Embark

Lisa DeAngelis: Embracing the Unknown and Exploring the Pathways to Change

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0400

Humans are complicated. We often crave change... as long as we don't have to work to make it happen. How great would it be if we could have that dream job, or perfect mate, or lose that pesky 10 pounds, with a wave of a wand or a sprinkle of pixie dust?
Life would be perfect.

So much for magical thinking.

Change, unless it happens from external sources, is an inside job. Yes, it is so hard, we may whine, but so well worth it if it brings us closer to what we want and honors our values. Desire plus self-knowledge plus action equals change.

Lisa DeAngelis knows a thing or two about change and describes the obstacles we encounter (or put in our own way), the reasons behind our resistance and the rewards we receive when we explore new possibilities. She shares through research, personal experience and case studies what's involved in change and how it's not as difficult or as easy as it looks.

She also tells me when change isn't such a good idea, if the justification is 'all the other kids are doing it'.

Join us, then share your own experience with change. Thanks for listening.

About Lisa

Lisa DeAngelis is a holistic change practitioner, author, teacher, and speaker. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships and helping others live authentically.

Her debut book, Embracing the Unknown: Exploring the Pathways to Change offers research, wisdom, and aspirational stories which will empower and support others in learning to navigate change in their own lives. Lisa’s own unfolding journey has established her commitment to living with intention and purpose and helping others walk through the meaningful intersections of their lives. An avid traveler, singer and lover of the arts, Lisa lives and works in New York City

Anne Janzer on the Writer's Voice

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 22:00:00 -0400

Our voiceprint is as unique as our fingerprint, and we understand a little about how we use our physical voice. But how do we use a writer's voice, and what is it anyway?

As readers, we fall in love with certain writers, their word choice, their attitude, the memorable characters that populate a work of fiction, or the distinct style of an essayist or non-fiction writer.

Whether you want to make your emails more engaging/impactful/entertaining or if you're attempting to author a distint book of your own, it's essential to develop a voice that connects to the reader or listener.

Anne Janzer, brings knowledge, wisdom and humor to this episode. She has also written The Writer's Voice: Techniques for Tuning your Tone and Style, the fifth book in her Writer's Process Series.

We discuss how many writer's feel about their writing and writer's voice, how you can improve and vary the style in which you communicate, the musicality of language and the importance of serving the reader.

With a little practice and and a sense of play, you can master the art and science of writing voice.

Anne Janzer is an award-winning author, armchair cognitive science geek, nonfiction author coach, marketing practitioner, and blogger. She’s on a mission to help people spread important ideas through writing.

As a professional writer, she has worked with more than one hundred technology companies, writing in the voice of countless brands and corporate executives. She is author of the books Get the Word Out, Writing to Be Understood, The Writer’s Process, The Workplace Writer’s Process, and Subscription Marketing.

Collin Lieberg on Striking Creatives, Streaming and the British Invasion

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 18:00:00 -0400

With two creative guilds (Writers Guild of America & SAG-AFTRA) on strike, can we look forward to a repeat of this summer's Barbenhiemer double-bill phenom next summer? How much longer can striking actors and writers face off with big studios? This strike affects many thousands more: Directors, script supervisors, hair and make-up, location scouts, gaffers, craft services, dialect coaches are just some of the essential members of a film crew.

Collin Lieberg is Creative Executive at Cobalt Knight, a genre production company focused on telling feature, series, and comic book stories about the human condition with touches of social commentary. He develops much of the content that you might view. Yet, these days, in solidarity with WGA and SAG-AFTRA, he's working on personal projects until the strikes are resolved.

We talk about the striking creatives, the complications of negotiating with streaming companies and ponder what changes may happen and how that affects the film and TV industry whenever the strikes are settled. Oh yeah. We also discuss Collin's musical background, and his fascination with the British Invasion of the 1960's.

Collin Lieberg is a screenwriter, creative executive, and world traveler. He has spent many years living abroad and feeling out of place, so he writes about outsiders struggling to fit in. He has a background in academia, management, marketing, and retail that all inform his characters and stories. For the past two years he has run a monthly #VirtualHappyHour (#VHH) Zoom mixer to connect with friends and make new connections.

He's working on two TV pilots and is gearing up to write his first novel.

Read more here:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/terra-mystica-board-game-adaptation-cobalt-knight-1235363278/

Liz and Jack on AI, Strikes and Barbenheimer

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 14:00:00 -0400

You've probably heard the ubiquitous discussion about AI. How the bots are coming after your job, and are capable of even greater nefarious actions.

We put the nefarious aside today to address how AI voices are eliminating the need/desire to use human voice actors for many narration projects. So yes, Jack and my conversation is born out of self-interest, some trepidation and curiosity as to where all of this leads. The development and now widespread use of AI - for everything from ordering dinner to writing a book to litigating a legal case - has significant consequences, which we will continue to explore throughout our season.

Speaking of significant consequences, Jack and I talk about the SAG-AFTRA theatrical strike, as well as blockbuster movie openings despite it. Barbie and Oppenheimer, also known as Barbenheimer, or Oppenbarbie, have moviegoers filling theatre seats in record numbers. In just three weeks, Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, has broken box office records, taking in over one billion dollars globally. Not bad for a girl : )

At the same time, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer's has taken in 500 million dollars. Not too shabby for a three-hour film about the development of the nuclear bomb, another consequential event. See a theme here?

We have some fun, and Jack indulges in some shameless (albeit well-deserved) self-promotion.

Thanks for listening.

Mental Health Counselor Jon Mattleman on Work, Loneliness and Emergency Joys

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Feeling overwhelmed? Lonely? Burnt-out and unfulfilled? You're not alone.

When the Surgeon General declares a mental health crisis, you know your feelings of anxiety and depression are not outliers.

Mental Health Counselor Jon Mattleman provides some calm, as well as some strategies you can use to help you get over some of life's most challenging times and perhaps lift your spirits.

We talk about the changing phenomenon of how we choose - if at all, to show up at work, where to find fulfillment in several overlooked and abandoned professions and how Jon discovered his 'emergency joy' in a quarter of Brigham's chocolate chip ice cream.

About Jon Mattleman

Across all of his work, Jon brings warmth, understanding, and patience…plus a healthy dose of humor! In his more than 30 years of experience as a therapist and presenter, clients have felt comforted by his ability to acknowledge that the challenges they face are complex – and often downright exhausting! In acknowledgment of this, his work is grounded in delivering tools that can be implemented immediately. Who has time to wait?

More about Jon's work here

Liz & Jack on Passions Versus Practicality: Which Route Leads to Success?

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 14:00:00 -0400

Passions. Some people say follow your passions and you'll never work a day in your life. Do what you love and the money will follow. Is that true? If we don't take the road less traveled, will we regret it, or be ever grateful to the parents who urged us to attend business school or find 'a real job'?

Is it possible to follow a more traditional, pragmatic career path and either find passion there? How important is having a career for an interest we have passion for, especially if we lack talent of said passion? Passions. What are they good for?

Which route leads to success - and happiness - following your passions or being pragmatic? Can those two things coexist?

Jack and I will let you know as we discuss our own career paths, the advice we would give our younger selves and wax poetic about a little, old TV show called 'WKRP in Cincinnati'.

Welcome to our world. Please share this episode with a friend, mention it on the socials and please subscribe.

Ghostwriter Sherry Granader: How a Literary Ninja Tells Your Story

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Andy Warhol said 'In the future everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes.' Seems like everyone will have a book as well. It can raise your profile as a professional, bring your credibility as an expert, get you speaking engagements, and if it's a good book, make you famous.

Many non-fiction, business books and memoirs are written by ghostwriters, those unsung heroes of the literary world who take the facts and history of someone's life and experience and transform it into an engaging narrative. Today, on Embark, we delve into this world of story craft with Sherry Granader.

As a ghostwriter of over 150 books, with 5 on Amazon’s bestseller list, Sherry is also a certified Sports Nutritionist. She has ghostwritten books and memoirs for CEOs, business owners, Doctors, Lawyers, Scientists, and Clinical Nutritionists.

In addition to attending Culinary School at the University of Montana, Sherry is also an author of 2 healthy cookbooks, “Eat Right, Feel Good, Lose Weight, Have Fun – You won’t be hungry!” and “Soy You Wanna Lose Weight?”

She served as the On-Air Nutritionist for QVC television in the United States and the UK and hosted her weekly “Healthy Living” segments for PBS television.

Sherry is passionate about sharing her writing talents with authors to help them express their voices, knowledge, and life experiences to create a book he or she can be proud of. Sherry specializes in non-fiction, memoirs, medical and business books.

Is writing a book in your future? Here are Sherry's top 10 reasons to worth with a ghostwriter.

1. Not Getting it Done - The main reason I'd consider engaging a ghostwriter is if you're in a position where you've wanted to write a book for years and just aren't getting it done. If you've realized that it's just not going to happen if you're on your own, then a ghostwriter can turn your idea into a publishable draft.

2. TIME – most of my authors work full time and do not have the time it takes to create a publisher-ready manuscript. A book of 150+ pages takes about 4 months write 3 chapters per month.

3. A Ghostwriter and Bring Your Story to Life - It’s still your ideas and knowledge in many cases, and the ghostwriter brings has the writing chops to bring it to life.

4. No ONE has to know – operative word – ghost. There is nothing shady about hiring a ghostwriter. It might seem strange that ghostwriters don’t take any credit for their work and you might worry that they’ll resent you, but rest assured: contracted ghostwriters are perfectly content with their jobs.

5. It is a collaborative effort - Ghostwriting collaborations are as rewarding for the ghostwriter as they are for the person hiring them, and they've helped countless people fulfill publishing goals they could previously only dream of.

6. Ghostwriters are chameleons who bring other people's stories to the page in fiction and nonfiction. They are versatile, the chameleons of the writing world, and can effortlessly switch between styles and genres.

7. Lack the Know-How - No one knows your life story better than you, but you may lack the know-how to tie it all together in a way that is easy to follow and that the average reader will appreciate. Enter the ghostwriter, who can synthesize all your memories and anecdotes into a moving autobiography or entertaining memoir with a little distance from the topic!

8. Ghostwriters ask the right questions – especially when it comes to writing a memoir. Often too close to the topic as the author, the ghostwriter asks the ques

AI: Something to Fear, or Embrace: A Question for Voice Actors and Other Creatives

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 19:00:00 -0400

AI Voices. We hear about them every day. And we hear them every day. At the airport. Waiting for a bus or train. On that small console on our kitchen counter or, God forbid, bedside table.

Smart assistants make our lives easier: Ask them anything. But the technology also hears a lot. Perhaps a lot that we’d rather keep to ourselves.

In this episode, I talk about my own ambivalence about the quickly evolving development of and our growing comfort with AI. For many of us in the voice over industry, as well as other creative pursuits like graphic design, animation, writing, and professions like law, there's a certain uneasiness with the technology as well.

AI: Something to fear or embrace? The technology is here to stay, so it’s best to understand it and use it to our best advantage. Professionally speaking, it’s a great tool, but I’m going to double down on being human.

A few weeks ago, voice actor Ann Lucente and I moderated a panel discussion on AI in Clubhouse. Listen to the replay here.

Recent Embark guest Kirsten Rourke weighed in on AI, among other things.
Find our conversation here.

As always, let's keep it human. And thanks for listening.

Kirsten Rourke: 'Humans Don't Learn from Dull'

Mon, 15 May 2023 18:00:00 -0400

She is a TED-talking, eLearning, tech-savvy, belly-dancing, wine-sipping presentation coach, and she's my guest today on Embark.

Ongoing Mastery's Kirsten Rourke worked freelance with training vendors for over 20 years, gaining expertise in adjusting to environments on the fly and fixing training programs that weren’t working for clients’ needs. She's been an e-Learning developer, staff instructional designer, and production manager for a large international team. In addition to being a Certified Technical Trainer, Kirsten has a Master’s of Education in Instructional Design.

She shifted her business to Rourke Training LLC in January 2022 to bring a focus on performance, engagement, and instructional design to leaders who know they need to adapt to their speaking environment and audience in the moment without stress.

In this episode we discuss the key to engagement, even in the virtual meting, the growing industry of instructional design, the ubiquitous AI discussion, her stint at Burger King University, a favorite belly dancing performances and her recommendation for a quaffable spring wine.

Thanks for joining the conversation.

Catherine Johns: Connect with Your Voice. Show Up. Stand Out. Shine.

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 15:00:00 -0500

"Everything rests on your ability to communicate." Catherine Johns walks - and talks - the talk.

I have the pleasure to share a fantastic conversation where we discuss how to gracefully navigate the dreaded Zoom talk, as well as how to own the stage, even when you are being heckled, er, challenged by an unruly audience member.

Hear Catherine's take on how the overthinking speaker gets centered, where to place yourself on stage, and when to move and why a bot will never replace her.

About Catherine:
Catherine John's guides executives and entrepreneurs to craft a clear compelling message and deliver it with confidence charisma, and maybe a quirk.

If you're from the Midwest, you may remember Catherine from Chicago radio as a morning show personality and talk show host. She perfected the art of making information interesting. While she invited interaction and probably develop to some incredible improvisational skills, she has consulted with companies like JP Morgan, Bank of America, and good year to elevate their presentation skills.

She provides coaching and training on executive presence, client communication and public speaking, along with special sessions for women on professional presence.

Find her book, Show and Shine: Simple Steps to Boost Your Confidence and Charisma on Amazon

Liz and Jack on The State of the Union, State of Music and Altered States

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 18:00:00 -0500

Tired of the news cycle? Sick of the constant drip, drip, drip of downbeat information?

So are we, so Jack and I decided less news media consumption, more turning up the volume and indulging our passion for listening to music.

We couldn't help but watch the State of the Union Address, though. We wander into political territory, before going to the happy place of sharing favorite bands, and wondering if Rock 'n Roll is still a thing. If it's not, is it time to re-think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Broaden the tent to encompass all genres? I like that idea. It feels democratic, and since I embrace all kinds of music, it seems right.

We also talk about altered states, aka cosmetic surgery. Many celebrities are doing an about face on their old - er, former - faces, with mixed results. What do you think?

Also, in light of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, there is incredible need and ways for your to help. Check your local consulates to donate in-kind items like blankets, tents, jackets, diapers, hats, gloves and other clothing.

You can also donate to unicefusa.org or https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org.
Thank you.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions? Reach out at liz@embarkthepodcast.com.

Thanks for listening.

I Hear You - Dr. Laura Janusik: How the Quality of Listening Determines the Quality of Relationship

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 19:00:00 -0500

You have two ears and one mouth, so you probably listen twice as much as you talk.
Nah, not even close. Most of us, in fact, don't know how to listen. We've never really been taught.

Can we learn how to listen?

Glad you asked. We have a listening expert, a PhD in Listening. Okay, she's a PhD in Communications. Dr. Laura Janusik wasn't always a great listener. She thought she was smarter than whoever was talking, and uncomfortable with lulls in the conversation was a 'filler-inner." Like most of us. She got over it, though and so can we.

Our conversation covers text and subtext, what respectful listening is and why you don't need to agree to just listen and understand.

Laura Janusik one of the world’s leading experts in teaching and training listening is a dynamic trainer, researcher, speaker, coach, and consultant,

She uses her MBA and PhD in Communication to help coaches listen well, hear more, and change lives. Her approach to communication, both oral and written, is practical and other-centered.

Past president of the International Listening Association, Laura is published both nationally and internationally. Her research and ideas are cited in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and US News and World Report. Read more here.

Liz and Jack on The Royals, Paper Shuffling and Discovering Awe

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 17:00:00 -0500

How's your year going? Jack has dubbed the month of January 'the Monday of the year', and it's feeling that way with the crazy shenanigans going on in the House of Representatives, secret documents unearthed in garages and tell-all bios by whiny Royals. Although we not-so-secretly crave a crown of our own. (I'm polishing mine now.)

Jack and I do find silver linings, and cock-eyed optimists that we are, share admiration for Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin and gratitude for his remarkable recovery from cardiac arrest his suffered two weeks ago. It's always a win when we all come together to rally behind someone.

We also talk about the power of awe, the wonder we find in nature, people we admire, the miracle of birth. Those things that put our lives and perspective. A reminder we are not the center of the earth but part of something greater than ourselves.

All the same, we think y'all are pretty great.

Send in your comments, ideas and feedback at liz@embarkthepodcast.com.

Thanks for listening.

Erin Lebacqz on High Value Writing - A Powerful Way to Elevate Your Brand

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 20:00:00 -0500

Now that most of us are remote, there's a whole lot of writing going on. Emails, social posts, newsletters, web content. Writing, or at least good writing, is something many of us find difficult. Erin Lebacqz is here and guides us to show up as our best selves, on paper(or screen), at least.

We talk about why conciseness and clarity matter, and how how you can convey a respectful, empathetic message to people, regardless of their beliefs, background, educational level and experiences. Why verbs can be a communicators best friend, and how to use them to best effect.

Hear about writing intelligence, which is much like emotional intelligence, but with, you know, written words. In other words, Erin shares how we can come across and a caring expert who responds to the reader's needs.

About Erin:

Author and international educator Erin Lebacqz helps you write with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence. Erin’s curriculum and book, High-Value Writing, capture Erin’s 25 years of experience working with business and academic writers around the world.

Erin’s interactive sessions engage learners in purposeful discussions that respect their desire for intellectual growth while also providing practical strategies learners can immediately apply in the workplace.

You can learn more about Erin’s instructional style through her videos on her YouTube channel: High-Value Writing.

Connect with Erin on LinkedIn

Liz & Jack on How to Handle Those Tense and Awkward Holiday Conversations.=

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0500

The lights! The decorations! The presents! The throw down at the dinner table.

Ah, the holidays. They can be joyous occasions to spend with family. Or, they can be emotional landmines, filled with resentment, competition and angry exchanges over a difference of opinion.

Before you walk out in a huff -- before dessert hits the table, no less - let's take five, or ten to compose ourselves. Jack and I discuss some of the pitfalls of family get togethers, and hopefully share some ways to prepare yourself to face your nearest and dearest.

You might surprise yourself with your self-control, diplomacy and actual love you have for those weirdos you call family. Let's make nice and make merry.

If all else fails, Jack is here for you to provide emotional support and holiday wisdom.

Happy Holidays!

The Phone Lady on the Value of Real Time Conversations and Why They Matter

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Our phones are ubiquitous. I mean, we don't leave home without them. So, let's use them for more real time conversations?

My guest, Mary Jane Copps has some answers and also some compelling reasons to reach out and touch someone: Just call them on the phone.

Mary Jane, also known as MJ or to her many followers, The Phone Lady has shown hundreds of professionals how to use the phone to ramp up their business. Recently a cohort of her clients experienced mind-boggling close rates of 30 percent.

In this episode, MJ provides compassionate insight on why our conversation (or lack thereof) has become so uncivil. She also shares how we can listen, even when we really don't understand another person. That giving attention is not only a way to show respect, but show love.

Read one of her recent articles HERE.

No matter what platform or mode she chooses to communicate: email, phone, in person or text, MJ delivers a message that is memorable, effective and moves people to action.

Jack and Liz: Did the Pandemic Change Your Personality?

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Did your personality change as a result of the Covid pandemic? According to an October article in the New York Times, possibly.

Whether the changes are long-term or permanent remain to be seen, but there's no denying the events of the last almost three years has affected our behaviors.

Jack and I talk about what some of those long term changes mean, the high cost of college tuition and what one university is doing about it, the long road to adulthood and why nominees for the 2024 presidential campaign are not set in stone.

Liz and Jack on Reasons to be Thankful, Mostly

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Tis the season to be thankful, and Jack Monson and I get there, eventually. In the meantime, we talk about passive-aggressive greetings and faux concern, a new season of Yellowstone, and a yearning for more humor in advertising and culture.

What are we grateful for? Well, Thanksgiving, for one, Mel Brooks, Nick Kroll and really good pizza. In fact, Jack suggests we add a brand new holiday following this week's feast in honor of our favorite doughy treat.

Orrin Lieuwen: True Leadership and Our Personal Stories

Thu, 17 Nov 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Orrin helps frustrated and overwhelmed entrepreneurs understand how they create their beliefs and emotions, so that they can change them in order to fuel high performance behaviour and massively increase their results

His expertise lies in the fields of Personal Development, Faith and Work, Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) and Emotional Intelligence.

We talk about how the stories we grow up with about ourselves influence our self-perception and sense of agency, what leadership looks like, and how to lead ourselves to influence others.

YouTube Orrin Lieuwen
LinkedIn Orrin Lieuwen
Facebook Lionheart Leadership
Instagram @lionheartleadership
TikTok @lionheartleadership

Jack Monson and Liz on Reality TV, the Midterms and What's Next

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Social Joey Radio's Jack Monson and I once again talk about our differences on the political front, but form a united front on our shared disdain of Reality TV. Our conversation soon leads to a political discussion and how the media magnifies the bad behavior of politicians. As usual, we have different takes on the attack of Paul Pelosi, our preferred midterm elections outcomes and our take on current circumstances as we see it. We agree way too much is spent on getting people elected, and not enough on the people those would-be leaders are supposed to represent.

Know someone you disagree with? Start a conversation, get curious and listen. We're with you. Let's embark on what unites us.

Tina Bakehouse: Wanna Tell a Better Story? Just listen.

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 21:00:00 -0400

There's a lot of talk, but what do we have to say? And how does that effect or influence other people?

There are a couple of secrets to really great communication, and we're going to find out a few of them today on Embark. My guest, Tina Bakehouse, is the chief communicator, coach and TEDx speaker at Tina B. Media. Everyday she dons the invincibility bracelets and protects audiences from boring speeches.

Tina believes your communication persuades your audience to either listen or tune out. Which would you prefer?

We talk about the five dimensions of story creation, the dance of conversation and how to listen. We also trade stories about our memorable surnames.

Connect to Tina B. here:

Email: TinaB@TinaBakehouse.com

Website: https://www.tinabakehouse.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-bakehouse-ma-36581232/

Facebook private group: Uplevel Speaker Style:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/927962384724316

Why Can't We Talk to Each Other?

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 12:00:00 -0400

We hear a lot from some people. If you're on social media, perhaps we hear too much.

But what about the rest of us? We're mum on many topics, especially those that may be polarizing. Let's be brave, be open and at least start a difficult conversation. We might learn something and even through conflict create a relationship based on mutual respect, if not agreement.

Jack Monson and Liz Solar look at political polarization, labelling other people and reality TV, as well as question who or what might bring us together.

Jack Monson and Liz: Political Frenemies on Common Ground, Vocabulary & America's Beer

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 20:00:00 -0400

Is it possible to disagree with someone on politics, party and policy and still be civil?
Heck yeah. You can even be friends.

My colleague, Jack Monson and I may not share opinions on what politicians we support or who is best to solve what's ailing our country, but we do share a love of family, work ethic, a broadcasting background and an irreverent sense of humor. We get each other.

We wonder how we can find common ground, when we don't even share a vocabulary about benign things like what we call certain frozen desserts or athletic shoes.

Join us as we attempt to get America talking to each other, one conversation at a time.

About Jack Monson: Jack is Consigliere and Connector at Eulerity. He's the CEO and Host at Social Geek Enterprises, Inc, which produces branded podcasts for the biggest names in marketing and franchising as well as providing consulting and voiceover services. His show, Social Geek Radio is one of Apple's Top 25 Marketing podcasts.

Want Better Conversations? Get a Dog

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0400

What do you do when the national dialogue sucks?

You start listening. And figure out better ways to communicate.

During a long conversation with a friend - and my polar opposite on the political front - we agreed about our frustration with the general/national dialogue. Or lack thereof. I mean, here we were, agreeably disagreeing and trying to keep an open mind. A seed was planted in my mind as how this willingness to get curious, ask questions and try to understand 'the other' could grow into if not a full-fledged movement, at least a clarion call to reach out and try to 'get someone' who's not us!

When my husband and I decided to get a puppy in June, we forgot about how much work it takes - and how much sleep we missed. We also didn't realize the amount of conversation and true connection walking around with young Ziggy would provide. It was refreshing, exhilarating to participate in conversations filled with humor, good will and many photos of fur babies.

Not a barbed remark or reference to the ongoing political 'situation'. It really was a vacation of thought.

An then, an epiphany! Want to make friends? Get a dog! Or find some fun conversation starter to start communicating - really communicating - more. To our nearest and dearest. And to absolutely strangers, who are really friends we haven't met yet!

I hear a lot of ‘I don’t get them.’ They’re stupid/crazy/too fragile/woke. You get the drift. We don’t seem to get each other. Self-involvement, lack of information or experience, blind adherence to a belief prevents us from seeing things from a different viewpoint. And there are many points of view, many sides to a story.

If we don’t listen and don’t engage, we can't really know what another person thinks? And as good as we are, we're not clairvoyant. So get curious. Start with some questions. Let’s listen to understand, if not agree.

This season’s Embark goes where few conversations go – to the other side. Or to many sides.

In any case, if one small Goldendoodle can create this much connection, then human salvation is within reach.

Hop on for a little more conversation and a lot more ‘getting’ each other.

All aboard? Let’s go.

Screenwriter Collin Lieberg: Scripts, Pitches and Trends in TV and Film

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0400

'The ultimate outsider creates a global community through a passion for writing.' In film or book publishing this sentence would be called a logline, a brief (usually one-sentence) summary of a television program, film, or book that states the central conflict of the story.

Today's guest is Collin Lieberg a screenwriter, creative executive, and world traveler.

He has spent many years living abroad and feeling out of place, so he writes about outsiders struggling to fit in.

He has a background in academia, management, marketing, and retail that all inform his characters and stories.

Collin is the Creative Executive for Cobalt Knight, a genre production company focused on telling feature, series and comic book stories about the human condition with touches of social commentary.

For the past two years he has run a monthly #VirtualHappyHour (#VHH) Zoom mixer to connect with friends and make new connections. Get in touch at collin.lieberg@gmail.com.

Summer Reads: Randy Susan Meyers on Collaborating and Bringing on 'The Bad'

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400

One of the most entertaining writers I've read -- Randy Susan Meyers matches that level of fun in our conversation. We talk about writing what you know truthfully, and why villains are so much fun -- but only in fiction. In real life, not so much. If you're looking for great summer reads, she has quite a few. You can find them here.

Later in the episode, I share what I'm reading this week. Please share your beach reads at liz@embarkthepodcast.com.

Randy Susan Meyers is the national bestselling author of Waisted, Accidents of Marriage, The Comfort of Lies, The Murderer's Daughters, and The Widow of Wall Street. Her books have been chosen as Must-Read Books" by the Massachusetts Center for the Book three times, writing "The clear and distinctive voice of Randy Susan Meyers will have you enraptured and wanting more." She teaches writing in Boston and still misses her Brooklyn hometown. Her most recent novel was The Fashion Orphans.

Can We Talk? Our Lack of Civil Discourse is Killing Us.

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 21:00:00 -0400

It's now been over two week's since the mass school shootings at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. Nineteen children, two teachers are dead. More people were injured and the response from many of our leaders? Crickets. Questions avoided. Narratives changed, edited and from this vantage point, fictionalized.

Worse, when voices are raised to enact common sense gun control reform, they are met with 'now is not the time' or 'let's not politicize this.' How can we remedy what ails our society if we can't even talk about it?

Wednesday's emotional hearing on gun violence, followed by the House's passage of the wide-ranging control legislation, even if the Senate does nothing may signal a sea change.

Let's keep talking, reaching out to the other side. Find common ground Nothing changes until hearts and minds are open, receptive and engaged. We can change, hopefully for the better. Civil discourse is a good start.

On the Latest School Shooting. Sadly, Not the Last

Thu, 26 May 2022 14:00:00 -0400

As a parent, it’s difficult to stop thinking about the recent school shootings in Uvalde.

Despite stall tactics on gun reform, here we are ten years after Sandy Hook, and additional mass shootings too numerous to mention, and we're in the same place of inaction.

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

If politicians don't do the right thing, it's time for us to pick up a moral compass and find a better way. Thanks for listening.

Dr. Nancy Zare: Compelling Selling & the Platinum Rule

Thu, 19 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

According to Salesforce, 79% of buyers in the sales process want professionals who perform as trusted advisors. Yet it takes time to build trust. My guest Dr. Nancy Zare talks about how to do just that, sell without being sell-y and the ‘Platinum Rule’. She also outlines the four buying and selling styles. Once you figure out yours, you can build rapport quickly and authentically, become a trusted advisor, and increase client acquisition.

About Dr. Nancy

A psychologist and strategist, Dr. Nancy Zare works with service-based business owners who want to increase sales comfortably and with integrity. She reveals how buyers buy so you can feel poised, converse with confidence, and get new clients.

Nancy earned her masters and doctorate from Boston College and is a former professor of social work. She is the author of several books including Compelling Selling, Lead Generation Formulas, and an international best seller, Words That Sell with Style. Her latest book with co-author, Mary Pekas, No Pressure Selling; 15 Proven Formulas for Getting Business Easily is available from Amazon. The audio book will be released shortly.

Accredited in sales training and adult learning, Nancy turns education into edutainment. Her secret desire is to go racing on the Autobahn. Be ready to laugh, think, share, and be wowed as she drives home the idea of how to have comfortable sales conversations without being sale-z.

In her leisure time, she is a student of spirituality. Nancy lives in south Florida, and enjoys food preparation, swimming, and crafts. She volunteers as a foster family for the Farm Dog Rescue.

Lisa Hurt, The Resilience Maverick on How We Move Forward

Wed, 11 May 2022 16:00:00 -0400

Resiliency. It gives people the strength needed to process and overcome hardship. When we lack resilience we get easily overwhelmed, and may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Resilient people tap into their strengths and support systems to overcome challenges and work through problems. Today, Lisa Hurt, the 'Resilience Maverick' tells her own story of moving forward in the face of adversity, and shares several ways we can move forward to a more peaceful, purposeful and content life.

Aleasia “Lisa” Hurt has served over 30 years in the Corporate world, exhilarating the resiliency of others while openhandedly discounting the magnitude of her own. In this vein, she has pursued her personal destiny to implement an Elevation Resiliency Coaching Program™️. Recently selected to the Marquis Who's Who in America and to participate in the Shawn Fair’s Leadership Experience Tour, February 2022 Edition, she is branded as the ‘Resiliency Maverick’. Elevation Resiliency Coaching Program™ focuses on Emotional Literacy and Intelligence to achieve Resiliency in the workplace.

Her notable program is designated to foster Emotional Intelligent Executives and Stakeholders, using premier- holistic and empathetic focused solutions. Aleasia’s divine purpose is to cultivate resilient leaders and employees while simultaneously securing a sustainable culture.

In 2005, the empathetic wordsmith launched HURTNPOET LLC professional writing services. Flex Your Voice Content Marketing™️ is a Promotional-Branding paradigm and with her distinct literary craftsmanship, she crafts compelling, seller-poet content for Empowerment Industry Thought-Leaders; Coaches, Podcasters, Consultants, Speakers, Niche Powerhouses.

Lisa completed her undergrad at Ferrum College, earning a Bachelor degree in Social Work, with a Minor in Sociology. She has also earned Certification in a disciplined Business initiative, The CEO Mindset -Who Owns the Ice House Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative at the local ACC Small Business Center. Her journey includes variant disciplines and levels of Psychotherapy, and she began her passion for Writing at a very young age. Throughout her years of Clinical practice, she continued to pursue her love for poetry and Business Writing.

Coach (Barbara) Roche: Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 21:00:00 -0400

Barbara Roche, or 'Coach Roche' develops leaders, inspires confidence and gets people talking. She also adds a booty-shaking dance routine or fun movement break into almost every program she develops.

Join us for this smart and savvy conversation about how to see yourself better so you can raise yourself up and forward.

About Barbara Roche

Her mission is to help more women advance to the C-Suite. And to eradicate death by PowerPoint!

She's a player-coach. When Barbara is not speaking, she's coaching presenters, leaders and aspiring keynoters. She's coached CEOs, pitch teams, job candidates, and TEDx speakers.

A native Bostonian, Barbara is a proud member of Red Sox Nation. She lives a secret life as a fitness instructor.

"Time to stop playing small. Step up, speak up, stand out."

Filmmaker Sky Bergman on Lives Well Lived

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 13:00:00 -0400

What does it mean to have a life well-lived? That's the title of Sky Bergman's documentary, and the theme of today's episode. We discuss resilience, having a sense of purpose, curiosity and intergenerational mixing. At the center of Sky's film are 40 people from ages 75 to over 100, their histories, heartbreaks and personal victories. Their determination to live generously and fully, as well as good old-fashioned grit, are essential ingredients for a rich and vital life. Sky's grandmother and muse also added a healthy dose of cooking, regular workouts and dedication to la famiglia.

Sky Bergman (she/her) is an accomplished, award-winning photographer and filmmaker.

Lives Well Lived is Sky’s directorial debut. Her fine art work is included in permanent collections at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, and the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Her commercial work has appeared on book covers for Random House and Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc., and magazine spreads in Smithsonian, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, Reader’s Digest, and Archaeology Odyssey.

Sky Bergman is Professor Emeritus of Photography and Video and a former Department Chair of the Art & Design Department at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA. She has two short films about intergenerational connections currently on the film festival circuit and is working on a feature-length film that is a celebration of love.

More about Sky here and here.

Kavita Ahuja on Midlife Reinvention: Power, Purpose and Play

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Kavita Ahuja is an Entrepreneur and Founder of Power Purpose Play, a Global Platform dedicated to advancing the personal growth and inner power of women in midlife. She is the Host and Visionary behind the successful Podcast, “The Midlife Reinvention”, a course content creator, an accomplished writer, and a Personal Transformation and Transition Coach. At the age of 52, Kavita, who also holds a major in Biology and an MBA, left an extremely successful corporate pharmaceutical career of almost 25 years, took control of her health, her spirituality, her personal relationships, and found her next true calling. This is to help women find the Power within them to rediscover their Purpose and reinvent themselves, regardless of their age or circumstance. She rediscovered herself after the age of 50, and she knows you can too. Her mission is to help you do just that.

“My vision is to give you a glimpse of yourself beyond anything you can imagine. I want you to experience more happiness, more hope for your future, more excitement for your next journey, more confidence in yourself, and a greater understanding of your true purpose and power in this next chapter of your life”

Solar Reflections on Loose Talk: Is Emotional Sluttiness the New Authentic?

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

This week, I rant - I mean discuss - our penchant to indiscriminately share too much information, online and often in real life. Not that there's anything wrong with it!

We may have become a little too confessional for own good, and sometimes, as one friend pointed out to me. "Did you ever think of something and not say it?"

Of course, there is more self-restraint on platforms like LinkedIn, where we try to show up as our most professional selves. Other platforms, we let those emotional floodgates open, perhaps exposing a little more about us than is necessary. Or healthy.

When is it okay to reveal all in order to establish connection? Is it ever okay? Do we overshare to the point of emotionally sluttiness?

I ponder these questions, and opine on chronic filterless exchanges of information. While a propensity to overshare is often all too human, there are times 'discretion is the better part of valor.'

Author Juliette Fay on Recovery, Redemption and the Red Sox

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0400

Thanks for listening to Embark. This week, author Juliette Fay and I discuss her latest novel Catch Us When We Fall (see synopsis below). Within the discussion of the book is our conversation about addiction, which has become epidemic, recovery, community, family and baseball. Writers always tell great stories. Stick around for this one.

About Juliette:

Juliette Fay is the bestselling author of six novels, including Catch Us When We Fall, City of Flickering Light and The Tumbling Turner Sisters, a USA Today bestseller and Costco Pennie’s Book Club Pick. Previous novels include The Shortest Way Home, one of Library Journal’s Top 5 Best Books of 2012: Women’s Fiction; Deep Down True, short-listed for the 2011Women’s Fiction award by the American Library Association; and Shelter Me, a 2009 Massachusetts Book Award “Must-Read Book” and an Indie Next pick. Juliette is a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Visit her at www.juliettefay.com, Facebook Juliette Fay, author, Twitter @juliettefay, and Instagram Juliette_Fay.

Synopsis of Catch Us When We Fall

On her own since the age of 18, Cass Macklin dated brilliant, troubled Ben McGreavy. They drank their way through their 20s, growing more addicted and less able to hold down jobs as time went on. Now Ben is dead, and Cass is broke, homeless, scared … and pregnant.

Determined to raise Ben’s baby, Cass has to find a way to stop drinking and build a stable life for her child. She turns to the only person with the means to help her: Ben’s brother Scott, third basemen for the Boston Red Sox, a man with a temper and problems of his own.

Our Voices, Ourselves: Do They Reveal Us? Or Conceal Us?

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 13:00:00 -0400

'O, how wonderful is the human voice! It is indeed the organ of the soul! - H.W. Longfellow

This week, I break from Embark's interview format to ruminate on the qualities of the voice. What do we sound like? What do our voices say about us? Does it matter?

How much of our character, personality or background does our voice reveal? Do we hide behind our voice to conceal things we'd rather not share? Does our voice tell our entire story?

Subsequent episodes will discuss how styles of speaking evolve, the rise of AI and synthesized voices, as well as how kids in one world class city speak in a very different dialect than their parents.

Today's episode features a little bit about voice acting and how casting has changed, how broadcasting has homogenized how we speak in the U.S, and if it's possible to sound taller.

Emily Crookston: Ghostwriter, Pocket PhD, LinkedIn Game-Changer

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 21:00:00 -0400

Who is writing all of those fabulous business books? Often, it's the work of a ghostwriter. Savvy business people - and many fiction writers - long ideas but short on time, enlist the skills, versatility and stealth of a ghostwriter to translate their vision and experience into compelling prose.

Today's guest, ghostwriter Emily Crookston, possesses the shape-shifting ability to capture voice, attitude and vision to make your book read as if you -- the co-author - actually wrote it. And the rest of us will never be the wiser. We talk about Emily's shift from the world of academia to her current status of badass muse, how to excel at using LinkedIn, and why it's important to state who you don't want as clients. So freeing.

Emily Crookston is the ghostwriter for rebels, renegades, and mavericks. She helps experts—who are long on ideas, but short on time—write business books. As the Owner and Decider of All Things at the Pocket PhD, Emily and her team collaborate with professionals and brands who are ready to take their LinkedIn networking to the next level. Together they strategize and create content for LinkedIn based on their clients’ goals. Emily is also a former philosophy professor, speaker, and podcast guest. When she’s not writing intensely, she’s most likely practicing yoga intensely. She lives for coffee shops that play great music to write to and desserts topped with *real* whipped cream.

Connect with Emily:

LinkedIn

Want to up your game on LinkedIn. Download Emily's free LinkedIn Cliff Notes.

Filmmaker Zhu Shen's Journey of Loss, Family and Making a Documentary

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 18:00:00 -0500

How do we live our lives when the heartbreakingly unthinkable happens - the loss of a young husband and father? If you are Zhu Shen and her son Perry, you 'take your broken heart and make it into art.' as the late Carrie Fisher counseled.

Today on Embark, we talk about life, loss, the nature of art as both healing mechanism and lasting tribute to our loved ones who have left us.

You can watch and support Zhu's films here for exclusive screening invitations and major updates, and receive FREE link to watch Zhu and Perry's Oscar-qualified Changyou's Journey:

Listeners of Embark can watch exclusive scenes from our documentary feature in late production from now till March 20, 2022 HERE:

Biography

Dr. Zhu Shen is an award-winning film producer, best known for two Oscar-qualified, critically acclaimed animation shorts she produced: Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest about a young Holocaust survivor, animated by her 11-year-old son Perry Chen in 2011, and Changyou’s Journey about her late husband’s life, written and directed by Perry Chen in 2018. She is currently writing, directing, and producing her first feature film, a personal documentary, Journey of a Thousand Miles. A 2020 Spring Roy Dean Grant Finalist.

A former award-winning biotech executive, author, speaker and China business expert, Shen’s love for movies started when she grew up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and movies were the only available mass entertainment.

Zhu Shen’s work has featured on national and trade media including Fox, Business Week, China Central Television, Pharmaceutical Executive, and the Scientist Magazine. She earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from University of Colorado, her MBA at Cornell University Johnson School of Management, studied medicine at Peking Union Medical College, and pre-med at Peking University.

Social Media Links:

LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

Dr. Zhu Shen is an award-winning film producer, best known for two Oscar-qualified, critically acclaimed animation shorts she produced: Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest about a young Holocaust survivor, animated by her 11-year-old son Perry Chen in 2011, and Changyou’s Journey about her late husband’s life, written and directed by Perry Chen in 2018. She is currently writing, directing, and producing her first feature film, a personal documentary, Journey of a Thousand Miles. A 2020 Spring Roy Dean Grant Finalist.

Podfather David Yas on Rock 'n Roll, Law and All Things Pod

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Think you have what it takes to be a podcast host? Pod 617's David Yas is here to share his quick wit and sharp insights about venturing out into Pod World. We talk about our shared love of music, his storied career as a podcast producer, creator and host as well as where he thinks opportunities are. Spoiler alert: there is still a lot of subjects and markets to tap.

About David

David L. Yas is the Founder and CEO of The Boston Podcast Network. He has been producing podcasts since 2015 and has put his signature on approximately 1,000 episodes as a creative influence, host, editor, and promoter. He is the host of The Boston Podcast, which has logged more than 100,000 downloads.

David, a licensed attorney, spent 15 years at Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, which he guided to an all-time high in paid circulation and profits. He has served as a commentator providing perspective on legal matters for a wide range of media outlets, including CNN, CNBC, NPR Radio and the Boston Globe. Yas was named Best Humor Columnist by the New England Press Association in 2008.

Connect with David

The Boston Podcast Network

Instagram

Facebook

Author Randy Susan Meyers Dishes on Bad Boys, Saints, Flaubert and Fashion Orphans

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 16:00:00 -0500

Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.
— Gustave Flaubert

Author Randy Susan Meyers lives by these words. And she has lived many lives, from her time as a bartender to her involvement as a social activist and work with victims of domestic violence. Randy Susan is certain her novels are imbued with all the above, as well as her 'journey from obsessing over bad boys to loving a good man.'

Randy Susan is the national bestselling author of Waisted, Accidents of Marriage, The Comfort of Lies, The Murderer's Daughters, and The Widow of Wall Street. Her books have been chosen as Must-Read Books" by the Massachusetts Center for the Book three times, writing "The clear and distinctive voice of Randy Susan Meyers will have you enraptured and wanting more." She teaches writing in Boston and still misses her Brooklyn hometown. Her most recent novel was The Fashion Orphans.

Fasten your seatbelts because this will be a fun, free-wheeling conversation about how much of a writer's life appears in their fiction, fighting to include women 'of a certain age' in novels and her most controversial book. (Spoiler Alert: It has nothing to do with sex.) We also talk about Randy's latest work, Fashion Orphans.

Connect with Randy

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn

Anne Janzer on Non-Fiction Geekdom and Author Servantship

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 21:00:00 -0500

Do you have a burning desire to write a book? Are there ways you want your ideal clients to know a little bit more about you and what you know? If you want to lead better through what you do, we have an episode for you. And if you aspire to lead and market by writing a book, an affective way to do that is through Author Servantship. Not acquainted. Well, get close and listen up to this conversation with Anne Janzer.

Anne Janzer is an award-winning author, armchair cognitive science geek, nonfiction author coach, marketing practitioner, and blogger. She’s on a mission to help people spread important ideas through writing.

As a professional writer, she has worked with more than one hundred technology companies, writing in the voice of countless brands and corporate executives. She is author of the books Get the Word Out, Writing to Be Understood, The Writer’s Process, The Workplace Writer’s Process, and Subscription Marketing.

Her books have won numerous awards, including the Independent Book Publishers IPPY award, the Foreword Indies Book of the Year, Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal, and the IndieReader Discovery Award. They have been translated into Japanese, Korean, and Russian language editions.

Anne also regularly speaks or hosts online webinars for writing conferences, writer’s groups, and corporate marketing teams and writing groups.

Yvonne DiVita: The Magician and Nurturer Behind Your Next Big Idea

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 21:00:00 -0500

Have you ever meet someone and just knew you were going to become fast friends? I met book and business coach Yvonne DiVita last year, and we instantly connected. Over writing, over ideas, over humor, over everything and nothing. And of course, we have a passion for podcasting. Hers is called Nurturing Big Ideas: Smart Conversations.

Yvonne is a natural-born nurturer, and she puts that skill to great advantage for the person who has a business story to tell. She's a big advocate in telling your story through your own unique lens, through your own unique experience. For the would-be author, she offers guidance and a blueprint to unify their marketing presence and build their writer's platform.
More than that, Yvonne's generous heart is as big as her talent. It's a pleasure to introduce you to her on Embark.

We talk about the various paths to publishing, how women can advocate to bring their story to the world, book trailers, the ever-rising popularity of audio books, and how she became woman of the year.

The short story: Yvonne lives in a cave where she hovers over a desk with pen and paper, writing furiously every day. Or maybe that’s a house, and a keyboard, and writing with great concentration and passion. Either way, she’s writing. When she’s not writing, she’s reading. When she’s not reading, she’s working with smart, talented women to coach them on their next powerful book. (or she’s walking her dog)

It’s what she does.

The unabridged version: On a business level, Yvonne brings 20 years of experience in the field of communication, business development offline and online, and marketing using word of mouth and social media.

In Windsor Media Enterprises, LLC (WME Books), I worked hand in hand with business professionals coaching them as they composed their ideas into what we called “Book as Business Card”. I worked with astonishingly talented women, and some remarkable men, telling the stories of who they are beyond the business or public face – and then published their work using print on demand technology.

That business introduced me to pet blogging and, with my husband, Tom, my daughter, Chloe, and another pet blogger, I Co-founded an online influencer community called BlogPaws, which hosted national events and became a successful marketing company for pet products and services. In 2015, I was awarded Woman of the Year in Women in the Pet Industry Network. It’s an honor I cherish to this day.

Links

Email: yvonne@yvonnedivita.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonnedivita/
@nurturingbigideas

That's A Spade's Beth Knaus: Straight Talk Branding That 'Gets' You

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:00:00 -0500

We claim to embrace the direct approach in communicating who we are, but we hide behind facades. And often a bit of buzzwords and jargon. How do you tell it like it is in your branding, let people know exactly what you do, and still make your message feel fresh, unique and new?

We asked Beth Knaus to share her experience helping people write their business stories on Embark.

Beth Knaus is a creative content writer, workshop leader and owner of That’s A Spade Copywriting Services. As a writer she’s passionate about writing content with and for her clients that honors their originality and nails their voice to the page so they can stand out from the masses, step into the spotlight, and attract the type of clients they are excited about.

Beth is also a Pepperlane networking leader, and an active member at the WeBreathe Wellness Center in Walpole, where she holds creative writing classes.

Now partial empty nesters, she lives in Norwood, Ma. with her awesome husband and their chubby spoiled cat. In her free time she likes to read, cook, travel, and laugh. A lot.

Her personal short stories have been published online and in print.

FB: https://www.facebook.com/thatsaspade/

Insta: www.instagram.com/thats_a_spade

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/BethKnaus

Website: www.thatsaspade.com

Email: bethknaus@thatsaspade.com

Shelli Brunswick: Advocate for Space, STEM and Service Beyond Self

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500

To speak with Shelli Brunswick is to meet a true believer. A believer in human goodness, human potential and human capital. She enthuses about the opportunities space exploration provides and how those advances and developments to benefit us here on earth. More importantly, Shelli advocates for opportunity and the inclusion of all kinds of people in the space industry, regardless of gender, color, culture, background or educational level.

It's always a pleasure to meet a person of Shelli's caliber: Not just smart but wise. Always seeking her personal best, while giving her best to elevate others. Grateful and quick to acknowledge the opportunities she received and the role models who guided her journey , she continues to mentor to a new generation of seekers. She lives up to the credo:

Advocating for Innovation. Bettering Life on Earth.

Thanks for listening to our conversation.

Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation, brings a broad perspective and deep vision of the global space ecosystem: From a distinguished career as a space acquisition and program management leader and congressional liaison for the U.S. Air Force to her current role overseeing Space Foundation's three primary divisions: Center for Innovation and Education, Symposium 365, and Global Alliance.

Advocating for space technology innovation, entrepreneurship, diversity and inclusion, Shelli collaborates with organizations around the world to connect commercial, government and educational sectors. Shelli was named the 2020 Diversity & Inclusion Officer and Role Model of the Year by WomenTech Network.

Shelli plays an active leadership role with United Nations Space4Women, WomenTech Network, Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) Global Women Leaders Committee (GWLC), New York University, Global Policy Insights – Global Policy, Diplomacy and Sustainability (GPODS) Fellowship Program, Global Policy Insights -- Quad Forum, Space Tourism Society Africa, Tod'Aérs, Lifeboat Foundation, Women in Aerospace Foundation, Women’s Global Gathering, Manufacturer’s Edge, and Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC.

Follow on LinkedIn

Info about Space Foundation

Space Foundation is a non-profit advocate organization founded in 1983, offering a gateway to education, information and collaboration for space exploration and space-inspired industries that define the global space ecosystem.

Coach Ellie Lane: Let's Set Some Boundaries

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 18:00:00 -0500

"We create these stories in our minds...We operate on these stories and one of the common stories is, 'Oh gosh, what if they don't like me?' But that's usually not true. So I'm always working with people on ' What's the story in your head? And can you ask yourself, 'Is that story really true?' And when we can do that, that will often help us say the 'No'."

Coach Ellie Lane , LICSW, business and life coach, has helped hundreds of people build their internal power, confidence, and success; to learn that self-care does not equate with selfishness, that striving for more does not mean striving for perfection, and to discover and live a life by design, not by accident.

She believes walking the tightrope between driving yourself and loving yourself is harder than it looks. Real success doesn't happen as you juggle "all the things." It happens when you stop perpetuating a cycle of over responsibility.

Taking courageous steps, setting clear, consistent boundaries, living into your dreams, and seeing and believing in who you truly are can help you build more success.

Today on Embark, Coach Ellie and I talk about the difficulty, necessity and power of setting boundaries, what to look for in a coach -- how to know they're the real deal, or at least a good match for you -- and the differences between coaches and therapists.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-lane-licsw-transformational-coach-b1528479/

Part Two: Filmmaker Arielle Nobile: Belonging, Improv and Humor

Tue, 04 Jan 2022 18:00:00 -0500

"I think [humor] is the highest gift as humans..is being able to laugh and make other people laugh...and let people experience joy, because we don't do joy very well."

Arielle Nobile returns for part two of the conversation, filled with her trademark optimism and 'everybody-in-the-pool' sensibility. Arielle's entire life has been in service to telling and sharing stories so we better understand ourselves and others, near and far.

This award-winning filmmaker's work includes the 'Belonging in the USA' documentary series, as well as telling family stories through her Legacy Connections Films production company.

Arielle and I talk about the through line of humor, and our human need for it, the power of revolutionary listening, her love of improv and training at Second City as well as her hopes to bring her myriad talents together to write, produce and direct her own works.

Get in touch

Further Reading: Medium

Arielle Nobile, Part One: Filmmaking, Revolutionary Listening & Belonging in the USA

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:00:00 -0500

"If you exist, you belong." Filmmaker Arielle Nobile ponders and explores the question of belonging, and has settled on this answer. Still, we continue to ask, 'Where do I belong?' 'Do I belong?' and 'How do we all belong, despite our differences?" We hope today's episode assures and inspires you that in our human family, despite our missteps, all are welcome here.

Our conversation covers revolutionary listening, perhaps the most powerful key to understanding and accepting each other. We can belong to ourselves and stand on our beliefs, and belong to each other, even when we strongly disagree with each other.

We also talk about Arielle's recent move from the U.S. to Argentina, and what that means, her journey from in front of the camera to behind it, and how creatives can become bridges to unite disparate - and often, alienated - groups of people.

Arielle and I share our experiences in performing arts, communication and optimism in humanity during challenging times. Thanks for listening.

Arielle is a documentary film maker, who is usually the one asking all the questions. She is the CEO of Legacy Connections , which was founded in 2005. Arielle’s company produces documentary films for families to reflect on their history, truths, shared values and vision for the future.

She received her BFA in Experimental Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She then studied in an MFA-style year-long directing program at Second City Theatre in Chicago. She taught improv and theatre at Second City and Piven Theatre to adults and children, which makes her uniquely skilled at helping all her subjects relax and be natural on camera.

Arielle is the producer/director of the award-winning documentary series Belonging in the USA: Stories from our Neighbors. The first film in the trilogy, The Story of Michael D. McCarty was a 2019 official selection at the Pan African Film Festival, the largest Black film festival in the US. Check-out Arielle’s related Belonging in the USA podcast. Arielle was named to The Independent Magazine’s List of “10 Filmmakers to Watch” in 2018 for the Belonging in the USA documentary series. In 2012, she won a Hugo Television award for her 6-part public television series, Belonging in Boulder: Unexpected Stories from Your Neighbors.

Embark On Your Third Act on Gifts: What We Give, What We Bestow

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

It’s a season of giving, so what better way to wrap up this season of Embark on Your Third Act, then to discuss the gifts we give, and those we receive.

We’re not talking sweaters and socks here. Rebecca, Diana and I address those things money can’t buy: Our attention, kindness, our love. Maybe we put judgment aside and become a little more magnanimous in how we treat each other.

Thing is, we’re not always aware of our gifts, so how can we pass those goodies around to others? Let’s reflect on that.

It’s a time of reflection – not just this season, but perhaps this time of life – so think about what you have to give and share it freely, without fanfare and lots of love.

There are those times in life when we face adversity, loss, perhaps a fall from grace. Could there be a gift in that?

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” - Mary Oliver

We could't say it better, and from our own experience, we discover that a 'bad patch' provided a gift, or we didn't appreciate that in the moment we overlooked a gift that was offered. A reminder to be mindful, and forgive the pun, present.

Giving, as they say, is its own reward. It’s also good for your health. The Cleveland Clinic reports when we donate to charity or volunteer, we receive measurable physical and mental health benefits. Studies show people who give of themselves can lower blood pressure and stress levels, minimize depression, gain higher self-esteem, and even live longer. Not to mention an uptick in those feel-good endorphins and dopamine.

Likewise, it’s important to receive, whether it’s guidance, a favor, compliment or help. You are worthy. Don’t deny someone the pleasure of their generosity to you. In the spirit of the season accept kindnesses with gratitude and grace.

We appreciate your presence, attention, comments and well-wishes from Embark. Thanks for listening.

That Guy, Tai Irwin Talks Job Placement, Lifelong Learning, Editing Mishaps and Pete Townsend

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 22:00:00 -0500

There are some people you just want to hang around. Tai Irwin is one of them. Funny, thoughtful, curious and always respectful, he has been a fixture in Boston radio, and the voice over community. He keeps a hand in broadcasting with a musical retrospective program on WUMB-FM, while he is a full-time Job Placement specialist at Boston's Pine Street Inn homeless shelter. Check out the shelter's breadth of services, and discover ways to help on their website.

Tai and I get silly, talk audio editing injuries, storytelling, the joy of learning and if Pete Townsend was really ever in The Who. Connect with Tai here.

Tai Irwin has been in the business of communications since he voiced a line in a motorcycle spot at 16. Taken under wing by WLIR radio on Long Island, this led eventually to the role of Program Director at WAER, Syracuse University’s radio station and a degree from the Newhouse School of Communications in 1981. Being in the right place at the right time meant meeting U2 as they established a firm foothold in North America, along with countless other bands. Hired by WQBKam and fm in Albany NY, he was able to wear two hats as dj on the fm side, and talk show host on the am.

In 1985 WFNX hired him after a year of courting, and this led to a ten-year stint as “Morning Guy Tai.” This was also the year he began work as an independent voice/over artist, doing commercial and industrial work on radio, tv and internet platforms.

Tai took his unique style, smarts and curiosity to Talk Radio at WRKO as and 96.9FM, and back to music at WROR-FM. He's freelanced across the country with work in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Sirius Satellite.

In 2006 he joined the Audio Engineering staff at The New England Institute of Art in Brookline, MA in the role of Senior Career Advisor. During his 11 years in this position he earned a master’s degree in Adult Education, and began teaching college- level Communication Theory, American Popular Music, and First Amendment.

In 2018 he became part of the Workforce Development team at Pine Street Inn.

Danny Breegi on Survival of the Smallest

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 20:00:00 -0500

It's hard to find a more enthusiastic, kindhearted and thoughtful person than my guest, Danny Breegi. Intelligent, bold and full of life, Danny brings positivity wherever he goes. Proud of his Boston-based upbringing, he shares the immigrant story, as his family left war-torn Iraq in the 1990's. In fact, Danny was born during the Gulf War on a night he nearly did not survive.
He arrived in this world -- two weeks premature and suffering from hypothermia -- on a cold February night as bombs exploded in Bagdad.

While a dedicated doctor tended to his mother, Danny's father constructed a primitive incubator for his child. This is a story of family love and devotion, paying it forward, a sense of mission and a strong faith in the eternal and humankind. I hope you will be as inspired as I am, and enjoy our conversation on this episode of Embark.

In 2013, Danny Breegi and his father Wisam founded Breegi Scientific Inc., a socially-conscious innovator engineering safe, affordable, easy-to-use biocontainment solutions. He is the Director of Global Health.

Breegi holds a Master degree at Boston University's School of Public Health with a concentration in global health and medical products. He brings a passion for developing groundbreaking strategies and methods to solve the most prevalent issues in global health as an active participant in community health initiatives locally and internationally. Danny's work in Breegi Scientific reflects these goals by creating comprehensive solutions for today's most at-risk local and international communities by finding the common flaws of health care throughout the global health landscape.

About Breegi Scientific

Breegi Scientific is on a mission to develop the world's first portable and low cost infant incubator platform with a disposable housing. Their long-term vision is a world where no babies die due to lack of access to neonatal incubators. To ensure they help as many children as possible, Breegi Scientific has also established a non-profit to provide free Neonatal Intensive Care Incubators to high-risk communities.

Their Incubator is the first multi-functional disposable low- cost Neonatal Intensive Care Incubator. It is a practical user-friendly, efficient, low maintenance, inexpensive, incubator designed to significantly reduce neonatal mortality and morbidity. The device is less than 1% cost, size and weight of the regular hospital incubator. It provides any community with a NICU capability for a healthy start.

Connect with Danny Breegi

Embark on Your Third Act: Emily Otterman on the Art of Gratitude

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0500

While you're rushing to get the turkey in the oven, or face crowded highways and airports to enjoy someone else's cooking, we welcome Thanksgiving with an episode about gratitude.

Emily Otterman has artfully captured not just the images, but the lineage of gratitude in her photo series aptly titled The Gratitude Collection.

Emily speaks with Rebecca Moore about her journey into artistry, as well as intergenerational gratitude and how we can all 'pass it forward'.

Diana Place and Rebecca join me in a short discussion about the role of gratitude in our lives, and how much more important it's become since 2020, which kicks of our interview. First some notes about our guest.

Emily Otterman is an artist who helps people preserve and celebrate what matters most. She's a firm believer in the power of human connection and kindness.

She’s been creating art all her life and remembers the happiness she felt when she won a drawing contest in first grade. A believer in lifelong learning, she's been honing her skills for decades and doesn't intend to stop until she’s taken her last breath.

Her path includes

· Owning and operating a studio in Ontario Canada,

· Working at a fine art framing company,

· Membership coordinator at Craft Ontario in Toronto

· Executive Director of the Merrimack Chamber of Commerce

· Operating a small bookkeeping business

· Being a partner in her husband’s financial planning business

· Continually being an entrepreneur in her art business

Maria Leonard Olsen: Becoming Your Best Version

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 11:00:00 -0500

If there's a university for overcoming obstacles, Maria Leonard Olsen has earned her PhD. Maria has numerous hyphenates attached to name, in both her struggles and accomplishments. In today's episode, we talk about endurance, the impact of growing up in an interracial family, the power of owning your happiness and how DNA testing has become a genetic Pandora's Box. Thanks for joining us on Embark.

About Maria:

Maria is a biracial woman whose parents were forbidden by law to marry in their home state of Maryland in the early 1960s. She is the mother of two children, a lawyer, journalist and author of two children's books and two non-fiction books. She leads writing/empowerment retreats for women, hosts the “Becoming Your Best Version” podcast and is a co-host of the Inside Out radio show on WPFW-fm, 89.3, in Washington, D.C.

A graduate of Boston College and the University of Virginia School of Law, she served in the Clinton Administration's Justice Department, fostered newborn babies awaiting adoption, and has been on the boards of Children's National Medical Center BOV, the Catholic Coalition for Special Education, GirlsUp and the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Washington. While in private practice as a litigator in then one of the then-largest law firms in Washington, D.C., Maria was awarded Pro Bono Coordinator of the Year by the D.C. Bar Association.

She has written for several publications including The Washington Post, Washingtonian, Bethesda Magazine, Parenting, BabyTalk and Washington For Women. Her latest book, 50 After 50--Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life, was published in hardcover in 2018, and in paperback and on Audible in 2019.

A sought-after speaker, Maria is scheduled to speak at two TEDx events in 2021, in New York City, and Washington, D.C.

https://www.facebook.com/FiftyAfter50/...

https://www.instagram.com/fiftyafter50/

https://twitter.com/FiftyAfter50

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

www.PelsLaw.com/about/Maria-L-Olsen

Sea and Sky: The Bold Simplicity of Paul Pedulla's Art

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 22:00:00 -0400

Paul Pedulla is a Boston-based artist who busts the myth of the 'starving artist.' His passion to create -- and about six month's of art lessons -- has propelled him to national recognition, critical acclaim, and financial success.
We talk about being in flow and allowing a painting to happen, his advice to creatives who feel discouraged, and if he's ever experienced 'artist's block'.

Paul Pedulla’s contemporary paintings are representational yet minimal. There’s a simplicity that draws you in and a depth that finds you frequently discovering something new.

The artist has been featured in ARTSCOPE Magazine, Boston Voyager Magazine, various podcasts and blogs, and his work has appeared in The Boston Globe and numerous other publications and online media. He is represented by Coastal Contemporary Gallery of Newport, Rhode Island, Bee Street Gallery of Dallas, Texas, JCO’s Art House of Los Gatos, California, Saugatuck Art Traders of Saugatuck, Michigan, Sharon Weiss Gallery of Columbus, Ohio, AMZehnder Gallery of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and Serena & Lily nationwide.

Works by Paul Pedulla have been singled out by art professionals, educators and interior designers from Seattle to New England, and can be found in collectors’ homes and businesses from California to Germany.

See Paul's work here

Instagram @paulpedulla
Facebook

The Phone Lady: Connect Better Through Voice on Voice Action

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Talkers talk, so no news there. But effective communicators listen. That's the genius of Mary Jane Copps, AKA The Phone Lady. Author, speaker and facilitator, Mary Jane is passionate about creating excellent communication. She relies on effective conversations to make things happen.

Mary Jane, or MJ, has been writing her own pay cheque since 1985, first as a freelance real estate journalist and then launching a North American marketing company in 1987. She embraced her alter ego – The Phone Lady – in 2006 and has worked with over 700 clients training over 14,000 individuals how to communicate effectively - on the phone, by email and on camera.

Mary Jane has been profiled as a communications expert most recently on Harry Enten's CNN podcast Margins of Error, as well as by the Wall Street Journal, National Post, The Globe & Mail, CBC, CTV, Global as well as other publications, television and radio outlets throughout North America, including a very silly skit on This Hour Has 22 Minutes! She is also the author of: The Phone Book: Essential Telephone Communication Skills and writes a bi-weekly blog on sales and customer service communication skills.

Find out more, and connect here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryjanecopps/
Insta: @thephonelady
https://www.facebook.com/thephoneladyca/

Keep Talking: Great Communication Starts at Home with Sharon Costanzo

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 19:00:00 -0400

When conversations get heated, or we feel unheard, ignored or ridiculed, we often opt for one of these three strategies: Speak up, Shut up or Walk Away. Knowing when to take these actions, or if any of these strategies are helpful at all is often not obvious to us. We are creatures of habit, and go with the familiar, often to the detriment of ourselves, and our relationships.

Don't wait for the other person to change tactics. Start with yourself. How does that happen? It starts with listening. Life coach and relationship advocate Sharon Costanzo speaks from her own experience as well as her work with couples whose relationships benefit from better communications.

With so many couples feeling distant, unheard, unappreciated, and overburdened, Sharon offers hope for improving your relationship and getting on the same page in your most important decisions.

Sharon is known for her practical and drama-free approach to the common conflicts and challenges that most couples face. She shares her wisdom and insignts on the Keep Talking Revolution Podcast and offers group courses and private relationship coaching.

We talk about the key to keeping tough conversations on track, solving problems rather than ‘fixing’ people, and how to listen not to react, but to understand.

Embark on Your Third Act: Ageless Entrepreneurs, Intergenerational Mentorship and Starting Now

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:00:00 -0400

Did you know most startups in the U.S. are launched by people 45 and older?This week's guest, Rick Terrien, has started and run multiple businesses across diverse industries, with most of the fireworks coming after he turned 45.

You might say he wrote the book on starting a business in mid-life. Check out
Ageless Start-up: Start a Business at Any Age.

He's passionate about empowering entrepreneurs in the second half of life to achieve their vision. He's a lifelong entrepreneur and co-founder of the new nonprofit Center for Ageless Entrepreneurs (CAE).

We talk about his mission to form a network of the millions of older citizens worldwide who want to use their knowledge, know-how, and networks to make the world a better place through entrepreneurship. His advice if you want to start a business: Start small. Start smart. Start right now.

Here's a few of Rick's bonafides:

• One of his businesses is the smallest company ever to be awarded Fast Company magazine’s Fast 50, now called The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies.

• Awarded the U.S. Small Business New Product of the Year by the National Society of Professional Engineers.

• Nine U.S. and foreign patents commercialized worldwide. Focus on environmental and manufacturing sustainability.

• AARP Purpose Prize Fellow (“Making a difference is ageless”).

• Co-founder – Food21. Creating sustainable regional food networks.

Be Seen. Be Heard. Be You. Megan Hamilton on Speaking Up.

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0400

The fear of public speaking is the most common phobia: ahead of death, spiders, or heights. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that public speaking anxiety, or glossophobia, affects about 73% of the population. Megan Hamilton of UBU Skills wants to help you eradicate that fear, self-doubt and emotional blocks that keep you from being, well, you. We talk about the best ways to speak up, and how that can lead to better conversations.

Speaking of conversations, check out Megan's podcast, UBU Pod.

Megan Hamilton is a speaking, visibility and confidence coach with a positive and encouraging approach. She works 1:1, in groups or via online courses, to help you build strength and resilience. Megan uses her 25+ years of theatre training and performance experience to guide you through the 4 main tenets of dynamic speaking skills: Standing, Breathing, Speaking, Reading. We focus on the blocks that are holding you back and build your visibility using a variety of tools including shadow work and intuition training, so that you can learn to reconnect with your gut. With proven techniques and guided practise, you’ll build your confidence and be equipped to handle any challenge!

Take A Hike: Re-power Your Life Through Nature with Julia Schneider

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

Burnout, feeling stuck, languishing. We all experience it, and lately, it seems ubiquitous in our experience. How about a literal 'breath of fresh air'? Julia Schneider from Alive with Possibilities encourages us to 'take a hike' or a walk through the woods to refresh, re-center and re-power our minds, bodies and souls. It's amazing what a little time away from our caves, and into the light can do.

Julia is a transformational coach believes in the power of walking in nature. She teaches how to shift our attention from the "visible" world onto the energy field in a way that helps us access intuitive knowing that goes way beyond our mental perception. Her clients uncover new possibilities and come up with unique ideas in regards to pretty much anything in life. Clients also find coming with nature helps them find solutions to seemingly "unsolvable" problems. Experience Julia's Intuitive Forest Walk meditation on YouTube.

Julia believes the key to happiness and wellbeing is living in alignment with our unique destiny path by following our intuitive guidance as much as possible. When we have the courage and commitment to live our lives in a way that is truly aligned with our inner knowing, everyone wins in the long term.

Julia says:
The feedback that I often get from my clients and followers is that my work inspires them to live fully, creatively, and with great joy and courage. In my opinion, that's what life is all about:)

Instagram, Anxiety & Digital Self Harm: Helping Teens Navigate Social Media

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Last week The Wall Street Journal reported last week, Facebook’s own internal research found its Instagram app is harmful to a number of teenagers, particularly teenage girls. These are studies conducted over the last three years.

“Thirty-two percent of teen girls said that when they felt bad about their bodies, Instagram made them feel worse,” the researchers reportedly wrote. Facebook also reportedly found that 14% of boys in the U.S. said Instagram made them feel worse about themselves. So, equal opportunity.

According to the report, researchers warned Instagram’s Explore page, which serves users curated posts from a wide range of accounts, can push users into content that can be harmful. The app also has a culture of posting only the best pictures and moments, and it operates as an addictive product.

“Aspects of Instagram exacerbate each other to create a perfect storm,” the research said, according to the Journal.

Since more than 40% of Instagram’s users are 22 years old and younger, we thought it was time to bring in a counselor who works with teens and tweens for a reality check. Enter Jon Mattleman from Minding Your Mind.

Jon is a certified trainer in QPR Suicide Prevention and has worked with schools and state organizations, as well as with hundreds of parents regarding self-harm and suicide prevention. He presents his talk “The Secret Life of a Massachusetts Teen and Tweens” to thousands of parents in all over New England.

Jon has appeared on numerous radio and television shows lending his expertise on anxiety, depression, suicide, teens, and parenting.

Jon’s workshops and presentations are geared to give participants proven tools and strategies that children and youth can use: approaches which have proven to be critical to building healthy relationships.

Jon frequently consults with schools, parent groups, mental health organizations, and in workplace settings regarding the issues of anxiety, stress, depression, suicide, parenting, and the emotional consequences of technology.

Jon Mattleman graduated with B.A. from Clark University, and MS in Counseling from the University of Hartford in 1981.

Jon and his wife Wendy, have two grown children, and live in Belmont. He has been a finalist in Mass Mouth spoken word slams. More at
www.Jonmattleman.com
Twitter: @Jonmattleman

Embark On Your Third Act: Michelle Fishburne: Who We Are Now

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Michelle Fishburne’s Third - Fourth - Act is a little head-spinning. She went from being an international corporate attorney to a homeschooling mom to a public relations maven. Her most recent iteration is as a rootless, nomadic author who motorhomed 12,000 miles all over America interviewing hundreds of ordinary people about their lives during the pandemic. This mosaic of the American experience is going to be a book: "Who We Are Now: What We Lost and Found During the COVID-19 Pandemic" (UNC Press 2022). Her travels have been covered by ABC-TV, AARP, Good Housekeeping, and more. Michelle is now headed off again, in her motorhome, on a coast-to-coast adventure interviewing people whose lives have already been affected by climate change.

More about Michelle:

Who We Are Now website: https://www.whowearenow.us/

Instagram: @michellefishburne

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellefishburne/

Branding, Ugly Babies and Bubble Wrap: Define Your Business and Win

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 21:00:00 -0400

Your brand is greater than a good-looking logo. The success of your business is dependent on knowing who you are. Be clear about who you are and why we should care, and you have a good chance of finding your ideal client. That takes the time, objectivity and self-awareness to
That's the magic of working with Orly Zeewy. She is a brand architect, who can help you put your business on track from the foundation up. We talk about the blessings of ugly babies (metaphorically speaking), how much businesses should allocate to marketing and bubble wrap.

Orly Zeewy is an author, keynote speaker, educator and brand architect. She builds the DNA of startup brands and helps founders cut through the noise so they can scale in months, not years. Prior to starting her consulting practice, she ran the award-winning Zeewy Design and Marketing Communications firm for 14 years and directed marketing programs for national clients such as CIGNA, Kraft Foods and Prince Tennis.

Orly has lectured at Wharton and taught in The Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. In 2020, nearly 200 people from around the world attended her brand storytelling webinar: Heroes and Villains.

Orly has been interviewed for Medium and written for the Comcast Business Community, Small Business Trends, The Marketing Journal and Smart Hustle.

Her book, Ready, Launch, Brand: The Lean Marketing Guide for Startups was published in May 2021 and was the #1 new business book release on Amazon in April 2021.

Intuitive Eating Coach Lisa Dahl on Loving Your Body at Any Size

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 14:00:00 -0400

Many women in particular aspire to a certain size. Size Zero or Two is an ideal among movie stars and models, yet the average American woman stands at 5 feet, 4 inches, and wears a size 14 to 16. We have a love/hate relationship with food, and categorize what we eat as 'good' or 'bad'. Fitness programs abound, yet we have an assortment of maladies -- high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, allergies -- because of waning physical activity. Let's ditch the 'all or nothing' mentality around what we eat, aka 'diets' and feed the body we have. Let's dress and honor our bodies and learn to have a healthier self-regard. Lisa Dahl is here to help us find a kinder way.

Lisa is a certified Intuitive Eating and Body Image Health Coach. Through Intuitive Eating, she helps women make peace with their food and body. Lisa teaches women to listen, trust, and respect their bodies to be happy, healthy, and confident at any size. At Lisa Dahl Wellness, she offers her premier program Body Peace & Food Freedom. She has certifications in Intuitive Eating, health and wellness coaching, personal training, and group facilitation from Be Body Positive and Gratefulness.org

Michael Bobbitt on Arts and Cultural Leadership, Budgets and Boards

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 18:00:00 -0400

Arts and culture value far exceeds the price of admission to theatre, concert, or museum exhibit. From the Uber ride to the venue, to dinner before, or cocktails after an event, that ticket you buy to an event stimulates the economy in myriad ways. An active arts scene transforms a city or town into cultural and economic hubs where we can together for a shared human experience, through a wide range of artistic expression and diversity of thought. Creating the conditions for a diverse and thriving cultural community takes vision and leadership. Michael Bobbitt and I discuss the necessity of culture to our emotional and economic health, how to make entertainment and the arts accessible to more people, and why he considers himself an artist with a 'Small A.'

Michael J. Bobbitt has dedicated his professional career to arts leadership. He is a theatre director, choreographer, and playwright. On February 1, 2021, he joined Mass Cultural Council as Executive Director, becoming the highest-ranking cultural official in Massachusetts. At the same time, Bobbitt was invited and agreed to serve on the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) Board of Directors.

He has served as the Artistic Director of the New Repertory Theatre in Watertown, MA and Adventure Theatre-MTC in Maryland. At Adventure Theatre Bobbitt led the organization to be a respected theatre/training company in the DC region, and nationally influential professional Theatre for Young Audiences. He led a merger with Musical Theater Center, increased the organizational budget and audience, commissioned new works by noted playwrights, transferred two shows to Off-Broadway, built an academy, and earned dozens of Helen Hayes Award Nominations, garnering eight wins.

Bobbitt studied at Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management, The National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program, and Cornell University’s Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program. An Associate Professor of Theatre at both the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Howard University, Bobbitt has also volunteered on numerous nonprofit boards, including Maryland Citizens for the Arts, Weissberg Foundation and ArtsBoston.

Bobbitt has directed/choreographed at Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Olney Theatre Center, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Center Stage, Roundhouse Theatre, The Kennedy Center, and the Washington National Opera. His national and international credits include the NY Musical Theatre Festival, Mel Tillis 2001, La Jolla Playhouse, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, Jefferson Performing Arts Center, and the Olympics. As a writer his work was chosen for the NYC International Fringe Festival and The New York and Musical Theatre Festival. He has plays published by Concord Theatricals/Rodgers and Hammerstein Theatricals, Broadway Publishing and Plays for Young Audiences. Bobbitt has received the Excel Leadership Award (Center for Nonprofit Advancement), the Emerging Leader Award (County Executive’s Excellence in the Arts and Humanities), and Maryland Theatre Guide’s Person of the Year Award.

Embark on Your Third Act: Liz O'Neil Changes Everything and Takes on the Naysayers

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 10:00:00 -0400

Are you embarking on a new adventure and bumping into Naysayers? Our guest, Liz O'Neil shows how to manage well-meaning critics. She talks to Rebecca Moore about her journey from married pre-school administrator, to single working law student to Estate Attorney. All while raising four children.
Her one-step-at-a-time approach brought her clarity, a modicum of sanity, and a career that satisfies her smarts, ambition and that social advocacy streak that drives her to help and serve help others people.

Liz O'Neil is currently an Associate Attorney at Constant Law Group, P.C. Liz graduated cum laude from New England Law | Boston (2020). She received the Boston Service Award at graduation as voted on by the faculty at New England Law. While in law school, Liz interned at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Trial Division and was an Honors Judicial Intern with the Suffolk County Juvenile Court. She also worked at a Legal Aid clinic and for a domestic relations attorney. She is a member of the Women's, Massachusetts, Boston, and the American Bar Associations. In addition to her Juris Doctorate, Liz has a Master's Degree in Education from Harvard University (1992) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in Psychology from Swarthmore College (1990). Liz was the Director of Community Nursery School in Lexington, MA, for thirteen years prior to law school. Outside of work, Liz keeps active in the Lexington community and busy with her four children and their puppy, Charlie.

Part 2 with Confidence Coach Pauline Cheung: Five Comparison Traps and How to Avoid Them

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0400

Do you suffer from 'Compare and Despair Syndrome'? Well, give up that nasty habit. Confidence coach Pauline Cheung is back to talk about five common comparison traps, and how you can work to free yourself from them.

We also talk about how different people perceive courage, and courageous public acts and the subsequent consequences, as we saw played out during the Olympics, when gymnast Simone Biles pressed pause during the competition.

We take a look at the benefits of growing organizations that make room for a variety of backgrounds, ideas and lifestyles, as well as thoughts on how we're doing with inclusion in those organizations.

If we teach what we need to learn, Pauline Cheung learned confidence the hard way. As one of the few Asians in a predominantly white town in England, she felt like an outsider, and not free to be herself. Her college experience introduced her to a world where she found more acceptance, and people who also looked like her.

Through hard work, curiosity and risk taking, Pauline worked as an international executive working directly with C-suite and senior level executives at leading Fortune 500 companies, including The Walt Disney Company and Ralph Lauren Corporation, in the areas of strategy, marketing and business development. She now supports professional women to develop the mindset and the skillset to trust their own voice and create professional and personal success, without conceding to people-pleasing and perfectionism.

https://paulinecheungcoaching.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pauline-cheung-coaching

Pauline Cheung on Confidence, Leadership and Inclusion

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:00:00 -0400

Confidence. It can be an elusive quality. Especially when we feel like an outsider, or 'other'. Pauline Cheung knows what it feels like to not fit in, and not feel good enough. Raised in a white working class town in England, Pauline felt the barbs hurled at her for her Asian heritage. Bullied by peers, she wanted to please her teachers by excelling in academics, and please her parents by taking care of her younger siblings. She discovered her compliance with other people's expectations were not enough. Pauline and I discuss what it takes to develop confidence, how to work with fear to achieve our goals and the value of inclusion in this week's episode. Thanks for listening.

About Pauline: Cheung, a women’s leadership speaker and coach is on a mission to show professional women how to trust their voices and create professional and personal success – without conceding to people-pleasing and perfectionism.

Despite 12+ years as an international executive working with Fortune 500 C-suite and senior-level leaders in the areas of strategy, marketing and business development, Pauline comes from humble beginnings. She knows how challenging it is to step into the unknown and navigate the fear of failure and judgment. Her deep compassion for women wrestling with similar desires and demons helps her coaching clients and audience members break out of their fears and step into full visibility as their unique and brilliant selves.

Pauline is a professionally certified coach with the Co-Active Training Institute, a leading ICF-accredited organization, and she holds an MBA from Cass Business School. She also serves on the coaching faculty for the LEAP Organization (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics).

Author Elizabeth Splaine on the 'Devil's Grace,' Healthcare and Ghosts

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 10:00:00 -0400

Hi and welcome to Embark. Today Elizabeth 'Beth' Splaine is in studio to talk about her latest novel The Devil's Grace. Aside from her excellent writing, we talk about healthcare, ghosts and the grace that comes with true forgiveness.

A woman of remarkable and varied achievements, you can read more about Elizabeth on her website.

A few details about her book in these liner notes:

0.63 seconds. That’s the amount of time Angela Brennan has to process the oncoming truck that destroys half of her family and irrevocably alters her life. Not long after the accident, death intervenes once more and snatches her remaining family member. Facing life alone, Angela returns to work as a cardiac surgeon, saving other people’s lives, but questioning why hers was spared. Desperate and distraught, Angela makes the decision to join her family by taking her own life. Before she acts on her plan, however, she receives an anonymous note indicating that her daughter’s death could have been avoided. The information provides Angela with renewed purpose and she becomes determined to find meaning in her catastrophic loss. Angela confronts the healthcare power brokers and discovers lies, complicity, and corruption at the highest levels. As she uncovers the truth about her daughter’s death, barriers are thrown in her way that threaten to destroy all she has left: her career and reputation. Devil’s Grace follows Angela’s path from devastation to redemption, as her decision to choose hope over despair and kindness over cruelty tells a timeless, yet timely tale.

Elizabeth B. Splaine wrote the Dr. Julian Stryker series of “Blind” thrillers (Blind Order and Blind Knowledge), as well as Devil’s Grace, the winner of the When Words Count writing competition, released through Greenwriters Press. Her next book, Swan Song, an historical fiction novel, will be released in October 2021 through Woodhall Press.

Prior to writing, Elizabeth earned an AB in Psychology from Duke University and an MHA from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She spent eleven years working in health care before switching careers to become a professional opera singer and voice teacher.

When not writing, Elizabeth teaches classical voice in Rhode Island where she lives with her husband, sons, and dogs.

Embark on Your Third Act: Mind Your Money with Nancy Butler

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0400

We like to mix it up a little on Embark, so every third Thursday of the month, we'll Embark on Your Third Act. InANutshell Consulting's Rebecca More and Third Act Quest's Diana Place join me to ponder what's on our minds as we enter that phase of life where we hopefully have a little more wisdom, while we hold onto that joie de vivre to follow our hearts.

After a short conversation about what Diana, Rebecca and I we wish we knew when about finances when we were younger, we bring in expert help to talk about what we can do to stay financial -- and emotionally -- healthy. Welcome Nancy Butler from Above All Else.

Nancy built a business from scratch as a single parent with no other source of income, from $2,000 to $200 million in assets under management. Since selling the business she has coached businesses in different industries assisting them in providing a better level of service for their clients and customers while increasing their business an average of 300%.

Nancy is a professional motivational speaker and award-winning author with over 40 years of experience managing businesses and helping individuals live happier more successful lives. Nancy was appointed a delegate to The United Nations for The Commission on The Status of Women in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and has been quoted in many local and national publications, including Money magazine, USA Today, Forbes, US News and World Report, The Financial Planning Association magazine, AARP, The Chicago Tribune, The New England Real Estate Journal, and many more.

Bobbie Carlton on Innovation, Speaking Gigs and Multitasking

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0400

One of Bobbie Carlton's missions is to transform the 'manel,' what she calls the 'all-male, all pale and all stale conference panels. In a quest for more diversity, and promote women as thought leaders, she has established Innovation Women. We talk about the job market, VC funding, how to get those sought-after speaking gigs, and when to trade your value as an expert for long-term opportunity.

Bobbie Carlton is the founder of Carlton PR & Marketing, Innovation Nights and Innovation Women, or, as she calls them, the day job, the night job and the dream job. She’s an award-winning marketing and PR professional who speaks regularly on marketing, public speaking, startups and women’s issues. During the pandemic, she engaged in some retail therapy and bought two additional companies, My Speaker Leads, and Lioness Magazine. She still gets the occasional comment on having an “NPR” radio voice when she appears on a podcast and still remembers all her call signs from her years as a DJ and radio newsperson during the 80s.

Ean Price Murphy: Helping Creatives Be Profitable without Selling Their Souls

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 22:00:00 -0400

You’re a creative. Talent just flows through you, and you love what you do. One hitch: You don’t know a thing about business, or how to make what you do profitable.

No worries. Ean Price Murphy has your back. Born into a family of creatives, Ean founded Moxie Bookkeeping and Coaching to show small businesses – especially creative ones – how to manage their finances and become profitable without ‘selling your soul’.

Ean and I talk about how a lack of clarity about our money stuff can create paralysis and block us from achieving our goals. We look at the root of these feeling and how many creatives don’t like to ‘sell out’ their art. Profit and integrity can go hand in hand. You need only a clear head, a sense of what you want, and someone to help you track what you do.

Free your mind and time to do what you really love, while you learn to become the confident boss you really are.

Discover four simple steps to permanent profitability without selling your soul at Moxie Bookkeeping.

Body Image, Gender Identity and Creativity with Actor and Filmmaker Lyralen Kaye

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

So, what does a creative do when a pandemic cancels their gigs? If you’re Lyralen Kaye, you stay home, devise a web series, then collect accolades, including an award from the the Los Angeles Internation Film Festival’s Indie Short Fest. Kaye brought 23 actors from around the world together through Zoom to create Assigned Female at Birth: A Web Series about Some Bodies.

A hybrid narrative/documentary series Assigned Female at Birth (AFAB) is the story of 23 AFAB people fighting everything they've been taught about their bodies never being good enough.

Season One of the docu-dramedy is on YouTube. Season Two drops later this month.

Creative director, executive producer and founder of Another Country Productions , Lyralen talks with me about body image, gender identity, connection and creativity.

Lyralen Kaye, SAG-AFTRA, AEA, is an actor, screenwriter, playwright, and director. Their acting film/web credits include Assigned Female at Birth, The Last Poker Game, 27 Dresses, The Naturals, The Man at the Door and Mama’s Boy. In Theatre they have played such classic roles as Emma in Betrayal, Lulu in The Dutchman and Polina in The Seagull. Assigned Female at Birth has five times won Best Web and New Media in film festivals world wide. Lyralen's first screenplay for Saint John the Divine in Iowa won them a place in the 2015 Writers Lab supported by Meryl Streep, was a finalist for the 2018 Blacklist Women in Film Lab and 2011 Roy W. Dean Award and was a semi-finalist for the 2011 Pride Plays and Films Award. In 2018 Lyralen won the San Francisco Best in Fringe and Techie Best in Fringe for their solo show, My Preferred Pronoun Is We. Lyralen has also been nominated for the 1997 Pushcart Prize in fiction and won the 1998 Boston Amazon Slam Poetry Finals. They are a radical queer activist and social justice artist.

Embark On Your Third Act - A Conversation with Diana Place & Rebecca Moore

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 15:00:00 -0400

Let's give some credit to the boomers. And GenXer's. They do things on their own terms. Rather than embrace their parents’ model of seniority which was defined by retirement and a move to Florida, If you're 50-plus, you may go back to school, start a new relationship, explore your creativity, 'embark' on a new career -- or spiritual path -- or take up a cause. You might see it as a way to enjoy a third act, which may include many more scenes, subplots and twists.

Each third Thursday of the month, we welcome you to Embark on Your Third Act.

Rebecca Moore of InANutshell Productions, and Diana Place of Third Act Quest, join me for far-reaching conversations about what's next for our life's third act. We'll invite a wide range of guests to address subjects from financial literary to sexual health to career advice.

Today we talk about regrets, the plasticity of our brains and our potential to change and achieve great things.

Join the conversation, and bring your questions: liz@embark the podcast.com. And please subscribe.

A Conversation on Race, Secrets, Love and Memoir Writing with E. Dolores Johnson

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 15:00:00 -0400

Change is not easy, nor does it happen quickly. One need only look at our continuing conversations and conflict over race to understand that truth.
Embark revisits a conversation with E. Dolores Johnson, who explores her own racial identity in her debut memoir.

In 1946, E. Dolores Johnson's black father and white mother fled Indiana's harsh laws against interracial marriage. The subject of an FBI search, which concluded she was dead and a victim of foul play, Dolores' mother was raising a family in Buffalo, New York.

As a young woman, Dolores decided to find her white family, and hoped to reunite her mother with loved ones. She writes about her experience in her book, 'Say I'm Dead: A Memoir of Race, Secrets and Love.' Published last June by Chicago Review Press, it is now an audiobook on Dreamscape Media.

Johnson's work has appeared in Narratively, Buffalo News, Writers of Color Anthology, Hippocampus and others. She spent her career as an international business executive in tech. She also consulted corporations, as well as Berklee College of Music, on diversity. Dolores directed the digitization of john F. Kennedy's papers at his presidential library in Boston, which launched at the Library of Congress in Washington DC. She has a BA from Howard University and MBA from Harvard Business School and completed an MFA equivalent Creative Writing Program. Through Delta Sigma Theta, she chairs human trafficking conferences for black girls and serves on the Boston University International Review Board and the Board of the Virginia Center for Creative Arts. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts

How Your Email Marketing Can Rise Above Noise with Susan Finn

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 11:00:00 -0400

We collectively send and receive over 300 million emails a day. How many of those do you automatically delete? How can you make sure people are opening and responding to yours?

Email strategist Susan Finn believes marketing is an act of service to those who are currently looking for what you have to offer. That's where thoughtful, effective email practices come in.

She created the Rise Above Noise five-pillar process, which offers heart-centered entrepreneurs a step-by-step guide to create a digital marketing strategy that saves time, attracts clients and allows them to show up in their own integrity.

Susan discusses how to tame the pesky organizational aspect of marketing to present our message consistently and generously share it at scale.

Find her Facebook group and discover her work here.

Episode Thirteen: Social Geek Radio's Jack Monson on Podcasts, Franchises, Clubhouse and a Little More Conversation

Thu, 27 May 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Social Geek Radio's Jack Monson and his guests discuss social media and digital marketing trends for brands, small businesses, and franchises.

Social Geek Radio was listed as one of 20 Best Business Podcasts according to Emerge and was named to the Best Small Business Podcasts by FitSmallBusiness.com. Recently we finally made the Top 25 podcasts in the Marketing category of Apple Podcasts / iTunes.

Jack is seasoned in social media marketing, franchise marketing, brand journalism, and public relations. He is the Chief Revenue Officer at Social Joey, and works with franchise systems, national brands, and their locations to get their local marketing hopping!

In 2010 Jack and his partners started The Franchise Marketing Innovation and Tech Conference and presented by The International Franchise Association promoting digital marketing and innovation for the Franchise industry.

More at socialgeekradio

Diana Dunbar Place on the Third Act Quest.

Thu, 20 May 2021 17:00:00 -0400

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
With your one wild and precious life?

This verse from Mary Oliver's poem The Summer Day inspired Diana Dunbar Place to explore what she wanted for her own life. She founded Third Act Quest to inspire others to embrace life's possibilities and transitions, and re-envision and rewrite their life stories.

After a 35-year professional career that includes a decade with a leading international marketing & ad agency; ten years with America Online (AOL-Time Warner), Diana started three entirely different entrepreneurial ventures. She has mentored and advised several organizations to serve and connect women.

In her fifties, the coinciding emotional challenges surrounding a cancer diagnosis, closing my latest entrepreneurial venture, and becoming an empty nester as my daughter headed to college was not filled with anger or regret, but deep gratitude, joy and reignited passion for this next phase of my life.

Through retreats, courses, group and private coaching, and a special event series, she helps reframe the experience and perceptions of aging among people of all ages. Third Act Quest is working to shift the experience and perception of aging for individuals, in the workplace and in our culture in general; inspiring people to reimagine what it means to grow older. Importantly as well, she want to help bridge understanding, connection, and mutual support between generations.

Visit her website: diana@thirdactquest.com to connect and learn more.

Rebecca Moore Talks Female Founders and Women's Work, In A Nutshell

Wed, 12 May 2021 18:00:00 -0400

What do you do when you work with women founders who are reluctant to call themselves 'founders'? You help them walk into their title, and power with integrity, support and some fun. At least that's what you do if you're Rebecca Moore, Founder of In a Nutshell Consulting.

Moore empowers mission-based women entrepreneurs to harness their brilliance, crush doubt, and clarify their message so they can make a social impact AND earn a meaningful income.

An entrepreneur and creative at heart, she leverages her experience founding a venture-backed dot.com and two consultancies (while juggling parenting, caregiving, and health crises) to provide perspective, strategies, and encouragement to first-time and unconventional business owners (many of whom. like her, are starting YOLO businesses in their '50s). She speaks on "Creating your new identity...as an unconventional founder", "The Founder Myth" ,"Telling Your Story in a Nutshell", "Monetizing Your Brilliance, and "Turning Your Setbacks to Success." Moore believes it is never too late to fulfill your purpose, to serve others, and to prosper.

Evelyn Starr on Brands in Adolescence and Getting Your Brand Unstuck

Fri, 07 May 2021 11:00:00 -0400

We all know the signs of adolescence: Identity crises, running with the wrong crowd, rebelliousness, oversleeping. Sound like what's happening with your brand? Your business?
Well, your brand may be stuck in adolescence, and Evelyn Starr explains how your brand can find itself, grow up and thrive.

Evelyn Starr is a brand expert and marketing consultant with over 25 years of marketing strategy and research experience. Evelyn uses her keen powers of observation and insight to help her clients wow their customers and grow their businesses. She specializes in working with Brands in Adolescence, brands that have stalled after their initial success.

Her clients have ranged from small businesses like Laird Superfood and Harbor Sweets to global brands like Hasbro and Gillette.

Before founding E. Starr Associates in 1999, Evelyn worked for some of New England’s most recognized brands including Dunkin’, Veryfine Products and The First Years. As leader of the Care & Safety category at The First Years, she launched one of the company’s most successful products, the Hands-Free Gate, which won The National Parenting Seal of Approval in 2002.

Evelyn earned an MBA in Marketing from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management and graduated with honors from Vassar College with a BA in Economics and French. Living in the Greater Boston area, her passions include travel, reading, writing, yoga, tea, dark chocolate and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in both her husband and her two children.

Creative Messaging, Advertising and Audio Optometry with Michael Coleman

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 13:00:00 -0400

What makes an advertising message successful? What do the best commercials have in common? What exactly is Audio Optometry. We discuss all with Creative Director and Broadcast Producer, Michael Coleman.

Recognized among media and entertainment industry leaders for innovative ideas that sell, ColeCuts Creative rose to prominence through their innovative work for major market radio and TV stations across the US and Canada. With over three decades of memorable commercials and promotional messages ColeCuts Creative is known for developing intelligent, humorous, and cutting-edge material. Their cerebral and irreverent wit earned them numerous awards, including the Edward R. Murrow, Marconi, Radio Mercury, RTNDA, Associated Press, and Silver Microphone. As a twenty-seven-year stand-up comedian, their two CDs Do Not Read This and Laughing to Beat the Band have received critical acclaim on radio stations throughout the US. They have also taught creative writing and sound production at Northeastern University and Boston College. More at colecutsound.com.

Line by Line: Celebrate Poetry Month, and a New Wave of Poets with Sara Letourneau

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:00:00 -0400

Think poetry is relegated to dusty old library book shelves? Well, poetry is alive and thriving, thanks to emerging poets like Amanda Gorman. Today, another young poet shares her passion for verse, and why it's not only relevant, but essential.

Sara Letourneau is a poet as well as the managing editor and writing coach at Heart of the Story Editorial & Coaching Services. In her editing work, she specializes in speculative fiction, literary fiction, YA fiction, memoir, and prescriptive nonfiction. Her poetry has been featured in or will soon appear in Aromatica Poetica, Constellations, Mass Poetry's Poem of the Moment, Soul-Lit, Amethyst Review, Boston Small Press and Poetry Scene, Golden Walkman Magazine, and The Aurorean, among others. She is also a former music journalist and tea reviewer, and her articles about writing have appeared in blogs such as DIY MFA, Writers Helping Writers, and Grub Street. She lives in Massachusetts and is known for always having a book, a journal, a pen, and a cup of tea handy.

Opera Creativity and The Bodice Ripper Project with Singer Maren Montalbano

Mon, 05 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0400

In this week's episode, Liz Solar speaks with opera singer Maren Montalbano about creativity, myths around opera, performing during covid, and the 'bodices' that constrain us all.

Maren Montalbano is an opera singer, business coach, and writer, whose voice can be heard on three GRAMMY Award-winning albums. When live performances disappeared during the pandemic, she turned her focus to the online world: writing, producing, and premiering a one-woman show called The Bodice Ripper Project as an interactive digital performance at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. That show, along with the accompanying podcast of the same name, became an exploration of sexuality, feminism, and the journey to self-empowerment through the lens of romance novels. A graduate of Tufts University and New England Conservatory of Music, Maren has sung at Carnegie Hall in NYC, Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA, multiple theaters in Europe, and even performed on stage with the Rolling Stones. She is passionate about uplifting and amplifying new and diverse voices in classical music, which has fueled her work as a business coach for musicians.

You can read more about Maren’s brilliant career in opera, romance novel writing and The Bodice Ripper podcast at marenmontalbano.com.

Bipolar Disorder Uncovered : In Conversation with Gabriela Perreira

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:00:00 -0400

"Life is what happens while you're making other plans." How many times has the universe interrupted or curtailed those dreams we set up for ourselves? In Gabriela Perreira's case, a diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder and the medications involved in treating it, led her to a life-altering choice. She'll talk about the journey from early diagnosis to acceptance to sharing her diagnosis to help other people, and assure them, they are not alone..

We are not our disorders or disease. In the best case scenarios, we are able to come to terms with what life throws us and find grace and discover other ways to live life as richly as we imagined.

Gabriela Pereira is the founder of DIYMFA.com, the do-it-yourself alternative to a Masters degree in writing. She is also a speaker, podcast host for DIY MFA Radio, and author of the book DIY MFA: Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, Build Your Community.

Market a Better Message: A conversation with Message Artist Deb Goeschel

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Marshall McLuhan famously said. "The medium is the message." Okay, but it's the message -what you say, the way you say it and how you present that to the world - that really counts. Whether you’re talking with your partner, your children, or your colleagues – good communication is essential. It can also be difficult to get right. It's true with the words we speak, and the written messages we send out into social media and on our websites.

The ability to convey your message can positively impact many areas of your life for the better, but it takes practice. And the right elements to tell a powerful and unique story to draw people to you and your brand. We brought in an expert to guide you to tell an effective, and affecting, message.

With an extensive creative background — writing, editing, acting, photography, yoga, and graphic and web design — Deb brings a unique, intuitive, and story-telling perspective to branding, messaging, and content strategy and creation. With 20 years of marketing and communication experience behind her, she currently runs her own branding and marketing company serving entrepreneurs, small- and mid-sized businesses, and nonprofits to provide stellar branding and compelling print and digital content.

Learn more at messageartist.com

The Troubling Trend of Suicide in Young Children. A Conversation with Jon Mattleman

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Suicide is a leading cause of death in US elementary school–aged children, and the suicide rate in black school-aged children has increased in recent years. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control show a dramatic rise for young children and adolescents since the epidemic started. From March through October, 2020 mental health-related emergency department visits rose 24% for children ages 5 to 11 and 31% among adolescents ages 12 to 17 when compared with the same period in 2019

Disruptive routines, fear of sickness or family loss, economic and housing mobility have proved to be significant stressors for adults as well as children. Social isolation caused by being quarantined and widespread social inequities may prove the heaviest burdens for adolescents and young children who go through an an even more intense period of growth and social learning,

Although little is known about the factors precipitating suicide among young children, Jon Mattleman offers some insight on Embark. Jon's life work as a counselor is to help parents better understand their children, and encourage children and adolescents to make meaningful change, as well as good decisions. QPR Suicide Prevention is Jon's enlightening and empowering training on the myths around suicide and how to effectively identify and support loved ones who may be suffering. More at jonmattleman.com

The Pandemic Within the Pandemic: On Food Insecurity with Catherine Drennan Lynn

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 22:00:00 -0500

Global problems have been amplified during the Covid-19 pandemic. Some are readily solvable, some will take time. Others have no immediate or foreseeable solution. There is one issue that can be solved right now: Hunger. A widespread disease that’s easily treatable, and totally curable.

Embark speaks with Catherine Drennan Lynn, Senior Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Greater Boston Food Bank, which works with Feeding America. Their mission is to end hunger through public policy and awareness. GBFB works with state and federal government, and 600 partners to find ways to safely reach and feed our most vulnerable.

Catherine most recently led a successful state legislative campaign on school breakfast and built a statewide coalition to support this effort called Rise and Shine Massachusetts. The Breakfast After the Bell bill, which will expand access to school breakfast for more than 150,000 low-income students in Massachusetts. At the federal level, she is actively engaged in the national dialogue on the COVID-19 response, Child Nutrition Reauthorization, healthcare and tax reform and the recent 2018 Farm Bill. Her work advances the mission to end hunger in eastern Massachusetts and position GBFB as a national thought leader on hunger and poverty.

We can all help end this epidemic. Donate your time, write a check, call your legislators. It will take all of us to end this widespread public health issue. Find resources on my most recent blog at lizsolar.com.

A Woman Moving Forward: Stacy Reed on Human Trafficking

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 22:00:00 -0500

The global human trafficking industry brings in over one hundred and fifty billion dollars annually. More than 25 million people -- many the most vulnerable among us, including children -- are victims coerced, tricked or forced into indentured servitude. Sex trafficking is an ever-growing business. During the time of COVID, business is booming, but it has become more difficult to uncover trafficking rings. Our isolation has kept us from seeing who might be a victim, or where they are located.

Despite films like Pretty Woman that would persuade us the sex trade can result in a fairy tale ending, it is a life filled with hopelessness and despair, a life our guest Stacy Reed has experienced. Stacy is a survivor, author, poet, and motivational speaker. She has traveled internationally to educate and advocate for victims, and for 20 years has worked with people who experience alcoholism, substance use disorders, prostitution, sex exploitation, domestic violence, mental health, and HIV/AIDS. She has a masters in social work and is currently a PsyD student enrolled at William James College in Newton, MA. She's also Supervisor of Peer Mentorship at RIA House, a non profit on a mission to help end human trafficking and sex exploitation. She believes "No one should be bought or sold for the sexual gratification of another person."

We welcome Stacy, and thank her for generously sharing her story during January, National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

If you are or know someone who is being sexually exploited, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

Episode Twelve: Riding the Wave to Career Change, A Conversation with Kristen Tagliamonte

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 20:00:00 -0500

Change. It happens. Do you find yourself mid-career and just not feeling what you do anymore? What now? Whether you've identified your next step, or need need some direction, Kristen Tagliamonte can help steer you into life's next adventure.

Kirsten is a certified career transitions and leadership coach focused on empowering others to make choices to make change! As the founder and owner of Empowered Results with KAT, she comes prepared with a background of 30 years of corporate experience in Human Resources. A lifelong learner, she encourages her clients to always be open and curious about their options, and life.

Fun fact: Kristen is a devotee of the ocean. See how waves figure into her story. empoweredresultswithkat.com

Episode Eleven: Jenny Ro, Modern Matchmaker Brings Innovators and Investors Together

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:00:00 -0500

Forget Match! Jenny is a PhD biologist set out to inject science into human connections and how we network. After multiple careers which include working with wild birds as a field biologist, as a PhD at University of Michigan and post doc training at Harvard studying why we age and why cancer causes organ wasting syndrome, Jenny completely turned herself around and became a full-time entrepreneur commercializing her own invention and building a software company called Curious Reactor that helps you network better in a professional world. Outside of that, she consults biotech companies on sourcing new and innovative technologies and coaches TEDx speakers storytelling. Read more of Jenny's story at curiousreactor.com

Episode Ten: Make Your Marketing Matter: A Conversation with Robin Samora

Sat, 28 Nov 2020 18:00:00 -0500

You work hard, but still, not enough clients. First, they have to know how and where to find you. Then they have to know, trust and like you. Know, like and trust is Robin Samora's specialty.

Robin Samora helps small and mid-size businesses increase sales, connect with customers, and gain visibility. Whether it’s writing customized marketing plans for clients or working 1-2-1 to meet their goals, her focus is clear – to get results. Using a variety of marketing strategies, Robin advises business owners on how to stand out, gain credibility, and bring in the business they deserve. She also writes a top 40 small business marketing blog, Robin’s Rainmakers and hosts a weekly podcast, the Fast Marketing Minute.

Episode Nine: Money Decisions That Matter, A Conversation with Alex Weiss

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 18:00:00 -0500

Money is a funny thing. We like to have it and yet we’re often ambivalent about how to spend it, and not always educated about how to maximize our wealth. Seventy-five percent of us wing it in terms of our finances, and don’t ask for help, often to our own detriment.

So, how can we get more financially savvy? How do we manage wealth when we don’t feel like we have much wealth at all? We’re going to ask Alex Weiss for some guidance.

Alex is a certified financial planner who helps individuals, families, and businesses develop and execute wealth management strategies. He also works with clients throughout the planning process, and implements tailored strategies based on the client’s needs. He coordinates the services of other professionals and subject matter experts who support his clients’ financial needs. Alex takes great pride in helping his clients by providing real clarity about every financial decision, and by coordinating the fractured advice clients receive from multiple sources. After four years with Merrill Lynch, he now shares his considerable financial acumen with clients at US Wealth Management. Alex holds a degree in Actuarial Mathematics with a concentration in Finance from Bryant University, and lives in the Boston area with his wife and adorable toddler.

Episode Eight: Beyond Skin Deep - A Conversation with Alexis Simmons on Skincare

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Seasons change, and that takes a toll on our skin. Environmental factors, stress, and poor hygiene all contribute to clogged, tired pores. If you can't, or don't want to visit an esthetician, we have an expert on board to share some easy -- and inexpensive ways -- to care for your body's largest organ.

For nine years, Alexis Simmons has owned an ecommerce business, working with Rodan & Fields Dematologists, a top brand in premium skin care. Alexis is passionate about helping others, and her enthusiasm is infection. She is skilled in recognizing which ingredients, lifestyle changes and routines will effectively heal skin affected with four basic concerns:
acne, sun damage, aging and wrinkles, and sensitivity due to rosacea, psoriasis and eczema.

If your skin is feeling as stressed as the rest of you, join us for a talk as entertaining as it is educational. Thanks for listening.

Episode Seven: High Anxiety: How to Deal with Yours, and Other People's

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 20:00:00 -0400

Jon Mattleman knows a thing or two about anxiety. Not only does he help people, especially teens and the adults in their loves, find ways to cope with anxiety, he, too deals with anxiety in his own life. Then again, these days, who doesn't. As the Massachusetts Clinical Director of Minding Your Mind, he helps provide mental health education, and strategies to adolescents, teens and young adults. In his private practice, Jon offers presentations, consultations and consulting services. We talk about the rise of not just anxiety, but suicide ideation among teens during Covid, along with ways to recognize anxiety, and find positive ways to deal with our loved ones, and ourselves when we find our emotions frayed. More on Jon's warm, kind and sometimes humorous approach to the human condition, read more at jonmattleman.com.

Episode Six: Rock Your Brand. Change Your Brand

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Everyone has a brand these days. And if you have a business -- or even if you don't -- your brand can be memorable, even influential. And that means having a brand that reflects who you are, not just in business but in life.

Rachel Pintarelli from Rock Your Brand hit a professional wall in April when her rock 'n roll persona no longer reflected where she is now, or what our current circumstances are globabally. A little introspection, and she's still rocking it, in a very different way. All while being true to herself. She'll talk about how you can do the same, addresses branding do's and don'ts, and interjects some humor and wisdom. For more visit, letsrockyourbrand.com.

Episode Five: The Cancer Vaccine. A Conversation with Dana-Farber's Keerthi Shetty

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Imagine a customized vaccine to treat a person's unique type of cancer. Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a world-class hospital for people with cancer. They are developing ground-breaking therapy to treat advanced-stage cancers. Keerthi Shetty serves as a Senior Manger of Strategic Initiatives at Dana-Farber, and is part of the team working on Neo Vax. Keerthi is also a business Manager for the Translational Immunogenomics Lab. She is passionate about her work in immunology, as well as connecting innovators and business developers. Her greatest satisfaction comes from mentoring the next generation of STEM students. Hear her story, and the amazing developments to fight cancer.

Episode Four: Making the Workplace More Human

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:00:00 -0400

Our guest today is Stela Lupushor, who is on a mission to humanize the workplace.

She works with the Conference Board’s Fortune 500 corporations-members on rethinking their workplace strategies. She leads Reframe.Work Inc. and consults on how to create inclusive workplaces through the use of technology, human-centered design, people analytics, and future-thinking, In 2018 Stela founded amazing.community, a nonprofit that expands the work horizon for women 45+. She has transformed the workplace at the intersection of technology, analytics, and Human Resources at Fidelity Investments, TIAA, IBM, Price Waterhouse, and PwC Consulting and their clients. In this episode, Stela addresses inclusion in the workplace, how colleges can prepare students for a changing employment environment, and what we can expect to see in the next five to ten years. Learn about her work at reframe.work

Episode Three: Go to Sleep (for a change): A Conversation with Sleep Coach, Kali Patrick

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:00:00 -0400

What keeps you up at night? Whatever it is, you can finally get a good night's sleep. Kali Patrick, sleep wellness coach helps tired, stressed-out people - sound familiar - develop habits and strategies during the day that will lead to sweet dreams at night. She shares her own journey from Type-A perfectionist workaholic to a more Zen lifestyle. Find her practice 'A Journey Into Health' at kalipatrick.com.

Episode Two: A Conversation with E. Dolores Johnson on Publishing During Covid 19

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 15:00:00 -0400

We speak with author E. Dolores Johnson whose book 'Say I'm Dead: A Family Memoir of Race, Secrets and Love' was published June 2. A story of her parents flight from Indiana during the 1940's to escape the state's then-punishing laws against interracial marriage.
Last episode, Dolores spoke to Embark about growing up interracial, and black in America, and how we can help bridge the racial divide. In this episode we follow up with the art of writing memoir, and the challenges of publishing a book during a pandemic.

Episode One: A Conversation on Race with E. Dolores Johnson

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Part one of a conversation with E. Dolores Johnson, who discusses her memoir, Say I'm Dead: A Family Memoir on Race, Secrets and Love, published in June by Chicago Review Press. In our discussion through the lens of race, Johnson relates how her black father and white mother fled Indiana in the 1940’s to escape punishing state laws against interracial marriage, and her experience growing up black in America. More on Johnson at edoloresjohson.com.

Introduction: Embark Is All About Change

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 09:00:00 -0400

‘Life is what happens to you while you’re making other plans.’ Sang John Lennon.

Life’s also full of change. Hear stories of personal challenge, inspiring comebacks, innovations, new developments in science, business and culture, and how we can, and do, navigate to what's next.