Send us a textIn today's Wisdom of Alignment episode, we explore Joseph Campbell's idea that "invisible hands" help us when we're on the right path in life. Delving into Aristotle's ancient teachings on eudaimonic well-being, we discuss how aligning our actions with our true purpose brings much deeper fulfillment and purpose in our pursuit of things that matter most to us. In today's episode, we'll also reflect on personal growth, meaningful goals, self-acceptance, positive relationships, autonomy, and environmental mastery.Through the story of a first responder finding a new career path, we see the courage required to pursue the right path for us based not only on our unique context, but also on the skills, talents and values we possess. I hope you enjoy this episode and that it helps you to reflect on your own path and discover ways to live more authentically in your life. Thanks for listening.Connect with AndyPlease connect with me through any of the social media platforms below:Twitter 'X'LinkedInFacebook

Send us a textToday, we have an inspiring guest, Munashe Masawi, whose journey from Zimbabwe to Canada is a powerful testament to discipline, commitment, adaptability, and resilience. Known as Mu by his close friends and family, his story is nothing short of inspiring.Growing up in Zimbabwe, Mu faced numerous challenges and barriers. His mother’s courageous decision to seek a better life led her to Canada, leaving Mu and his sister behind for three years. Reuniting in Ontario at the age of 12, Mu had to navigate a completely new lifestyle. Despite the difficulties, his passion for sports, especially basketball and later football, became his guiding light.Mu’s athletic prowess earned him a successful collegiate career at Queen's University, but his story doesn’t end there. Beyond sports, he embraced health, wellness, and fitness, continually striving for personal growth. Meeting his partner, Sav, introduced him to the world of long driving in golf, where he is making significant strides with a personal best of 416 yards.In this episode, we delve into what high performance means to Mu, how he cultivates the conditions to pursue his best self, and the profound role spirituality plays in his life. Mu's journey is a remarkable example of what is possible when we are disciplined for greatness.Join us as we explore the inspiring story of Munashe Masawi and uncover valuable insights on resilience, commitment, and the pursuit of excellence.Connect with Munashi MasawiInstagramWebsiteLinkedIn

Send us a textIn today's short Wisdom of Alignment podcast series, I dive into the work of Dr. Carl Jung and his focus on the 'shadow side' of self. His work has great application to leadership. In this episode, I share what it means to have a shadow side and how this side of us can greatly hinder our ability to lead in impactful ways. In terms of making this practical for any leaders listening to this, I've also included 4 very specific questions that can be used to gather the feedback needed to see what might be getting in the way of building the trust needed to lead with more authenticity in order to have the genuine impact we desire. Hope you enjoy this episode and that it provides you with some practical ideas to help you improve your leadership. Connect with AndyPlease connect with me through any of the social media platforms below:Twitter 'X'LinkedInFacebook

Send us a textToday’s conversation is with Daniel Carcillo, two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Chicago Blackhawks, and ten-year veteran of the NHL. Daniel also played with the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, and one season with the New York Rangers throughout his career.  Having had 4 Stanley Cup appearances over the last few years of his professional playing career, Daniel brings so much insight and wisdom into today’s discussion with me. From the highs of being an athlete at the top of his game to the lows of debilitating injuries that required multiple surgeries that ultimately resulted in a opioid addiction, he has seen and experienced it all and shares many gems of insight in this conversation.It’s clear that Daniel knows what it takes to be the best he can be when it comes to pursuing true passions in life, both personally and professionally. Despite having an amazing career that spanned ten years and two Stanley Cups over the course of 429 games and 164 fights in the NHL, Daniel is more defined by the human he is. He has done so much internal work to better understand his past trauma in order to live with much more authenticity, courage, resilience and purpose in his life. As a result, he continues to have such a positive impact on those who are lucky enough to come across his path. In our conversation today we cover the following themes:Early days in Daniel’s life and the strengths he developed that went on to serve him so well as an athlete and entrepreneurThe power of our internal voice and how to navigate it in ways that helps to bring out our best in lifeThe importance of having a mindfulness practice to help combat tough emotions brought on by past traumaThe power of vulnerability as a tool for being as honest as possible about our experiences, needs, and wants in lifeHow to maintain motivation and purpose regardless of our pursuitsAfter his playing days, Daniel began to suffer from mild-like dementia symptoms brought on by the many concussions he sustained while playing in the NHL. He knows all too well the physical and emotional toll that can accompany these injuries. Since retiring, Daniel has devoted his life to sharing his experiences, insights, and the transformative impact of emerging therapies, as well ancient and natural medicines in regaining brain health and quality of life. This conversation with Daniel was a special one that I hope you find value in. Please share it with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Hope you enjoy it!!Connect With Daniel CarcilloWebsite'X' Formerly TwitterLinkedInInstagramFacebookYouTube

Send us a textThe podcast you are going to hear today is with Sharon Salzberg. She has been a true pioneer in the realms of meditation and mindfulness for more than four decades now. Sharon's influence has been pivotal in bringing these practices to the forefront of Western consciousness as far back as the early 1970s. As a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts, and a New York Times best-selling author, Sharon's wisdom resonates deeply with audiences worldwide because she makes meditation and mindfulness so much easier to understand and apply in people’s lives. In today’s conversation we unpack the themes of trauma, mindfulness, loving kindness, compassion and the importance of staying aligned to the core values that drive us in life. Although Sharon has written 12 books, it’s 3 of those 12 that we dive into the most in today’s conversation:Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience which was a deeply meaningful endeavor putting that book together as it was the first time she shared her true life story and the struggles she had to overcome in her life and how meditation and mindfulness allowed her to do so. As well we explore the theme of loving kindness and compassion which she wrote about in her 1995 book Loving Kindness, the Revolutionary Art of HappinessWe finish off today’s podcast talking about her latest book called Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom which she published a year ago in April 2023 and what it is she hopes audiences world wide will takeaway from reading this book. It was a genuine honor to have Sharon join me on the podcast. Her gentle, calm, and compassionate demeanor immediately shines through in our conversation, offering profound insights and life lessons drawn from her journey.As you listen, I hope you'll discover as much value as I did in our discussion. I encourage you to also explore Sharon's books, including her latest release, Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom.Connect with Sharon:WebsiteInsight Meditation SocietyTwitterFacebookLinkedInAs well, you can find all Sharon's books hereThanks for sharing my Run Your Life podcast with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening.

Send us a textMy conversation today is with Dr. Jim Knight, Founder and Senior Partner of Instructional Coaching Group (ICG). Jim is also a research associate at the University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning and has spent more than two decades studying professional learning and instructional coaching. He earned his PhD in Education from the University of Kansas and has won several university teaching, innovation, and service awards. He’s also authored several books including Unmistakable Impact (2011), High-Impact Instruction (2013), Better Conversations (2015), The Impact Cycle (2018), and The Definitive Guide to Instructional Coaching (2021).What I appreciate about Jim is the thoughtful way that he shares his learning. He’s been on my podcast several times, and our conversations are not just about me asking questions and him sharing his knowledge. Jim is very authentic and genuine in the way he shares and he doesn’t ever imply that he has the so called ‘right’ answers but rather remains very curious and centered on what might be rather than what is absolute. In today’s episode we explore themes of:Learning to better know self in order to best show up for those who we coach and leadWe also dive into strategies that help to promote and facilitate peer coaching in organizationsThe impact for culture on coaching conversationsKnowing the importance of taking a flexible approach when coaching others….When I reflect on my friendship with Jim and who he really is…. this quote comes to mind: "A meaningful life is not about being rich, being popular, being highly educated or being perfect. It’s about being real, being humble, being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others."To me this is who Jim is, so generous with his time and very real. He’s a humble person who always strives to learn and grow and in the process change the lives of so many leaders and educators that are so lucky to work with him. You can find out where to connect with Jim in the show notes of today’s episode. If you haven’t connected with him, I highly recommend doing so and signing up for any training that you can. I hope you find value in today’s discussion with Jim Knight Please share this episode with anyone who you feel will benefit from listening. Thank you!Connect With Jim:TwitterWebsiteLinkedInFacebookJim's books can be found here. 

Send us a textMy guest today is the brilliant and inspiring Ila Edgar, a leadership development coach and trust-builder for organizations and businesses. Ila's story is a testament to the resilience we all require when challenged by  life’s mental and emotional obstacles. She deeply believes that who we are is how we lead and that being great leaders starts with us. It also requires honesty, looking inside of ourselves and committing to making real changes in our lives. In our conversation today, we talk about early days in her life, the strengths she developed and the challenges she had to overcome that ultimately led her on to the path of leadership coaching. In addition to this, we also cover the themes of resilience, self-compassion, knowing our own boundaries, and embracing vulnerability as keys to our own growth and learning. Most importantly, Ila opens up about serious health struggles she is currently going through and not only what this has taught her about herself, but how it has helped to shape her journey as a wife, mother and coach. As you listen to this episode today, you will see that there is no doubt that Ila is meant to do the work she is doing to serve the world. She is one of a kind and I feel so very fortunate to have had this time with her on the podcast. This was a really touching episode for me. I hope you find the same value in it as I did. Thanks for listening and please connect with Ila and let her know what you learned from our discussion. She would love to hear from you. Connect With Ila: WebsiteLinkedInInstagramTrust on Purpose PodcastEmail: ila@bigchangeinc.comSpecial Credit to Patrick Watson for his beautiful song To Build a HomeYou can purchase Patrick's music here. As well, Patrick's YouTube channel can be found here

Send us a textToday’s episode was recorded in the studio of American Community School of Amman in Jordan which is located on the boarders of Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Palestine. A big shoutout and very special thanks to my inspirational friend Mo Hourani and his team at the American Community School of Amman for hosting the Compassion Summit, an event devoted to promoting peace.What ACS in Jordan believes is that "When there is no compassion there can be no peace, and that when we know compassion, we then might know peace."I was honored to have been invited to be a keynote speaker alongside 2 inspiringly, compassionate humans doing amazing work to make a difference in the world in their own unique ways, Kathy Kelly and LeeAnne Lavender.This chat covers a lot of ground, but in particular what it is that both Kathy and Leanne feel compelled to share through their work, what being self-compassion means, and how we can all take action on being more compassionate in a world that needs people to step up and be more kind and caring. Kathy will share the real story behind the beautiful short song you heard in the introduction to this podcast which was sung by two students at the school here in Jordan. Special thanks to Dunia and Faye for taking the time to record this song and share it with me. You are brilliant humans and ACSA is lucky to have you both as their students.Kathy is an international peace activist from the United States. She is an author and one of the founding members of Voices in the Wilderness, and is currently a co-coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence. As part of peace teamwork in several countries, she has traveled to Iraq twenty-six times, notably remaining in combat zones during the early days of both U.S.-Iraq wars. Her recent travel has focused on Afghanistan and Gaza, along with domestic protests against U.S. drone policy. She has been arrested more than 60 times at home and abroad, and has written of her experiences among targets of U.S. military bombardment and inmates of U.S. prisons. LeeAnne cares a lot about compassion, storytelling and service. She is a storyteller and poet, as well as a coach and facilitator for international educators; she spends a lot of time exploring the power of stories to connect people in ways that promote peace, empathy and kindness. She’s committed to helping educators and students build changemaker/changeseeker cultures so we can all engage in positive, purposeful action. You can learn more about LeeAnne at https://www.leeannelavender.com/ This conversation covers a lot of ground but in particular what it is that both Kathy and Leanne feel compelled to share through their work, what being self-compassion means, and how we can all take action on being more compassionate in a world that needs people to step up and be more kind and caring. Kathy will also share the real story behind the beautiful short song you heard in the introduction to this podcast which was sung by Dunia and Faye who are both students at  ACSA. Hope you enjoy this podcast.  Connect With Kathy and LeeAnneKathy KellyTwiiterLinkedInWebsiteLeeAnne LavenderTwitter

Send us a textIn today's episode, I sit down with Jean-Paul Circelli, head football coach at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. This episode is a special one for me as I once played 5 seasons on this football team back in the 1990’s as a quarterback and punter. It was through this experience that I not only developed myself as a student athlete, but was also able to build a supportive network of close friends that stands strongly to this day. Jean-Paul and his dedicated coaching team have been instrumental in the Lancer football team's resurgence, emphasizing a holistic approach to player development. Beyond wins and losses, they focus on nurturing personal excellence and character growth in their student-athletes help best prepare them for life after football one day.In a world where young athletes face mounting pressures exacerbated by social media and academic demands, in our conversation, Jean-Paul offers insights into addressing the mental health crisis that is currently plaguing many young athletes. Through fostering vulnerability, learning from failure, and deepening connection, he cultivates a supportive environment where his athletes and fellow coaches can thrive.We also explore the importance of feedback, highlighting Jean-Paul's approach to constructive criticism and the growth-oriented coaching framework that he and his fellow coaches embrace. Whether you're a leader in business, a parent, or simply striving for excellence in your pursuits, this episode offers invaluable lessons applicable to any journey of personal growth, development and achievement.Tune in as we uncover wisdom and learning that transcends the field of play. Please share this episode with anyone you know who may be seeking inspiration and guidance on finding their own path to excellence. Thank you. Connect with Coach Jean-PaulTwitterInstagramLinkedInUniversity of Windsor Football Team WebsiteReferences for this episode: Dr. Martin Seligman: Positive PsychologyBrene BrownSimon SinekCharles Feltman: Thin Book of Trust15 Commitments to Conscious Leadership Book

Send us a textHow many times have you asked yourself, “what’s my purpose”?  If you’re like most of us, probably too many times to count.  As we get older, the question seems to get a little louder.  Today’s guests on the Run Your Life Podcast are just the dynamic duo you need to provide you with proactive, intentional tools to help you along that journey.  Charles Feltman and Ila Edgar are both executive and leadership coaches offering a distinctive twist on finding your purpose and creating meaning in your personal and professional life.   They achieve this through Charles’ trademarked model described in his book, The Thin Book of Trust and their growing podcast, Trust on Purpose. In today’s episode, expect to hear many things that are sure to provide you with a fresh perspective that you probably haven’t considered before.  This fresh perspective allows you to look at your current situation differently and thus move you in the right direction.  Both readily admit they don’t have all the answers and they are by no means perfect.  They are human just like the rest of us.  What they have is experience, expertise, empathy, and the courage to confront!Mind shifting truths to listen for in today’s episode:1.     Trust is foundationalWhen your team or family is built upon trust, you will outperform your wildest dreams and performance objectives.2.     Boundaries and self-expression are okayMany of us learn from our families of origin to suppress feelings, not express our needs, or not set boundaries.  Charles and Ila help us realize that all of this is okay and is vital in establishing trust in our homes and workplaces.3.     Life knocksWhen we fail to do what’s mentioned above, it can have damaging repercussions later in life.  Learn how to develop resiliency and better manage adversity when it occurs.4.     WAIT“Why Am I Talking?”  We all have heard that the “good Lord gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason”.  However, using Charles’ WAIT model is the master’s level for listening.5.     You DO have a choiceOftentimes in life we tell ourselves we don’t have a choice.  Charles fundamentally disagrees and believes you can unleash incredible personal power by simply recognizing that you always have a choice.6.     Perception is reality.  But is it really?Ila stresses that we need to withhold our personal judgements when we interact with our world.  Or examine why we are judging and how we got there.  Many times, it’s not what people are doing to us, it’s simply how they are behaving that is worth exploring more.  7.     Who we are is how we leadSelf-awareness and authenticity are keys to great leadership.  We as humans, all bring our own unique life experiences to everything we do.  Those who excel as leaders recognize this and invest great amounts of time and effort in better understanding that so they can maximize their own effectiveness as well as the effectiveness of those around them.  Find more at LinkedIn:Charles FeltmanIda Edgar