The Bad-Ass Soul Seeking Warrior Podcast Series
By Annie M. Fonte
From Loss To Leadership with Rosemary Kelly
In this episode of the Badass Soul-Seeking Warrior podcast,Annie engages in a deep conversation with her Harvard Business Schoolclassmate, Rosemary Kelly. They explore Rosemary's journey from her childhoodin Massachusetts, through the challenges of losing her father at a young age,to her educational pursuits and career in healthcare. The discussion highlightsthe importance of resilience, mentorship, and the impact of personalexperiences on professional growth. Rosemary shares insights from her time atHBS, the challenges of class participation, and the significance of building asupportive company culture. The conversation also touches on Rosemary'slife-changing health experience and how it reshaped her perspective on successand well-being. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the value of connection,integrity, and finding one's place in the world.
Takeaways
The importance of preparing for unexpected life events.
Resilience can be shaped by early life experiences.
Education is a continuous journey that can lead to newopportunities.
Class participation at HBS is crucial for success.
Building relationships and networking is key in business.
Company culture significantly impacts employee satisfaction.
Health challenges can lead to a reevaluation of lifepriorities.
Mentorship can profoundly influence career paths.
Success is not just about professional achievements but alsopersonal growth.
Finding a workplace that aligns with personal values isessential.
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:31 Childhood and Family Dynamics
05:51 Life Changes and Motivations
08:41 Education Journey Begins
11:02 Transition to Accounting
13:19 Pursuing an MBA at Harvard
16:00 The Application Process
18:11 First Impressions of Harvard
20:50 Navigating Class Participation
23:12 Study Groups and Support
25:39 Memorable Professors and Classes
28:25 Second Year Experience
30:50 Career Aspirations Post-Harvard
33:15 Recruitment Process and Interviews
36:21 Navigating Career Choices and Interviews
38:43 Growth in Healthcare: A Journey Through Startups
42:27 Leadership Changes and Personal Decisions
45:00 The Evolution of Healthcare Concepts
47:26 Merging Personal and Professional Life
51:04 Reflections on Life After a Heart Attack
55:18 Lessons Learned from Life's Challenges
59:30 Redefining Success
01:02:17 Advice for the Next Generation
01:05:45 Building a Collaborative Work Culture
I Am Back and Looking Forward to Having You in My Community
After a brief and unexpected pause, I am back.
If you are interested in being part of my BraveBoldBadass Community, please go here to learn more:
https://the-brave-bold-badass-community.mn.co/collections/2597339?sort=by_hosts
If you want to work out with me, go here:
https://the-brave-bold-badass-community.mn.co/spaces/18440512/about
I am looking forward to all that the future holds for all of us!
Surviving Four Near-Death Experiences with Salima Witt
Salima Witt eats adversity for lunch. She grew up in Canada under the care of a single mom who worked several jobs. Since Salima was often alone, she went to nature to find solace.
Her battle with health challenges started in 2002 after the birth of her second child. She lapsed into a coma caused by sepsis and was given a 10% chance of survival.
In 2017, Salima fell off her horse and landed on her neck, barely escaping paralysis. In 2018, not completely healed from her riding injury, she was diagnosed with stage 3B chromophobe kidney cancer. She went through surgery to remove a reasonably sizable solid mass in her kidney. Then, in 2021, Salima developed encephalomeningitis, which caused her to lose consciousness, sight, and hearing for two months. During this time, she lost the ability to swallow, walk, talk, or care for herself. Salima admits that this was her life's most challenging and humbling battle.
In late 2024, Salima became the author of her memoir, STATIC: Learn to Listen Through the Noise. It Could Save Your Life. It is the inspirational story of her years-long battles with four near-death experiences. Throughout her struggles, Salima discovers her guide: an inner voice, which some call gut feeling, intuition, or God.
Her riveting book chronicles her miraculous power of sheer will and perseverance, how, in her darkest days—when she could not see or hear—she turned inward to listen to her
guide's clear message. STATIC is more than a story of survival; it is a tale of discovery that includes invaluable ways for readers to enhance their lives.
Thirty years, five continents, 10 countries, and 15 cities
John Slaven was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he claims to have had an idyllic childhood. He is the second of five siblings raised by a stay-at-home mom and a father who was an architect. John attended an all-boys Catholic school through grade and high school and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Cape Town. After graduation, he served the required two years of national service in the Navy before working at DeBeers as a project engineer in the industrial diamond mining business.
John worked with DeBeers for four and a half years before pursuing an advanced MBA. Although he had researched several schools, his wife had suggested Harvard Business School. John submitted his application and was accepted to HBS, so he didn’t apply to other schools.
HBS proved highly beneficial to John as he traversed his career following graduation. After graduation, he worked at Boston Consulting Group in Melbourne, Australia. John spent over nine years with BCG before joining Alcoa as VP of Finance, then joined BHP Billiton, where he served in many roles for thirteen years. John and his family lived on five continents in ten countries and fifteen cities during this time. They moved countries 21 times and moved cities 23 times. Moving an average of every 1.04 years in the past thirty years.
The continual moving proved to be one of his biggest challenges over the years. It was difficult for his daughters to adjust to his constant travel and moving among different schools, and at one point, his wife suffered a complex illness that added to the challenges. Through it all, they have grown close as a family and enjoy spending time together.
John is most proud of his reputation and integrity, which he has held as the most important values in his personal and professional life.
John currently lives in Boulder, Colorado, as a member of a technology start-up. He promises he is staying put and has no plans for future relocations.
From Communism to Capitalism with Vladimir Jacimovic
Vladimir Jacimovic was born in Yugoslavia as an only child. He left there to come to the United States after his junior year of high school. The University of San Francisco recruited him to play on the men’s basketball team, hoping to one day play in the NBA. These hopes were dashed when the university faced recruiting violations, which caused the basketball program to be closed down.
This was a turning point in Vladimir’s life as he had to decide whether to go to Germany and play professional basketball in the European league or end his basketball career entirely. Vladimir chose to help his parents immigrate to the United States, and he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of San Francisco. Upon graduation, he joined Intel and worked in the software department before leaving to join Ingress, where he worked in post-sales support.
As he became familiar with rising in corporate America ranks, he decided he would pursue an MBA as it seemed that was the track the C-Suite executives had traveled. He was committed to going to the best school in the world so he chose Harvard Business School.
Vladimir loved every minute of HBS, especially the bootcamp atmosphere of the first year. He didn’t have any expectations when he arrived knowing very little about the program and with no personal contacts.
After graduation from HBS, Vladimir joined McKinsey Consulting and settled in Italy for a few years prior to transferring back to San Francisco with McKinsey. During his time at McKinsey he had great exposure to the tech world in Silicon Valley. He joined Crosslink Capital as a Managing Director and spent eight years there before becoming a Venture Partner at New Enterprise Associates. In 2008 Vladimir became the founder and CEO of Continuum Capital Partners, LLC where he still resides and is focused on funding start ups in the artificial intelligence space.
Over the years Vladimir was no stranger to the hard knocks of the venture capital industry where he has experienced his fair share of ups and downs. He resides in San Francisco with his wife and is his children’s biggest fan.
He expresses his gratitude for the journey he has been on after being raised under communist rule and taking advantage of the opportunities afforded to him by being an immigrant to the United States.
The Importance of Community with Jeff Fryling
Jeff's father worked in the steel industry, so he and his family moved frequently as a child. He grew accustomed to these frequent transitions but settled in during his last years of high school and college and made life-long friends.
Jeff attended the University of Illinois and obtained an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance. He then attended Harvard Business School after spending a few years at Accenture in finance and IBM in sales.
After graduating from HBS, Jeff spent four years in Singapore and three years in Hong Kong before returning to the United States.
Reflecting on the next five to ten years, Jeff is focused on joining a community of people with whom he enjoys spending time. If a business opportunity evolves as a result, all the better.
Overcoming Metabolic Chaos with Debbie Potts
Debbie Potts has been a competitive athlete most of her life. Her achievements include being a top triathlete, 15-time Iron Man finisher, multiple-time Iron Man Hawaii World Champion, Boston Marathon qualifier, and more.
Her athletic career came to a screeching halt in 2013 when she ended up in Metabolic Chaos, better known as adrenal fatigue.
Debbie hosts the Fit & Healthy Athlete podcast and is the author of Life Is Not a Race, It Is a Journey.
In our conversation, Debbie shares her experience of going from a top athlete to someone who gained 30 pounds and was exhausted and seeking answers to why.
She shares valuable tips and realizations that can help others avoid some of the challenges she faced.
Please visit her website for free resources and an extraordinary amount of valuable information.
She can be found on Instagram @coachdebbiepotts
Enjoy the conversation.
From Beirut, Lebanon to Harvard Business School
Gaby Chaiban was born to an American mother and Lebanese father in Beirut, Lebanon. She grew up during the Civil War in Lebanon. It was not uncommon for a school to be closed for a few weeks at a time or for Gaby and her classmates to be sent home during the day because of the danger of the war.
At eleven years old, Gaby came to the United States with her mom and brother to attend a year of elementary school. For her, the year in Brookline, Massachusetts, was a culture shock and quite uncomfortable. After the year was up, they returned to Beirut, where she finished her schooling through
high school.
Gaby returned to the United States and attended Smith College, an all-female college in Northampton, Massachusetts. She found the experience less stressful than her first trip to the States. However, she still recognized the difference in the level of curiosity and understanding of world affairs that the American students possessed.
Gaby went to work for Price Waterhouse after leaving undergraduate school, where she stayed for three years. She felt an unspoken expectation to get a secondary degree. As a result of Gaby’s upbringing, she thought that it was essential to excel in all of her endeavors and prove to people that she was smart and capable.
She applied to four MBA programs: Harvard, Wharton, MIT, and Stanford. She was accepted at Harvard and Wharton but chose Harvard because it was a better-known school in her country of origin, and once again, it would prove her capability.
Harvard was hard for Gaby. The coursework and method of teaching were very intense. She is happy that she attended Harvard, which has helped her throughout her career. And she stays in contact with various groups affiliated with HBS to this day.
Gaby shares her advice to those who may be considering the pursuit of an MBA. She also shares what she learned about herself during her two years at Harvard.
Gaby shares her post-HBS career path, which hit a low point during the 2007-2009 financial crisis. And explains the challenges she faced in managing the care of her elderly mother.
Regarding what the next several years hold for Gaby, she is happy to have options, one of which is settling in France.
Finally, Gaby is proud that she is true to herself and a good person.
From Corporate America to Entrepreneur with Tim Agnew
Tim Agnew grew up in a wholesome yet affluent family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended private
schools through his senior year in high school and then obtained his undergraduate degree in
engineering from Princeton. After leaving Princeton, Tim left for Melbourne, Australia, as a factory
engineer. During his experience in Australia, Tim determined that his engineering degree might have
limits unless he pursued rounding it out with an MBA.
Tim's Dad had graduated from Harvard Business School in 1958, and Tim was attracted to the general
business curriculum offered at HBS. After visiting the school and getting a taste of the program, he
applied early and was accepted.
Although challenging, Tim's experience at HBS was fulfilling. He was paying for the lion's share of his HBS
experience, so he was hungry to learn. The program was intimidating, but the Socratic learning method
suited him well.
After leaving HBS, Tim spent 14 years with Sony, went on to work with joint venture start-ups, and did
some freelance consulting before landing in San Diego, CA and delving into residential real estate.
On the human side of life, one of the most challenging life experiences that Tim and his wife navigated
through was wanting children but not being able to have them. After years of medical intervention
without success, Tim and his wife explored the option of adoption and once again ran into challenges.
During this time, they attended a weekend seminar about infertility and came away, agreeing that a life
without children would bring advantages and opportunities that they had not previously considered.
After going through an unexpected grieving period, they pursued volunteer work and other activities
that have been fulfilling and rich with experience.
Tim currently resides in San Diego, CA, with his wife, Monica, and they manage a portfolio of residential
properties together.
From a Soloist in the San Francisco Opera Boys Chorus to International Business Executive with Daniel Howard
Take Control of Your Health
We have a chronic disease epidemic in children and adults in this country. Today, I share the startling statistics of food gone wrong in this country and give you some resources to start taking control of your health.
Resources:
www.detoxwater.com/10-day-cleanse-detox
www.helloglow.co/24-recipes-to-detox-your-skin-gut-liver
www.theinspiredhome.com/araticles/detox-dinner-recipes
Becoming An Empowered Survivor with Beth Jones
After a life-altering event that sent her on a multi-year healing journey to recover from her trauma and survivorship, she wrote her book Becoming an Empowered Survivor: You, Too, Can Heal from Trauma And Abuse as an account of her experiences. Her embedded message to other survivors is that you, too, can heal.
With deep Texan roots, Beth is a citizen of the world. She grew up in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where her father worked in oil and gas production, and her mother was a schoolteacher. Beth began school with kindergarten in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and graduated from high school in Jakarta, Indonesia. In between, she attended school in Singapore and Balikpapan, Indonesia.
Later, Beth returned to Texas, where she lives and has resided for much of her adult life. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in accounting from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She is a certified public accountant, certified in financial forensics (CPA/CFF), and a certified fraud examiner (CFE). As such, her "first mountain" career included ten years as a financial statement auditor, followed by twenty-two years as a forensic accountant investigating fraud and white-collar crime. For years, she fought corruption and bribery worldwide, working in more than thirty-five countries on behalf of multi-national companies under investigation by various enforcement authorities, including the US Department of Justice, the US Department of Commerce, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Toward the end of her "first mountain" career, she lived and worked in Hong Kong for six years.
Before writing her book, Beth became a bestselling author by contributing a chapter about her life experience to the collaborative book Step Into Your Brave: Uplifting Stories to Inspire Courage, Strength, and Growth, published in October 2022.
To learn more about Beth, her book, speaking and mentoring programs, and other resources visit www.empoweredsurvivors.com
If you want to tell your story, visit
www.lightbeamers.com to learn how.
Sarah Clark - Non-Toxic Living Made Simple
As a non-toxic living consultant, Sarah Clark's goal is to help you make simple, healthier changes to your food and personal care products and in your home so that you can feel confident that you're making the healthiest choices you can for yourself and your family.
Sarah is a wife, mom of two, former TV news reporter, and breast cancer survivor. Each of those roles has led Sarah to learn more about environmental health exposures we face in our everyday lives. Her passion is educating others about how to switch to safer products without feeling overwhelmed.
https://www.instagram.com/betterhealthwithsarah
April Pertuis-Turn Your Story Into Your Secret Weapon
April Pertuis is a Storyteller. Her Passion is helping women unlock the story within so they can own, speak, and share it with others.
It doesn't matter if you are a preacher, an artist, an entrepreneur, or a factory worker—YOU have a story, and it holds a powerful message others need to hear!
April has a 25+ year career as a TV Journalist, Video Producer, Writer and Speaker; she knows the value of stories.... and she knows how to help YOU make sense of yours.
The critical points of your story relate to your journey, including where you've struggled along the way and how you've thrived.
April struggled as a young journalist tasked with reporting "the bad news" daily. While busy chasing Fire trucks and Police cars for stories, she longed for human-interest stories that she was much more interested in telling.
Realizing her career path as a broadcast journalist was only going to lead her down a path of depression; she made a pivotal career change.
April decided her work would have meaning! And by that, she was going to focus on people's stories.
She helps you to tell your story powerfully.
You attract an audience when you share your story through this lens because humans are drawn to good stories—it's how we're wired!
And when you learn to share your story with intention and meaning, you shine a LIGHT. This is how you become a LIGHTbeamer!
To learn more about April, go to www.lightbeamers.com
Chris Givant-Balancing Hormones for Healthy Aging
If you feel exhausted, experience brain fog, have trouble sleeping, gaining weight, feel irritable and just plain not yourself this discussion is for you.
Christine Givant is an integrative compounding pharmacist and the former co-founder of both LaVita Compounding Pharmacy and EpigenticsRX. Chris is a highly experienced formulator and educator who is nationally recognized as an expert in healthy aging, perimenopause, menopause and customized skincare. She has brought 25 plus years of knowledge in the healthy aging arena to medical professionals and patients alike.
Chris is currently the host of the podcast "Not Your Mother's Hormones" available on Apple and Spotify. Her podcast focuses on the crazy roller coaster ride of midlife hormonal changes as women often feel out of sorts at this time of life. She wants you to know you are not crazy and you are not alone. Her main goal is to provide options and solutions to help you get your vitality, balance and sanity back.
You can follow Chris on social media:
instagram.com/notyourmothershormones
Her website:
www.nymhormones.com
Links to Compounding Pharmacies near you:
Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding
www.a4pc.org
Compounding Pharmacies Directory
www.compoundingpharmacies.org
Talia Walsh
Talia is the founder and owner of Quest Studio. Over the past decade, Talia’s passion for preventative healthcare has motivated her to work with an array of different populations, including cardiac rehab, gastric bypass, pediatric weight management, group exercise, personal training, posture rehab, yoga, wellness coaching, corporate fitness, athletes, supplementation, veterans, and much more! She strives daily to take her and others' health and fitness to the next level.
Talia has loved music and began playing violin and singing at age 7. She performed as lead singer with local bands, including Tin Pan Alley, Daddy-O & the Sax Maniax, Take 5, Electric City Groove, and Essence, and continues to sing for worship at her church, weddings, and special events. She released her first CD in December 2018.
Finally, if you are looking for an inspiring speaker, put Talia on your list. Here is the link to her talk at the Empower Conference a few years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEj9sMERDT4
Website: https://www.myqueststudio.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talia-walsh/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talia.walsh
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taliawalsh/
About the church: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5_cQ7FrGG2/
Serena Sacks-Mandel, Author of Empowered Frame Your Narrative, Own Your Power
Ms. Sacks-Mandel is the Global Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft for the education industry. Prior to joining Microsoft, she was the Chief Information Officer at two unique technically advanced large public-school districts where she enabled student centric teaching and learning which resulted in significant improvements in student outcomes.
Prior to pivoting to Education, she led technology innovation teams at IBM, Walt Disney World, and Harcourt, Inc and provided management consulting support for many other organizations.
Ms. Sacks-Mandel has won numerous state, national, and global awards for her leadership, vision, technical excellence, and her commitment to supporting women in technology.
In her new book Empowered: Frame your Narrative, Own your Power., Ms. Sacks-Mandel shares how we can all overcome both personal and professional challenges. By framing ourselves as the hero, not the victim of our stories and forgiving those who have harmed us, we free ourselves from the burden of carrying past pain. Taking responsibility for our narrative enables us to own our power, choose our purpose, and define our own version of success. She believes that true power is the power to empower others. Her life story is rough and yet she
finds the opportunity for humor, contribution, exhilaration and ultimately joy and serenity.
You can learn more about Serena here:
www.serenasacksmandel.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/serena-sacks-mandel/
https://www.facebook.com/SerenaSacksMandel
Angela Scott Founder of The Office of Angela Scott
Angela Scott is an entrepreneur, woman in leadership, and the founder of The Office of Angela Scott. The company is funded, founded and operated by women. Angela designs footwear for Women Who Mean Business.
In our conversation you will learn about Angela's upbringing, the challenges she had in school, and her pathway to creating her company. She speaks passionately about her unwavering conviction to design her shoes and build her brand.
Follow Angela on social media where she generously shares her business experiences and inspires others to keep going through the challenging times.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theangelascott/
instagram.com/officeofangelascott/
facebook.com/OfficeofAngelaScott
The Durham Report-Some Thoughts
The Durham Report.
Did you hear about it?
Did you read any of it?
Well, I have, and I did. I am sharing some facts and thoughts about what it uncovered.
And I am inviting you to join me in becoming an informed American.
These things matter. Unless well educate ourselves about what is going on in American politics we will pay a high price.
This is not about us and them or Democrat versus Republican. This is about the policies and intentions of our current administration and those of the folks running for President of the United States in 2024. It is not a personality contest. It must be about policies and how the polices of the elected President have and will affect our lives and our country.
Please educate yourself. Do the research. Determine for yourself what is best for you and your loved ones.
Do not put your head in the sand and believe every talking head in the media.
Do You Know What Is Going On At The Southern Border. Here Are Some Facts
The southern border of the United States is a mess. Do you know the facts about what is going on with illegal immigrants entering our country? If you don't you should because it's not good. If you are okay with the millions of illegals who have entered our country since 2020, this episode is not for you. If you don't know what is going on or if you are concerned, listen to this episode.
In my humble opinion we are on the brink of disaster if we don't get a handle on securing the border. The wide-open border has led to drug overdoses, child rape trafficking, child labor, unmanageable circumstances in many of our cities, and possible terrorist entering our country. Nothing about an open border has made the United States better.
The question is, what is the downside of a secure border?
Let me know your thoughts.
The Loneliness Epidemic
A lot of men and women and boys and girls are feeling lonely these days. Are you one of them? Have you been able to put a finger on what brought on these feelings of being alone? In today's conversation, I give you some startling facts as well as some solid solutions to make strides to combat loneliness.
Have a listen and then start being part of the conversation. Make a commitment to reconnect with people and disconnect from your devices. Start taking the step toward a wholesome and fulfilling existence instead of going it alone.
You matter. Let's jump on board and start to lessen loneliness and increase inspiration and intentional living.
Tell the Truth - How Much Time Are You Spending On Your Devices?
We can all do better.
Put your phone down.
Be present.
Your children, friends, spouses, and other people you care about need you to get off your phone and BE with them.
The TRUTH About Death
November Theme: TRUTH Day 16 - The TRUTH About Death
I invite you to consider that death can be our greatest teacher.
Stick with me on this; it is not nearly as morbid as it might sound.
In today's podcast, I share thoughts on why death can be our most fantastic teacher.
Living fully means letting each moment fill us completely. Allow life to touch you deeply.
Have a listen and then share your thoughts with me.
The TRUTH About Happiness
You can have flaws, be anxious, and even angry, but do not forget that your life is the greatest enterprise in the world. Only you can stop it from going bust. Many appreciate you, admire you and love you.
Remember that to be happy is not to have a sky without a storm, a road without accidents, work without fatigue, relationships without disappointments.
To be happy is to find strength in forgiveness, hope in battles, security in the stage of fear, love in discord. It is not only to enjoy the smile, but also to reflect on the sadness. It is not only to celebrate the successes, but to learn lessons from the failures. It is not only to feel happy with the applause, but to be happy in anonymity.
To be happy is to stop feeling like a victim and become your destiny’s author. It is to cross deserts, yet be able to find an oasis in the depths of your soul. It is to thank God for every morning, for the miracle of life.
Being happy is not being afraid of your own feelings. It is having the courage to hear a “no”. It is confidence in the face of criticism, even when unjustified. It is to kiss your children, pamper your parents, to live poetic moments with friends, even when they hurt us. To be happy is to let live the creature that lives in each of us, free, joyful and simple.
It is to have the maturity to be able to say: “I made mistakes”. It is to have the courage to say “I am sorry”. It is to have the sensitivity to say, “I need you”. It is to have the ability to say “I love you”.
May your life become a garden of opportunities for happiness. That in spring may it be a lover of joy. In winter, a lover of wisdom. And when you make a mistake, start all over again. For only then will you be in love with life.
You will find that to be happy is not to have a perfect life. But use the tears to irrigate tolerance. Use your losses to train patience. Use your mistakes to sculpt serenity. Use pain to plaster pleasure. Use obstacles to open windows of intelligence.
Never give up. Never give up on people who love you. Never give up on happiness, for life is an incredible show.
The Way of the Warrior
November Theme: TRUTH - The Way of the Warrior
Today has been set aside to remember the men and women who have sacrificed their lives so that you and I can continue to enjoy the vast freedoms afforded us as Americans. The following words were appropriate to recognize those who have fought for this great country of ours. Author Unknown.
I see through different eyes.
I see a bigger picture when others see grey skies.
Though many can't conceive it,
I stand...facing the wind.
My bravery not from fighting,
but from my strength within,
I am a Warrior.
I will walk the extra mile,
Not because I have to,
But because it's worth my while.
I know that I am different,
When I am standing on a crowded street.
I know the fullness of winning;
I've tasted the cup of defeat.
I am a Warrior.
They say walk with ease
Though trained for bodily harm,
My intentions are for peace.
The world may come and go,
But a different path I'll choose.
A path I will not stray from,
No matter...win or lose.
www.veteranownedbusiness.com
The TRUTH About How Much Stuff We Have
How much stuff do you have that you don't need? How much time and energy do your spend looking after it and storing it?
The following are statistics about how we spend our money on the stuff in our lives.
Be honest, do you have things that you can sell, donate or flat-out take to the dumpster? Let's use today as a starting point for making better decisions about the stuff we choose the have in our lives and how we can make better use of our hard-earned money,
Below are some statistics that hopefully encourage you to become more mindful of your consumption. (provided by makingsenseoutofcents.com)
1. Women are 27% more likely than men to have no retirement savings.
2. The average household has 300,000 items.
3. Nearly 10% of households also rent self-storage units.
4. The average person who takes out a new car loan takes out $27,000.
5. 68% of people live paycheck to paycheck.
6. Annually, an average of $220 per person is spent on the lottery.
7. The average person spends 12 days per year looking for things they can’t find.
8. 26% have no emergency savings.
9. In the last few decades, the average home has nearly tripled in size.
10. Women spend 399 hours and 46 minutes shopping each year.
11. The median amount saved for retirement is less than $60,000.
12. The average household has $7,283 in credit card debt.
13. The average person wastes their gym membership.
14. The average student loan debt is $32,264.
Are You Telling The TRUTH About Your Health?
The TRUTH is 41.9% of Americans are obese.
Another 32.5% are overweight.
This means that 74.4% of people are not taking good care of themselves. Are you one of them?
I also share some thoughts about COVID, the vaccine and boosters, and screen time in this episode.
The Truth About Wholesome & Healthy Relationships
For years I was in a relationship I knew I should not be in; it was toxic and lacked integrity. It wasn't until my dad died that I understood that my feelings of unworthiness were untrue. I had piled on years of reasons as to why I was undeserving of endearing love and affection. After climbing out of a very deep hole of not being good enough and shame, I came to these conclusions:
1. I had to understand and commit to self-love.
2. I had to do a deep dive into my beliefs.
3. I had to identify and declare my values.
In this episode, I read an excerpt from my book Keep Your Ass In The Saddle. I share my thoughts about what it takes to get to a place where we are ready to enter into a romantic relationship with another person. I hope you get something out of my experience.
You can get my book here: amzn.to/33gONRa
Are Your Beliefs True?
Most of us inherit our beliefs from a parent, teacher, or person of influence who passed along their beliefs to us when we were young.
Take some time to ask yourself why you believe what you believe.
The TRUTH about our open border
November Theme: Truth - November 3, the TRUTH about our border.
I love this country, the American flag, farmers, ranchers, first responders, and the military.
And the TRUTH is we have a wide-open southern border. As a patriotic American, this fact frustrates the shit out of me.
In today's podcast, I share some frightening facts about our open border, and I urge you to inform yourself and get to the polls next week and VOTE!
Have a listen. I would love your thoughts.
November Theme: Truth Day 2
What's your story?
Are you willing to be truthful about the story you have been telling about your life? And, if it is a shitty story that is resulting in a shitty life, are you willing to change it?
Theme of the Month: Truth Day 1
What are your top 3 values?
What is most important to you in life?
Have you discussed your family values if you are part of a family?
Do you know their values if you have a spouse or partner?
A foundation of values is a solid starting place to build our focus on Truth.
The Sandwich Generation
Founder and President
Parentis Health, Parentis Foundation and Verona Court
With over 30 years of experience as a registered nurse, and nearly 20 years of owning and operating Verona Court, for Arda, healthcare still remains personal. Her own experiences as a caretaker began in 1985 when, as a nursing student, she moved her family along with her aging parents from Jerusalem, Israel, to Yonkers, New York, ultimately relocating to Southern California.
Arda channels her experiences of caring for her own family members into every patient at Verona Court, treating everyone in her care with the utmost dignity and compassion. As the co-founder of the Parentis Foundation, Arda provides both older adults and children opportunities to enrich their lives and share a sense of purpose through the power of literacy.
Fifty-four percent of American adults fall into the category of the Sandwich Generation. In my conversation with Arda you will learn what that means and some helpful tips, tools, and resources to assist you in navigating your way as a member of the Sandwich Generation. Regardless of your age, any adult over the age of 18 would benefit from listening to Arda. It is never too soon to begin putting a plan in place to assist our parents through their 'leveling up' as well as preparing ourselves and our children for the future.
www.parentishealth.com This is Arda's company website where you can learn more about her organization.
www.familyloveletter.com This website offers many tools and products to assist us in managing Estate Planning and family succession plans.
Becky Robbins-Total Knee Recovery
Becky is a badass. She is also a good friend. She recently had a total knee replacement brought on by years of being active and athletic. In this conversation, we talk about her remarkable recovery from surgery. Becky shares how she prepared for her operation and what she has done to rehabilitate her knee. I know you will find her insights helpful, especially if you have any health challenges that you are in the midst of handling.
Stay tuned for my next conversation with Becky. She is up to some really good things that I want to share with you. In the meantime, have a look at her website and enjoy her art!
www.beckyrobbins.com
Mental Health-Let's Talk About It.
Dawn Myers, co-founder of Guided Leadership Solutions provides business coaching, consulting, and HR fundamentals to San Diego Law Firms. She is also a public speaker and provides expert witness testimony for employment attorneys.
In addition to leading the board of the San Diego Hospitality Human Resources Association. She has acted as an Advisor, Board Member, and currently teaches in the HR Certificate Program at San Diego State Global Campus.
Her 25 years of experience led to her passion to see businesses succeed and be transparent in sharing her knowledge, experience, success, and failures with owners and leaders.
She has been married for 35-never-boring-years, has two grown sons that she adores, and two granddaughters that have stolen her heart.
Dawn generously describes her experience with depression, how to detect early signs, and courses of action that have been essential in the successful management of her diagnosis. We also talk about her extensive experience and expertise in Human Resources and how it led her to co-found Guided Leadership Solutions.
From Hostage Negotiator to Cancer Warrior with Terry Tucker
The Grief Recovery Method with Lesleigh Tolin, MS, AGRMS
Lesleigh J. Tolin, is a heart driven entrepreneur and the owner of Healing Hearts International. Trained and
certified by the Grief Recovery Institute, Lesleigh is an Advanced Grief Recovery Method Specialist.
The Grief Recovery Method (GRM), is a 43 year-old program, structured and action based 8 week
program offering a step by step method for moving beyond pain and significant loss.
Lesleigh was drawn to the Grief Recovery Method principles due to her own painful and inordinate
personal losses in her lifetime. This program was the “last healing measure that she tried to heal her own
heart, and the first that worked for her well-being.” It has been a joy for her to hear the same statement
spoken over and over again by her own clientele.
The success of the Grief Recovery Method is evidence based from studies at Kent State University’s
College of Public Health.
GRM is facilitated across the United States and internationally in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico,
Honduras and Scandinavia.
With a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, Lesleigh has 27 years of service in the healing arts;
4,500 clinical family hours; and 12 years of hospice service both as a Social Worker, and as Mgr. of
Volunteer Services. Lesleigh collaborated with the Dream Foundation of Santa Barbara to turn dying
dreams into lasting memories for her patients and their families.
In her clinical work, Lesleigh interned at CSUN’s Strength United Agency which provided supportive in-
home counseling services to parents and children through the Department of Children and Family Services
(DCFS). Lesleigh continued her internship at the Parent and Relationship Counseling Foundation in
Granada Hills, which offered parents, children, couples and individuals relationship workshops and one-
on-one improved communication skills.
With decades of recovery from an eating disorder, Lesleigh worked on staff at a 90-day residential treatment
care center for adult women with drug, alcohol, and eating disorders addiction.
As an Advanced Specialist, Lesleigh now offers her 8-week program to individual adults across nationwide
and internationally.
You can find many valuable resources on Lesleigh's website under the eBook Tab.
www.lesleighjtolin.com
Post-Pandemic Investor Perspectives with Kimberly Guha
In May 2020, UBS Investor Watch surveyed investors as the first wave of the pandemic was ebbing. In their report, “Setting a new course,” they found that investors were fearful, uncertain, and reassessing what was most important to them.
Fast forward to today, with vaccinations accelerating, commerce recovering, and restrictions loosening, the current UBS research shows a reprioritizing of goals—and a more acute sense that life is short.
But rather than indiscriminate spending and frenzied celebrations, the hallmarks of this post-pandemic recovery will likely be more measured—and more meaningful.
To be sure, many investors intend to make up for lost time, led by those in Asia. Nearly six in 10 investors want to indulge in the things they missed while in isolation, with travel and entertainment topping the list of planned expenditures.
But something else is going on.
Seven in 10 investors want to make more of a difference in the world. Six in 10 report that the pandemic made them more spiritual. Forty percent say they want to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Digging deeper, we found that women and younger investors were most affected by the pandemic. Women were more likely than men, for example, to reassess their priorities. And by a huge margin, younger investors value making a difference in the world (79% vs. 51% of investors over age 50).
With this new perspective, investors are more interested in using their capital to effect change—nearly half plan to increase charitable giving from their pre-pandemic levels, led by Latin America. And almost 60% are more interested in investing sustainably than they were before the pandemic.
As a global recovery continues to advance, look not just for hotels and stadiums to fill up, but hearts and minds too.
My guest, Kimberly Guha, joins me to dive deeper into this research and to review the best way to prepare to be a strategic investor.
Kimberly Guha, CPA®, CIMA® is a Certified Financial Planner® and Accredited Wealth Management Advisor℠ with Taylor Family Wealth Management at UBS, who focuses on providing tax-aware investment solutions tailored to each family’s individual financial goals. Kim works with many executive women and families to focus on what is important to them both qualitatively and quantitatively, helping them ascertain their life and financial goals. She believes strongly in the importance of educating the next generations to use value systems that maximize the impact of human, social, intellectual and financial capital. She provides honest advice, thoughtful guidance, and responsive support, earning the trust and respect of clients.
Contact info: Kimberly.Guha@ubs.com
Reclaim Your Power. Recognize Your Highest Potential. Live Your Best Life with Ashley Holt
The Hollywood Approach with Kristina Paider
The True Power of Manifestation with Daniel Mangena
After receiving a late diagnosis of Asperger's and experiencing life-shattering trauma at age 20, Daniel spent seven years struggling to keep the effects of these events from spilling into every aspect of his life.
Daniel initially developed Beyond Intention as a lifeline while he grappled with suicidal thoughts and ideation. This simple, four-step process transformed his life from misery to celebration. Daniel realized he could help others do the same, and thus Beyond Intention was born.
Daniel discovered a path to lasting joy and purpose in his life, and he wants nothing more than to share the tools that saved his life. To that end, he lives by this mission statement:
"Spearhead an evolutionary uplift in universal consciousness by awakening people to the importance of their Unique Role already encoded within. This deep and often ignored or undervalued passion is defined as their Dream."
Daniel shares his vision of empowerment and joy globally through public speaking, workshops, books he has authored, blogging, and his "Do it With Dan" podcast series. In addition, Daniel offers individual and group coaching and consultations.
Daniel is also a voracious reader, publicly documenting his challenge to read a book every week. He loves to travel, writes, and performs as a singer-songwriter, practices Kundalini yoga, meditation and stays active with Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He is an outspoken promoter of entrepreneurial philanthropy, as well as an ambassador for the Mangena Foundation. He works with several charities across the globe and considers himself a patron of many.
To contact Daniel, visit www.dreamwithdan.com. He can also be found on most major social media platforms with the handle @dreamerCEO.
Finding Your Life Purpose with Erica Carrico
Erica Carrico is an Award-Winning Life Purpose & Business Coach for women who are ready to transform their lives by creating six-figure businesses, while lucratively expressing their own soul purpose.
Through coaching services and speaking, Erica helps soulful entrepreneurs build & up-level their businesses, ditch their 9-5's, and make fabulous money on their spiritual path so they can finally earn a living doing what they absolutely love... what they were put on earth to do.
Erica has a BS in Psychology, a Masters in Business Management, and 12+ years in international business leadership experience. She built a multi-six-figure coaching business (with two kids in tow!) in just over 2 years and is obsessed with helping her clients all around the world transform their lives by creating six-figure + businesses, while lucratively expressing their own soul purpose.
Awaken Your Purpose with Erica Carrico | Facebook
Erica Carrico - Life Purpose & Business Coach | Speaker - Carrico Ventures, LLC | LinkedIn
Erica✨Spiritual Business Coach (@ericalynncarrico) • Instagram photos and videos
www.EricaCarrico.com
Embracing Your True Identity with David Trotter
David Trotter is a business growth consultant and the founder of Inspiration Rising. Through the Rise Up Business Academy, he helps struggling business owners break through their biggest barriers to reach their greatest goals - all without the paralyzing overwhelm, feeling all alone, or wondering what-the-heck to do next. He's the author of nine books including “Empowered to Rise: The Secret to Embracing Your True Identity, Uncovering Your Super Powers, and Bringing Your Inspiration to the World.”
In this podcast, you will hear David's powerful story about helping to start a thriving church at age 25, founding his own church, traveling to India, starting a furniture store, directing and producing feather-length films, and then hitting rock bottom. He courageously took responsibility for some bad choices that he made and put his life back together. For the past 12 years, he has dedicated his time to helping female entrepreneurs (and men), attain their greatest business and personal goals. We also talk about his latest book, Empowered to Rise, and what inspired him to write it.
https://www.facebook.com/riseupcreatives
https://www.instagram.com/insporising/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdavidtrotter/
https://twitter.com/riseupcreatives
As a gift to our listeners, David has generously offered a 7-Day Free Trial of his Rise Up Creative resources.
Start your trial today by going to: www.riseupcreatives.com/join
Designing For Wellness with Susie Frazier
Susie Frazier is an award-winning artist and author known for a biophilic approach to her work. Using a deep understanding of the healing effects of nature’s patterns, Susie has developed wellness art solutions for health care, hospitality, corporate, and residential settings across the U.S. and abroad. She also sells her own handcrafted accessories and curated goods to consumers through her online store and retail showroom located inside Cleveland's 78th Street Studios.
By leveraging her own sensory experiences with ADHD and generalized anxiety, Susie specializes in freeform installations that bring ease to the overstimulated mind.
Susie is the author of Designing For Wellness, an inspirational book of practical tips for improving mental health through the decorative choices we make in our built environments. Available through Amazon and Apple Books, this independently-published title was the winner of a 2020 International Book Award, a 2020 Living Now Book Award, a 2020 Global eBook Award, and two Best Book Award recognitions as a finalist in the Home & Garden and Health/Psychology Mental Health Categories.
Susie and her ideas have been featured in media outlets across the country including CBS San Diego, Fox News Houston, U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, Organic Spa Magazine, Interiors & Sources, and more. She was the recipient of a 2018 regional Emmy® award for her NBC TV pilot “Movers & Makers with Susie Frazier,” which aired locally in Northeast Ohio.
In response to COVID-19's negative impact on small business maker economies, Susie invented Maker Town™, a mobile app directory that helps consumers find hundreds of nearby makers so they can more easily determine where they want to shop local, shop handmade and shop small. Currently featuring 600 makers in the Northeast Ohio region, the Maker Town™ app will eventually expand into other markets with Columbus, Ohio being next.
No stranger to establishing local directories, Susie launched Cleveland’s very first gallery guide in 2005, producing and printing it for three years in partnership with Cleveland Magazine, who continued distributing it through 2012. Susie was also the founder of Sparx City Hop, a nationally recognized program that showcases artists, arts retailers and arts festivals in order to drive more commerce in the Downtown Cleveland area. The program is now in its 18th year and is run by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.
For over 24 years, Susie has created design solutions for some of the most prominent organizations in the world.
Amber Tichenor, Author of Behind Frenemy Lines, Rising Above Female Rivalry
Meet Amber Tichenor
Loyal. Passionate. Adventurous.
I want you to feel empowered and strong to make the choice to be fully YOU. As a coach and speaker focused on women who are ready for transformative change, I bring passion and purpose to my work to help clients move their obstacles and create full, successful lives.
With a history in change management, organizational leadership and bucking the corporate system to venture forth into international jobs and projects, I combine strategic talents with grounded experience to help clients determine their path to passion and purpose. I help women break out of their comfort zones and tackle big topics like workplace rivalry and how to sustain holistic balance in their life and careers. And I don’t tolerate mean girls…or boys.
I have a PhD in Industrial Organizational (I/O) Psychology and specialize in “a-ha” moments. I love having fun with my husband, two kids and Stella the dog.
Employee to Entrepreneur with Jeannie Andresen
From being stagnant as a corporate-employed 30-year-old to self-employed at 31, Jeannie’s an example of what you can accomplish by investing in hiring a coach and believing in yourself.
She proves that with resiliency, an abundance mindset, and courage, you can make big moves towards creating a successful career you love.
www.jeannieandresen.com
https://www.instagram.com/jeannieandresen_/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChQiUAp8i7F8jb36AEx1Egw/featured?view_as=subscriber
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannieand/
126 Days, 11 Minutes Our Love Story, with author Larry Indiviglia
Larry Indiviglia wrote 126 Days, 11 Minutes: Our Love Story to honor the life of Gayle and their love for each other. Although brief, Larry considers his relationship with Gayle as one of the most profound experiences of his life. He also hopes 126 Days, 11 Minutes inspires others to say “yes” to love even when logic says, “no.” Larry believes there are many beautiful souls who are looking to discover and experience unconditional love. His book shows it is possible.
Larry Indiviglia is President of INDsightsForLife, Inc., a fitness professional, presenter, and author as well as a business and life coach for the Todd Durkin Mastermind Program. Larry is also a retired naval reserve officer and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He holds a MA in Corporate Fitness Administration and an MBA from the University of San Diego.
Larry has authored articles in Coronado Lifestyles Magazine, Shipmate, The Coronado Eagle, The Gratitude Book, and Balanced Body, Balanced Life. Additionally, he was extensively quoted in Runner’s World and The New York Times His work over a 30-year fitness career has inspired motivated and encouraged people to grow and do their best. His powerful ability to connect with people helps them transform their lives and businesses. His goal for 126 Days, 11 Minutes is to help you transform your relationships by learning to love unconditionally.
Larry lives and works in San Diego, has two children: Joe and Lauren, and one grandson, Luca. Larry’s first book INDsights for Life: Rising Up - Reaching Higher – Together, is an inspirational guide containing daily messages of hope, belief, caring, and love. It is available on Kindle and Audible.
Email Larry at lindiviglia@gmail.com
You can find the book here: https://amzn.to/3liPDWH
Girls4Greatness with Delia Perry
Delia was born and raised in a tiny town in rural Iowa. She admits that she was blessed with a great upbringing and a relatively normal childhood. However, when she left her small world of familiarity and headed to college, she had to endure some tough experiences that wreaked havoc on her self-esteem and left her confused about who she really was.
Those experiences left her wondering for years why she struggled so much with her self-esteem, habits, and thought process. She has since been on an amazing journey of self-discovery and self-improvement for what seems like most of her adult life. And somewhere along the line, she created Girls4Greatness. The mission of her organization is to inspire you to ROCK a life empowered by your own greatness.
www.girls4greatness.com
Suggested book: The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo
www.facebook.com/girls4greatness
Vital Blends CBD products with Kelly Fanale, Founder
Our story dates back to 2014 when my daughter Courtney started experiencing debilitating, nearly paralyzing hip pain.
She was misdiagnosed with Sciatica for 5 months. By mid-March of 2015, she could not walk, so her doctor ordered an X-Ray, MRI, and CT Scan, which revealed she had Avascular Necrosis of the right hip.
This condition required her to have multiple hip-preservation surgeries throughout the next 2 years, as well as hydrotherapy, hyperbaric chamber treatments, physical and occupational therapy, and Exogen™ bone stimulation. It was a nightmare, as one can imagine!
This is where our journey began. I searched for a variety of CBD products effective for pain management. I vetted 15 different companies’ products to identify the formulas that worked best. Through this process, I learned that not all CBD products are created equally in terms of quality, efficacy, lab testing, and affordability.
Then I met my manufacturer. After one application of CBD-infused Celadrin™ Cream (a pain balm), Courtney felt nearly instant relief. We didn’t know it then, but that cream ended up saving her life.
Within just ten days, she was able to discontinue taking her pain medication, replacing it with a steady regimen of CBD-infused tinctures and pain balms.
Her mind was clear again; she was excited about her recovery, and we both felt like she had been given a completely new lease on life.
This led us to conduct further research. We quickly discovered how effective CBD products could be and how much they were helping others with different ailments/conditions, most notably, neurological conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s, in addition to arthritis, nerve, and joint pain.
We knew we had stumbled upon something incredible and couldn’t wait to share it with the world. Courtney and I decided to turn this into our life’s work.
We wanted to help other people find the same kind of life-altering relief that she had experienced, which led us to the creation of Vital Blends.
www.vitalblendsnow.com
Rockin the Ages with Anita Mahaffey, Founder of Cool-Jams
Anita Mahaffey is a wife, mother, and serial entrepreneur. She founded Cool-jams in 2007 at the age of 50. Her goal is to help people sleep better. As a three-time survivor of cancer, she speaks about inner beauty versus outer beauty and the importance of accepting oneself and other as they are. Listen to what she has to say about Rockin the Ages.
"My motivation to start Cool-jams in 2007 was because I was having terrible sleep problems. I tried so many brands of sleepwear and couldn’t find anything to help me to stay cool, dry, and temperature regulated. The more I talked to other men and women with the same issues, the more I understood that I was on to something. As a textile expert, I knew there had to be a better way to sleep if I could just develop some fabrics that would help wick moisture, eliminate temperature swings, and dry rapidly. It was a tall order because I was not only concerned about developing a smart fabric to help me sleep better, but I wanted great looking products as well. After several years of research & development, I found the Cool-jams solution and was ready to launch." -Anita Mahaffey
www.cool-jams.com
www.instagram.com/cooljamssleepwear/
www.facebook.com/CooljamsSleepwear/