Bryan Kramer is a social strategist, CEO of PureMatter, Ted Talk speaker, and best-selling author.  He has valuable insight on how to interact in the realm of technology and communication while also calling upon the tools of basic human interpersonal values for a compass. He reminds us that our digital identities don’t have to be cut off from our true selves. So please put down your phone for just a little while to listen, and then pick it up again afterwards-- hopefully, with new intention.

Admiral Michelle Howard exhibits grace, strength, and clear-mindedness under extreme pressure.  In order to become that kind of unwavering force amidst the unpredictable winds and waters of life, we must begin to practice those “deep breaths” that she has perfected. Admiral Michelle Howard, the current Vice Chief of Naval Operations, is highly esteemed and decorated in a field that involves an exceptional amount of risk and pressure. In addition to being the first African-American woman to command a ship in the U.S. Navy, Admiral Howard is well known for her role in leading the international task force responsible for rescuing Captain Phillips from Somali pirates. She is a true trailblazer who exhibits courage, steadfastness, and a clear mind. Admiral Howard is also the first female ever promoted to the rank of four-star admiral in the Navy’s 236-year history. My hope is that as we listen to her, we too will feel emboldened to face unique pressures in our own lives, dare to dream beyond the limits of the status quo, and see that her grace under pressure can serve as a beacon to all of us.

Jennifer Haselberger is one of the few female Canon lawyers and one of the first to practice in the USA.  As a female, and the Chancellor of Canonical Affairs working in the Catholic Church had it's challenges.  As such, she became an unlikely advocate for survivors of sexual abuse within the Catholic church. Up until 2013, she served as Chancellor for Canonical Affairs to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, where she refused to turn a blind eye about sex abuse or any other vulnerable people who were not being ministered to. Jennifer’s devotion to justice inspires us as she has been willing to speak up and pursue justice when no one else would. I hope you will join us for an important story.

Margaret Smith was voted the best Female Comic by the American Comedy Awards and won six Emmy's for her writing on the Ellen DeGeneres show.  She has navigated the ever-changing and unpredictable world of entertainment and Hollywood with a hard-earned groundedness. She also happens to be a dear friend whose wisdom is only paralleled by her humor--as you will note with the multiple fits of laughter throughout our interview. I hope you will find the wisdom she has to offer along with some really good humor.

Professor Sophie Scott is a Cognitive Neuroscientist who became one of the first researchers to study the science of laughter.  On her way to understanding laughter she actually did a stint as a stand up comic and discovered even more.  What is it like to create a science or anything of value where there was nothing before?  If you have ever wanted to do anything and worried what people might think this is the episode for you.

Elena Dunkle dealt with a serious eating disorder in the years after she was raped at age 13. She recounts her process of coming to terms with the pain she was left to deal with in her memoir Elena Vanishing and here with us in this episode. If you or anyone you know is dealing with an eating disorder we hope you will tune in today. Elena is transparent about her long road towards healing and health; and is an important voice and hopefully a beacon for those dealing with the an eating disorder, as well as for families and friends who don’t quite know what to do. Whether or not you have experienced an eating disorder yourself, or someone close to you has--I know you will be inspired by not only Elena’s resilience, but also the resilience of her family, who rallied around her during some very dark years. The numbers in this epidemic are staggering and it is more than likely you already know or love someone who may be suffering.  Elena's words will likely help.

Candace Lightner is the Founder of Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and We Save Lives.  She became an unintended advocate when her 13 year old daughter was killed by a drunk driver.  She later founded We Save Lives to further educate and influence the public about (the 3D's) Drunk, Drugged, and Distracted driving.  If you want to understand what it takes to overcome obstacles then Candace Lightner is the episode for you.    

Julian Treasure created one of the most popular Ted Talks entitled, "How To Speak So That People Will Listen."  Today, we have a conversation about Julian's idea of consciousness, awareness, mindfulness, and the idea of being present.  Our communication with one another can often be like ships passing in the night--we come and go without taking the time to truly understand what is really going on beneath the surface of the words we exchange, or the way we receive them. Julian has built a career around how words and sounds affect us. He has managed to “see” our words and sounds, and talks about them in a way that helps us to better hear one another...say what we actually mean... and mean what we say. In Julian Treasure’s 5 viral TED Talks and his book “Sound Business”, he encourages us to be  “conscious listeners”: infusing deeper intention into the words we speak. I hope you will "listen in" today.

Jessamyn Lovell had her identity stolen in a matter of minutes.  What is unique about her is that she managed to turn her experiences into a creative art project that not only brought her acclaim and publicity, but also lessons that have turned into wisdom that she is now sharing with others.  In 2010 Jessamyn turned her back on her wallet for a matter of moments.  Her life would ultimately change in ways she could not have foreseen or wanted to imagine.  What she would later come to realize and appreciate is that her life was also about to change in positive ways she could not have imagined.  We hope you will join us for the lessons learned and ultimately the creativity and wisdom gained for this life experience of hers.  Jessamyn's experiences show us how to find the silver lining in our own lives or at least consider the possibilities. 

Michael Stallard's journey and wisdom comes from realizing how important human connection is and how that translates not only to our intimate relationships but with our business ones, too.  Good and respectful collegial relationships make for happy employees and relationships in general.  Mike has become a leading authority on leadership, employee engagement, and organizational culture. He is the cofounder, president, and CEO of E Pluribus Partners, a consulting firm that specializes in helping leaders create connection cultures to form strong bonds within organizations. He is the author of Connection Culture: The Competitive Advantage of Shared Identity, Empathy, and Understanding at Work and a book called Fired Up or Burned Out. He has also been a contributor to several other books and been featured in many publications worldwide, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Fortune magazine to name a few and now he is here with us.