Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Lisa Krim.Lisa is an executive coach who works with organizations and senior leaders to meet the challenges of leadership in complex landscapes across a range of sectors.  She serves leaders who are committed to accelerating their own growth and navigating change, to help them meet individual goals and optimize their organization’s effectiveness. Before we jump into our conversation, I wanted to take a minute to let you know that our conversation today is a deep one.  We talk about loss and grief, as Lisa shares about losing her daughter of 2 years of age.This is a beautiful conversation and I’m incredibly grateful to Lisa for sharing these pieces of her journey and her wisdom.  If for any reason you aren’t in a space to listen in at the moment, please take care of yourself first and foremost.  If you happen to be in the depths of grief and loss, know that you are not alone.  There are links below if you’d like to connect with Lisa or myself. Lisa's website: https://www.lisakrim.com/Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-krim-847674351/ Resources mentioned in our conversation:StandOut Strengths Free Assessment: https://www.adpresearch.com/standout/ Brené Brown Values Exercise: https://brenebrown.com/resources/living-into-our-values/Book: The Amen Effect by Rabbi Sharon Brous:  https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-amen-effect-ancient-wisdom-to-heal-our-hearts-and-mend-our-broken-world-sharon-brous/19997305Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Jim Brulé.Jim is a transformational storyteller, a death doula, a trauma chaplain, and so much more.  This is the 4-year anniversary of the Make Life Less Difficult podcast, so I'm especially delighted to share this conversation since it's all about storytelling, which is the heart of this podcast.Jim defines transformational storytelling as the art of telling the right story in the right way, with an open heart, to heal the wounds within and between us.Learn more about Jim on his website: https://transformationalstorytelling.org/about-me/Connect with Jim: https://dot.cards/jimbrule%0ASupport the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Dr. Sudha Kumar. I was honored to meet Dr. Kumar through the kind introduction of her husband, Vinay, who has also been a guest here on the podcast.Dr. Kumar is a Board-Certified Physician with over 30 years of experience managing acute and chronic conditions.  At this point in her career, she focuses on helping her patients live healthier lives by making changes in their diet, balancing hormones, exercise, and adding natural supplements while minimizing the use of prescription medications.  When she works with a patient, she studies their lifestyle, eating habits, and lab results.  Like a detective, she looks at the whole system to understand the causes of issues, so she can create an individualized roadmap for her client’s success.Dr. Kumar is also a published author, a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine and Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Training Academy, and a certified yoga instructor.  In our conversation today, we talk about what integrative and functional medicine is and how it differs from traditional medicine.  We discuss women’s health and really delve into the too-often overlooked phase of perimenopause and menopause and what can be done to really care for our health during this time.  I learned so much during our conversation and I think you’ll really appreciate Dr. Kumar’s beautiful way of explaining technical medical information in a way that’s understandable for the non-medical among us!She enjoys hiking, practicing yoga, and creating healthy recipes in her spare time.  She also frequently leads medical missions overseas to provide free medical care to those who are underserved.Dr. Kumar, thank you so much for this conversation!  Thank you for generously sharing your knowledge, expertise, and passion with us.  You are doing such important work in the world!To learn more about Dr. Kumar and her work, you’ll find links below:Website: https://wholistichealthmd.com/Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Chris Lebrun. Chris is a productivity coach and the creator of the Wholistic Productivity podcast, and he has one goal: to empower you to be happier and more fulfilled by achieving your professional, personal, and purpose-driven goals.Chris's work around productivity came out of his personal experience, which is why he’s so passionate about helping others. He’s spent more than 25 years helping nonprofits expand their mission through philanthropy, marketing, and communication.Chris and I met a very long time ago in high school! It was super fun to reconnect after 3 decades! And although back in high school I would have expected Chris to be a stand up comic rather than a productivity expert and coach, he has incredibly practical insights and expertise on productivity, setting meaningful goals, and living life on purpose!In our conversation today we talk about the journey of self discovery and awareness that leads to a more fulfilling life, the impact of deep listening, and how systems (of all sorts!) can make life less difficult. Chris, thank you for this great conversation! Thank for the work you are doing in the world to help people show up at their very best!To learn more about Chris, his work, and the Wholistic Productivity Podcast, you’ll find links below:Wholistic Productivity Website: https://wholisticproductivity.com/Podcast: https://wholisticproductivity.com/podcast/Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is John Schuhart.John is an executive leadership coach. He spent 17 years as an Intelligence Community Senior Executive, including: Chief Financial Officer of the National Geospatial-Intelligence AgencyDeputy Chief Financial Officer, Office of the Director of National IntelligenceDeputy Executive Director of the Central Intelligence Agency’s Community Management StaffJohn is also the author of, New Supervisor Survival Guide, a book that explores the challenges of becoming an effective leader. Being a leader who people want to work for is not rocket science. But most people either spend too-little time learning or fail to get the training and support they need to learn how to lead and—perhaps more importantly—think about how they want to lead before they become supervisors.In our conversation today John shares his insights and wisdom about leadership and the skills that make leaders effective. John, thank you for this great conversation. Thank you for writing your book and sharing these practical insights and principles of leadership. Your work is making the world a better place!If you’d like to learn more about John and the work that he does, you’ll find links below:Gray Beard Coaching: https://graybeardcoaching.com/Book: New Supervisor Survival Guide: Twelve Simple and Proven Leadership Skills to Help New - and Not So New - Bosses ThriveSupport the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Doug Tilstra.As I introduce Doug, I’ve debated which title to share first and I think I’ll share that he’s my father-in-law!  And I’m honored to share another podcast with a family member!Doug has more than 44 years of experience as a pastor, professor, mentor, coach, and university administrator.  In the six years leading up to his retirement in 2023, Doug served as the vice president for Student Life at  Walla Walla University.  He managed the challenges of covid, as you’ll hear him share some reflections about, and dealt with a high level of stress in his final years of full-time employment.Doug holds a doctoral degree in organization and management with a specialization in leadership, and two master’s degrees – a Master of Divinity and Master of Science in education.  He’s a Georgetown University-certified leadership coach and certified emotional intelligence trainer.  He is a published author and frequent workshop speaker on a variety of leadership topics.Doug and his wife Lorraine have been married since 1979 and are the proud parents of 3 adult children and adoring grandparents of 2 granddaughters.  Doug loves the outdoors, biking, writing, hiking, and reading.In our conversation today, Doug and I dig into the challenges of retirement and major life transitions.  There are a lot of relevant connections for times of transition, which many people are experiencing this year. Dad, thank you for jumping into this conversation with me.  Thank you for being persistent in making time.  It’s especially rewarding since we’ve been talking about this for several years now!  Your reflections, stories, and wisdom are thought-provoking and inspiring.  If you’d like to connect with Doug or learn more about his work in the world, you’ll find links below:Connect with Doug on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-tilstra-4a0472/Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Jessica Vogt.Jessica is a holistic leadership development coach who supports people with a foot in many worlds - culturally, professionally, or personally. She works with those who often feel like they belong everywhere and nowhere all at once. With warmth, empathy, curiosity, and a good measure of humour, Jess helps them reconnect with their voice, their worth, and their right to live life on their own terms.Drawing from her own experience as a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA), a lifelong expat, and an ever-curious learner of humans, she blends neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and embodiment practices into a coaching process that helps people build the clarity, confidence, and courage to lead a life that feels like home.She believes that when we live as we are, we lead as we are - creating ripples that inspire others to live and lead as they are too.I met Jess through the kind introduction of Arianne Rice – thank you, Arianne!!  When we first talked, I immediately hoped Jess would say yes to being on the podcast.  And I’m grateful she did because her stories are intriguing and inspiring.In our conversation today, Jess shares about her experiences growing up as a CODA.  How these parts of her journey contribute to shape her and her work today.Jess, thank you so very much for this beautiful conversation.  You are an inspiration to me, to your clients, and are doing such important work in the world to make this world a better and brighter place.To learn more about Jess and the work she does, you’ll find links below:Jessica's website: www.talpaco.com Jessica's linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jvogt/ Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Sava Riaskoff.Sava is a Performance & Wellbeing Coach, TEDxSpeaker, and Associate Professor at the ESADE MBA in Barcelona. Over the past seven years, he’s worked with leaders and next-gen talent through 1:1 coaching, in-company trainings, and immersive retreats in Europe and Patagonia.His work is deeply shaped by his own journey — from following a path that looked right on paper but left him quietly burning out, to being forced to face some of the hard questions we tend to avoid: What do I actually want? And who am I really, when I stop trying to fit in or live up to other people’s expectations?Today, he helps others explore those same questions — and navigate the uncertainty, self-doubt, and pressure that tend to come with choosing a new path or stepping into leadership.I met Sava through the kind introduction of Adela Warkentin (thank you, Adela!!).  This is a beautiful and inspiring conversation where we explore the intersection of emotional safety and authenticity or vulnerability.  What changes when we choose to be vulnerable and risk the unknown?  Ironically enough, as Sava shares… we find safety, despite it feeling so scary.Sava, thank you for jumping into the deep end of the conversational pool with me!  Thank you for choosing authenticity and vulnerability.  You are an inspiration!  Keep being you and adding such beautiful light to the world!!To learn more about Sava and the work he does in the world, you’ll find links below: Sava’s Website: https://www.inwardpath.comGrowth Week Retreats: https://growthweek.coWatch Sava’s TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WelzFFA0TMlinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savariaskoffSupport the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Nicole Anderson.Nicole is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in driving organizational success through human-centered change management. As a Partner at The Kaler Group, her unique ability to integrate people, processes, and technology has made her a pivotal force in enhancing organizational effectiveness and fostering positive culture and employee experiences. She is known for her strategic vision, innovative problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of organizational and team dynamics.  She partners with her clients to empower people and teams to thrive and achieve lasting success.  In our conversation today, Nicole shares pieces of her journey of seeking freedom and learning how to define success for herself.  She shares about both the joys and challenges of this.  When we shift measures of success from the external expectations around us to the internal desires and values, it can be disruptive… and liberating.Nicole, thank you for sharing your stories, your reflections, your wisdom.  I’m so grateful to know you and be inspired by you.  Thank you for the light you are creating in the world and in the lives of those you work with!To learn more about Nicole and her work, you’ll find links below:LinkedInSupport the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Linda Hoopes. Linda helps organizations, teams, and individuals thrive in turbulence.  She’s a writer and speaker on the topics of resilience, change, and employee well-being. Linda is a returning guest, having been on the podcast a couple of years ago with Kris Burbank, where they talked about their co-authored book, Embracing Another Normal: Resilience Stories and Strategies for Raising Children with Disabilities.Linda is back with me today to dig a little deeper into her work around resilience and her framework of Prosilience.  Her book Prosilience: Building Your Resilience for a Turbulent World, helps us assess our readiness for challenge and design a plan to become even stronger. Linda is also a sailor, musician, photographer, and traveler.Linda, thank you for this inspiring and thought-provoking conversation.  Your framework on building the muscles to help us respond effectively during times of turbulence are incredibly practical and applicable in life!  I’m grateful for your perspectives, groundedness, and wisdom.To learn more about Linda and the work she does in the world, you’ll find links below:Resilience Alliance404.309.3331 (c)Calendar: https://doodle.com/mm/lindahoopes/booking Interested in more? Sign up for my newsletters:Prosilience: Strategies for building personal and organizational challenge readinessOrganizational Change Intersections: Fresh perspectives on effective change in organizationsFamily History ProjectsThe Journals of Emma Troutman Boylan: My great-grandmother's journalsTravels with K: My great-aunt's world adventures Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra