
- Chris Do and The Futur For any entrepreneurs, especially in creative fields, who want to build a great business and life - simple, pragmatic, easy-to-follow, and creative advice.
Socials & More
- Free Gift for Building Thinkers Listeners - Habit Hero! - www.amandaparker.co/thinkers
- Amanda’s Personal Transformation Work - www.amandaparker.co
- The Courage Factory for Leaders & Organizations - www.couragefactory.com
- Amanda on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amandaparker.co/
- Amanda on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandamparker/
For more from Tracy Clark & Building Thinkers check out https://linktr.ee/buildingthinkers
Building Collective Impact with Anna Brewster
Tracy Clark & Anna Brewster talk about building teams for collective impact and evidence-based health policy. We analyzed why there is such a gap between what we know (research) and what we do (practice) across many fields and what strategies make an impact. If information doesn't change behavior, what does?
Anna shares her journey from management consulting at Deloitte to cancer prevention work at MD Anderson and her recent career transition to local government policy. Anna received her masters in public health from Harvard University and is passionate about seeing the impact of government health policy in action. It was such a treat to talk with my longtime friend and hear about the incredible impact of her work in public health.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Anna Brewster
Books
Podcasts
Socials
Building a Better Way to Manage Stress with Stephanie Simpson
Tracy Clark and Stephanie Simpson talk about conscious leadership and becoming more “human” at work. At a time when change is happening at an exponential pace, having the tools to navigate ambiguity and adversity is vital. Stephanie shares how her unique experience in the performing arts and arts education comes into play as she coaches clients and teams to nurture the connection between mind, body, and spirit.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Stephanie Simpson
Books
Podcasts
Socials
Building Ecosystems for Never Ending Learning with Toby Newman
Tracy Clark & Toby Newman explore strategies for building seamless learning ecosystems that minimize friction between learners and the learning process. Discover how this approach fosters adult learner agency and unlocks limitless learning potential. Toby shares his insights on the intersection of AI and Learning Technology, the potential for improving our learning ecosystems, and the power of being a generalist in learning and development.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Toby Newman
Books
Socials
Community
Building Consciousness with Tony Wang
Join Tracy Clark and Tony Wang as Tony shares his personal transformation stories and insights into how to overcome common obstacles on the path to self-discovery. In this episode, you'll hear Tony's perspective on what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to making an introspective change and clearing unwanted thoughts and emotions. From navigating difficult emotions to breaking free from limiting beliefs, you'll explore potential ways of thinking that could inspire working towards breakthroughs in your own life.
And, in a lighthearted segment, Tony also shares some of his other favorite things, including a chili oil that he claims is better than sriracha and extra well-done fries from In N Out.
*This podcast is not intended to provide medical or mental health advice. The opinions and experiences of our guests are their own. Tony discusses his experiences with plant medicine and how it played a role in his emotional breakthrough. We encourage you to consult with your physician before exploring any new forms of therapy and healing.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Tony Wang
Books
Other Recommendations
Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil (better than sriracha)
Extra well-done fries In N Out
Socials
Building Effective Communication Skills Across Cultures with Paola Pascual
In this episode of the Building Thinkers Podcast, host Tracy Clark is joined by cross-cultural communication expert Paola Pascual, who shares her insights on effective communication across cultures and languages.
Listeners will learn about key mindset shifts and self-awareness techniques that can help non-native English speakers feel more confident in their communication skills and even access more of their full selves in their non-native language. Paola also highlights the positive impact that a vibrant multicultural community can have on work and innovation efforts and what native English speakers can do to decrease linguistic bias in conversations and collaboration.
Throughout the episode, Paola draws from her own experiences and her current role at Talaera working with individuals and organizations across cultures, providing practical advice and strategies for improving cross-cultural communication.
Whether you are a non-native English speaker seeking to improve your communication skills or a professional working in a multicultural environment, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable tips for building effective communication skills across cultures.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Paola Pascual
Upcoming Free Webinar! Working Across Cultures (link goes to registration page)
Talaera - Business English Training for Global Teams https://www.talaera.com/
Books
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard | by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness | by Richard H. Thaler
Socials
Building a Career in Real Estate with Amanda Rickman
Tracy Clark & Amanda Rickman talk about how Amanda transitioned from owning a local cake shop to building a real estate business and team. Amanda shares her perspective on what’s happening in the current housing market, how she thinks about building a real estate investment portfolio, and when to delegate in your business. We also talked about the inspiration that drives her community giving and involvement.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Amanda Rickman
Books
Podcasts
Socials
Building & Nurturing Communities of Practice with Anamaria Dorgo
Join Tracy Clark and Anamaria Dorgo in a compelling conversation on the critical factors that contribute to building a thriving community of practice. In this podcast episode, Anamaria shares valuable insights on how purpose and values play a vital role in narrowing the gap between community vision and reality.
Discover the secrets to building a sustainable community that benefits both individuals and organizations. Anamaria challenges community builders and leaders to adopt a co-creation approach anchored in human-centered design. By consistently tending to the norms and contributions of the community, you can foster an environment where growth and innovation flourish.
Are you ready to take your community-building skills to the next level? Then, tune in and learn from the incredible communities of practice thought leader, Anamaria Dorgo!
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Anamaria
Books
- How We Learn: Why Brains Learn Better Than Any Machine ... for Now | by Stanislas Dehaene
- Creative Confidence | By Tom and David Kelley
- The Art of Gathering | By Priya Parker
Podcasts
- Creative Confidence Podcast | By IdeoU
- Workshops Work | By Myriam Hadnes
- Learning Uncut | By Michelle Ockers
Learning
- Any course by KAOSPILOT on Learning Experience Design, Experience Design and Leadership Presence
- Leading Groups Online, Offline and Hybrid from Mischief Makers (facilitation)
- Tate Modern Museum Youtube Channel is the most inspiring resource I’ve found recently.
Socials & More
Building a Fitness Lifestyle with Daniel Raz
Tracy Clark & Daniel Raz talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to fitness and health goals. Daniel shares the small shifts that can make a big impact on our health and confidence and how he helps his clients make lasting changes.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Daniel Raz
Socials
Building an Authentic Career with Tina Chessher
Tina Chessher and Tracy Clark talk about transitioning to a career that aligns with your strengths while leaving room for growth. Tina shares her learnings from her own transition from childcare work to the financial and insurance services industry and what she learned along the way. Tina unpacks how she leads with authenticity and connection and the learning mindset she brings to her career.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Tina
- The Bible
- Modern Appointment Setting: Prospecting and Phoning for Financial Professionals | Gail B. Goodman
Socials
Building Effective School Boards with AJ Crabill
AJ Crabill and Tracy Clark talk about how to build effective school boards and what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to school governance. AJ shares his perspective on what school boards' singular vision and purpose should be and why so many have veered from this direction. AJ shares what he learned from his experience in several remarkable school district turnarounds and his time in state-level education leadership regarding the continuous improvement cycle. AJ previews his upcoming book - launching in March of 2023 - Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Be Effective.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from AJ Crabill
- Great on Their Behalf: Why School Boards Fail, How Yours Can Be Effective | By AJ Crabill - Coming to Amazon in Spring 2023
- Leadership & Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box | By The Arbinger Institute
Socials
Building on the Bottom-Line Benefits of Play at Work with Kirsten Anderson
Tracy Clark & Kirsten Anderson talk about the power of play and why Kirsten sees play as the antidote to fear. Kirsten explains why play and productivity should not be at odds with one another and identifies the bottom-line benefits of play at work. Kirsten shares how the lessons from her imaginative, thriving toy store days inspired her to help more adults solve sticky challenges through the power of play at work.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Kirsten Anderson
Books
- Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul | by Dr. Stuart Brown
- Playful Rebellion: Maximize Workplace Success Through the Power of Play | by Gary Ware
- The Fun Habit: How the Pursuit of Joy and Wonder Can Change Your life | by Mike Rucker, PhD
Podcasts
- Hidden Brain
- Using Play to Rewire Your Brain & Improve Your Brain | Huberman Lab
- Sir Ken Robinson Ted Talk | Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Courses
Socials
- Kirsten on Instagram (@ KirstenPlaying )
- Kirsten on TikTok (@ KirstenPlaying)
- Kirsten on LinkedIn
Building Leaders in the Navy with Jason Fite
Tracy Clark & Jason Fite talk about what leadership skill development looks like in the military. Jason explains why he reads biographies rather than traditional leadership books and why indecision is the Achilles heel of leadership. Jason shares how understanding your own strengths and weaknesses is foundational to any leadership position and about his upcoming role as a new commander of a naval warship.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Jason Fite
Books
- John Adams | by David McCullough (Lesson: Country over self)
- Team of Rivals| by Doris K. Goodwin (Lesson: Team over self)
- The Hunt for Vulcan | by Thomas Levenson (Lesson: We can continually “rediscover” something that’s not there. Our worldview affects how we “discover” the natural world.)
- The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War | by Joanne Freeman (Lesson: Civil War results from an irreparable breakdown in the body politics’ ability to compromise)
Socials
Building People-First Leadership Practices with Kara Kirby
Tracy Clark & Kara Kirby talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to building leadership skills and people-first practices. Kara shares about her experiences in top rated organizational cultures and how she took the leap to build her own service business, growing people-first companies across the globe. Oh, and if you are a Ted Lasso fan you’re in for an extra treat.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Kara Kirby
Books
- Heart of Business | By Hubert Joly
- Don’t Overthink it | By Anne Bogel
- Outward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves | By The Arbinger Institute
- Culture Renovation | By Kevin Oakes
- Actualized Leadership | By William L. Sparks
- Quiet Leadership | By David Rock
- If You Want To Write | By Brenda Ueland
- Don’t Overthink It | By Anne Bogel
Coach Beard's Booklist via Kara Kirby
· Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake
· Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
· About a Boy by Nick Hornby
· Football Against the Enemy by Simon Kuper
· Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics by Jonathan Wilson
· Coaching Soccer for Dummies by Greg Bach
· The Greatest: The Quest for Sporting Perfection by Matthew Syed
Socials
Building Operational Rigor with Gillian Calley
Tracy Clark & Gillian Calley talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to making structures to help make impactful projects possible. Gillian shares her pathway from office administrator to chief of staff and how being a “non-traditional” college student helped develop skills and mindsets she carries with her today. Gillian and Tracy talk about the power of communication in an organization and the connections between relationships, psychological safety, and effective operations.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Gillian Calley
Books
- The Nightingale | by Kristin Hannah
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- Colleen Hoover and Elin Hilderbrand
Podcasts
Socials
The Building Thinkers Story with Tracy Clark - interviewed by Greg Garner
In this special episode the roles are reversed as Greg Garner interviews Tracy Clark about her story and what ignited her desire to unleash human potential. Tracy and Greg talk about the core principles that ground the work she does with clients, the twists and turns of her career path and how her own insatiable desire for positive impact drives a sense of purpose and the action oriented collaboration signature to her learning strategy services.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Tracy Clark
Books
Socials
Building Personal Financial Literacy for High Achieving Women with Eryn Schultz
Tracy Clark and Eryn Schultz talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to personal finance in Eryn's niche, helping high earning women with graduate degrees. Eryn takes her incredible depth of knowledge from her days of management consulting at Accenture, Harvard Business School MBA, and corporate leadership roles and she combines it with a humble and accessible heart of an educator in the courses she designs and leads. Her work has been featured on NPR, CNBC, at Harvard Business School, and Real Simple.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Eryn Schultz
Books
- The Simple Path to Wealth | by JL Collins
- LBJ Series | by Robert A. Caro
- Your Money or Your Life | by Vicki Robin
Podcasts
Socials & More
- Eryn Schultz on LinkedIn
- Her Personal Finance on Instagram
- Eryn's 10 Week Money Bootcamp | Listeners can use the discount code Friendswithmoney for 10% off!
Building Innovative Products & Securing Patents with Alex McFadyen
Tracy Clark & Alex McFadyen talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to developing a new product and the process of securing a patent. Alex shares his unique approach to developing, what he likes to call "assets", and building a business to the point of passing it off for someone else to run. So, what should you do with your "big" idea? Alex shares his thoughts on how to start, equity tips, and some of the first questions VCs have in mind during that first pitch.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Alex McFadyen
Books
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less | By Greg McKeown
- How to Win Friends & Influence People | By Dale Carnegie
- Patent it Yourself (19th Edition) | by David Pressman & David E. Blau
Socials
Building Up People: Seeing & Sharing the Power of Human Potential with Greg Garner
Tracy Clark & Greg Garner talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to developing and leading others and what he is learning in his role as a learning and performance specialist at a pharmaceutical research company. Greg shares about his doctoral work at the intersection of education, psychology and design and challenges us to think about productivity in new ways.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Greg Garner
Books
- Lateral Thinking | by Edward De Bono
- Pedagogy of the Oppressed | By Paulo Freire
- The Art of Gathering | by Priya Parker
- Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice that Shapes What We See, Think, and Do | by Jennifer L. Eberhardt
Socials
- Greg Garner on Twitter
- Greg Garner on LinkedIn
- Greg Garner on Instagram (for his golf fans)
Building Simplicity in Strategy with Moss Pike
Tracy Clark & Moss Pike talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to strategy. Moss shares about developing a managed services product and the questions he and his company are thinking about at this moment in time like: What is the purpose of our office space now? How do we have non-transactional conversations?
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Moss Pike
Books
- Good Strategy Bad Strategy | by Richard Rumelt
- Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph | by Jan Swafford
- Every Good Boy Does Fine | by Jeremy Denk
- Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World | by Barry Lopez
- Big Feelings | by Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy | also their newsletter
Socials
Building Entrepreneurial Confidence with Kimberly Borges
Tracy Clark & Kimberly Borges talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to building an apparel brand, manufacturing products, and going from vision to action as an entrepreneur. Kimberly shares about the women entrepreneurs in her family and how she is currently working to make PWR WMN, her apparel brand, more inclusive and empowering.
Episode Resources - Recommendations from Kimberly Borges
- Book - Breakthrough Advertising | Eugene M. Schwartz
- Podcast - How I Built This| Guy Raz
Socials
- Kimberly’s company PWR WMN | Use the code BUILDINGPWRWMN for 10% off for a limited time!
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PWRWMN1/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pwr_wmn/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pwrwmnkimberlyborges/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pwr_wmn
Building Connection & Contentment with Ali Goljahmofrad
Tracy Clark & Ali Goljahmofrad talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to building connection and contentment. Ali shares how to intentionally re-think happy-whenitis, accept and value our own humanity, including our imperfections, and be present witnesses to joy.
Episode Resources
- The Golden Connection | Ali Goljahmofrad
- We’re All A Bunch of Broken Crayons | TEDxSanAntonio
- The Epidemic You’ve Never Heard Of | TEDxIdahoFalls
Books
- When Breath Becomes Air | Paul Kalanithi
- The Letter: My Journey Through Love, Loss, and Life | Marie Tillman
- My First Coach: Inspiring Stories of NFL Quarterbacks and Their Dads | Gary Myers
Podcasts
Ali implores listeners to explore a wide range of content, including things that are from other arenas or perspectives that differ from your own. And with that in mind he shared his picks:
- Chasing Excellence | Ben Bergeron & Patrick Cummings
- The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Socials
- Twitter: @aligoljahmofrad
- Instagram: @aligoljahmofrad
Building Instructional Design Support for Teachers with Alton Riggins
Tracy Clark & Alton Riggins talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to supporting teachers and building learning experiences for all students. Alton tells us how he supports teachers as they try new things and he makes an intention to launch his own internet presence – get ready for a YouTube channel and TED Talk by Alton in the future.
Episode Resources
Books
- Pedagogy, Policy and the Privatized City| Kristen L. Buras
- Worth Striking For: Why Education Policy Is Every Teacher's Concern | Isabel Nuñez, Gregory Michie, Pamela Konkol
- The Autobiography of Red | Anne Carson
Favorite Ed-Tech Tools (because he isn’t into podcasts yet)
Socials
Twitter: @AltonSocrates
LinkedIn: Alton Riggins
Building Memorable Customer Service Experiences with Katie Conley
Tracy Clark & Katie Conley talk about what people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to building memorable customer experiences. Katie tells us why companies shouldn’t be afraid to make a mistake in the customer service experience and why nothing is too small to celebrate.
Episode Resources
Books
- The Defined Dish Cookbooks | Defined Dish | The Comfortable Kitchen, Alex Snodgrass
- The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact, Chip Heath & Dan Heath
- The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right, Atul Gawande
Podcasts
Companies
Building Sticky Learning Experiences with Davis Staedtler
Tracy Clark & Davis Staedtler talk about three things people tend to overcomplicate when it comes to building learning experiences. When it comes to designing learning experiences, strike the right balance between being timely and timeless.
Episode Resources
Books
- Just Listen
- Acoustic Leadership
- The Ten Faces of Innovation (especially chapter on story telling)
- Unwinding Anxiety
Podcasts
Season 1: Building Thinkers Trailer
In this trailer Tracy Clark shares what the Building Thinkers podcast is all about and why she decided to explore the world of podcasting as a way to continue her own learning and create accessible blueprints on a range of topics (business, education, organization, building habits, therapy, finances, research, and learning science to name a few).