My guest today is Lorca Smetana.Lorca is a resilience expert, teacher, and speaker with a deep passion for helping individuals and communities rise from trauma and challenges. Lorca’s unique approach combines her personal experience surviving disaster and loss at the young age of 16, with years of teaching and coaching, focusing on resilience, grief, and the emotional landscapes of leadership. With a background that spans wilderness survival, emergency response, and personal coaching, Lorca offers insight and tools that empower people to transform their toughest moments into profound growth.I’m thrilled to have Lorca on the podcast today to share her story, expertise, and the ways she’s helping people not only survive but thrive through life’s most difficult challenges.Lorca and I were connected through the kind introduction of Kim Brundage – thank you Kim!Lorca lives in Bozeman, Montana, and alongside the beautiful work of resilience training that she does, she also has a sustainable farm where she and her husband raise two free-range children, homing pigeons, dogs, Icelandic sheep, and a diversity of other birds and creatures for sustenance, humility and delight.Lorca, thank you for this inspiring conversation.  Thank you for sharing these pieces of your story.  Thank you for sharing the journey of grief, choosing love, choosing life.  You embody the tools that you lovingly teach others in a beautiful way!To learn more about Lorca and her work, please see the links below:Lorca's Website: https://www.lorcasmetana.com/Lorca's Blogs: https://www.lorcasmetana.com/blogLorca's TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/bA4s-0D9AK8?si=UbFa0RQPEI27TS0L Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Silvia Iaia.Silvia is an executive coach and an incredibly inspiring woman.  We first met through her husband, Felipe, and the world of real estate investing.  Silvia is the founder of Be Executive, the co-founder and executive director of Growing Assetz and Notes for Growth.Originally from southern Italy, Silvia has lived in many places around the world, including her current home of Santiago, Chile.  My connection and friendship with both Silvia and her husband is truly international, as we have spent time together in beautiful Santiago, as well as Chattanooga, Tennessee, and virtually.Silvia approaches her life and work with passion and intention.  You’ll hear this throughout our conversation today.  Silvia, thank you SO much for sharing these pieces of your beautiful journey and life.  Thank you for sharing the learning and growth and discoveries you have made along the way and continue to make.  I can’t wait until our next conversation!If you would be interested in learning more about Silvia or the work she’s doing in the world, please check out the links below!Connect with Silvia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iaiasilvia/Growing AssetsNotes for GrowthHurricane Relief Efforts:  The following list was shared by Daneen Akers who is local to Asheville, NC, and a personal friend and amazing advocate (Read more about Daneen here):Rural Organizing And Resilience Wild Abundance Disaster Relief FundManna FoodbankBeloved AshevilleFriends of the Hot Springs LibraryCommunity Housing Coalition in Madison CountyMake Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Alicia Ford.Alicia is a seasoned US diplomat with more than 17 years at the U.S. Department of State. She has experience serving domestically and overseas in over a dozen different consular and management roles. She is bilingual in English and Spanish and has lived in Honduras, Peru, Barbados, Türkiye, Romania, and Trinidad and Tobago.Alicia is also the Editor, Curator, and Co-Author of Diplomats, a book about US women serving as diplomats around the world. In this book, each contributor shares her unique approach to living this dynamic lifestyle – career, family life, personal ambition, and life goals.  The book also serves as a guide for careers in International Affairs and Diplomacy for anyone seeking a global career.  One of Alicia’s motives for publishing this book was to help people and this directly aligns with her current role as a US Diplomat. What was happening behinds the scenes of this recording is a great example of the resiliency of diplomats because Alicia was managing a crisis before, during, AND after our conversation on a Saturday morning. Alicia, thank you so much for this conversation.  Thank you for the work you do in service to the United States of America.  And thank you for your passion for telling the stories of amazing women in the world of diplomacy!You’ll find links below to Alicia’s book and resources.The views expressed in this interview are in Alicia’s personal capacity and are not necessarily those of the U.S. Government.Read Alicia's book: Diplomats: Experiences of Women Serving at U.S. Embassies Around the WorldInstagram: @DiplomatsthebookSign up for the Newsletter: https://forms.gle/yfLMUF17rkAh5PXi9Alicia and her husband in the New York TimesFind the Oasis: Sports Complex, BarbadosMake Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Nane Bittencourt.Nane is a leadership coach with a mission to empower leaders to achieve their full potential.  Nane is originally from Brazil and now lives in the US.  With over eight years of coaching leaders in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, she helps clients unleash their full potential to drive their careers, seeing their work as a meaningful part of their lives rather than just a job and strategizing accordingly. Nane is dedicated to empowering leaders to provide clear, empathetic, and innovative guidance in today's interconnected world. I find inspiration in my understanding of culture that goes beyond borders.She’s been interested in living and working internationally for most of her life and has intentionally pursued these dreams, bringing them to fruition.Nane and I met through the Georgetown Institute for Transformational Leadership Alumni Network, most specifically because she was intrigued about a Story Slam that I was hosting at the Network’s annual conference.  Along with agreeing to tell a story at the story slam, Nane also agreed to come on my podcast and share pieces of her journey.We talk today about the challenges of moving to a new country, learning to find and express oneself in new languages and new cultures, and strategies to find an anchor in the midst of these transitions.Nane, thank you for sharing these pieces of your story.  Thank you for sharing the vulnerable reality of facing your fears, stepping into the unknowns, asking for help, and bravely stretching yourself.  You are courageous, wise, and inspiring and I’m so glad we’ve gotten connected!Connect with Nana on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nanebittencourt/Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Vinay Kumar.Vinay is an executive coach who partners with executive to accelerate their growth from the inside out.  He’s also the co-author of Language and the Pursuit of Leadership Excellent: How Extraordinary Leaders Build Relationships, Shape Culture and Drive Breakthrough Results.  His book is required reading in MBA programs and Leadership Development and Leadership Coaching Programs at several major universities and beyond.Rising from humble beginnings, and growing up in a multicultural family, his 35+ years of experience includes Fortune 100, federal government, small business, and consulting. Vinay successfully spearheaded and led a privately held business before becoming a leadership coach, author, and speaker. Vinay has extensive experience with an array of roles including leadership, management, project management, business development, marketing, client services, training, and operations. Vinay brings a calm and warm presence, deep wisdom, deep listening, and keen insights into how to achieve breakthrough results. I’ve known of Vinay and been impacted by his work for several years and it is thanks for Joan Fletcher (who was on episode 164) that we got connected directly for this conversation.Vinay shares pieces of his journey of learning the cost of reactivity and choosing responses rather than being subject to that reactivity.  Learning that we have a story and having the conscious awareness of that story, so the story doesn’t have us is another piece of the conversation and inspiration from Vinay.Vinay, thank you for this beautiful conversation.  Your thoughtful reflections, your stories of growth and development, and your wise perspectives are so inspirational.  I know you have already touched so many people in this world and am honored to share this conversation so a few more people can be touched by you!There are links below to Vinay’s book, website, and contact information.Book: Language and the Pursuit of Leadership Excellent: How Extraordinary Leaders Build Relationships, Shape Culture and Drive Breakthrough ResultsWebsite: https://leadingforbreakthroughs.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinaykumar1/Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Istvan Rab.Istvan is a leader and consultant at a global management consulting firm, working with clients across the globe on strategy and innovation topics. While his interests and his job took him to many places in the world, for most of his life he had lived in Europe and had only recently moved to Vancouver, Canada – where he and his family are ‘starting new’, from building new friendships to rediscovering new-old passions in life.Istvan and I met at mutual work events and his energy, humor, and expertise make a wonderful blend.  As I heard bits and pieces of his story, I knew I would like to hear more and invited him to come on the podcast.  In our conversation Istvan shares about having a daughter with special needs, finding the upsides of the unknown, and managing international relocations.Istvan, thank you for saying yes to this conversation!  Thank you for sharing these insights into your journey, your discoveries, your reflections, and your wisdom.  Make Life Less Difficult

Before I introduce my guest today, I want to take a moment to recognize this as the three-year anniversary of the Make Life Less Difficult podcast!  What an amazing journey it has been!  This started as an experiment and has grown into an incredible passion project for me.  The conversations here fill my heart and soul and I hope they do the same for those who listen – whether you listen to just one or many of them!  Every person who has joined me here shares vulnerable pieces of themselves, their story, their reflections, and their wisdom.  Most of my guests begin with the sense that their stories aren’t interesting, and they don’t have any wisdom, but 100% of the time, their stories are amazing and their wisdom is profound.I love meeting people and having these conversations and I’m honored to have listeners in 128 countries around the world according to Buzzsprout statistics!  I have a list of people who I want to have on my podcast and am humbled that that list only grows over time!  I’d love to discover ways to invest even more time into this podcast and these conversations, so we’ll see what the future holds!In the meantime, thank you for being part of the journey!  Today’s conversation is a fantastic example of the amazing people in the world and how they make a difference just by being true to themselves and their path of life and discovery. My guest today is Shawnette Rochelle.Shawnette is a certified executive coach, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, and an insatiable world traveler.  She has more than 20 years of experience leading and coaching high-performance individuals, teams, and organizations in both peacetime and wartime.   Shawnette describes herself as always being deeply invested in helping others drive change, even as a kid.  She has a passion for supporting those who are challenging the prevailing norms. In our conversation, Shawnette shares how true leadership begins with leading ourselves.  She began learning this lesson early in life at West Point Military Academy.  Another piece of our conversation that stands out is what Shawnette calls the acceptance mindset.  I’ll let her share more about this, but this aligns so much with my philosophy of making life less difficult.  Shawnette, thank you for sharing these pieces of your journey and story.  Thank you for sharing your reflections, your moments of awareness and growth, and wisdom.  I’m so grateful to have had this chance to connect with you!If you would like to learn more about Shawnette and her work, you’ll find links below.Shawnette's Website: https://excellenceunbounded.com/Connect on LinkedInMake Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Alicia Rodriguez.Alicia is on a mission to help people connect – to their deeper, essential selves, to spirit, and to nature – so they can get clear, get bold and get ready to embrace limitless possibilities to forge powerful futures.Alicia is a mentor, guide, and truthteller.  Through 1:1 work, immersive retreats, writing, and speaking, Alicia partners with her clients to help them find what they need to take life-changing action.In our conversation today, Alicia shares pieces of her journey from success in the corporate to building a retreat center in Ecuador, to southern Portugal where she now lives.  We also talk about her journey of writing her recently published memoir, The Shaman’s Wife, A Mystical Journey of Surrender and Self-Discovery.  This book tells her incredible story with courage, vulnerability, and strength.  I highly recommend it!Alicia, thank you so much for this conversation!  Thank you for your courage, wisdom, energy, and light.  I’m grateful for this time we got to spend together and look forward to (hopefully) more in the future!You’ll find links below to learn more about Alicia’s work, to find her book, and explore her offerings.Connect with Alicia:WebsiteThe Shaman's Wife book (releases Sept 10 2024)IG: @msaliciamrodriguezMake Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Max Palomeque.Max is an executive coach and educator for the FBI, Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, Georgetown University, and many other clients.  His company, Infourge Leadership brings his philosophy of coaching and leadership development to executives, entrepreneurs, and leaders in both the private and governmental sectors.Max is a proud and distinguished veteran after serving as an intelligence officer, as well as a respected former FBI agent specializing in human intelligence.  He has captivated audiences as a public speaker and lecturer, taking his highly-researched approach throughout the US, as well as across the globe to Europe and Australia.Max and I recently connected through mutual work, and I am so pleased to share this conversation with you.  One of the quotes Max shares is “We don’t learn from our past and experiences; we learn from reflecting on those experiences and past.”  And Max lives out this in his own life – I know you’ll be inspired by his reflections.Max, thank you for sharing these pieces of your journey.  Thank you for your thoughtful and wise reflections on your own past and experiences. Thank you for sharing the ways you have chosen growth in your own life and continue to do so.  You share in a way that inspires action!  There are links in the show notes to find more about Max and his work, and, in particular, to find his recently published book, The Infourge Compendium of Models and Theories for Coaches, Facilitators, and Consultants.  This is an incredible resource to have in your library, so you won’t want to miss it!Connect with Max:Website: https://www.infourge.co/LinkedInThe Infourge Compendium of Models and Theories for Coaches, Facilitators, and Consultants: Get it on Amazon | Get it on Barnes and Noble Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Sophie Cerella.Sophie is a student at the International School in Como, Italy, where she lives with her family.  Originally from the US, Sophie has lived in a number of places around the world because of her father’s military career.It is a distinct honor to have Sophie on as a guest, and in fact, my youngest guest up until now!  Sophie and I connected after both her dad and mom were guests.  If you haven’t had the pleasure of listening to those conversations, take some time to look up Tony Cerella’s episodes and Bethany Cerella.Sophie and I talk about a variety of things including how she manages her time on social media and technology, what it’s been like for her growing up internationally, acting now to get the most out of life, and more.Sophie, thank you for this engaging and inspiring conversation.  At 15, you have a tremendous amount of wisdom and a thoughtful approach to life.  I hope to have many more conversations in the future!  And I look forward to seeing how life continues to unfold for you.Make Life Less Difficult