Make Life Less Difficult

Welcome back to Make Life Less Difficult.My guest today is Michael Ulrich.Michael is a contemplative psychotherapist based in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a background in clinical practice, systems thinking, and integral development. His work bridges traditional therapeutic modalities with emergent, self-organizing ways of relating and healing.In our conversation today, Michael and I explore the ongoing practice of presence—what it means to meet ourselves and others without needing to fix or explain. We speak about narrative and identity, power and subtlety, and what emerges when we listen deeply, even to silence.This dialogue invited me to slow down, to notice the patterns beneath the words, and to trust the wisdom that arises in shared reflection. Michael’s insights—both personal and professional—are a powerful reminder of how growth and groundedness can coexist.Michael, thank you for this rich and layered conversation. I’m still unpacking it.To learn more about Michael and his work, you can connect with him here:Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/psykologmichaelulrich/Let’s dive in.Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Andra Davidson.Andra is a collaboratively trained Certified Divorce Coach and mediator who created the Better Than Before Divorce™ Program to provide emotional support to men and women navigating divorce.Her clients benefit from her 25+ years of experience in crisis communications, branding, and marketing, as well as my calm strength and commitment to tangible results. She believes anyone dealing with divorce can learn to minimize conflict, communicate effectively, and prioritize healthy coparenting.  Her strength-based approach provides the tools and skills needed to reduce overwhelm and make informed decisions based on goals, not emotions.Andra’s favorite past time is enjoying her blended family:  amazing 24-year-old twins, two incredible step-kids, and three adorable dogs.Andra and I met through a storytelling workshop and I was delighted when she agreed to come on the podcast!  Andra graciously shares pieces of her own journey of a divorce she didn’t choose and how she has come to find her strengths, confidence, and purpose on the other side.  We talk about the value of finding your NorthStar through the process of divorce, setting manageable goals, having a support system, and determining the best path of parenting if kids are involved, including the difference between co-parenting and parallel parenting.Andra, thank you so much for this inspiring conversation.  Thank you for sharing deeply meaningful stories and wisdom alongside practical and tangible strategies to make divorce a little less difficult.To connect with Andra and find out more about her work in the world, please see the links below.  There are also links to the books and resources Andra mentions. Website: betterthanbeforedivorce.comSocial Media: https://www.facebook.com/CompassRoseDivorceCoachhttps://www.instagram.com/andradavidson_/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andradavidson/https://www.youtube.com/@CompassRoseDivorce Resources:Bill Eddy, High Conflict Institute, and all his books - https://highconflictinstitute.com/Let Them, Mel RobbinsThe Four Agreements, Don Miguel RuizThe Gifts of Imperfection, Brene BrownParentteam.com (amazing parenting coaches)Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Debra Kiva. Debra is a certified grief educator and coach who works with, and is trained by, renowned grief expert, David Kessler.  Debra facilitates loss groups for Kessler's online grief community, Tender Hearts, and co-facilitates loss groups for grieving complex relationships. And she supports people facing anticipatory grief, the grief of losing a loved one by long term illness/dementia, as she has deep experience in dementia and sibling loss.  As an adult she has experienced the loss of her brother, both parents (who were very difficult/abusive when she was a child), and many friends. Debra also devotes her time as the Director of the Hummingbird Choir, a joyful singing community for those with memory challenges and she is the Co-Director of Yuba Spirit Threshold Singers and a member of Whidbey Island Bedside Singers which brings gentle songs to those on the threshold of life, bringing moments of ease and comfort for clients, family and caregivers.  Debra has begun a new group for working with those who are grieving parents or caregivers were neglectful, narcissistic, emotionally absent, addicted, or mentally ill. She and her co-facilitator Katia Miniovich have created a place where participants can feel understood within the complexities and confusion which may arise from these losses, as these losses are often not recognized by the culture or peers who have had different upbringings. Debra believes that healing happens within connection and she is dedicated to serving others, letting them know they are not alone and are held with compassion. She supports clients on Zoom and in person in her office on Whidbey Island, Washington.I first saw Debra’s name through a notice of her grief group and was so intrigued by this offering, recognizing complex grief and loss.  I reached out and I’m so glad she agreed to come on the podcast.  She and I talk about this deep complexity of grieving loss when the relationships were difficult, for many different reasons.  This isn’t something that I’ve seen talked about in this way before and I share various pieces of my own journey of losing my first husband Eric and the complexity of grieving while recognizing the challenges of our marriage and relationship.We recorded this conversation in early April and it is serendipitous that it’s being published now, as my father passed away just a few days ago, after a slow decline from Dementia with Lewy Bodys.  I was listening to this conversation to get it ready for publication while with my family during my dad’s final few days and wow, I was so grateful!Debra, I’m so incredibly grateful for the connection with you and for this conversation.  Your beautiful and graceful presence is a gift in this world.  Creating spaces for talking about and experiencing grief without judgement is an incredible way to make life less difficult. And one final thing before we jump into our conversation, I just want to share this quote from Debra:  You don’t get over grief, you just continue and grow around it….  You have to figure out how to move forward and grow around it and find more love than pain.If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, please know that you are not alone.  Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to connect. Debra KivaCertified Grief Educator/Support Provider Certified Grief Coach Certified Grief Movement Guide debkiva@gmail.com530 913-0320Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Milena Trevisani.Before becoming a coach, Milena worked for 20 years in the corporate world, and which took her to many different countries.  Along the way, she met lots of extraordinary people who opened her eyes to the possibilities that we all hold within us. During her 10 years at The New York Times as a Director of Business Development and Sales, Milena had a coach who helped her and laid the foundations for her coaching passion. While at the NYT, Milena began to understand that to become a leader you have to train, and secondly, her coach helped her to see that a task is more than just a task. It’s who we become while we are doing it that matters. She became fascinated with human behaviour and relationships and Milena shares that she thinks that’s what led her to the life she has now.In our conversation today, Milena shares pieces of her story that shaped her life – losing her dad unexpected at 13 years old, being unable to afford university and creating a successful life despite that, and always holding a desire to study and get her degree.  And now, she has started that journey, realizing it’s not too late.We talk about how stories are contagious – for both positive and negative – so how can we recognize the stories our brains are absorbing?  We discuss the importance of finding the good tension between our dreams and the practical necessities of life.  And the power of choosing what we “feed” our brains.This conversation is deeply inspiring and I’m so honored to share it with you.Milena, thank you for your stories, your wisdom, your thought-provoking and eye-opening metaphors.  I’m a better person for having met you and learned from you and I know that those who listen to this will feel similarly!To learn more about Milena and her work, please see the links below.Milena's Website: https://milenatrevisanicoaching.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milena-trevisani-467b191/Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Maura Lightfoot.Maura is a leadership and culture coach with a wealth of experience and knowledge.  From human resources in the Middle East to financial services management consulting in London to nonprofit organizational culture in Washington D.C., Maura’s experience equips her with a unique perspective that is both grounded and global.In our conversation today, Maura and I talk about her model of Exploration Leadership.  We dive into the curiosity and bravery it takes to explore – both within ourselves and throughout our worlds.  We talk about the beautiful concept of slowing down so we can meet ourselves right where we are.  And we touch on the beauty of the differences among us AND the core desires of every human – safety, belonging, dignity.Maura, thank you for this beautiful conversation.  It is an inspiring exploration and I’m still pondering and reflecting on so much of what you shared.  Your stories and work are contributing to making the world a brighter, more connected place.To learn more about Maura and the work she does, you’ll find links below.Maura's website: https://www.mclcoaching.org/Connect with Maura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauralightfoot/Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Mikaela Seligman.Mikaela is the Founder of the company, Lumin/Us, which offers tailored leadership coaching and education, facilitation, and organizational consulting.  Mikaela brings her 30+ years of experience leading in and also coaching/consulting for mission-driven organizations and leaders.At the heart of her work, Mikaela helps leaders have impact without burnout.  She’s worked her entire career to redefine outdated ideas about leadership.  Everyone, she says, wherever they sit in the social and organizational hierarchy - can heed the call to exercise leadership every day. The world needs us to do so more than ever.Mikaela has decades of experience applying the Adaptive Leadership framework and adult development theory in staff and senior organizational roles   She is a lifelong student and practitioner of somatics and mindfulness. She blends these and a range of emergent approaches in every aspect of her work.Our conversation today is a beautiful emerging of ideas and insights!  Mikaela shares pieces of her own journey that were incredibly difficult, including her parents divorcing when she was 6 years old, and her father dying when she was 17 years old.  She also shares about the people and practices that helped make those difficult times a little less difficult.  Mikaela, thank you for this inspiring and thought-provoking conversation.  Thank you for sharing your stories, your reflections, and your wisdom.  You truly bring a much-needed light into the world through your work and through just being you!  I’m so grateful our paths have crossed!To learn more about Mikaela and her work, you’ll find links below.Mikaela's website: https://www.luminusleadership.com/Connect with Mikaela on LinkedInMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guests today are Tommy Jiang and Kevin Harrington.I met Tommy and Kevin while traveling in Patagonia last year.  It was one of those connections that permeate great international travel.  My husband and I were at the end of our month-long excursion and got to enjoy a 35+ hour ferry ride filled with hours of great conversation with them.  Learning about their passions and expertise, I told them about the podcast and invited them to come on!  And now… I get to share this conversation with you!Let me share a bit more about each of them and then we’ll jump into our conversation about Psychosynthesis, healing, hypnosis, and more!Tommy is a carpenter and healer currently living in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Tommy's approach to growth and healing in his own life and with clients, combines his background in mindfulness meditation, training as a Psychosynthesis Life Coach through the Synthesis Center in Amherst, MA, and his training as a Professional Hypnotist with the International Certification Board of Coaches & Hypnotists (ICBCH). Tommy aims at a precise approach to coaching and healing work, utilizing what arises in each moment, and following it to integration, wholeness, and profound energy within oneself.Kevin received his PhD in Astrophysics at the International Max Planck Research School for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy and the University of Bonn, Germany. He previously received a B.Sc in Astronomy and B.Sc in Psychological Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts (UMass), Amherst. Currently he works as a professional astronomer with a postdoctoral research fellowship position at the Atacama Large Millimeter Telescope in northern Chile. He is an internationally recognized Board Certified Coach, and has completed his training in psychosynthesis life coaching through The Synthesis Center since 2015.Tommy and Kevin, thank you for this fantastic conversation!  Thank you for your willingness to connect and engage in meaningful connection both in southern Patagonia and now.  Meeting people like you is one of my favorite things in life and I’m grateful to get to share these pieces of  your wisdom, passion, and beautiful work in the world!You’ll find links below to connect with both Tommy and Kevin.Tommy Jiang's Website: www.callofself.comKevin Harrington's Website: https://www.kch-coaching.com/Synthesis Center website: https://www.synthesiscenter.org/Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Steve Whearty.Steve is a certified executive coach and learning & development specialist with over 30 years of experience in leadership and learning professional roles. He began his career as a Naval Flight Officer, serving on active duty in the U.S., Italy, and Japan. Steve continued to serve as a civilian employee of the Federal Government in various roles from 2009-2022, including at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute and the Federal Executive Institute.  Since 2021, Steve has also served as an independent learning consultant, working with a variety of public and private sector clients on leadership development experiences and coaching.Steve received a B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University, an M.B.A. from Cameron University, and a M.A. in Education and Human Development from George Washington University. He resides in Charlottesville, VA.Steve and I met through mutual work opportunities and happened to be on a group call a couple of months ago when the topic of disruption came up.  I asked Steve if he’d be willing to have a deeper conversation about disruption, given that many people are facing a variety of disruptions currently.  I’m grateful he said yes, because this conversation you’re about to listen to is the outcome.  And while we don’t come up with a lot of answers, we share ideas, challenges, and stories of attempts to respond with agency to the disruptions in our own lives.  Steve, thank you for jumping into this conversation with curiosity and thoughtful reflection.  Thank you for sharing your stories, your questions, and your wisdom.  I’m both inspired and challenged to better my own response to the series of disruptions we call life!You can reach out to Steve at: stevewhearty@sentiero.consulting Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Jessica Zucal.Jessica is an organization system innovator and change enabler.  As a NeuroLeadership trained coach and Emotional Intelligence practitioner, she supports leaders in creating new mindsets that free them from inhibiting believe systems and helps them unlock greater leadership potential.Jessica is the Director of Organization Change & Transformation at Evans Consulting and she serves as faculty in the Georgetown University’s Organizational Development Graduate Certificate Program.  Jessica identifies herself as an extreme animal lover and she’s trained to partner with horses for her coaching and leadership development programs.Jess and I met several months ago through a work opportunity and during one of our meetings she mentioned something about an appointment for her cancer treatment.  It took me by surprise and was a poignant reminder that we never know what all is going on in someone’s life.In our conversation today, Jess generously shares about her journey of being diagnosed with breast cancer in April of 2024.  At the time of our recording it was almost one year exactly from when she learned she had cancer.  You’ll hear her reflections on how she’s engaged with this life disruption and has come to identify cancer as one of her greatest teachers.Jess, thank you so much for this conversation.  Thank you for sharing these pieces of your journey.  Your ability to share the inner journey with us in your outer world is an incredible gift.  Your openness to growth and learning is inspirational and I hope you continue to share your story at any opportunity that comes your way!If you’d like to learn more about Jess and her work, there’s a link to her LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-zucal-3323795/.Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Louiza Kiritopoulos-Adams.Louiza is an organizational psychologist and an executive, leadership development, and performance coach.  She has over 20 years of leadership experience across diverse industries and global markets.  She’s deeply passionate about unlocking human potential to create a lasting impact at both organizational and market levels.Louiza and I met through the Georgetown University coaching program and her presence in my life has been an incredible gift ever since!In our conversation today we dig into what it means to make life less difficult (from a variety of angles), the connection between our minds and bodies, the value of feedback – and which feedback to take in, which to let go, and really exploring who we are – truly are – as people.Louiza, thank you for this inspiring conversation.  Thank you for capturing the heart of why I do this podcast and articulating it so well.  Thank you for the beautiful and gracious reminders to do the work to know ourselves.  And for the encouragement to show up, see each other with kindness, to give back and pay it forward, and find the enjoyment in life.Connect with Louiza on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louiza-kiritopoulos-adams/Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra