The Entrepreneur Playground

This is a DO NOT MISS episode!! Rudi and Jules are two highly respected coaches in the coaching world. They have a facilitator training, a six figure coaching business, and have written a book together titled, Wholality. Rudi and Jules explain throughout this conversation how they recognize when it's time to change. Even with a successful business it was time to change their course and to follow the inspiration that has come from their heart. They are both so beautifully articulate in this conversation you will just fall in love with them both. I have learned so much from these two individuals and am so grateful for their wisdom and knowledge. 

Top Topics:

We shouldn't really live to work, we should work to live. Work should be secondary to the being playful in life. Life isn't an existence it's about actually being alive. 

It's important that people just know it is possible to unshackle yourself from the chains of conditioned working. It may take a while, but anyone has the capacity if they follow their intuitive urge within themselves not to be put off with your head. You head will always go for the safe bet. Sometimes you have to go for the unsafe bet.

You have to be able to cope with the insecurity and "not knowingness" until that gets birthed into a form that supports you financially. If you can't handle that you will always keep doing what you have always done and get what you've always got. You have to take a risk! 

Do you want to risk being dead while being alive or do you want to risk the aliveness of being alive? You have to go within. 

What did the inaction cost you? What did it cost you to not do something? 

Your business should expand you not contract you. Think of what inspires you what you are passionate about. Get quiet within yourself. How could I turn this into money? How could I turn this into business? Unless you monetize your joy you're likely going to be doing something that doesn't bring you joy to make money. 

There is work to be done. If you are working on your joy it isn't really work it is something you love doing. 

What is the funnest thing I could do to make money? 

Knowing without knowing how you know

What we found really helpful for people isn't to give them spiritual/psychological concepts of what to do and how to do. It is pointing them bak within to that which is already known. Going back to that innate gift that everyone has. It is more of the question of reduction of mental noise "unconditioning" the mind. 

Freedom isn't in escaping the conditions. It is just seeing we are unconditionally free within our own perceived shackles. 

Anyone listening I know you have this spark. I know you do. This inspiration inside of it. If you want to ignite it commune with it. Speak to it in the silence. Know that every time you open your eyes in the morning you never know what's going to happen. You never know moment to moment what's going to happen. That spark is your always known. You hold on to that spark and you move forward. You have it inside of you. Don't let anyone talk it out of you. Especially you. You're your own worst critic. 

There's this deeper knowing. There's a cost of inaction. If you trust. This trust turns into confidence. 

Rudi shares a beautiful analogy of the difference between motivation and inspiration. 

There is a bigger power behind life living through you. 

Everyone single of one you have every single thing you need within you. The greatest treasure you can unbury is the treasure of yourself.

Find Rudi and Jules book, Wholality 

https://www.amazon.com/WholalityTM-Julianne-Del-Cano-Kennard-ebook/dp/B092LC1PBM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=wholality+the+missing+link+to+love&qid=1661464855&sprefix=wholality+%2Caps%2C262&sr=8-1

Today's episode is an incredible story about a powerful woman who does not let anything get in her way. Julia Panchkowry is the Banana Warrior. She is the CEO of the Banana Warrior Cafe, which is a vegan cafe located in Bangkok, Thailand. She shares her story throughout the episode of how she started a cafe in an international country during the pandemic. She also has begun her business coaching journey and is working clients through this. She has such an incredible presence and you will love to her what she has to say. 

We go deep into emotions, falling in love with business, and sharing about stories we have told ourselves. Some of these revolve around avoiding blaming outside circumstances, money mindset, authenticity, and play. 

Top Topics : 

"Take emotions out of it. Emotions are great to acknowledge that they are there, but also don't let them be part of your business decision making. They are not always a valid indicator of what is actually going on." 

"I truly believe that everything I have done before this point was preparing me for my business." 

"That's why my outfits are really important to me. It actually gives me energy. It makes me want to do business. I feel more professional. It's like power dressing. The way I feel when I wake up isn't the way I feel when I get ready to work." 

"You never blamed the outside circumstances. You never blamed COVID or stress to pack it in." 

"When you blame external sources it takes you away from taking responsibility. It's this type of victim mentality. Complete acceptance of the way things are. The knowledge of knowing what you can change and what you cannot." 

"We all have our own thought process. Some people use a breakup as an excuse to eat a tub of ice cream. Some people use a breakup as an excuse to start a business. We all have our mindset and thoughts." Where Julia put her focus is really what is so amazing about this conversation.

"Life is just a series of choices." We are so blessed and so lucky to have the freedom of choice." 

"Once you start taking radical responsibility for your life exactly where it is right now that means you can make some massive changes if you want to. If you can see what you created you can also see you can create something different too." 

"We are taught how to feel about ourselves. It's just from things that were said to us or things we learned from what our parents said to us or things we learned in school. I was told I wasn't good at math. It was ingrained into my head and that makes me not want to do it now. It's still a block and you have to work really hard towards unlearning." 

Something I learned from my experience in school was that I was not creative. I was not good at art or music growing up so I was worried that I was not a creative person, but I was able to unlearn those ideas and find my voice and use it to create my podcasts. 

"Telling yourself something different towards that past believe. First of all is knowing that it's there and knowing it doesn't have to be." 

I see so many clients and students saying, "I'm shy", "I'm scared", "I don't like doing this." These are stories that are made up.  

Julia and I share multiple different ideas around money mindset. We each share some our own personal experiences and stories we've learned about money. 

"Play is anything that is high vibration. Anything that makes my soul feel alive."

"Fun is almost more important than time at that time. You don't even know what time it is. You are caught up in the moment. That's magic." 

"Fun doesn't have to be overindulging in anything." 

Follow Julia: 

https://www.instagram.com/the.banana.warrior/

https://www.instagram.com/the.banana.warrior.cafe/

Today I have an amazing friend and her friend joining me. Allie is probably the guest I've known the longest that has ever been on this show. The introductions on this episode start us off in the most beautiful of ways and brings so much energy right to the start of the episode. I love having the guests introduce the other because it's so different than reading the typical bios you see on LinkedIn or a resume. There are so many beautiful ways these ladies connect with each other and get out of their heads and into their bodies. They use nature and love to help live life in such a gorgeous way. It's a contagious conversation that will make you leave feeling alive and looking at life in a new beautiful way. 

Top Topics : 

I have guides in life. "Life is good." Even when we are working we need to life good. 

Why can't we start a business meeting dancing? Why can't we start a business meeting creating a beautiful environment? 

"We are just one person." 

It's a blessing to be surrounded by people who choose joy. 

When we hold onto these negative belief systems we get stuck energetically. 

A great way to get out of our head and into our bodies. When we get burnt out we are usually in our heads thinking I have to do. I have to do. I have to do. Sometimes we have to just be. Allow yourself to be in the feeling of feeling good. 

Self nourishment for your mind and body. You don't need to go on vacation to do this. We need to talk more about this. 

Find ways to be in your physical body instead of stuck in your mind. 

What activities bring you to a meditative state? This does not have to include meditation.

Stale thoughts. We don't hold onto to stale food when it goes bad, but sometimes we hold on to some stale thoughts. 

We have so much information at our fingertips at every moment between social media, books, courses, and podcasts.

The wisdom inside of us is so much greater than anything any one else can give us. 

I didn't know I could go this far into feeling this way and be okay. Allie shares about her healing work and personal journey to get through trauma. Love is there for you no matter how sad you are or how happy you are. 

Moments of truth happen inside all of us and that is more valuable than anything we can get from a course or a podcast.

Allow to share! 

 "Be Curious. Not Judgmental." - Walt Whitman  Not just others, but of yourselves. 

Also we discuss a personal favorite song "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston.  

Connect with Allie on Instagram : 

@alliealigns 

Connect with Cissa on Instagram: 

@cissabia 

https://www.instagram.com/casaviva.bahia/

Today I'm joined by two incredible women Amber Krzys and Carloyn Freyer Jones. These two introduce the other in such a beautiful way by sharing some incredible stories about the other. Once you hear these introductions you are going to want to hear the entire episode. Carolyn is introduce as such an amazing friend and how she brings that to her business. Amber is a professional and someone who is always willing to have her voice heard. 

Top Topics :

Including fun in business isn't like an ingredient you add. It's like water. That's just a part of it.

What does a professional look like to us? 

Why be an entrepreneur if you it's not about bringing more you to what you are passionate about or your mission? The more you, you are the more fun you will have and likely the more success you will have. 

Amber says she can be creative in ways with her coaching she wasn't able to be in acting. "I couldn't just create an audition, but I can create a client." 

The only thing that gets in my way are my own fears and concerns. 

We make a distinction between the word serious and sincere. I'm sincere in my business and to my dedication to the people I serve in my coaching and school. I am not serious though. There's a lot that can hard and not fun, but it can all be funny. 

We discuss the difference between showing up in a suit and showing up in a hoodie. Carolyn shares a story from Trevor Noah. Changing the narrative that my professionalism doesn't show up when I wear this. 

Even though we consider actors and actresses as creative people they really are limited by the roles they are in. As an entrepreneur you get to be as creative as possible.  

"Seems to work for me." Entrepreneurs get to say "what works for me." 

"People pay us for the quality of our listening." - Nancy Klein 

If someone is in pain I'm not going to try to knock them out of their pain. I don't want to diminish that especially when we are first meeting. I'm going to meet them where they are. It depends on how well I know them or if I get to know them. 

Pain is part of the human experience, but suffering is optional. 

I don't want to be someone that is trying to help them get out of pain. They need to be ready for that. 

Every conversation is play. I don't have anything predetermined. It's not scripted. It's a co-creation and exploration. Each conversation is a playground. Where is the person and where will we go based on where they are. 

"It doesn't have to be fun to be fun." It could even be fun for me to be with someone in the fullness of their human experience. Why can't that be a version of fun? 

The entire life experience is a playground. 

Sometimes we want to bring people up to where we are as opposed to meeting someone where they are. 

No one wants to be dragged up to the top of the slide. The nature of being human is we are going to forget or lose sight of the beautiful life we have, the wins and the progress that we've made. How cool is it that someone can slide down the slide and be with you here? I'll be here with you as long as you want. I'm going to continue to see all those things for you while you're forgetting. Then we will go up the slide together. 

The reason other human's exist is we need each other. 

Life was giving me clear feedback that this wasn't my path. It was finally when I surrendered and was willing to do something different.

Learn what "effort shock" is. 

We create timelines and get frustrated when it doesn't happen within that timeline.

Here is the article we discussed: 

https://www.cracked.com/article_18544_how-the-karate-kid-ruined-modern-world.html

Follow: 

https://carolynfreyerjones.com/

https://amberkrzys.com/

Today I am joined by Kim Kaase and her husband Steve Marques. Kim and Steve own an ice cream shop in Houston, Texas called Craft Creamery. Steve is world renowned chef that has cooked all over the world. Kim also is a business coach. She helps increase revenue while also increasing their brilliance through a number of effective strategies. We discuss choices you make when it comes to your response to Covid and the world today. Steve shares many different stories and ideas to share how chefs from all over the world bring the creative process into the kitchen. 

Top Topics : 

Hear how Steve was able to switch jobs and built his business in the middle of the pandemic. 

Being creative with food is a lot like playing jazz for musicians. Once you have the structure and you know how to make things work and there is some technical rules that you can't break because then you will make something no one wants to eat. Inside those rules there are no rules. 

Not that I think outside the box, but I don't believe in the box.

Why doesn't someone else make a brisket ice cream? Maybe they didn't think it was possible. 

Make smart mistakes. 

I've made some things that don't work. You haven't tasted them because they didn't work. 

I don't want to please everyone. I want to actually displease some people, because that means you're pushing the edge of the boundaries. 

I don't want to make what everyone expects. 

Sometimes if you change the conversation a little bit puts people off balance they think differently about the same conversation. 

We're going to have our own business, but we don't know how we are going to get there. 

Being open to what shows up. Not judging the outcome. When we create a new flavor I try to not have a preconceived idea of what it's going to turn out to what it's going to be because through the creative process it changes. 

Kim is the Chief Tasting Officer and something she won't say is "I know I won't like that." 

People start talking about how their day is going to go in the morning. You're creating your day before you even step foot in it. Not that you need to say anything positive, but just don't say anything about it. 

Go experience your day. If you tell yourself I'm going to have a horrible day you're going to make that happen. 

You have to play like a child to think like a child. When you're sick of the way things are going it can't possibly hurt to try something new. 

When inspiration shows up don't just go, "that's a bad idea." Follow the inspiration. 

Steve had a high school teacher that said, "most of the school system says red jelly bean and want you to say red jelly bean. I want you to say green jelly bean and here's why." 

You will never figure out in your head if the entrepreneurial path is for you. The only way to know if it's for you is to go out and try it. 

Even the greatest coaches in the world have coaches. Find people that your trust. People that I trust will tell me if something is horrible and actually tell me the truth. I would actually be offended if they didn't tell me the truth. 

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein (Here's the quote I butchered during the episode.) 

We answer the questions:
How do you get over the fear of being visible? 

How do you come up with these flavors? 

Follow Craft Creamery: 

https://craftcreameryhtx.com/

https://www.instagram.com/craftcreameryhtx/?hl=en

Connect with Kim : 

https://www.facebook.com/kimberley.kaase

This week I am joined by the founder of Healing to Happy, Laura Martin. Healing to Happy is an online gut and brain focused company that helps women suffering from IBS and anxiety to get back to eating normally without use of elimination diets. Laura is a Certified IBS Nutrition Consultant that truly brings incredible energy everywhere she goes. She brings to her clients an excitement about what you can bring to your diet as opposed to cutting things out. I appreciate her so much. She is so vulnerable and so open to sharing her own journey of how she got to the place she is today. It's very encouraging to see that type of courage in the conversation. 

Top Topics : 

When it comes to food we are always on a diet, limiting ourselves, and taking things away. It takes away the whole concept of food as pleasure. It's community, it's relationship it's culture, it's experience. When you live in a state of fear and restriction how the hell is that fun? 

When you actually truly how this whole mechanism works you're able to explore the rest of your life. 

You can actually play with food have fun. The food isn't the whole thing about this BBQ. It's the people here and the fun you are supposed to have. That's the point of it. 

Become your own experimental game. Sometimes you are going to get bloated. That doesn't mean the end of the world is upon us. You just learn something new about your body. 

You might have a flare-up so what are the backup tools you have for that. How can you grant yourself permission to say that sucked, but my body can handle it and I will bounce back. You can take it as I'm learning something new. You don't see a kid get mad they don't like broccoli. 

We love putting ourselves inside boxes. I can't have that because I'm paleo or I'm keto. Does your body actually enjoy doing that? If the answer is yes keep doing you. 

I could not be. I didn't trust my body. I didn't trust my brain or the world around me. I controlled food and exercise. I stopped being that victim in my life. I decided I was ready to take responsibility of how I'm choosing to respond. I had to put new routines and systems in place, because I was ready to feel banging in my body and ready to have fun. 

Identifying in life as a curious student. When you can be passionately curious whether it comes to food or a new career or a new relationship. Something you're like I'm okay with this area of my life. Do I want to just be okay with it or do I want to live this orgasmic fire rocking life? Well I have to get a little uncomfortable to see what that expansion feels like. 

Life is meant to be fun. 

Freedom to explore who I am. For so long I didn't know who I was. I went by what my parents told me I was. What my sports team told me I was or my school told me I was. It was only until recently I looked at who Laura Martin is. 

When you wake up in the morning do you know how you feel? 

You are like the five people you spend the most time with. You don't necessarily need to know these people. There are so many free resources online you can listen to people and they can be in your top five. 

It's foolish to say you're never going to get burnout, you're never going to live in fear. Every new dollar you make is stepping into a new arena. If you don't feel fear you're not doing it right. 

Every level there's a new devil. 

Sometimes you need to be heard and sometimes you need to know you're not alone.

Connect with Laura Martin : 

https://healingtohappy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/healingtohappy/

This week, I was joined by two incredible women that are living my dream. Brooke Wheeldon-Reece and Ashley Hunt are the core members of The SPARK Initiative, which is a non-profit organization based out of Tampa, Florida. Their mission is to look at an understanding of the mind that is very simple and looking at our natural resilience as opposed to something you must build up. They support their community through education, mentoring, and coaching. They focus on the at-risk community and help many different people in their community. 

Top Topics :

It is really important when we are working with youth and in jails. We go in and include so many activities that get them excited to learn about how the mind works. It's no longer I'm going to stand here and teach you something. It's an exchange between us. We are teaching them and they are going to teach us just as much. 

When you have a calm mind everything works better. There was this idea that having a calm mind you have to be quiet. That's really not the case. There's a difference between a calm mind and yourself being calm. You can have a calm mind and be playing football. 

Having a calm mind almost brings you back to that child-like state. If you truly have a calm mind you have more fun. 

You can be running with a still mind. I thought you had to be still to have a still mind. 

We got real serious about marketing and sales. It was the worst year we had. We were not paying attention to state of mind. We were following all the books and experts, but that was the only year in 7 years we didn't move forward. That year we were teaching this, but we were not living it.

People tend to believe business is serious. You can prepare, but take that preparation lightly. The more serious I am about something the more I know I don't have a still mind. The more I know I'm in my head. The more life isn't just flowing through me. 

We were serious because we had a lot of money riding on it. We had donators that donated to do this whole plan. It looked high stakes. Because we weren't in the feeling of free flow, ease, being able to play, and test things out and have fun. It was so high stakes in our mind nothing flowed. It just kept stalling. 

We teach about you have a Spark inside that will guide it you. It has your back 100% of the time. Follow it listen to it. 

When we stalled I realized I wasn't listening to my own Spark. Yet we were teaching others to listen to their spark. If I trust what comes to me or if I trust my team members that has gotten us so far. Everyone is comfortable to share their ideas or try their ideas. There is permission to be way more creative.

You don't work as well when you're frustrated, angry, annoyed or scared to share your ideas. 

We are in the human connection business. We are not reading a script. 

Words will come through me not from me. Just with a trust that is how life works. Not just when you are really good or something that's just how it happens. When you really trust that it's way easier to just allow life to come through you. 

We could still do our job, but everyone still had fun. 

It's not trying to be in a better state of mind, it's just recognizing. If I'm in a really crappy mood I can recognize I can do something different. It's not that I'm happy and chill all the time. It's me understanding where it's coming from. Knowing it won't last is huge. 

If I followed that rabbit trail of what if's then I was not being present to what is here now. 

Find our more about the SPARK Initiative here: 

https://sparkcurriculum.org/

https://thesparkinitiative.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sparkinitiative/

https://www.facebook.com/sparkmentoringprograms

Timing worked out perfectly to release this episode on Memorial Day as my guest Rob Cook served in the United States Air Force for 21 years. I would love to acknowledge Rob as well as all current and retired military members for their service, especially on this day. Thank you for your service. 

Rob shares openly and freely throughout our entire conversation. I was excited to have the chance to ask Rob about how he was able to bring fun and laughter into the military, personal training, and coaching. He shares so many personal stories that truly shows he walks the walk. He was the perfect guest to have on the show too because he loves to incorporate laughter and fun into his business and life. 

Today's word of the day is definitely laughter. If you are drinking while listening to this podcast please feel free to take a sip every time you hear either Rob or I say the word laughter. This week's food and drink for thought is, "When was the last time you laughed?" 

Top Topics : 

Loving the feeling of falling as much as I love the feeling of flying. 

When you feel better you listen better. I meet people where they are. 

"Keep it Clean." Rob shares his experience with creating a talent-show during his time in the military and extending it all the way to Iraq. Having fun with this talent show never took away from how they treated their training. It brought people closer together and helped people take things lighter. 

Laughing is one of the only things that I know has to happen in the present. 

"Laugh often." Rob shares this is one of his values. 

Discover the story behind how Rob and I got our nicknames you see in the title of the episode. 

Laughter is like the secret sauce to the recipe. Tapping into fun and laughter just opens up a spot within us to just create. 

It is a timing thing. There is a flow to it. There are still going to be tough times and difficult things we face. There is definitely a balance to it. Laughter is a prerequisite to doing things and provides that balance. There are ways you can play without being silly or without even laughing. 

If I don't have laughter on its own. I won't go to bed without laughing. 

"I'm just as serious as they are without all the erghhh."  The "erghhhh" doesn't make me perform better. Pressure doesn't help or make me perform better. 

Rob admits he doesn't work out because it is fun. He works out because he knows it's good for him. 

Movement is what I'm most encouraged by. Moving often. In coaching business, talk to as many people as you can. When you go outside that's your clientele. "I'll stop anyone anywhere." 

"Have you ever met a stranger? I don't think I have. I'm comfortable talking to anyone." 

Rob talks about his trainer. Even though he's fitness and mindset coach there are still some days that he doesn't want to work out. 

Rob gets vulnerable with his story about his program that ended up with no participants. "I was so upset for about 3 minutes." 

Just believe that what you're doing is meant to be what you're doing. You're the only one that's doing it. 

Please stayed tuned until the end to hear our response to the question, "What is the meaning of life?" 

Have the day you deserve. 

Connect with Rob : 

https://imrobcook.com/

Listen to his Podcast "We're Listening" : 

https://3pgc.org/3pgc-podcast/?fbclid=IwAR3WqP_Wkrv6yQmaGWWmaSPD2HSNzx4WUbewGpiF8vHu8CaRUG14b97cbkE

This week's episode includes two of the most incredible women I've had the pleasure of meeting over the last year. Mer and Kristy are simply amazing and their love and friendship is shown so beautifully throughout this conversation. We hit on big topic around the idea of showing up to the park or the playground. We revisited this metaphor multiple times and spoke about "what if you're already on the playground" and "how it's different when we show up as kids vs. when we show up as adults?" 

Today's word of the day is "playground." Kristy brought this metaphor into the conversation without realizing it was the title of the show as well, which makes it so much better. If you would like to play a drinking game while you listen please have a sip every time you hear one of us say the word "playground." The food and drink for today is, "What if I'm already on a playground and I'm just making it serious?" 

Top Topics : 

"I only do things I am drawn to do. I don't know why I'm drawn to them and don't question it anymore." 

"What are you drawn to? What is it that you see that you want?"

"It doesn't mean you have to ditch your job and your wife and your kids. The only reason we stay in places that we don't really want to be in is because we don't understand it's safe to look elsewhere. We don't understand that it's okay that we'll be okay with another possibility. We don't understand that everything that needs to be taken care of can be taken care of if we follow our own knowing in the journey."

We just need to see it's okay to play there." 

Eventually, I'm drawn to do my taxes. I'm drawn to clean my toilet. You can be drawn to do things that you don't necessarily like to do.

If you knew you were going to be just fine no matter what. Who knows if you would stay, go, or something in between. It's in the exploration. It's in the living life that the person can only see for themselves. 

"What if you couldn't get it wrong? There's no right way." 

Instead of trying to map out the best way to get to some place that you think will make everything okay. If there's no map I need to follow or no treasure out there I need to find to get it right and be okay. All that's left is now what.

"All the categories on the calendar are made up. I decided to change them all to orange and now they are all labeled play." 

Kids wouldn't play as long if they considered it work. Why do we as adults make it all work? 

"We just need to see it's okay to play there." Kristy goes into her cycling days and talks about how she was taught to loosen her grip on the handlebars. 

Eliminating the shoulds. There are no shoulds on a playground. You should tie your shoe. You don't have to get serious tying your shoes either. The serious is thinking there is a should. 

What if we don't have to make up even to begin with what's good or bad? When I'm on the playground I'm not deciding what's good or bad. Stuff is going to happen, but I don't need to exclude any part of the experience or try to avoid it. 

When you come home from the park you are not clean. You purposely wear old jeans and don't wear white, because we know we are going to get roughed up and dirty. As adults, we are worried about how the clothes will look and we don't want to get dirty or scrape our knees. 

We are making up different colored jungle gyms. We are making up different jobs. When we are in flow or present we just know what to do. It's built into the playground. 

Connect with Mer : 

https://www.mermonson.com/

Connect with Kristy: 

https://yourevolution.com/

You can join her next Coddiwomple Group Here:
https://yourevolution.com/cn/

On this week's episode, I am joined by two incredible people with extremely different backgrounds, Mardoche Sidor, MD and Julia Sharp. Mardoche is a assistant professor of psychology at Columbia University. His background is extremely impressive including CEO and president of The Sweet Institute. Julia is a certified High Performance Coach, a Gallup Strengths Coach, and most recently an Energy Codes Coach. Her corporate background is very impressive as well including a fun piece as a certified raw holistic chef. 

Our conversation has many valuable questions to answer and different exercises for you to try at home. We spoke about some famous examples of people that changed their lifestyles to increase their play. We really dove into the science behind having fun and why it comes so natural to us. 

Today's word of the day is "consciousness." Please take a sip every time you hear one of us say the word consciousness. Today's food and drinks for thought is a deep one, "Who am I?" 

Top Topics : 

We are wired to have fun. Mardoche shares his experience of growing up where work was always important and fun wasn't the priority. 

3 important questions : Who am I? Why am I here? What is life all about?

Who am I below all the labels? Below the religion and political parties I follow.

Play was once considered a waste of time. Now because I know what life is all about I know inside I am going to have fun. 

Is life supposed to be that serious? If the answer is yes then there isn't going to be much time for fun. 

You can still play without risking losing your job or without laughing the entire time. Play is more of being present. 

Finding three words describe the best of who you are. Not about your profession or doing something. It's tuning in to who is the best of me and how do I want to show up. 

"Thought creates our world and then says, 'I didn't do it.'" - David Bohm 

Finding ways to get the job done while still having fun. You Do NOT have to think, "I can only play once the work is done." 

Finding the unique harmony of matching play and work for you is so important. 

Connect with Mardoche : 

https://sweetinstitute.com/

When we recorded this book Mardoche was the author of five books. Since we recorded this he has released a sixth book titled, Art of Living. 

You can find a copy of his book here : https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091WL6B2Z/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_VW4Y71GN3TX9GABRZZWN?fbclid=IwAR01Fj4Rdbz4OpV_lxPnwzXH98Ki9TJpV1EQOYMj6F5gokX9IQ-NExkpI-A 

Connect with Julia : 

Her mission this year is to have more fun. 

https://www.facebook.com/julia.sharp.315

On this week's episode, I was joined by two incredible transformative coaches from Italy. Nico and Daniel are two incredible transformational coaches. We spoke a lot through this conversation about our relationship with tension. We spoke about many different metaphors including rubber balls, car engines, and canvases. There is so much value that you will find packed within this conversation.  You will completely understand why they named their company Easier Coaching. 

Today's word of the day is tension. If you are drinking along while listening please take a sip every time you hear one of us say the word "tension."

Today's food and drink for thought is, "Where can you remove some of the unnecessary tension in your life?" 

Top Topics : 

What does life want from you? 

Is there a place inside of us where we can make an impact effortlessly? When you end the day do you just feel like wow today was a breeze. 

The lens is on seriousness. Playfulness is the default, it's about stopping making it serious. 

Are we constipated with our creativity? In both cases if you're pushing too hard, there is something wrong. 

If your goal is movement, why would you want to move with any unnecessary tension? Imagine driving your car with the emergency brake on. The car doesn't work at it's best when the emergency brake is on. The dashboard light turning red only makes sense if you know what that means. We work a similar way, until we connect the dots and know what it is. This feeling of seriousness and urgency can be our human dashboard light. Urgency is a sign that things are looking really serious or the stakes are high and that is the our human dashboard light on. 

When you care about stuff there's a movement within you, that's just natural, so what you don't want is to add obstacles that slow you down. 

We are not taking about just being a little bit scared. We are taking about a totally different thing. 

Most people when you ask them would you like to get rid of your worry completely, to my shock they would say no. I just want a bit less of it. At some level we believe some of its good or helpful. There is no valid information from worry. When we start seeing that it's a game changer. 

Spirituality becomes the canvas in which everything we experience in our life is created. Of course, we pay attention to the images and what is on the surface. Nothing can exist without the canvas. At the same time, The canvas is not that interesting if we paint nothing. 

We were being invited by life on a different level of play. 

Connect with Nico and Daniel the Wise :

info@easiercoaching.com

What happens when you put three improvisors into a zoom room? Well a whole lot. This week I'm joined by two hilarious improvisors Lauren Berning and Shannon Stott. These two ladies are up to incredible things including an awesome online summit that you will hear about throughout the conversation. They truly bring fun and play into everything they do. This conversation is so rich with valuable ideas, but also is absolutely ridiculous and hilarious. There are many different techniques shared from an improv perspective that you can practice right away. We took many twists and turns and went in many different directions took a few dirty turns, but we really covered some important topics. We discussed getting into the right creative space, being present, making choices, and bouncing back from failures. 

Today's word of the day is "improv". Even if you've never taken a class or seen an improv show we do this every single day in our lives. If you are drinking while listening to this show please take a sip every time you hear the word improv. The food and drinks for thought is "how can I choose to bring improv into my world more today?" 

Top Topics: 

We have a different brain wavelength when we are in a creative space. It is our solution space. When you are trying to do a thing like find your keys, or fill our a spreadsheet you are in a different space. It's hard to complete the task when you are there. If we can get people into a different wavelength we can shift them into that solution, creative space. These ladies use the vehicle of improv to bring the fun especially in the corporate setting. 

Using improv in jails and in therapy, because it makes us changes our brainwaves and emotional patterns. We can shift into a place where we can feel safe. In that safe space we can deal with or overcome trauma. 

Teaching people to be cognizance. I get to choose how I engage with each moment. 

Taking a moment outside and looking at a distance beyond the foot in front of you. Another activity is to point and name things (box, table, computer, etc.). If you take a moment and you point at things and name them out loud you are bringing your awareness to the actual present moment. 

Improv teaches you the lesson of listening, supporting, sharing, and building on other people's ideas. It also shares that it's beneficial to support and uplift other's ideas. 

Trying new things. The frontier that improvisors and artists had to adjust to going online. Think about the first person eating a pineapple or an oyster. Finding a new challenge, accepting it and then building on it. 

How do you choose to come out of a failure? In improv, there is no failure. Not that means there aren't failures. The concept of a failure doesn't have to be a failure. We need to own it and learn from it. Be okay with and know that it's not forever.  

You do have all of these choices available to us. Even in jail the one thing you can control is your mind. You might be in the six foot box, but is the six inches between your ears imprisoning you? 

Pointing at what it is that you are fearing in the moments you are failing. If you could name those things then the failure starts to be easier to digest. 

Learn more about the Creative Approach Summit: 

https://www.creativeapproach.net/

https://www.instagram.com/creativeapproachsummit/

Connect with Lauren: 

http://tbcimprov.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Lirr8WCljr7SwVd9wuNPA

Connect with Shannon: 

https://www.shannonstott.com/

https://www.instagram.com/shannonstott/

On this week's episode I am joined by Tina and Mac Dodds. Tina is a professional life coach, speaker, and retreat facilitator. She helps busy people live more and stress less.  Mac is health coach and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Certification. They have two sons and shared so many real examples of including fun in parenting, business, and life. They shared great stories of having fun with raking the leaves, doing the laundry, and walking in the rain. The conversation is so rich and filled with very practical ideas to add play and making that type of life contagious. These two are such fun people and you will hear that come out throughout this conversation.

Today's word of the day is "chores." Every time you hear the word chores take a sip. Most of our conversation revolved around the idea of making chores fun, so why not turn that word into a game right off the bat. Food and drinks for thought, "How can you make a chore you don't like doing more fun?" 

Top Topics 

Play can be infectious. Kids are great reminders to tap into that playful spirit. When you're having fun it give permission to others to have fun as well. 

Why do kids love puddles, but adults avoid them at all costs? 

Play is a fluid thing. It doesn't have to be playing an actual game. It can be bring a playful attitude to anything. 

Everything works better if you unplug it once in a while, including you. 

It's hard to tap into the fun when you're not feeling your best. It's a good idea to have things ready to go like a good playlist or comedy clips on Youtube. Others need these too, so feel free to share your things with others.

Changing your physiology helps get you out of your head and into your body. Moving your body is a great way to bring that. 

Chores are not always fun, but how can you bring play into those chores that have to be done?

What do you like? Why not focus on that to help get your healthy routine?

Reminding yourself to enjoy this right now. Enjoy this client. Enjoy this meeting. Enjoy the now. 

Playfulness is really opening yourself up to being present. 

You enjoy the game less when you are worried about what's the next letter in our ABC game. 

Connect with Tina : 

https://www.tinadodds.com/

https://www.facebook.com/tina.dodds.3

Connect with Mac : 

https://livegoodfitness.com/

On this week's episode, I was joined by a lovely married couple. They are doing very different things at this point Donna is a soul-centered life coach, and Paul is artist and his art lives in the space between dreaming and reality. They are both writers as well and have books that are out in the world and are coming out soon. These two have such a gorgeous way of expressing themselves and the work they are doing. We speak a lot about the ideas behind choices, aliveness, and where creativity comes from. This conversation is filled with so much value. There is so much to take away from these two amazing people. 

Today's word of the day is aliveness. Whenever you hear this word please take a sip. Today's food and drinks for thought is a powerful question, "Is aliveness a choice?" 

Top Topics: 

When we're head down, nose to the grind stone, we are contracted and forcing our life. Nothing is getting in there. It's a paradigm shift to believe there is another way. 

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. " - Howard Thurman 

If you love what you do other people are going to love it too. 

There are a lot of choices that we get to make that we don't know we have the choice. 

Being mindful of the inner dialogue going on in our heads. I can very easily have something take me down the road of fear or negativity. We can bring that point to neutral or positive.  

"Do whatever feels most exciting to you at any moment." Following those things is so important even when society or your partner says those are a waste of time. 

My thoughts and actions are moving me towards a higher sense of aliveness or they are not. 

Removing the blocks from the awareness of love's presence. 

We have the ability to choose aliveness, but if we are swimming around in the lower frequency of motions in shame, guilt, and hate it's hard to see it down there. When we can drop the story and move into a greater level acceptance in ourselves and the world around us then we move into an opening in which aliveness comes through us. 

Creatives give themself space to allow inspiration to come through them. Allowing that "play" time gives yourself that space to appreciate everything around us. 

Can the universe trick you into meditating? 

Create space. In that space we allow the divine communicate with us. This is where our personality and ego can shut up for a minute, and we receive and hear what is coming through. 

Why can people that smoke take smoke breaks, but people that don't smoke aren't allowed breaks? 

"If you're in your head. Then you're not here with me." - Susan Messing 

"The most valuable thing you could give someone is your presence." 

"The things you're taking for granted someone else is praying for"  - Flowers on the Moon

Donna Bond : 

https://donnabond.com/

Join me in Donna's program Igniting Your Light. We've covered Acceptance and Personal Power already this year and there is so much more to explore throughout the rest of the year. 

Paul Bond: 

https://paulbondart.com/

I also have a copy of Paul's coffee table art book and it is absolutely beautiful. Please check it out and get yourself a copy. 

On this weeks episode, I was joined by two lovely women. Jenna finished her career as a nurse and had an epiphany that she should heal people with energy. Donna found herself working as a professional clown and from there created her coaching and art business. We had such an incredible conversation. Both of these ladies brought such an amazing reminder that life is a gift and finding the magic in life. It is all around us, and all we have to do is remember to look. Gratitude and finding the small things that make you happy was a common theme that came up so many times throughout this conversation. Keeping attention on your inspiration and what feels good for you. The big themes for this episode were continuing to look for magic, look for blessings, look for gratitude, and bring your energy to those things. 

If you decided to continue playing our drinking game. The word for this episode is "magic". Take a sip every time one of us says magic. We even discussed a great quote from Tim Allen's Santa Clause movie. Food and drinks for thought "Does magic grow out of us?" 

Top Topics : 

Finding Magic in the Mundane. Finding Blessings in the Mundane. 

You don't go to the movie to get to the end of a movie. You go to watch the movie. Well life is a movie. 

"The purpose of life is joy." - Abraham Hicks 

No news can help tremendously. 

Finding something that feeds you: gardening, baking, art, or sports. 

Putting self care at the front can support finding blessings in whatever work you're doing. 

Changing the word "deadline" to "completion date" is a big energy shift. 

Figuring out what works best for you. You don't have to be a "morning person" to be productive. Carve out something for yourself during your time.

Everyone just wants to be loved and to love. 

Finding fun and sharing joy with people. 

No matter what work you do it's important to have things around me visibly that inspire me.  When your work environment feels good that can help. 

Nitpick the little things that make you happy and find the things that bring you joy. Open up to allow these things to come to you more. 

I'm so happy and thankful now that... 

I'm beginning to... 

Energy follows thought. If we think how shitty things are in the mundane we can keep that or can we think something new? 

We don't have to put nail polish on the shit to make it look pretty. It's still shit. Notice it and don't do anything. Something new will occur to me. 

If a grown up is willing to look for magic in the smallest mundane things it's right there. It doesn't go away. Open yourself up to seeing magic. 

Don't go on a quest to find magic or you will drive yourself crazy. Look for the small magic that is around us every single day. 

Get in Touch with the Guests: 

Donna Hollinshead: 

https://www.iamlivinglovinglaughing.com/

https://www.instagram.com/donnahollinshead/

Jenna DiMaggio:

https://www.jennadimaggio.com/

https://www.instagram.com/iamjennadimaggio/

On this week's episode, I was joined by the incredible Jason Goldberg. We had such a fun conversation due to the fact we are both on the same journey to bring fun and play into the work that we do. We dove deep into the idea of not needing to solve emotions. There are no solutions to emotions, and how you could handle these situations moving forward. Jason discusses two great metaphors involving coins and dinner guests to help give you new perspectives on using energy and working with emotions. Check out Jason's one line business plan and life plan, as well. The conversation is extremely valuable and such good vibes. This is what the show is all about. Having fun, but having meaningful conversations to help change perspectives. I hope you enjoy!

If you'd like to make this episode a drinking game the phrase for today is "unprecedented times." Every time you hear these words take a sip. The world is continuously changing, so technically aren't we always in "unprecedented times?" Here's a little food and drinks for thought... 

Top Topics: 

Comedy can really be the conduit to transformation. 

If there's a little bit more of something you enjoy as a part of the "medicine" you're more likely to take the medicine. As we explore, Mary Poppins' famous spoonful of sugar line. 

Is there still sincerity involved in what you're doing? If there is still sincerity then we don't need to be overly serious and the rest will take care of itself. 

There's a difference between trivializing and humorizing. I never want to trivialize what anyone is going through because it's what they are going through. I want to bring humor to it. It's a powerful way to have resistance lowered around new ideas. 

When people feel a little bit lighter they seem to do what to do next. 

"Anger is an idiotic expression. You do idiotic shit when you're angry. This is a great reminder that you are feeling really angry right now you might do something idiotic." 

Transformation is not for reserved for some special kind of person. It's reserved for all of us. 

Would you chose a piece of chocolate or peace of mind? 

Your emotions are not a problem to solve. There are no solutions to emotions.

Can I allow my thoughts or emotions be, without being a nuisance?

Do something small for someone else. 

Can you add 5% more joy or remove 5% sorrow from everyone you meet? 

Please connect with Jason Goldberg and give his podcast a listen: 

https://www.facebook.com/TheJasonGoldberg

https://www.instagram.com/thejasongoldberg/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jason-goldberg-is-ruining-podcasting-podcast/id1541754000

On this week's episode, I had an amazing conversation with two prominent figures in Cambodia. Chef Nak has a powerful mission to help preserve Cambodia's cuisine. She is an incredible leader, which you will be able to tell just from listening to this episode. She shares many powerful techniques and ideas of how to be a great leader. Joey Ra is an amazing human that I've had the pleasure of meeting in person and working with as my coach.  Our conversation really shifted to talking about the importance of the substance behind the person and being vulnerable. There is so many valuable moments throughout this entire conversation, so many value for leaders of all kinds. 

Top Topics : 

Finding the joy 

Allowing the space for rest 

Laughs along the way goes a long way. 

My team needs to know they own the journey with me. 

Trust takes time to build, but once it's there that's what facilitates everything. 

It's not realistic to be whimsical and playful all the time. Those moments come when you build trust. 

We don't joke around for the sake of it. We joke around to have fun because that's a great way to live life. 

Having substance and being able to share that makes 

Sharing your struggles with your team. Being open about where we are. 

Don't expect, but accept. 

In the ups and downs, be light and be deep. 

Joey Ra

http://www.joeyra.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JoeyRa

Chef Nak 

https://www.facebook.com/ratanakcla/

https://chefnak.com/

On this weeks episode, I am joined by the two wonderful hosts of The Make Work Human Podcast. Larissa Haynes and Jen Baggett played, laughed and shared so many nuggets of wisdom. We discussed the idea that you get to create the game, especially as an entrepreneur. It's your game. You make it up just like kids do when they play games in the neighborhood. We discussed my new favorite word gameifying, which is when you create a game in your work around something mundane. One of my biggest take aways from the whole conversation was finding pleasure in the labor. Everything can't always be fun, but there are ways to enjoy the process a little more. Please have a listen it's a truly wonderful conversation. 

Top Topics : 

Be Light

Find Pleasure in the Labor 

Choosing to show up. We have more choices than we realize. 

Where do I find the pleasure? Where do I find the joy? 

Things I love so much I'd do for no money. Things I'd do for money. Things no matter how much you pay me I'll never do it. 

Gameifying your job. (Gameifying may be my new favorite word) 

What are your non-negotiables? What are you willing to do and what are you not willing to do? These will change and evolve over time. Check in on them. 

It's your game. You make it up. 

If you're gonna get in the game you have to stop worrying about what the people in the nosebleeds will say. 

Creating a bliss list.

Prioritize Pleasure. 

Here's the link to their phenomenal podcast we referenced many times titled Make Work Human: 

https://makeworkhumanpod.com/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/make-work-human/id1529506342

If you'd like to connect with these ladies please reach out: 

Larissa Haynes : 

https://quivetconsulting.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissahaynes/

Jen Baggett: 

http://www.wecatchlight.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenbaggett/

On this week episode, I was joined by two incredible coaches that have made a massive impact on my life. This couple has helped me transform through more ways than I can even explain. You will see what I'm talking about by listening to this wonderful conversation. There are many incredible topics and powerful questions that you can ask yourself right away. We each took a turn discussing different prison analogies, where you may feel you are residing right now. Games, musical references, and fun. It's 

Top Topics: 

Pain is a message from your body. Suffering is a message from your mind. 

Fun is about a sense of adventure. A sense of spontaneity. 

What if you woke up and asked, "I wonder what's going to happen today?", "I wonder what's waiting for me?" 

Vulnerability is an aliveness.

If your family could see you at work would they recognize you? If your employees could see you at home would they recognize you? If the answer to either of those is no you're leaving the best parts of you somewhere else. 

Is this the only way? Is this my only option to live my life? Until we start asking those questions we may find ourself in downward spiral. 

Let life live through you without friction. 

What else is possible? 

If you'd like to connect please feel free to reach out: 

Nina Lockwood : 

http://www.ninalockwood.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-lockwood/

Gary Stine: 

https://www.ted.com/talks/gary_stine_welcome_to_we

https://www.linkedin.com/in/garystine/

On this weeks episode, I was joined by two amazing Executive and Leadership Coaches that spend a lot of time working with corporations. Thomas and Firas are friends that I have become close with over the last few months. The connection you will witness in this conversation is what makes it so much fun. We discussed why taking vacations and holidays are more important than you think. We talked about how to avoid developing "corporate arthritis", a term that's new to me, but it makes a lot of sense. Another big topic was for leaders being creative in the workplace. If you are a leader or are working in the corporate world this episode is a MUST for you!

Top Topics

There is more to work outside of work. 
There is no great correlation between success and seriousness.  

When leaders do take things way too seriously it just shrinks their options down. 

"I didn't realize how much energy I was burning holding on to the idea that I had to be serious and I have to work hard." 

It's easy for us to forget and it's really important to keep good advisors or mentors around us.  

If you'd like to connect with these two amazing coaches you can find their links below:  

Thomas Leamy :  https://hpse.eu/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hpse/ 

Firas Alragom :  https://links.firasalragom.com/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/firasr/

I was joined today by my good friend Kalem Fergusson aka The Big Moose. He was on the pilot episode, and I was lucky enough for him to join for the second time. Today marks the first episode with a solo guest. I understand that some entrepreneurs don't always have the time to schedule a friend to join them on the show, so if you are keeping score at home every five episodes there will be a solo guest. As you will see is that we can still have fun and a powerful conversation without the third guest. 

Top Topics :

Is well-being something that is outside of you? 

The dance between remembering who we are and forgetting who we really are. 

Games are not as fun when you don't realize you are playing. 

People aren't feeling alive. 

Aliveness is a natural consequence of true presence. 

Does a doctor really heal a broken bone or does your body heal itself? 

What do I want to get out of figuring this out? 

Please feel free to connect with Kalem on his FB Page 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011007695499

Today I was joined by two incredible people, Coach Stephanie Benedetto Padovani and Dr. Glenn Livingston. During this episode we discussed the ideas of the science behind playfulness, your inner pig, and turning tedious tasks into fun tasks.  

Client playmates.

We start off as children and we innately know how to play. That gets conditioned out of us.

Nightmare Headline Strategy 

What do you do, but make your response as spooky as possible? 

What if you could do it anyway you like? 

If something doesn't feel aligned for you there is an alternative. 

Don't force playfulness. If that's not you, it's okay. 

Helpful Links from the Conversation:

Stephanie Benedetto Padovani : 

https://www.theawakenedbusiness.com/

Dr. Glenn Livingston : 

https://neverbingeagain.com/

I invited the two gentlemen that inspired this podcast to join me on my first ever episode of The Entrepreneur Playground. Kalem Fergusson and Nikon Gormley have a brotherly relationship that will keep you laughing, but will allow you leave with a lot of value. The best way to describe this first episode is extremely inappropriate, but extremely valuable. I hope you enjoy. 

Is the skin in the game actually real? 

A public speakers' worse nightmare. 

We are so much more afraid of our thinking then we are with our reality

"The scariest thing that can happen to you is thinking about the scariest thing that can happen to you." - Michael Neill 

If we want to learn how to surf, we have to get into the ocean.

Feel free to connect with these two amazing guests on FB. 

Nikon Gormley : https://www.facebook.com/njgormley

Kalem Fergusson : https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011007695499