Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Freya Birdie.Freya has 17 years of global experience working across three continents in the US (NYC, SF, Silicon Valley, Miami); Europe (London, Rome, Brussels), and Asia (Mumbai) focused on management consulting, leadership coaching, organizational and team effectiveness, learning & professional development.Freya is a graduate of the Leadership Coaching at Georgetown University, and is a certified MBTI personality assessment facilitator. She’s also a Global Manager for People Development at McKinsey & Company.  Freya is passionate about intercultural discovery through experiential learning and has traveled 60+ countries.  She also loves spending time in nature, hiking and biking, and is a yoga and meditation practitioner.Freya and I met through the Georgetown’s coaching mentorship program.  We felt an immediate connection around travel, living in diverse places around the world, not really knowing where home is, and each of us being in different countries each time we set up a call!  It’s really a joy finding someone like Freya who understands this unconventional lifestyle!Freya has an abundance of intriguing and inspiring stories and we only skim the beginning of them today.  I’ll just mention one briefly here and that is that Freya is part of the extremely small remaining community of Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest religions.  It was fascinating to learn more about this ancient religion and Freya’s experience exploring these roots of her family.Freya, thank you so much for sharing your stories, your reflections, and your wisdom.  You have a beautiful presence and I’m grateful our paths have crossed.  I look forward to future conversations, both there on the podcast and in person!Connect with Freya: LinkedInMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Kenza Barrada.Kenza is the founder of the “We Are One World” or WAOW Project, which is designed to support leaders to realize that each one of us impacts all others, and that change starts with us.Kenza is a senior advisor for leadership development and team alignment, a Mindfulness and MBTI practitioner, and she collaborates with distinctive practitioners and specialists of other transformative tools and methods.  Kenza has worked and lived in 15 countries. She’s fluent in 4 languages.  And she spent 12 years in management consulting for McKinsey & Company.  She has a deep knowledge of public sector work and agriculture development in emerging countries. Kenza is a returning guest, having first been on the podcast back in April on episode 113.  There, she shared her journey to mindfulness.  I highly recommend listening to that part of Kenza’s story if you haven’t yet.  Kenza is an amazing storyteller, and her storytelling continues today as she shares more about her family’s home and farm near Marrakesh, Morocco.  Their home is much more than a home, as you’ll hear.  It’s a permaculture and agroecology project, an opportunity for work-away visitors, a place for community, music, presence, and intentional living.One word of caution, you will definitely want to visit after listening to this episode!Kenza, thank you again for your gracious presence and sharing.  I love being invited into the descriptions of your home, your life, your community.  Your vision for life, your invitation for others to join you (be it for a few days, weeks, or longer), and your clear passion for this work is inspiring and motivational.I’m honored to host this continuation of your story and look forward to continuing our conversation (hopefully one day in person!).Connect with Kenza: LinkedInMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Miranda Holder.Miranda is returning to the podcast after being a guest in February 2022 on Episode 38.  We recently reconnected and Miranda was kind enough to turn our catch up into another podcast conversation and I’m so grateful!Miranda has an amazing story including starting her career as an endurance athlete and at 25, finding herself training for the US Olympic Rowing Team.  It was during this time that she discovered she had a congenital heart condition and she had to abruptly end her career as an athlete.  She transitioned to coaching and served as the Head Coach for the Georgetown University’s Women’s Rowing Team.  Finding herself burned out after about 10 years, Miranda transitioned again, this time to leadership coaching!  For more on those stories, listen in to episode 38 (back on February 4, 2022).Miranda now runs her own company and focuses much of her coaching work on somatics or embodied coaching.  If you aren’t sure what exactly that means, stay tuned because it’s what we explore and dig into for most of our conversation today.As we explore the embodied work that Miranda does, she shares generously from her own journey.  I gain some beautiful insights about my journey that have been enriching to continue contemplating since we talked.Miranda, thank you!  You share with amazing authenticity, generosity, and warmth.  I can’t wait until the day when we’re neighbors!!Miranda's WebsiteUpcoming Course: Building Leadership Presence Through Embodied IntelligenceMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Andrew Kauffmann.Andrew is a coach, a writer and a teacher of creative writing.   He believes that writing be a transformational aid for healing, in coaching, and in all contexts.Trained and accredited by The Professional Writing Academy in the use of expressive and therapeutic writing, he uses stories, metaphor and narrative tools to help his coaching clients cope with life transitions, and to derive meaning from challenging life events. Open about his own experiences of living with OCD, experiencing depression, and being a kidney donor, he is the UK Centre for Mental Health Writer-In-Residence from May 2023. He leads London Lit Lab´s Queer Storytelling course, facilitates Out on the Page´s workshops for LGBTQ writers on exploring their personal stories and runs workshops with The Write Salon on writing challenging material. He was shortlisted in 2022 for The Literary Consultancy's Pen Factor award. He was also a winner of the 2021 Spread the Word and Scribe UK competition for works of narrative non-fiction. And as a freelance journalist, his articles on lifestyle, health and culture have been published by HuffPost UK.Andrew and I met almost two years ago and I’m so honored to have him on the podcast today.  When I met him it was in a group setting and while I met lots of people, it was his introduction of himself stayed with me, as he shared very briefly about being a kidney donor.  In our conversation today, we only begin to scratch the surface of Andrew’s stories and life experiences – there’s so much more!Andrew shares his stories and reflections today on coming out as gay around age 18-19, and also being a kidney donor to his father.  Throughout our conversation, Andrew shares with profound authenticity, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness. Andrew, thank you.  For your willingness to show up in this space (and many other spaces), bringing your whole self… sharing vulnerably and with great intention.  You are an inspiration as you model the challenging work that you also facilitate and invite others to do as well, for the sake of healing and making the world a better place – for the sake of making life less difficult.Please check out the links to Andrews work, his workshops, and to connect directly with him:Writing what's tough, The Write SalonTender and fierce: writing with self-care and determination: with Out on the PageHuffPost UK articleUK Centre for Mental Health: Writer in Residence (The Strangest Times: Are we increasingly out of step with this weird world that we live in? published May 18, 2023)Find Andrew on Twitter: @JKaye82Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

Today is a monologue where I share some thoughts that I'm still formulating.  I'll work on putting resources here over the next few days, referencing books I've read that have influenced my thinking on this topic.Thanks for listening!Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Amanda Walters.Mandy is a world traveler, a Florida Gator, storyteller, and Human Resources professional.  Mandy grew up in the southern United States.  Her father was a Southern Baptist minister turned hospice chaplain and her mother a special education teacher.Mandy is a graduate of the University of Florida (Go Gators!) and has worked in HR for various organizations.  During what she describes as her “quarter life crisis” she moved from the US to New Delhi, India, as a trailing spouse (her first time leaving the US!).  Living in a different country was life-changing for her.  She returned to the US but realized she wanted to live abroad again.  In 2012, Mandy joined the US Department of State’s Foreign Service as an HR Officer.  She learned Russian and took her first assignment in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.  Later, she learned Portuguese and lived and worked in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where she met the love of her life.  Together they moved to Yangon, Myanmar (aka Rangoon, Burma), and are now in Frankfurt, Germany, and about to move back to the US.Mandy and I met through my work as a trainer for the Department of State.  A few months ago at a training, the subject of podcasts was being discussed and I had the change to share about this podcast and my experience being a host.  The very next day, as I was walking to work, I ran into Mandy on the sidewalk of a busy street in Bangkok.  She blurted out, “I didn’t know you were a Gator!  And you used to be a chaplain!”  I think I looked a bit taken off guard because she quickly followed up: “I’m listening to your podcast!” It was an awesome moment for me to run into someone in Bangkok listening to my podcast!  And even better, it led us to conversations about Mandy being a guest and sharing these pieces of her journey.Mandy shares about her journey of coming out, the courage she gained by others who led the way, coming out as gay in families and settings where it wasn’t easy.  Mandy also shares about the recent loss of her cousin, one of the people in her life who went before her, making the path a little less difficult.  And then, the loss of her father, going back home and giving the eulogy in the church where she was told she was wrong for being her.  There are a number of themes in Mandy’s stories and through each theme she demonstrates amazing courage, forgiveness, and proactive grieving.  Mandy, thank you SO much for your willingness to share your stories.  For sharing the insights from some sad and difficult times of loss, most poignantly, the loss of your father.  I know people will be touched and inspired by your authenticity, vulnerability, and wisdom.  And I know your dad would be very very proud of you.Disclaimer: Disclaimer that Mandy’s opinions and experiences are her own and in no way represent the policies and opinions of her employer.Read Mandy's blog at http://www.myplaidpants.com/Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Mary Seals.Mary is a fellow spouse in the US Foreign Service and we connected because her husband found my podcast through the episode with Gavin McClurg (episode 35).  After listening, he reached out and said, “hey I’m a paraglider, and in the foreign service, and studying to become a coach!”  And that connection led to meeting Mary and ultimately, this episode!Mary joins me today to share the story of her transformation:  from adamantly NOT a dog person to owning and loving a very special dog named Pax.   Pax is a Giant Schnauzer and along with being a transformative influence in her own family, also extends her special canine presence to others through her work as a therapy dog.   As a dog lover and animal lover, in general, I’m so delighted to share this story with you.  You may want to keep a tissue on hand, for Pax touches the heart not just in person, but also through the sharing of her story.   Mary, thank you so much for coming on the podcast and sharing about your journey with Pax.  Thank you for all the work you have done and continue to do to create opportunities for so many people to be touched by interacting with Pax.  And thank you for your own willingness to be transformed, to become a dog trainer, to see the needs in your family and be willing to do something bold and audacious (get a dog!!) in order to create a space for healing and connection.   You and Pax are making the world a better and more joyful place!Follow Pax and Mary on InstaGram: @PaxtheGiantMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Kenza Barrada.Kenza is the founder of the “We Are One World” or WAOW  Project, which is designed to support leaders to realize that each one of us impacts all others, and that change starts with us.Kenza is a senior advisor for leadership development and team alignment, a Mindfulness and MBTI practitioner, and she collaborates with distinctive practitioners and specialists of other transformative tools and methods.  Kenza has worked and lived in 15 countries. She’s fluent in 4 languages.  And she spent 12 years in management consulting for McKinsey & Company.  She has a deep knowledge of public sector work and agriculture development in emerging countries.  Her passion for agriculture is now taking roots in permaculture and agroecology family project near Marrakesh Morocco, where she’s aiming for autonomy, self-sufficiency and sustainability.In our conversation today, Kenza invites us into an amazing journey – her journey to Mindfulness and deep awareness.  Kenza is a phenomenal storyteller and as she shared these segments of her life journey, I found myself swept along as if watching a movie.  It’s truly a delight.And as you will hear, this is only the beginning.  I have invited Kenza back to continue sharing her story because there’s so much more.  So, keep an eye out for her return!Kenza, I’m truly touched to host this conversation and share your story in this format.  Thank you so very much for your authenticity, vulnerability, passion and wisdom.  I am grateful to be connected with you and look forward to our future conversations!Connect with Kenza on LinkedInMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Sue Callaghan. Sue is the founder of goldvineco, and a leadership coach and facilitator. As a leadership coach and facilitator, Sue brings authenticity, warmth, and positive energy to her clients to accelerate growth and effectiveness through self-understanding. She is committed to nurturing happy, successful leaders. For sixteen years, Sue worked within university executive education leading client interfaceand program design to create transformational leadership development experiences for individuals and teams, resulting in an enhanced ability to navigate complexity. Her early career was in financial consulting and financial analysis in the food industry. Sue is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is also a graduate of Georgetown University’s flagship program in Leadership Coaching and holds an ACC level of certification from the International Coach Federation (ICF).  On the personal side, Sue’s interests are in Nutrition & Fitness, Whole-Person Wellness, and Entertaining.  Professionally her interests focus on Personal Essence & Purpose, Immunity to Change and Positive Intelligence. Sue is certified in The Leadership Circle ProfileTM, a 360-degree assessment designed for vertical development. Sue and her husband, Jim, reside in Indianapolis, IN, USA and are proud parents of four adult kids. Sue and I met through our work for Educe Partners.  I love this conversation because it’s really the first long conversation I have had with Sue and it’s a very cool way to get to know someone and parts of their story. In our conversation we touch on values clarification, purpose, humor as a currency, optimizing for serendipity, and so much more.  There’s deep wisdom in Sue’s journey and sharing and I anticipate you’ll find lots of inspiration. Sue, thank you so much for the generosity of your time, for sharing these pieces of your story, and for engaging with deep authenticity and commitment to growth.  I’m so grateful for this time spent with you!Connect with Sue:WebsiteLinkedInReferences throughout our conversation: Leadership Circle Profile and Bob Anderson Immunity to Change --Lisa Lahey and Bob KeganRichard Leider and purposeAmanda Blake and Mood, Move, Mantra Robert Ellis, Coaching from Essence and "Optimize for Serendipity" Richard Boyatzis, Ellen Van Oosten and Melvin Smith, authors of Helping People Change Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Wendy Moomaw.   Wendy is the founder of the Conscious Collaboratory® where she enables systems differently, rethinking old problems through new lenses and inviting multiple perspectives to create new possibilities.  She is the co-creator of Reimagining Workshops - co-creating the 8-week immersive workshop Reimagining Racial Equity, which is a multi-dimensional and transformative workshop that uses racial equity as a catalyst for shift and change within the participants, their teams, and their organizations. She is also the co-creator of Reimagining Patriarchy, which explores the influence and impact of patriarchy on our bodies as a radical act of curiosity, learning, and embodiment.  Wendy also curates a Sanctuary for Leaders, inviting leaders to deepen their strategic awareness, expand their capacity, and provide multiple perspectives in creating conscious business solutions while continuing to hold their commitments to profit and their organization's mission.Wendy supports executive clients and their teams at the edge of their growth by integrating her systems, intercultural, and racial equity lenses with their real-world leadership and organizational challenges. She has the capacity to take in enormous amounts of disparate data and to make sense of it through a variety of frameworks simultaneously. She coaches her clients through complex challenges by naming structures and systems that may be impacting and/or influencing outcomes so leaders can be intentional about the paths they choose.Wendy is a cultural somatics practitioner and has explored embodiment across cultures to transform a leader's capacity, explore ancestral lineage through an intercultural lens, and be in and dance with racial equity and patriarchy as catalysts for shift and change. Wendy and I connected through a Facilitation Workshop quite a few years ago and have enjoyed a friend and colleague connection across the distances, as I don’t think we’ve been back in the same place physically again since that workshop. Wendy, thank you so much for sharing these pieces of your journey, your insights and wisdom, your reflections and contemplations.  You and the work you do are a bright light in this world.Connect with Wendy:Conscious CollaboratoryLinkedInWorkshopsMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra