Access Ideas

#31 From Curiosity to Clarity: Communicate Better with Chris Miller

Janna Stam — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 05:30:00 -0400

In this special crossover episode of Access Ideas, host Janna is interviewed by Chris Miller, host of the Talk to People podcast. They delve into dynamic communication techniques, discussing how to steer conversations, ask engaging questions, and balance authenticity and polish in dialogue. Through personal anecdotes and professional insights, they emphasize the importance of curiosity, mindfulness, and continuous practice in effective communication. The episode also explores the challenges and implications of fame, particularly within the realm of celebrities and influencers, and how setting boundaries can preserve personal integrity.

Don't miss the YouTube version of this conversation for the full experience.

Episode highlights

00:00 Introduction to the episode

01:37 The power of curiosity in conversations

02:57 Lessons from sales and discovery

04:29 Starting the podcast: access ideas

05:41 The magic of conversations and podcasting

07:01 Navigating podcast nerves and authenticity

09:46 The art of effective communication

15:58 Influences and inspirations in communication

23:37 Balancing authenticity and expertise

25:50 The purpose and impact of communication

37:07 Teaching public speaking and setting goals

39:03 The importance of practice and reminders

39:48 The essence of communication

40:38 Personal reflections on communication challenges

42:46 Financial mindset and self-identity

48:56 Dealing with criticism and negative feedback

57:20 The double-edged sword of fame

01:11:56 Setting boundaries and authenticity

01:12:40 Final thoughts and farewell

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#30 AI for Everyone: Practical Tools for Non-Techies with Fiona Passantino

Janna Stam — Wed, 08 May 2024 05:30:00 -0400

Explore the world of artificial intelligence with Fiona Passantino, an international speaker, blogger, and the award-winning author of the "Comic Books for Executives" series. Based in the Netherlands, Fiona excels at making AI understandable for non-technical audiences, integrating it seamlessly into corporate communication and culture.

Fiona will discuss her innovative approach to gamification in reshaping workplace dynamics, define true engagement in the modern workplace, and highlight how humour significantly enhances learning and enjoyment at work. She will also offer practical tips for utilizing AI tools effectively and share insights on upcoming trends in quantum computing and robotics.

In this episode, we will cover:

Fiona’s approach to gamification and its impact on team dynamics
The essentials of true engagement in today's workplace
The role of humour in creating effective learning environments
Practical AI tools to enhance work efficiency
Future technology trends, focusing on quantum computing and robotics

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in how AI can enhance corporate culture, those curious about improving workplace productivity through technology, and individuals looking to understand how non-technical teams can leverage AI tools.

Fiona's insights provide a valuable perspective on the human side of technology and its potential to enhance business operations and workplace satisfaction.

Connect with Fiona Passantino:

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#29 Ecommerce Revolution - The Downpay Story, with Diana Birsan

Janna Stam — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 05:30:00 -0400

Dive into the world of ecommerce transformation with Diana Birsan, the co-founder of Downpay, a groundbreaking service that’s changing the way we shop online. Diana started with an idea at Shopify and evolved it into Downpay, a system that simplifies buying with deferred payments. Downpay is directly tackling the challenges of sustainability and affordability in online shopping, allowing consumers to purchase custom-made products and spread out the cost of their purchases over time.

Diana discusses how Downpay has led to a significant uptick in online sales for businesses, with the service enabling up to a 30% increase by offering deposit and partial payment options. This approach is particularly revolutionary for custom furniture sellers, who can now align payment schedules with their product build times, enhancing customer commitment and smoothing out cash flow.

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

Diana’s journey from Shopify to creating Downpay, emphasizing her drive to innovate within the ecommerce sector.
The concrete benefits of Downpay’s payment flexibility, which boosts sales by making expensive items more accessible to a broader audience.
How Downpay empowers both businesses and customers, especially in niche markets like custom furniture, by managing build times with partial payments.
The challenges Diana faced and the strategies she employed to navigate the competitive landscape of ecommerce.
Future trends in ecommerce and how Downpay is positioning itself at the forefront of this evolution.

This episode is perfect for anyone interested in ecommerce innovation, entrepreneurial stories, or understanding how technology can create more affordable and sustainable practices. Diana’s insights offer a compelling look at how targeted solutions like Downpay can transform online commerce.

Connect with Diana to explore Downpay’s e-commerce revolution further:

Downpay website
Diana Birsan on LinkedIn

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#28 The Art Of Business Architecture with Inga Nwagbu

Janna Stam — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 05:30:00 -0400

Dive into the dynamic world of business evolution with Inga Nwagbu, the force behind Eye of Another. Inga has journeyed from classic management roles to guiding companies through their expansion and fine-tuning their operations. She unveils her strategy for aligning a business's activities with its long-term goals, ensuring seamless integration and operation. By employing this methodology, industry leaders like TD Bank, Deloitte, and Kaiser Permanente have seen dramatic improvements in efficiency and cost savings.

Inga's experience highlights the transformative role of business architecture in tackling leadership challenges, especially in tech, team dynamics, and process optimization. She provides valuable insights for leaders of small to medium-sized enterprises on avoiding tech traps, like regrettable software investments or the hurdles of new tool implementation, crucial for maintaining momentum and achieving operational excellence.

We'll dive into:

The Heart of Business Architecture: Demystifying how aligning your business’s activities with its vision can streamline your operation.
Overcoming Tech, Team, and Process Obstacles: Identifying and navigating the common pitfalls that could impede progress.
Knowing When It's Time for a Business Revamp: Spotting the indicators for a strategic overhaul to boost your business's structure and efficiency.
The Village Mindset: Adopting a holistic view of your business as a community where each element plays a pivotal role in collective achievement.
Transformation Tales: Sharing stories of businesses that have flourished by embracing strategic business architecture, including insights on enhancing the onboarding process for sales personnel in a finance firm.

This episode is a treasure trove for business leaders and managers eager to streamline their operations and foster sustainable growth. Inga's practical tips and strategic insights offer inspiration and guidance for navigating the complexities of the modern business environment.

Contact Inga to discover how her innovative approach to business architecture can address your challenges and chart a course toward success and operational efficiency:

Eye of Another website

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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Explore More:

Join co-hosts Tracey Breeden and Michelle Pelton on the Disruption Podcast, dedicated to creating big, bold change.

#27 Win Yourself Over with Krati Mehra

Janna Stam — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 11:45:00 -0400

Join us as we sit down with Krati Mehra, the creative force behind the Experible podcast. After transitioning from a corporate career to an advocate for self-empowerment and personal growth, Krati shares her deep commitment to helping others realize their ambitions. Her focus on building resilience and fostering emotional well-being forms the core of her coaching and writing.

Krati's journey informs her strategies for developing a powerful personal identity and optimizing mental and physical health—key for anyone aiming for a balanced and fulfilling life. Our conversation explores how these strategies not only empower individuals to shape their own destinies but do so effectively and independently.

Reflecting on our shared passion for reading, we delve into how this love has influenced our paths to empowerment and self-discovery. This shared experience enriches our discussion, underscoring the profound impact of literature on our personal development journeys.

Key discussion points include:

Empowering individuals through Krati's podcast and coaching: Insights into Krati's approach to personal growth.
The importance of building a strong personal identity and emotional health: Exploring the foundation of Krati's empowerment strategy.
Strategies for taking fearless action on your ambitions: Practical advice for pursuing goals with confidence.
The role of physical and mental health optimization in achieving a successful life: Discussing the synergy between health and success.
The influence of our love for reading on personal growth and empowerment: Reflecting on how reading shapes our understanding and approach to self-improvement.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to engage in a thoughtful exploration of personal growth, resilience, and the power of self-empowerment. Krati's grounded advice and practical wisdom are poised to resonate with listeners, inspiring them to take charge of their lives with confidence and clarity.

Connect with Krati

Website

Experible podcast

Coaching

Conscious Courage Mini Course

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#26 Cultivating Strength and Trust on Teams with Leadership Vision

Janna Stam — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

This episode features a discussion with Brian Schubring, Dr. Linda Schubring, and Nathan Freeburg from Leadership Vision.

Leadership Vision is a leadership advisory consulting firm transforming how leaders express their brilliance and beauty for the benefit of humanity. Their expertise in leadership and team dynamics has made a significant impact on teams across the globe.

Our conversation today explores how leaders can deliberately build on or unintentionally erode trust, and the vital role of understanding our strengths in achieving success. We delve into the delicate balance where strengths can turn into weaknesses if not managed wisely, and we discuss strategies to recognize this before it becomes a setback.

We also discuss the importance of learning styles, how to collaborate effectively, building trust on teams, and balancing autonomy with enablement.

Connect with Leadership Vision

connect@leadershipvisionconsulting.com

Facebook

Leadership Vision Online

Episode highlights

00:05 Introduction and Overview of Leadership Vision

01:01 Understanding the Role of Trust in Leadership

02:42 Defining Leadership and Trust

04:42 Exploring the Dynamics of Trust

08:37 Personal Experiences with Trust

20:12 Building Trust within Teams

29:27 The Power of Listening in Building Trust

38:29 Intentionally Building Relationships for Trust

38:51 The Challenge of Leading Diverse Teams

40:17 The Power of Learning Posture in Leadership

40:54 Understanding Individual Learning Styles

41:29 The Role of Trust in Team Dynamics

41:56 The Vulnerability of Leadership

42:20 The Art of Asking the Right Questions

43:02 The Importance of Sharing Team Experiences

45:09 Breaking Strengths to Rebuild Skills

56:40 The Balance Between Autonomy and Accountability

01:01:28 Creating Challenge and Difficulty in Teams

01:06:47 Recognizing Excellence in Teams

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#25 Well and Strong: Integrative Medicine with Jacqueline Genova

Janna Stam — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, we sit down with Jacqueline Genova, a certified holistic nutritionist and founder of WellnStrong, who turned to integrative medicine to reverse some of her own health problems, and to help her mom battle cancer. She is a strong advocate of incorporating complementary therapies into conventional treatment methods. She believes in a holistic approach to wellness that addresses the root causes of illness, not just the suppression of symptoms.

In today's conversation, we discuss Jacqueline's personal journey to wellness, integrative medicine, and the importance of understanding and supporting our health. We also delve into the complexities of research and health data.

Please note that the content in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for any medical concerns or before starting new health treatments. Tune in to hear Jacqueline's insights and inspiring conversations with leading figures in wellness and integrative medicine.

Episode highlights

Unconventional background in wellness.

Focusing on holistic wellness.

Integrative Approach to Breast Cancer.

The Power of Emotional Healing.

The concept of terrain in integrative medicine.

Mistletoe therapy.

Integrative approach to cancer treatment.

Integrative approach in healthcare.

Cancer industry conspiracy theories.

The power of mindset.

Practical ways for wellness.

Brand collaborations and wellness.

Making complimentary therapies more accessible.

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#24 Unlocking the Creator Economy: A Deep Dive with Angela Hollowell

Janna Stam — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:30:00 -0400

In this episode, we sit down with Angela Hollowell, a visual storyteller, creative entrepreneur, and the founder of Rootful Media based in North Carolina. She is also the host of the video podcasts Honey & Hustle and Creative Architects by Castos.

In today's conversation, we discuss the future of the creator economy and the importance of bringing together community, education, and technology. We delve into Angela's journey as a creator, from starting her first podcast during the pandemic, to her current projects and passion for supporting visual storytellers and creative entrepreneurs as they build their audience and impact. Join us in this insightful conversation as we explore the evolving landscape of creativity and the power of collaboration.

Connect with Angela

Twitter (X)

Instagram

Episode highlights

Starting Honey and Hustle during the pandemic.
Growth as a video podcaster, navigating the challenges and opportunities of combining audio and video content.
Creative Architects and collaboration with Castos, and the vision behind the show.
The importance of branding, marketing, and storytelling in building a strong creative business.
Key elements of the creator economy that Creative Architects aims to discuss, including community, education, and technology.
Collaborating with editors, emphasizing the importance of over-communication and aligning goals.
The significance of creative communities and the power of collaboration and learning from others.
Networking and creating authentic connections as a creator, both locally and in the global podcasting world.
The evolving role of AI and generative AI tools, highlighting their potential to enhance creativity, branding, and content creation.
The benefits and possibilities of AI-driven brainstorming and content creation, while acknowledging the continued importance of human creativity and ideas.
Live recordings, set design and cinematography.

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#23 Leap of Confidence: Women Entrepreneurs Rising, with Sarah Janzen

Janna Stam — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 05:30:00 -0400

In this episode, I chat with Sarah Janzen, a coach and trainer who helps professional women take the leap from traditional and stifling corporate careers to the freedom of working for herself.

Sarah understands firsthand the challenges women face when taking the leap from corporate. After over a decade of climbing the corporate ladder, she recognized a growing disparity between her values and the corporate world, and made the bold choice to leave it all behind at 35.

Nearly a decade later, Sarah is a Master Coach specializing in helping women make that same bold move - to break free of the confines of the corporate world and cages of self-doubt and fear…and follow their heart and their dreams of working for themselves.

In today’s conversation, we talk about grappling with uncertainty, fear, indecision, or the simple question of "how?". Sarah believes deeply that every woman has a unique vision waiting to be realized, and with the right vision, strategy and support, they can shape their dreams into reality.

Connect with Sarah:

Her Big Leap website

Episode highlights:

01:57 Sarah's story

12:41 How our bodies give us clues that a change is needed

17:36 Habits to help you get clarity about your next steps

20:51 Why humans are afraid to dream big

25:52 Key questions to ask yourself

33:25 The dangers of comfort and convenience

39:19 Scarcity mindset

42:56 What is the process of moving into the next phase / transition?

49:30 Working with Sarah and how to connect with her

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#22 Unleash Your Creative Potential: Building a Culture of AI, with Garik Tate

Janna Stam — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 05:30:00 -0400

In this episode, I chat with Garik Tate, an AI futurist, investor, and AI strategy consultant. He is the Co-Founder & CEO of Valhalla.team. With over a decade of experience as a successful entrepreneur, Garik has founded companies spanning software development, outsourcing, and publishing.

In today’s conversation, Garik highlights his perspectives on the future of AI and its practical application in business. We talk about building a culture of AI adoption on your team and the AI tools that can make a significant difference in your creative output.

Connect with Garik:

garik@valhalla.team

Episode highlights:

00:14 Founding Valhalla.Team

04:46 How to understand AI: a comparison to electricity

10:44 How to get started using AI tools

19:28 Bringing AI into your team / company

24:13 How AI can add value

38:33 Thinking through the potential AI has to transform our lives and communication

53:03 Garik's plans for the future and how to get in touch with him

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#21 Marketing Magic and More with Molly Mandelberg

Janna Stam — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I chat with Molly Mandelberg, the the founder of Wild Hearts Rise Up. Molly has an unusual combination of spiritual, visionary, and high tech, practical business savvy. She is an artist, a globe trotter, a writer, a speaker, a facilitator and a leader.

Molly is also the host of the Tactical Magic Podcast, which I recently appeared on. The show has been running since 2018 and varies between showcasing different healing modalities, transformational leadership techniques, and business and marketing prowess for healers, coaches and holistic practitioners.

In today’s conversation, Molly highlights her vision for Wild Hearts Rise up and how she helps clients find their people and benefit from what she calls the magnetics of marketing. We also explore the challenges Molly faced in her journey as an entrepreneur and how overcoming those challenges enabled her to help others bridge the gap between where they are now, and where they want to be.

Connect with Molly

Tactical Magic Podcast

Reveal the Game of Life Podcast

Money Machine Blueprint

Oracle Deck

Client Attraction Summit

Thought Leaders Expanding Their Reach FB Group

Episode highlights:

00:11 Molly's vision for Wild Hearts Rise Up

01:10 What is magic and the magnetics of marketing?

11:00 How Molly started using hypnotherapy

14:23 Overcoming challenging beliefs

19:10 Using data to help yourself

21:54 About the Magnetic Influencer Collective

25:08 Creating hot content and content that lasts the test of time

30:32 Molly's book, Wild Hearts Rise Up!

32:58 Van life

38:58 Combining the creative and practical

39:14 Working with Molly

43:00 Mastering energy balance and downtime

47:39 What's next for Molly

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#20 Planning an Unforgettable Kickass Conference with Isaac Watson

Janna Stam — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:30:00 -0400

In this episode, founder and executive producer of Kickass Conferences, Isaac Watson, reveals how top-notch strategy and exceptional event design will make your audience sit up, take notice and get motivated to make real change.

Isaac shares his experience turning a community event into a successful online summit and highlights essential considerations for planning your next (or first!) event. We also discuss the trends in bringing communities together after the pandemic, the importance of understanding specific elements of an event budget, and how to determine the best design for an event.

Kickass Conferences help community builders upgrade to the next step: community management. Community management is the process of building an authentic community among an organization through various types of interaction.

Isaac has produced over 50 conferences and gatherings worldwide, specializing in event strategy and design for communities. He is also an avid traveler and advocate for sustainable entrepreneurship. He splits his time between Vancouver and Palm Springs, California, with his husband Justin and their dog Zeus.

Follow Kickass Conferences and connect with Issac:

TikTok

Instagram

Episode highlights:

02:11 About Kickass Conferences and why Isaac founded the company

06:12 Propelling an event forward to make sure it reaches the finish line with ease

07:17 Community building with events

09:16 Maximizing impact on event attendees

11:14 Event budgeting and walking through decision-making

15:40 What Isaac learned about planning events during the pandemic

21:05 Choosing an event location and venue

32:23 Hybrid event challenges and opportunities

38:24 The power of virtual events to promote individual contributions

42:00 Speaker compensation packages and measuring speaker impact

50:07 Using AI for event planning support

53:54 What's next for Kickass Conferences and Isaac

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#19 Improve Your Social Fitness with Chris Miller

Janna Stam — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:15:00 -0400

In this episode, Talk to People Podcast host Chris Miller and I chat about the importance of social fitness and community connections. I also share personal stories about connecting with others after a move to a new city and the lingering challenges of building relationships after the pandemic.

The Talk to People Podcast unpacks how to build better relationships. Listeners learn how to have better conversations, tell better stories, ask thoughtful questions, and build a community of people around them. The thesis of the show is that life is better when you talk to people. In addition to hosting the Talk to People Podcast, Chris is the founder of the Social Fitness Lab newsletter.

Episode highlights:

01:46 Chris explains why he created the Talk to People Podcast and his experience so far

03:52 The impact of the Harvard Longitudinal Study on happiness in our lives

06:04 Face-to-face interaction and the relative value of using video calls

07:23 Why going 'back to the office' (back to how things used to be) isn't the answer

12:52 Social fatigue and awkwardness

16:25 Saying goodbye to friendships and friendship breakups

19:49 Relational intensification

25:12 Comparing physical fitness to social fitness

31:16 Connecting vs friendship

37:00 Trends in social fitness and mental health

38:40 What it's like to move to a new city and try to forge new connections

42:08 One surprising tip for breaking the ice with strangers

46:58 Making friends and building community if we're not religious or sporty

52:27 Advice for those feeling lonely and making small steps

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#18 The Year of Return: A Black Woman's African Homecoming, with Rachel Décoste

Janna Stam — Fri, 26 May 2023 05:30:00 -0400

In this episode, I speak with Rachel Décoste. Guided by a DNA test, in 2018 she visited five countries in as many months – Senegal, Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana and Benin – each country held a piece of her ancestry. When Rachel returned home, she recorded an audiobook about her adventures called The Year of Return: A Black Woman’s African Homecoming. Rachel recounts her journey with vivid imagery and humour – her pan-African trek is peppered with unexpected twists and delightful discoveries.

This conversation was originally released in 2020 on the Audiobook Reviews in Five Minutes podcast, and since we first met, Rachel’s story went viral thanks to this CNN article.

Rachel Décoste is an educator and immigration policy expert. She was a member of both presidential campaign teams of Barack Obama. Upon graduating with a Masters from The George Washington University, she was appointed National Director of the Congressional App Challenge, a tech education initiative created recently by the United States Congress. Rachel was named to the Top 100 Accomplished Black Canadian women in 2018. She was a Huffington Post contributor for over 5 years. The subject of her op-eds touched on diversity, immigration and Black history.

Episode highlights:

02:18 Rachel's childhood background and ancestry discovery

04:00 Preconceived ideas about Africa

19:44 Shopping at the biggest market in West Africa

26:38 Creating an audiobook

35:58 Finding love in West Africa’s Republic of Benin

44:58 Rachel's experience with technology, government and her background as a software engineer

56:00 Rachel's Whitney Houston fan site

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#17 From Corporate VP to Digital Nomad: Live a Life You Don't Need a Vacation From with Monique Giroux

Janna Stam — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I speak with Monique Giroux, who left her 30-year career in financial services and the not-for-profit sector after a transformative experience in Bali in 2019. She now lives a minimalist, nomadic lifestyle and is dedicated to helping clients slow down, feel calm and grounded, and reconnect with nature and themselves.

Monique is a certified Forest Therapy Guide, Reiki Master, and meditation, yoga nidra, and restorative yoga teacher. She shares her expertise through The Flourishment Collective, where she is a distance reiki practitioner, mentor, and trainer for women's retreats and new forest therapy guides. Monique is also the founder of the global community of forest therapy guides, the Forest Guide Circle, and the climate impact startup, Homes to Zero. She is currently writing a book to inspire others to live a life they don't need a vacation from.

Connect with Monique:

Instagram

Website, blog, contact, and other links

Episode highlights:

06:10 About the Flourishment Collective

07:39 Monique's journey

11:46 Recognizing signs of anxiety

17:45 Learning to slow down again... and again

24:53 Learning how to practice new ways of being and embodied insights

28:39 Letting go of a need for control

33:09 How Monique came up with the idea for her book

38:04 About yoga nidra

42:54 What's next for Monique and sharing what she's learned

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#16 The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz

Janna Stam — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 08:00:00 -0400

This episode is also available on the Audiobook Reviews in Five Minutes podcast

What makes for a happy life, a fulfilling life? A good life? The authors of The Good Life promise the answer may be closer than you realize!

Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz are the director and associate director of The Grant Study, also known as the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies ever done, beginning in 1938 and continuing up to the present. The study initially followed the lives of two groups of men: one group of socially disadvantaged men (inner-city Boston boys from working-class families), and another group of privileged men (graduates of Harvard College). The study aimed to understand the factors that contribute to a successful and fulfilling life, and eventually expanded to include the spouses and children of these men.

My hope is that by amplifying the findings of this extraordinary study, we can reframe popular ideas about happiness, health, and success! And if you’re not quite ready to commit to listening to this 11 hour audiobook, consider listening to these two recent interviews:

Ten Percent Happier #549. Lessons From the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness | Dr. Robert Waldinger

Making Sense with Sam Harris episode #308 The Long Game (with Robert Waldinger)

Goodreads review of The Good Life

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#15 Responsible Travel with Erin Hynes and Kattie Laur of Alpaca My Bags podcast

Janna Stam — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Alpaca My Bags podcast host Erin Hynes and producer Kattie Laur chat with me about evolving ideas on sustainable travel and tourism, as well as the ethics of travelling with an escapist mindset. We also talk about whether a tourist is any different than a traveller, the problems with over-tourism, and our experiences travelling to our ancestral countries.

Connect with Erin & Kattie:

Twitter

pinatravels.org travel blog and discoveries website

Pod the North biweekly newsletter for the Canadian podcasting community

Episode highlights:

02:23 Philosophy of responsible travel

03:23 Becoming a lifelong traveller

08:02 Travelling with severe food allergies

11:43 Traveller vs tourist: is there a difference

22:58 Destination and resort travel

29:39 Catfishing travel photos and misleading tourist marketing

34:18 Over-tourism and alternative choices

36:56 Visiting your ancestral country

45:52 Travel trends and what's next

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#14 Holiday Episode: The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

Janna Stam — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:30:00 -0400

"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry first published in 1905. This audio narration episode is a thank you to all our listeners who have supported the podcast and let us know how much Access Ideas means to you. We look forward to returning in 2023 with more episodes and wish you all Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas!

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#13 Great Sound is Everything: Audio Branding with Jodi Krangle

Janna Stam — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 15:15:00 -0400

In this episode, voice actor and audio branding podcast host Jodi Krangle reveals how powerful sound can be – and how it can cut through the noise to make a deeper connection with your listener.

Jodi shares why audio branding matters and highlights the art and business of voiceover acting – and how being musical helps! We also explore strange facts about sound: did you know that you can influence what you *taste* by what you hear?

Jodi has been voice actor since 2007 and has worked with clients from major brands all over the world, including Dell, BBVA & Kraft. Her podcast, Audio Branding: The hidden gem of marketing, offers advice on making an impact with sound and how sound influences us - both in our buying decisions and our daily lives.

Connect with Jodie:

Episode highlights:

00:02:12 Jodi's early love of music

00:04:43 Voiceover work

00:07:45 An introduction to audio branding

00:09:15 Sounds in everyday life

00:14:19 Sound correlation to taste

00:17:20 Noise pollution and health

00:21:52 Audio trends in movies and TV

00:35:00 Adding sound back to electric cars

00:41:00 Being a solopreneur and podcaster

00:45:00 Social audio, Clubhouse, and audio trends

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#12 Podcasting Around the World with Steph Fuccio: Creating a Global Podcast Editor Community

Janna Stam — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Steph Fuccio discusses her mission to connect podcast editors so that they can learn from each other and help podcasters get their voices and stories out into the world.

Steph is an American expat who has lived outside the United States for the majority of the past 20 years. She produces the Geopats podcast, which features international conversations about niche topics like expat life, language, books, coffee, and of course, podcasting! She’s also the founder of the Global Podcast Editors community, which hosts LIVE Chats on YouTube AND she publishes an information packed newsletter on Substack.

Steph has a unique perspective on podcasting and I think you’ll feel energized by her enthusiasm, curiosity, and creative approach. We explore her international adventures as an expat podcaster in multiple countries, and we talk about how to find the right format for content, whether audio or video.

Connect with Steph:

Episode highlights:

00:00:48 Steph's story

00:06:57 Transition from teaching to podcasting

00:12:55 Steph's podcast editing vision

00:16:150 Audio vs video

00:22:55 Health and wellness podcast trends

00:27:32 "Geopats" and podcasting globally

00:29:06 Advice for digital nomads and expats

00:36:35 Global travel and access to healthcare

00:40:00 Building a community of podcasters and podcast editors

00:49:00 Steph's podcast loves and recommendations

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#11 Fuel Your Strength with Steph Gaudreau: Lifting Weights Makes you Feel Like a Total Badass

Janna Stam — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Steph Gaudreau explains how lifting weights is a catalyst for a more expansive life. Steph helps athletic women over 40 fuel themselves better, get stronger, increase their energy, and perform better in the gym. She’s a sports nutritionist and lifting coach trained in biology and human physiology and a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Certified Intuitive Eating Counsellor, and USA Weightlifting Sports Performance coach.

If you’re ready to fuel your body, lift, and recover using evidence-based strategies, this episode is a must listen!

Connect with Steph:

Episode highlights:

00:00:44 Steph's story

00:07:23 What makes strength training different (vs endurance training)?

00:12:00 Muscle: the best anti-aging accessory you can't buy

00:15:16 How diets and dieting misinforms how we think about nutrition

00:25:31 Why protein is so important for women who train

00:34:40 How feelings of low motivation could be caused by low energy availability

00:44:21 What does "lifting heavy" mean?

00:49:30 Why it's so hard to have a neutral relationship with the bathroom scale

01:04:00 How to get started (or start again)

Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

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#10 Luke Chao: Hypnosis and How to Live a High-Quality Life

Janna Stam — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Hypnosis is a relaxed, inwardly focused state of mind that makes it easier to accept new ideas. The hypnotist’s role is to help you enter that state, and then to suggest perspectives that will help you in your situation.

In this episode, Luke Chao illuminates the value of hypnosis and hypnotherapy – free of mysticism, spiritualism or dubious thinking. His approach is client and solutions focused, brief and humanistic.

Luke Chao founded the Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis in 2006, and he holds an honors bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto as well as consulting, hypnotist and certified instructor certifications with the National Guild of Hypnotists. Morpheus Hypnosis has helped over 7000 clients with a wide-ranging variety of issues and trained dozens of new hypnotherapists.

Learn more about Luke's life philosophy through his videos on TikTok and YouTube

Episode highlights:

00:00:46 Defining hypnosis

00:03:18 Differences between stage hypnosis and hypnotherapy

00:10:23 Hypnosis compared to placebos

00:14:13 Bypassing the analytical mind / critical faculties

00:18:27 Can everyone be hypnotized?

00:21:29 Luke's clients and working outside a diagnostic model

00:31:18 Hypnosis is more an art than a science

00:36:10 Hypnosis treatment plans

00:48:46 Hypnosis as a means of discovering our moral authority over ourselves

00:55:47 How to apply Luke's insights immediately for your own benefit

01:00:52 What's next for Luke

The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis | Hypnotherapy in Toronto and Worldwide

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#9 From Minimum-Wage Barista to CEO: Mike McFall's Roadmap for Entrepreneurs

Janna Stam — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Nearly one million people start a small business annually, but 20 percent of those companies fail in the first year, and almost 65 percent close within a decade. Mike McFall is a Co-CEO and Co-Founder of the third-largest U.S. coffee franchise, BIGGBY, and author of the Inc. Original book, Grind, a practical guide for starting a new business.

Mike doesn't have a yacht or an MBA, and you won't hear him talking about disruption, leveraging assets or changing paradigms. Mike has learned through hands-on experience the value of refreshing your business to build and maintain a successful work environment; this has helped BIGGBY grow the fastest it has grown in 20 years, 25%-30% year over year, despite COVID-19.

At a time when there's a lot of confident-sounding start-up advice from academics or ultra-wealthy tycoons, Mike's remarkable life journey from minimum-wage barista to business leader has given him a very different outlook. His perspective on business—shaped by spending the last 23 years helping hundreds of people open and operate successful coffee shops—provides a much-needed roadmap for today's entrepreneurs, so they can turn their ideas into a profitable reality. If Mike's business philosophy can be distilled down to its essence, it would be this: Be brave. Be humble. Be thoughtful. Be aware of others. And be yourself.

In Mike’s book Grind, he explains the leading indicator in your business and shares the GRIND Score, an assessment test based on his 26 years of entrepreneurialism and leadership coaching. Every person can take the test to evaluate their readiness for entrepreneurship and starting a new business. After completing the quiz, participants receive their personal “Grind Score”, which highlights the TEN crucial steps in doing due diligence to become a successful entrepreneur as well.

Take the GRIND Score assessment test

Order Mike's book, Grind

00:58 Mike introduces Biggby Coffee

04:06 Introducing Mike's book, Grind

10:30 "If you believe you're self-aware, you're not"

16:35 "One of the more powerful ways to build a relationship is to ask someone for help"

18:24 "Treat the customer like your first crush"

26:24 "Finding good people"

30:25 Rethinking hospitality

38:55 Selling and rethinking sales

42:29 How to think about competitors

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#8 Addiction, boredom, and becoming a connoisseur of the ordinary

Janna Stam — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

We have more ways than ever to escape feelings of boredom, but what would happen if we didn't try to escape those feelings? This brief episode highlights how our ideas about happiness and boredom tie into adaptation and addiction.

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#7 Re-reading Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek with Lucas Cantor

Janna Stam — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0400

Lucas Cantor is a podcaster, composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and speaker. He hosts his own show, the Book Society podcast, featuring weekly conversations with fascinating guests from diverse backgrounds.

Lucas and I are both hooked on great storytelling and popular history, and today’s conversation is a great example of how re-reading a book that we love draws us down a winding path of intrigue and ideas. Lucas has re-read Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization by Paul Kriwaczek several times, and we explore the reasons why this topic is so fascinating. We cover thousands of years of Mesopotamian history and mythology and Lucas makes some intriguing connections to Julian Jaynes’ 1976 book, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind.

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#6 Boreout or Burnout? Thriving at Work with Dr. Nicole Tschierske

Janna Stam — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0400

Dr. Nicole Tschierske is a scientist and positive psychology coach who helps experts and teams in STEM do better work. Today’s conversation covers Nicole’s story and how she became interested in coaching through her experience of "boreout".

In this episode, we clarify what boreout means, how it’s related to boredom, and how you can use feelings of boredom to your advantage instead of avoiding it with distractions or sinking into inertia. We discuss how you can use nearly any type of feedback to your advantage, and practical tips for communicating for impact and influence, even when that means holding back or instead of holding forth!

02:13 About Nicole

09:07 What is boreout?

16:40 Nicole's experience with boreout

25:00 Boreout warning signs

30:00 Victim vs villain stories

36:37 In praise of boredom

51:30 Getting more value out of feedback

01:05:00 Better communication skills

Resources and podcasts we highlight in this episode:

https://nicoletschierske.com/
The No Fluff Immediately Applicable Guide to Reduce Stress & Burnout in Your Team
The Better Work Podcast
What Works podcast: What is Money? (Time & Money 1
Connect with Dr. Nicole Tschierske on LinkedIn

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Production

Audio production: The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#5 From Languishing to Finding Flow: Well-being at Work with Elena Iacono

Janna Stam — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Elena Iacono designs and facilitates well-being and mental health programs to help people thrive in the workplace. Looking back to our initial podcast conversation in 2021 on Audiobook Reviews in Five Minutes, we revisit timely themes, including managing stress, toxic positivity, languishing, finding new ways to thrive, and finding flow.

02:07 Our current state and the mental health landscape

06:03 Withdrawal and isolation

07:00 What is toxic workplace culture?

10:00 The dark side of innovative culture

14:45 What is toxic positivity?

22:31 Languishing in 2021 (Adam Grant)

26:44 Flow (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)

37:59 Book and TV recommendations

Articles we refer to in this episode:

Toxic Culture Is Driving the Great Resignation (MIT Sloan Management Review)

There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing (New York Times)

Follow Elena on Instagram @ epiacono

Sign up for Elena’s newsletter

Elena recommends

· Mental Health Commission of Canada (resource hub)

· Mental Health First Aid

· Canadian Mental Health Association

· Anxiety Canada

· Root in Nature programs

· Kids Help Phone

· The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature by Sue Stuart-Smith

· Second Nature: A Gardener's Education by Michael Pollan

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#4 Innovation, Identity, and Ownership: Cashless Society 101 with Brian Asingia

Janna Stam — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Brian Asingia is the CEO and co- founder of the Dream Galaxy platform, an innovation studio that trains, advises, and funds ethical entrepreneurial leaders to launch, grow, and scale content, programs, and businesses.

Today's conversation covers a diverse range of topics that focus on and relate to what Asingia calls the Cashless Society, which in its broadest sense reframes how we as individuals and communities allocate invest and exchange value. Cashless Society is both an ethical philosophy and a technocratic ideal. This concept is already transforming transactional relationships within countries and communities around the world.

Asingia's forthcoming book, Cashless Society 101, will be published in March 2022. In his book, Asingia captures the essence of how humanity-first design and innovation can leverage technology in delivering meaningful solutions for the 21st century and beyond. By putting ethics and values first, automation, data privacy, cyber-security and other concerns of the future of work, education, health and finance can be approached in a sustainable way.

02:21 Introducing Brian Asingia & Dream Galaxy

09:56 What is the "cashless society" idea

13:17 Determining value and putting a price on things

17:48 Identity vs individuality

27:27 Asingia's personal experience of cash and corruption

32:29 Tax and the cashless society

34:13 About M-PESA and fiat currencies in Africa

41:28 Record keeping and blockchain as a means of accountability

45:32 Banking the unbanked

51:56 Google in India and post-colonial digital culture

57:15 Digitizing health records

59:57 Creative destruction: the cost of innovation

01:11:00 Innovative disruption and IP enforcement in different countries

01:13:21 Reframing ideas about ownership

01:19:00 Technology is neutral, but humans are not: the importance of regulation

01:21:43 What's next for Asingia

Follow Brian Asingia on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn

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Production

Audio production by The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#3 Revisiting Matthew Walker's Surprisingly Controversial Science of Sleep

Janna Stam — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Matthew Walker's book, Why We Sleep, was published in 2017. And as much as I enjoyed it, I didn't review it on my Audiobook Reviews in Five Minutes podcast because I felt he sensationalized some problems that people tend to have, and it might make people worry about them. So, the idea of insomnia as being a dangerous thing, or even something that would increase our mortality is something that I didn't want more people to focus on.

However, since that book came out, Matthew Walker has evolved his ideas, evolved his framing around research, and he's made some strides towards giving people practical, non-scary advice for getting better sleep. And recently, when I listened to his conversation with Sam Harris in November of 2021, on the Making Sense podcast, I was struck by how practical Matthew Walker's ideas could be perceived if they were just applied a little bit less sensationally.

This episode highlights the problematic science AND the useful ideas from Matthew Walker's book, Why We Sleep, so you can simplify your approach to improving your sleep.

Matthew Walker on the Making Sense with Sam Harris podcast #267 - THE KINGDOM OF SLEEP

Matthew Walker earned his PhD in neuroscience from the Medical Research Council in the UK, and subsequently became a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is currently Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and director of the Center for Human Sleep Science. Matt’s research focuses on the effect of sleep on human health and disease, brain, and body. Walker has published more than 100 scientific research studies and has received numerous funding awards from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, and is a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. He was recently awarded the Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization. Matt has given a main-stage TED Talk that has been viewed over 13 million times, has also created several TED Miniseries on sleep, a MasterClass series on sleep, and is author of the New York Times bestseller, Why We Sleep. Matt is also host of the 5-star-rated, The Matt Walker Podcast.

Twitter: @sleepdiplomat

Web: www.sleepdiplomat.com

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Audio production: The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#2 How Jane Austen Novels Became My Version of Escapist Fantasy

Janna Stam — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Jane Austen novels set in the English countryside and various drawing rooms help transport me to a delightful fantasy world – and I'm in good company. Austen's writing is so strongly associated with providing solace that she was prescribed to World War One soldiers suffering from severe shell-shock (PTSD). In the UK, Austen experienced a sales rise of 20% throughout much of 2020, compared to 2019.

What is it about Austen’s work that keeps us perpetually entertained? This humble homage to the original Regency Romance writer explores why there's nothing quite like the real thing – and why it's never too late to discover great literature.

What Jane Austen can teach us about resilience by Heloise Wood (BBC)

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Audio production: The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

#1 What Drives Our Obsession with HBO’s Succession?

Janna Stam — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0400

What drives our fascination with the fictional Roy family? HBO's Succession follows the dysfunctional owners of Waystar RoyCo, a global media and entertainment conglomerate, who are fighting for control of the company amid uncertainty about the health of the family's patriarch, Logan Roy (Brian Cox).

Succession's ringtone-worthy musical theme, stellar writing, and acting make it an obvious winner. This episode of Access Ideas takes a closer look at some details that take it from good to great TV territory, including Shakespearean themes, observational cinematography, and oh-so-subtle costume design.

Reference to Thomas Flight: The Succession Character You Never See

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Production

Audio production: The Podcast Distillery.co
Music: Kid Kodi by Skittle and These Times by The Pine Barrens from sessions.blue

Access Ideas

Janna Stam — Sun, 02 Jan 2022 23:00:00 -0400

Access Ideas takes a closer look at popular ideas about culture, psychology, and well-being. Now in our second year, we’ve had the privilege of talking to distinguished guests and experts who are equally passionate about exploring what matters and making meaningful connections between disparate ideas.

Join me, your host Janna, as we bring you more in-depth interviews, insightful commentary, and thought-provoking discussion… and the occasional audiobook recommendation to keep you company on your next commute or road trip.

Trailer music credit: Kid Kodi by Skittle from sessions.blue