Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Teresa Austrian.  And we are joined by Russ Watts as co-host!This is a fun conversation to share right at Christmas time.  We talk about traditions.  And as you'll hear, the conversation goes way beyond any particular holiday.  No matter what holidays are in your world, you're sure to find yourself smiling and nodding as we talk about the fun and challenges of holidays, family, and traditions.Connect with Teresa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresaaustrian/Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Jon Rosemberg.Jon is the author of the book, A Guide to Thriving: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning.With over two decades coaching Fortune 500 executives and global teams through deep transformations, Jon has learned firsthand that growth begins when we courageously reclaim our agency. His personal journey, forged by immigration, loss, and career reinvention, inspires him to blend hard-won business insight with cutting-edge research to guide others toward greater meaning.Driven by his belief in human potential, Jon co-founded Anther, a firm dedicated to transforming uncertainty into possibility. He previously led high-impact initiatives at Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Indigo, and GoBolt. Jon holds an MBA from Cornell University and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, he now lives in Toronto with his wife, Adriana, and their two sons. Connect with Jon:·      Website: https://www.jonrosemberg.com·      A Guide to Thriving by Jon Rosemberg·      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonrosemberg/ Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Adi Ma Ura.Adi Ma is an Integration and Retreat Facilitator.Adi Ma  (born Maura Barclay) has lived many lives in her 50+ years. After a profound encounter with a powerful divine feminine presence, she stepped fully into her role as a transformation facilitator, receiving the name Adi Ma Ura—an embodiment of her commitment to guiding others through deep personal change. This is a beautiful conversation where Adi Ma shares her remarkable story.  And we delve into what sharing our story brings with it.  You won't want to miss it!!Connect with Adi Ma: http://lumenintegration.com/Book: Unbreakable Woman: https://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Woman-Maura-Barclay-ebook/dp/B00EDSUJYW/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Béa Victoria Albina.This conversation is truly delightful, and Béa has me laughing and learning the entire time!In a few minutes, Béa will tell you more about herself and her work in the world, but I wanted to take a moment to let you know she’s the author of the recently published book, End Emotional Outsourcing: How to Overcome Your Codependent, Perfectionistic, and People-Pleasing Habits.  The wisdom she shares in her book is incredibly practical and relevant.  As this is getting published at the beginning of December, we are in the midst of a season with lots of holidays and family gatherings.  And I don’t know about you, but when I’m spending time with family it can be especially easy to fall into my codependent, perfectionistic, and people-pleasing habits.  So, it’s come at a great time.  And if you are looking for gift ideas… well, there are links to where you can find her book in the show notes!Enjoy the conversation and let me know if you want to exchange stories about our journeys of ending emotional outsourcing!Learn more about Béa: https://beatrizalbina.com/Book: End Emotional OutsourcingPodcast: The Feminist Wellness Podcast Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Laing Rikkers.Laing is an author, entrepreneur, and grief coach.  Having gone through the unexpected loss of her sister in 2019, Laing has been on a journey of grief, healing, transition, and discovery since then.  Laing’s book, Morning Leaves (Red Hen Press), now in its second edition, draws on creativity, nature, and simple daily rituals.  Through her poems Laing offers a practical and compassionate guide to navigating grief and life’s many transitions. Whether facing personal loss, burnout, or major change, her heartfelt insights and actionable tools help people find resilience, meaning, and joy—even in the darkest seasons.In addition to her writing, Laing designs grief workshops and speaks at events nationwide. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Feeding San Diego and has previously served as Chair of the Salk Institute Council and as a Trustee of Pacific Ridge School. She co-founded Prosomnus Sleep Technologies and was a Managing Director at Healthpoint Capital. She has been married for 25 years and is the proud mother of two adult children and one spirited little dog.You can find out more about Laing and her work through the link below:Laing’s website: www.laingrikkers.comConnect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laing-rikkersFollow Laing on IG: https://www.instagram.com/morning_leaves_and_poetry/ Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Kristy Gordon.Kristy helps widows and single moms reclaim strength, purpose, and new beginnings through financial empowerment.Originally from South Africa, Kristy is a financial professional, widow, breast cancer survivor, and mother of two remarkable daughters.  In our conversation today, Kristy shares stories of her loss, the rebuilding of her life, supporting her daughters through their own journeys of grief, and how she has worked intentionally to make life less difficult during some deeply difficult and challenging times.Kristy’s story is one of hope and empowerment and she now supports other women in finding their own hope and empowerment in facilitating a local chapter of the Modern Widow’s Club in her hometown in Connecticut.To connect with Kristy and learn more about the work she does in the world, you’ll find links below: Kristy’s website: https://kristygordon.netSupport the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Ziad Hamdan.Ziad, also known as The Luck Coach, is a creator & a connector. He uses his multidimensional skills to create & manage ecosystems and lead people into heart-based actions that benefit the collective. He’s a multilingual traveler speaking 5 languages, having worked in more than 15 countries in Europe, Africa & the Middle East, leveraging his multicultural experience & creative mind to think globally and act locally, anticipate trends, embrace change and create value. Ziad is an entrepreneur at heart, a multi-tasker & he believes in prioritization and he thrives through interacting with others. He’s a fast & continuous learner that enjoys facing new challenges with innovative & disruptive solutions.Ziad is the host of The I’mperfect Podcast, a platform for bold humans tired of pretending.  Ziad is bringing conversations into the world that highlight being ourselves – our messy, brilliant, unfinished, and real selves!Ziad waited for two years to start his podcast, because he wanted it to be perfect.  Finally, he decided to start… imperfectly! Learn more about Ziad and the work he does in the world:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theluckcoach?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=em5rNnZxeXJ0cHpwLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziadhamdan/Podcast: The Imperfect Podcast (Apple) (YouTube) (Spotify)Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Graham Segroves.Graham is a leadership learning strategist and ICF Master Certified Coach (MCC) with deep expertise in leadership development - including manager development, executive coaching, and assessment across global organizations. He helps leaders and their teams thrive with positive impact amid complexity and change. Graham works to break silos with courage to integrate meaningful solutions that create improvement for people and systems. As a leader, Graham has empowered and inspired others to deliver results in diverse industries, including manufacturing, government, and international organizations.Career Highlights:-- Internal Executive Coaching: 5 years as a full-time internal executive coach at Boeing, supporting leaders at all levels, including senior executives, high-potential talent, and senior managers.-- Corporate Leadership: Departed internal coach role to return to leadership in a corporate setting; responsible first for DEI, later for global leadership development.-- Private Practice: Founded a successful coaching and teaching practice, supporting leaders across diverse industries in navigating complex transitions and deepening leadership impact.-- Government Leadership: Led national security teams at the CIA and developed technical leaders and people leaders under high-stakes, high-pressure conditions.Our conversation today explores transitions, changes, and transformations.Connect with Graham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamsegrovesSupport 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.Connect with Sava on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savariaskoff/Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

Today’s conversation is with Dr. Camille Neyhouser— a leadership coach, storyteller, and systems thinker with a deep curiosity for human transformation.Camille began her career with 15 years in the international nonprofit sector beforetransitioning into full-time coaching. She’s now spent the last five years guidingindividuals, teams, and organizations through meaningful change — helping themnavigate complexity with clarity and compassion.But Camille isn’t just a coach. She’s a weaver of stories — currently writing a bookabout her grandmother’s journey as a single mother in 1950s France. She’s also thecreator of immersive, myth-based dinner experiences that have taken place inFlorence and New York, where narrative, symbolism, and shared meals become agateway to self-discovery.At the heart of Camille’s work is a powerful question:How can we teach people, systems, and organizations to hold duality — withpresence?In this episode, Camille shares the transition she’s in now, the themes that won’tleave her alone, and the kinds of questions that light her up — including one that’ssimple but profound:  Can you help me find my joy again, like the perfumes?You can find Camille on LinkedIn, where she continues to explore the edges ofleadership, creativity, and becoming.https://www.linkedin.com/in/camilleneyhouser/Support the showMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra