Coffee & Change

My guest on Episode 112 needs almost no introduction. Scott Kelly is a former military fighter pilot and test pilot, an engineer, a retired astronaut, and a retired U.S. Navy captain. A veteran of four space flights, who has commanded the International Space Station on three expeditions and was a member of the yearlong mission to the ISS. In October 2015, he set the record for the total accumulated number of days (520 days) spent in space, the single longest space mission by an American astronaut. I am honored to welcome Scott Kelly to the podcast to launch the 2023 season. This conversation was a true honor and a dream come true. You can find more about Scott Kelly at: scottkelly.com and support his cause to help Ukraine and their citizens at donorbox.org/scottkelly

Our final episode of 2022 is a unique episode for me. My guest, Thomas Mallon, is an author whose work is special in my life. His novel “Fellow Travelers” created a lasting bond and memory for me and my husband, and is a gleaming gemstone in the mosaic that is our relationship. We used to talk of how great it would be to someday invite Thomas Mallon to dinner and thank him for his work, stories and characters. After reading so many of his works, it feels like Thomas is an old DC friend, with his stories intertwined with our life and the city where our love story began. This conversation, recorded in DC on a beautiful winter morning, reminds me of the power of a friendship that exists through his characters and the pages of his stories…a friendship that spans 14 years. And yet we hadn’t personally met until the morning of this podcast recording. In this very special episode we hear his story and have a conversation with Thomas Mallon. We discuss his novels and how the changing stories in our lives unfold

Imagine being able to go back and have a conversation with your 12 year old self. Imagine being able to share all the things you had learned along the way, to celebrate your unwavering resilience, to honor your fortitude and most importantly admire your compassion for change. While it may not seem achievable, this next conversation with Rory Woonsue did just that, for both the host and the guest. See, I met Rory when I was 12 years old and we were both in the 7th grade in Warsaw, Poland. It was a historic time - Gulf War, Reunification of Germany, the fall of the Soviet Union. All this was taking place around us while we were trying to salvage our childlike wonder, and hold on to our innocence. The world around us was changing fast, and we had no choice but to try and find our way in the world, in a post communist country, while navigating adolescence behind the Iron Curtain. This conversation was a salve on a wound I didn't know I had been ignoring for multiple decades. It was in this connection, reigni

On Episode 109, I welcome a long overdue conversation with Dele Downs Kooley. Dele and I met on a panel for the Women in Tech Regatta in Seattle. We both hit it off sharing our backgrounds in the military and as fate would have it, we would be working together a year or so later. Her story is one that will remind you the power and importance of the pivot. And most importantly, the pivot to joy. Enjoy the listen. Learn more about Dele and her new book at: https://delekooleycoaching.com/

Edward Cleaves is the author of Kind Soul, Closet Maniac: A Memoir – a tale of a kid trying to escape a horrible past and navigate an uncertain future. All the while never giving up, and eventually coming to terms with life. Ever vigilant and ever hopeful. This is a powerful story rooted plainly with purpose and perseverance in prose. Learn more about Ed at: https://www.edwardcleaves.com/

On Episode 107, we meet Bryan Komornik. Bryan is a Partner at West Monroe where he leads and focuses on Healthcare Management and Health Strategy Solutions. Bryan is also an Executive Board Member at Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, a non profit that provides integrated care that enables people in mental health recovery to build meaningful and independent lives. Bryan is a frequent author of articles and publication on topics of navigating the future of healthcare and the transformative power of connected care. Bryan also wrote a very powerful article on Progressology.com in 2019 on his personal journey while becoming a father to twin boys and redefining his understanding of work-life balance, and how it is an erroneous myth. Read Bryan's article here: https://progressology.com/articles/2019/02/26/throw-out-the-work-life-scale-a-father-of-twins-journey-to-imbalance/ Learn about Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare here: https://www.trilogyinc.org/

Welcome back and thanks for listening. As we approach the Thanksgiving Day Holiday here in the United States, I want to extend my gratitude and thanks to all the listeners that keep this show vibrant, relevant and growing. One of the many gifts I get to experience from this platform built on a passion for both storytelling and story listening are the connections, recommendations and suggestions that former guests share with me for future shows. Today’s guest came to me that way as well, and from one Steven to another. My guest on Episode 106 is Steven Jaggers, founder of Somatic Breathwork. Steven’s purpose in life is to liberate people from the stress & overwhelm that lies unprocessed in our bodies so that we become free in our mind. As we discuss in this episode together, Steven believes there is an exact correlation between our physical vitality and mental health. If we want to improve the quality of our lives we MUST address both…and that begins with breath. Living and practicing out of Sedona, Arizo

To listen is to practice... To listen is to prompt... To listen is to love. Thank you for joining me in and adventure in attunement and an alongside listen. New Seasonal Theme music composed by Jason Latham. Poetry and words written by Bill Kirst and Jason Latham.

Landon Kissinger is a Manager at West Monroe and a member of the firm’s Customer Experience practice, where he focuses on High Performance Contact Centers, Salesforce CRM and Customer Experience Strategy. With a technical background and an unmatched passion for people Landon continues to work on his pedigree with his uncommon blend of technology and business acumen. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Computer Science from Gonzaga University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, focusing in database management and data-structures. (GO ZAGS) Landon also has a background in Ethical Philosophy and Psychology, Integration Technologies, and social media and marketing strategy. Oh, and I am not done yet folks…Landon has 6 certifications that he has earned with passion and perseverance in a digital first world: - He is a Certified Product Manager, earned from the Product School - A Certified Scrum Master, earned from Scrum Alliance - A Salesforce Administrator – that is not easy to earn and hig

Jon Becker has spent his life’s work making sure that those in uniform – all uniforms – are all secure. Spanning nearly four decades of service to law enforcement and military special operations units around the world, Jon’s commitment and expertise has influenced the innovation and application of tactical equipment for operators from around the world serving in top law enforcement and military units. After founding Aardvark Tactical when just 17 years old, Jon has gone on to grow his company into one of the largest providers of tactical equipment in the world, while also becoming an attorney with a focus on civil rights and police litigation. Jon attributes his success and remarkable journey to those who came before him, to those who invested in him, and to those who taught him the importance of compassion, care and commitment in developing his craft. His craft is saving lives. Each and every day. And that craft continues in the lost art of oral tradition, with his podcast called The Debrief. On his show

On Episode 102, I am joined by Rudy Hunter who shares an incredible story in grief, loss, love and healing. Rudy is a unique healer, teacher and author who has worked with people and animals for 30 years to help them heal. Rudy's customers and clients have shared such sentiment as "If teddy bears could speak, they would sound like Rudy Hunter." Rudy's unique gift is meeting people where they are at in their pain and trauma journey and guiding them to a place of wholehearted joy and comfort. This was a fascinating conversation and one I hope you enjoy!

My guest on this episode is Andrew Bartlow, who brings 25 years of Human Resources and Talent Management experience to share in stories, wisdom and insights earned while supporting organizations of all sizes, stages and complexity. He is the co-author of “Scaling for Success: People Priorities for High Growth Organizations. He also leads Series B Consulting which helps businesses articulate their people strategy and accelerate their growth while navigating change. Andrew founded the People Leader Accelerator, a preeminent development program for startup HR Leaders. I hope you enjoy this discussion with Andrew who invites you to to reach out to him via LinkedIn to connect and learn more. And if you do, feel free to mention you heard his story on Coffee and Change, and he will send you a full length workbook of one of his People Leader Accelerator guides for free. Enjoy the discussion and happy listening.

On episode 100, I took time to sit with the resounding questions and reflect on the answers that formulated from a place of deep listening, raw vulnerability and heartfelt appreciation after having hosted 99 conversations with changemakers and guests. During the Summer of 2022, I went back to relisten and reacquaint myself with all the stories in change this platform has echoed out to over 295,000 unique listeners across six continents. Enjoy the listen. Here's to the next 100.

On Episode 99, I welcome back a former guest who holds the accolade of being the most listened to and most shared episode of this podcast. You may remember Julio from Episode 74 where he shared with us the importance of working on a kinder, healthier world. A year has passed since we had Julio on the podcast, and it is an understatement to say a lot has changed this past year in the world. Julio shares his growth and we even chat about the latest renaissance of music from Beyonce and the role it plays in our narrative in change emerging around us. Happy listening! *Reminder, I will be taking a summer break to reflect on all 99 episodes of this podcast and write the 100th episode. Look forward to reconnecting with you in the Fall of 2022.

On Episode 98, I seized the opportunity to meet with a friend for the first time near one of my favorite places on the planet. If you have visited the Presidio, Fort Mason and Chrissy Field in San Francisco, California, then you know the magnetism and majesty of that part of the world. Amidst the radiant reflection of the Golden Gate Bridge, once described as “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world,” my friend and guest, David Watson helped me snap a few selfies and then found a spot to sit and record a conversation that was a few years in the making. I first heard David’s origin story in September of 2020 and afterward reached out to him to thank him for sharing it. I have had the pleasure of benefiting from David’s incredible work, his passion and his calling…giving voice to the unvoiced. And at a time when the rights and voices of so many are being silenced it is more important than ever that we voice the unvoiced and echo it to the boundless potential for hea

Fabiana Claure is my guest on this episode. Fabiana lies at the intersection of some of my favorite topics…music, business and technology. As the founder of the Musicians Profit Umbrella, Fabiana works with musicians to develop strategies to build financial and artistic freedom with prosperity. As you will hear in her story, she is passionate about empowering fellow musicians to build the life they dream of…on their own terms. Conversations like this, capturing wisdom to share, is important in the times we are in. Artists, now more than ever seek to stand on their own authority and in their own power of creativity. I hope this conversations inspires you to take that next steps toward creating and owning your craft. Enjoy the listen. You can find more about Fabiana at her website: https://fabianaclaure.com/

On this episode I interview Lindsey Caplan of The Gathering Effect. Gatherings are like gateways...they take us to another plan as humans. We express, inquire, engaged, grieve and celebrate best when gathered. Without our togetherness we may have never known the fullness of friendship or the fathoms of love fulfilled. By its very definition gathering is another kind of awakening, because suddenly one's scene changes, as as the Spanish poet, Antonio Machado says, "you are now in a different world." And as the Irish mystic John O'Donohue reminds us, "that sense of difference and otherness is always what makes us wonder." My guest on this episode helps organizations and leaders wonder about the gathering effect. Her expertise is in scripting experiences in gathering to help boost morale, engagement, and retention for the long term. From her beginnings as a comedy writer in Hollywood on shows like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" to her days an Organizational Psychologist and Head of Talent for successful Silicon Valley

Liz Kislik is a management consultant and executive coach, and a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review and Forbes. Her TEDx “Why There’s So Much Conflict at Work and What You Can Do to Fix It” has received more than a quarter of a million views. She specializes in developing high performing leaders and workforces, and for 30 years has helped family-run businesses, national nonprofits, and Fortune 500 companies like American Express, Girl Scouts, Staples, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and Highlights for Children solve their thorniest problems. You can learn more about Liz at: https://lizkislik.com/ Liz's free ebook: How to Resolve Interpersonal Conflicts in the Workplace: https://lizkislik.com/resolve-conflict/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizkislik/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizKislik

On today’s episode, I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Dr. Barry Borgerson. Barry is a pioneer in developing a comprehensive theory to understand and manage our many hidden mental mechanisms including those that create involuntary habits (auto-behaviors) and automatic thought patterns (auto-contexts) that control "soft" success factors in business. On this episode we touch on the outlines of 2Selfs Theory, which Barry developed when his old interest became an object of intense study. His intense study became a passion and eventually he became convinced he had to share his insights into how to maximize the effectiveness of our automatic activities, and decided to retire early from a lucrative executive career to pursue creating 2Selfs Theory. Enjoy the discussion. Learn more at: https://www.2selfs.com/

Contend. This is a word that keeps coming up in my psyche as of late. C-O-N-T-E-N-D. Contend. And for those of you having flashbacks to the spelling bees of our youth, I know you want me to use it in a sentence. So, here it goes. I contend to learn in every conversation I have and host on this podcast. Yeah, see what I did there? Perhaps it is because I am enjoying the great work of a fellow podcaster, Erick Godsey, who in his latest episode encourages listeners to go back to understand the definition of the word, the origin of the word CONTEND. And so I did. In its Latin root, it means “with stretch, or with strive” and to stretch with or strive with is one of the things I love most about meeting new people and hearing new stories. My guest's story on this episode came to me, and us, because we were both in a time of great stretch and strive personally and professionally. For me, I was attending my first work dinner in almost two years, and frankly I was nervous to be in a restaurant to meet new colleagues