Make Life Less Difficult

My guest today is Mary Foerster.Mary is a real estate agent based in Massachusetts.  Being a real estate agent is just one of many careers she’s had, and in her early 70’s, she’s still planning out future careers and opportunities, which I love and find SO inspiring!I met Mary through my business partner for The REI Concierge, Tim Robinson.  Mary is Tim’s wife’s aunt and she’s been one of our greatest supporters from day one of us starting our business.  Mary has a rich and fascinating life. She worked for AARP as a lobbyist, the director of diversity, and more, living and working in Washington DC, before becoming a real estate agent.Mary is a generous and expansive human.  She’s always looking for ways to support others, encourage and affirm those around her, and expand herself.  Mary, thank you for sharing these pieces of your story with us.  Your zest for life and learning are inspirational.  Make Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Tim Robinson.Tim is a real estate agent in the Washington DC and Maryland area.  He’s also my business partner for The REI Concierge, a real estate investing consulting company we started together two years ago.Tim and I met in the Netherlands and immediately connected over real estate investing.  We are both married to US diplomats and focus our business on helping Americans living abroad find and buy great investment properties in the US. In March of 2021, we began co-hosting The REI Concierge Podcast.  My experience and the fun I had with that podcast led to me starting this podcast.  So, while I spend quite a bit of time with Tim in the podcast setting, this time it felt quite different and special.In our conversation today, Tim shares the story of another parallel we discovered between us: both losing a loved one to a brain tumor.  It’s certainly not the expected place of connection, and it makes it incredibly meaningful.  It’s an honor to host this conversation and have Tim share about his friend Adam.  I believe telling the stories of our loved ones who have passed keeps their memory alive and is a way to continue honoring them!Tim, thanks for being a guest on the Make Life Less Difficult Podcast and for sharing these pieces of your journey with us today, for being a great business partner, and for being someone who makes the world a nicer, kinder, and better place.Make Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Aimee Gibson.For over 20 years, Aimee has been supporting and coaching people through times of change and transition in the Peace Corps, as adjunct faculty at American University, as a Principal of a management consulting company and as an executive coach.Aimee is active in both her professional and personal communities. Aimee serves as a Founding Member and At-Large Board Member of the Georgetown Institute for Transformational Learning Graduate Network. Aimee and I first met through the Institute for Transformational Learning Network and serving on a committee together.  We quickly learned our life had a number of parallels including living and working internationally and being what’s termed a “trailing spouse” (Aimee with the military and me with the Foreign Service).  We enjoyed working together on some projects and valued the conversations that ensued even when they were challenging.Aimee has recently rebranded her business, Brave Joy.  When I saw that in her email signature I reached out and said tell me the story behind Brave Joy.  Here is what Aimee wrote back: “During a conversation with my mom, Lanny, just before she passed, we talked about how she was able to consistently do hard things and make brave decisions while maintaining joy and continually giving all she was able to others. Mom’s answer was to “be brave with joy.” She went on to advise me to do the things in life that feel hard and find joy within the difficulty. As a single working mom, she was a model to me for how to keep moving forward while finding joy. Often for her joy came from helping others; she gave and used her talents and resources, no matter what they were and no matter how they changed over time.”I was so touched and inspired by this and of course, asked Aimee to be on my podcast. Aimee, thank you so much for sharing these pieces of your journey, your wisdom, and the inspiration from your mom.  May we each find ways to be brave with joy!  Make Life Less DifficultMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Camille Neyhouser.Camille is a Leadership Coach & Organizational Development Expert with a 14-year career in the international development sector (both UN agencies & big INGOs). She has lived, worked and travelled in over 35 countries on five continents. Camille is passionate about leadership and how leaders can help transform their organizations through passion, curiosity and heart. She holds a professional doctorate in organizational development on the topic of how organizations learn.  Her work focuses on "Building a Learning Organization by Design, not by Accident.". Camille is originally from France and is currently based out of Florence, Italy. I had the pleasure of meeting Camille through a work opportunity and was immediately drawn to her warmth, her curiosity, the great questions she asked of everyone she interacted with, and an energy that is difficult to describe in words.  We recorded this conversation a couple weeks ago and I’m still reflecting on it and what I’ve learned.  Thank you so much, Camille, for sharing these pieces of your journey and so much of your wisdom!www.makelifelessdifficult.comMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Chris Luth.Chris is from and lives in The Netherlands and his passion is how we think, especially through creative and (self)reflective processes. He lives his passion by coaching and facilitating workshops on vision, strategy, and organizational development – with local communities, world- class universities and Fortune 500 companies.Chris studied business administration, architecture and philosophy. After working as an architect, he began organizing and facilitating workshops and debates in four continents as a cultural curator. He continues to teach at multiple architecture schools.Chris co-founded the ChangeLab Global community of practitioners, educators, and experts in 2020. By organizing and facilitating key events, and as candidate Member of European Parliament, he helped build Volt Europa to become the pan-European political party and movement it is today.Chris and I met a few months ago through mutual work opportunities.  Before we began recording this podcast conversation, I asked Chris if he had any specific stories to share and he said he wanted to just see where the conversation took us.  “Structured emergence” is the term I learned from my guest Miranda Holder on episode 38 to describe these kinds of conversations.  We have a bit of structure, and then we see what emerges!  It’s all an exploration.  Chris also added that he hoped he would not bore himself!  (I also hoped he would not be bored!)  I check in with Chris at the end of our conversation and (spoiler alert!) he did not bore himself.  Success!Thank you, Chris, for sharing these pieces of your journey, some of the stories that shape who you are and what you offer others in your work and life, and your wise perspectives on the world. Connect with Chris:LinkedInInstagramwww.makelifelessdifficult.comMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Nicole Webb.Nicole is a journalist, writer, and speaker.  She has spent more than 20 years in Australian television as a reporter, producer and presenter.  She’s also a spouse who has moved abroad to support her partner in his career… sometimes known a trailing spouse, although I don’t love that term, being one myself!I first connected with Nicole through FB when someone learned about my podcast and said – you should talk to Nicole!  I reached out and Nicole kindly was open to connecting with a total stranger on another continent.  In our first conversation, however, we learned of many parallels in our life as expats, trailing spouses, professionals needing to reinvent ourselves repeatedly, and adventurers.Nicole and her husband moved from Australia to Hong Kong for their first overseas assignment in 2010, while She was pregnant with their daughter.  The next move was even more challenging when in 2014 they went to Xi’an China, a city of 9 million people that is one of the oldest and most revered cities in China but where very few westerners lived and very little English was spoken.  Nicole captures her journey in her memoir, China Blonde.  She writes in a beautiful, personal way with great humor – a must for surviving some of the expat challenges.  Nicole also blogs at Mint Mocha Musings and you can learn more about her adventures there.  I highly recommend Nicole’s book and her blogs and have included links in the show notes.Thank you, Nicole, for sharing with us today and also for capturing your experiences – both joyful and painful – in your book.  It’s an insightful glimpse into life as an expat as well as into the culture of China.  Connect with Nicole:WebsiteMemoir: China BlondeMint Mocha Musings Blogwww.makelifelessdifficult.comMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Emily Cornell.Emily is a strategist + coach who helps women really show up authentically and unapologetically.Emily and I connected through the network of the Foreign Service, in which we are both spouses of US Diplomats.  Our paths also overlap at coaches and business owners finding creative ways to build our professional lives while moving around the world.In today’s conversation Emily shares pieces of her journey which include growing up with domestic violence, becoming addicted to alcohol, being a Woman in Recovery, and the path to sobriety and learning to love herself.  Emily shares that stories saved her life and she is passionate about sharing her own stories so that others know they are not alone and that there is hope!I’m so grateful for Emily’s courage in life and in sharing her journey.  We talk about a number of books and resources during our conversation and have included links in the show notes.Emily is also extremely gracious in her openness to connect with anyone who might resonate with her journey.  Her website, email and social media links are also in the show notes.Thank you, Emily.  For sharing your stories which, I believe, are also saving lives.Resources:YouTube video of the monologue Emily wrote/performed for Listen To Your Mother: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmKj2Qid28gWe Are The Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life by Laura McKowan https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-Luckiest-Surprising-Magic/dp/160868654XQuit Like a Woman: The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol by Holly Whitaker https://www.amazon.com/Quit-Like-Woman-Radical-Obsessed/dp/1984825070/The Unruffled Podcast - no longer being produced but 4 years of near-weekly interviews of creative women in recovery (Emily's episode is #109). https://soundcloud.com/theunruffledpodcastTo find Emily:Coaching/professional website: emilycornell.comInstagram: @ECCornellEmily's "fun" blog: https://www.unexpectedexpat.com/Email: ec@emilycornell.com www.makelifelessdifficult.com Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Yun Rhee.Yun is a real estate agent and investor, and a Wealth and Success Coach.  Yun first came to the United States with her parents at age five from South Korea. Moving to a ‘free country’ was a concept she didn’t fully understand at the time, but she did see the struggle her parents faced and witnessed how hard they both worked to build a life for their family.The intersection of family values and success is a concept Yun learned early and has carried with her ever since. She has always been intent on honoring her parents’ sacrifice and giving her whole heart in every venture she takes on.She is the team lead for Keller Williams Merrimack Valley. I was introduced to Yun through Mary Foerster, who I met through Tim Robinson, my business partner at The REI Concierge.  I truly love the growing network that’s a result of this podcast. Connection is a core value for me and I smile and feel such gratitude in the connection that’s happening – for me and for others!Yun shares that her proudest achievement is by far her family. Her two daughters, Yuri and Yuna are the light of her life.  She says, they teach her something new every day, and are constantly pushing her to be a better mother, wife, and leader.Yun brings her wisdom and enthusiasm for life into our conversation today and I’m so grateful the exploration and discoveries that have come out of our time together.  May you be inspired as you listen!Learn more about Yun and her work:LinkedInwww.makelifelessdifficult.com Make Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Ellen Grealish.I was introduced to Ellen by Brenda Harrington, my guest from episode 7.  I know I say this more and more, but I am so appreciative of the connections made through this podcast!Ellen is one of the founders and partners of FlexProfessionals, a business that focuses of finding meaningful part-time employment for people who have been out of the workforce for quite some time, maybe due to parenting, caregiving, being a trailing spouse, or any number of other life events.  Ellen shares more about FlexProfessionals in our conversation, so I’ll let her fill in the details about this unique and so-needed business and how it started.Before launching FlexProfessionals, Ellen worked in strategic sales and marketing and project management.  She worked for Hewlett-Packard and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).  She’s based in the Washington DC area, but has worked and lived abroad and traveled extensively.  She studied Economics and History at Oxford University, has a BA in Economics from Boston College.Ellen, thank you so much for joining me today, for sharing pieces of your story and for making such a positive difference in the world in both your personal and professional life!Connect with Ellen:FlexProfessionals WebsiteEmail: ellen@flexprofessionalsllc.comLearn more about FlexProfessionals:Watch us on the Today Show! Inc Magazine names FlexProfessionals to Fastest Growing Companies list. The Washington Post profiles FlexProfessionals in business column   www.makelifelessdifficult.comMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra

My guest today is Liz Doyle Harmer.  Liz helps women and leaders from other minority groups dominate both their inner mental game and outer corporate career.  She is a somatic leadership coach, certified with the International Coach Federation, an emotional intelligence practitioner, a Yoga and Mindfulness teacher and also has an MBA from McGill University.As a transformative leadership coach, Liz teaches corporate leaders and purpose-driven entrepreneurs how to design a life and career that aligns with their deepest values and gives them the mindset and mental habits they need to thrive both professionally and personally. Liz lives out the reality that she helps her clients with.  She did the hard work of changing herself in order to change the success of her business.  She learned to reset her thinking and discovered the process for creating a sustainable inner foundation of resilience, focus, and impact. I first met Liz through my friend and colleague, Brenda Harrington, who was a guest on episode 7. In our conversation today, Liz and I explore pieces of our journeys that overlap quite a bit, largely around the theme of our religious upbringings and what happens when those beliefs we were given early in life no longer serve us.  Unwinding, deconstructing, and disentangling religious beliefs is challenging for so many reasons. And yet finding the growth in new beliefs that do serve us well is worth the work and effort, in my opinion, and Liz’s too.Liz, thank you so much for sharing pieces of your journey – the challenges and joys – I’m grateful for our connection and the wisdom you bring into the world in so many ways!Connect with Liz:WebsiteLinkedInwww.makelifelessdifficult.comMake Life Less Difficult~ Support:buymeacoffee.com/lisatilstra