Finding Brave

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! “I think that having times in your life where you never quite know what’s going to happen, and getting through those times, builds a tremendous amount of grit, resilience, spontaneity and flexibility, and these are the things that I know make me partly successful today.” - Mitch Shepard Are you experiencing burnout and overwhelm, and no matter what you do, you can’t seem to overcome or shift it? Today’s Finding Brave guest has powerful insights, strategies and tips for addressing your burnout and she is a true role model for aiming high, dreaming big, and being very brave around achieving meaningful goals in life and business. In this episode, she shares her inspiring story of taking a 12-month sabbatical across 5 continents and 23 countries with her husband and young children, including how she decided to embark on this experience, how they all pulled it off traveling for an entire year, the agreements they made beforehand as a family unit, how it changed her and her family, and how it helped her exponentially accelerate her confidence and business success. Mitch Shepard is an entrepreneur, mother, wife, passionate world traveler, and executive leader. As the CEO and Chief Truth-Teller at HUMiN Inc., Mitch has spent nearly 20 years coaching and training some of the world’s top leaders across companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, Intuit, Boeing, and more, and her specialties lie in leader & manager effectiveness and inclusion. Mitch is known for her straight-talk, candor, and realism in the way that she approaches business challenges. Mitch’s story is a shining example of how we can grab the reins on our lives and take control of our own destiny. And as she explains, if she can engage in something like this that was so very meaningful and transformative, so can others. You don’t have to be rich or have things perfectly planned out in order to make it happen, and it doesn’t have to be something as big as traveling the world as she and her family did. The key question is: “What is the light at the end of your tunnel that you want to make brighter that you can start heading towards today?” To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.mitchshepard.com/  *Our apologies for some intermittent audio issues during the recording of this interview* To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.mitchshepard.com/

“The same problems are made in both internal communications and external communications. The problem is we don’t sufficiently value our own stories, our own messages, our own people and what they believe. Therefore we don’t think it is worthy of covering, and it absolutely is.” - Justin Brady Communication is the #1 barrier that holds back any entity from greater exposure and success, and bad communication can absolutely interfere with your marketing, along with your employees’ productivity. To learn more, I’m so excited to speak with today’s Finding Brave guest, as he shares the ways that any individual or company, regardless of its size, can cultivate and amplify their stories in order to develop their brand. Justin Brady is an expert at cultivating and amplifying the compelling stories of his emerging tech clients, reaching millions. He also hosts his podcast The Justin Brady Show that focuses on business and work cultures, and features the best communicators in the world that have found ways to out-smart and out-create their competitors. This conversation with Justin is a fascinating study on what you should, and shouldn’t, do to connect your message to journalists and other brand conduits. Along with sharing how to amplify your own message, he gives first-hand tips and insider strategies for building your listening and empathy skills, which will be invaluable regardless of what career you are pursuing. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://justinkbrady.com/cultivate-emerging-tech-pr-communications/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! “If we know we have the ability to create a meaning around the sensations in our system and the things that happen, why don’t we create meaning in our favor to allow ourselves to experience more happiness, joy, bliss, ease and grace?” - Samantha Skelly Do you know deep down that it’s time to break free of the cycle of emotional eating from calorie restriction and bingeing to become who you were designed to be? Maybe you use food to numb your pain, and realize you need to start listening inward to your body’s wisdom, in order to stop this practice? In today’s conversation, our Finding Brave expert guest reveals the steps you can start taking right now to reconnect with your intuition, embrace your body, and heal your relationship with food. Samantha Skelly is a 7-figure entrepreneur, sought after international speaker, best-selling author, and wellness coaching expert. As a leading authority on disordered eating and body image issues, Samantha has made it her life’s mission to empower women to overcome their struggles with food and body so they can live happy, authentic, and fulfilling lives. Samantha’s mission was realized in 2014, when she founded Hungry for Happiness, a movement that helps people experience true transformation and happiness through trained certified coaches who utilize emotional and energetic coaching techniques. Hungry for Happiness has provided unique and accessible recovery resources to those suffering in silence. In 2018, Samantha launched her second company, Pause Breathwork, with a mission to unite humanity by helping people breathe, feel, and thrive. Her new book is Hungry for Happiness: Stop Emotional Eating and Start Loving Yourself was just released in September, 2020. Samantha’s story is a powerful and uplifting one, and she not only provides wisdom and tactical strategies for conquering emotional eating, but her advice and techniques can apply to so many other areas of our lives. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.samanthaskelly.com/

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! “Most people get stopped by fear, and fear leads you to believe that where you are right now is a safe place and going forward is a risk. The truth is, you’re always at risk when you’re standing still. It’s a risk of stagnating, but more importantly, a risk of missing out on your own destiny.” - Susie Carder If you’re in business you know that profit is key, which is why I’m so excited to share this conversation on the podcast. Today’s Finding Brave guest is an expert at helping people generate revenue and maximize profit, and she is here to share how it is not hard to build a 7-figure business. In fact, she says that wealth is your birthright! There is a roadmap and system to achieve it though, and in this episode she reveals the steps to start you on the process of building and growing your own profitable business. Susie Carder started out as a low paid hairdresser trying to support her 2 little girls. But working for someone else became a challenge (to say the least). So she decided to do whatever it took to create her own business. After much blood sweat and tears (mixed with cheap mascara) she went on to create, not one, but two $10 Million companies! Susie’s core genius is the ability to simplify complicated issues by creating simple, proven systems that are guaranteed to create dramatic growth for any company. She has helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs increase their revenues by more than 3000% and worked with top business moguls including John Assaraf, Lisa Nichols, Steve Harvey, Doug Carter, and Paul Mitchell. Her newest book (number 10), Power Your Profits: How to Take Your Business from $10,000 to $10,000,000 is a bulletproof start-to-finish plan for taking your business from startup mode to multimillion! As Susie reveals, during your entrepreneurial journey you must hold fear in one hand and courage in the other - and then jump. Along the way down miracles will happen in your business, and you will be on your way to becoming the most powerful you - while living your highest potential. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.susiecarder.com/ 

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! “It’s hard, but make yourself step back, take a breath and do this as if you were having a conversation with a friend. The minute that someone starts thinking that they’re performing to an audience and not sitting across the table from a friend, they start making mistakes.” - Gabe Wicks Whether you’re already a published author, or you’re thinking of writing your first book, you are probably aware of the growing popularity of audiobooks. Maybe you’ve already decided to record your own audiobook, but you’re not sure where to begin with the process. Today’s Finding Brave guest reveals how audiobooks are rewarding to publish but hard work for both the narrator and studio, and there are numerous pitfalls and nuances that I wish I knew about before I recorded the audiobook for my new book The Most Powerful You (which I’m thrilled to share is in the Top 100 Bestsellers on Amazon’s Women In Business audiobooks!). It’s about so much more than just showing up and getting behind the microphone. Gabe Wicks is a Nashville-based producer for over twenty years, most of that within the book industry. He is the VP of Creative Services for HarperCollins Christian Publishing, which currently produces over 500 audiobooks annually. Gabe produced my audiobook and was a joy to work with! In this episode, Gabe reveals why an author should or should not read his or her own audiobook, the elements that make up a compelling audiobook, where he sees the audiobook world going in the near future, and perhaps most importantly, why you need to not be so hard on yourself during this experience. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://www.harpercollinschristian.com/ 

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! “When we choose to be neutral on things where people have deep emotional responses, then we are not creating that kind of connection and community that we want to have in our culture.” - Laura Gallaher Improving organizational culture now is extremely critical for the future longevity of companies everywhere, because the struggles that workplaces worldwide are currently facing are numerous. Today’s Finding Brave expert guest draws from her incredible experiences to share how we can all address these challenges, as well as how we can more fully recognize the unexpected positive changes to culture that are coming from the pandemic. Dr. Laura Gallaher has worked in the field of professional and personal development since 2005. An organizational psychologist, speaker, facilitator and executive coach, Laura is the founder and CEO of Gallaher Edge, which she started in 2013 and rebranded in 2018. Laura began her career at NASA after the Columbia exploded upon re-entry in 2003, where Laura and a team of organizational psychologists were hired to change the cultural influences that played a role in the accident. She worked there for eight years to positively influence culture, develop leadership capacity and improve organizational performance at Kennedy Space Center. After then working as a Talent Management Consultant at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, she founded Gallaher Edge – a management consulting firm that creates transformational change in businesses through meaningful and impactful human experiences. Now is the time for everyone, not just leaders, to build strength, maturity, self-awareness and self-acceptance. Each one of us has the ability to operate with more grace and compassion for one another, which will increase humanity not only in our workplaces, but also in a world that needs this so badly right now. To learn more about today's guest, visit: https://gallaheredge.com/ 

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! I'm excited to share our "Editor's Summer Top Pick" for Finding Brave! This episode is a special favorite of our wonderful editor Matt Mawhinney of PodAssist.com and shares vitally important information about the first of the 7 damaging power gaps that 98% of professional women are facing today that block them from reaching their highest and most thrilling potential. Today's episode explores Power Gap #1: Not Recognizing Your Special Talents, Abilities and Accomplishments and how to close this power gap for good.  In this episode, I give an overview of all 7 of the power gaps that my book The Most Powerful You explores, and I focus on Gap #1 - THE most prevalent gap that I see in working with thousands of professional women in my coaching programs, courses, webinars and trainings. So many women struggle to recognize that they are indeed talented, to believe that they are actually “great” at what they do, and to see clearly how their talents and abilities truly matter in the workforce and in the world. It’s essential to understand that it’s not arrogant or selfish to recognize and appreciate that you have greatness inside of you, because when you leverage your talents and passions in a bigger, more confident way and in service to others, you are finally able to make the powerful difference that you were meant to, and experience the joy, reward and fulfillment that you long for in your work, business and career. “Know that you are amazing. Every individual on the planet is, and the world needs your talents and your abilities desperately. Can you trust and accept that fact, that you are special and you are unique, and now is the time to recognize that clearly?” - Kathy Caprino

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! “I think you’ve got to see everything as an opportunity. You cannot spend a lot of time lamenting the fact that we’re in this, because we are and you need to re-evaluate everything.” - Nell Merlino Despite the challenges in our current environment, there has never been a better time for women to lead in business and to support one another. As we face these new obstacles, today’s inspiring Finding Brave guest is continuing to help women leaders innovate and grow their businesses and not only survive, but thrive. Nell Merlino created Take Our Daughters to Work Day with the Ms. Foundation for Women in 1993, in which over 25 million people participated in the first two years. She then expanded her strategic communications consultancy to develop winning campaigns, strategies and events for dozens of clients including the YWCA, Amnesty International, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, The Sierra Club, Calvert, The Sister Fund and the NGO Forum on Women in Beijing ’95. In 2000, Nell launched Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence, the first online microlender in the world. This grew to encompass the Women Veterans Entrepreneur Corp and the Make Mine a Million $ Business program with founding sponsor American Express and champions including Hillary Clinton, Suze Orman, Nely Galan, Valerie Morris (CNN) and Janet Napolitano. Recently, Nell has revived the "Count me in" campaign to help female entrepreneurs in the wake of COVID-19, by offering $250,000 in grants, including four $25,000 grants and 15 $10,000 grants. In this episode, Nell reveals how women in business can access capital, and she gives her strategies and advice for growing and pivoting during this pandemic. Nell shares how everyone can pivot, and it just takes the will and willingness to do so. Countless new opportunities await the women in small business who accept this challenge, and move forward despite their fears and doubts. For more information about today's guest, visit: https://countmeinrevival.org/ 

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! “I’m scared out of my mind in these environments, but what I’ve realized is that fear as a normal human emotion can actually work in your favor. It can keep you alert and aware of everything going on around you. Fear is only dangerous when it paralyzes you.” - Alison Levine I’m so excited to be talking with today’s Finding Brave guest about tackling challenges and achieving goals in unpredictable environments, because her personal story is so relevant in these trying times. Her journey reveals that sometimes you must go backwards before you can move forward, but this is still progress towards the summit of your life. Alison Levine is a history-making polar explorer and mountaineer. She served as team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, climbed the highest peak on each continent and skied to both the North and South Poles—a feat known as the Adventure Grand Slam—which only twenty people in the world have achieved. In January 2008, she made history as the first American to complete a 600-mile traverse across west Antarctica to the South Pole following the route of legendary explorer Reinhold Messner. Alison completed this arduous journey on skis while hauling 150 pounds of her gear and supplies in a sled harnessed to her waist. She made history again in 2016 when she completed two first ascents: Hall Peak in Antarctica and Khang Karpo in Nepal. Her success in extreme environments is noteworthy given she has had three heart surgeries and suffers from Raynaud’s disease, which causes the arteries that feed her fingers and toes to collapse in cold weather—leaving her at extreme risk for frostbite. In addition to climbing mountains, Alison has also spent time climbing the corporate ladder. She has worked for several Fortune 500 companies in both sales and marketing roles and spent three years at Goldman Sachs. She left Wall Street in 2003 to serve as Deputy Finance Director for Arnold Schwarzenegger in his successful bid to become governor of California. When not challenging herself in the outdoors, Alison focuses on training others to become strong leaders. She spent four years as an adjunct professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point in the Department of Behavioral Sciences & Leadership. In 2013 she transitioned from training cadets to working with corporate leaders and currently serves on the board and faculty of the Thayer Leader Development Group at West Point—one of the nation’s premiere executive leader development programs. She was a contributing author to the book Leadership in Dangerous Situations: A Handbook for the Armed Forces, Emergency Services and First Responders and is the author of the New York Times bestseller On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and other Extreme Environments. In this episode, Alison reframes fear by explaining how you should allow yourself to feel it as a normal human emotion, and her perspective on failure is also especially powerful. Alison’s story serves as a reminder that you do not always have to be the best, fastest or strongest to get to the mountain that you are climbing. You just have to be relentless about putting one foot in front of the other. To learn more about today's guest, visit: http://www.alisonlevine.com/ 

Thank you for listening to our Finding Brave show, ranked in the Top 100 Apple Podcasts in Careers! “We’re talking about a marriage with that part of yourself that has a voice, that wants to be heard, and that has a story to tell. It doesn’t matter what anybody else thinks about it. If you have a story to tell and you have a voice, and you want to tell it, then you can write that book.” - Bruce Gelfand So many women and men I hear from have something they so long to share with others in writing. Whatever your walk of life or professional focus, it’s important to understand that you have a voice that is worthy of being heard and shared, and it’s important to give yourself permission to share it. Today’s Finding Brave guest is a wonderful writing coach I’ve worked with personally to help me hone the ability to excavate my own authentic voice, and find the courage (and give myself permission) to share my core messages with the world. Bruce Gelfand is a writer, teacher and writing coach based in Santa Monica. He has taught hundreds of writing workshops and seminars in venues around the world, and has worked with thousands of writing students – from masters in the field to absolute beginners. His private coaching clients include CEOs, corporate trainers, Academy and Emmy-Award winning writers, directors, actors, and leaders in the worlds of politics, health, and spirituality. As a writer, Bruce has over 30 years experience in theater, film, television, and publishing in both New York and Hollywood. His plays have won national playwriting awards, been produced Off-Broadway and in theaters around the country. He has written numerous feature films and movies-for-television, as well as writing and directing the feature-length documentary, “The Family Safe”. He is also a writer of fiction, non-fiction, songs, and award-winning poetry. His book, Brighter the Light, Deeper the Shadow was published in 2004. He has launched a new program for writers - A Writers’ Hour - which is an inspirational program to writers of all levels around the world. In this episode, Bruce shares his best advice for pursuing your next writing project, whether it be an article, blog, book, memoir or screenplay. As Bruce reveals, your life is a better one and the world is a better place when you share the distinctive voice that is inside of you. To learn more about today's guest, visit: http://brucegelfand.com/