FINE is a 4-Letter Word

223. I Can't Get Off the Highway with Melissa Coloton

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when your life looks successful and you keep telling yourself it is… but then you find yourself pulled over on the side of the highway with clammy hands and unable to breathe?

Growing up in a loving, hard-working family deeply rooted in farming traditions, Melissa Coloton learned early on the importance of honesty, compassion, and the power of expressing love. Unlike most families, hers openly verbalized affection. “I love you” was the punctuation to every goodbye. This warmth, however, was balanced with discipline and high expectations. Because Melissa’s mother became a parent at sixteen, she was vigilantly determined to give her children the best possible chance, insisting on hard work, achievement, and a relentless pursuit of success.

Melissa spent 20 years building a successful career in sales. She was really good at it. The kind of good that keeps you locked in. Promotions, performance, steady income… all the things that say, “stay right here.” And for a long time, she did.

But underneath that success was constant pressure to get it right. To not mess up. To keep proving herself. What looked like ambition on the outside was really a fear of failure she didn’t even recognize at the time.

That panic attack on the highway left her feeling lost, disconnected, and unraveling, fearful that she’d die without ever honoring her true purpose.

With the help of a life coach and the practice of self-compassion, Melissa learned to listen to her own needs, confront the chronic sources of anxiety, and eventually gained the tools to manage and move through challenging emotions.

Eventually she was able to unlock the “golden handcuffs” of her sales career and step into work that centers around honoring yourself and creating aligned success so you can avoid the kind of burnout that she experienced.

We’re talking about how technology and societal shifts have fostered loneliness and a loss of communal support. But our conversation is optimistic about the resurgence of retreats, gratitude dinners, and analog gatherings. Listen in to hear the whole story.

Resources

Website: www.melissacoloton.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-coloton-coach/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissa_coloton/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568472840753

Hype Song

Unstoppable by Sia

https://open.spotify.com/track/1yvMUkIOTeUNtNWlWRgANS?si=a2507f11148f41b1

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

222. Unshakeable Relief with Janice DaCosta

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when the thing you pride yourself on most… is the very thing quietly breaking you?

Janice DaCosta grew up in a world where excellence wasn’t optional. You hold it together. You don’t fall apart. You make it work—no matter what.

Until one day, standing in front of a mirror with scissors in her hand, she couldn’t hold it together anymore.

What followed was a complete Control, Alt, Delete reset.

Raised in a family of serial entrepreneurs with deep roots on Wall Street, Janice DaCosta grew up learning values centered around excellence, rigorous work ethic, and community upliftment. Love was at the core, but hustle was integral too.

Janice’s professional journey began in the corporate world, navigating high-pressure environments across multiple continents as a global logistics leader.

She excelled in male-dominated environments, but behind the scenes, it was a different story. She was holding together a marriage that wasn’t working. Showing up strong, being everything to everyone in every role she played. And quietly, she was unraveling.

That pivotal “mirror moment” happened on a regular day when the façade finally cracked. It became the catalyst for radical change. She realized true failure wasn’t in letting go and not being perfect. It was in sacrificing herself at the altar of perfection.

Thus began her long, messy, honest healing process. She started recording raw, unfiltered conversations with herself on video through which she allowed herself to unpack, witness, and process what she’d been holding back for years. This practice of speaking aloud, instead of shoving the emotions down, helped her cultivate self-trust and gave her the courage to finally seek support from others.

Through this introspective journey, Janice unlocked the transformative power of “unshakable relief.” She learned to define her worth outside productivity, to let go of shame, and to give herself permission to feel all the emotions that make us human. That journey and its hard-won wisdom are now at the heart of her latest book on emotional wealth, which reimagines the concept of “pay yourself first.”

Keep listening to hear what it sounds like when someone who “has it all together” finally admits… yeah, I don’t—and can’t keep pretending I do. Because you might recognize yourself here.

Hype Song

Janice’s hype song is Run the World (Girls)- Beyonce

https://youtu.be/Xqo08TXbxWQ?si=jvYs5OeWT25608Wr

Resources

Janice DaCosta’s website: iamjaniceclaire.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicedacosta
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamjaniceclaire
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjaniceclaire

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

221. Connection Is the Real Life Hack

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:00:00 -0400

We’re more connected than ever… and more lonely than ever. Because connected online is very different than connected offline.

In this solo episode, I'm exploring the quiet epidemic of loneliness and why it shows up in places most leaders overlook.

If you’re interested in being successful – whether you’re running a business or working for someone – no matter what your definition of success is… and you want to amplify or upgrade your abilities, this episode is for you. If you’re interested in living longer without having to eat kale and work out two hours a day, seven days a week, this episode is for you.

More than 10 years ago, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy uncovered an epidemic of loneliness in the U.S. What surprised him the most was the degree to which people described feeling lonely. And the diversity of people affected – all genders, all ages, all levels of education and professionalism and wealth.

People were reporting they didn’t feel like they belonged. And people felt embarrassed and ashamed to admit they felt lonely. Because they didn’t want to appear needy or inadequate. Because of course, in America, we’re all about independence and self-sufficiency.

Nothing has changed since then. If anything, these findings have only intensified in the past decade and were especially exacerbated by pandemic times.

When people don’t feel seen, known, or supported, collaboration suffers, trust erodes, and work becomes heavier than it needs to be.

The truth is, humans aren’t designed to operate like machines behind screens all day. Real connection fuels creativity, resilience, and engagement. It also plays a surprising role in how long and how well we live.

If you want a stronger culture, better communication, and a team that actually enjoys working together, this episode will give you a place to start.

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/
Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

220. Broke Built Me Better with Barry Bradham

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Shaped by a childhood of resourcefulness and grit, Barry Bradham’s story moves beyond your usual rags-to-riches narrative. Raised in a family where money was often scarce, his parents displayed both strong work ethics and unconventional life choices. Barry started honing his sales skills at just eight years old; he was trading toys and selling bubblegum and baseball cards from a table on the corner. These formative experiences not only instilled the value of integrity but also introduced him early to both the highs of self-sufficiency and the lessons that come when the money in play isn’t as innocent as it first appears.

From those humble beginnings, Barry followed an untraditional but ambitious route, blending work ethic with curiosity. His adolescence and entry into adulthood were marked by a succession of odd jobs, guided mentorship from community figures, and a constant drive to improve his financial footing. It was this drive, combined with the influence of books like "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and real-life examples of side hustles and entrepreneurship, that sustained his hunger for financial autonomy. But it was also a journey fueled by necessity and wanting a sense of control over his life that he didn’t always see modeled at home.

In college, Barry took those scrappy entrepreneurial skills to the next level, helping launch new student organizations and eventually moving into a career in banking and real estate. By outward appearances, things looked, well, fine.

He had an expanding portfolio, social credibility, and an impressive track record managing both businesses and teams. And yet, beneath the surface, Barry was making decisions in isolation, he no longer had the mentorship and strategic counsel that are vital when navigating high stakes. This was his first “fine but not fine” phase.

It all came to a head during the economic downturn, when his calculated risks unraveled. He lost properties, financial security, his fiancée, and his sense of direction. And still, he kept the front up. Smiling. Positive. “I’ve got this.”

But as often happens, those lowest moments became catalyzing ones. One day he was on a bus in the rain in Manhattan Beach, whispering to his sister through the phone that he felt like he was living out the movie The Pursuit of Happyness in real time.

He was determined not to stay in that place though. He taught himself graphic design and studied Adobe programs late into the night. Slept on his office floor when he had to. Sold his car. Kept showing up to meetings with a belief that he could still create value.

Barry credits his resurgence to humility, learning to ask for help, and embracing community instead of going it alone. His second “fine” season taught him something even bigger. And that story? Tune in to hear him tell it.

Resources:

Website: https://digilink.global/barrybradham-entrepreneur
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrybradham/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barrybradham
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrybradham_entrepreneur/

Hype Song:

Robin Thicke - Blurred Lines ft. T.I., Pharrell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU&list=RDyyDUC1LUXSU&start_radio=1

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart leaders know trust is the backbone of a thriving workplace, and in today’s hybrid whirlwind, it doesn’t grow from quarterly updates or the occasional Slack ping. It grows from steady, human communication.

Plenty of companies think they’re doing great because they host all-staff meetings, keep “open door” policies, and throw the occasional team-building event. Meanwhile, leaders who truly care about culture are choosing better tools.

That’s where I come in. Forward-thinking organizations bring me in to create internal podcasts that connect people through real stories, honest conversations, and genuine community—your old printed newsletter reinvented for the way people actually work now.

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

219. Running Full Speed… Into a Wall with Lindsey Korell

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

If your body pulled the emergency brake tomorrow, would you wish you’d slowed down sooner?

Growing up on a dude ranch in the remote town of Utica, Montana, Lindsey Korell was immersed in a world where hard work, family, and a curious eye toward the wider world set the tone for her upbringing. Surrounded by international guests drawn by her grandfather's innovative marketing and her father's relentless entrepreneurial drive, Lindsey developed a deep-rooted wanderlust and a respect for building success through grit and persistence. Early lessons included watching her dad make cold calls every evening after family dinner—a practice that became both a source of admiration and apprehension, showing Lindsey the realities, and costs, of uncompromising dedication.

Curiosity about life outside Montana led Lindsey far from home, first to England on a Rotary Foundation scholarship and later to Turkey, where she wrote her master’s thesis on a bridge-building project. These adventures expanded her worldview, helping her recognize just how small her perspective had been and igniting what would become a lifelong passion for travel and understanding diverse cultures. A stint in the Peace Corps working with banking co-ops in developing countries taught her the profound importance of flexibility and humility. The world looks a lot different when you experience it on the ground and she learned how vital it is to see life through more than one lens.

Back in the U.S., Lindsey’s career spanned real estate, launching her own businesses, and high-level operations in the corporate world. For years she thrived on the illusion that she could handle everything herself. Then came the wake-up calls she never expected. First a serious autoimmune diagnosis discovered by chance and, not long after, a heart attack that forced every assumption about work, life, and health into question.

Lindsey’s journey is one of repeated reinvention, and one that includes unlearning the myth of invincibility and gradually accepting that genuine success is as much about surrendering control as it is about seizing it. Today, she helps women create more breathing room in their businesses. Through lessons learned in moments of both triumph and adversity, Lindsey embodies a philosophy that true fulfillment is about presence, perspective, and prioritization.

Hype Song:

Lindsey’s hype song is “Something's Got a Hold On Me” by Christina Aguilera

Resources:

Lindsey’s website: dailyprincipal.com
LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/lindseykorell

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

218. The Danger of Handling Everything with Emma Collyer

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What if the moment you tell yourself “I’m fine” is the exact moment you should be paying closer attention?

Rooted in the core values of hard work, family, and emotional restraint, Emma Collyer grew up with the unspoken rule to “just get on with things.” This principle followed her well into adulthood. Raised in the UK and now residing in Canada, she learned early how to be dependable, observant, and low maintenance. The kind of person organizations love. The kind of leader who listens deeply, carries a lot, and rarely asks for help. This early belief of not causing a fuss left Emma wrestling with the tension between being a good listener and risk fading into the background vs speaking up and voicing her ideas.

Her tendency to overcommit reached its breaking point during a pivotal leadership assignment. Wanting to prove herself, Emma found herself saying yes to every task. Investigations. Operational work. Emotional labor that wasn’t on any job description.

Then one afternoon, she broke down in the middle of a busy city center, unable to maintain the “I’m fine” façade any longer. The emotional moment prompted honest conversations with supportive colleagues and forced her to reconsider the self-imposed pressures behind her relentless hustle.

Reflecting on this turning point, Emma candidly admits that old habits sometimes resurface, but now she’s equipped with greater self-awareness and boundaries that keep her from sliding back into overwhelm.

A large part of Emma’s work today centers on helping people master difficult conversations in the workplace – the ones most people avoid – the ones about capacity, trust, feedback, and what’s really happening beneath the façade of professionalism. She emphasizes the importance of using frameworks that shift the focus from accusation to collaboration, encouraging leaders to approach issues as shared challenges rather than personal failings. She understands why people disappear in meetings. Why feedback feels threatening. Why managers stop hearing the truth the higher they climb.

This episode is about recognizing the quiet patterns that lead smart, well-intentioned people to override themselves and learning how to interrupt them sooner. Let’s shift conversations from transactional to human, from faking it to honesty.

Hype Song:

Emma’s hype song is “Unstoppable - R3HAB Remix” by Sia, R3HAB

https://open.spotify.com/track/0F3v8p8ZnEGtZDxNcJ5Klq?si=6cHF8iauRkWszhx3gI_mQ&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A2fmxVDpboTzLaLAfj5ZaQW

Resources:

Emma’s website: aspireexecutivecoaching.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-collyer-aspire/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/aspireexecutivecoaching/

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

217. I Built It. Then I Walked Away with Ali Brown

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when the life you worked relentlessly to build suddenly stops feeling like you belong in it?

From the outside, Ali Brown had it all. An epic brand. Massive influence. Serious revenue. The kind of success most people spend their lives chasing. But from the inside, something was missing.

Growing up, Ali Brown was surrounded by the stability of a working father and a creative, stay-at-home mother who filled her days with books, crafts, and art. She credits her self-sufficiency and drive for entrepreneurship to this blend of independence and encouragement. With no explicit entrepreneurial role models, her path to self-employment emerged almost by necessity and through sheer resourcefulness, with how-to books from Barnes & Noble as her guides. Back in a time without the relentless comparison and distraction of social media, she learned to “do what she could from where she was with what she had.”

The journey from being a freelance writer to running a multimillion-dollar coaching empire wasn’t planned. Ali describes a period of explosive growth, fueled by her willingness to share freely, innovate with early email marketing, and cultivate a loyal following of women in a space otherwise dominated by “bro marketing” and big promises. Her signature info products complete with big instruction binders and CDs felt radical at the time. As her brand grew, so did her sense of responsibility, not only to her expanding team and loyal clients, but to her own evolving sense of purpose.

Despite the incredible outward success, she found herself pulled in a different direction after a life-changing appearance on ABC’s “Secret Millionaire” and the birth of her twins.

She had to figure out what to do after her identity outgrew the model that built it. And have you ever assured yourself that listening to your heart was the right thing to do even though it felt disloyal to everyone else? Motherhood, faith, and finally finding clarity forced Ali to make a hard pivot.

This episode is about permission. The kind of permission you give yourself. To change. To disappoint people. To shut things down that still make money. To choose peace over approval. And to stop confusing momentum with meaning.

If you’ve ever wondered why the thing you worked so hard to build suddenly feels heavy, keep listening.

HYPE SONG:

Ali’s hype song is “I Know a Name” by Brandon Lake and “Sure Shot” by the Beastie Boys

RESOURCES:

Ali Brown’s website: www.alibrown.com
Ali Brown’s other website: www.JoinTheTrust.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alibrownla/
Instagram: instagram.com/alibrownofficial

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

216. Success Didn’t Fix It with Anthony Spark

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when you get everything you thought would finally make you feel okay… and it doesn’t?

Anthony Spark grew up in chaos, learned independence early, and chased financial freedom with relentless focus. He did what so many people are told will fix everything: worked harder, made more money, built businesses, climbed the mountain. And then he discovered something he didn’t expect. Success doesn’t save you from yourself.

As a child, Anthony witnessed the challenges of a single-parent household and the consequences of generational dysfunction. From his mother, he learned independence and personal responsibility. She made it clear that actions have consequences. You handle your own stuff. You clean up your own messes. That foundation taught him self-reliance early and shaped his drive to stand on his own two feet rather than wait to be rescued.

His father struggled with addiction, incarceration, and emotional instability. But even through that, Anthony heard a consistent message: you’ll be better than me.

As Anthony set out on his own path to financial independence, He achieved great success but also discovered that winning the so-called “game” didn’t fill the void he felt inside. He felt so much tension between striving for success and accepting oneself as “enough.” When his business became his mistress, he almost lost his marriage.

Through counseling, he learned true success requires presence, vulnerability, and emotional intimacy. And that genuine happiness is cultivated through loving relationships, inner peace, and staying committed to personal values, even as you pursue ambitious goals.

This was his reckoning. Then came his reinvention.

If you’re leading a team that looks productive on the surface but feels fractured, exhausted, or misaligned underneath, this conversation will hit close to home. It’s for leaders who know that performance problems are rarely about strategy alone and are ready to address the human dynamics that drive trust, clarity, and momentum.

HYPE SONG:

Anthony’s Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1EptZxSk8ZSptt?

RESOURCES:

Anthony’s websites: https://sparkachangecoaching.com/
https://extraordinaryexcellence.com/
https://phoenixevolution.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonykspark/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mr.anthony.spark
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_spark_is_born/

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

215. Nice is Not Kind with Allie Jones

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Growing up in Iowa, Allie Jones was immersed in a culture of “Iowa nice,” a brand of politeness defined by being helpful, agreeable, and perpetually pleasant. So not surprisingly, niceness became a core value for Allie, one that was reinforced by her community, but also complicated by its shadow: the tendency to avoid hard conversations and uncomfortable truths in favor of small talk and surface-level connections.

Early in her career as a third-grade teacher, she poured herself into her students, striving to live up to the expectations of hard work and service. But as she recounts, supportive words from administrators weren’t matched with real action, and the relentless pace of changing curricula and high standards left her burnt out. When she realized that staying in the classroom would be the wrong kind of responsible, she left teaching, took a sabbatical to explore the country, house sat, and dipped her toes into freelance writing and marketing.

Navigating this period of uncertainty, Allie was challenged by the perennial question, “Who am I if I’m not what I do?” She realized that so many of our identities are tied up in our job titles and professional achievements, but true fulfillment lay in embracing her transferable skills, resiliency, and capacity for connection.

Allie now has an intention to cultivate a new version of “Iowa kind,” because there’s a difference between nice and kind. This version is rooted in authentic connection and courageous conversation, not just politeness.

As a business and leadership consultant, Allie is also helping others step into their own authenticity.

Listen in to hear her story of moving beyond the safety of “nice” to the richer, more complicated rewards of being kind, in community, conversation, and career. In facing discomfort and embracing change, Allie models what it means to answer the question “How are you?” with truth and intentionality.

Allie’s hype song is Honeypie by JAWNY

RESOURCES

Allie Jones’ website: alliejonesconsulting.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/allie-s-jones/
Instagram: instagram.com/alliejonesconsulting

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

214. I Divorced My Parents with Andrew Quebbemann

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Raised in a hardworking, Catholic family that seemed picture-perfect from the outside, Andrew Quebbemann learned early on the value of self-reliance and doing things for yourself. But it was during a pivotal moment at age sixteen—choosing not to get confirmed into the church—that he first exercised the courage to honor his own convictions over societal or familial expectations. That decision, viewed as rebellious by his parents, was also his first bold step toward living authentically and questioning what really worked for him, rather than simply following the script laid out for him.

This early demonstration of independent thinking set the stage for a pattern that has defined Andrew's adult life. Whether leaving corporate America after looking around and finding no one he wanted to emulate or choosing to go plant-based overnight simply because it felt right for his body, Andrew developed what he calls psychological agility—the capacity to make swift decisions and take action when something no longer serves him.

However, this same strength became a source of deep conflict within his family, where relationships had always been transactional and understanding seemed impossible to achieve. After years of trying to navigate increasingly difficult family dynamics that affected both him and his wife, Andrew made the painful decision to request a three-month break from his parents to reevaluate their relationship as adults. Their response was a brutal phone call filled with insults, which marked the beginning of a three-year estrangement that continues today, despite Andrew's willingness to engage in family therapy.

The loss of his parents while they're still alive has required Andrew to mourn a relationship he thought he had. He candidly shares how stepping away from toxic dynamics allowed him to embrace self-care, protect his marriage, and redefine how he wants to show up in the world.

Through therapy and a daily meditation practice inspired by Indian mystic Sadhguru, Andrew has learned to find peace within himself rather than seeking validation from those who may never be capable of providing it. His story illustrates the heartbreaking reality that sometimes loving someone means accepting that a healthy relationship with them may not be possible, and making decisions that honor your well-being is necessary for survival.

Hype Song:

Andrew’s hype song is One Step Closer by Linkin Park

Resources:

Andrew’s Website: https://goldbookfinancial.com/our-team/andrew-quebbemann/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-quebbemann/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewquebbemann/

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

213. Change Your Mind About It with Stef Warlick

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Stef Warlick grew up with the kind of values that leave a lasting imprint. Guided by a mother who came from a strict Catholic upbringing and believed deeply in championing the underdog and showing relentless kindness, Stef was immersed from a young age in principles of empathy, hard work, and accountability. “If you can’t change something, change your mind about it” was a guiding family mantra.

Those early teachings became the blueprint for how Stef approached life and work. Stef's career in government contracting and corporate environments taught her invaluable lessons about gathering complete information before making decisions, thanks to a mentor who emphasized that "there are more than two sides to every story." This wisdom became crucial during a devastating personal tragedy involving her beloved pets, which left Stef walking through life in a fog. It was a period of numbness so acute it felt like an out-of-body experience.

Worse still was overhearing people, unaware she was within earshot, harshly judging her character based solely on this single, painful event. That incident carved a groove in her understanding of empathy: you never know what someone else is carrying, and judgment without context is more than unfair—it’s destructive.

Stef became even more attuned to the stories people keep hidden and the resilience they muster just to keep going.

Now focused on building inclusive teams and communities, Stef has learned that diversity isn't just about checking boxes but about creating environments where people feel genuinely seen and valued. Her approach to working with people with disabilities exemplifies this philosophy. Rather than tiptoeing around differences or making assumptions, she advocates for direct, respectful communication that treats everyone as a whole person worthy of authentic connection. Her story illustrates how our most painful experiences can become our greatest teachers if we're willing to learn from them.

Hype Song:

Stef’s hype song is Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys

Resources:

Stephanie Warlick’s website: https://www.stephaniewarlick.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniewarlick/
X: https://x.com/5FTV_Consulting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579261754103

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

212. Easy Doesn’t Mean It Wasn’t Scary with Kathryn Eipl

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Kathryn Eipl spent much of her professional life doing exactly what she was trained to do: keep everything together, move forward no matter what, don’t feel too much, and definitely don’t let anything fall apart.

Raised in a household where emotions were weaponized as jokes and communicating risked having your vulnerabilities shared with the entire extended family, Kathryn learned early to guard her feelings. She joked that she had "a black heart" and simply "didn't feel."

This emotional armor served her well in the notoriously cutthroat entertainment industry, where she thrived managing complex projects while navigating an environment that demanded perfection and offered little room for human vulnerability.

Not surprisingly, the constant stress and emotional suppression took their toll, leading to burnout and an unhealthy relationship with alcohol as her primary coping mechanism. Despite achieving professional success, Kathryn found herself caught in a cycle of reactivity, letting her emotions run the show while simultaneously denying they existed.

The turning point came when friends convinced her to try hot yoga. Despite her initial resistance, the fast-paced vinyasa classes in heated rooms provided the perfect entry point for someone accustomed to constant motion, allowing her mind to finally quiet as she moved through poses too quickly to overthink. This practice became her gateway to emotional awareness and regulation, teaching her the crucial difference between reacting to life's challenges and consciously responding to them.

As Kathryn deepened her yoga practice and completed teacher training, suppressed memories and emotions began surfacing during her sessions. She put a journal beside her mat to process the revelations. This journey of emotional archaeology taught her how to respond instead of react. She also learned to advocate for herself. That meant walking away from the entertainment industry completely after promises made for a prestigious overseas project were broken, even though fear, guilt, and old stories tried to talk her out of it.

Now as a yoga instructor and wellness coach, she helps others develop the emotional intelligence and self-regulation skills that the entertainment industry—and many other high-stress environments—actively discourage, proving that it's never too late to learn a healthier way of being in the world.

Kathryn's Hype Song:

Masterpiece by Able Heart

Resources:

https://eiplhealing.com/ (1 Free Neuro-Resonance Strategy Session use code WELCOME at checkout.)
LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-eipl/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eiplhealing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eiplhealing/#

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

210. Not Your Good Girl with Kristi Straw

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Growing up in the Midwest during the 1980s, Kristi Straw was raised with traditional values of being the quiet, grateful “good girl," don’t speak too boldly, and never outshine others. Alongside this mandate to be humble and accommodating came the classic Midwestern lessons in kindness, like let others go first at an intersection, and cook a pot roast for the new neighbors.

But lurking underneath the surface was an undercurrent of self-diminishment. These expectations and beliefs would be both barriers and fuel for Kristi's eventual rise in the corporate world.

Leaning into relentless drive and adaptability, she climbed from individual contributor to bank president and C-suite executive in just a few years. But behind the impressive title and substantial paycheck was a steadily growing sense of inauthenticity. She describes years of “chameleonizing” or masking her true self to fit an environment that wasn’t built for her bold ideas, her height, or her emerging leadership voice.

Ultimately, her success required constant shape-shifting and sacrificing parts of herself, a survival tactic rooted in childhood messages about what women “should” be.

Everything came to a head when, after finally reaching the top, Kristi realized three hours into her dream job that she simply couldn’t conform anymore. She found herself lying on her office floor with the stark realization that this life was no longer "fine." The money, status, and access couldn't mask the fundamental misalignment between who she was becoming and who she wanted to be.

That raw acknowledgment sparked her greatest pivot yet. Now, Kristi is fiercely committed to building communities based on authentic connection, collaboration, and high standards of integrity. As a coach and author, she champions what she calls “psychological agility,” aka the ability to adapt, stay open to surprise, and continually learn regardless of the outcome.

I suspect you’ll relate to her story of realizing that sometimes the most successful-looking life is in fact the one that's keeping you furthest from your true potential. And that no matter what, you have to find the courage to break the rules that never fit you in the first place.

Kristi's Hype Song

All I Do is Win https://youtu.be/GGXzlRoNtHU?si=9dwag_ZqVPmTJhgV

Resources

Website: www.LighthouseLeadershipConsultants.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kstrawmba/
Instagram: @LighthouseLeadershipConsultant

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

209. Rush is the Pace of Fear with Pia Mailhot-Leichter

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Growing up in a household where freedom was paramount, Pia (Myo Lischter) Mailhot-Leichter was raised by rebellious, artistic parents. From her mother’s escape from small-town Quebec at 19 on the back of a motorcycle bound for Morocco and New York, to her artist father who lived outside society’s lines, Pia inherited both a fierce independence and a romanticized view of constant movement as the solution to life's problems. Education was another cornerstone value, instilled early on as the key to independence, especially for women. The foundational beliefs of freedom, strength, and visionary self-expression became the undercurrents that shaped Pia’s journey.

By seventeen, Pia had already left home, continuing her mother’s legacy of carving her own path through life. After years of living what appeared to be a successful creative life in London and Copenhagen, Pia found herself caught in a destructive pattern of using movement and busyness to avoid dealing with deeper issues. Following a messy divorce, an unhealthy rebound relationship, and throwing herself completely into building a creative studio, she was maintaining the facade that everything was "fine" while internally falling apart. The wake-up call came when she was fired from her partnership role, leaving her metaphorically thrown through the windshield of the fast-moving car that was her life, staring at the shards of what she thought was working.

Instead of immediately jumping into job hunting mode, Pia listened to her intuition and made a radical choice to embark on a solo four-week journey across China, Mongolia, and Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railway.

A therapist invited her to learn how to stay instead of running, which became a catalyst for her inner transformation. Pia learned that staying busy and on the move was a form of distraction, a way to avoid sitting with pain and uncertainty. Through stillness, she gradually rewired her nervous system and uncovered the importance of discernment. She built resilience to sit with discomfort, understanding that pain minus the mental story is simply pain, not suffering.

Throughout this conversation, Pia reminds us that uncertainty is actually fertile ground for creativity and growth. By running “experiments” in life, leaning into discomfort, and treating every chapter as an adventure rather than a test to win or fail, she embraces messy, beautiful humanity.

Her story is an invitation to break free from inherited scripts, anchor into self-compassion, and write entirely new lines—proving that sometimes, the bravest act is simply to stay.

Resources:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pia.leichter/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pialeichter
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pialeichter/
Website https://kollektiv.studio/

Pia's Hype Song:

Messy by Lola Young

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

208. Confidence Isn't an Amazon Delivery with Meshell Baker

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Raised with strong faith values across multiple religious traditions, Meshell Baker discovered early on that the best people she encountered weren't defined by their specific beliefs, but by how consistently they practiced core principles of love, kindness, and service. In the beginning of her career, Meshell was exposed to diverse spiritual communities while selling Yellow Pages advertising in the most racially diverse county in America. Her experience would later become the foundation for everything she built.

After a period of incarceration that stemmed from personal trauma and lost confidence, Meshell threw herself into rebuilding through corporate success. She became exceptional at climbing the ladder. You know the routine, the one that involves chasing promotions, better cars, bigger paychecks. On paper, she was winning. But she felt like she was running on a hamster wheel, hitting milestones that gave her five minutes of satisfaction before she had to chase the next achievement high.

The turning point came during a Bible study group where she discovered her gift for helping women transform their confidence and step into their power. She realized this work brought her more joy than any corporate achievement ever had.

Now as an entrepreneur and confidence coach, Meshell has learned the crucial difference between transformation and transaction. She emphasizes that once you transform internally, the external transactions (success, money, opportunities) naturally follow, but the reverse isn't true. Her story illustrates how confidence isn't something you summon on demand like an Amazon delivery. It’s a way of being that you embody through consistent practice and self-compassion, even when, or especially when, you don't feel like it.

Resources:

Meshell Baker’s website: https://meshellrbaker.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meshellrbaker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeshellRBaker

Instagram: http://instagram.com/MeshellRBaker

Meshell's Hype Song is Confident by Demi Lovato

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

207. Wine Is Not a Lifestyle Thanksgiving Solo

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Holiday solo episode today. On what might be a controversial topic, but what the hell. LFG!

It’s no secret that this girl loves shopping. I inherited this love from my grandmothers. The small state I grew up in has at least 12 major shopping malls. It’s a challenge right now to not get sucked into all the Black Friday sales. Although my favorite protein powder is 30% off and I can’t guarantee some new leggings won’t end up in my shopping cart.

All this to say it’s no surprise that when my two besties from high school and I get together for girls’ weekends, we go shopping.

No matter what city or town we’re exploring, we tend to find ourselves in those cute home décor or specialty kinds of stores. You know the ones with mugs and glassware and candles and soaps and locally packaged food items. And there’s something I’ve noticed in recent years. The more I’ve thought about it, the more it disturbs me.

It’s the dish towels that say “They should put more wine in the bottle. So there’s enough for two people.” Or “Wine, because adulting is hard.”

And the coasters that scream “I’m one glass away from a good mood.”

It seems we live in a culture that promotes drinking as a way to have a good time or wash away all your negative emotions. “Everything’s just fine! Have some wine.” I haven’t seen that one yet, but maybe it’s out there.

Stay with me here because this episode is not about shaming you if you enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail. I’m here to have a chat about how we’ve seemed to normalize drinking as a coping mechanism. And how it’s entirely built into the way we socialize.

Since we’re right in the thick of the holidays now, I thought it would be interesting to look at this concept and ask, is it fine or not fine? Maybe it’s simply about becoming more aware of this social habit and giving yourself the opportunity to evaluate your participation in it.

Thanks for spending part of your holiday with me. Wishing you all the feelings of joy, love, belonging, and gratitude, my friend.

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Listen, we all know that work emails from leadership and all staff meetings can feel…a little bit impersonal. How do you make work feel a little more human?

Leaders who are serious about building real trust with their team are finding more modern and effective ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through insightful stories, personalized conversations, and the information you ACTUALLY want to hear that helps you move your career and company forward. Think of it as a way to your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

206. The Weight He Finally Put Down with Christopher Bylone

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Christopher Bylone grew up on a New Jersey family farm where no one was above mucking stalls, and lending a hand wasn’t optional. His grandfather, decades ahead of his time, taught him that inclusion wasn’t a corporate policy; it was just what decent people did.

Those lessons stuck. They carried Christopher from agriculture to analytics to becoming a respected voice in diversity, equity, and inclusion. When his company’s diversity metrics stalled, he spoke up, “We have no strategy.” That bold truth redirected his entire career toward DEI leadership. He went on to build a team from zero headcount and zero budget into a million-dollar operation. On paper, he was thriving. But inside? He was the four letter “fine.”

Working at Krispy Kreme, he loved the mission but dreaded the grind. Seventy-five percent of his time was spent executing instead of shaping strategy. Then came the layoff. And with it, the uncomfortable truth that “fine” had become his hiding place.

That pattern didn’t stop at work. After years of insisting he could lose weight on his own, Christopher realized grit wasn’t enough. Well-meaning people told him to “just diet harder,” but he made a different choice and underwent bariatric surgery. It was a turning point that forced him to evaluate not only his habits but his relationships as well.

Now, 90 pounds lighter with 30 left to go, he’s learned that accepting help isn’t weakness: it’s wisdom. The people you surround yourself with can either hold space for your growth or keep you stuck in the old story. As a lifelong gardener, he’ll tell you not everything that looks like a weed needs to be pulled. Sometimes, it just needs to be moved.

Through therapy, reflection, and better boundaries, Christopher discovered that true friends don’t have to agree with your decisions but they do have to respect them enough not to stand in your way.

Christopher’s hype song is “Proud” by Heather Small.

Resources:

Christopher Bylone’s website: https://www.innovationunbiased.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbylone/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbylone/
Listen to Christopher’s podcast I Know I Belong When: https://www.iknowibelongwhen.com/

Invitation from Lori:

If you run, work for, or know a company ready to upgrade communication and strengthen culture, reach out at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

205. Vulnerability Is the New Invincibility with Coach Matt Doherty

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What happens when a basketball star loses everything from his NBA dream, his identity, and even his beloved coaching job at his alma mater?

In today’s episode of "Fine is a 4-Letter Word," you get to meet Coach Matt Doherty, who opens up about the masks we wear, the power of vulnerability, and why saying "I'm fine" can be the most dangerous lie we tell ourselves.

Coach Doherty grew up on Long Island with dreams of basketball greatness. He achieved remarkable success as a three-year starter at the University of North Carolina under legendary coach Dean Smith. But his NBA dreams were cut short, leading him to Wall Street during the decade of greed where he began self-medicating with alcohol.

After building a successful coaching career that culminated in his dream job as head coach at UNC, Matt's world came crashing down when he was fired after just three years in a very public manner. This devastating blow, combined with his struggle with alcoholism, forced him into a period of deep self-reflection and transformation. The turning point came through discovering emotional intelligence and the power of vulnerability, leading him to remove what he calls his three masks: the "tough guy mask," the "smart guy mask," and the "I got my shit together mask."

Today, Matt is an executive coach using his hard-earned wisdom to help leaders avoid the landmines he stepped on during his own leadership journey. Through his work with peer advisory groups and his book "Rebound: From Pain to Passion," Matt demonstrates that true strength comes from exposing your struggles to the light instead of hiding them.

Get ready to hear about the morning routine that changed his life, why he believes vulnerability is the new invincibility, and the surprising origin of the word "coach." Whether you're leading a team, building a business, or just trying to get out of bed some mornings, this episode will challenge you to take off your masks and step into who you're meant to be.

Matt’s hype song is Ramble On by Led Zeppelin

Resources:

Coach Matt Doherty’s websites: https://coachmattdoherty.com/ and https://dohertycoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachmattdoherty/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachmattdoherty/
Claim your copy of “Rebound: From Pain to Passion” at https://dohertycoaching.com/books/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

That's where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

204. The Bully in the Mirror with Massimo Backus

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Fine is a 4-Letter Word is all about those moments when “fine” is just the mask we wear before life gives us a loud wake-up call.

For Massimo Backus, that wake-up call came wrapped in a leadership 360 evaluation that painted a picture he didn’t recognize. The team he thought he was inspiring and supporting saw someone defensive, unsafe to approach, even a bully. Gut punch, right?

Raised by creative, supportive parents who met in a woodworking class over a three-legged chair, Massimo learned the values of creativity, acceptance, and generosity that would later guide his unconventional career path. He also carried the invisible weight of childhood dyslexia and a lifelong habit of needing to prove himself. That pattern followed him into adulthood and eventually showed up in how he led others.

His relentless pursuit of purpose-driven work eventually led him to a prestigious position as global head of leadership development for a large international consulting firm, where he thought he had finally “made it.” However, that 360-degree feedback assessment came as an unexpected wake-up call.

Massimo first tried to “fix” himself on his own. It wasn’t until he surrendered control and attended the Hoffman Process, a weeklong retreat, that he uncovered the real saboteur: his own inner critic.

Through self-compassion, Massimo finally found the power to stop performing and start being. Listen as we unpack his journey from overactive inner critic to radical freedom.

Massimo’s hype song is Dance Yrself Clean by LCD Sound System

Resources:

InKind Leaders Website: https://www.inkindleaders.com/
Massimo’s Personal Website: https://massimobackus.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/massimo-backus/
Claim your copy of: “Human First, Leader Second” book

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

203. When Silence Speaks Louder Than Words with Karen Brown

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Hey high achiever, what if the only way to save your life… was to finally stop doing all the things and learn how to be?

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Fine is a 4-Letter Word, we sit down with Karen Brown, a global leader, poet, and mentor who has lived and worked in nearly 90 countries—and once wore her “busyness” like a badge of honor. I know you can relate to that.

Raised in Jamaica on the values of personal identity, learning, and service, Karen built her life around helping others. But when decades of stress and 18-hour workdays landed her in the emergency room, she was forced to face a painful truth: the woman who’d mastered productivity had forgotten how to pause.

What followed was a journey of rediscovering the power of silence. Because for Karen, silence wasn’t just absence of noise; silence was painful and jarring. It was a void she tended to fill with constant learning and doing. Over time, though, she learned to sit with silence, to let it restore her body, calm her mind, and reconnect her to herself.

That transformation didn’t just heal her—it deepened the way she serves others.

Now, Karen changes lives through the simplest of acts: truly seeing people. Whether mentoring a young professional, writing letters to hotel staff around the world, or stopping a stranger just to say, “You are seen,” Karen reminds us how small moments of kindness can heal invisible wounds and ripple outward into the world.

But here’s the question that lingers: when silence finally knocked on her door… what truth did it whisper that changed everything?

Tune in to find out how Karen turned stillness into strength—and how you can, too.

Karen’s hype song is "We Pray" by Coldplay.

Resources:

Karen Brown’s website: https://bridgearrow.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-arrow/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgeArrow/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoeKJ8Bnc_POr-IidXaNAFg

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

So let’s have our sit-down with Karen. I’ve been looking forward to this, especially a story she reveals near the end where she transformed people’s careers simply by writing letters!

202. Three Kinds of Truths with Angie Tumlinson

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Stop and ponder for a moment.

Is it possible that everything you thought was keeping you “safe” was actually keeping you small?

We often look to resolve our issues through self-help books, seminars, and courses. But if they really worked, we’d all be perfectly fit, deliriously happy, worry-free millionaires! No, we need to dig deeper.

Angie Tumlinson’s story is a roadmap on how to find that higher level of fulfullment.

She grew up with the values of hard work, perfectionism, and fear-driven faith—beliefs that shaped, then nearly broke, her life. From running a booming church to walking away from it all, from building businesses out of sheer grit (and $27 in her pocket) to discovering the power of belief and imagination, Angie’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical self-discovery.

Then came the devastating losses of both parents, the identity crisis that followed, and the unexpected mentor (a name you might know!) who appeared just when she needed him most. Along the way, Angie learned the difference between “need” and “want,” how to let go of old paradigms, and why most of us are terrified to admit what we truly desire.

When Angie finally allowed herself to envision the life she really wanted, something extraordinary happened—her income multiplied tenfold, her relationships transformed, and her voice grew stronger than ever.

So how did she go from exhausted pastor’s wife and overworked business owner to creating abundance, freedom, and authenticity on her own terms? And what powerful lesson did she learn about love, control, and partnership that changed her marriage forever?

Tune in and find out…

Angie’s hype song is “Can't Stop The Feeling” by Justin Timberlake.

Resources:

Angie Tumlinson’s website: https://www.elevateyouinstitute.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angietumlinsoncoach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angietumlinson
Watch Angie’s webinar, “Go For It”, and discover priceless insights that help you start living the life you dream about at https://www.elevateyouinstitute.com/go-for-it

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

So, let’s bring Angie on. I, like you, can’t want to hear this story!

201. Build It Boldly with Dr. Kimberly McGlonn

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Welcome to a new season of Fine is a 4-Letter Word. I’m excited for today’s guest because there is no better time for you to meet someone who embodies what it means to live boldly, build with purpose, and refuse to accept “fine” as a final answer.

Dr. Kimberly McGlonn spent 18 years as a high school teacher, a job she loved thoroughly. She could have stayed there and finished up an amazing career. But she realized she was only reaching about 100 people a year. And she wanted to reach thousands.

So Kimberly took a sabbatical and traveled to East Africa where she dove deep into creativity. She came back with a mission of starting a new breed of fashion design company she called Grant Boulevard.

The first Black woman-owned B Corp in the U.S. fashion industry, her design firm aligned with a value she learned in childhood of combating disenfranchisement. Going way beyond creating eye-grabbing blouses and fashion tastemaking, this brand was interested in sustainable materiality. Focused on supply chain and procurement and climate action, but also very interested in not separating climate action from the need to take care of workers. They recruited women in the Philadelphia area whose lives had been impacted by the criminal justice system to sew the clothing, creating empowerment and opportunity.

We’re connecting with Kimberly just at the point where she sunsetted Grant Boulevard and is bringing to life another design company – Black Ivory Thrift. And she has taken the powerful step of writing a book to exponentially share her message of sustainability, service, and advancing the common good.

So far, we’ve only scratched the surface. Over the next 30 minutes, you’re about to discover Kimberly’s fascinating story which goes into so many more areas as well!

Kimberly’s hype song is “New Day” by Alicia Keys

Resources:

Dr. Kimberly McGlonn’s website: https://www.drkimberlymcglonn.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkimberlymcglonn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberlymcglonn/ Claim your copy of “Build It Boldly” in audiobook, paperback, and e-book format by visiting the links at https://linktr.ee/builditboldly

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, let’s head over to meet Kimberly. She’s out in her yard bird-watching! As I said, this intro just scratched the surface.

200. Valuing Yourself Equally with Others In Friendships: A Special Episode With Lori

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

By the time you see this episode, I’ll be in Tanzania, petting lions and riding zebras.

(Ok, I KNOW, that’s not likely to happen, but I wish it could!)

This week marks a lot of milestones.

It’s the one-year anniversary of my father’s passing, and part of my reason for visiting Tanzania is to honor his memory and express gratitude for making sure he left behind the funding I’d need for the trip.

It’s also the 200th episode of Fine is a 4-Letter Word – and as I was doing my last-minute packing and thinking about what I’d share, what immediately came to mind are the many valuable friendships and connections I’ve made through interviewing our amazing guests, working with our production team, and having the chance to dialogue with you – the listener – about what we share here.

Thus the topic of this very short (just 12 minutes and 50 seconds) episode, which is all about valuing yourself equally in friendships.

I’ve been around long enough to see friendships come and go – and stay – and am convinced of the validity of the saying “Some are for a season, some are for a lesson, and some are for life.”

In today’s episode, YOU are the subject.

When you tune in now, you’ll discover a simple but powerful blueprint that helps you determine which of your friendships serve you equally with the other person, which don’t, what you may be able to do to correct it, and what happens if you can’t.

At the very end, I have two very short “asks” of you – one is about the podcast, and one is about the status of your friendships.

I only ask if you could please give each one of them their due – it will take but a couple minutes – because the benefits you gain may astound you.

Lori’s hype song as she records this special episode is “Raise Your Glass” by Pink.

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/
Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, let’s get started!

199. Heart Work, Not Hard Work with Shaun Murphy

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

If you’re having difficulty finding what you’re looking for in life, have you thought about looking in a completely different place? One that might require walking away from what you have?

Of course you can say that’s a lot easier said than done, especially if it feels like there’s not a whole lot out there for you.

For Shaun Murphy, known internationally as Mister Motivation, the idea of staying in place, settling, and subsisting never really worked for him. Fine is a 4-Letter Word, and at every step of the way, standing still has never been “fine” for him.

His father was murdered when he was six years old. His mother, an immigrant from Barbados, was poverty-stricken yet resourceful and would go through walls to make sure the family had enough – not much, for sure, but enough – with about $100 per month to spare. And yet, if she was down to her last $20 and met a starving stranger on the street, she’d buy them a good meal. So showing up, working hard without complaining, staying grounded in service, and helping other people – these were the core values the experience imprinted on Shaun.

After high school, he briefly went to college then dropped out to serve in the military for eight years. But when he got out, he discovered three unpleasant truths.

One, there is not nearly enough support for military servicepeople transitioning to civilian life. Two, after eight years of active duty and living well, all of a sudden he was back to not knowing for sure where his next meal would come from. And third, he found that as a man in his community, a man just couldn’t talk about it when things aren’t fine. Even if his buddies gave him an understanding ear in the moment, they might embarrass him over it a few weeks down the road. And women would see him as soft.

Shaun’s next job was working in the mailroom at NYU, where he learned a priceless lesson I’ll let him tell you about. Next it was off to Iraq, working as a combat civilian working the postal mission. And then he was introduced to Teach for America and realized this was his calling. By now, he had a good-paying steady job and career prospects. “Impact over income”, Shaun tells us – so he got the degree he needed and took a huge pay cut for the opportunity to spread wealth into the lives of others.

Fast-forward a bit, and Shaun found himself a former college dropout who had become a college professor teaching college students how to succeed in college.

There’s so much more to this story, as I’m going to let Shaun tell you in his own words. Now, he’s an accomplished motivational speaker, musician, author – and sports team owner. I can’t wait to share.

Shaun’s hype song is "The Bunker" by Mister Motivation.

Resources:

Shaun Murphy’s website: https://mister-motivation.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmurphy1/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/misterm0tivati0n
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misterm0tivati0n/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mistermotivation492
Claim your copy of Shaun Murphy's book, Unbreakable Valor: Triumph Through the Soul of Resilience.

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now that we’ve talked a little business, let’s bring Shaun Murphy onto the stage. Get ready to tap into an area of your brain where childlike states of enthusiasm meet adult aspirations to greatness!

198. Leading With Humanity Over Hustle with Christian Agulles

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

A lot of companies use positive-sounding cliches like “people over profit” and “work-life balance”. This sounds good, until somebody pulls the sales reports and says “we need more revenue and profits”. Then, the bottom line becomes the bottom line. This is sometimes served with a side of “you come to work to do work, change the world on your own time”.

Now, picture a model where putting people over profit actually increases profits. Where work-life balance is not measured using number of hours worked or percentage of time in the office vs. working remotely. Being involved with a company that breaks the rules and norms for its industry, where coming to work to do work means doing your part to change the world.

Christian Agulles has created all of these things in an industry known for squeezing its engineers like getting that last drop out of the toothpaste tube.

Born and raised in College Point, a little town in Queens, Christian was a devout Catholic who went to church, went to Catholic school, and had the whole Catholic experience that, as he describes it, formed him and scarred him at the same time. His father, a police officer, was shot in the line of duty when Christian was seven. Even being able to retire on three-quarters pension, that money didn’t go far supporting a family including Christian and his two younger brothers. His mother went to work in the school cafeteria so she could align her schedule with her sons, and cleaned houses on weekends. By example, she taught Christian to not be afraid to do hard things and to do them with grace.

While starting his family, Christian spent the first 20 years of his career with an engineering firm that moved him around the country to open new offices. But over those 20 years, his employer was repeatedly acquired and evolved into company that focused more on acquisition, revenue, and EBIDA. It was right around this time he was recruited to join PAE. Everything worked out fine, yes? Well, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Did his moment of realization come from a coaching session at PAE with Sandy Lindstrom, known for the “polishing the diamond” principle, where he found out they did not feel he was very good at delivering feedback?

Was it discovering that his foundational values around doing hard work with grace could be merged with volunteerism, altruism, and contribution?

In a moment, when I bring Christian on, he’s going to guide us through his experience leading a Certified B-Corporation and how he’s taken one of their metrics – utilization – and redefined it to build PAE into a company that has a net positive impact not only on its employees, but on society as a whole. If, up until now, you’ve seen your best-laid plans get trumped by “the bottom line” when bills are due, this could be what you need to hear.

Christian’s hype songs are "Bring It On Home To Me" by Sam Cooke and "Right to Be Wrong" by Joss Stone.

Resources:

Christian Agulles’ website: https://www.pae-engineers.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-j-agulles/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, let’s head over to meet Christian. As you’ll see when we go through, this comes with a lot of “two-fers” that could double the value of your time hanging out with us!

197. Leading Magnanimously with Andrew Brummer

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What if the secret to a peaceful, impactful life is simply refusing to live by anyone else’s rules?”

Then imagine what would change if you stopped living for a legacy and started living like today is all that matters.

As you get to know Andrew Brummer and his journey toward self-actualization, you’ll discover the seeds harvested with him were planted early. He had a difficult childhood for various reasons, but his parents provided a sound upbringing. His father taught him to be a “multiplier”. This means, to not only enhance others, but to be skilled in many areas rather than have a narrowly-focused specialty. Add his mother’s teaching that nobody is going to make things better for you and you alone choose how to live, and you combine resourcefulness with resilience.

His mother also taught him to accept people as they are and love them the way they want to be loved. Over time, this liberated Andrew to be of better service to his employees, his teammates, and his community. It also helped him find his own True North and build a solid foundation for himself.

All in all a good package, and on the surface it looked fine. But Fine Is a 4-Letter Word. We all wear what Andrew calls “the Facebook mask”, where we make it seem like everything is great and watch everyone else do the same. Andrew admits here he’s gone through many tough times, including in his relationships, work situations and immigration challenges. Plus, he’s had a lifetime of medical issues that have required numerous surgeries.

But what did he discover?

Ultimately, nobody is going to put their nose to the grindstone and do the work for you. It’s up to you to make it happen. And, like his mother taught him, it’s up to you to decide what kind of day you’ll have when you wake up in the morning and get moving.

Today, Andrew is not only a fractional COO, he’s also either leading or launching several other companies, including one that’s building a firearms training system that can even teach kids to use them safely. He is a coach and a mentor. Plus, he has a radio station that has a 200-song playlist. And that’s when he’s not doing woodwork or decorating his house with 35,000 Christmas lights. Skilled in many areas, as his father taught him. Sounds like an interesting guy, yes?

In a moment, when you hear from Andrew, you’ll discover a lot more about his journey. One key lesson was finding his own truth and coming to embrace that each of us has our own truth. There are so many more in his new book, “Leading Magnanimously”, which you’ll hear more about.

Andrew’s hype song is "Kiss Off" by Violent Femmes.

Resources:

Andrew Brummer’s website: https://ardunan.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbrummer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewbrummer
X: https://x.com/andrewbrummer
Claim your copy of Andrew’s new book, “Leading Magnanimously”, at https://ardunan.com/village/books/land-lm

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

So let’s meet Andrew and take a deep dive with him into his practice and philosophy for helping himself and others succeed beyond THEIR projections. I am curious, though: 35 THOUSAND Christmas lights?

196. My Conversations With God with Neale Donald Walsch

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Do you believe God talks with you? In fact, God is never not talking with you!

Depending on your background, beliefs, and point of view, this might sound crazy. If you’re actively involved in any of the 4,223 religions currently practiced around the world today, the elders of whatever your formal congregation is called will probably say you ARE crazy. They might also call you a sinner, a heretic, a blasphemer, or worse.

So imagine a man who’d seemingly had it all going for him. He was a former radio broadcaster who then made a name for himself as a newspaper reporter, rising to managing editor of a weekly newspaper in Annapolis, MD. He made good money. He had a wife and kids. Everything was fine – more than fine.

But one day his wife decided she wanted a divorce. It was amicable, but still difficult. Five days after the end of his marriage, he was downsized out of his job. His boss gave him a glowing recommendation though and he was off to another job interview faster than it took to brew some coffee… and on the way there he got in a car accident that broke his neck and left him lucky to be alive.

After he got out of the hospital, the job interviews kept coming, but nobody would hire him. Like it or not, he was told, that neck brace he was wearing scared employers because if anything happened to him while he was at work, they’d be paying his medical bills for the next five years. He lost his apartment because he couldn’t come up with rent money. He ended up living on the street for a year. Moving back in with his ex-wife even temporarily was out of the question – fair enough – but she wouldn’t even let him come in the house. He had to visit the kids in the garage.

Fine is a 4-Letter Word, indeed.

Well, eventually he found some work and was able to rent a tiny studio apartment. This man, who had grown up religious, woke up at 4:23 one morning and wrote an angry letter on a yellow notepad to God, asking in essence, “What do I have to do to make it in the game of life?”

Then he heard a voice… God answered. (Or was that God?)

For Neale Donald Walsch, that was a good question. But then these conversations became a regular thing. He was writing, or channeling, everything he heard. Eventually, God told him he would publish his writings, and the answers, as a book. Neale’s publisher told him it would never sell 500 copies since nobody would believe God spoke directly to anyone who wasn’t a pope, patriarch, preacher, rabbi, or imam. Turns out, his publisher was right – it didn’t sell 500 copies. It sold FIVE MILLION.

Conversations with God, Book 1 was published in 1995 and I’m pretty sure I have one of the first copies, which I devoured cover to cover. It all made so much sense to me. But back then, and even up until a couple months ago, I would never have imagined having an hour-long conversation with Neale. But now that I have, you don’t have to imagine it either. You get to hear it.

Resources:

Neale Donald Walsch’s websites: http://www.nealedonaldwalsch.com/ and https://CWGconnect.com.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NealeDonaldWalsch/
Also, check out Episode #190, Study That Which You Desire To Become with John Morris - it was John who introduced me to Neale!

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, for a level and dimension of human communication you don’t hear very often, let’s get into it with Neale. There’s no music on his radio, but that’s okay.

195. Generals Eat Last with Tony Crescenzo

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

How many battles are you fighting without even being aware you’re in the arena?

It might seem like everything is “fine”. Sure, you had struggles, some hard times and bad luck, and things that didn’t quite go your way. Many people have a story or two about the time they got fucked over BECAUSE they were doing the right thing.

That boomerang can spin around and hit you when you least expect it, like it did for Tony Crescenzo.

Tony grew up in a family of mechanics. Really, all the men in his family were mechanics, except for one grandfather who retired relatively young and bought a farm. They all lived in that same South Philadelphia neighborhood where the Rocky Balboa character trained for his fights with Apollo Creed. So young Tony worked Saturdays as a mechanic and Sundays on his grandfather’s farm, learning the value of good, honest work.

Tony’s parents divorced. His mother remarried to a Navy officer and they moved to Hawaii.

His stepfather’s friend was an old-school Marine whose John Wayne-esque tales of service and heroism inspired young Tony to join the Marines. That’s where he learned priceless lessons about teamwork, being part of something greater than yourself, and the importance of service.

That’s until he was assigned to NIS (which is what it was before NCIS), working in criminal investigations to bring down a paycheck scam. As the only witness for the upcoming court-martial of the accused, he soon found himself being court-martialed – and convicted – for a plethora of exaggerated charges, one of which was that he was UA (think AWOL) even though he was on an approved leave!

So much for Semper Fi, right? Well, not exactly. Tony did get the conviction reversed, along with a commendation for his service and $20 for his trouble. But he decided to pivot to the private sector, working for, leading, and owning various companies and becoming a sort of “Clint Eastwood” of corporate restructuring.

The thing is, his penchant for fighting was affecting every aspect of his life. Both his first and his second wives were used to Tony waking them up in the middle of the night screaming in his sleep. In his own words, he was was one of those people who goes from zero to fuck you in 10 seconds. So things weren’t “fine”. It’s a four-letter word. And then everything changed when he mis-Googled directions to the CIA.

In a moment, when we meet Tony, he is going to give us a master class in accountability, vulnerability, and leadership including the power of meditation and an innovative method he is bringing to market for treating PTSD.

As you listen, reflect on the fact that PTSD is not limited to those who have seen death and destruction on the battlefield. It comes in many different forms from triggers you might not even know.

Tony’s hype song is “Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra.

Resources:

Tony Crescenzo’s websites: https://peakneuro.com/ and https://intelligentwaves.com/.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonycrescenzo

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

As I said, Tony is about to give us a master class in engagement, performance, and success.

Let’s go see him now. He’s standing at the very end of the buffet line!

194. It’s Time We Talk About Money with Anders Jones

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Ever heard the phrase “may you live in interesting times?” Seems applicable these days. And it’s causing a lot of people to live with a constant feeling of anxiety that nags at you, sapping at your energy throughout the day, so by bedtime, you're exhausted but still can’t sleep. Financial stress is a primary source. According to an April 2025 survey, fewer than 45% of Americans say they’re in better than fair shape financially. Which means more than 50% are not ok.

Well, there's a good chance that it’s not your fault. Because many Americans did not grow up with the family support to develop financial literacy from a young age. Maybe you were told family finances were “none of your business.” Layer on top that often parents and grandparents didn’t have a strong financial foundation of understanding to start with either.

Anders Jones has been taking matters around this topic into his own hands ever since a series of twists and turns brought him into what he and his mother jokingly call "the family business", even though the family doesn't have a business and they never worked together.

Growing up, Anders was fortunate to not really want for much of anything. His mom worked at Fidelity and helped millions of Americans prepare for retirement. His stepdad was a British guy who gifted him his first car, complete with a single CD disc changer and two requirements.

Graduating college in 2009, at the height of a financial crisis, he didn't have a whole lot of prospects for becoming an investment banker or going into private equity. So he joined a Web 2.0 company owned by a serial entrepreneur whose method was to hire young, promising talent and empower them to figure things out. After a while, they sold the company. Since then, he's become involved with several ventures, including co-founding a financial planning firm called Facet.

Now, Anders says that he feels so fortunate that if he were to die and be reincarnated, he'd want to come back as himself. That’s not something many people would say. So at what moment did the boomerang whack him in the face and show him why Fine Is a 4-Letter Word?

Well hang on, because when you meet Anders, you'll find out that this time, it's you, the listener, for whom things are not "fine". Up until now, you've been told that money is a taboo topic. Up until now, you've been told to trust your gut, then gotten lambasted when you did and things didn't work out as planned.

It's time for new conversations on a lot of topics. Anders is going to get us started on three - gratitude, mindfulness, and financial literacy. There's a reason he picks three, which you'll also find out.

Anders’ hype song is “Riding With The King” by B.B. King & Eric Clapton.

Resources:

Anders Jones’ website: https://facet.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anders-jones/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

I look forward to speaking with you about all that. In the meantime, you and I are the guests of honor at Anders Jones’ dinner party. This is going to be so interesting.

193. Fighting A Bear In The Cave with Eddie Sand

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

If the self-help industry was actually effective, the world would be full of people in perfect health with boundless wealth, always succeeding at everything they set out to do. They'd have perfect relationships, be surrounded by nothing but love and harmony, and know the definition of paradise!

The first time things seem a little off, you'd just buy one book, read it, and voila! You'd never need another book because the stars would align like some freaking celestial rapture put at your service personally. Alas, that's not the case.

Eddie Sand started reading one of those books. Rather than solve his problem instantly, it put him in such a tailspin that he ended up spending five months going through hell. Even his wife couldn't say much that would help him along or make him want to get out of bed.

Raised by his grandparents, lack showed him how different people had different things in their lives, which made him want to become better. And contributed to what’s become one of his biggest values - being genuine.

After several failed attempts to join the Army, he enlisted in the Marines because he noticed a Marine recruiter at his high school who seemed to have a bunch of girls crushing on him. What guy doesn’t want that? I *may* have had a thing for a few Marines myself 😊 So he served four years honorably, then got out because... he met a girl, now his wife and the mother of his daughters. So far so good, yes?

Well, he went out to find a job. What he found - a job selling cologne and perfume in the streets of Newark, New Jersey - made him yearn to go back to the Marine training where recruits are required to stand in containers full of tear gas without masks. One thing led to another, and he found a career in sales. Then he discovered his religious faith. But the initial draw was how the preacher issued a call to action to become better as a person - in a way, another form of sales.

Eddie found his niche, and everything seemed fine - but Fine Is a 4-Letter Word. A client gave him a book to read about Ego, and it tore him up. He found himself, as he describes it, in a cave he had to struggle through - a journey that took five months and that he's about to share with you.

In a moment, when you hear from Eddie, you'll discover the key piece of self-growth that a lot of personal development training misses. As part of the process, Eddie tried to feel multiple negative emotions all at once. Then it all sort of went away. You'll find out what happened and why.

Right now, Eddie is leading a group to teach people how to better approach their sales conversations. And working on how to share his struggles as a means for helping other men know they’re not alone. What does this mean? You're about to find out.

Eddie’s hype song is "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC.

Resources:

Eddie Sand’s website: https://stan.store/EddieSand
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddievsand/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

But before you and I have that conversation about your organization, let’s speak with Eddie. He has a nice big cup of coffee in what is that, an Iron Man or Captain American mug? I can’t quite tell.

192. Show Up, Smile, And Support with Kevin Schnieders

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Some people are just born with it.

Whether it’s the intelligence you need to thrive, personality traits that make you likable – or your dad owning the company you grow up to become “Chief Servant Leader” of – we all have something going for us.

Throughout the 192 (and counting) episodes of Fine Is a 4-Letter Word, I’ve covered stories of pain, struggle, perseverance, and salvation. One of my guests even went to prison for a murder she did not commit!

Kevin Schnieders is one of those guys who, when you first meet him, strikes you as the kind who was just born with it. But as we peel back the layers, you’re going to get to know a man who shows there’s always room to grow and boundless opportunities to make an impact when you see them.

Kevin’s dad was a school administrator who took a bold leap in founding EDSI, a workforce development, customized training, and consulting company focused on providing innovative solutions to close workforce skills gaps around the country. His mom was his dad’s biggest cheerleader, not a big departure since she had actually been a cheerleader for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He was the middle child, partially in awe of his brother who was brilliant in his studies. Kevin was less academic, but he found a niche as an athlete and pursued a dream of becoming a sportscaster. Rather than take to the mic, Kevin went into teaching and then came to work at EDSI – first as a training consultant, then as Director of HR and Operations, then as COO, before becoming CEO. Then he bought the company. Along the way he married and has two wonderful daughters who make him proud every day.

You’d think – wow, everything’s fine for Kevin. We could say, “He’s doing great and he lived happily after ever. The end!” But Fine Is a 4-Letter Word, as Kevin discovered when he was asked at a seminar how intelligent he was on a scale of 1 to 10, and he answered “6”. Bang! At that point, he realized he’d been carrying weight around for not being “as smart” as his brother. I’ll let Kevin explain. Then he attended another seminar and found out that for as compassionate as he always is toward others, he’d been falling short in practicing self-compassion.

In a moment, when you meet Kevin, you’ll discover what came next. How does all this impact him as a father? How does he pass his values to his daughters? As the owner of a company with 856 employees, what’s his secret for creating a sense of personal connection with every single person who works for him – all 856 of them?

Whether you have zero, ten, or 856 employees, or you are the employee, get out a note card – yes, an actual note card – and prepare to write.

Kevin’s hype song is "Be Who You Are" by Michael Franti & Spearhead.

Resources:

Kevin Schnieders’ website: https://www.edsi.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edsi/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EDSITalent
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edsi_careers/
X: https://x.com/EDSI_Solutions
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/EDSIvideos

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

And with that, let’s head over to Kevin’s office for a chat. Wait – he doesn’t have an office. Or a desk. Just a locker. What’s he doing poring over baseball cards?

191. Know Who's In Your Entourage with Margaret Rogers

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Time and again, as you go through nearly 200 episodes of Fine Is a 4-Letter Word, you'll find stories from guests who found themselves disconnected from what's supposed to be a connected world.

Your circle of close friends you see all the time - your "besties"? Go back two years and tell me how many of them are the same people.

Your avid following on social media who hang on your every post? Delete your account and I bet maybe two of them even try to reach out somewhere else.

Sometimes being disconnected is a lonely place to be. Other times, it gives you the advantage of not being indoctrinated into other people's beliefs.

It could also mean your tribe is quietly forming behind you as you go through this journey called life - as Margaret Rogers discovered when her own journey became a giant a-ha moment.

The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, her parents' cultural way of showing love was to make sure she had the security that came with providing for her basic needs. She wanted for little materially, but the rest was up to her. Her parents told her two things: "We want you to be happy, healthy, and have a steady job" and "Money's easy to spend and very difficult to make".

In school, she was the only Asian girl in class. There weren't the thriving, nuclear Asian communities that exist in almost every city today. In college, taking an engineering class filled almost entirely with white men, her professor interrupted his lecture and singled out the woman, asking her, "do you understand?" for no particular reason at all.

Graduating with degrees in both electrical engineering and computer science, Margaret easily got a job during the dot-com boom. But then the bubble burst. She decided she really wanted to do "consulting" with only a vague notion of what that is. So she said "if you're laying people off, pick me" and started her own firm.

This was all turning out just fine. Really. But Fine is a 4-Letter Word, as Margaret found out after another company acquired hers and she became an executive there. When it hit her that the acquirer had bought the company's technical skill but abandoned the culture she had built, she felt like she'd let down the team she'd nurtured and assured she'd take good care of.

So, who had Margaret's back now?

You'll discover that in a moment. You’ll hear her story about the power of mentorship that began when she hired her first employee and recognized how that changed her own life forever. You'll also see how everybody from her Taiwanese grandmother to so many she’s met along the way have come together behind her like a posse. Like she's Wonder Woman and they're her Avengers.

Listen all the way through as it will hit you right at the end.

Margaret’s hype song is "Let's Get It Started" by The Black Eyed Peas.

Resources:

Margaret Rogers’ website: https://parivedasolutions.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaretpengrogers/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

And now that we’ve talked a little business between you and me, let’s talk some business with Margaret. Wait – is she balancing an old-school checkbook?

190. Study That Which You Desire To Become with John Morris

Thu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Being an outsider can be challenging – but it can also be your absolute superpower!

We all come into the world as a blank slate with the opportunity to form and grow organically. Taking in the world as you find it before being tethered to a rigid or strongly defined set of predetermined beliefs set for you by others.

John Morris started out that way too, but unlike most people, he never took on the opinions of others. He began questioning fear-based systems, trusting inner knowing, and seeing the world through a wildly different lens than most. This approach has given him a unique ability to use a few simple tools to reinvent himself every time he finds the world not to his liking and decides he can have better and do better.

Growing up, while his mom chased the current popular thing, his dad didn’t really instill a structured set of beliefs – his motto was “as you see it, as you get it”. Not only that, but he was isolated as a child, which had the silver lining of sparing him from having his beliefs molded by others in a hundred silent ways. When he was a teenager, there was a big part of him that knew he was different, knew he didn't process the world in the way that other people did.

John’s grandmother instilled in him his strong religious beliefs, which contrary to some of the stories you’ve heard from others on our show, weren’t constricting to him at all. After 15 years as a youth minister and 20 years as an evangelist, he left the church because of what he saw as scaremongering and politics.

But John came to understand that Fine is a 4-Letter Word because of how the word “fine” was an acronym commonly used in his youth ministry: “feeling inadequate, needing encouragement” – and how this version of “fine” can be brought about by pressure to conform and not speak of anything others don’t want to hear. I love this!

You’re about to meet a man currently in a profound state of metamorphosis. In addition to being a preacher, he has also built up an international reputation as an artist – something that he may be limited doing in the future due to a recent onset of dyspraxia. So with the additional ailments of amaurosis (which affects vision) and dyslexia (which affects the ability to read), what is John doing? He’s on his way to becoming an acclaimed author and is working with some of the biggest publishing houses and powerhouse editors to make it happen.

In just the past couple years, he’s written 25 complete novels, of which there are only two original manuscripts. He has one and His Majesty the King has the other.

All of this is possible due to a few simple understandings and ways of being, which we’ll circle back to after we chat with John.

John’s hype song is "Art From The Heart" by John Morris.

Resources:

John Morris’ website: https://thejohnmorris.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnmorrisartfromtheheart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnmorrisartfromtheheart/
During the episode, we discussed Wayne Dyer’s “Everyday Wisdom” recording – watch it on YouTube or download the audio.

Claim your 10% off your first 3 mental health sessions with John Morris - limited to the first 10 persons who mention his appearance on our show, “Fine is a 4-Letter Word”, by visiting his website at https://thejohnmorris.co.uk/.

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got an annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

And now, let’s head over to speak with John. He’s got a nice cozy little place here, festooned with the most awesome paintings of cats!

189. When Closure Is Actually A New Opening with Jill Valdez

Thu, 22 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Have you been moving through life feeling like there’s something else out there?

You can’t put your finger on it. Even though nothing outwardly seems off, there’s more to the story than you’ve been told or that you can see. Something’s not adding up, but how do you make 2+2=4?

For Jill Valdez, this crept up on her in a hundred small ways. Although she went through some experiences that were far less traumatic for her than they are for others – there was always something else behind door #1.

Born to an 18-year-old mother who put her up for adoption, Jill was raised in a conservative Christian home – but it didn’t feel constricting to her. Her values included faith and knowing that you reap what you sow – all well and good, but she’d come back to question those later.

When she was 15, she felt like she lost both her adoptive parents at once when her mother died and her father emotionally abandoned the family as he became a workaholic to deal with grief that would affect him for many years. Jill went through a rebellious-teenager streak, but recognized that wasn’t the life she wanted. Both she and her husband were called to traditional pastoral work, which she enjoyed until she decided to change how she leads people. Jill went through a lot, but somehow it always worked out. Everything seemed fine. But Fine, as you know, is a 4-Letter Word.

It definitely was NOT fine when shortly after her sister died, a man at church asked, “where’s your smile?” For f*cks sake, her sister had just died! It also wasn’t fine when her beloved nephew Kirky died just 11 days after being diagnosed with acute leukemia. Nor was it fine that Jill wasn’t sure she knew where she came from, other than that she was adopted.

So, she did her homework, found her maternal grandmother, and gave her a call. It took two hours to get through… but her grandmother, with whom she had never communicated before, instantly knew who was calling. As Jill got to know her biological mother, she discovered that being put up for adoption was a blessing. They have a great relationship now – and good thing they didn’t know each other when Jill was growing up!

In a moment, when you meet Jill, you’ll discover what could be a new point of view about why things happen. That in order to be authentic, it’s okay to question your values and the world as you see it, even if you come to agree that it’s… fine. Or more than fine, for that matter. And as you hear about what Jill is doing now with her consulting work, helping her clients get out of the weeds of chaos, it may hit you like a boomerang right at the end how everything she’s gone through has led to this moment.

Jill’s hype song is "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.

Resources:

Jill Valdez’ website: https://www.linkconsulting.info/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillvaldezlink/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j_valdezlink/

Invitation From Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now speaking of managing and exceeding expectations, let’s go meet Jill. And hear why, when she was in high school, she was so confused about a Michael Jackson song.

188. Change Is Great (When It Happens To Others) with Suzanne Hopson

Thu, 15 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What if… one of your core values that should be empowering turned out to be something that held you back?

It’s meant to build confidence to try things. But it becomes a sort of low-key vicious cycle that subconsciously holds you back and curbs your ability to change.

That silent boomerang would be ironic for a professional change agent, but that same boomerang has been both catalyst and inhibitor of Suzanne Hopson’s story.

Growing up, Suzanne was taught, to quote her exact words as she said them in the conversation you’re about to hear, to “never think that there wasn't something I couldn't do”. I listened to the recording three times to make sure I heard her right. Did she mean it just like that? Was it a Freudian slip?

Well, she goes on to say that would have been a limiting belief IF she had it, but that life taught her – sometimes rudely – that she couldn’t do what she set out to do. It was a double-edged sword. So was the other core value, that you can’t do anything by yourself. While we can achieve more as a collective than the sum of our individual efforts, it can also mean that you can’t do anything on your own. I’ll let you sit with that one and hear from Suzanne on that.

So where did all of this leave Suzanne?

After three decades working in the multifamily industry, she came to an inflection point where she began to ask whether she should remain in her executive role or strike out on her own as an entrepreneur. Having to go through the experience of laying off employees, due to no fault of their own or her own, was a catalyst.

As you’re about to discover when you tune in for my chat with Suzanne, she did quit her executive job and start Here2Elevate™, which works with companies and their leadership to see the world as they want it to be and learn how to make it that way. Two factors played a big role. One is the power of mentorship, both positive and negative. The other is coming to terms with the visceral power of change management – the “grit” of it.

Whatever you’ve come to believe about change management and change in general, you may find yourself seeing a new point of view.

Suzanne’s hype song is “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten.

Resources:

Suzanne Hopson’s website: https://here2elevate.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzannehopson/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/here2elevate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/here2elevate/
X: https://x.com/suzanne_hopson

Take Suzanne Hopson's Business Performance Assessment Quiz to discover how your team measures up in key areas like profitability and strategic thinking. Start now: https://elevated-business-performance.scoreapp.com

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, it’s time to meet Suzanne. Come on in. If you think you’ve heard it all… all I can say is, “not yet”…

187. It's My World with Heather Wyatt

Thu, 08 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

So, you think you have it all.

A great career, a nice apartment, an 800 credit score. You're officially a grown-up with the adult job. The world looks at you and says, "wow, everything's going your way". It seems like everything's fine. What else could you ask for?

But it's not fine. You look around and know something's missing. Maybe you mutter some four-letter words - "fine" is a 4-letter word, after all.

Something's telling you there's a lot more out there. Maybe your grown-up life is stopping you from actually growing into the person you were always meant to be.

For Heather Wyatt, it was a realization that perhaps she was never meant to fill the role written for her by society.

Though she didn't realize it immediately, her role was written during her childhood as the daughter of a single mother who moved around a lot for financial reasons. Like many kids who move around a lot, Heather admired friends who stayed in one place, living in houses with two parents where everything was "normal" and "fine".

When she tried out the "normal grown-up" thing for herself, she realized the idea of being an adult in the same town she grew up in, sending her kids to the same school she went to, having her previous classmates be her kids' teachers, was the makings of a living nightmare. Actually, Heather got bored at the prospect of staying in the same place for too long.

Along the way, she discovered that bartending, supposedly not an "adult" job, not only paid a lot more, but helped her develop communication and selling skills far beyond anything she could find working in an office. Then COVID came along and she went into health coaching. Quickly, she discovered that health coaching was a dead end, at least for her, but she didn't want to be a business coach either.

So, blending her bartending skills and her knowledge of health coaching led her to where she is today, organizing wellness parties and retreats under the Goddess Getawaves brand.

In a moment, when you meet Heather, you'll learn from her the power of adaptability, perspective in understanding different realities, and the courage required to embrace change. It's a fascinating journey of self-discovery that could be the ride you need to hitch if you're looking around muttering four-letter words to yourself about how "fine" your current reality is.

Heather’s hype song is "Castle" by Halsey.

Resources:

Heather Wyatt’s website: https://goddessgetawaves.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-wyatt%F0%9F%A7%9C%E2%80%8D%E2%99%80%EF%B8%8F-64285124b/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069429799210
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_heatherwyatt/
Also, check out our episode with Gabe Lullo, called “Do Hard Things”.

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands meeting and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

So, let’s go hang out with Heather. She’s from Jersey, so she tells things like she sees them, which means you’re going to enjoy a frank, open chat!

186. The Beatles Changed My Life with Flip Brown

Thu, 01 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Have you ever found yourself spending a crazy amount of time and energy trying to figure out why things happen in life? Wondering what you did to attract it? Desperately seeking answers right now, and coming up frustrated when you can't make sense of it.

But what if the whole plan is like a puzzle that doesn't form a picture until you've been given most of the pieces and taken the time to make them fit? You'll look back one day and see how it all comes together.

You could say Flip Brown has gone through life being, in some ways, both a product of his times and a traveler through a different time than everybody else was living in.

Growing up, he had a father who was ahead of his time in terms of fighting racism and homophobia, but a man of his time in emotional intelligence. His mother was a teacher who had to give it up when she became pregnant with Flip. She was doting and kind and taught Flip how to read early so he was ahead of his classmates. And when Flip was eight years old, she joined a cult religion.

Consistent with his times, Flip did hallucinogens, which affected his state of mind for decades to come. In contrast with his times, he changed careers many times in an era where you picked one thing and stuck with it until retirement.

He’s worked as a psychologist, nonprofit executive, international product manager, mobile crisis team clinician, retail salesperson, and wilderness workshop leader. He’s also been a hardwood furniture craftsman, windsurfing instructor, gigging musician, cross-country ski instructor, a cappella singer, and gardener. Wow!

Intuition served him along the way, when he abruptly quit a job with no plan, only to be immediately offered a much better one right out of the blue.

A lot of this might not have been "fine" by society, but Flip thought it was fine, partially because he didn’t realize how experiencing sexual abuse, as well as his father’s workaholism, patterned him. But as we all know, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In a moment, when you meet Flip, you'll be mindblown by one of the inflection points that helped Flip see it all come together – therapy using the plant-based medicine psilocybin. You'll be washed away by his experience with alcohol and his unique personal journey away from it, triggered in part by losing his brother-in-law on the Pan Am Lockerbie flight.

He relates how his experience on the mobile crisis team at a community mental health center dealing with acutely psychotic and suicidal people prepared him for his current work in executive coaching, team facilitation, and interactive skillbuilding.

Flip’s hype song is "Come Together" by The Beatles.

Resources:

Flip Brown’s website: https://businesscultureconsultants.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipbrown/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage. When they engage, they perform. And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, at the risk of being flip about Flip, you can already guess his story is quite a trip. So let’s meet him! Not only is he a voracious reader, he’s an open book!

185. Permission to Pause - Why Rest Isn’t Weak: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We’ve been conditioned to believe that rest is optional—like guacamole on your burrito.

You can have it, but you’ll have to pay extra.

Let’s zoom out for a second and look at where this belief came from.

The hustle mindset didn’t just show up one day because Gary Vee started yelling about it. It’s deeply rooted in industrial-age values—when your productivity on the factory line was literally tied to your worth and your wages. The more you produced, the more valuable you were. Full stop.

Then came the Protestant work ethic, remember the Puritans from history class? They believed hard work was not just good, but godly. Resting? That was for the weak or the wicked. You’re either grinding or backsliding. There was no in-between.

If you’ve been listening to my show for more than 2 episodes, you know that when they’re answering that “what were the values and beliefs you were raised with” question, most of my guests say hard work. We’ve all been ingrained with this belief and accepted it without question.

Fast forward to the 1980s and '90s - Wall Street, power suits, "I'll sleep when I'm dead" culture. Burnout was a badge of honor. In fact, Bon Jovi released a song in 1992 called “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.”

Actually, as I was outlining this episode, I looked up when that phrase originated and found Benjamin Franklin supposedly said, “There will be plenty of time to sleep when you're dead.” Clearly it’s been around for a while.

We celebrate busy. We glorify “the grind.” We worship the to-do list like it’s some kind of sacred scroll.

And now the whole country humblebrags about how little they sleep or how slammed they are, as if being overworked makes you more important. (It doesn’t. It just makes you more tired and cranky.)

So when someone does stop and rest, or take a day off without needing a “valid” excuse, it feels rebellious. Almost irresponsible. But that reaction? That guilt? It’s not truth - it’s just programming.

And it’s overdue for a rewrite.

Tune in now and discover for yourself:

✅ My personal story of zooming to burnout at 200 miles an hour, when I went beyond being “fucking cranky” to “totally wiped out”

✅ How to redefine and reframe “rest” and make it not only part of, but a catalyst, for your ability to achieve more

✅ Practical tools that you can use to create a “permission slip practice” that breaks the hustle-and-grind circle for you

✅ And much, much more!

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/
Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, let’s get started!

184. Everybody Has A Story with Steve Fales

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In his 2023 report "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation", the US Surgeon General at the time, Dr. Vivek Murthy, declared loneliness and social isolation a public health epidemic.

Aside from feelings of ennui and lacking support structure, loneliness can trigger or increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and even premature death!

So, while he doesn’t quite come out and say it, and he might not have been thinking exactly along those terms when I spoke with him, Steve Fales might have had a brush with death.

Steve grew up in a single-parent home. Although he had a brother, his brother was 11 years older and serving in Vietnam while Steve and his mom were living in what he repeatedly describes as “a dead end street in a quiet town with lots of kids and dogs around and playing all the time and other stuff kids do”.

He started out working on the floor in a grocery store before he applied for a job in their advertising department – and got it. His experience eventually drove him to start his own advertising agency, where he carved out a niche in the air conditioning industry. Things were going fine… until his growing firm was selected as a provider of choice for a major manufacturing firm.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word… and what some might call Steve’s ship coming in gave him panic attacks. For months he started his days by wretching and dry-heaving into the toilet. Outwardly, he was the envy of his peers and the idol of his friends… but he carried this dark secret.

Does this sound familiar, by the way?

Join Steve and me on a deep dive into the impacts of loneliness on our society. There’s a reason it’s an epidemic. With surveys showing one in 4 people reporting they eat alone every day, and everybody wandering down the sidewalk with their eyes on their phone… we’re surrounded by people yet frighteningly disconnected.

Not to reveal the takeaways before you even hear the episode, but the solution to your loneliness and disconnection comes not from being around other people, as much as it comes from within you.

Steve lays it all out for you.

Steve’s hype song is "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" by The Moody Blues.

Resources:

Steve Fales’ website: https://www.stevefales.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenfales/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.fales.18
Claim your copy of Steve Fales’ book, “Loving Your Neighbor: A Practical Guide” (plus the group discussion and journal prompts), at https://www.stevefales.com/books/loving-your-neighbor/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

That's where I come in.

Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter - reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

With that said, let’s connect with Steve. He has a very important question to ask you!

183. Silence The Imposter with Gary Frey

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Perfectionism is something that gets beat into a lot of us.

Sometimes literally, as you’ll find out from my guest.

Imposter syndrome goes hand-in-hand with perfectionism. You see, when you’re programmed to hold yourself to extremely high standards, nothing you do seems like it’s good enough. You’re not enough. And what if someone finds out?

Now imagine you got ripped off by not one – but two – business partners, and lost all your savings more than once. On top of that, you never graduated college, yet held down job after job that required a college degree, in part because others who believed in you more than you believed in yourself went to bat for you.

What a wild ride – and that’s Gary Frey’s story.

He’s been a perfectionist since he was a little boy, the older of two children. Education was important in his family. His dad almost got his Ph.D. but didn’t finish his dissertation, and his mom was a nurse. As a grade-schooler, he spent a lot of time with his strict, stern German grandmother, who would feed him German food he hated and spank him if he didn’t eat it.

When Gary was eight, his grandmother died of a stroke. For two years, he thought he somehow killed her, until he finally asked his parents.

In school, he was the smart kid who couldn’t play any sport involving moving balls or athletic coordination, but he eventually found his niche in swimming. He went to college on a prestigious scholarship, finding himself in a fraternity known for academic and athletic excellence, but feeling “less than” the rich kids in his house. Then he didn’t finish college – becoming the first in his family NOT to graduate college. After that, it was off to his career…

As you’ll discover when you hear from Gary, he got ripped off by two business partners. He repeatedly lost everything he had, got used by an employer who needed him to hook a major deal then fired him the day it closed, and had to move to different states to start over.

Perfectionist Gary found himself getting recruited out of the blue by companies who heard about him and wanted his expertise for roles that required college degrees and viewed him as a success. What was he going to do, tell them he had two corrupt business partners and lost millions of dollars?

He said it was fine… and Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

You’re about to discover how Gary emerged from the trap of perfectionism, learned to believe in himself, and the tools he used to achieve it.

Gary’s hype song is “Warrior” by Matthew Ward.

Resources:

Gary Frey’s website: https://garydfrey.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garydfrey
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garydfrey
Claim your copy of Gary’s book, “Silence the Imposter: 7 Weapons to Silence Imposter Syndrome” at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJLLLV61

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

So, are you ready to meet Gary? This is going to be an experience. If there’s something about yourself you’re afraid people might find out, you might come out of this feeling less afraid.

Let’s freakin’ go!

182. Who's On Your Board of Directors? with Suresh Bhagchandani

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Do you sometimes feel like you’re mailing it in?

Sure, you’re achieving your goals, hitting your numbers, and getting boxes checked on your to-do list. On paper, you’re a success.

But it still feels empty, like something’s missing and you’re not really succeeding.

How do you know for sure? Who’s there to help you figure it out? And what example are you setting for those who see you as a role model, even if you don’t know they look up to you?

These are questions Suresh Bhagchandani found himself grappling with one day while going over his sales numbers with his boss.

Suresh was born in raised in India, with three older sisters and his mother. His father died when he was young and his family had limited financial resources but an abundance of strong values. Among the values and beliefs he gained was that if you’re a good human and do the right things, good things will come along.

When he was 21, he and his mother moved to the United States where he enrolled in community college and then UNC Chapel Hill. Being an immigrant and landing in a small town in North Carolina, he searched for how to fit in in this unfamiliar territory.

For one thing, he was stunned by how people here brew and drink coffee!

Suresh began to find his purpose, and his friends, when he got involved in organizations and activities that placed him in social situations.

This gave him a fine appreciation of the power of networking, which catalyzed his life that day when his bosses told him he was doing a “fine” job – but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

This is a conversation about what it means to adapt, push past limitations, and create opportunities.

And I love that we get into not only the importance, but the power, of properly identifying your friends, acquaintances, and the various roles different people play in your life.

Like, do you have a “board of directors” who guide you in your decisions? And if you’ve decided that 100% is just mailing it in, how do you get to 120%? What will your kids think?

Hang on because first…

Suresh’s hype song is "Started From The Bottom" by Drake.

Resources:

Suresh Bhagchandani’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sureshlb
Also, be sure to listen to our recent episode, Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It, for an important lesson in the practice of gratitude.

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

And now, it’s time to login and have a good cup of coffee with Suresh. Although it’ll be tea for me. You’ll see he’s the sort of guy you want to have on your board of directors!

181. 36 Years in Prison for a Crime She Didn’t Commit with Judy Henderson

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Battered Woman Syndrome is a commonly misunderstood condition that results from domestic or intimate partner violence.

Maybe you’ve known someone in such a situation. Or you’ve at least heard stories about it. And you’ve probably thought, Why do you stay there and take it? Why don’t you leave? There are support networks and shelters who can take you in, why not just go?

And wondered, What drives you to try to “fix” the situation and have understanding for your abuser? Why do you act like you owe them a f**king thing?

Judy Henderson, like many battered women, found herself in a situation that most of us couldn’t possibly imagine. I should pause quickly and put in a trigger warning, because this story actually gets worse.

See, Judy was the oldest child of eight in a Pentecostal family, raised by a father who abused her and a mother who kept trying to hold it together. The rule of the day was, don’t air your dirty laundry in public, conform to public norms, and put a positive face on it.

A positive face? Judy ended up in not one, but two, abusive relationships because that’s what she’d been conditioned to. The final straw in her 12-year marriage was when her husband threw her through a glass door window while her young daughter watched before running down the street screaming. Police were called but told her there was nothing they could do.

Her next relationship was with a con man who was fond of reading books about manipulation. He told her what she wanted to hear. One day, he announced he was moving in because she needed him to “care” for her and her children. That they could be a family. And as someone who only craved to be loved, this was.. well… a dream come true.

The nightmare got worse when he ended up murdering someone in a robbery gone too far and Judy found herself as a co-defendant. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 50 years, for this murder she did not commit. He walked away a free man. And yeah, there’s more…

Yet… through her time in prison, Judy finally found not only her freedom from a horrible life, but also an ability to forgive and the love she always wanted.

It’s an unbelievably incredible story, and Judy is telling it here on Fine is a 4-Letter Word in a way she’s never shared before.

In a moment, when you meet her, you’ll come away with a revised view on domestic violence, the criminal justice system, and how someone can find hope in tragedy.

Judy’s hype song is "It’s My Turn" by Diana Ross.

Resources:

Judy Henderson’s website: https://judyannhenderson.com/
Pre-order your copy of Judy’s book, “When The Light Finds Us” - https://www.amazon.com/When-Light-Finds-Us-Transformed-ebook/dp/B0CR93DD34

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.

Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture because you’ve got annual all-hands meetings and open door policies, and “fun" team-building events.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, let’s meet Judy. What’s going to strike you about her is how upbeat and vibrant she is. No doubt you’ll feel her smile through the audiowaves!

180. Hell In The Hallway with Kristy Busija

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Does it sometimes feel like no good deed goes unpunished?

What if I told you that no scandal, setback, or stumbling block goes unrewarded, if you’re willing to take the time to solve the puzzle?

As a puzzle-solver programmed to challenge the status quo, ask questions, and lean into her natural curiosity, Kristy Busija (BYOO-SEE-YA) learned both of these lessons when she got fired for doing the right thing.

Growing up, Kristy’s parents instilled classic values – have a good work ethic, act with integrity, abide by the Golden Rule, and catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

These same values created conflict in her work when she conducted an employee assessment where participants were told their responses would be kept confidential, but her bosses demanded she give them the data anyway. They fired her for – get this – not living the “values” of the company!

If that’s supposed to be fine, there’s a reason why Fine is a 4-Letter Word!

In a moment, when you meet Kristy, you’ll discover how this set off a journey of learning and self-actualization where she found out, as she says, it’s hell in the hallway.

All these doors – what rooms do they lead to? What did others see in Kristy through the peepholes in those doors that she couldn’t see in herself?

How does she solve this puzzle? What’s the next conversation?

Now hold that thought for just a second as I share a special invitation with you.

Kristy’s hype song is "Do It Again" by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Resources:

Kristy Busija’s website: https://nextconversationconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristybusija/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextconversationconsulting
Claim your copy of “The 2nd Wind”, the anthology that contains Kristy’s chapter called “It’s Hell In The Hallway”, by visiting https://buy.stripe.com/3cs6rtcga1kIaGcdR7.

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Annual all-hands meetings where once a year you hear a well-rehearsed speech, employees clap politely, and everyone leaves with the same unanswered questions they came in with.
"Open door policies" that no one ever uses because people are uncomfortable walking in to talk with someone they don’t feel like they know very well.
"Fun" team-building events like escape rooms, trust falls, and awkward, out of fashion happy hours
Generic "we appreciate everything you do" emails with zero personalization or sincerity.
Company values posted on a wall with no substance behind them.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to...

Strengthen culture by sharing authentic stories from leadership and employees.
Create connection so that remote and in-office teams know and understand each other and are eager to collaborate
Foster community where everyone feels like they belong.

That's where I come in. I’m now hosting and producing internal/private podcasts for forward-thinking companies.

Think old-school printed newsletter in a modern, updated format. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to facilitate communication, foster connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

So with that, let’s meet Kristy. It looks like she may have some questions for US!

179. What’s the Price of Doing the Right Thing with Idy Marcus

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Situations involving stalking can be a gray area.

Does the person mean well but are just awkward in their approach? Are you reading too much into it? Let’s not jump to conclusions and end up smearing an innocent person. We should give the benefit of a doubt until we have our facts straight.

All of these are very natural impulses, rooted in solid values that generally speaking serve us well. And they could have cost Idy Marcus dearly.

Idy was raised in a very loving home by parents who married and started their family later in life. They adored each other and were connected in every way. This sentiment passed down to Idy and her sister, who picked up values like your handshake is your bond, present yourself well, give people the benefit of a doubt, and be honorable in all things.

She also learned to be bold, take chances, and not be afraid to take the plunge. Her family encouraged her to be curious, courageous, and not fear failure. These traits all served Idy well as she grew her career as a leadership management and corporate conflict resolution expert. When she started her own company, she figured if it didn’t work out, she had enough contacts eating lunch on Washington DC’s K Street that she wouldn’t go hungry.

After her sister passed and then suddenly her dad two years later, Idy insisted her mother come live with her. Her mom attended events with her and served as a fantastic business resource. Just before they were to move overseas for work with a corporate client, her mom suffered a massive and debilitating stroke, rendering her unable to speak and with limited mobility. Idy immediately put her career on hold to stay at the care facility with her mom full-time.

In her unique way, Idy carved out a path where everything was fine, until it wasn’t – after all, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

One of her mother’s caretakers seemed nice enough, if a bit awkward. Idy didn’t make a whole lot of his obsession with her and minimized others’ concerns. Then she found black roses left on her car. Then her car was broken into. At first she tried to reason with the man, to give him the benefit of a doubt… until he started stalking others.

In a moment, when you meet Idy, you’ll discover how dealing with this situation led her to take on the role of CEO for Pro-Tect Services, LLC, a startup that uses trained U.S. veterans to provide on-demand close protection security service to those confronting domestic and intimate partner violence and stalking.

Idy’s hype song is "Let's Go Fly a Kite" from the "Mary Poppins" Soundtrack.

Resources:

Idy Marcus’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idy-idora-marcus-520513277/

Invitation from Lori:

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

Annual all-hands meetings where once a year you hear a well-rehearsed speech, employees clap politely, and everyone leaves with the same unanswered questions they came in with.
"Open door policies" that no one ever uses because people are uncomfortable walking in to talk with someone they don’t feel like they know very well.
"Fun" team-building events like escape rooms, trust falls, and awkward, out-of-fashion happy hours
Generic "we appreciate everything you do" emails with zero personalization or sincerity.
Company values posted on a wall with no substance behind them.

But let's be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to...

Strengthen culture by sharing authentic stories from leadership and employees.
Create connection so that remote and in-office teams know and understand each other and are eager to collaborate
Foster community where everyone feels like they belong.

That's where I come in. I’m now hosting and producing internal/private podcasts for forward-thinking companies. Think old-school printed newsletter in a modern, updated format. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!

If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to facilitate communication, foster connections, build community, and maintain culture, let's chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit.com.

Because when people feel heard, they engage.

When they engage, they perform.

And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.

Now, let’s bring Idy in. Knowing her, she might tell us to go fly a kite!

178. Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Tomorrow, February 14th, is Valentine’s Day.

For some, it’s a joyous celebration of our connection with our spouse, companion, partner, and loved one.

For others, it raises questions about why we need a holiday to mark something that’s central to our life and our True North.

And there are those for whom it’s a source of grief or pain for various reasons – lack of a life partner, hurt over losing a life partner, or disillusionment over not having found a life partner.

But you know what we don’t talk about?

Loving ourselves.

I just finished reading a book called “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It” by Kamal Ravikant and want to share a powerful lesson and practice from the book.

When’s the last time you looked in the mirror and said “I love myself”?

Do you think you could say it once?

Could you say it ten times?

When you tune in and listen to this very special episode, I’ll show you how this practice works, how I’ve made this mantra part of my routine, and why I call it a “mantra” rather than, say, an “affirmation”.

If you’re looking for love on Valentine’s Day, try looking in the mirror.

This could change your life in ways that, up until now, you could not possibly have imagined!

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/
Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me
Claim your copy of “Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends on It” by Kamal Ravikant at https://amzn.to/42SFWXi
Listen to Episode #141, titled Regenerating Joy with Brad Chandler.

Invitation from Lori:

Now, let me ask you, if there was a simple way to reclaim your peace of mind and not feel so frazzled, would you want to know what it is? Enter the “10 Proven Habits Top Leaders Use to Stay Calm and Focused Every Day” checklist — your quick guide to creating calm, intentional days.

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

But take my word - and all the science and research that's been done on these methods - implementing even ONE of these strategies will absolutely change your ability to manage your energy, embrace change, and foster resilience. PLUS, you want to cope with the distractions in your mind so you can stay focused and achieve your desired results? THIS checklist will give you the direction to do that.

Oh, and lastly, it isn't about perfection or doing ALL the things all at once. It’s about taking each small step toward progress, one at a time, consistently. Consistency over perfection wins every time. You deserve a life where you can breathe easy and not feel like a gorilla is standing on your chest all the time.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s get started!

177. You’re Not A Tree - You Can Move Anytime with Tabatha Jones

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Always finish what you start.

Don’t give up a good thing; you’re good at it and make a lot of money at it.

The voice in your head is always right.

All this sounds like good advice, yes?

But what if one day you found out you had been slowly dying of this advice? I mean, literally, your health was deteriorating and you were wasting away?

Tabatha Jones had an intuition for years that something was wrong, based on the challenges she started to face getting out of bed in the morning.

At her foundations, nothing really stood out. She grew up in a typical middle class family and learned the values of hard work, responsibility, accountability, and being aware of the ripple effect caused by the example you set for others. She could sense when things weren’t right and had no problem speaking up when she saw injustice or unfairness.

Excellent traits. She grew up… fine. She got married and started what turned into a prosperous career doing work she was really good at and paid very well. It was all fine, until it wasn’t – after all, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

While she loved the company she worked for and her co-workers, she started to feel out of alignment with how things were going. As a side-hustle, she began coaching in 2017, with a long-range goal of striking out on her own… someday.

Then came yet another company reorganization that went on for almost a year and ended up with her staying in the same job. While she negotiated for a raise and got it, it wasn’t fine anymore. Too much travel. Not feeling aligned with her purpose. The money was great, but she could barely get out of bed, much less fly from California one day to make an 8am Eastern meeting in Philadelphia the next.

She planned to quit her job and go full-time with her side business in March 2020, but then, as you might recall, the world flipped upside down. Sure, she didn’t have to fly to Philadelphia to meet with the Philadelphia people, but she still struggled, and finally gave notice in spring 2021.

In the meantime, she had been seeing a naturopath trying to get to the bottom of her health issues. A few months after she quit her job, her naturopath called her in to review the latest test results… which were stunning.

In a moment, when you meet Tabatha, you’ll find out what happened, including the very unique way she found out her previous job had been slowly killing her. You’ll also find out what her experience means for you, should you find yourself stuck in the ground like a tree whose roots are dug in too deep.

Tabatha’s hype song is "Confidence" By Demi Lovato.

Resources:

Tabatha Jones’ website: https://www.empowered-leader.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabatha-jones-4485854/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Tabathajo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_tabatha/
Claim your copy of Tabatha’s “Career Confidence Playbook for Women 50+” by visiting https://www.empowered-leader.com/freegift/

Invitation from Lori:

Let me ask you, if there was a simple way to reclaim your peace of mind and not feel so frazzled, would you want to know what it is? Enter the “10 Proven Habits Top Leaders Use to Stay Calm and Focused Every Day” checklist — your quick guide to creating calm, intentional days.

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

And with that, let’s join Tabatha and find out what’s going on here. My intuition tells me this is going to be big-time revelational!

176. You Don’t Need A Permission Slip to Be Yourself with Shari Begun

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In our society, we don’t know how to talk about a lot of super important things. We don’t learn, because we’re not taught. And that’s due to longstanding beliefs that we’re supposed to handle things a certain way.

Think about what happens if your spouse or life partner dies. You’re expected to have a period of enforced mourning. You look weird at best, or heartless at worst, if you keep going to work rather than take bereavement leave. Heaven forbid you take a vacation or something. They say it’s supposed to be funerals, wearing all-black, home alone miserable. Meanwhile, your life continues to tick on by.

Shari Begun had the learned experience that helped her break this mold when her husband died, but she couldn’t do it without a permission slip. In different ways, this both held her back and inspired her career and overall path in life.

After her parents divorced, she was primarily raised by her mother, a hairdresser who along with a younger business partner started her salon in a time before single women could get business credit on their own. First, Shari learned the importance of learning and education. As you’ll hear, her house was basically a library full of books, including THREE sets of encyclopedias!

From her situation, she learned independence and being strong. Although the seeds were planted early on, she just recently got her “permission slip” to become a confident, transparent, sharing leader – a recognized mentor to women in STEM-related careers making their voices heard and advancing in the workplace.

Shari went to college for electrical engineering, inspired by a family friend, a wealthy independent single woman who worked in the field. However, by junior year, she discovered she hated electrical engineering. Conversations with her college roommate’s boyfriend, a mechanical engineer who had gone into sales and become successful at it, led her to a sales career.

Shari’s career blossomed as she rose to become the first female customer-facing VP in her company, in a very male-dominated STEM-related industry. She also grew in her calling as a mentor to women in STEM. Everything seemed fine. But five months later, she abruptly learned why Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

It was Shari’s birthday. As she and her husband returned from her celebration, he started having trouble breathing. 45 minutes later, he died. This was an inflection point. Career-wise, her ship had just come in. She was devastated over losing her husband, but wanted to keep on working. What would people think of her?

In a moment, you’ll discover how this moment of catastrophe, catharsis, and catalysis came together to make this Shari’s ultimate moment (so far) and change a lot of people’s lives. But first, she needed to get a permission slip.

Why?

Shari’s hype song is "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne.

Resources:

Shari Begun’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharibegun/
Also, check out Episode #140, Replacing Fine with F*ck Off! with P.J. Roscoe, which covers some similar themes as this one.

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, come with me as we join Shari on her morning walk. You’re going to love her story of becoming conductor of the “crazy train”!

175. I Gave The Reaper The Finger 6 Times with Keith McNally

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Before we begin, let me alert you that the content of this episode includes conversation about mental health struggles and suicide, which can be distressing for some people. Don’t worry, we don’t go into too much detail, but if you are uncomfortable about that kind of thing, you may want to avoid this episode.

Imagine it’s 3:00 AM, and your life is coming apart at the seams.

You don’t know how you can keep going, and maybe you’re not sure you want to. Even if you believe this will pass if only you could get some sleep, you really need someone to hear your story and provide you some sort of comfort and support.

Who would answer the call if you dialed their number right now? Is there even one person who comes to mind?

Keith McNally was there and realized there was not one single person in the entire world who he felt would be there for him in his hour of desperate need.

Growing up, he followed all the Catholic traditions and holidays, and gained the values of being kind, being yourself, and doing what’s right. After high school, he joined the Marines. Then went on to college and all the way through to completing his PhD. He embarked on a successful career that included working in IT and being a professor of information technology.

Along the way, he discovered how his values didn’t so much change as he redefined their meanings and how he interpreted them. However, he says, he spent most of his adult life not knowing who he really was. He played roles and carried titles and filled expectations of others. But he didn’t dig into and examine what was really important to him. Didn’t ask himself, what is my life about? What is my philosophy of living?

Which is why, perhaps from the outside, things looked fine for a while – but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Between 1996 and 2021, he attempted suicide five times.

It was after that fifth attempt that he took a good, hard look at things and realized he wasn’t sure who he was, who he was meant to be – and that he had nobody to talk to about anything, really.

In a moment, when you meet Keith, you’ll discover the baby steps he took to turn things around. It started with simply talking to people on LinkedIn and listening to them tell their stories, which led to him launching several podcasts and YouTube channels.

In the same time period, he started to focus on his physical health in a new way, adapting his exercise routine and his diet. And just when he was getting in better physical shape, building his resilience muscles and support networks to prevent another suicide attempt that could leave his teenage daughter without a dad – he had a heart attack.

So once again, he gave the Grim Reaper the finger – and now he’s gearing up to hike the entire Appalachian Trail!

Keith’s hype song is “Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti.

Resources:

Keith McNally’s website: https://drkeithmcnally.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkeithmcnally/

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

So let’s go see Keith. I think you’re going to enjoy this conversation – after all, it’s conversation that saved his life!

174. Lessons From My Grandfathers with Frank Favaro

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

“Life is short” is one of those cliches that gets thrown around with the idea that you should let things roll off your shoulders or not spend time analyzing the past.

The truth is, though, that life is longer than you realize because...

A person lives on in the memories of those who knew them, are familiar with their stories, and share these stories so that other people may know them too.

Frank Favaro’s grandfathers both died in 2004 when Frank was 27, but they are very much alive for him due not only to their stories, experiences, and lessons, but how they instilled in him both the values and the expectations that have simultaneously driven Frank’s success and sometimes gotten in the way of it.

His paternal grandfather, also named Frank Favaro, grew up fighting in a tough neighborhood to keep his lunch money, then had to fight to stay alive when the Mob took over his contract as a light heavyweight fighter, then went on to become a fighter as a union leader. Yet Frank Sr., who had a seventh-grade education, read poetry and discussed its lessons with his grandchildren.

His maternal grandfather, Jim Biggins, was the nicest guy you’d ever meet and showed Frank how to be a great husband and father. Yet Jim’s own daughter (Frank’s mom) got divorced and left her son emotionally scarred by what she DIDN’T do.

Frank Sr. taught him to look a person in the eye, while Jim taught the value of connections. Together, these values underpin the guiding principle that has brought Frank success working in six industries and as an entrepreneur, which is to find out who people are and how to create emotional connections with them.

With all that, he should have been just fine – but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In a moment, when you meet Frank, you’ll discover how being a wrestler in high school not only left him feeling beaten down like a failure and demolished his will to apply himself in college, but pinned him down emotionally, leaving him unfulfilled in his career. Expectations are a lot to wrestle with, especially when they’re someone else’s.

Then you’ll learn how zooming back to the experience of his parents divorcing when he was seven years old, the lack of support he received when he blamed himself for it, and the stunning reason his parents, who were great people who loved him, did not offer him that support or even think to do so, left its marks.

These unrelated threads came together to show Frank the importance of the customer experience – his life’s work. And in their own way became pillars of his work, just as the memories of his grandfathers are living pillars for him.

Frank’s hype song is “Believe” by Lenny Kravitz.

Resources:

Frank Favaro’s website: https://serve-centric.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-favaro-b1507b80/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankfavaro1/

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Here comes Frank, walking down the path toward us. He’s the first guy I’ve seen walking in a long time who didn’t have earbuds in. Let’s join him!

173. Fear Is A 4-Letter Word, Too with Katie Carty Tierney

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In the written description of my podcast, Fine Is a 4-Letter Word, I begin by asking:

“Wasn’t it just a couple years ago you were sitting on the beach at spring break in Ft. Lauderdale – listening to the Pet Shop Boys, U2, and Def Leppard - with your entire life ahead of you? Now you’re looking back 30-plus years and wondering what the hell happened.”

Basically, I’ve just described what used to be called the mid-life crisis. I started the show shortly after I’d embarked on some major mid-stream changes and was hearing similar rumblings from many of my friends.

But I’ve long maintained that this isn’t a crisis!

What if everything that happened was just groundwork setting you up for your current success – and that there’s a lesson to be found in how fast time seemed to zoom until one day you looked up and said “Holy s*it, I’m 52 years old!”

This is what Katie Carty Tierney tells those who have yet to go through it.

Her early life didn’t seem like much of a crisis – she came from a good home where she learned that when you say you're gonna do something, you do it; and if you make a mistake, own up to it and work hard to be better.

Growing up, she wanted to be a brain surgeon, then a pediatrician. As a college freshman, as part of her studies toward becoming some sort of doctor, she was made to do something in a biology lab she didn’t agree with, which I’ll leave to your imagination.

So she pivoted to business analysis and research.

This led Katie to a career in the computer industry as a consultant, which she enjoyed until she and her husband decided she would be a stay-at-home mom just before the birth of her first child in 2000.

Her husband was doing well in his career, so she became a stay-at-home mom for a while, volunteering for various networking organizations and stuff for the kids. She figured she’d never go back to work and everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In 2007, Katie took an opportunity to go back into the workforce, and it’s been a wild ride since then.

In a moment, when you meet Katie, you’ll discover how her need to hang out with adults again led her down new career paths, including landing a job that required her to go through fifteen – yes, fifteen – interviews.

What did she learn from that?

And looking back with 20/20 hindsight, how has becoming an empty-nester for the first time in 23 years not only brought things full-circle, but also given her a wealth of information to pass along as she blazes the trail for others?

You’re about to find out.

Katie’s hype song is "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor.

Resources:

Katie Carty Tierney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiecartytierney/

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Oh look, I think I see Katie over there rummaging through a small-town antique store! She and her husband look so cute, holding hands like teenagers in love. Let’s go say hello!

172. Slamming My Hand In The Door Changed My Life with Susan Jackson Lee

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Remember that time you slammed your hand in the door? I heard you screaming obscenities for days. And depending on how it happened, it might have stung for a minute or caused you pain for a week.

But imagine your hand didn’t heal. Instead, it revealed you were slowly being ambushed by a silent killer. Act One to a new story you never saw coming.

This is Susan Jackson Lee’s story, and it ends on a cliffhanger.

Susan grew up in a military family as the only daughter in a family full of men, where unsurprisingly she learned the values of discipline, timeliness, and hard work. Her father didn’t believe women should be doctors or become successful on their own – he was old-fashioned like that. But this upbringing also taught her the value of never taking “no” for an answer – or as she puts it, “a no meant a yes for me”.

She went to college and, unlike most of her classmates, was specifically interested in sales. Because she was usually the only person in line for sales jobs at the recruitment fairs, getting in was easy. And since then, Susan has grown in her career from a salesperson, to a manager of a federal business, all the way to vice-president at an Interior Design organization.

Along the way, Susan met and married her entrepreneurial husband, started a family, and was fortunate to be healthy and fit. It seemed like she had everything going for her, and everything was fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word, and one day everything slammed to a halt – literally.

One day while out running errands, Susan jumped out of her car and accidentally slammed the door on her hand. OUCH! I wince just thinking about this! She got a tetanus shot, but her hand wasn’t healing. So she got an MRI, followed by a diagnosis of…

Lung cancer.

How could this be? Susan didn’t smoke or drink, she ate right, she took care of herself, and she was disciplined about her health. Lung cancer?!?

In a moment, when you meet Susan, you’ll be stunned and amazed by the many lessons she learned while going through treatment, going into remission, and picking up the pieces of her life. Along the way, she let herself go to hell on purpose and got the idea she was about to lose her job, but she didn’t. At the time of our recording though, she had just given notice at her job.

What’s up with THAT?!?

Susan’s hype song is "A Beautiful Day" by India Arie.

Resources:

Susan Jackson Lee’s LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susan-jackson-lee-5878a13
Susan's new website: www.field2futureconsulting.com

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Here comes Susan around the corner. Not surprisingly, she’s out for a walk. Let’s head over and meet her!

171. Goodbye 2024. Here’s To a Transformational 2025: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

2024 has been quite a year.

I spent most of the year as a nomad, traveling throughout the Southeast United States moving from town to town, housesitting for a lot of awesome cats (and a few awesome dogs).

It was an amazing adventure that led me to see lots of new places, meet people in real life I’d only known online, and discover a few things about myself along the journey.

But as I moved around, I lived with uncertainty. Tonight I would be in this one house, but where would I be tomorrow night? Would I have a place to go the next night after my current gig ended? When would I find out?

Not only that, but this past summer my dad passed away. I was fortunate to be able to spend the last week of his life with him in Florida, however it also served as a reminder of how things change, how things come and go, and how important it is to cherish and savor what we have now.

As we wrap up the year, I find myself settled down in a new apartment in Charlotte, North Carolina, determined to begin a new and different kind of adventure. As I traveled around the country in 2024, one of the things I missed out on was a sense of community. In 2025, we’re changing that.

Now, as your 2024 comes to an end and you look forward to the new year, give yourself the gift of tuning into this episode and discovering the takeaways that may serve your journey as you move to the next chapter in your life. And as you do so, take a moment and ask yourself these questions:

✅ What is your theme word for 2025? (Mine are "community" and "transformation".)

✅ What are some things that you want to do and bring into 2025 in your life? ✅ Conversely, what are you leaving behind? What is no longer serving you that you do not need to drag into 2025 with you?

✅ What are your intentions for this coming year?

✅ What are you building for yourself?

✅ What would you ideally like your life to look like?

✅ What are you committing to doing or not doing to get there?

✅ What do you feel good about right now having accomplished or done in the past year?

✅And how are you going to celebrate?

My hype songs as we enter 2025 are "I Am Not Okay" by Jelly Roll and "Fearless" by The Goo Goo Dolls.

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/
Visit the “FINE is a 4-Letter Word” store at https://zenrabbit.printful.me

Also check out Episode #67, Gratitude Through Hard Times with Chris Schembra.

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s get started!

170. Not Lost in Translation with Robin Ayoub

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Growing up in the United States, I was fortunate to not know what it’s like to go through a day with bombs falling around me and my dad fighting in the war. For Robin Ayoub, this was his daily reality, and as he would eventually discover, getting away from it was how he found his way home.

Imagine being eleven years old and given 24 hours to learn how to operate a knitting machine because your family's survival depends on it. Then picture yourself going door-to-door every weekend, selling the sweaters you made, knowing you can't come home until every single one is sold. That’s where he learned what all good sales professionals know: the importance of making “one more call” or “one more stop on your route” before quitting time.

That was just the beginning of Robin's extraordinary journey from war-torn Lebanon to becoming a tech executive whose influence spans four continents.

Growing up as the oldest of five children, he was taught the importance of being productive and responsible. With a civil war raging around him, survivability was key. There was no time to lose.

Even with all this going on, Robin finished college and got a job as a bank teller. One day he was sent home because of a bombing raid. Long story short – listen to hear what happened – he ended up in the hospital. When he got out, he said, “that’s enough. I’m done here!” He took his younger brother and moved to Cyprus.

He found a job and from there helped his parents and four younger siblings get their immigration paperwork in order. They all moved to New Brunswick, Canada, landing in the middle of a snowstorm and not speaking English. Through luck, Robin found a Maronite priest who spoke their language in the phone book, and within a short period of time he found work sweeping a construction site – a great use of his education in computers.

But, it turns out the hotel they were expanding on that construction site needed somebody to update their billing software. Since programming languages were universal, his lack of English at the time didn’t stop him. This opportunity led Robin to more jobs in computer programming, which in turn launched him onto what has become a rich, successful entrepreneurial journey.

In Lebanon, daily bombardments were normal. The constant threat of violence became background noise. And he thought it was all fine. But as we know, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In a moment, when you meet Robin, you’ll discover how he looked back and realized how living with bombs falling around him showed him the importance of his family, his work, and his opportunity to inspire and lead others. You may be particularly interested in how it informed his definition of “perfect”.

And I can hardly wait for you to hear where you can find Robin and his family every single morning at 6:30, without fail.

Robin's hype song is "Daddy Cool" by Boney M.

Resources:

Robin Ayoub’s website: https://www.L10NFiresideChat.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinayoub/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robin.ayoub
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robin.ayoub/
X: https://x.com/robinayoub

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

And now, let’s go meet Robin. Hopefully we’re not catching him in a plane, train, or automobile.

169. Hope That Won’t Die: A COVID Survivor’s Story with Craig Andrews

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

You’ve probably experienced sleep paralysis at some point – that weird “twilight zone” where you’re caught between the conscious world and the world of dreams, aware of your surroundings but noticing they have weird shapes.

Usually you can break out of sleep paralysis within a few seconds and after catching your breath, you’re fully aware you’re awake again and safe from whatever monster was trying to get you. But imagine being in that twilight zone for more than six weeks, where even though you’re trying to scream and wake yourself up, there’s no way out!

This is where Craig Andrews found himself a few weeks into his COVID diagnosis.

Craig’s wife claims he was raised by wolves. He and his brother went for long walks, built a log cabin in the woods, and lept into swimming holes filled with sea nettles and jellyfish, which can be nasty toward humans invading their space. One day, the Andrews boys miraculously found a swimming hole with no sea nettles and no jellyfish. When they told their dad, he shook his head and told them they had been swimming in sewage.

Craig’s sense of adventure may have contributed to him having low grades in school – who has time to sit around and study? It definitely contributed to him joining the Marines and serving several tours of duty abroad, then coming home to get his degree from North Carolina State. First he worked as a design engineer, which did not reward creativity. So a shift to marketing, selling semiconductors for mobile phones, was Craig’s next adventure. He kept at it, selling a product with steadily decreasing price curves, but everything seemed fine.

As you know though, Fine is a 4-Letter Word. Craig quit to start his own business when the margins got so low his employer insisted he fly coach - but that wasn’t the half of it!

On Saturday, July 31st, 2021 Craig and his wife woke up horribly sick. A week later, Karen was gasping for air. Then she got better but Craig got worse. By August 10th, Craig conceded to going to the emergency room. He couldn’t complete a sentence without taking multiple gasps of breath, and it would be another two months before he’d see Karen again. And three months before he’d leave the hospital in a wheelchair.

Despite being put on a ventilator, Craig survived. Despite being prescribed a medication for COVID that was known to cause kidney failure because the government gave bonuses to doctors for prescribing it, Craig survived.

In a moment, when you meet Craig, you’ll discover his journey through TWO worlds – the physical world where bad things were done to him and said about him in his presence while he was in a coma, and the subconscious twilight world where these experiences morphed into dystopian adventures.

Get comfy on the edge of your seat as you hear why the adventures stopped when Craig’s wife showed up, and where Craig found himself when he woke up.

Craig’s hype song is "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" by The Offspring.

Resources:

Craig Andrews’ website: https://allies4me.com
Book websites: https://hopethatwontdie.com/ and https://makesalesmagical.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-andrews/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CraigAndrewsMarketing
X: https://x.com/allies4me

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Hey, there’s Craig! He’s putting in a hell of a workout today. Let’s find out why is he enjoying a song about a loser who just doesn’t get it.

168. Your Power Is In Your Vulnerability with Lilah Jones

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Can you feel the sense of dread just thinking about that time in your life when something went horribly wrong and everything you had planned was totally shot to hell?

And what’s worse? The fear of criticism and rebuke from those you count on to be part of your support network or their well-intentioned comments that don’t do a damned thing to help and actually make you feel worse?

Lilah Jones faced these questions when she got ripped off for thousands of dollars and almost lost her new house just when she had it in the bag.

For Lilah, her values are so important she lists them on her website: heart-centered hustle, authenticity, bold action, active listening, holistic well-being, and self-actualization. The first three were ingrained growing up as the youngest of 11 children, a situation she describes as a place of scarcity and survival of the fittest.

As she grew up, finished school, and started her career, Lilah came to appreciate that hustle does not have to be a painful thing and it doesn’t need to be rooted in survival. She did not need to have suffering attached to her accomplishments. With this mindset, it seemed everything was fine.

Then, in a sudden, dramatic way, Lilah found out that Fine is a 4-Letter Word when she had the opportunity to get scammed out of the down payment on her new house.

Literally, as she was at the closing meeting, she discovered scammers had sent her a link to wire the money to them instead of where it was supposed to go in order to close on the house. Lilah and her family, including her elderly mother, were at risk of becoming homeless! Meanwhile, her family was waiting for her and her husband to get back from the closing meeting to celebrate with a bottle of champagne ready to pop.

What was she to do?

Now, note that a moment ago I said “opportunity to get scammed” and not “misfortune to get scammed” – this is key.

In a moment, when you meet Lilah, you’ll hear her amazing story about how she quickly got almost all the money back and still closed on the house. This only happened when she took a chance on being vulnerable. And instead of being condemned, she found strength she didn’t know she had.

This is a story she has told time and time again. It not only made the news, but has inspired thousands of others to find their strength in vulnerability, so they can achieve more than they thought possible. It changed her life forever.

Lilah’s hype song is “Fantasy” by Earth Wind and Fire.

Resources:

Lilah Jones’ website: https://www.lilahjones.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilahjones
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_lilahjones/
Claim your instant access to Lilah Jones’ free guide, “The Road to Renewal: Mapping Your Personal Off-Site”.

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s bring on Lilah. I have some thoughts already about what happened to her; I hope she’s interested and willing to listen!

167. A Powerful New Perspective on Gratitude: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When I was a kid, I remember having Thanksgiving with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

As an adult, there have been years where my husband and I spent Thanksgiving with just my mom or with a small group of friends.

In the most recent past years, before last year, it’s been having dinner with just one or two friends.

My point is, not everyone has a big dinner to go to - and that’s ok.

You’re not “less than” if you don’t.

And at the same time, it can feel lonely.

If this is your situation, you’ve got a few choices here.

One, you can figure out a way to alter your situation. Can you take the initiative to invite some others together and create an impromptu gathering?

Or can you volunteer somewhere you can make a difference?

Another choice is to find the good in being alone.

As you can see, there are many ways you can go about this.

Before you embark on today’s adventure, wherever it takes you, give yourself the gift of tuning in to this special episode and discovering for yourself:

✅ Why gratitude is a practice, not a platitude

✅ How connection is the remedy for loneliness

✅ What it truly means to show up and be present - beyond the mental and emotional aspects

✅ A roadmap to help you shift your perspective so you can also shift your entire energy and outlook

✅ How to hear, and trust, your inner voice and what it's telling you

✅ And much, much more packed into this powerful episode!

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

It’s time to step out of the clusterf*ck... of fear, regret, and disappointment, and into a place of peace, contentment – and gratitude in a way you’ve never seen it before, up until now!

166. You Can’t Buy Back Time with Todd Bertsch

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When it feels like success and fulfillment continue to elude you even when you think you’re doing all the right things and making the right moves, it can be a real mindf*ck.

What’s holding you back? What’s the block? Why is it always one step forward, two steps back?

Todd Bertsch wrestled with this question for years.

He grew up in the 1970s and 1980s in a lower middle-class family where they didn’t really discuss their values or have a lot of those poignant teaching moments you saw in the popular TV sitcoms at the time.

Todd learned by watching and observing, and what he picked up was good enough: the value of hard work from parents who had multiple jobs and side-hustles, the value of inclusion from living in an ethnically mixed neighborhood, and the value of teamwork from playing sports. When he wanted something, he went to work and made the money to buy it.

These same values carried him into early adulthood, where he worked his way through college as a janitor and graduated with honors, worked in jobs involving marketing, graphic design, web development, and other pursuits at the height of the tech boom. Then he decided it was time to put all that to good use and start his own business. Today, Todd is a successful entrepreneur and podcast host with a great family, and everything’s fine. Check out his website to learn more. The End. Now, let’s bring Todd on and get started with the interview.

Right? WRONG!

Todd struggled through that path much more than he needed to because everything was NOT fine. Remember, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Underneath all that, Todd had a hell of a temper. It showed up when he constantly got ejected from sports games, so much so he became “famous” in his town for being red-carded at soccer more than any kid in the whole league. In his 20s, he lived in a house that was basically a drug den, until he got in a really bad argument with two guys who beat the f*ck out of him! Looking back at some of his interactions at companies he worked for, he says that if the person he was back then worked for him, he’d have fired his ass!

And then it all changed. In a moment, when you meet Todd, you’ll find out that it wasn’t really some dramatic shift in who he was or how he did life, but more a decision not to be so trigger-tempered. You’ll discover what support systems he relied upon, what inspired and motivated him, and how the practice of Positive Intelligence not only improved his results, but enabled him to mentor others.

Todd’s hype song is “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.

Resources:

Todd Bertsch’s website: https://www.toddbertsch.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddmbertsch/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theboltwithtoddb
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theboltwithtoddb/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theboltwithtoddb
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theboltwithtoddb
Podcast: https://www.toddbertsch.com/podcast/

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

And now, let’s meet Todd. He looks like such a mellow, easygoing guy… but I see in his gaze a determined glint… that eye of the tiger!

165. You’re Not Alone with Scott Hackman

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

As humans, we’re designed for interdependence – we cannot go it alone. We’re designed to be part of networks and complement each other’s journeys. The title of this episode is one of the reasons I started this podcast – to help listeners know they’re not alone in their feelings and life journey.

But what happens when, due to your levels of sensitivity and empathy, you become so much in service to the feelings and needs of others that not only does it hold you back, but it holds others back?

Scott Hackman, growing up as a highly sensitive child before terms like “empath” entered the vernacular, thought everything was fine, all things considered, before his own value system hit him like a ton of bricks flying in out of nowhere.

Growing up, he learned the value of service toward others, more by having it modeled by his family and what he gleaned on the surface from religion than someone sitting down and explaining it to him.

This carried Scott through several iterations of his journey – his marriage, his time working in religious ministry, when he was involved in the family business selling coffee, and then to his work with entrepreneurs helping them design succession and saleability plans in their businesses.

Overall, he seemed to be on a journey of growth and everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Along with having learned the value of service, Scott was also exposed to traumas as a result of unspoken and not consciously acknowledged generational patterns. All that service actually took the form of people-pleasing, and it became more of a survival skill. In his early 30s, Scott found himself admitted to inpatient psych due to suicidal ideation.

As I said… it seemed to come out of nowhere like a ton of bricks.

In a moment, when you meet Scott, you’ll discover his fascinating learning journey toward a new level of self-actualization that he didn’t know existed – that in fact, many don’t know exists.

Among other things, you’ll learn about the difference between a recovery mindset and a growth mindset, and how these things intertwine. You’ll also see that it’s possible to find good things in bad situations – to essentially go back and rewrite chapters of your life so the story serves you, now and in the future.

And, you’ll discover why Scott says that he and his wife, who he’s been with the whole time, have so far had at least four marriages.

This will amaze you.

Scott’s hype songs are listed on his Spotify playlist, “You’re Not Alone”.

Resources:

Scott Hackman’s website: https://scotthackman.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthackman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottHackmanVentures
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scott_hackman/

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

So now, let’s meet Scott. As I see him from a distance, he looks very energetic and well-rested – what’s his secret?

164. Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors with Erica Anderson Rooney

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In a world where women are told to have it all, do it all, and be it all, the reality they face while actually trying to do these things is far more complex.

The pay gap looms large – over the span of a career, it takes 132 years to close – while the confidence gap, the leadership gap, and the broken rung in the corporate ladder persist.

Erica Anderson Rooney has faced all these challenges intimately, personally, and head-on as she’s climbed the ranks to the C-suite while raising a family. But wait – there’s more.

Erica grew up as the daughter of parents who divorced when she was very young. Both were loving parents, and they lived close to each other so that she could spend half the week with her dad and half the week with her mom.

Having to live in two different households, each with different expectations, rules, and ways of doing things, led Erica to become a chameleon and put other people first in order to get by as smoothly as possible and avoid conflict and friction.

Three of her values were learned from her mom. Go to school and get good grades so you can have a good-paying job and financial independence was the first. This led to the second, which was to never be in a situation where you have to depend on a man – a fitting lesson given the circumstances. The third was to be a good person, be kind, be generous, and always show up and do the right thing.

These values carried Erica through childhood and college, into her first career, and into her marriage. Everything seemed fine, because of a fourth lesson she had learned – but that was the problem, as Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

See, the fourth lesson was that alcohol solves a lot of problems, whether it makes you feel happier, helps you forget why you’re sad, or loosens your inhibitions. Or helps you “ease up” when trying to be a chameleon has you grinding against your authentic self.

By dulling the edge, Erica missed that she wasn’t in touch with her authenticity. She’d go to a concert and say “this is great” in order to please whomever invited her, even if she hated the music. But sometimes, she would have a glass of wine to cope with houseguests she didn’t want to deal with. A glass would turn into two, then three – then a whole bottle. She’d wake up not knowing what happened or what she said, or sensing tension with her husband and not even knowing what they had fought about the night before.

In a moment, when you meet Erica, you’ll hear about the path to claiming her power to allow her authenticity to come through.

Erica’s hype song is "Owl City" by Verge ft. Aloe Blacc.

Resources:

Erica Anderson Rooney’s website: https://www.ericaandersonrooney.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericarooney/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fromnowtonextribe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericaandersonrooney/

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s meet Erica. She’s tending to a succulent plant that has grown and spawned other succulents. This ought to be interesting!

163. The Silver Lyming of Falling Ill with Anne Desjardins

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Imagine you’re less than 30 years old, and so tired you’re afraid to drive because you might fall asleep at the wheel and cause an accident.

Picture the frustration of seeing doctor after doctor after doctor, only to be told you’re not sick, just depressed.

Then, after getting so many wrong answers, you conclude you have a brain tumor, because that seems to be the only possibility left.

And while all this is going on, you’re also in a toxic relationship that, as part of the final scene, has you seeking a Protection from Abuse Order.

This was Anne Desjardins’ journey to health.

She was raised in a traditional, loving family environment that emphasized caring for others and continuous self-improvement. Her father was an ER physician. Her grandfathers and uncles were doctors. Her parents also had what today we would call side hustles. All of them listened to cassette tapes about business success, meaning Anne heard a lot of these too and they left an imprint.

Anne went to college for international business, but left after one year because it wasn’t for her. She already knew that following her family’s path and becoming a doctor wasn’t for her either, since she passes out at the very sight of blood. When she did return to college, her value of helping others led her into a liberal arts curriculum. She graduated and began a promising career in sales. She fell in love. It was still early in the game, but everything seemed fine.

But you know, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Right around the time of her breakup, she saw a massage therapist who told Anne, “your soul is dying”. Pretty soon, it felt like her body was dying too. Along with memory loss, she suffered from night sweats, hives, and insomnia. Even her dental hygienist noticed something was unusual about the plaque on her teeth. Desperate for sleep, she began drinking vodka straight out of the bottle. Numerous doctors and specialists tried, but failed, to come up with answers.

Until finally she got the answer: Lyme Disease.

The seven years of struggle to finally get the answer she needed touched off a seven-year battle to get healthy again. In a way it was poignant that she had come to believe she was dying of brain cancer, only to find out she was bitten by a bug and the cure was a regimen of antibiotic treatments.

In a moment, when you meet Anne, you’ll hear how she decided not getting better was NOT one of her choices. Additionally, her journey highlights her core value of service to others, as she’s now become an empowering voice for Lyme Disease patients and others.

Anne’s hype song is “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys.

Resources:

Anne Desjardins’ website: https://www.thesilverlyming.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Annedesjardins
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Anne.desjardins.3
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Anne.desjardins.15

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s bring Anne in. She seems quietly determined, like she’s a girl on fire!

162. Understanding Fears and Their Roots with Constantin Morun

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Fear often holds you back, even if it doesn’t make sense to be afraid.

You can have everything you ever wanted – a fantastic career, creature comforts, money to afford anything you need, plus “f*ck-you money” in the bank that gives you the freedom to not have to do anything you don’t want to.

And even with all that, you can still have an empty, nagging sense like you don’t really have anything at all.

This has been Constantin Morun’s journey.

Born in Romania, at the tail end of a vicious dictatorship that offered its people no consumer goods, banned typewriters, and forced citizens to use light bulbs so dim they couldn’t see around the room, it was easy for Constantin to find himself without freedom of expression and surrounded by scarcity.

While he was raised with love and compassion, he also knew what it felt like to be left in the dark, both figuratively and literally.

In 2000, when Constantin was 17, his family moved to Canada. There he was in a new land where he didn’t understand the language, the school system or the level of diversity he’d never seen or experienced before.

He did well in college and got a degree in mathematics, but his work wasn’t his passion. So he became a professional poker player while also coaching poker players, made a lot of money at it, but succumbed to pressures from others who told him he needed to get a “real job” at some point.

This brought him to the United States and into the corporate hustle, and within seven years he was doing extremely well. As a result of hard work and accomplishment, he got a promotion. Everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In a moment, when you meet Constantin, you’ll hear about how just when it seemed he had it all – all he felt was an enormous emptiness inside. Which led him on the powerful journey of redefining terms like “regret” and “fear” and through which he discovered that, when all is said and done, these things are little more than illusions.

Prepare to discover the concept of “decoy fears” and that when bad things happen, there’s still always something good in it for you, as long as you’re willing to look for and see it.

Constantin’s hype songs are brain music you can find on Brain.fm.

Resources:

Constantin Morun’s websites: https://calmsuccesslive.com/ and https://unleashthyself.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/constantin-bo-morun/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Unleash-Thyself/100091499994716/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/unleashthyselftoday
X: https://x.com/Unleash_Thyself

Invitation from Lori:

These practices are so incredibly simple, you'll probably question their effectiveness. Like, how could just doing THAT alleviate my stress?!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that can change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

And now, it’s time for our meetup with Constantin. He’s sitting over there by himself, but seems to be quite engrossed in some sort of dialogue. Let’s give him a penny for his thoughts!

161. This Won’t Last Forever with Helen Fanucci

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

You know the saying: your network is your net worth.

You can intentionally engineer the results by curating your circle of influence over time, keeping in touch, and being on the alert for subtle connections the casual observer might miss.

And then you might unintentionally end up on a flight with the CEO of your former employer, take your chance on grabbing the seat next to him in first class, and seize the opportunity to create networking connections that help him close a major deal.

Helen Fanucci took both approaches and had been able to practice and master the art of finding what’s possible.

Her parents instilled this in her by showing her she could achieve anything she put her mind to. When, as a young girl living in Boston, she told her father, who was the minister of a congregational church, that she wanted to go to the MIT, and asked if he thought she could get in, he told her the only way to find out was to try.

Spoiler alert - she got into MIT.

But before that, as Helen was finishing seventh grade, her mother died of ovarian cancer only a year after her family had moved to Seattle. During a visit to Boston she realized that although she was struggling to fit in living in Seattle, she could find her place if she intentionally looked for and created it.

After graduating from MIT, she worked as a manufacturing engineer for IBM in Silicon Valley. Worried that IBM’s culture of spending your entire career there could leave her stagnant, she pivoted into sales. She grew into the role through building her network and seeking knowledge where she could find it - until an unsettling discovery led her to leave IBM and work for a prospective client.

Cue the coincidental meeting with the CEO of IBM on the airplane and Helen’s opportunity to use her networking skills to create a relationship between the CEO and her new employer’s CEO. By all standards, everything was going just fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In a moment, when you meet Helen, you’ll discover how going on maternity leave changed everything. How spending a career in corporate America inspired her mantra of “this won’t last forever.” And why all these years later she’s started her own company that helps B2B companies with their go-to-market using AI tools.

It's a fascinating story, and you have to hear Helen tell it in her own words.

Helen’s hype song is “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison.

Resources:

Helen Fanucci’s website: https://www.pipelinepower.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenfanucci/
Claim your copy of Helen's book, Love Your Team: A Survival Guide for Sales Managers in a Hybrid World.

Invitation from Lori:

In my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you can discover, step-by-step, how you can stop settling for “fine” and look at your life with a fresh set of eyes. Even if, like many people in today’s high-speed world, you’re not in a position to take a month or year-long sabbatical.

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new perspectives that could change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

So now, it’s time to meet Helen. We’re headed to the pickleball court, and there she is – on her phone working on a movie!

160. Do Hard Things with Gabe Lullo

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When you work in sales, you of course want to build trust with your prospects and make them feel like you have their best interests at heart and aren’t simply selling them something just to earn a commission.

Resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning are as important to your success as empathy, patience, and effective communication.

Then there’s the question of whether you enjoy sales and believe in what you’re selling, or if it’s just a job and you’re doing the best you can to be decent at it. These, and other sentiments, are why today’s conversation with Gabe Lullo, the CEO of Alleyoop, is so important.

Gabe grew up in Buffalo, New York, which itself requires a lot of grit because you deal with really cold weather and a lot of snow. Add to that, Gabe and his sister were raised in modest circumstances by a single mom who worked two jobs so her kids could go to private schools and get a great education, even though it cost 90% of her income.

At the same time, he was close to his grandfather, a sports coach who modeled the “coaching” rather than the “bossing” approach to leadership.

When he turned 18, his mother made him go to bartending school. The idea was that no matter what happened with his career, Gabe could always make money.

In college, while taking classes and doing internships, he worked nights as a bartender, a vocation that in hindsight taught him so much about sales, marketing, relationships, and more in a way that you simply don’t get in the classroom. He first considered law school, then pivoted to finance, and then 9/11 hit and all opportunities in that sector evaporated.

Nevertheless, Gabe persisted, and he became a partner in a business venture, got married, and started a family. It was tough going there, but everything seemed like it was going to be just fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word, and his business partnership broke up, sending him back to square one with an infant daughter to care for.

In a moment, when you meet Gabe, you’ll discover how the next pivot in his journey, doing cold-calling as a Sales Development Representative (SDR) at minimum wage, touched off a meteoric journey that less than a decade later landed him in his current position as CEO of that company.

Doing the hard things has paid off, and as a result, Gabe has found a level of passion and fulfillment he hadn’t imagined would be possible while shoveling through those Buffalo blizzards. Now he’s about to lay it all out for you.

Gabe’s hype song is "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins.

Resources:

Gabe Lullo’s website: https://alleyoop.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lullo/

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

So let’s head over and meet Gabe. He’s in his office with a lot of paperwork on his desk, and he has some incredible insights about the “danger zone” of success!

159. I’m Not Going to Tolerate This with Jennifer Frye

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

It’s called “continuous growth” for a reason.

When you cut down a tree, or a tree snaps and falls, the rings you’ll see reveal more than the age of the tree based on how many rings there are. Each ring will be a different width, a different color or shade.

Each of these rings tells a story about how changes in the environment impacted its growth and development as it grew from a sapling into a fully-fledged organism sprouting branches, growing leaves, bearing fruit, expanding its roots, or whatever other functions it performed during its life cycle.

Jennifer Frye’s story of surviving domestic abuse and finding her way to thrive by looking from the inside out makes me think of this metaphor.

Growing up, Jennifer was instilled with the values of hard work, work ethic, honesty, integrity, family, education… and guilt. Yes, she grew up in the 1980s.

Her father was a successful entrepreneur who worked a lot of hours and embodied the hustle culture. Though she grew up in a loving household, both her parents died when she was in her 20s. She was determined to be a success story and to do what she believed would be expected of her.

Jennifer got married, had a child, and started a business, so it seemed like she was set to emulate her father and everything would be fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Her husband gradually became abusive. First it was emotional abuse, trauma, gaslighting, and displays of power like blocking her from leaving a room or laying behind her car so she could not leave the driveway. She tried to make it work for the sake of their child having a complete home. Then, after she went out with a friend for her birthday, he accused her of being with another man and struck her.

That was the break. Though it was scary, and she didn’t have a whole lot to go on as her business was just starting to really take off, she divorced him and embarked on a journey to making it on her own.

Funny thing, though. She had already been managing the household and primary in raising their child, so on the surface level, aside from a struggle to make ends meet, things hadn’t actually changed all that much.

Until one day, she was emptying the dishwasher and found sheer joy at knowing she didn’t have a man who would cause her anxiety if she didn’t empty the dishwasher.

In a moment, when you hear from Jennifer, you’ll see how, like the rings of a tree, she discovered how as you go through the layers of bark, you find your tolerations that get in the way of gratitude and dispose of them.

And most of all, you’ll be energized by the power of the word “because”.

Jennifer’s hype song is "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston.

Resources:

Jennifer’s website: https://appreciatedasset.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-levy-frye/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/appreciatedasset/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/appreciatedasset/

Also be sure to check out Episode #81, Resilience in the Face of Adversity: A Dad’s Story of Overcoming Loss and Embracing Gratitude with Mike Fister – Mike connected me to Jennifer for today’s enlightening conversation!

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s head over to Jennifer’s house. It looks like such a warm and inviting place. We might be early though, because I think I hear her emptying the dishwasher!

158. If It’s Meant For You, It Will Find You with Brian Fink

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Living through the pandemic changed all of our lives, in one way or another.

For some, it was coming to a realization that you didn’t feel like your business or your career was your true calling, in which case it’s possible you may have encountered someone like today’s guest during your journey toward finding something more aligned with your life’s purpose.

For others, it’s finding out that although you had a bunch of superficial or virtual interactions every day, you essentially felt alone. And maybe the friend or mentor you needed was someone you had never met, like in the form of a content creator, an author, or a podcast host.

This is Brian Fink’s story.

Growing up, his family was in the shirt manufacturing business. Today, he’s a talent acquisition partner who finds top-tier hires. One day, at a recruiting event, a candidate approached him and asked if he was one of the Finks who had owned the local shirt factory. It turns out, Brian’s grandfather had given his father white dress shirts as a reward for making Dean’s List at an HBCU, Albany State University, and to encourage him to continue doing well in his studies.

This encounter led Brian to the realization that because of what his grandfather did for those students and during the civil rights movement, that Brian’s striving to make sure things are fair and indivisible for everybody comes through family legacy.

Brian has enjoyed a storied career. He’s owned recruiting businesses, exited them, and helped others grow and exit their recruiting businesses. He has worked for companies like Amazon and AWS, Twitter, and Vanguard on his way toward his current work at McAfee.

As an “intrapreneur”, as he calls himself, he lives out the values imprinted by his grandfather as well as one of his grandmothers, who taught him to value friendships and the communities you create and serve.

This all sounds fine.. but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

About 20 years ago, Brian found out he suffers from anxiety and depression.

In his search for understanding, acceptance, strength, and growth, he found himself drawn toward not only mentors in the workplace who create space for him to learn from mistakes and explore his talents, but also remote mentors – those authors, speakers, and podcast hosts. He reads voraciously to the point that he’s not really up on “pop culture” because he prefers books to television and movies.

Like the day he discovered by chance that his grandfather had been someone else’s father’s hero, there was one particular video he found that gives him incredible inspiration to find what he is looking for on the other side of fear.

When you listen to Brian, you’ll discover how he has found companionship and mentorship at a distance.

Brian’s hype song is “Sweetness” by Jimmy Eat World.

Resources:

Brian Fink’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianfink/
Will Smith’s video that we discuss during the interview, “What Skydiving Taught Me About Fear”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFIB05LGtMs

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s meet Brian. He seems to have his nose buried in a book while whistling to something he’s listening to through his headphones!

157. Pursuing Passion and Finding Work-Life Integration with Rick Herrmann

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Do you think you’ve got it made?

Today’s situation is remarkable for the sheer amount of disruption, rapid change, and even chaos that seems to spin faster and faster with each passing moment.

Just in the past few years, the world has been turned upside down, stood back up, spun around, and sent into the rapids by a pandemic that has become endemic, political and social upheaval that might leave you feeling like nothing would really surprise you at this point, predictions becoming fact in weeks rather than years, and much more that few of us saw coming just five years ago.

What if you could take a step back and turn down the noise?

Rick Herrmann invites you to do just that.

For the past 35 years, Rick has been what he calls an “always on” tech executive who thrives in the intensity and passion of work and then in play with his family. These experiences have taught him to be resilient, driven, and adaptable.

As a kid in New England during the 1980s, when Michael J. Fox played Alex P. Keaton, Rick grew up in the family ties of a supportive environment as the son of an engineer and entrepreneur who left the house at 5:30 am and came home at 6:30 pm and installed in young Rick the values of hard work and certainty.

These values inspired him to enter the tech world, a place where bedrock stability and calm through crisis are key to doing a great job and making a big difference. In the workplace, you might think of IT only when something goes wrong; the rest of the time you subconsciously bask in the certainty the up-and-running servers give you that you’ll be able to do your job.

You might say Rick stands out by not standing out – he’s a gentle, quiet man with a great career and a wonderful family. Everything’s fine with Rick – why would we even have him on a show that’s about radical inflection points and catharsis?

But that’s just the thing – FINE is a 4-Letter Word.

Things got a little f*cked up for Rick – in an understated way – when he entered his 50s and the world entered a pandemic. Coupled with the loss of a parent, it drove him to identify three core values – family, compassion, and doing big things.

Along the way, he’s taken plenty of walks in nature, walking calls with employees that are about candidly venting without the pressure to solve the world’s problems, and driven the shift from “work-life balance” to “work-life integration”. Along the way, he’s brought computers to millions of underserved communities so they have a fair opportunity to participate in all the world has to offer.

Now tune in and prepare to soak up some of the wisdom Rick has learned along the way.

Rick’s hype song is "Need a Favor" by Jelly Roll.

Resources:

Rick Herrmann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickaherrmann

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Okay, I think I see Rick coming along the walking trail toward us right now. Whatever he’s listening to through his earbuds, he is inspired! Let’s wave and get his attention.

156. The More You Say No, The More You Grow with Michelle Charpentier

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Self-reliance. Determination and grit. Treating others the way you want to be treated.

These are some of the most noble traits our society says we can possibly have, attributing people who exude them as being the product of a good upbringing and the kind of person we should aspire to be.

These are also the traits than can bite you in the ass and f*ck everything up when they come back at you like a boomerang and whack you upside the head just when you think you’ve done it all right and everything’s fine.

This is Michelle Charpentier’s story.

She was raised with the “Golden Rule” by hardworking, self-relliant parents who always came through for her, one way or another. Her dad was a school teacher and a musician who got by just fine by living this same value system. Her mom was always busy doing something.

Michelle embarked on a successful management career in the jewelry industry, where she discovered a few things that really stood out. Like the time a meeting coordinator asked Michelle to be liaison with the cleaning lady rather than approach the woman directly because Michelle seemed to get along with her so well. Or that some managers were assuming everything was fine with their employees and not taking the time to get to know their likes and dislikes.

Eventually, Michelle was offered the kind of major promotion you don’t say no to. For a while it involved a long commute from New York City to New Jersey, but she was able to get transferred to NYC and everything seemed fine.

But FINE is a 4-Letter Word.

Michelle burned out, but it wasn’t just the commute and the long hours that come with being in retail that drove her to leave it all behind and start her own consulting firm so she could have more flexibility to start a family.

Remember that boomerang that comes around and hits you back? Michelle felt it when all of a sudden she had nobody to manage. Then she found those traits of self-reliance, determination, and grit became a problem when employees weren’t around whose specific job it was to help her.

And that Golden Rule thing? She found out in the “silence of solopreneurship” that it played a huge role in burning her out and cost her a fortune in life.

In a moment, when you meet Michelle, you’ll find out how all those admirable traits f*cked things up – and some new values she developed that actually made her an even better person than the fine human being she already was. It may come across as contrarian, and it may shock you. And that’s exactly why you need to listen.

Michelle’s hype song is "WOW" by Post Malone.

Resources:

Michelle Charpentier’s website: https://www.charpconsulting.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleccharpentier/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/charpconnections
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brooklyn_pioneer/

Also, check out Episode #135, Pull The Weeds When They’re Wet with Kris Ward, for even more on the topics Michelle shares with us today.

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

So, let’s head over to our meeting with Michelle. She has blocked off just a half hour for us, but we have her undivided attention. Let’s lunch and learn together!

155. Pain To Purpose: The Power of Drumming with Dori Staehle

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Imagine going about your day, following your routine, when out of the blue something comes along and knocks you to the ground, ending the life you’ve known up until that moment.

In the movies, things can go into slow motion, or you hear the “needle scratch” that ends the background music as everything comes to a shuttering halt and you fall to the ground.

This was the moment Dori Staehle (pronounced STAY-LEE) got beat like a drum in a bicycle accident – and as she was soon to discover, drumming was going to be the next step.

Dori told her professors she was raised by wolves. Her father became a single parent to Dori and her two older sisters and the girls found themselves taking care of the household with minimal parental guidance.

At age 16, she left home to live with a friend from high school. Around that same time developed a curiosity about spirituality and sought to learn more about faith on her own.

After college, where she almost burned out due to her heavy course load, Dori pursued a career path of international business and sales and marketing but felt unfulfilled creatively. At the same time, she discovered her children “learned differently.” so out of necessity she designed a unique way to teach them mathematics.

It was then that Dori discovered that hand drumming helped beat stress and ADHD issues and improved productivity. So in 2009 she became a Certified Drum Therapist with Drums and Disabilities, and later trained with Health Rhythms.

Not everything was “fine” – that 4-Letter Word – but it was about to get worse.

BAM!

One day in 2011, that bicycle came out of nowhere. After weeks of being put off when she sought proper medical attention and being told she was “fine” when she was in constant pain, an MRI revealed that not only did she have a mass of cysts inside her, the bicycle accident had triggered Aphasia.

Dori almost gave up, but decided to ask God to give her a way to heal herself and others - and that's when things got interesting.

Already well into her 50s, she started her fourth business, Next Stage Drumming, mainly offering classes, events, and private drum therapy sessions. Once Dori added some mentoring and coaching to the mix, she began to see breakthroughs taking place very quickly – not only for her clients, but for herself as well.

In a moment, when you meet Dori, you’ll hear her fascinating story about how all the threads, lessons, triumphs, and tragedies of her life coalesced as if they were leading her to the drums. As Dori says, “You're never too old and it's never too late to rock what you've got!”

Dori’s hype song is "Rise Up (Lazarus)" by CAIN.

Resources:

Dori Staehle’s website: https://www.nextstagedrumming.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/doristaehlemba
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nextstagedrumming
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextstagedori

Claim your access to Dori Staehle's free stress relief video when you sign up for her newsletter: https://www.nextstagedrumming.com/free-tips/

Invitation from Lori:

Before you press that "Play" button (or after you finish listening), let me mention that in my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you can discover, step-by-step, how you can stop settling for “fine” and look at your life with a fresh set of eyes. Even if, like many people in today’s high-speed world, you’re not in a position to take a month or year-long sabbatical.

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s head over to where that drum music is coming from – there’s Dori. I can tell you right now, there’s a message in those drum beats. Let’s find out what it is!

154. Living and Thriving on the Autism Spectrum with Daniel Keith Austin

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

What do Anthony Hopkins, Dan Aykroyd, Courtney Love, Daryl Hannah, Jerry Seinfeld, Albert Einstein, Heather Kuzmich, Elon Musk, Lionel Messi, Eminem, and Satoshi Tajiri have in common?

Celebrity?

Creativity?

Fame?

Fortune?

Yes, all of them have these things to varying degrees. Each and every one of them also has (or in Einstein’s case, had) autism.

So does author, actor, autism advocate, and animal rights activist Daniel Keith Austin, creator of the children’s book series, Chelsea’s New Journey. I was especially interested in hosting Daniel on the show because there are a lot of misconceptions around what autism is and how people with it interact with the world. It’s a topic that’s near and dear to my heart because my nephew is on the spectrum.

Daniel was raised with the core beliefs of striving to be a good and decent person who treats people well, does things for the overall benefit of mankind, and helps people lead better lives.

He also grew up as one of four autistic siblings and experienced many challenges. He was a disruptive kid who struggled in an educational system that just wanted him to follow orders and behave while doing little to support him in learning to form relationships and communicate effectively. He didn’t find out he had autism until he was 14 years old.

In Daniel’s case, you could say things were never “fine” – for him, Fine is a 4-Letter Word and always has been.

In a moment, when you meet Daniel, you’ll discover how his passion for writing, performing, and storytelling led him to create a series of children’s books about Chelsea the Golden Retriever.

Revolving around the life story of a Golden Retriever based on Daniel’s childhood dog, this series breaks down and transforms complicated, contentious themes into an understandable, relatable tale that powerfully addresses themes of abandonment, the need for acceptance and belonging, and triumph over adversity through seemingly impossible challenges from the perspective of someone who lacks a human voice.

Through Chelsea’s eyes, Daniel invites you to join an engaging and thought-provoking story arc around Chelsea becoming a therapy dog for people on the autism spectrum.

Daniel’s hype song is “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story.

Resources:

Daniel Keith Austin’s websites: https://danielkeithaustin.com/ and https://www.chelseasnewbeginningbook.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/chelsea.the.golden.retriever
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chelseathegoldenretriever88/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/ChelseaTheGold2

Invitation from Lori:

Before we get to this thought-provoking, emotional conversation that delivers a new perspective on thriving with autism, let me mention that in my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you can discover, step-by-step, how you can stop settling for “fine” and look at your life with a fresh set of eyes. Even if, like many people in today’s high-speed world, you’re not in a position to take a month or year-long sabbatical.

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s meet Daniel. Here he comes down the street, walking several dogs. I can’t wait to hear the stories he has to share with us today!

153. The Real Purpose of Pets with Maribeth Decker

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In conversations with friends and through my own experiences, I know our animals who’ve crossed the rainbow bridge can still communicate with us. My kitty girls show up in my dreams from time to time.

My guest today is Maribeth Decker. And when she started receiving messages from her dogs after they passed away, it led her to her current vocation.

Like many of my guests, Maribeth was raised to conform to social expectations. Be good, be quiet, be smiley. Don’t ask questions. Do as you’re told. Whatever you’re told is the absolute truth. At age 13, she was out in the woods when she asked God if He existed. She received an incredible response from a loving, intelligent presence. Part of the message was that maybe the humans in her life didn’t have all the answers after all.

In college, she studied pre-med and was horrified by being forced to do experiments on live turtles and mice. After college, her boyfriend suggested she join the Navy, which was a “Fuck Yes” decision for her. In the service she lived up to the drunken sailor stereotype. But when she lost her drinking partner because he decided to get sober, she decided to get sober too.

After 17 years, Maribeth took early retirement from the Navy and became an association manager. During that time, her first husband died, leaving her with young children. She could have worked as an association manager until she retired, and given all she had been through, that would have been fine for Maribeth.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Instead, Maribeth felt a calling to do something else – massage therapy, then Reiki. After 21 years as an association manager, having already taken courses in massage therapy and Reiki, she retired from her job and went into these practices full-time. Things were going great; this was a right fit. Then her deceased dogs began sending her messages.

Eddie transitioned right before she left for a business trip. While on the airplane, Maribeth felt Eddie’s presence in the aisle and even petted her. Eddie stayed with her the first night in the hotel to make sure she was able to do her best work. Similarly, Timmy, who had passed years before, visited her at her home. He was a full-body apparition, grinning to say he was OK, he was happy and he loved her. Had Maribeth become Dr. Doolittle? What did all this mean?

In a moment, when you meet Maribeth, you’ll discover how this led her to a new and exciting chapter working with animals to help them become better family members through intuitive communication, medical intuition, and energy healing.

Maribeth’s hype song is “Pyro” by Kings of Leon.

Resources:

Maribeth Decker’s website: https://sacredgrove.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maribethdecker/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spiritualpetpeople
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maribethdecker/

Also, check out the following episodes we discussed during our interview:

Invitation from Lori:

Before we begin the episode, let me mention that in my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you can discover, step-by-step, how you can stop settling for “fine” and look at your life with a fresh set of eyes. Even if, like many people in today’s high-speed world, you’re not in a position to take a month or year-long sabbatical.

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s meet Maribeth. There’s a big, husky dog looking her in the eye, almost like they’re mind-melding. He looks like a good boy. Let’s see what’s going on!

152. Not Coming Out... But Going To with Kevin O’Connor

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

As a Gen-Xer, I remember when the prevalent view about being gay was that it was something you’d be afraid for people to find out about. It’s also been our generation that started to change that.

We’ve come a long way in the past couple decades, but it can still be a frightening prospect if your family and community are predominantly heteronormative.

With the stigma surrounding homosexuality that prevailed in the last century, can you blame someone for being afraid to come out, even if everyone they privately confided in has been completely understanding and supportive?

This is Kevin O’Connor’s story.

Kevin was raised in the 1950s and 1960s in the middle of the Midwest – Elgin Illinois to be exact – as part of a family that founded the first funeral home in that town in 1930 and continued to operate it up until 1984. He, his parents, and his older brother lived in one part of the house; his uncle, aunt, and three older girl cousins lived in another part of the house; the funeral parlor was on the ground floor. He uses the word “inclusive” to summarize his family and social environment growing up.

While he was welcome to make a career in the family business, nobody insisted; his family supported him when he went to college for education and became a teacher. In his early 20s, he got married. This was a great start, and everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word – and in 1971, being gay was not considered “fine”.

In a moment, when you meet Kevin, you will discover his extraordinary journey of coming out to his first wife, his second wife, his father, and his sons. And then what inspired him to come out publicly at 55 years old and the impact it had on all his relationships, including and especially the one with himself.

This is a story about inclusivity, acceptance, self-discovery, and navigating the waters of society you cannot miss – tune in now and you may find yourself seeing a new point of view.

Kevin’s hype song is "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder.

Resources:

Kevin O’Connor’s website: https://www.kevinoconnorauthor.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmoconnor/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.oconnor2
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegriefnavigator/

Also check out our episode, Unleash Your Joy with Carol Banens which includes a theme related to something Kevin and I discussed.

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s meet Kevin. I can just tell this one’s going to be an eye-opener, so buckle up!

151. Trying Not to Die with Deb Krier

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

While it's difficult to track how many people with cancer do not seek treatment, the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) conducted a study a few years ago that indicated about 9.2% of patients receive no first course of treatment.

This could be for many reasons, including fear or disbelief in traditional or corporate medicine, alternative treatments that stay off the statistics, or they just say “fuck it” and decide to enjoy the time they have left the best they can.

But what if you’re diagnosed with cancer and seeing an oncologist just doesn’t fit into your plan?

This was Deb Krier.

Deb was raised in a small town as the only child of a father who worked most of the time and was uninvolved to the point that he was vaguely aware the family had a bank account, and a mother who was the secretary at the local doctor’s office. Their marriage may have been what we today call a “female-led relationship” – her mother ran everything and insisted on making every decision.

This brought out two traits in Deb – it made her a perfectionist and perhaps a bit of a control freak, and it also made her very independent and insistent on having control over her own life.

She went to college, started a business, and in her 30s got married. They lived in Denver until her husband got transferred to Atlanta. Because they don’t have kids and otherwise are independent people, the move wasn’t that hard. They planted stakes in Atlanta and things went on. Hell, everything seemed fine.

But FINE is a 4-Letter Word.

A routine mammogram revealed something, but it was minor and easily treatable. Since it didn’t seem urgent, Deb didn’t exactly rush to the oncologist – actually, it wasn’t until months later, once the cancer had spread and things got serious, that she began treatment.

The journey through cancer has taught Deb many lessons, including the importance of delegation in her business, how to assert her autonomy and retain her choice as she goes through treatment, and a long quest through which she has discovered a new meaning and definition for the concept of death.

For a while, her mother moved in to help with care, which led to arguments because Deb, her mother, and her husband fought over who was in charge. It was a huge deal just to persuade her mother to leave when she was no longer needed.

So, how is Deb doing? How did this inspire her to create her venture, Trying Not to Die, which works with cancer patients showing them how to LIVE?

We’re about to find out.

Deb’s hype song is “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten.

Resources:

Deb Krier’s website: https://tryingnottodie.live/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahkrier/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1465660477225232

Also check out our episode, Replacing Fine with F*ck Off! with P.J. Roscoe which includes a theme related to something Deb and I discussed.

Invitation from Lori:

Now, let me mention that in my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you can discover, step-by-step, how you can stop settling for “fine” and look at your life with a fresh set of eyes. Even if, like many people in today’s high-speed world, you’re not in a position to take a month or year-long sabbatical.

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s catch up with Deb. I’m so glad she was able to fit us into her schedule!

150. The Power of Meditation and A Major Milestone: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

First of all, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate all the work that’s gone into getting to this milestone of 150 episodes of Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In past solos, I’ve talked about courage, doing what others won’t do, energy, and making decisions.

If you’re not familiar with what I do outside of this show, I work with business leaders and corporate teams, giving them tools and techniques so they can be more focused, resilient, and collaborative so they can manage the distractions in their heads that keep them from being as productive as they’d like and move projects forward with less stress and drama.

One of those techniques is meditation - but there’s often a lot of resistance around meditation, what it is, how to do it, etc.

There are many benefits, not least of which is meditation can decrease anxiety, it builds resilience. You’ll spend less time stuck in mulling over past mistakes and worrying about what might happen tomorrow.

In fact, a study at the University of Western Ontario followed an 8-week mindfulness program. Results showed participants experienced a 32% decrease in stress, a 30% decrease in anxiety and a 29% decrease in depression.

Tune in to this special episode and discover for yourself:

✅ When you can expect to see results from meditation

✅ The best time of day to meditate and how to use it to set yourself up to be more efficient and successful

✅ How you can easily make meditation a habit

✅ And much, much more packed into this powerful 23-minute episode!

This episode comes with a bonus called “Meditation: Clearing Anxiety” which is posted separately as a bonus episode.

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/

Invitation from Lori:

Much of what I included here comes from my digital Staying Calm in Chaos program.

If you’d like to get access to the entire program, where there’s a whole bunch more tools and techniques beyond meditation, you can find it at https://www.stayingcalminchaos.com/sp.

It’s time to step out of the clusterf*ck... of fear, regret, and disappointment, and into a place of peace and contentment!

150. Meditation: Clearing Anxiety

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 04:55:00 -0400

This meditation is designed to clear stress and anxiety so you can feel grounded and safe in this moment. Sometimes anxiety can spin you into a frenzy. Worrisome thoughts get stuck playing on an endless loop through your mind. It doesn’t feel good and it doesn’t serve you in any useful way.

Use this one to bring yourself back to tranquility, serenity, and calm.

149. Failing Doesn’t Make You A Failure with Christina Robinson Race

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In almost all of my episodes on Fine is a 4-Letter Word, I deal in varying degrees with the circles of life.

In two of the themes I explore with my guests – the values and beliefs they were raised with, and the moment in their life when they realized or found out that everything wasn’t “fine” – we see how these themes come together. And see where some of the conscious as well as the subconscious imprints either trigger the latter and/or blaze the trail for self-discovery, self-improvement, and self-actualization.

For the first time, I have a returning guest, Christina Robinson Race, who joined me 105 episodes ago for a conversation called “Lighting a Candle & Letting It Go”.

For a quick recap: Christina was raised in an abusive home and when she was sexually abused by a neighbor, got shut down by her covert narcissist mother who didn’t want to deal with it. There was no trust and no communication. During our conversation, we delved into how Christina and her husband had applied lessons from their upbringings in efforts to be better parents to their children, and how her desire to be an available, accessible parent had influenced her career path.

Today, we pick up with what’s happened since that episode. It’s been interesting to say the least, but it definitely hasn’t been “fine.”

The day we sat down for our update, Christina had just – and I mean within the couple days preceding – gotten out of surgery, packed up her house in Tennessee, and moved to Illinois to live with her now ex-husband, who in the intervening time had left her after having an affair with a younger colleague.

Christina’s children are coming along – her son is in the military, and one of her daughters is now starting as a teacher in a summer school.

The biggest challenges Christina has been working to overcome is having limited social interaction as an extrovert, taking things day-by-day as a person who was so organized she would have color-coded charts planning things out months in advance, and finding out that even when your children are grown, not only do you continue being a parent, but it takes on new and interesting forms!

Most people fear change, even positive change, because it involves the unknown. That’s why we settle for less, conform to others’ expectations, wonder how we became clones of our parents when we swore that would never happen, and stunt our own growth as human beings.

In a moment, when you meet Christina, or reconnect with her as the case may be, I invite you to open your mind and your heart as you prepare to discover answers to questions you didn’t even know to ask. Then be sure to stick around for the MANY takeaways, because there are some extremely powerful lessons here.

Christina’s hype song is "Brand New Me" by Alicia Keys.

Resources:

Christina Robinson Race’s websites: https://christinarobinsonrace.com/ and https://www.epremium.com/
Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crrace/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisrace

Also check out Christina’s previous episode, Lighting a Candle & Letting It Go.

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s catch up with Christina.

148. Someday Is Not a Day On the Calendar with Noemi Beres

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Your life is a collage of all the experiences you have, people you meet, and what you learn along the way.

Like many collages, even if they begin with a concept or a plan, as you bring them together they may take directions you hadn’t anticipated and show you things even more interesting than what you originally expected.

This was the case for Noemi Beres, whose professional work owning and managing a podcast booking agency involves helping people tell their stories and connecting them to hosts who provide the canvas for their verbal collage.

Growing up as an only child in a small town in Hungary, Noemi had loving, supportive parents as well as an extended family who nurtured her spirit, helped her fulfill her dreams, and saw things in her that she could not see in herself.

When Noemi started school, she was bullied by her classmates. Seeing that Noemi needed something bigger than that little school and town, her parents encouraged her to study abroad for a year in Denmark. After she came back to Hungary, locals barely recognized Noemi – she had become a different person.

The foundation was a level of confidence and clarity far beyond most young women her age. As she began her university studies, she fell in love with and quickly married a young man from her hometown. All these years later, they’re still married and going strong, so everything looks fine in that department.

Noemi finished college, moved to Ireland, and started her career and her family. She and her husband discovered their love of entrepreneurship and built a business together. They built a family when their son was born. And when they decided they preferred a Mediterranean climate, they moved to Cyprus and started their life there. Yep, everything’s fine there too.

But that word… “fine”… Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Just when everything seemed to be going well, Noemi’s father was diagnosed with cancer. He was given a six-month prognosis, but beat the odds and lived two years, passing away in 2019. A few months after that, her paternal grandmother suffered an injury and died as a result. A few months after that, the pandemic hit and Noemi and her husband lost their business and found themselves starting over professionally.

In the midst of all this grief, Noemi reconnected with her flair for art. She had begun weaving collages while sitting with her sick father. This passion took on a life of its own and she now incorporates her love of photography, as she creates collages using family photos with pictures she takes.

In a moment, when you meet Noemi, you’ll see how all the threads of her life experience come together as she plans to publish a book of collages and participate in a very unique pilgrimage!

Noemi’s hype song is "The Pretender" by Foo Fighters.

Resources:

Noemi Beres’ website: https://www.podcastconnections.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noemiberes/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noemi.beres
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noemi_beres_/

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s meet Noemi. It looks like she’s weaving something while speaking into a microphone. Come with me, I’ll get her attention!

147. Gratitude is The Foundation of Confidence with Tara LaFon Gooch

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Having compassion for people is generally considered a good thing and a sign that you’re a decent and kind person who makes an effort to make the world a better place by being part of it.

Raised in a religious household, Tara LaFon Gooch learned the value of love and kindness towards others. However, she struggled to extend that same love and compassion to herself.

She came from a home with an abusive, toxic father who disappeared from the picture just when she was beginning to discover the meaning of life from an adult perspective, and she hasn’t seen him since she was 14. You see already the conflict in energies and values.

Confidence was a major issue for Tara, and in so many ways she was down on herself.

On March 16, 2022, she found herself sitting alone in her garage, having just quit a job that featured a highly toxic work environment, contemplating ending her life.

How had everything gone so wrong? Why doesn’t it ever get any better? “If I have a purpose, let me know. If there’s anybody that can hear me, just let me know,” she cried.

Things were not fine at all – and Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Then she heard a voice in her mind that said, “Your life has meaning but you need to give more.”

After hearing that message, Tara discovered some powerful lessons.

One of them was giving yourself radical permission to accept that your memories of past experiences and traumas are YOUR memories – and the simple fact that they may not actually be exactly what happened does not make them less real. Reframing negative experiences can lead to personal growth.

Also, when you have conditions like Tara’s - major depressive disorder and anxiety - you find yourself crying in the shower, screaming into the void, wondering what’s wrong with you and why it has to be this way. Treatments usually involve years of therapy, often combined with medications that make you feel worse, not better.

But then she found a treatment that costs nothing, yet rewires neural pathways and increases dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain.

In a moment, when you meet Tara, you’ll learn all about this “wonder drug”.

Tara’s hype song is “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor.

Resources:

Tara LaFon Gooch’s website: https://taralafongooch.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-lafon-gooch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tara.lafon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taralafongooch/
X: https://x.com/Taralafongooch
Watch Tara LaFon Gooch’s TedX Talk now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vuq-HJb_Qds

Invitation from Lori:

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

So now, we’re going to meet Tara. Are you ready? You’re going to find her fascinating.

146. Fabulous In 15, Starting At 50 with Kim Rahir

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Picture yourself living what seems like a regular life as a parent and entrepreneur, where everything seems uneventful and you have every reason to expect the rest of your life to follow a pretty straightforward path. You know, everything’s FINE.

Then, one day you go to pick up your kids from school and all of a sudden you’re seeing double.

Next thing you know, your life has been turned completely upside-down, your legs are numb and you’re sitting in a wheelchair.

In what version of reality could you picture yourself becoming an Olympic weightlifter just five years later?

This is Kim Rahir’s story of how Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Fortunately, she was raised with two values that would support her through her unexpected midlife journey – always be ready to show up and perform, and conscientiously show respect for people and take them as you find them.

Along with these values, she became a person who did not wallow in self-pity or claim victimhood status. There was no asking “why me?” when faced with adversity.

When she first started seeing double that day when she was 45 and picking her kids up from school, her doctor suggested she might be experiencing a cerebral hemorrhage and urged her to hail the next taxi to the hospital. After a long series of tests combined with the onset of additional health issues, it eventually became apparent she had Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Now wait – five years later she was at the gym training to become an Olympic-level weightlifter?

As you’re about to discover, her doctor discouraged her from doing it in a way that indicated he didn’t want to be involved. She was told to take all sorts of injections that made her feel worse, and ultimately traded them in for some ibuprofen. All of it made her feel disrespected, and she had to find a way to reclaim her power.

This isn’t the outcome you’d imagine for someone who has Multiple Sclerosis - nor would you picture her becoming a fitness coach helping women feel fabulous doing 15 minutes of work each day.

In a moment, when you meet Kim, you’ll be awestruck by her comeback story.

Kim’s hype song is “Far From Over” by Frank Stallone.

Resources:

Kim Rahir’s website: https://kimrahir.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-rahir/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kim.rahir/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kim.rahir/
Take Kim Rahir's free Strength and Health Assessment today to find out exactly where you are at and what will be your best next steps: https://link.roasmail.com/widget/survey/GiXtvmtUw9cHkOlCRRLG

Invitation from Lori:

In my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you'll discover, step-by-step, how you can stop settling for “fine” and look at your life with a fresh set of eyes even if, like many people in today’s high-speed world, you’re not in a position to take a month or year-long sabbatical.

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s head over to the gym and meet Kim. Don’t be put off if it takes her a moment to notice we’ve arrived – she’s probably in the zone!

145. Elevate Your Financial Frequency with Susan Glusica

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Here’s a challenge for you: ask your social media followers if they believe money can buy happiness or bring it up at your next social gathering and watch people fight it out.

Some say you can; some say you can’t; others say that money cannot buy happiness like getting a box of happiness at the store, but it solves problems and greases the wheels that make happiness possible and attainable.

But what if you’ve been looking at it in the completely wrong way?

Growing up the daughter of a German immigrant father and a mother whose parents came from Norway, Susan Glusica was raised with what she calls Northern European mores, values, and habits. Like so many of my guests, she was raised with a strong work ethic but lacked emotional nurturing, which influenced her professional and personal relationships.

Out of college, she started on Wall Street and eventually transitioning to financial advising. Her career went well; she moved from one job to another without ever posting a resume. Susan’s values surrounding hard work got her noticed for doing the work of three people, which brought prospective employers calling her, rather than vice versa.

Her husband was also getting his career going, and everything seemed fine, but you know what comes next – Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Susan felt that while she enjoyed her work and was very good at it, she wasn’t creating a legacy for herself. So she started her own business, which she planned to make wildly successful by compressing ten years of development into one. While she built the business, her husband landed a great job so he could take over as breadwinner for a while.

Then the Great Recession hit and he lost his job. Crushed by the burden of debts she had hidden from her husband and unexpected medical expenses, she filed for bankruptcy. Yes – the financial wizard who helped others create wealth filed for bankruptcy.

But then a few years later, she discovered the seven energetic levels of money consciousness. Coming to understand the power of frequency and vibration, and discovering new terminology to replace the entire “money buys happiness” riddle, have since enabled Susan and her husband to create what some would consider an opulent lifestyle.

If you, like so many, are struggling with money, this episode is a must-hear.

Susan’s hype song is “Soak Up the Sun” by Sheryl Crow.

Resources:

Susan Glusica’s website: https://susanglusica.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanglusica/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanDGlusica
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moneyenergymastery/
Claim your free copy of “7 Prosperity Keys to Bring in More Money with Ease”: https://susanglusica.com/

Invitation from Lori:

Now, if like Susan was, you’re feeling like an imposter claiming you can help other succeed at something you failed at, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide could be the fresh-eyes look that changes your outlook.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. Paired with what you’re about to hear from Susan, the counter-intuitive approach may be just the pattern interrupt that changes your vibrational flows to attract money your way.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start and it will give you new feelings of gratitude – the greatest wealth building energy of all, as you’re about to learn about in a way that could change your life starting today!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s meet Susan. We’re just pulling up to her 23-acre prosperity practice – there’s her luxury car in the driveway. I can feel the energy now!

144. The Productive Perfectionist with Kathryn Mayer

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When you hear the word “perfectionist”, what comes to mind? Maybe you think of yourself?

Typically, it’s someone who holds themselves to impossibly and unachievably high standards, driven by fear of real or imagined consequences if they don’t get it (whatever “it” is) exactly right.

Because perfect is rarely possible, they never “measure up,” and they get discouraged and burn out. They’ve given away all their f**ks and feel like they never got any results or recognition for all their work, so they stop caring altogether.

To say the least, that makes them unproductive – which is exactly what Kathryn Mayer is here to change.

Kathryn was raised by a father who was a neurologist and a professor who taught her that your identity comes from the work you do and a homemaker mother who passed on perfectionism – that you have to work hard and if you’re going to do something, you must do it well or not at all.

As a child, Kathryn tried ballet and wasn’t good at it, then gymnastics which didn’t work out because she was too tall. Then she discovered tennis, which she enjoyed and showed real aptitude for. So, her mother put Kathryn in private lessons and then, because they were spending money on the lessons, she had to compete in tournaments.

Until she was 14, she did well in singles tournaments due to her height advantage over opponents her age, but then the other girls caught up in height. So, she switched to doubles, which she was also good at, but she lost her joy for tennis and quit.

When Kathryn went to college, she was Dean’s List level, but she graduated with no idea what to do as a career! So she hired a career coach, which began a three-year process of discovery that included mapping out a forty (yes, four-oh) year plan. Meanwhile, she went through five careers by the time she was 26 before landing what she thought would be her dream job in New York City.

The following years would see her try more careers, plus take a biking vacation with her husband to Cambodia. It was that trip where it struck her that it was actually okay if she rode in the van instead of fighting to ride her bike over the bad roads. It was okay to not do the thing she thought she was “supposed” to do.

Back home, she was “shoulding” all over herself, her career, and her life – which reminds me of the conversation back in episode 2 with Dara Goldberg where we talked about “shedding the shoulds.”

Finally, she had a boss who told her to lighten up because she was constantly frustrated. When his message didn’t get through, he pulled her aside and asked her a curious question: “Why don’t you try going to clown school?”

In a moment, when you meet Kathryn, you’ll see how all these threads came together and inspired her to mesh productivity with perfectionism. If you feel like you’re just not hacking it, this show is for you.

Kathryn’s hype song is “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross.

Resources:

Kathyrn Mayer’s website: https://www.kcmayer.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryncmayer/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCMConsulting/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/GrandSlamCoach
Claim your copy of “The Productive Perfectionist: https://www.kcmayer.com/kc-mayer-books

Also, see our interview with Wendy Cocke, called “It Seemed Normal… But It Really Wasn’t”.

Invitation from Lori:

Now, if like Kathryn, it feels like things have come to a standstill because nothing you do is ever good enough, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide could be the catalyst that unleashes your productivity.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. What’s really awesome is you don’t have to do any of it perfectly; you don’t even have to do the steps in order. All you have to do is find your personal starting point and jump right in!

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. Giving away your last f*ck means you’re free from worrying about being imperfect.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s meet Kathryn. We better give her a hand because, like clowns do, she just tripped! I can’t see how, because her pants are too short. But let’s find out!

143. Nurturing New Seeds After PTSD Uprooted Us with Luvyna Mantle

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Building your family and your life is like planting, nurturing, and harvesting crops on a farm. You put a lot of effort, a lot of heart, and a lot of energy into it, hoping your knowledge, wisdom, and patience deliver a bumper crop that fills your pantry and allows you a life of comfort, security, and happiness.

You may have heard the expression “Man plans, God laughs.” My version of that, of course, is Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

That’s how things went for Luvyna Mantle, who saw the crops she had patiently planted and nurtured ripped out by the roots just when she thought the harvest was about to come in.

Luvyna was raised with the values of hard work, sacrifice, and frugality by parents who owned a ranch in Kansas. Her father gave up his corporate job and her mother gave up becoming a global journalist to go all-in with the ranch.

In college, Luvyna met a man who, unlike the folksy cowboys and farm boys she was used to dating, showed up driving a sleek sports car and listening to rap music. In contrast to her stable upbringing, his parents were divorced and he received little accountability as he was shuffled between his parents and relatives. On their first date, they barely said 3 words to each other.

Funny, though - they got married at ages 19 and 18 and due in part to Luvyna’s values around money management and avoiding debt, they had a house and a lot more spending money than typical teenagers. Her husband went into the military to become a careerist. This meant following him to his assignment in Germany and giving up her studies – which she was fine doing.

Fine… yes… Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Right before they shipped out, her husband suffered an injury and was unable to get proper treatment due to his responsibilities. Before long, it became apparent that his dreams of a military career would come to naught, and the family, which now included their infant son, would be coming back to Kansas.

But then COVID kept them stuck in Germany. Eventually, Luvyna was able to return to the States, but because of his condition, her husband had to stay longer. So for nearly a year after she returned to Kansas, Luvyna and her husband were separated except for one three-week furlough.

Once he was home for good, her husband seemed an entirely different man. While he got along fine with their second child, he constantly berated and flipped out on their toddler who was acting out with aggressive behaviors. Luvyna was afraid to leave her kids alone with their dad and scared that if she went out and came home, she’d find her husband dead. Something had to give.

The spoiler alert? Luvyna and her husband are still together and are actually happier than they’ve ever been. How does THAT work? What changed? And how has her experience inspired her to help other military families?

Luvyna’s hype songs are "The Man" by Taylor Swift and "Kings & Queens" by Ava Max.

Resources:

Luvyna Mantle’s website: https://mantleandco.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luvyna-mantle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mantleandco
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mantleandco/
Get Luvyna Mantle’s interactive cost-comparison that helps you save money marketing and selling your services: https://mantleandco.com/fg-funnels-vs-current-set-up--saved

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Luvyna, it feels like all the crops you’ve planted got ripped up right before harvest, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide could be the batch of seeds you need to start over and plant anew.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. Using what you discover, the lament of seeing your almost-ripe harvest strewn about may be quickly replaced with a drive to clear and till the field to plant your next harvest.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. The topsoil is ready to nurture your next crop, so let’s start planting seeds.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s meet Luvyna. Right over here, roaming through the field with her dog in tow, heading over to feed her chickens and cows. This sounds like fun!

142. The F*ck Yes Formula for Energizing Your Life: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 30 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s solo episode is about ENERGY!

When you look it up, Energy is defined as the capacity or ability to do work.

I’d expand it to include the capacity or ability to have fun too.

If you have no energy, you’re not going to be getting any work done or having any fun.

“Fine” is not fun – it’s a 4-Letter Word!

Tune in now as we cover three key areas:

1) Figuring out your values and why they matter

2) Finding your energetic home and what’s important about that

3) Why it’s essential to honor what’s not a F*CK YES for you!

Thank you for being part of what we do.

I love you, our listeners, and I appreciate that you’ve said F*ck Yes to listening to Fine is a 4-Letter Word!

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
The F*ck Being Fine Experience: https://zenrabbit.com/f-being-fine-program/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/

Invitation from Lori:

If, like me, you find yourself ready to get energized and enjoy what life has to offer that, up until now, you may not have known existed, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is your roadmap.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. If you find yourself feeling stuck or stagnant, this could be the energetic catalyst you need to find what you truly need make this an amazing life.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to look beyond where you are now so you can get to where you are destined to go.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s get pumped up with energy and create a new F*ck Yes for ourselves!

141. Regenerating Joy with Brad Chandler

Thu, 23 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

From the very first episode of Fine is a 4-Letter Word, where my guest revealed that she did not even know what emotions were until she was in middle age because she was punished as a child for having them, I’ve been sharing stories of what happens from the inside out.

My mission and drive for this podcast is to give you hope, help you find your passion and purpose, and dare you to see the life that’s waiting for you, so you’ll never hear - or say - the word “fine” in the same way again.

Brad Chandler, who was my client/boss when I was the marketing director for his real estate company, brings a level of clarity and understanding to this work that could change your life in just the next few minutes.

See, Brad was created – not raised – with the belief that something was wrong with him and he was never good enough. Note how I phrased this.

His parents didn’t mean for this to happen. It was simply a consequence of how they processed – or failed to process – their own traumas that were handed to them through generational patterns. They handed them down to Brad.

Fast-forward to when Brad was in his mid-40s. He had a successful company and a boat, but he also had two failed marriages, two kids who lived with severe anxiety, a feeling that even though he was wealthy and owned a successful company he had not succeeded, a lack of joy, and a propensity to smoke a lot of weed.

Lots of people get divorced, have anxious kids, question their self-worth, lack joy, smoke a little weed now and then, and they seem fine on the day-to-day.

But you know… you guessed it… Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Looking at all these situations, Brad noticed a common denominator in all these situations – Brad Chandler.

Why didn’t Brad Chandler ever seem to be good enough?

Why wasn’t all that hard work paying off for him emotionally?

He was scared. He was hurt. He realized he was protecting himself from something. What did a wealthy guy who from the outside had an incredibly blessed life need protection from?

In a moment, when you meet Brad, you’re not only going to join him on his journey of self-discovery - that has changed him and made him possibly the happiest guy on earth - you’re also going to get a step-by-step prescription on how to understand and sort your own emotions so you finally come to understand that yes, you are good enough.

If you can’t see that for yourself right now, gift yourself this episode now.

Brad’s hype song is “Roar” by Katy Perry.

Resources:

Brad Chandler’s website: https://www.bradchandler.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lbradchandler/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brad.chandler1
Instagram: https://instagram.com/bradchandlercoaching
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/lbchandler1
Take the Self-Love Quiz: https://www.bradchandler.com/quiz/
Claim the Joy Regenerator: https://unlocklimitlessyou.com/joy-regenerator/

Invitation from Lori:

Now if, like Brad, you just don’t feel like you’re good enough, you’re always afraid, and you can’t quite see for yourself why, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide can provide some answers that can change your life now.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. Using what you discover, you may very soon begin to see yourself as the common denominator in your life who regenerates joy and is, indeed, good enough.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to know what you’re worth, and go out and get what you’re worth.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s meet Brad. He’s sitting there in the corner booth reading a book with a grin on his face. Do you have a penny for his thoughts?

140. Replacing Fine with F*ck Off! with P.J. Roscoe

Thu, 16 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Children who are told to be “seen, but not heard” learn early on that their thoughts, feelings, and words don’t matter.

Then as adults, they continue to silence themselves even when they do speak by hiding and suppressing their true thoughts and feelings.

Growing up in a small Welsh village, P.J. Roscoe learned early on to know her place, don’t have an opinion, don’t question or challenge anything, and generally stay completely out of the way.

It was such a small village that as P.J. says, you could fart on one end of the village, and by the time you got home, everyone would know about it. The adults talked with each other about the children constantly, but the children were supposed to stay silent and contribute nothing.

Ironically, when P.J. and her family moved to another town where she felt more free to express herself, she felt out of place and wanted to go back.

Going away to college didn’t change much. She ended up in an abusive relationship that gave her no freedom, and in college she was told that she could not have certain jobs or career choices because she was a woman. She was studying to be a beauty health and sports therapist and dance instructor, but she really wanted to be an author. No, she was told, her grades weren’t good enough.

When she was eight months pregnant, P.J. went for her usual scan where they discovered the baby didn’t have a heartbeat. This tragedy became the catalyst for her to write her first novel, called “Echoes”.

So maybe things were going to be fine after all – but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

P.J.’s next step was training to become a therapist. Her instructor gave her an assignment – for the next three years, instead of saying the word “fine” (or “okay”) when asked how she was doing or how her day was, she was to say “fuck off”.

Her instructor explained that when you say “fine” as the answer to questions like “how are you” or “how was dinner,” it disrespects the person asking because it shows them you reject their interest or concern for you. Similarly, P.J. should never accept “fine” or “okay” as the response when asking after someone else.

What should she do instead? How does changing the conversation lead to better communication as well as empower and honor both you and the other person? In what ways does this help us be both seen and heard?

In a moment, when you meet P.J., you’ll discover a new take on how Fine is a 4-Letter Word which could open new doors for you.

P.J.’s hype song is "Rain” by The Cult.

Resources:

P.J. Roscoe’s website: https://pjroscoe.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pjroscoeauthorgriefguru111/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulaGriefGuru/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pjroscoeauthor/
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/PJRoscoeauthor

P.J. is offering you a 10% discount on her 5-month program when you contact her and say “I heard you on Lori’s show, Fine is a 4-Letter Word”.

Invitation from Lori:

Now if, like P.J., you feel seen but not heard – like you’re existing in a reality dictated by somebody else and you’ve no say in the matter, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide can help you find your own voice.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. Using what you discover, you may well find yourself finally able to express your needs, wants, and desires.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to reach out and feel the power of your destiny.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s meet P.J. I know she just yelled at us to go fuck off, but trust me, she’s really nice. You’ll see!

139. Are You a Fiction Writer of Your Own Story? with Lana McAra

Thu, 09 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Family trauma and drama flow through generations and can take on a form of fiction around “family unity,” “handed down traditions,” and “that’s the way it is” that sweep the suffering under the rug. But two things can happen.

Either you’ll find yourself in pain from stepping on the lumps of dirt under the rug, or the rug will slip and slide due to the dirt making it less sticky to the floor – either way, you could fall when you least expect it.

This need to create narratives could be part of why Lana McAra became a published fiction author, a coach and mentor to fiction writers, and host of an acclaimed podcast that delves deep into the ins and outs of fiction novel writing.

Lana was raised in a conservative environment as the oldest of five children of a hospital handyman and a housewife. They lived in Amish country and belonged to a Mennonite community. Rustic, yes – however everything looked fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word – and the contradictions were just beginning.

Her father seemed to be a pillar of integrity who upheld traditional values, while her mother was a rebel who didn’t wear her bonnet or stockings and therefore “scandalized” the entire family. Eventually, her mother filed for divorce, her father moved to the opposite side of the country, and not even two weeks after the divorce, her mother married a volatile and abusive man.

As de facto parent to her four younger siblings, Lana created the narrative that their father, who had become a successful tradesman in his new life, was the example they should follow – even though he had completely abandoned them.

So much for moral rectitude from both parents, huh?

Lana went to college with the intention of breaking free and blazing her own trail… only to almost immediately meet, and soon marry, a man who had the same hypocritical character and controlling manner her father did.

Lana and her husband became missionaries, traveling to different countries like Grenada where her husband’s efforts to control her didn’t fly with the culture. It was a culture shock to come back to the United States and learn it all again.

In the meantime, just as she had been the sole caretaker as a teenager for her four siblings, she now became this for her seven children, all while pursuing her lifelong passion for fiction novel writing.

After 30 years, Lana and her husband divorced. Her family relationships unraveled as she formed short-term reunion bonds with her parents before they died. Then she became estranged from her siblings. All of this led to a nervous breakdown.

The fiction stories she had written all fell apart – but then she met someone at a conference who led her toward literally tapping the depths of her trauma.

You’re about to meet Lana and discover the very real new story she is penning!

Lana’s hype song is "You Don't Mess Around with Jim” by Jim Croce.

Resources:

Lana McAra’s website: http://LanaMcAra.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lanamcara
Facebook: https://facebook.com/lana.mcara2
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lanamcara2
X (formerly Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/lanamcara

Invitation from Lori:

Now if, like Lana, you find yourself discovering that the life you think is real has turned out to be a fiction, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide can reveal a truth that guide you down a new path.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. Using what you discover, you may well find it creates the storyline for the next chapter of your life novel.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to reach out and feel the power of your destiny.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s meet Lana. She’s hard at work behind her laptop, probably constructing another international best-seller. Why is she tapping her arm with two fingers?

138. Wisdom from Grandpa Owl with Philip Lower

Thu, 02 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

In the United States, more than 64 million men identify themselves as fathers.

Yet, 7 million American dads are absent from the lives of their minor children, and 17.4 million children live in fatherless homes!

Philip Lower, technically, grew up as one of these statistics.

His biological father took his own life when Phil was five years old, leaving him with the question: "Why did Daddy have to leave me?"

Five years later his mother met and married a wonderful man who became Phil's stepfather. But, it wasn't until until he was 25 that Phil stopped treating his stepdad as a “butthead,”– that was his own term.

As an adult, Phil became dad to two daughters and worked for a Fortune 250 company managing leadership development and training for 2,000 employees.

It seemed like everything was fine - but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

There was a reorganization and the development team got whacked – and in the meantime, Phil was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome.

Due to his condition, he couldn't get another job, even as a Walmart greeter, for the same reason.

He and his family ended up homeless for almost three years, with a period of time where they lived apart before he was able to figure out a way to afford to live with them in hotel rooms.

Not only was he physically separated from his daughters, but because of the impact of Guillain–Barré on his nervous system, he couldn't even feel them when touching them on the cheek.

For Phil and his daughters, as well his career, this experience led to a new beginning. The dad jokes he told to his girls turned into the first published Dad Quote of the Day book. The second book was a collection of recipes they developed in the kitchenette of their Extended Stay hotel room.

Phil is now on an endeavor to translate concepts and principles of leadership and empathy into language kids can easily understand. From the Trees of Leadership sprung the Grandpa Owl series, which features a wise owl who teaches family values in a way that relates to historical events in a unique, holistic approach you’ve not seen before.

Phil’s hype song is "Strength of a Thousand Men" by Two Steps from Hell.

Resources:

Philip Lower’s website: https://dqotd.com/welcome-to-grandpa-owl/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lowerphil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dadquoteoftheday
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadquoteoftheday
To learn more about Granda Owl, e-mail Phil at grandpa@grandpaowl.com.

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Phil, you find yourself in a place where you either physically or metaphotically lose touch, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide can be the restorative vitamin that brings back the feeling.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to reach out and feel the power of your destiny.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s meet Phil. Oh geez - he just posted another dad joke and I can hear him laughing from 100 feet away!

137. The Truth Always Comes Out with Stephany Ann

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Imagine you start with a sense of purpose, aligned with your goals, accustomed to your family supporting you in living your authentic life, and successfully practicing the art of the possible.

Then, all of a sudden, it gets taken away.

Stephany Ann was raised in a supportive family environment that embraced individuality and encouraged her to pursue her passions. When she was 18, her mother released her to do what she intended to do.

For five years, she lived the nomad life, backpacking worldwide. Then she returned to the United States for college but missed the application deadlines.

Rather than get discouraged she said to herself, “Why don’t we just sit down and talk with Admissions and tell them why I need to go there and why they need to give me a full ride?”

They accepted her and gave her a full ride – the art of the possible!

Stephany finished college, entered law school, and met the man who would become her first husband.

Everything seemed fine – but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Stephany found out she had married a narcissist who gave her an ultimatum to either give up her dreams and goals and do as he wished, or he would leave.

She acquiesced – and this is where her problems began.

In a moment, when you meet Stephany, you’ll discover her journey through her first marriage, her divorce and subsequent custody battle, and then her second marriage to another man who was remarkably similar to the first.

Along the way, she went blind – as in literally, lost her vision.

How did she go from such a promising start of being in command of her destiny to finding herself at the mercy of the whims and machinations of narcissistic men to the point she lost her identity and sense of self?

How did she get her vision back? (Yes, her eyes work now.)

What lessons were her husbands teaching her, in their own way?

You hear a lot about narcissism – the love-bombing, the idealization phase, the transition to constantly adapting yourself to anticipate the abrupt personality shifts of a man who claimed he never had an affair, while he was living with another woman.

Now, you’re going to experience the journey in a way you’ve never seen before.

Stephany Ann’s hype song is "Unstoppable" by Sia.

Resources:

Stephany Ann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephany-ann-369a01293
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092716308108

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Stephany Ann, you so completely lose your identity that it feels like you’ve gone blind, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide can restore your vision of your life’s purpose.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. It could show you the answers to questions you haven’t known to ask because, up until now, you couldn’t see them.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to be open and honest with yourself so you can make things better.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s go chat with Stephany. She’s waving us over saying “olá!” That’s Portuguese for “hello”. Why is she speaking Portuguese?

136. When The Shepherd Must Find His Own Way with Matthew Brackett

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When you go out to find yourself, the journey can take you places you didn’t imagine you’d ever go.

Maybe it will take you to a different town, or even a different country.

But once you get there, it’s possible you’ll discover you really need to go somewhere else. Kind of like in the book The Alchemist.

Matthew Brackett felt the calling to go into seminary life from an early age, and it seemed to align with the values he was raised with.

Growing up as the 10th of 13 children, he was fortunate that his father made enough money to cover the expenses, even if there weren’t a lot of luxuries, and to afford a house that had five bathrooms.

As a child, Matthew was exposed to the core values of generosity and helping others, which was natural in such a large family in a house that also included other people who stayed with the Bracketts if they were down on their luck. Service, generosity, helping others, and sacrifice. There was also the vision of the transcendental, the idea that you’re a small piece of a bigger picture.

Combining all this with Matthew’s need to live beyond the small town where he grew up, joining the priesthood seemed a natural next step as it took him all around the world serving thousands of people. First, he studied for 10 years, then served as a priest for 20 years, including as a chaplain in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

Everything seemed fine – but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

The problem was that while his life’s work aligned with his values of generosity and service, he found that he was not serving himself.

Ultimately, he decided to take a year off. During that year, he spent four months as an inpatient learning about himself, before returning to his hometown and living with his dad while working menial jobs and collecting new experiences.

Today, he coaches with individuals, couples, companies, and organizations of all sizes, whose leaders sometimes don’t quite know what to make of a former priest. Is he going to force his beliefs on them? Does his background give him the ability to see different points of view? Does he have the experience?

Matthew is now three years into his new journey, and once again he is finding his niche as a small piece of a new bigger picture.

Matthew’s hype song is “Back in Black” by AC/DC.

Resources:

Matthew Brackett’s website: https://brackettalliance.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-brackett/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthew.brackett.12
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewbrackett_official/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatthewBrackett_Official

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Matthew, you get to where you set out to go and then discover that’s not where you belong, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide can point you down your next path.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. It might help you begin to fill the empty spaces in your heart and your life that you didn’t see until you took this first step backward to begin your journey forward.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to be open and honest with yourself so you can make things better.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Let’s go chat with Matthew. He’s got such a calming yet inspiring energy. I’m excited for you to hear what he’s discovered and what you can learn from him to apply to your own life.

135. Pull The Weeds When They’re Wet with Kris Ward

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

What is our cultural obsession with busyness? How many businesspeople do you know who wear their exhaustion as a badge of honor?

Kris Ward was raised with values she eventually learned she had to overcome – the values of moving fast, getting a lot of stuff done, and working hard. Hard work equals success.

But is any of this true?

Kris grew up, got married, and started a business. She was determined to succeed and put in a lot of long, hard hours. Her marriage seemed happy, her business seemed to be growing, and all that hard work seemed to be paying off. Everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word, as Kris found out about two years into her entrepreneurial journey when her husband said, “You're starting to lose some of your charm.”

After hearing this, Kris realized she was fatigued and stretched thin most of the time. She read studies conducted by Harvard professors that showed how working hard makes you less productive - optimal human productivity caps at about six hours per day - but thought she could outrun these studies. They didn’t apply to her because SHE was different.

Eventually, and you’ll hear how, she was able to dramatically reduce her workday from sixteen hours to six, and discovered she was more productive, more fulfilled, and more successful than ever before.

In fact, when her husband was diagnosed with colon cancer, she stepped away from her business for almost two years, and nobody – not her clients, not her local business community – even noticed she’d dropped out for a while!

Her business was going so well that during her husband’s final months, people would ask how she was holding up and she’s say “I’m fine” – that 4-letter word – and for Kris, this was a subtle downgrade to what she usually said.

Today, as creator of Win The Hour, Win The Day, she works with entrepreneurs who think everything’s going to be “fine” if they just work harder at the hustle and grind. She emphasizes the importance of energy management over mere time management, advocating for strategic delegation and prioritization that supports both personal well-being and professional success.

What’s her secret?

You’re about to find out, so get your pad and pen ready.

Kris’ hype song is the “Rocky” theme song – “Gonna Fly Now” by Bill Conti.

Resources:

Kris Ward’s website: https://winthehourwintheday.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriswardgetoutofyourownway/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krisward.ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kriswardlive/
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/krisward
Take the Power Personality Quiz, get Kris Ward’s courses, and download her audiobook “Win The Hour, Win The Day” at https://www.freegiftfromkris.com.

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Kris, you discover that the values of working hard and going fast do NOT equal success the way you’d hoped or expected, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is your Great Reset.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. And it might help prevent you from snapping “I’m FINE!” at whoever asks how you’re doing.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to be open and honest with yourself so you can make things better.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now it’s time to meet Kris. She looks energized just like you see in all her videos. This is going to be a treat!

134. Update on My Nomad Life: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Many of our listeners have been asking for an update on my life as a nomad.

For those of you who don't know, in October 2023 I gave up my apartment, put most of my belongings into a 5x10 storage unit in North Virginia, and since then have been traveling the country housesitting cats (and some dogs too) through a program called Trusted House Sitters.

Over the past six months, I've visited places like West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida, and posted updates on social media as often as I can.

Lately, I've been getting a lot of questions about my adventures housesitting cats and dogs, the road trips, my experiences, and some of the fascinating people I've been fortunate to meet.

When you tune in now for this special episode, you'll hear about my random and fun discoveries, some of the deeper learnings I've experienced, the challenges I've faced and overcome along the way, and how you can apply my takeaways to your own situation, whether you're a nomad or you're staying put.

This episode includes “The Abundance Prayer” from Tosha Silver's book, It's Not Your Money: How to Live Fully from Divine Abundance.

Resources:

My Website: https://ZenRabbit.com/
The F*ck Being Fine Experience: https://zenrabbit.com/f-being-fine-program/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/

Invitation from Lori:

If, like me, you find yourself ready to hit the road and see what life has to offer that, up until now, you may not have known existed, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is your roadmap.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. If you find yourself feeling stuck or stagnant, this could be the catalyst you need to find what you truly need to make this an amazing life – even if you aren’t planning to put your stuff in storage and take to the open road.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to look beyond where you are now so you can get to where you are destined to go.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now let’s hit the road. I’ve got the car loaded up and some cats waiting at my next gig, come with me and let’s have some fun!

133. Nobody Gave Me An Instruction Manual with Stephanie O’Brien

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Leaving things better than you found them and being honest and open are good traits to have and will likely serve you well.

The former makes the world, or your little part of it, better because you were part of it, while the latter both shows respect and earns you respect.

Stephanie O’Brien was raised with these values. Although her life took an interesting path, they became her true north and steered her through challenges, including a business relationship that ended due to misaligned values.

Growing up, she didn’t fit in well with a lot of classmates, which led her to an early interest in creating fiction stories and writing novels.

Stephanie wrote her first novel when she was 12. Then she destroyed it before anyone other than her mother could see it, even though her mother warned her not to do that. Throughout her childhood, she explored a variety of hobbies – reading voraciously, writing fiction, playing the piano, and more.

After her family took a Robert Kiyosaki real estate course, she discovered property management was not her thing, in part because – how crazy is this?! – tenants were stealing the doors!

Then Stephanie’s mother took a course on coaching, which led Stephanie to launch a coaching business for entrepreneurs. It was a natural and welcome transition, getting to work with people who aligned with her values of leaving things better than they found them instead of stealing doors from their landlords.

She was still writing fiction novels, she had her coaching business, and her entrepreneurial path was picking up, so everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Stephanie came to feel like she was stuck in a prison, resentful of her business.

The question she had to answer was who was guarding the door?

The answer turned out to be one many creative, multi-passionate entrepreneurs have to discover eventually.

Her values proved to be her liberation – and yours, too, as you’re about to hear.

Stephanie’s hype song is “Armeria no Torikago”.

Resources:

Stephanie O’Brien’s website: https://www.coachclientconnection.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-obrien-program-design/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephanieOBrienCoaching
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieobriencoaching/
Get Stephanie’s Masterclass, “Course Creation Made Easy: Beat the Blank Screen, and Get Your Coaching Program Created Fast!” - https://www.coachclientconnection.com/Course-Creation-Made-Easy-Masterclass/

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Stephanie, you find yourself in a prison of your own making, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is the golden key to your freedom.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. Especially when you find yourself caught between what you know to be your passion and what you believe you have to do for money. Yes, you can have both. You just have to step outside yourself and look at what’s going on.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to be open and honest with yourself so you can make things better.

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now it’s time to meet Stephanie. It looks like she’s just sitting there daydreaming. What’s on her mind? I have a penny, let’s use it to get her thoughts!

132. Something From Less Than Nothing with Zack Lemear

Thu, 21 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

This week’s guest, Zack Lemear, is a marketing and branding strategist who, on the surface, looks and sounds pretty much like any entrepreneur consultant.

It makes sense he’s successful helping businesses with marketing and branding since his ticket in the birth lottery won him a blank slate to create and brand himself.

Here on Fine is a 4-Letter Word, you may know my first question of every guest is to ask them what values they were raised with as they were growing up.

Zack is probably the first guest to ever say he wasn’t raised with any values at all.

Rather, he was surrounded by a dysfunctional family dynamic involving poverty, drug addiction, abuse, and systemic cycles repeated by generations of his family via their life choices.

His mother was a con artist, from whom he learned sales skills, and who was constantly getting evicted. In one case, they got kicked out of an apartment and moved to another unit literally one floor above. How does that work?

Because he moved around so much, he didn’t have the opportunity to keep friends long enough for them to have much influence on him.

Attempting to trace his family lineage, he found 21 people with the last name Lemear, all of whom he knew somehow, but none he felt he could accurately organize into a family tree because the name had been handed around and relatives had had children without getting married.

So, with no learned values or traceable family tree, he had an unprecedented opportunity to brand and create himself in any way he wanted, as well as break the systemic toxic family patterns.

How did he do it?

What enabled him to be the first in his family to finish high school, much less go to college?

How did it influence his choices, including passing up a free ride to a state university to accept admission to an out-of-state school he couldn’t afford?

What values has he instilled in his own children and how has he shielded them from the family patterns that still try to influence them?

Zack’s hype song is "Something from Nothing" by the Foo Fighters.

Resources:

Zack Lemear’s website: https://www.pivotcreative.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharylemear/

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Zack, you find yourself looking at your situation and seeing an opportunity to clear the slate and innovate yourself, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. Especially if it feels like you’re creating something from less than nothing, this guide provides a framework to go about it in a systematic way that honors who you authentically are and, like Zack, design (or redesign) yourself.

So, when you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze your own trail and allow your curiosity to take you on a new quest!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s meet Zack. I bet within the next few minutes, you’ll be amazed at how little you know about yourself - and how much you may be about to learn!

131. Beyond Safe Spaces with Gregory Halpen

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Have you considered how much of what you do - even the things that seem to bring you joy - began as coping mechanisms to deal with trauma?

Even your talents and your brilliance might be subconscious, or even conscious, reactions to traumatic experiences from your past.

Gregory Halpen came from a family background of violence, addiction, and abuse. Yet one of the main core values he felt he was raised with was the importance of creativity, which he learned from his mother.

That's just it, though - his mother had developed creativity as a coping mechanism for her own childhood trauma and passed it on to Gregory.

For a while, creativity brought Gregory success and joy as a theater actor and singer, which in turn made him a storyteller - meaning, he embraced the power to rewrite and create new stories.

He was quite successful at it, but then he'd hit a wall. This became a pattern that affected Gregory for two decades.

In 2007, he became a professional coach as a way to earn income so he could fund his performance art career until he made it big. This raised the question of whether someone in need of help themselves could help others.

Still, on the surface, everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Gregory's childhood trauma was sabotaging his personal relationships, his path toward success in all his endeavors, and more.

And then he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2016.

In a moment, when you meet Gregory, you'll join him on a journey through which he created his own "safe space" by taking responsibility for his own healing.

One of the key realizations was discovering how a childhood lesson intended to help kids cope with the world, actually exacerbates their traumas into adulthood.

Gregory’s hype song is “Suddenly” by Billy Ocean.

Resources:

Gregory Halpen’s website: https://www.GregoryHalpen.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greghalpen
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregoryhalpen
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/gaylifeover40

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Gregory, it hits you that some of the very things you think are fine are either symptoms - or causes - of what makes you NOT fine, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but as Gregory will explain during our conversation, they could be the very thing that cracks something open in you and helps you see things differently.

Are you ready to find out what that’s all about?

Well, when you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine – then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze your own trail and allow your curiosity to take you on a new quest!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s go meet Gregory. He’s holding a jar of peanut butter and has a mischievous grin on his face. What is he up to? Let’s meet up with him and find out!

130. Just F**king Be Nice – To Yourself with Ely Delaney

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

As human beings, we are both programmed and pressured to say everything is “fine”.

Someone asks, “how are you?” and you’re supposed to reply “fine, how are you?”

Have you noticed that a benign, well-meaning core value many of us are raised with could be reinforcing this and blocking us from improving ourselves?

Ely Delaney, whom I met through Success Champions and recently reconnected with when he responded to an ad from our production company looking for guests, is one of these people.

His parents raised him with a strong work ethic, emphasizing that you do your best with what you have. All well and good, and from what I know of Ely, I can see his parents’ positivity and love reflected in the man I’ve come to know and respect.

But could you be translating this in your mind into “good enough is good enough”? For Ely, it’s the difference between the common notion of "working hard equals success" and the necessity of pushing oneself beyond average effort.

By 2019 Ely, had his business, his life partner, their daughter, and though he had been some ups and downs, everything seemed “fine”.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In 2020, COVID hit and took a toll on his business. At the same time, his partner was diagnosed with what turned out to be a fatal brain tumor. Plus, he didn’t feel like he fit in living in Portland, Oregon. All the while, he was expected to say “Fine, how are you?” when asked how things were going.

So, after attending a seminar in Texas, Ely decided he had found his people – those who aligned at least 80% with his core values – and moved there for a fresh start.

It was basically a “fuck this, I’m OUTTA here” moment. Given your current circumstances, would you like to do that?

These days, Ely is on the rise – his business is growing again, he has a great circle of friends, and he’s found happiness unlike what he knew before. In fact, he has watched podcast interviews of himself from two years ago vs. today and sees in himself the changes in his facial expressions and the energy he projects.

In a moment, when you meet Ely, you’ll discover the influences and learnings that coalesce to bring him to this place. It’s an eclectic mix of archery, Bushido, and two of the core philosophies he has developed for himself and teaches others – “Meet Cool People” and “Just Fucking Be Nice”.

Ely’s hype song is “Main Attraction” by Jeremy Renner.

Resources:

Ely Delaney’s website: https://ConnectWithEly.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elydelaney/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elydelaney
Instagram: https://instagram.com/elydelaney/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/elydelaney

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Ely a couple years ago, you’ve reached the point where you’re tired of saying “fine, how are you?” and are ready to say “Fuck this, I’m OUTTA HERE” - the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but similar to the seven principles of Bushido, they are simple, straightforward, and at your disposal to use as you choose.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine – then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze your own trail and allow your curiosity to take you on a new quest!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s go meet Ely. Whoa – wait a minute – he’s holding a bow and arrow! He’s a super nice guy, though – you’ll see!

129. An Inspired (And Haunted) Road Trip with Tracy St. Croi

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Do you remember a time when the phone would ring and you had to answer to find out who was calling?

How about when you saw that stack of presents with your name on them for Christmas or your birthday – did you have a sixth sense that told you which one was the present you really wanted?

Tracy St. Croi was one of those kids back in the 1980s who just knew.

Tracy revolted against all the "so-called" values and systems she was raised with growing up in the Midwest, such as bragging about your high school, going away to college, coming back to town and settling down, having a job you hate, where you then complain about your sicknesses and illnesses, and then you die.

There HAD to be more.

Tracy's mom passed away when she was 10, which led to Tracy and her siblings getting split up, as her mother had been married twice and the kids went with their respective fathers.

These events, combined with the expectations of the educational system and the anxiety she felt to not stand out, caused her intuitive gifts to go dormant.

She got a lot of pressure as a kid to say everything was “fine”.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In her young adulthood she navigated through trauma, addiction, and societal pressures, eventually finding solace in therapy, sobriety, and spiritual exploration.

Things were improving, but she couldn’t say she was “fine”.

Then, the intuition came alive again.

Tracy became an intuitive medium.

In a moment, when you meet Tracy, you’ll embark on a profound and supernatural journey discovering psychic medium abilities and what they mean for you, her experiences with spirit communication, and her endeavors in hosting an internationally-acclaimed, groundbreaking podcast (and upcoming streaming series) called "The Haunted Road Trips Show."

Through her work, Tracy aims to demystify the spirit world, educate others about mediumship, and help people develop their intuitive gifts.

Tracy’s hype songs are "Lose Yourself" by Eminem, "They Call Me The Breeze" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and "We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About" by Jimmy Buffett.

Resources:

Tracy St. Croi’s websites: https://www.tracystcroimedium.com/ and https://www.hauntedroadtripsshow.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-st-croi-73391710
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TracyStCroi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracyst.croimedium
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tracystcroimedium

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Tracy, you have this sense there’s a lot more out there – that there has to be more - the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but you could find yourself seeing things that have been there all along, except up until now you haven’t taken the time to observe.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine – then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze your own trail and allow your curiosity to take you on a new quest!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s go meet Tracy. She’s got the car gassed up and we’re going on a road trip!

128. Motivational Firewood with Steve Gamlin

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Are you someone who uses self-deprecation to get laughs?

Steve Gamlin was too until a pivotal moment when his friend Kris figuratively put on a pair of steel toe boots and kicked his ass and woke him up to the dangerous effects of doing that.

Steve was raised to believe in the value of hard work. When Steve was 7, his dad bought their house and started remodeling it, one room at a time. All the Gamlin kids pitched in – helping with the remodeling, yardwork, and before Steve was ten years old he was clearing brush and chopping firewood.

Additionally, Steve’s mother instilled in him a love of reading and writing.

When Steve was 11, he decided he wanted to be a radio DJ, a standup comedian, an author of books, and a teacher of people - but not in a classroom. To inspire and coach people. When he was 24, he landed his first radio station job.

His dad gave him sound advice, “You got your foot in the door, now bust your ass so you don’t get thrown back out the door!”

For over a decade, Steve worked in radio 50 to 60 hours a week, going through several jobs as radio stations were bought out and the new management fired the old crew. After 10 years of this stress, he walked away, emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausted.

When his marriage ended shortly after that because of poor communication since he was never home, he found himself $62,000 in debt. Soon after, a mentor helped him triple the revenue from his weekend event DJ business in just two years.

But he was still beating himself up for the decisions he’d made in those previous 10 years. As I mentioned a moment ago, he’d started speaking on stages and was incorporating a lot of self-deprecating humor. After that conversation with Kris, he started learning how to continue using humor, but not at the expense of his self-esteem.

Along the way, he created Vision Board Mastery, a unique approach to vision boarding you’ve likely not heard before. This one consists of 10 steps but doesn’t involve selecting the photos of your lifestyle for the board until Step 7. There’s a reason for that.

Oh, and you’ll also hear how a random email led Steve to find the love of his life.

Are you ready to hear more?

Steve’s hype song is "Happy" by The Rolling Stones.

Resources:

Steve Gamlin’s website: https://stevegamlin.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegamlin/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Steve.Gamlin.Author.Speaker.Motivationalist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevegamlin/
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/SteveGamlin
Claim your access to Steve's FREE "Visualize in 5" video: http://VisionBoardSpecial.com

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Steve, you find yourself stuck in burnout, exhausted in every possible way, and struggling to create a vision for your dream life, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but you could find yourself seeing a bit of Steve’s point about how the vision you think you have isn’t possible until you’ve put in the work.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine – then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze your own trail and allow your curiosity to take you on a new quest!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

127. Rage Against the Midlife with Kimberly (Kimby) Samson

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Have you ever seen those memes that compare the co-stars of “The Firm”, Wilford Brimley looking elderly at age 56 and Tom Cruise looking young at age 56?

These memes show us that these days, people are aging much more gracefully, or at least not according to the same timetable they used to.

Did the timetable ever make sense to begin with?

Is there supposed to be a specific age where we begin to question whether Fine is a 4-Letter Word?

Kimberly, or Kimby Samson grew up without a lot of specific values. It was more like learning through modeling rather by teaching. Her parents showed her an example and she was expected to follow – there wasn’t a lot of conversation.

When it came time for her Bat Mitzvah, she was told she couldn’t have one, and she’d get a big wedding instead.

Oh, and did she – Kimby got the most fabulous, amazing wedding – as she says, the wedding of her mother’s dreams!

In this episode, I didn’t ask Kimby about that specific moment when she realized things weren’t “fine” – it was implied that since we were talking about the midlife crisis, especially as it pertains to women, hitting “midlife” is when we’re supposed to begin facing those questions.

For Kimby, it was finding she had done well in her career, in her great marriage and with her three wonderful children, and also seeing that she was bored.

Her journey was to find her mojo again. And then she wrote a guide to help you do the same. Her recently published book is appropriately called, F*CK THIS: Practical Advice To Get You Through Your Midlife Crisis.

In a moment, when you meet Kimby, you’ll get a new point of view about this midlife time.

You’re looking to push an easy button – “change your career”, “reconnect with your dreams” – and “take this pill”.

What if it’s not an easy button but more a matter of taking one small step at a time? Maybe instead of big milestone celebrations, make every moment a small party?

Allowing your curiosity to take you on a journey where one thing leads to the next and you discover things you’d never thought possible?

Kimby’s hype song is "Milkshake" by Kelis.

Resources:

Kimberly Samson’s website: https://themidlife.co/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-samson-460593227
Facebook: https://facebook.com/themidlife.co
Instagram: https://facebook.com/themidlife.podcast
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/kimbynotkim
Get Kimby’s newly released book, F*CK THIS: Practical Advice to Get You Through Your Midlife Crisis at https://amzn.to/3UDdKDZ

Invitation from Lori:

If, like Kimby, everything in your life is good but you’re still bored, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but you could find yourself seeing that what you’re told is not fine actually IS fine, and you’re destined for a different, more personal journey.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine – and F*ck those who say you’re not fine – then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze your own trail and allow your curiosity to take you on a new quest!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

126. Living the Beige Life with Sonia Graham

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When your life story is dominated by trauma resulting from one fucked-up thing after another, it plays a nasty trick on your definition of what’s “fine”.

After surviving being killed almost three times before she was two years old, Sonia Graham was adopted into a strict Puerto Rican / Irish Catholic family. Her father was in the Air Force, so while she developed resilience to deal with ever-changing situations, she did NOT learn how to create lasting relationships because she knew whatever friends she made, she would not have for very long.

Because of her extensive behavioral issues, her parents eventually put her into Boys Town. The bigger issue was that she had PTSD from her childhood traumas, and in the 80s, PTSD was misunderstood. As a result, Sonia was treated with psychiatric drugs rather than the proper treatment.

So, as an adult, she hesitated to seek the therapy she needed, which prolonged her suffering.

All this instilled one of Sonia’s core values – at the end of the day, the only person you really have is you, so you have to be true to you.

After she got out of Boys Town, she graduated high school early, then had her first child at age 18. Six years later she was pregnant again. Then at age 27, she married, divorced, and remarried – all in one year.

Sonia’s husbands, like her father, were in the military, so she went back to the pattern of moving around. After the family moved to Maryland, she became a Realtor. Then she got divorced again. She discovered her passion for teaching and found a unique niche helping Maryland Realtors learn the business side of real estate, beyond simply getting a license.

All in all, everything seemed fine.

Until her teenage son tried to murder her.

Indeed, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In a moment, when you meet Sonia, you’ll discover her quest for what she calls “living in beige”. When your life is dominated by trauma and violence, with occasional good things such as finding your niche in your career and excelling at it, you just don’t see the middle.

Sonia's hype song is “The Greatest” by Sia.

Resources:

Sonia Graham’s websites: https://www.simplemovesgroup.com/ and https://soniagraham.jpar.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-graham-7060b442/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaMaria1980
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sold_with_sonia
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SoniaMGraham1

The movie mentioned in the episode is called "Inside Out".

Invitation from Lori:

Like Sonia, it’s possible you’re not “fine” because trauma is the only thing you really understand – as a result, trauma itself becomes your “fine”.

If you want to start changing the coding in your brain so you can see past the trauma and find the beige, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’ll find yourself seeing a new point of view.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

125. The Joy Code with Marc Zalmanoff

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Does it seem like everyone else is doing great while you’re struggling?

And because it seems like you’re the only one who can’t manage and everyone else has their shit together, you’re either afraid or unwilling to talk about it?

But what if you then got to have deep, meaningful conversations with other people and discovered they’re going through the same struggles as you?

Marc Zalmanoff was raised largely by a single father who didn’t really explain much to him. His father taught him lessons by example – how to be a good human being, how to be an entrepreneur, and how to be decent toward women regardless of the circumstances.

His other major influence was his joyful, warm grandmother who went through a lot of health struggles yet maintained her optimism and cheer until the end.

Marc grew up, married, and had a child. He became a partner in a gym. Then he got divorced. Not long after, he had another child with another woman, but then they broke up.

Then the gym ran out of money. Marc didn’t speak with his partner about any of what was happening, he just walked out in the middle of the night, inviting his own personal training clients to follow him to a new venue he rented.

Somehow Marc managed to get through every situation, so it seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Over and over again, he found himself going through major changes without talking about it. He had learned from his dad that this is just what men do. And he never noticed that others might be going through the same thing. Until one day, when he found out the other gym owners he shared a parking lot with were also struggling in business.

In a moment, when you meet Marc, you’ll discover how his life significantly changed when he got himself around other good men and discovered the power of masterminding.

Coupled with this, he realized how our culture teaches men to talk about surface-level stuff like sports, politics, and current events, but never to really open up to each other in the same way women find themselves able to do naturally.

Through his new venture, The Joy Code, Marc is bringing men together to help them share their successes and struggles by creating a space where they feel comfortable. Where they can get around others who are leveling up and pouring into themselves to become better humans. Asking “how can I have a better relationship with myself?”

Marc's hype songs are "Bodies" by Drowning Pool and "The Game" by Motorhead.

Resources:

Marc Zalmanoff’s websites: https://pillars.thejoycode.net/8-pillars-of-joy and https://www.marczfitness.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marczalmanoff/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marc.zalmanoff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marczalmanoff

Invitation from Lori:

Like Marc, it’s possible you’re not “fine” because you don’t feel comfortable admitting things in your life aren’t as fine as you’re convincing people they are.

If you want to start changing the coding in your brain so you can – as Marc is known for saying – make good choices, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to own your feelings and your struggles so you can address them.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’ll find yourself feeling more open and able to deal with your situation in a more powerful way.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

124. Falling Behind Before Getting Ahead with Adam Hommey

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:00:00 -0400

What if it’s never been “fine”?

What if it feels like every good thing comes with downfalls and you’re racing to keep up?

Adam Hommey was raised with the values of pursuing academic excellence and being selfless to the point where it became a detriment. At the same time he was expected to achieve, he felt denied the opportunity to enjoy his success.

It all started in his early childhood. He was almost three years old and had barely spoken a word. It turned out he was deaf. Fortunately, his hearing was restored through surgery and treatments, but he was still behind.

His mother bought textbooks to get him caught up – a form of homeschooling. So he entered kindergarten able to read and write way beyond his grade level. In first grade, his teacher noticed his boredom and ordered a proficiency test – which revealed he functioned at the third-grade level.

He was promoted in the middle of the year, from the first to second grade, with a big ceremony and everything.

But the grade promotion put him WAY behind.

Now, he was younger than his classmates, which meant he was the last in his cohort to experience milestones such as getting a driver’s license and becoming a legal adult. He didn’t get to enjoy a legal drink in a Penn State bar until the middle of his senior year!

Plus, imagine how being branded the “smart kid” affected his social life.

The pattern of falling behind by being ahead has affected Adam to this day, including his development and progress as an entrepreneur.

Fine is a 4-Letter Word, and Adam has never been “fine”.

In a moment, when you meet Adam, you’ll discover how every giant leap forward has set him back and put him in an endless race to catch up. He’s always felt like an outsider who doesn’t fit in.

But Adam has discovered that being an outsider who doesn’t fit in allows him perspective others don’t see, simply because he has never had the benefit (or curse) of things being normal, or “fine” for him.

Being differently attuned allowed him to receive important life lessons from the spirit of a dead dictator and, as an adult, to become good friends with one of his childhood heroes – two things not many people get to experience.

Adam's hype song is "I’m Not Gonna Cry Anymore" by Benny Mardones.

Resources:

Adam Hommey’s website: https://www.TheReachSystem.com/
Connect with Adam here: https://www.ScheduleWithAdam.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamhommey/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adamhommey/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allforareason15/

Invitation from Lori:

Like Adam, it’s possible you’re not “fine” because it feels like every surge up the mountain seems to lead directly to the edge of a cliff.

If you can relate, the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide is for you.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to overcome the fear of being left out.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’ll find yourself feeling more like you and finding your own unique place.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

123. Midlife Emergence with Jen Berlingo

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Many of us go through life wondering if we’re really living our authentic lives.

Are you doing what you really want to do?

Are you being who you really want to be?

Even if you’ve created a great life, been fortunate, and haven’t had what you consider an existential crisis, is something just not quite right?

Jen Berlingo had what seemed to be a great childhood. As she would discover later, she thought she was happy because early on she embraced being a good girl, a people pleaser, and as a result got a lot of praise from her parents, relatives, and everyone else around her.

There was something under the surface though. Growing up in the south in the 80s and 90s, she was exposed to homophobia, racism, a tight grip on monogamy, pseudo-Christianity, and other harmful sentiments coming from the same people whose love brought her happiness. This caused her to deny something she knew to be true.

Jen went through what one might call a normal amount of teenage rebellion, became an adult, started a career, got married, and had a child. She had a happy life, and everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

As she approached middle age, she achieved a new level of consciousness about herself that led her to ask "Wait. What is my core self? Where's my authentic self?" She started peeling back the layers of familial, cultural, and social conditioning that had allowed – maybe even required – her to adapt to her environment.

See, throughout all of this, Jen knew she was queer.

While this proved not to be as devastating to her domestic situation as she anticipated, it did end her marriage. And although she continues to have a great friendship with her ex-husband, this acknowledgement did bring on a lot of changes.

As part of these changes, Jen took a deep dive into what are known as introjects – the beliefs and values one unconsciously absorbs from the people they love and the society they’re raised in.

Are your beliefs and values, especially the ones you’ve never questioned, actually a defense mechanism that has shielded you from the risk of being your authentic self?

In a moment, when you meet Jen, you will learn a lot more about her journey and why she redefines the idea of a “midlife crisis” as Midlife Emergence. Is this the message you need to hear today?

Jen's hype song is "Apeshit" by the Carters.

Resources:

Jen Berlingo’s website: https://jenberlingo.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenberlingo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenberlingotherapy/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenberlingo/
X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/jenberlingo/

See Yvonne Marchese’s episode, “Flip The Script” at https://zenrabbit.com/podcast/flip-the-script-yvonne-marchese/

Invitation from Lori:

Like Jen, it’s possible you’re rationalizing your life by telling yourself no one gets everything they want but you can still feel fine with what you have.

That shouldn’t stop you – and that’s why I created the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to overcome the fear of being seen as a lazy slacker.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’ll find yourself feeling more peaceful and even courageous.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

Now, let’s go meet Jen. Believe me what I say, you won’t regret it!

122. Her Year of Exploration with Kathy Goughenour

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Ever go through a part of your life thinking everything is fine, but then experience that moment when your whole world turns upside down?

It could be a debilitating health issue.

Or maybe finding out just when you achieved what you thought were your dreams, that it wasn’t what you really wanted after all. Or it comes with baggage that you didn't bargain for.

But what if things never were “fine” to begin with?

Kathy Goughenour was raised as the daughter of two Pentecostal preachers and seemed destined for a life with no dancing, no bowling, no movies, and never being allowed to wear anything but a dress. The only value instilled in her was "go to church" - which made her rebellious.

Then her parents divorced. Her mother remarried. And she found out an awful fact: her mother never wanted her or her brother and had actually tried to abort them. Imagine your mom telling your stepfather throughout your life to keep you away from her. When her mother was on her deathbed, she told Kathy to never have children.

So she didn't. She married and divorced twice before she was 30, then married a third time to a man who had already had a vasectomy.

In the meantime, her career flourished. She started a business helping real estate agents market their businesses, and after the crash of 2008 pivoted to creating a company training VAs how to serve their clients and grow their practices. She’s ruled her empire wearing tiaras and PJs, because that’s how she rolls.

Kathy avoided the trauma she expected might come from becoming a mother herself. She had what appeared to be a great marriage and aside from a few bumps, has always done well professionally. Everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

And Kathy is discovering that NOW.

Let me repeat – Kathy is discovering that NOW.

Rather than entirely reveal the plot of this episode, listen to hear Kathy share what’s going on in her world these days. We’re joining her at the beginning - yes, the beginning – of what she calls the "third act" of her life. Does she want to continue the same business? Does she want to spend the rest of her life with her husband? Where does she want to live?

You rarely hear what happens in the messy middle, much less while it’s in progress, so this episode serves up a much different perspective!

Kathy's hype song is "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift.

Resources:

Kathy Goughenhour’s website: https://www.virtualexperttraining.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathygoughenour/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathygoughenour/

Invitation from Lori:

Like Kathy, it’s possible you have lived what has seemed, up until now, to be a charmed life. But what if you’re nearly 70, or whatever milestone you have coming up, and it suddenly hits you that the next act of your screenplay is just beginning to unfold?

But it’s scary, because even though you want to, you don’t know HOW to live differently than you’ve been living for all these years. I get that. It’s hard to break free from societal and family expectations. Which have become so ingrained in you that you think they’re your own beliefs, but your soul is telling you there’s something more.

That’s why I created the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide.

Once you read it, you’ll

✅ Discover a counter-intuitive approach to making intentional changes in mindset and lifestyle.

✅ Learn how to overcome the fear of being seen as a lazy slacker.

✅ Find out how to face fears, step out of your comfort zone, and rewire your beliefs.

It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’ll find yourself feeling more peaceful and even courageous.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now to download it for free.

121. Change, Control, and Courage: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this end-of-year solo episode, I’m talking about change, control, and courage.

How do you identify the need for change? What are the signs of dissatisfaction, lack of motivation, and other indicators that signal a need for change in various aspects of your life?

I’m inviting you to reflect on where in your own life you may be hesitant to make necessary changes.

We’re talking about understanding fear and resistance because they’re a normal part of change. Once you’re aware of what the common fears are – like fear of the unknown, loss aversion, cognitive dissonance, social and cultural conditioning, and loss of control - that hold people back from making significant life changes – it’s easier to overcome them.

Then let’s look at what you’re missing out on when you’re attempting to control everything.

This has been a year of fantastic guests and episodes. There’s a quick recap of a handful of shows in which the guests shared their stories of facing challenges, surrendering control, and finding the courage to make significant life changes.

Let’s dive into embracing uncertainty, letting go of the need for control, and taking courageous steps so you can prepare for unprecedented personal growth and transformation in the coming year!

This week’s hype song is one that I’ve listened to a lot this past year for motivation. It’s “Fire” by Gavin DeGraw.

Resources:

F*ck Being Fine Experience: https://zenrabbit.com/f-being-fine-program/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/

Invitation from Lori:

I'm inviting you to come work with me in the 10-week F*ck Being Fine Experience.

This program is designed to help you achieve transformation quickly. So once you get to the last week of 2024, you’re looking back and seeing what giant strides you made. How proud of yourself you are.

Where will you be in a year if you DON’T change your path? If you continue to frustrate yourself by trying to control what’s not controllable? If you DON’T find the courage to follow your heart?

I’ve heard that “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” The unknown is dark. Like a cat, I can see in the dark, which is how I can lead you from it.

Join me and the handful of others who are taking this journey and go to https://zenrabbit.com/f-being-fine-program/

The first step is to take a step. Do it now!

120. Flip the Script with Yvonne Marchese

Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Sometimes things seem to fall apart just when you think all is going well, and sometimes it seems to happen over and over where it feels like you can never catch a break.

But what if those moments where things are no longer "fine" turn out to be springboards that move you to the next step?

Growing up, Yvonne Marchese was raised with a strong work ethic. Her father sold suits; her mother worked, even though she preferred to be a stay-at-home mom. Her father's mantra was "Don’t be afraid to scrub a toilet". The lesson stuck.

Yvonne's dream was to be a theater actress. She went to college for it, working her way through school in line with her work ethic. Then she married right out of college and began doing theater in Denver while holding down the first of many "survival jobs" - but she was on her way. Everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

Yvonne and her husband got divorced. This was her chance! She made her way to New York City, the best place to be if you want to act in theater.

While she started acting again, she held another series of "survival jobs" that worked out quite well. Her employer gave her generous time off to pursue her dream. While on a 2-month tour, she met her second husband. They started a family, her acting career went into high gear, and everything seemed fine.

But again, Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

How could she pursue a theater career and be a mom? Now that she could make a living off theater, how did it suddenly become a "job" rather than a dream? She stopped theater, transitioning into work-from-home jobs. But with her kids different naptimes, this arrangement proved unsustainable. So she got a full-time job that lasted until the economic crash of 2008.

Once again, she was asking, "what am I going to be what I grow up?"

The next morning, she woke up and decided to become a photographer – the profession she enjoys to this day. However, at 48 she found it impossible to get out of bed and get going. She was tired and angry all the time, screaming at her kids for being "late" when SHE was the one running behind.

An introduction to Mel Robbins’ book “The 5-Second Rule” led her down the self-help path. She took up meditation, her kids noticed she was happier, and once again everything seemed fine. Until that morning she was frightened by the middle-aged woman staring back in the mirror!

In a moment, when you meet Yvonne, you'll discover how each of these moments where things were no longer "fine" proved to be catalysts bringing her closer to her destiny. Today, she’s an “Age Agitator” on a mission to explore what it means to age playfully who believes it’s never too late to pursue a dream and that the stories we tell ourselves have tremendous power in our lives. She’s the host of Late Bloomer Living podcast and the Midlife Uprising Summit. And the author of In Full Bloom – a Guide to Aging Playfully.

Along the way, she's had even more moments where she discovered things weren't "fine" - but we'll let Yvonne tell us the rest.

Yvonne’s hype song is "Just Like Fire" by P!nk.

Resources:

Yvonne Marchese’s website: https://www.latebloomerliving.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-marchese-85111751/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latebloomerliving
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latebloomerliving/

Invitation from Lori:

Like Yvonne, you may find your dream becomes unsustainable - or once you achieve it, suddenly it’s not what you expected. Now what?

The first step is to go to https://zenrabbit.com right now and download the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide.

Once you read it, you’ll be able to understand and embrace things that, up until now, have not made sense to you. It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. The five tactics are pretty simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you may find the answers to questions you didn’t even think to ask.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

119. The Truth is a Lie with Sally Lotz

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Imagine, for a moment, being a child and knowing something was wrong, but being too young to understand.

Now picture yourself in a cult without knowing the word for it.

That’s what happened to Sally Lotz.

Until she was four years old, things seemed normal. Then her parents divorced, her dad left the picture as he served overseas in the military, and her mother took Sally and her siblings to a new city.

Suddenly, everything changed.

Instead of having freedom to explore, now all her decisions were made for her. How she dressed for school and which classmates she was allowed to interact with (meaning none). Her role was to do only what others told her to do.

Sally knew something wasn’t right. One of the first clues came when she buried a butterfly she believed was dead, and then unburied the soil later and found the butterfly was gone. If there was no heaven, as Sally was told by the cult, where did the dead butterfly go?

Her new stepfather abused her in every horrible way imaginable. And her mother accused her of being a “bad influence” moments after her stepdad kicked their cat across the room. Sally was made to feel that being sexually molested by him was her own fault. On top of that, she was told there was no way to prove it even happened because she didn’t have two witnesses to back her claims.

Ironically, the people who caught Sally making out with her high school boyfriend didn’t need two witnesses. All it took was their word, and Sally found herself facing a perverted, sexually charged interrogation by multiple adult men.

Sally soon left the cult and joined her father who was now in San Diego, where she went straight from having to follow rules for everything to no rules at all. She finished school, then tried college, but it didn’t work out.

She went back to what felt familiar and found a man to take care of her. They married when she was only 20 and had three children.

Despite all that had happened up until then, Sally’s life seemed to be improving and everything seemed fine.

But Fine is a 4-letter word.

She found that out when her husband joined a cult similar to the one she’d been raised in, and all the same rules suddenly came back into play. She divorced him. But then her mother, who had not left the cult, came to stay with her.

In a moment, when you meet Sally, you’ll join her on a journey down a winding road with double-backs and wrong turns as she comes to cope with two traumas – the trauma of an abusive home and religious trauma. These two things have fueled her career as an author, writing coach, and mentor.

Her fourth book, The Truth is a Lie, is a young adult novel based on her life growing up in a cult and aims to help others understand and gain strength.

Sally’s hype song is "Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys.

Resources:

Sally Lotz’s website: https://www.sallylotz.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyjlotz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YourPathToWriting/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallyjlotz
Link to Episode 49, Setting Her Own Course with Sabrina Victoria: https://zenrabbit.com/podcast/setting-her-own-course/

Invitation from Lori:

Like Sally, you may be so immersed in your situation that you can’t possibly see a way out. How do you take a step back when you don’t know which way to turn?

At some level, you know you need to assess things from a new vantage point, but how?

The first step is to go to https://zenrabbit.com right now and download the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide.

Once you read it, you’ll be able to understand and embrace things that, up until now, have not made sense to you. It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. And the five tactics are pretty simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’re in for a profound change.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

118. Overcoming as an Overachiever with Holly Bertone

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 05:00:00 -0400

A lot of us have a story about that time we hit rock bottom.

For some of us, we find out there's yet another rock bottom when the floor bursts out from the one we're on.

Then another.

What happens when you're looking for the safety net, like someone in a freefall, and it doesn't appear?

How does it feel when you have values but are physically incapable of living up to them - especially as an overachiever?

Holly Bertone was raised to put the values of honesty and integrity first. When she had the chance to go partying with her friends but she had a commitment, like a babysitting gig, her answer was obvious and did not require any thought. Her dad had a sign in his office that said "If you don't do, you don't get" and this simple mantra had a deep impact on her.

In school, she did a project studying the psychology of Charles Manson and became fascinated by how the human mind works. She dreamed of working for the FBI and chasing serial killers.

It took a few steps, but she got there - she became a chief of staff at the FBI.

Her career and her life were going fine - but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

As an overachiever, she found out that when you raise yourself to that level, the falls that happen when events beyond your control intervene can be especially debilitating.

In 2010, she was diagnosed with cancer, and eventually developed Hashimoto's thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder we've discussed on the show before.

In 2017, a series of events led to her forced resignation from the FBI.

She started a coaching practice, and just when she was getting traction, her divorce went into a whirlpool, and she couldn't even take on new clients.

When honesty and integrity and the belief "if you don't do, you don't get" are your core principles, yet you're so mentally and physically debilitated you can't get out of bed, that's a long, hard fall, especially for an overachiever.

In a moment, when you meet Holly, you’ll discover how it felt for her to be in a seemingly endless freefall asking, "what now"?

Discovering how to reconcile when events beyond her control conflict with her core beliefs has been a journey. And these events have required her to center herself around keeping going, never giving up, knowing her life is still a work in progress.

You'll also find out how much of it can be helped by brain chemicals.

Holly’s hype song is "Now That We Found Love" by Heavy D & The Boyz.

Resources:

Holly Bertone’s website: https://pinkfortitude.com/
Resources for listeners: https://academy.pinkfortitude.com/podcast-landing-welcome
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinkfortitude/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holly.bertone/

Invitation from Lori:

Like Holly, you may reach a point where you feel you've achieved your dreams through a combination of honesty, integrity, and fortitude.

Then, life steps in and makes it physically impossible to continue.

At some level, you may know you need to take a step back to evaluate where everything's headed. But too many other things keep showing up and knocking you down and you can't get even a moment to gather yourself. So, what now?

The first step is to go to https://zenrabbit.com right now and download the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide.

Once you read it, you may see a new point of view that helps you understand and embrace things that, up until now, have not made sense to you. It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. And the five tactics are pretty simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’re in for a profound change.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

117. Beyond The Grind Life with Tess Wittler

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Many people believe they have a dream lifestyle – the perfect house, the perfect job or business, the perfect family and social cycle, just everything perfect.

Some create checklists or vision boards so they can visualize it and align their thoughts and actions toward having it for themselves.

But what if you think you’ve achieved it, but it turns out you’ve veered way off course?

Tess Wittler was raised in central Pennsylvania as part of a tight-knit family. Growing up, it was annoying to visit grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins who were much younger than she was – it made her eyes roll. As an adult, she came to appreciate family as she created a life with her husband.

Then, a cascade of events happened. Both her parents, her mother-in-law, and both grandparents died within a span of just 30 months. This was right around the time COVID happened, and also right around the time Tess and her husband, Jason, bought what they believed was their dream house in Richmond, VA to be close to Jason’s job. They bought a boat and looked forward to hiking.

Then they noticed they weren’t hiking, they weren’t fishing, and they weren’t boating – even though this was supposed to be their dream lifestyle.

Up until this point, everything seemed fine – but Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

In January 2022, Jason lost his job. Between that, and so many of Tess’ family having passed away, they began to question their choices.

It occurred to them that perhaps they had not created their dream lifestyle after all – but then what was the next step?

In a moment, when you meet Tess, you’ll discover the journey she and her husband embarked upon that has taken them to somewhere they hadn’t considered before – Washington State, where Jason was born and raised but had left after high school.

There were so many questions. Would they find a house they liked? How would Tess get along with her husband’s family, who she had not really had a chance to get to know except through occasional visits? Would they find the hobbies and the social circle they were looking for?

They were so focused on asking “what if it doesn’t work?” that they didn’t think to ask an even more powerful question.

Tess' hype song is “The Pretender” by Foo Fighters.

Resources:

Tess Wittler’s websites: https://www.TessWittler.com and https://beyondthegrindlife.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tesswittler/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TessWittlerMarketing/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tesswittlermarketing/

Invitation From Lori:

Like Tess, you may think everything is “fine” and have no reason to ask questions or continue a path of self-discovery. Just follow the course and you’ll reach the destination.

But is that because you’re certain you’re on the right path, or afraid that if you take a step back and look from a distance, you might find out you’re not?

In which case you might be left questioning whether you can ever manage to find your right path, overcome the feelings of overwhelm, and the impossible to live up to expectations.

The first step is to go to https://zenrabbit.com right now and download the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide.

Once you read it, you’ll understand how the beliefs you’ve been programmed with since birth are holding you back and keeping you stuck. It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. And the five tactics are pretty simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’re in for a profound change.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to blaze a new trail and chart a new course!

116. New Reasons (and Ways) to Celebrate Thanksgiving: A Special Episode with Lori

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this very special solo episode, I'm talking about gratitude.

But let’s dig into it from a different perspective.

We'll be starting with a seemingly random question - are you interested in getting high?

Because that’s one of the neurological effects gratitude has on us - no sketchy dealer required.

It involves a particular chemical in our brains that makes us feel more gratitude, sleep better, alleviate stress and handle it better, strengthen our immune system so we're healthier, reduce depression and anxiety, and so much more.

Remember: you may think you're feeling fine, but Fine is a 4-letter word.

In a moment, you will discover how to get a hold on this "wonder drug" (you may have guessed by now, but let's find out) and also adopt five simple practices that help you experience gratitude - a fitting sentiment for Thanksgiving Day.

Given everything you're about to discover, it seems particularly fitting that I share a quote from an unlikely philosopher – Willie Nelson. He said, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”

At 90 years old, he might have learned some of the things we're about to explore together.

Resources:

Staying Calm in Chaos Program: https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/
F*ck Being Fine Coaching: https://zenrabbit.com/f-being-fine-program/
LinkedIn: https://zenrabbit.com/linkedin/
Facebook: https://zenrabbit.com/facebook/
Instagram: https://zenrabbit.com/instagram/

Invitation from Lori:

As we head into the holiday season, you might find yourself missing out on gratitude, lacking sleep, stressed out to the max, feeling physically ill, depressed, anxious, and more.

What better time to take a step back - even if you can't get away just now.

Visit my website at https://zenrabbit.com right now and download the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide.

Once you read it, you'll discover some of what's been holding you back and keeping you stuck. It’s only 7 pages, so it won’t take you long to get through. And the five tactics are pretty simple, but once you follow even ONE of them, you’re in for a profound change.

It's time to say F*ck Being Fine and find your calm in chaos. This guide is the place to start. It’s time to experience joy on this day of Thanksgiving!

115. You’re Not Just One Thing with Alexandra Clayton and Michal Sinnott

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

First, shout-out to my previous guest, Aneta Kuzma, for connecting me with Alexandra Clayton and Michal Sinnott, who you’re about to hear from today.

Personal wellness means different things to different people.

When you get to know someone, you find out there’s a lot of unpacking to do.

Alexandra and Michal met in a female filmmaking collaborative alliance, and little did they know the exciting journey it would lead them on.

Growing up, they were both raised to appreciate the value of education in different ways. Alexandra’s parents limited her exposure to media, and they carefully curated the media she did see to focus on female leaders and women in positions of power. Michal comes from a long line of travelers and sailors, which taught her the value of education through experience.

In other ways, they were different. Alexandra was emotional, and never thought of anyone as a stranger. She grew up in a household where love was expressed freely and openly, and she said hello to everybody at the grocery store. Michal, on the other hand, was introverted and learned through acting that she could express herself by pretending to feel things she wasn’t feeling; this was very liberating for her.

As multi-hyphenates – directors, producers, and actors who have also held a variety of side gigs to support themselves – they’ve most recently come together to write a screenplay and film a movie.

It was through this experience they discovered how fine is a 4-letter word.

Their movie, called “Unpacking”, is about a wellness retreat. Through their experiences, Alexandra and Michal both appreciate the importance of community and structure. At the same time, they feel there’s currently a real lack of places for people to go and find support to draw themselves out from wherever they’re stuck and get moving forward right now. The mega-wellness industry fills the gap for a more privileged set of people, but what it has to offer is simply out of reach to many others.

In a moment, when you meet Alexandra and Michal, you’ll discover how they’re out to change all that. Hear how their experience in the “indie” movie industry, where you can create your own stories and roles without pleading for the approval of gatekeepers, has inspired them to break out of the typecast and inspire others to do the same.

Alexandra’s hype song is “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer.

Michal's hype song is "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + The Machine.

Resources:

Alexandra and Michal’s websites: https://www.alexandraclayton.com/ and https://www.michalsinnott.com/ (each includes individual social media links)
Website for "Unpacking": https://unpackingmovie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unpackingmovie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unpackingmovie
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/unpackingmovie

Also, check out Aneta Kuzma’s appearance on Fine is a 4-Letter Word by clicking here.

Invitation from Lori:

Like the characters in Alexandra and Michal’s film, you may find yourself longing to escape from your life. Because it’s all too much and you’re questioning whether you can ever manage to overcome the crappy thoughts in your head, feelings of overwhelm, and the impossible to live up to expectations.

Don’t let those bullshit beliefs win!

Go to https://zenrabbit.com right now and download the 5 Easy Ways to Start Living The Sabbatical Life guide.

When you’re ready to say F*ck Being Fine, then this guide is the place to start. It’s time to create your own character and write your own story!

114. Finding Fulfillment Via Travel with Kyle Kroeger

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Many of the stories my guests share here on Fine is a 4-Letter Word involve dramatic downfalls, tumultuous transformations, and earth-turning evolutions.

Even if you haven’t really had one of those, I’m willing to bet there’s something going on that’s not fine. Let’s put it to the test.

Kyle Kroeger was raised in an entrepreneurial environment with four core values – work hard, do your job and be passionate about it, have your own life and be with your friends, and always ask what else you could be doing.

He went to college, graduated, and started a career working in finance. This is an industry that supports some of Kyle’s core values – work hard, do your job and be passionate about it – but it’s also a structured work environment where you’re not supposed to ask any “what else” questions. Kyle actually enjoyed it to an extent, the money was good, and everything seemed fine.

But fine is a 4-letter word.

Something was missing for Kyle.

He had a passion for exploring and travel. He spent much of his life in Minnesota but had visited Amsterdam while studying abroad and felt like it was home. So he started a side hustle, a travel journal site where he documented his journeys and shared resources to help others who wanted to see more of the word.

He asked himself a question you may have asked yourself: How could he make enough money doing it so that it could replace his finance job and let him truly live his passion?

Along the way, Kyle’s values have been tested, at one point realizing that adhering to Google’s content guidelines was stifling his creativity and passion. What’s more, after all his hard work to comply, Google changed their algorithms and brought him new challenges. This is where I found him when we sat down to chat.

In a moment, when you meet Kyle, you’ll learn more about his philosophy of pursuing your passion and maintaining your authenticity, even when compromising on your core values can make you more money faster. For him, it’s all about sharing his experiences, and one of his great joys is being a resource and guide for others who want to travel more.

Oh, and he lives in Amsterdam now – a dream come true!

Kyle’s hype song is "Lose Yourself" by Eminem.

Resources:

Kyle Kroeger's website: https://viatravelers.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-kroeger-287a196/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viatravelers/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viatravelers/
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/viatravelers

Invitation from Lori:

Like Kyle, you may find yourself torn between living a life of purpose with passion and leaving an incredible legacy, or doing what seems fine because it brings you wealth and appears to be in alignment with your core values.

If what you’re doing, if how you’re living today, isn’t bringing you joy, it’s time to change.

That’s why I created the F*ck Being Fine Experience.

It’s a life-changing program that gives you the strategies, tools, and encouragement to create new habits that will help you feel more alive, confident, and purposeful.

Discover how it works at https://zenrabbit.com/f-being-fine-program/

The first step is to take a step. Do it now!

113. The Gift in the Struggle with Dr. David Gustitus

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

The human body is an amazing machine.

It has resilience and capabilities most people don't understand.

But what happens to the body when we sacrifice too much in service to others?

Dr. David Gustitus was raised by parents who divorced when he was very young, but it didn't seem that bad because they were both on the same page about raising him and very involved in his upbringing.

He was taught the value of self-sacrifice - that you give and give and give, to the point of having very little regard for your own needs. Don't get a big head. Don't be full of yourself. Always put others first.

As a child, Dr. Dave had debilitating asthma. Then his mom took him to a chiropractor, who miraculously “fixed” him in about 10 minutes. He became an excellent soccer player and a great athlete.

After a stint in his 20s working for an environmental nonprofit, he found his true calling. Remembering how his childhood chiropractor changed his life and wanting to do the same for others, he went to chiropractic school and built a bustling practice. He got married and had two children. Everything seemed fine.

But fine is a 4-letter word.

While he had a great relationship with his kids, Dr. Dave’s marriage wasn't going so well. He threw himself into triathlon training as a way of "self-medicating". Physically, he was in top notch shape.

Then one day, while driving in Chicago with his 11-year old daughter, he felt a pounding in his chest and everything went white. Was it a heart attack? A panic attack? Psychosomatic? After repeated emergency room visits and numerous tests, it turned out Dr. Dave had autoimmune thyroid, called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

Basically, the stress caused by his self-sacrifice, combined with eating the wrong food, caused his body to attack itself. A year after knowing his marriage was over, he finally asked for a divorce. Once again, he struggled to climb stairs - ironically, just a few months after running his best triathlon and becoming a Taekwondo black belt.

What was going on here?

In a moment, when you meet Dr. Dave, you’ll hear his journey toward regaining his health and prowess. Along the way, he discovered what causes people to have health problems and why society must rewire itself to stop accepting cancer and heart disease as normal.

Dr. Dave's hype song is "I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For" by U2 from the Rattle and Hum album

Resources:

Dr. David Gustitus’ website: https://www.wholebodyhealthchiropractic.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/whole-body-health-chiropractic/
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/wholebodyhealthforme
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholebodyhealthforme

Invitation from Lori:

Like Dr. Dave, you may think everything’s fine even though it isn’t, because you’re on the inside looking out and don’t see the warning signs.

In my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you'll discover the steps to creating more success in your life through a counter-intuitive concept. It will open your eyes to some things you aren’t seeing just yet.

Before you crash and burn, you may need to slow down or even pull over. This means resting, reflecting, and recharging. And you can do this even if your current situation doesn’t let you just walk away from everything right now.

Take a moment to visit https://ZenRabbit.com and download it from the home page.

112. Learn to Love Your Story with Dr. Natalie Marr

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

I believe humans have an innate desire to do the right thing in all areas of their business and life.

But what IS the right thing?

And what if it feels wrong to other people when you do it?

Dr. Natalie Marr was raised as the middle child of 5 in a culturally Catholic family where she learned two core values: standing up for the little guy and having a powerful work ethic.

As a therapist, she ran into imposter syndrome when she went through not one, but two divorces. How could she help others fix their problems when her own life was so messy and things weren't working out for her? Through it all, she still had her practice, and it was doing okay, and everything seemed fine.

But fine is a 4-letter word.

One day, Natalie made the decision to stop accepting insurance and switch to a private-pay model, which meant her practice almost immediately decreased to about 25% of its previous size. She did not like the way insurance treated mental health providers and undervalued their services. And the way it did not pay for specialized treatment and paid providers the same rate based on credentials regardless of their experience or expertise. By refusing to accept insurance, she was living up to her value of standing up for the little guy.

Additionally, she was also starting a coaching business and figured once she got that up and running, it would replace her previous income.

But this was just when her teenage son was preparing to go to college. How could she be so selfish? How was this in alignment with her value of standing up for the little guy - in this case, her son who was headed off to college and needed help paying for it?

Her decision made a lot of people around her uncomfortable. They criticized and judged her.

How did she overcome and persevere?

In a moment, when you meet Natalie, you'll learn about her journey toward self-acceptance and applying her deeply-rooted values to an ever-changing world. In a society where we're taught to delay self-gratification because it's "selfish" to do otherwise, you'll discover how you, too, can change your perspective to enjoy a truly aligned life.

Dr. Natalie’s hype songs are "About Damn Time" by Lizzo and "Me Too" by Meghan Trainor.

Resources:

Dr. Natalie Marr’s website: https://learntoloveyourstory.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-m-marr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learntoloveyourstory/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learn_to_love_your_story_/
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/NMarrCounseling

Invitation from Lori:

Like Dr. Natalie, if you find yourself unsure about the right thing to do, and people around you are calling you out on your values, it can feel chaotic.

One of the key elements in my "Staying Calm in Chaos" program is how to gain and enjoy radical self-acceptance. I take you by the hand and guide you through how to go from being what others expect you to be to finding and following your truth no matter what.

It comes with some powerful, mind-changing meditations as well.

Check that out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/

It's your time.

111. Breaking the Blueprint with Amy Palmer

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Events of the past few years have created space for many people to question their concept of how things should be.

I speak often of the "sabbatical life" and how taking a step back can help you see things that have been right in front of you all along, but you missed them because everything was moving so fast.

The pandemic brought the world as we had known it to a sudden halt.

Amy Palmer was one of those who had the fast pace of her life hit a sudden standstill. Raised in Central New York, she had a traditional upbringing that gave her a clear expectation of what life would be like. She'd do well in school, go to college, get a great job, fall in love, get married, have a couple of kids, and start a career.

Amy went to college, got a theater degree, moved to New York City, and pursued an acting career. To pay the rent, she took on sales jobs. She found she was pretty good at it, which led her to a new career that took her into operations and other corporate leadership roles. To her surprise, her acting career helped prepare her for this.

Everything seemed fine, but she didn't feel motivated.

A career coach opened her eyes to the world of entrepreneurship - something she had never thought of, because she didn't come from that sort of background.

This led to her starting a consulting firm and then accepting a leadership role with an education company that had an entrepreneurial culture.

Once again, everything seemed fine - but fine is a 4-letter word.

When COVID came along, she found herself needing something new – but what?

To find it, she had to go on sabbatical.

Could she afford it? Could she pull it off it in a culture that views any break in your work history as a red flag

In a moment, when you meet Amy, you’ll discover how unrooting herself to travel across the country, starting a podcast, and meeting people in her situation opened her eyes to a fundamental societal and cultural shift that's taking place today.

It goes beyond "quiet quitting" or "The Great Resignation" and delves into the core of what we've been taught to believe.

Amy’s hype song is “Let's Get Loud”, by Jennifer Lopez.

Resources:

Amy Palmer’s website: https://linktr.ee/amypalmer.today
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyapalmer/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.palmer.35574406/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amypalmer.today/
X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/amypalmer_today

Invitation from Lori:

Like Amy, you may have the career and life you have because “they” say you’re supposed to do it that way. But are you really supposed to?

To see it for yourself, you may need to take a step back. This means resting, reflecting, and exploring, regardless of whether your current situation lets you just walk away from everything right now.

In my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you'll discover five steps to exploring this journey and finding something you haven't seen before.

Take a moment to visit https://ZenRabbit.com and download it from the home page.

Slow down. It's the only way you'll gather speed.

110. It Seemed Normal... But It Really Wasn’t with Wendy Cocke

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

As children, without a frame of reference to really compare, however you're raised or whatever you experience seems to be normal.

But what if "normal" is not actually what's natural for you?

Wendy Cocke was raised in a family that owned a textile business specializing in cut and sew. From an early age, she was involved in business and financial decisions, basically as an equal member of the family. She was taught to think and problem-solve more than she was to memorize and regurgitate.

Very different from what many of her classmates experienced.

Wendy grew up and became a chemical engineer. She got married and started a family. She was living her best life, in a job doing work she loved. Everything seemed "fine".

But fine is a 4-letter word.

Her company was restructured, making her job redundant, and then the pandemic hit and she was let go with severance.

After taking 30 days off, Wendy discovered that while she had, indeed, been "fine," she had not been energized in her work. In fact, she had been very tired most of the time. But it seemed normal because that’s how everyone else was living. And it wasn’t until she spent 30 days doing nothing that she realized how not fine that was.

In a moment, when you meet Wendy, you'll discover the lessons she’s learned since then. Starting with a daylong interview for a job she thought she really wanted, even though her husband told her ahead of it that she would not be accepting that job. And the realization that working for someone else was not her destiny.

This kicked off her journey to starting her own consulting firm. Having discovered her love of mentoring in her previous job, she merged her past profession and this love by joining the faculty of her alma mater, teaching biomedical engineering.

Then she decided to write a book – and EVERYTHING changed.

Overall, Wendy had to break free from the clusterfuck of perfectionism that held her chained down. Once she did this, she experienced success she’d never even imagined was possible.

Wendy’s hype song is “9 to 5”, by Dolly Parton.

She also visits the Guns N' Roses channel on Pandora for inspiration.

Resources:

Wendy Cocke’s website: https://www.engineeringleadershipsolutions.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-anderson-cocke/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendycocke

Invitation from Lori:

Like Wendy, you may be living how you’re living now because of the beliefs that have been programmed into you since birth. Because of the stories you’ve told yourself forever. Because it's what other people who seem to be successful are doing.

But the part that gets overlooked by most people is that true success doesn’t come from always DOING. It requires time for recharging and allowing yourself to simply BE.

I’m talking resting, reflecting, and rejuvenating every DAY, not only on the one week of vacation you might allow yourself every year, or two, or five.

In my special guide, 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life, you'll discover, step-by-step, how to do that on the regular without taking a month or year-long sabbatical.

You know how you normally hear the disclaimer “Don’t try this at home!” In this case, you CAN try this at home. And not just “try,” DO.

Visit https://ZenRabbit.com and download it from the home page.

Change begins today.

109. Life is Great (Please Send Help) with Jason Seiden

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

All human beings, like you, are guided by a set of values.

But when you stop and think about it, do you really know where those values came from?

What's more, will they hold up when the Universe calls your bluff?

Jason Seiden's career journey started on third base, right at the height of the dot-com boom. His first job was as an executive producer at RollingStone.com. Through an early career that saw a dizzying rise in his professional profile and a tall stack of achievements, he was fortunate enough to have bosses and colleagues who gave him the space and grace to grow at his own pace.

Among his discoveries was the challenge in defining the concept of work-life balance. In 2009 he trademarked a word - "profersonal" - to frame this challenge.

He had a great career combined with a wonderful family; everything seemed "fine".

But fine is a 4-letter word.

In 2016, he got divorced, one of his daughters became chronically ill, and he had to put his beloved dog down. His consulting career came to a halt and he took a W-2 job. He was fearful of letting his new employer know his life had become messy – which was a challenge and contradiction to his values around how work and life cannot be separated.

Then, on July 22, 2018, his 15-year-old daughter, no longer able to stand the pain from her chronic illness, took her own life.

He was forced to re-evaluate his values in literally one day, as if the Universe was challenging him: "Oh yeah, you're going to talk about this? You're going to make this your... Let's see you live your values now, Seiden."

In a moment, when you meet Jason, you'll learn about his journey to rediscovering joy following his daughter's passing. How it showed him the true, deeper source of his values and how you, too, can pass them on to family, friends, colleagues, and everybody you encounter.

It involves creating a new relationship with your intuition and learning radical self-acceptance when you find yourself falling short of living up to your values on any particular day.

Overall, Jason had to break free from the emotional shitshow brought on when everything fell apart, so that he could go on to be a positive force for change.

Jason’s hype song is "Welcome to the Jungle", by Guns 'n' Roses.

Resources:

Jason Seiden’s website: https://jasonseiden.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seiden/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seiden
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seiden

Invitation from Lori:

Like Jason, if it hasn't happened already, you may find yourself making a values choice - do you want to live a life of purpose with passion and leave an incredible legacy, or do you just want to be able to get out of bed every morning?

Wherever this finds you right now, a better version of you is waiting.

If what you’re doing, if how you’re living today, isn’t bringing you joy, it’s time to change.

That’s why I created the F*ck Being Fine Experience.

It’s a life-changing program that gives you the strategies, tools, and encouragement to create new habits that will help you feel more alive, confident, and purposeful.

Discover how it works at https://zenrabbit.com/f-being-fine-program/

Don't waste ONE. MORE. MINUTE feeling unfulfilled!

108. Top of Heart with Grant Muller

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

First of all, I'd like to give a shout-out to our previous guest, Mike Fisher, for connecting me with Grant Muller, who you're about to hear from today.

And what a story you're about to discover!

Do you know what it's like to passionately want something - to fall in love with somebody - and not be able to express it because society says it's wrong? To suppress and bury who you really are and what you really feel just to try to fit in and not become a target?

Somewhere along the line, you were given core values, like integrity, but without any framework for what "integrity" means. What is integrity? Does it mean you boldly live your authentic life and use it as a driver to make the world a better place, or that you figure out how to fit in and do what you're supposed to for the good of the collective?

Society teaches us values, but it doesn't show us what they really mean. Part of the social contract is that you agree it's okay, that it's "fine" - but fine is a four-letter word.

As an immigrant from South Africa in the 1980s, Grant Muller struggled to fit in after his family immigrated to the United States. So he buried his beautiful native accent and did what everybody else was doing just to avoid getting picked on. As a teenager in the 1980s, he fell passionately in love with his male best friend. In those days, you just didn't admit to that. In order to cope with his feelings, Grant found a new lover - alcohol. This led to more love affairs, first cigarettes, then eventually cocaine. Outwardly he was successful, becoming a millionaire by age 28, and when he got fired, he figured he'd just retire and party for the rest of his life.

Until the check bounced and he found out all the money was gone.

Before you know it, Grant was sleeping on people's couches, getting into worse trouble, and soon facing four long, arduous years in prison!

In a moment, when you meet Grant, you'll walk beside him as he tells you more about his rapid decline from the top of the mountain to the depths of the darkest valley.

He had to do one of the most courageous things a person can ever fathom. And in painfully struggling to rebuild, Grant found the friend of a lifetime who reached into his world and showed him a new point of view.

In short, Grant had to step out of the clusterfuck of fear, regret, and disappointment and into a new, powerful place of peace and contentment.

Grant's hype song is "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks.

Resources:

Grant Muller's website: https://www.grantmuller.com/
Claim your copy of Grant's book here: http://www.buytopofheart.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegrantmuller/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGrantmuller/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrantmuller/

Also, check out Mike Fister's appearance on Fine is a 4-Letter Word by clicking here.

Invitation from Lori:

Like Grant, if, up until now, you've called your life a nightmare, a clusterf*ck, or a dumpster fire... you’ve been living in chaos for long enough. It’s time to let go of frenzy and lean into calm. You are here in this world, living this life, for a reason.

In our program, "Staying Calm in Chaos", we take you by the hand and guide you through how to go from being an overwhelmed high achiever to a calm, grounded, and centered person who has peace of mind no matter what. It comes with some powerful, mind-changing meditations as well.

Check that out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/.

It's time.

107. Doing the Things No One Else Does

Thu, 14 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In this solo episode, I'm talking about a conversation in which a friend pointed out something I do that not many others do. And what you can learn from this habit.

I'm also sharing where I went and what happened on my summer road trip this year. AND... what crazy, brave, wild thing I'm doing next.

Listen to find out what the 3 big fears are that keep you from going after what you really want, why one common fear is really a big fat cop out, and the super-hard and controversial question you need to answer if you're feeling stuck.

Coincidentally, I saw a dragonfly at my door when I was outlining this episode. What's that mean? I looked it up.

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.com. That’s where you can get your free copy The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life – without having to take a year or even a month off from real life. Download it at Zen Rabbit.com.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Jack Perez's episode: Becoming a Decision Maker Who Takes Action

Brian Muka's episode: Co-Creating with the Infinite

Bistro Eleven88

TrustedHousesitters (this is an affiliate link)

106. Summer Session 6: Do What Lights You Up: Messages from Snakes & Scorpions with Tab Scott

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

It’s still summer as far as I’m concerned. And in today’s Summer Session we’re going back to episode 16 from August of 2021. It’s called Do What Lights You Up: Messages from Snakes & Scorpions with Tab Scott.

Tab is an award-winning international advisor, speaker, and best-selling author of Trust Your Animal Instincts-Recharge Your Life & Ignite Your Power. And wow, what a story. Highly recommend.

We talked about the intersection of science and spirituality in regard to energy. How animals can help you find answers – in Tab’s case it’s been snakes and scorpions – hence the title of this one. And what you can do to achieve purposeful transformation, one small bite at a time

Here’s what’s changed in Tab’s world since we published.

Tab is very excited about working on her second book. It’s about taking badass lessons from nature to make businesses faster, more productive, and positive. Mark your calendar - the projected publication date is February 2024.

She’s consulting on sustainability, energy conservation, efficiency, and renewables. As well as innovation, behavior change and team building and dynamics. She sees a resurging movement in wellness and a love of nature and wants to help people who want to be part of that positive change.

Lastly, she’s moved with her partner from Nashville to Denver. Tab’s got an incredible story, so keep listening.

Speaking of changes and moving… if you’ve been dreaming of escaping your life and taking a sabbatical but you don’t know how you can make it work… head over to Zen Rabbit.com. That’s where you can get your free copy The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life – without having to take a year or even a month off from real life. There’s more to come on this topic too. Check it out at Zen Rabbit.com

Tab’s hype song is Chumbawamba’s Tubthumping (aka I get knocked down, but I get up again!)

Resources:

Learn more at: https://powering-potential.com/

Connect with Tab on LinkedIn

Follow Tab on Instagram and Facebook

Get Trust Your Animal Instincts

105. Summer Session 5: Tap Into Your Intuition & Own Your True Self with Brigitte Baker

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Going back a few months to February 2023 for this Summer Session. My guest is my very own animal communicator, Brigitte Baker. We're learning how she uses her intuitive abilities to strengthen the bond between humans and their companion animals.

Brigitte's journey to embracing her gift was not without its challenges, as being around animals and their pain was initially too much for her to handle. After years of societal pressure and feeling like she didn’t fit in, she had a turning point and found the courage to own her unique qualities. Listen as Brigitte inspires you to embrace our individuality and live authentically.

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. If your life is a bit of a mess and you feel caught in a storm with chaos swirling around you, check out the new Staying Calm in Chaos program. It’s 10 short audio sessions of tools and techniques to help you find peace of mind. No matter what life circumstances are throwing at you.

Comes with five awesome meditations. And there’s a bunch of other #calmplimentary stuff – like mandala coloring pages, templates for writing gratitude notes, and 52 weeks of inspiring activities to maintain your chill throughout the year. Because how many more days in a row do you want to say “Arg, today was a cluster-f*ck. Tomorrow will be better?”

Check it all out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/

Brigitte's hype song is Brick House by The Commodores

Resources:

Learn more at: reiki317.com

104. Summer Session 4: Complacency is a Disease with Tony Jalan

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This week’s Summer Session takes it back to March 2022 for the conversation with Tony Jalan. He and I talked about motivation, problem solving, owning where you are in life, and practicing intentional gratitude. Tony really got me thinking about the whole concept around intentionality.

I’ll never forget that after we stopped recording, Tony shared with me that one of the stories he told from his childhood, he had never shared before. That’s the cool thing about the intimacy of a podcast studio.

One of the key takeaways from this one was There’s not a point in anyone’s life where you’re above asking for help. Even the highest level coaches and leaders have coaches and mentors. Everyone needs someone to pull them up.

Check it all out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/

Tony’s hype song is All I do is WIN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGXzlRoNtHU

Resources:

Connect with Tony on LinkedIn

Follow Tony on Instagram

103. Summer Session 3: Unleash Your Joy with Carol Banens

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

For this week’s Summer Session, we’re kicking it back to January 2022 for the conversation with Carol Banens. She and I talked about grief and the grieving process, setting healthy boundaries, and expanding your awareness of the present moment.

Here’s what’s new with Carol since this episode published. She is now a certified grief to gratitude coach and a certified grief educator. She’s focused her grief coaching practice on working with widows and widowers. And she just this week published her first book of grief poems. It’s called “Kintsugi Your Heart: The Art Of Living With Grief” and is available on Amazon.

Because how many more days in a row do you want to say “Arg, today was a cluster-f*ck. Tomorrow will be better?”

Check it all out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/

Carol’s hype song is Bill Withers: Lovely Day

Resources:

Learn more at: https://www.carolbanens.com

Connect with Carol on Facebook

Follow Carol on Instagram

Get Kintsugi Your Heart: The Art Of Living With Grief

We mentioned the Abraham Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale

102. Summer Session 2: Living a Mindful Midlife with Billy Lahr

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s Summer Session episode we’re going back to Living a Mindful Life with Billy Lahr, from October 2022. Let me update you on what’s changed in Billy’s world since we published.

Billy is back from his two-year odyssey overseas, which included eight months in South Korea. He's parked himself in Minnesota and is leading virtual mobility & meditation sessions as well as mindful living group and 1:1 coaching sessions. He also has a new course out called Mindfulness for Anxiety.

In August he's releasing a brand new Reflect-Learn-Grow Introduction to Mindfulness course.

His awesome podcast The Mindful Midlife Crisis is on hiatus for now. But each Sunday and Wednesday you can tune in for a guided meditation. His last published episode about leaving Seoul is a tear-jerker. In it, he talks about making the difficult decision to leave Korea (despite every fiber of his being not wanting to go), why he wants you to stop asking people who make difficult life decisions, “Why?” and what to say instead, and what his journey has really been all about.

Go listen to that after you listen here.

If you’re up for some laughs today, keep listening.

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. Head on over to Zen Rabbit.com to get your free copy The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life – without having to take a year or even a month off from real life. While you’re there, you can also find a link to the brand-new program called Staying Calm in Chaos. If your life feels like a dumpster fire of stress and overwhelm and you’d prefer to be someone who feels peace of mind no matter what – Staying Calm in Chaos is for you. Comes with five awesome meditations. And there’s a bunch of other #calmplimentary stuff – like mandala coloring pages, templates for writing gratitude notes, and 52 weeks of inspiring activities to maintain your chill throughout the year. Check it all out at Zen Rabbit.com

Billy's hype song is Refuse/Resist by Sepultura

Resources:

Learn more at www.mindfulmidlifecrisis.com

Connect with Billy on LinkedIn

Follow Billy on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter

Listen to my guest interview on the Mindful Midlife Crisis

Relax to a Billy meditation

101. Summer Session 1: Creating Your Life The Way You Want It with Shannon Paterson

Thu, 13 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today is the first Summer Session of 2023. Remember back in the day when all the TV shows would do summer re-runs? It’s like that. Except instead of just pulling from the last season of 22 episodes, I’m taking you back to select episodes from the entire catalog.

We’re starting with Shannon Paterson’s show from November 2021. In this one, Shannon and I cover learning to love and appreciate yourself, accepting where you are and moving forward from here, and the power of speaking your truth.

Let me update you on what’s changed in Shannon’s world since we published. You might remember she’s a 3X Ironman World Champion triathlete. So, she’s gone back to her roots of fitness coaching, specializing in helping women who are over 40, who are experiencing the physical changes & energetic lows due to hormonal shifts.

This focus complements her mission of helping empower all women to "Live Your Truth” because strengthening your body helps you feel better in every way… physically, mentally, and spiritually. The new scientific research is proving that to truly look and feel your best at any age, you need to embrace NEW ways of exercising and nutrition that work for perimenopausal and menopausal women. She adamant that women are not small men, and training like one won’t get you the results you want.

To this end, she’s helping women make simple tweaks to improve body composition, confidence, and wellness via in-person and online personal training, nutrition counseling, and athletic coaching. I’ve been following her on Instagram and she’s always posting valuable info there.

Shannon also got married and moved from Washington state to Arizona, where she’s now enjoying living in an oven.

Shannon's hype song is Rise Up by Andra Day

Bonus song is Wavin'Flag - Coca-Cola Celebration Mix by K'NAAN)

Resources:

Learn more at www.liveyourtruthco.com

Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn

Follow Shannon on Facebook and Instagram

To schedule a free 30 min mindset empowerment coaching session, go to https://calendly.com/liveyourtruthgirl

100. How to Make Better Decisions

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

It’s a celebratory solo episode created to help you make better decisions! Welcome to episode 100! What if I told you there are no “wrong decisions?!” Yup, every decision you make is the right one.

In this one, discover how to figure out what your deep-seated limiting beliefs are and how you can change them to create more favorable results in your life. Learn how to stop spinning in indecision and wasting time weighing every last insignificant option while darting back and forth between options like a squirrel crossing the road.

Hear what “trick” you can use today and forever more to determine what your intuition is telling you so you can make the best choice for you in that moment.

There are a couple of book recommendations and I share a few research studies on what happens to our brains when faced with too many options. When you finish listening to this one, you’ll be set for making all kinds of decisions you can feel good about!

This week’s hype song is It’s My Life by BonJovi

Resources:

Listen to Using Your Values As A Filter with Nicole
The Paradox of Choice, why More Is Less by Barry Schwartz
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
Peter Crone on Instagram

You know you can go to Zen Rabbit.com to get your copy of the short guide to working less and living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. You may also be interested in a brand-new program called Staying Calm in Chaos. It’s 10 short, easily digestible audio sessions that walk you through how to go from being an overwhelmed high achiever to a calm, grounded, and centered person who has peace of mind no matter what. Comes with some awesome meditations and there’s a bunch of other cool stuff to go with it. Check that out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/

99. How to Honor Your Energy with Maria Riegger

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We are fortunate to have with us the remarkably versatile Maria Riegger. Maria is a corporate attorney, astrologer, parenting coach, and author. Born under the sign of Gemini, Maria claims her head has always been in the clouds. As a kid, when she was bored, she would make up stories in her head and has been writing since she was about 13 years old. Today, her unique blend of sarcastic wit and resilient spirit shows through her parenting books as well as her gritty contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels.

In our conversation, we cover Maria's journey from “fine” to what lights her up now. She shares insight into how she replaced her command and control parenting style with a more compassionate approach centered on laughter, connection, and understanding the unique needs of her child.

Did you know your birth chart can illuminate your unique energies? Maria shares how understanding these charts can enhance a parent's understanding of their child's distinctive energy patterns. Prepare for a thought-provoking exploration into creativity, inspiration, and the underestimated power of unscheduled, free time for both children and adults.

Maria’s hype song is Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey

Resources:

Of course, you can go to Zen Rabbit.com to get your copy of the short guide to working less living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. You may also be interested in a brand-new program called Staying Calm in Chaos. It’s 10 short, easily digestible audio sessions that walk you through how to go from being an overwhelmed high achiever to a calm, grounded, and centered person who has peace of mind no matter what. Comes with some awesome meditations and there’s a bunch of other cool stuff to go with it. Check that out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/.

Produced by Nova Media

98. Perfection is Not the Goal with Jen Beck

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Jen Beck is a registered Nutrition Consultant, an Advanced Practitioner of LIIFT UnTherapy, and CEO and founder of Complete Health Revolution. With two decades under her belt guiding people to discover the root cause of their issues and reclaim their health, Jen's mission to empower high achieving professionals and entrepreneurs to create a life they love is awe-inspiring. Besides her significant work with clients, Jen delivers corporate wellness programs to Fortune 500 companies worldwide.

Growing up on fast food, cigarettes, and a hefty disregard for personal nutrition, Jen's wake-up call - or her "2x4" moment - came when her mom was forced into a nursing home at 49 years old because of multiple sclerosis (MS). This was the catalyst that sparked Jen's curiosity and dedication to understanding the role of nutrition in our health. Researching the powerful impact of nutrition on chronic diseases, Jen embarked on a journey of learning, transforming, and healing.

We dive into Jen's process of introspection, understanding her feelings, and taking the leap to change her circumstances, and we uncover the small steps she took towards a much-desired transformation. Listen to how she debunked the "all or nothing" mentality, traced her perfectionism back to childhood triggers, and embraced therapy to heal her wounds. Jen’s story is a testament to how we can turn trauma into triumph.

Jen’s hype song is Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys

Resources:

Learn more at www.completehealthrevolution.com
Connect with Jen on LinkedIn
Follow Jen on Facebook and Instagram

Produced by Nova Media

97. Embrace the Best You You Can Be with Wendy LeBorgne

Thu, 15 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Wendy LeBorgne is an expert on voice and communication, which is why Fortune 100 CEOs and Grammy-award winning artists trust her to assess and optimize their voices in high-pressure communication and performance situations.

When the company she worked for changed leadership and she no longer felt morally or ethically aligned, she struggled with the decision to leave because it was a comfortable, high-paying job. The pandemic forced her hand and she found herself unemployed and struggling with a massive identity shift.

During this time, she leaned on the tight-knit community of her Bible study group. As we discuss, community is the heart of communication. You’ll also hear about the history of communication, how women and men use language differently, and how living in an era where online connections prevail is making us more disconnected than ever.

In this episode, hear why it’s ok to not be ok and learn the practices Dr. Wendy adopted to find equilibrium during this transitionary time in her life.

Wendy’s hype song is This Is Me - The Greatest Showman

Resources:

Learn more at www.drwendyvoice.com
Connect with Dr. Wendy on LinkedIn
Follow Dr. Wendy on Facebook and Instagram
TED Talk: Wendy LeBorgne: Vocal Branding Beyond Words: How Your Voice Shapes Your Communication Image

You know you can go to Zen Rabbit.com to get your copy of the short guide to working less living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. You may also be interested in a brand-new program called Staying Calm in Chaos. It’s 10 short, easily digestible audio sessions that walk you through how to go from being an overwhelmed high achiever to a calm, grounded, and centered person who has peace of mind no matter what. Comes with some awesome meditations and there’s a bunch of other cool stuff to go with it. Check that out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/

Produced by Nova Media

96. His Daughter Saved His Life with Chad Jackman

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we have the indomitable Chad Jackman in our midst - the founder of ThriveCore and the definition of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.

An Army veteran, Chad opens up about his religious upbringing and early traumatic experience of molestation as well as the mental health issues he faced after his medical retirement after 21 years of service. He recounts the struggle of finding his footing in the civilian world, and how he told himself everything was “fine” until he was just moments from ending his life.

Chad lays bare the challenges he faced, the trials he endured, and how he conquered his fears and anxieties. From this raw, unfiltered tale of struggle and survival, Chad emerges as a beacon of hope, guiding others towards their path of healing and empowerment.

Chad now channels his experiences and resulting wisdom into his work with high-stress professions like small business owners, entrepreneurs, and healthcare professionals.. He’s empowering these individuals to face adversity head-on, armed with mental toughness and an inner strength.

Chad’s hype song is Not Gonna Die by Skillet

Resources:

Learn more at thrivecore.org
Connect with Chad on LinkedIn
Follow Chad on Facebook and Instagram
85. From Dead to Thriving: The Healing Power of Breathwork with Leland Holgate Sr.

Of course, you can go to Zen Rabbit.com to get your copy of the short guide to working less and living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. You may also be interested in a brand-new program called Staying Calm in Chaos. It’s 10 short, easily digestible audio sessions that walk you through how to go from being an overwhelmed high achiever to a calm, grounded, and centered person who has peace of mind no matter what. Comes with some awesome meditations and there’s a bunch of other cool stuff to go with it. Check that out at https://get.stayingcalminchaos.com/.

Produced by Nova Media

95. Life is the Best Virtual Reality Game with Justin Keltner

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, we're stepping into the shoes of 'Email Scientist' Justin Keltner. Apart from supercharging email marketing for coaches with high-ticket programs, Justin leads transformational men’s groups worldwide from his home base of Mexico. You’ll witness his entrepreneurial journey that sprung from the roots of his hardworking immigrant grandparents and business-savvy parents. From becoming a web designer at the age of five and a half to scrutinizing life's patterns through reverse engineering, Justin's passion for technology is a lifeline, a balm to an unpredictable childhood, and now his magic wand for conjuring up business solutions.

Join us as we delve into the epidemic of burnout - a topic close to Justin's heart. We'll sift through his unique strategies to sidestep this trap and uncover his firm belief in the power of the subconscious mind, inspired by the timeless wisdom of Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich."

Follow along as we chart the course of Justin's adventurous move to Mexico, provoked by a yearning for deeper connections and personal freedom. We'll be addressing disconnection, loneliness, and their consequences, guided by insights drawn from Justin's personal struggle with depression.

Justin’s hype song is Levels by Avicii

Resources:

Learn more at justinkeltner.com
You can download Justin’s free guide on email marketing and deliverability at: justinkeltner.com/gift
Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/justintkeltner
Follow on Facebook: fb.me/JustinTKeltner
Follow on Instagram: @JustinTKeltner
Follow on Twitter: @JustinTKeltner
Mentioned: Choose Yourself by James Altucher
Mentioned: Lost Connections by Johann Hari

Of course, you can go to Zen Rabbit.com to get your copy of the short guide to working less and living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. You know what else you can get there? The newly revised and released How to Feel Comfortable, Confident & Courageous at Networking Events Book. Look for the link that says Networking at the top of the home page or go here. FUN FACT: Justin and I met at a networking event a few months ago.

Produced by Nova Media

94. Reclaiming Identity: Amanda JP Brown on Overcoming Shame and Embracing Change

Thu, 25 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Have you ever reached a point in your life where you simply couldn't accept the status quo anymore? That's where our guest for today's episode, Amanda JP Brown, found herself. As a licensed clinical social worker, transformational life coach, and accomplished author, Amanda has turned her personal struggles into a platform to guide individuals through divorce and help them shed the crippling weight of shame. Her empowering book, "You’re Brave Enough: 8 Daily Practices to Be Your Own HERO," is a testament to her dedication to personal growth and resilience.

From her early battles with substance abuse and toxic relationships that forced her to compromise her own perspective, to her journey of self-discovery sparked during her second marriage, Amanda's story is as inspiring as it is enlightening. This transformation—marked by a fitness journey, a brave relocation for self-exploration, and a conscious decision to break free from external validation—offers invaluable lessons in embracing change and asserting yourself.

Listen to Amanda's insights on navigating power dynamics in relationships, the importance of standing up for one's needs, and the inevitability of change. We also discuss the art of self-assertion and the journey to build confidence through trial and error. Lots of practical wisdom on personal transformation, resilience, and the courage it takes to reclaim your narrative and step into your true identity here.

Amanda’s hype song is What a Feeling by Irene Cara

Resources:

Learn more at amandajpbrown.com
Read: You're Brave Enough
Freebie: How to Survive the Early Days of Divorce
Follow Amanda on Instagram: @amandajpbrown

Produced by Nova Media

93. A Sabbatical Saved Her Life with Debby Kevin

Thu, 18 May 2023 05:30:00 -0400

Debby Kevin is a corporate refugee who turned her life around in an extraordinary way. Balancing a high-stress corporate life as a Six Sigma black belt and working 70 hours a week as a single mom, everything was “fine” until the pivotal moment her son was diagnosed with autism.

Forced to pause her corporate career, Debby took a two-year sabbatical, diving headfirst into a world of self-discovery, exploring her own well-being and her son's needs. This period led her to uncover new interests and ultimately, a new career.

Today, as the founder of Highlander Press, Debby helps change-makers share their stories through impactful books. Tune in as we delve into Debby's transformative journey, exploring the power of saying 'no', trusting intuition, and embracing life's challenges to find our true path.

Debby’s hype songs are This Girl is on Fire by Alicia Keys and You’re F***ing Perfect by P!nk

Resources:

Learn more at highlanderpressbooks.com
Connect with Debby on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/deborah-kevin
Follow Highlander Press on Facebook: facebook.com/highlanderpress
Follow Highlander Press on Instagram: @highlanderpress

Produced by Nova Media

92. (S3E18) Setting Boundaries to Protect Your Passions with Stefanie Joy Muscat

Thu, 11 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Stefanie Joy Muscat is the founder and CEO of Bevara, a consultancy firm that specializes in helping mission-driven organizations reach their full potential by implementing best business practices.

Stefanie started her first museum at just six years old. From that point on she would work in museums or similar spaces. When Stefanie’s world as a museum director and parent felt incompatible, she built her own business from the ground up to meet her needs. Though her life was "fine" for a while, she realized she never said no to anything, which caused her to resent the work she did and the company she built. She decided to shut down the business and took a dream job in another state. That move gave her the opportunity to take a different type of , life-changing sabbatical than you’ve heard about on previous shows.

In this episode, you'll hear how her sabbatical time changed her perspective, and allowed her to pursue personal interests and focus on her physical, emotional, and mental health — all while continuing to get paid. If you think taking a sabbatical is out of reach or impractical, this one’s for you!

Stefanie’s hype song is Unstoppable by Sia

Resources:

Learn more at bevaraweb.com
Connect with Stefanie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stefaniemuscat
Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/sjoymuscat
Follow on Instagram: @stefaniejoymuscat

Today’s episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. If you’d like to find peace of mind amidst the chaos and no matter what’s going on around you, you’ll find a whole bunch of free resources, like meditations and articles at ZenRabbit.com. And while you’re there, if you’re curious about how you might stop working so hard and achieve more success at the same time - get a copy of The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. It’s a short guide to working less and living better. Find it all at ZenRabbit.com.

Produced by Nova Media

91. (S3E17) The Magic of Letting Things be Easy with Ahuva Hershkop

Thu, 04 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Meet Ahuva Hershkop, a Toronto-based Anti-diet dietitian and burnout coach for professional women. While raising three children and growing her nutrition practice during the global pandemic, Ahuva realized that while she thought she was “fine,” she was actually far from it. Drawing upon her Orthodox Jewish upbringing, she felt compelled to help other women facing similar challenges, realizing that "fine" is not a worthy goal in life.

In our conversation, we delve into Ahuva's experience, exploring her struggles with perfectionism, the importance of examining your motives, unveiling the lies youtell yourself, and harnessing the power of community while acknowledging that nobody has everything figured out. Ahuva provides valuable insights on overcoming perfectionism, people-pleasing, and societal pressures that hold women back.

Join us as we explore Ahuva's story and learn from her expertise in helping women craft a fulfilling life without compromising their personal or professional aspirations.

Ahuva’s hype song is I'll Make A Man Out Of You from Mulan

Resources:

Follow Ahuva on Instagram: @ahuvahershkop
Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ahuva-hershkop-1b345719
Follow on Facebook: facebook.com/ahuvaARM
Watch: Three (simple!!) steps to end the working mom hustle for good!
Read: Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
Read: Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One

Of course, you can go to ZenRabbit.com to get your copy of the short guide to working less and living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. You know what else you can get there? The newly revised and released How to Feel Comfortable, Confident & Courageous at Networking Events Book. Look for the link that says Networking at the top of the home page or use this link.

Produced by Nova Media

90. (S3E16) Rising Above Addiction, Trauma, and Shame with Kevin White

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

In today's episode, I'm thrilled to have Kevin, a former farm kid from north central Iowa, join me for an extremely candid conversation. Kevin has a remarkable story around the shame of his pornography addiction and the freedom he gained through vulnerability.

Throughout our discussion, We talk about why he wouldn’t take away one moment of his past pain, why it’s important to honor the process in healing, and how men especially need to do a better job of tapping into their intuition.

Get ready for an honest and thought-provoking episode.

Kevin’s hype song is Ring of Fire (featuring Avi Kaplan of Pentatonix) by Home Free

Resources:

Learn more at believecrew.com
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kevin-g-white

Produced by Nova Media

89. (S3E15) Detoxing from Expectations with Aneta Kuzma

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

I'm excited to have Aneta Kuzma join me. Aneta, an immigrant from the former Yugoslavia, shares her incredible journey of personal growth and self-discovery. Raised with strong values of family and community, Aneta learned English in kindergarten, studied liberal arts in college, and worked in sales and banking for 22 years before feeling the urge to design the life she truly wanted.

We dive into Aneta's decision to hire an executive coach, which ultimately led her to start a coaching and consulting business focusing on executives, wellness, and health. We also discuss her introduction to meditation during her yoga teacher training and how it became an essential part of her life.

Aneta and I explore the powerful concept of taking sabbaticals – intentional periods away from work and life to focus on oneself – and how they differ from typical vacations. Aneta shares her experiences with multiple sabbaticals, both international and local, and how these breaks have shifted her mindset and recharged her creative and productive energy.

We also talk about creating a joy list filled with things that bring happiness, and the importance of scheduling joyful activities in advance. Aneta encourages listeners to capture special moments in their memories and take inspired action to create those moments.

Aneta’s hype song is I Lived by OneRepublic

Resources:

Learn more at anetakuzma.com
Connect with Aneta on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anetaardeliankuzma
Follow Aneta on Instagram: @ardeliankuzma

Of course you can go to ZenRabbit.com to get your copy of the short guide to working less and living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. Let me also put it out there that my partners and I are actively acquiring personal development businesses right now. So who do you know with a personal development business who is looking to make a change?

Alternatively, who do you know who would be interested in making extra money through some joint venture opportunities promoting other people's offers? Hit me up with your intros.

Produced by Nova Media

88. (S3E14) You Get What You Fight For with Christina Langdon

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Get ready for an unforgettable conversation with Christina Langdon, a powerhouse entrepreneur, speaker, and executive coach who knows a thing or two about fighting for what you want! We dive into her incredible journey of resilience, from childhood lessons on hard work and money to her time as the Chief Revenue Officer of Fast Company. After a life-changing leukemia diagnosis, Christina channeled her unstoppable spirit to fully launch her coaching business and write her book, "For Success Sake!" Join us to hear how she defines success, and recommends building self-belief, and discovering who you want to become. Trust me, you won't want to miss this rollercoaster ride of laughter, learning, and inspiration that comes from Christina’s fight for accomplishment.

Christina’s hype song is This Is Me from The Greatest Showman

Resources:

Learn more at christinalangdon.com
Connect with Christina on LinkedIn
Follow Christina on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Read her book, For Success Sake!
Get a FREE Chapter of the book here

Produced by Nova Media

87. (S3E13) From Nonprofit to Nomad: How Dan Clouser Found the Courage to Follow His Inner Voice

Thu, 06 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Are you feeling stuck in a rut and looking for a way to shake things up? Then you won't want to miss this episode of FINE is a 4-Letter Word, where I chat with Dan Clouser, author, adventurer, and all-around inspiration.

You'll hear how Dan left his successful nonprofit youth sports organization behind to travel the country in an RV with his wife and golden retriever. We'll explore how he found the courage to follow his inner voice and the importance of taking time for yourself.

And that's not all! Dan also hosts his own podcast, "Journey of My Mother's Son," where he shares the stories of the people he meets on his travels. We'll talk about his amazing experiences and the lessons he's learned along the way. Whether you're driving to work, walking the dog, or just need a little inspiration, join us as we discuss what it means to go from fine to fantastic.

Dan’s hype song is Starting Over by Chris Stapleton

Resources:

Learn more at journeyofmymothersson.com
Read: The Journey of My Mother's Son, Vol. 1
Get the brand new Four Paws and Six Wheels Across America (a portion of proceeds from will benefit the Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue)
Follow Dan on Instagram: @danclouser5

This season is all about sabbaticals and what you attract into your life when you allow ease and flow and fun. While I was on my road trip sabbatical with Panther last summer, I attracted an amazing business partnership that has now developed to the point where my partners and I are actively acquiring personal development businesses or assets this year.

So quick question for you. Who do you know with a personal development business – really anything in the personal development arena - that would be interested in a super fun opportunity to make some extra money? Hit me up if you have someone in mind. Text is 571.317.1463 or Lori@ZenRabbit.com.

Oh, and you know you can still get a copy of the short guide to working less and living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life at ZenRabbit.com.

Produced by Nova Media

86. (S3E12) Finding Worth Beyond Work: How to Separate Identity from Productivity with Dorothy Wisnewski

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Are you ready to hear from one of the most inspiring women I've ever met? I am so excited to introduce you to Dorothy Wisnewski. Dorothy is a copywriter and brand messaging strategist who uses her incredible gift of empathy and word alchemy to help inclusive brands do good things and create opportunity and revenue. But that's not all: Dorothy is also a fierce defender of the Oxford comma, and she has a deep and meaningful relationship with artisan bread — which are less random facts than you might assume.

In this episode, Dorothy and I delve into the importance of taking care of all parts of yourself and how it's impossible to power through life when you're in the middle of a depressive period. Dorothy shares her personal experience of relearning how to live after being diagnosed with a chronic illness and how that led her to the realization that she deserves more than just surviving. You won't want to miss Dorothy's powerful words of wisdom and the lessons she's learned along the way.

Guest’s hype song is No One Lives Forever by Oingo Boingo

Resources:

Learn more at dorothycopy.com
Connect with Dorothy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dorothy-wisnewski
Follow Dorothy on on Instagram: @dorothycopy

Produced by Nova Media

85. (S3E11) From Dead to Thriving: The Healing Power of Breathwork with Leland Holgate Sr.

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Are you looking for a new way to recharge and reset your mind and body? If so, you don't want to miss my latest episode of "Fine is a 4-Letter Word" featuring Leland Holgate Sr., founder of The Willful Warrior. Leland is a former quadriplegic who turned to breathwork and meditation to heal his body and mind, and now he's sharing his unique approach with others.

During our conversation, Leland explained the science behind his breathwork program, and how it can help you alkalize your body, activate healthy genes, and rewire your brain. We also talked about the importance of shifting your inner world to change your outer world, and how practicing breathwork can be a powerful tool for achieving this.

Leland's passion for helping others shines through in this episode, and I'm sure you'll be fascinated by his story and his approach to wellness. Whether you're new to breathwork or have been practicing for years, there's something in this episode for you!

Leland’s hype song is Born For This by The Score

Resources:

Learn more: thewillfulwarrior.org
Way of the Warrior Mood Shift Method
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-willful-warrior
Facebook: facebook.com/thewillfulwarrior
Instagram: @willful_warrior
Twitter: @WarriorWillful

As usual, today’s episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. But instead of inviting you to get a copy of the short guide to working less and living better - also known as The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life, I’ve got something else. You’ve heard my guests and me talking this season about sabbaticals and I’ve shared a bit about the one I took last August.

One of the opportunities that came to me when I wasn’t working was this amazing business partnership. That has developed to the point where my partners and I are actively acquiring personal development businesses or assets this year. So my question for you this week is – do you know anyone with a personal development business who is looking to get out?

Alternatively, if you know someone who is still all-in and interested in making extra money through some JV opportunities promoting other people's offers, I'd love an intro to them too. Hit me up if you have someone in mind. Text is 571.317.1463 or Lori@ZenRabbit.com.

Produced by Nova Media

84. (S3E10) From Success-Empty to Success-Full with Shelley Paxton

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Do you feel like you're just going through the motions in life? In this episode of FINE is a 4-Letter Word, I’m speaking with Shelley Paxton, former Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson and author of the bestselling book Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel's Guide to Finding Your Best Life.

Shelley shares her personal journey of feeling success-EMPTY rather than success-FULL — despite achieving what many consider to be the pinnacle of success. This awakening led her on a profound journey of self-discovery and a mission to help others redefine success on their own terms.

During the conversation, she discusses the importance of rebelling for what you want in life rather than against what you don't want, defining success in a way that feels fulfilling from the inside out, and the power of slowing down and listening to your inner voice. Shelley also shares insights on how being a professional marketer can actually help you better represent your own personal brand.

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Shelley Paxton that will help you break out of the "fine" mentality and start living a life that's truly fulfilling. Listen now!

Shelley’s hype song is This Is Me from The Greatest Showman

Resources:

Website: shelleypaxton.com
Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shelleypaxton
Follow on Instagram: @soulbbatical
Get Soulbbatical on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Fdk5gS
Sign up for the Soul Fuel newsletter: https://www.shelleypaxton.com/newsletter-sign-up

Produced by Nova Media

83. (S3E9) Being True to Yourself with Maria T. Finch

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Are you feeling stuck in your job or relationship? In this episode we speak with Maria T. Finch, a life coach who specializes in helping high achievers find greater fulfillment in all aspects of life. Maria's coaching practice, "Silence the Mindcluck," is all about combating the daily battle we all face with mental chatter that can make even the best moments harder. By silencing the mindcluck, you can tune into your inner intelligence, approach life with calm confidence, and break free from patterns that make life unsatisfying. Maria shares her own journey of dealing with toxic work environments and finding inner fulfillment. She also offers advice on recognizing when it's not the right moment to be with other people, and how to develop greater self-awareness. Join us for an enlightening conversation with Maria T. Finch.

Maria’s hype song is Mama Said Knock You Out by LL COOL J

Resources:

Learn more at silencethemindcluck.com
Mosquito Nets: tedderfield.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/79056890
Facebook: facebook.com/silencethemindcluck
Instagram: @silencemindcluck
Twitter: @quietthatmind

Today’s episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. If you’d like to find peace of mind amidst the chaos and no matter what’s going on around you, you’ll find a whole bunch of free resources, like meditations and articles at ZenRabbit.com. And while you’re there, if you’re curious about how you might stop working so hard and achieve more success at the same time - get a copy of The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. It’s a short - and free - guide to working less and living better. Find it all at ZenRabbit.com.

Produced by Nova Media

82. (S3E8) Finding a Path to Work-Life Integration with Dawn Mullarney

Thu, 02 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dawn Mullarney is a business owner, entrepreneur, and an all-around amazing human being. Dawn worked hard in wealth management for 8 years and became a mother. She wanted to set a good example for her son but was sacrificing time with him to build her career. She became a "yes" girl, taking on a lot of work and building her network — even at the expense of her health. After a health scare, she decided to make a change and prioritize her health and family. She started her own business and asked herself "What's the worst that could happen?" — realizing the answer wasn't as scary as she thought. After a lifetime of being a people-pleaser, Dawn finally discovered how to put herself first and stop living a “fine” life.

Guest’s hype song is Slow Down by Skip Marley, H.E.R.

Connect with Dawn on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dawnmullarney

Follow Dawn on Facebook: facebook.com/dawn.c.alba

Follow Dawn on Instagram: @uniqueconnector

81. (S3E7) Resilience in the Face of Adversity: A Dad’s Story of Overcoming Loss and Embracing Gratitude with Mike Fister

Thu, 23 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

On this episode of 'Fine is a Four Letter Word', we have Mike Fister with us to talk about how he and his family have navigated through the difficult time of having two miscarriages within a short period of time and the power of presence and being open with kids about emotional experiences..

Mike and his wife were expecting their fourth child in June 2022 but sadly experienced a miscarriage. A few months later they found out they were pregnant again, but that pregnancy also ended in a miscarriage. Mike reveals how his current organization and leadership value family first, which allowed him to be present with his wife and family during their grieving process. Throughout this tragic and difficult year, Mike learned the importance of letting people help you and leaning into gratitude to find joy in the midst of pain. I hope listeners will be inspired by his resilience and courage.

Guest’s hype song is Gratitude by Brandon Lake

Website: seamless.ai

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaelfister

80. (S3E6) Slowing Down to Speed Up: Letting Your Inner Voice Guide You with Dr. Amy Baker

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dr. Amy Baker is a former pharmacist and healthcare administrator, who left her job as a Director of Pharmacy to follow her true passion. She’s now an empowerment activist and Human(e) Health™️ mentor, and she’s determined to turn our concept of health on its head — one nervous system at a time. Dr. Baker has a message for everyone who’s been told they weren't enough or too much and who is stuck in a job that is sucking their soul. She’s out to inspire them to follow their passion and find their purpose.

Guest’s hype song is Do It Like A Girl by Morgan St. Jean

Resources:

79. (S3E5) Tap Into Your Intuition & Own Your True Self with Brigitte Baker

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We're joined by Brigitte Baker, a professional Animal Communicator. Brigitte shares how she uses her intuitive abilities to strengthen the bond between humans and their companion animals. Her journey to embracing her gift was not without its challenges, as being around animals and their pain was initially too much for her to handle. After years of societal pressure and feeling like she didn't fit in, Brigitte had a turning point and found the courage to own her unique qualities. Join us as Brigitte inspires us to embrace our individuality and live authentically.

Guest’s hype song is Brick House by The Commodores

Website: reiki317.com

78. (S3E4) The Power of Being Authentically You with Elaine Blais

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Meet Elaine Blais, a certified life coach who specializes in empowering women to reclaim their personal power through the art of self-approval. Elaine has a unique perspective on life, having spent much of her own journey pleasing others and trying not to be difficult. Through her own experiences, she has come to understand the power of embracing all aspects of oneself, even those that may be perceived as "difficult." Now, she is passionate about helping others do the same, by writing a new story for their lives. Elaine believes that being a "difficult" woman is not only acceptable but powerful and she is here to support and guide you in your own journey of self-discovery and empowerment. So if you're ready to step into your power, join Elaine as she shares her insights and guides you toward living the fullest version of yourself.

Guest’s hype song is Be Who You Were Born to Be by Bliss

Resources:

Website: elaineblais.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elaine-blais-lifecoach
Facebook: facebook.com/elaine.b.blais
Instagram: @elaineblaiscoaching
Join Elaine’s upcoming class, The Art of Self-Approval: elaineblais.com/selfapprovalintro

77. (S3E3) From Badge to Behind Bars: How Joe Kelley Turned His Life Around

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Joe Kelley is a self-proclaimed life hacker and head honcho at Obtaining Mastery, a company dedicated to helping people reach their potential and achieve true mastery in life. He's a lifelong learner who loves to explore the world and uncover life's secrets. Joe has dedicated his life to helping others unlock their potential and unlock their greatness. His passion for learning and teaching has led him to write books, create courses, and lead seminars and workshops around the world. He loves to learn new skills, challenge himself, and share his knowledge with others. Joe is a firm believer that anyone can achieve greatness with the right guidance and motivation. He is always looking for new ways to share his knowledge and help people reach their goals.

Joe had a family background of firefighters, nurses, and police officers. His dad wanted him to join the police department, so he decided to use his athletic ability to do something where he didn't have to sit behind a desk. Joe got a job with the Department of Children and Family Services and after six months, he got into the police academy. He found out quickly that it was not exactly what he had envisioned as a child because of all the extra stuff that comes with it. He ended up getting addicted to pain pills and losing his job. The chief offered him help, but Joe felt like he was being set up to be fired and kept his problems to himself.

We talk about his dramatic tale of burnout from overworking, leading to drug addiction, divorce, and eventually jail time. Thankfully Joe’s story doesn’t end there, as he gained the tools and coping skills to change his outlook and turn his life around. His book, Badge, Bars, to Beyond, tells his story while also giving tangible tools to apply to your life today.

Guest’s hype song is Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

Website: www.obtainingmastery.com

Book: Badge, Bars, to Beyond

Facebook: www.facebook.com/badgebarsbeyond

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joe-kelley-255b29137

76. (S3E2) Self-Care and Self-Compassion: A Conversation with Ileana Rontea

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Ileana is a master of transformation and a free spirit, world traveler, and pillar of light. With her background in psychology and human resource management, she uses her many challenging life experiences to help others find fulfillment and inner peace. She is an adventurous, loving, passionate speaker, lightworker, and inspiring role model who loves nature and animals. Her greatest joy is helping women become strong, confident, and empowered individuals. Ileana has a strong value base focusing on kindness and generosity of heart, which has led her to do work to empower women. We discuss how programs such as Ileana's can help people work through difficult times, and that it is important not to go through it alone. She shares the details of her sabbaticals and how the lessons she learned from them still shape her decisions today. Lastly, we break down the importance of self-care and some powerful mental frameworks for prioritizing it in your life.

Ileana’s hype song is Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

Website: www.empoweredwomennow.com

Follow Ileana on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ileana.rontea

Connect with Ileana on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ileanarontea/

75. (S3E1) Stop Living for Work with Dave Houser

Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Dave Houser calls himself “The Finance Nomad,” and he helps people create a life of fulfillment on their terms. He’s a proponent of taking time away from work, also known as sabbaticals. We discuss how stepping away from work and focusing less on business can actually attract more business opportunities, finding purpose in the things you do every day, and finding the clarity you need to figure out what it is you want to do. He also shares how even the most skeptical workaholics can find the time, money, and motivation to take a sabbatical themselves.

Guest’s hype song is Highway to Hell by AC/DC

Connect with Dave on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dave-houser-1247451bb or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dave.houser.5/

Today’s episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. If you’d like to find peace of mind amidst the chaos and no matter what’s going on around you - or if you’re curious about how you might stop working so hard and achieve more success at the same time - get a copy of The Five Easy Ways to Start Living a Sabbatical Life. It’s a short guide to working less and living better. Find it at ZenRabbit.com. You’ll also find a whole bunch of other free resources there as well, like meditations and articles.

74. (S2E38) 5 Ways to Prepare for an Amazing 2023

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Thanks for listening to the show in 2022! As we head into a new year, I'm sharing 5 ways to prepare yourself better than setting outdated resolutions. Because resolutions feel like ultimatums, which aren't welcomed by anyone.

Consider WHO you'd like to be, instead of what you'd like to accomplish.
What are the values you'd prefer to live into? Get the list of values I mentioned HERE.
Eliminate the word WANT from your vocabulary. (It's not so easy and you'll hear it slip into my conversation a few times on this one!)
Think about how to incorporate more fun into your life. And while we're at it, how about making "how can I?" your default question in any situation.
What will you START doing? And equally important, what will you STOP doing?

I share this quote in presentations all the time:

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” ― Abraham Lincoln

Let's get ready for an amazing year ahead! And remember to get your copy of the “5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life” at ZenRabbit.com.

73. (S2E37) Steve Finds His Way Into the Studio

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Is hell freezing over? After 30 years of talking about it, my college friend Steve and I have finally gotten into a studio together and recorded a show.

In the premiere of this new segment, which we'll likely name "And That's What Happened," we get Steve's equipment unboxed, meet Cal the cat, and hear about his adventure at Bass Pro Shops. We're also talking World Cup and what it has to do with how Steve and I met.

Want to know what your fave college team is not doing if they've having a losing season? Steve has the answer.

It's all fun and games here - and no one gets hurt!

Want to see the video recording? Head over to the ZenRabbitVideo channel on YouTube to watch.

Also, if you'd like to have more time to relax and reset every day, go grab your copy of the new guide, "5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life" at ZenRabbit.com.

72. (S2E36) Season 2 Wrap Up and What's Coming for Season 3

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Why hasn’t there been a new episode in so long? Great question!

The real, answer is I got a little burned out on putting it all together every week. I got to the last interview of Season 2 and kept telling myself I had to record this last wrap-up episode and then let a whole bunch of other things get in the way.

In Season 1, all the interviews were with very cool women. You got to hear all their vulnerable stories about being stuck in a place where they said everything was fine but it was not even CLOSE to fine.

Then in Season 2, I mixed in some stories from incredible men who were willing to open up and share their stories of living through fine/not fine times. The diverse perspectives were fascinating to me. And proof that yes, men and women are different, but I saw that much more in the choice of hype-song than in the feelings and experiences around living in Finesville.

Humans are humans. Our souls naturally strive for growth and expansion and are designed to live in joy, gratitude, and love. When we’re not allowing ourselves to live that way, it causes all kinds of dis-ease. (More about the topic of allowing further into the show.)

In Season 3, we're going to talk more about the topic of Living the Sabbatical Life. And how to take your own own sabbatical. Or create a sabbatical life, that allows you to live every day like you're on sabbatical. That doesn’t mean not working. It means consciously creating a way of living that supports doing what you need to do and having plenty of time to relax, enjoy life and recharge. So that when you sit down to work tomorrow, you’re not burned out, stressed out, and unable to focus from overworking today.

You end up being more creative, focused, and guess what? More successful – however you choose to define success.

There’s a lot of reprogramming that goes on here. Rewiring of the brain. You’ve heard me talk about that a bit. You’ll hear even more because this is how you go from feeling like life is chaos to feeling calm and grounded and joyful.

To help you with this, I created a short guide called 5 Easy Ways to Start Living the Sabbatical Life. You can get it for free over at ZenRabbit.com

And stay tuned for the new, monthly And That's What Happened live segment with my long-time, most hilarious friend Steve.

Today's episode is sponsored by Blonde Beard's Buffalo Sauce. Checkout their reasonably priced gift packs for all your holiday giving. Use code LORI20 to get 20% off your order at https://blondebeards.com/

71. (S2E35) Fixing a Broken Model with Keri Sicard

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My guest on today’s show is badass business owner Keri Sicard. For several years, Keri commuted 4 to 7 hours A DAY to her job, where she struggled to fit into a toxic work environment. For most of that time, she thought SHE was the problem. Then she realized the business model was broken. So she set up her own practice and created a healthier, more sustainable atmosphere.

In this episode, we’re talking about finding the belief in yourself, the three most valuable people to have in your posse, and morning routines, which I’m convinced more than ever are crucial to having a good day.

Keri brought up the importance of shedding the shoulds, which was a topic originally mentioned by my very first guest on episode 2 in the first season - Dara Goldberg. If you haven’t heard that one yet, go back and find it.

I’m excited you’re here to learn from this mom of 3, racecar driver, who is passionate about turning businesses’ ideas into valuable assets. and adamant about honest, truthful lawyering.

Keri’s hype song is Roar by Katy Perry

Website: www.virtualipllc.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/keri-sicard

Today’s episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. If you’d like to find peace of mind amidst the chaos and no matter what’s going on around you, get on a complimentary call with me. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll get insight on any issue you’d like to bring to the table. And you’ll leave the conversation with clarity and renewed energy. Find the booking link here. Or text me at 571.317.1463.

And if you’re not into chatting just yet, you can go to ZenRabbit.com to find free resources, like meditations and articles.

70. (S2E34) Living a Mindful Midlife with Billy Lahr

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

From the moment I met Billy Lahr, I knew he would be someone I’d want to stay in touch with. I wish he lived locally so we could hang out together because he is inspiring, smart, and hilarious. I’m so happy to have him as a guest on today’s show.

He was home in the States when we recorded this, but as you’ll hear, he’s gone back to live in Korea again this month. In this one, we’re talking about finding and settling into a sense of clarity, living and lingering in the gray area of life, and Billy’s strong stance on the phrase “everything happens for a reason.”

If you’re up for some laughs today, keep listening.

Billy is currently the host of The Mindful Midlife Crisis, a podcast for people navigating the complexities and possibilities of life’s second half. Billy spent 21 years as an educator but became disenfranchised the last half due to budding mental health concerns and unrelenting social media harassment from students.

In 2021, Billy left his job as dean of students to travel the world in search of more meaningful life experiences. After an emotional breakdown in Korea, Billy’s path in life became crystal clear. Since then, he’s been focused on navigating his own midlife crisis more mindfully and helping others do the same by using his life experiences as a guide for others to reflect, learn, and grow.

And if you’re not into chatting just yet, you can go to ZenRabbit.com to find free resources, like meditations and articles.

Billy's hype song is Refuse/Resist" by Sepultura

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billylahr/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Mindful-Midlife-Crisis-Podcast-106476821546123

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindful_midlife_crisis/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MindfulMidlife

Here's the meditation Billy created for Fine is a 4-Letter Word.

And you can listen to Billy interview me on The Mindful Midlife Crisis here.

69. (S2E33) Learn and Transform with Joe Bravo

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s guest is Joe Bravo. As with many of the fantastic people in my network, Joe and I met through LinkedIn. I’m telling you, it’s not just an online resume place where people pitchslap you all the time. You can make valuable connections there!

Joe and I are talking about living through and learning from traumatic situations, how pain is a great communication tool, and the role complaining has in growth. Joe also shares how he’s used authors, historical figures, and fictional characters as role models when he hasn’t had an appropriate role model physically in his life.

Joe Bravo is a senior brand ambassador for a company called Get Staffed Up. They provide virtual assistants to lawyers and other types of business owners all across the United States and beyond.

He says he started as a broken man, moved his way up to healthiest unemployed person ever. Today he’s finally able to share his story and what he learned from it!

Today’s episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. If you’d like to find peace of mind amidst the chaos and no matter what’s going on around you, get on a complimentary call with me. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll get insight on any issue you’d like to bring to the table. And you’ll leave the conversation with clarity and renewed energy. Here's the booking link. Or text me at 571.317.1463.

And if you’re not into chatting just yet, you can go to ZenRabbit.com to find free resources, like meditations and articles.

Joe's hype song is The Alan Parsons Project's Sirius

Website: https://getstaffedup.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joebravo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetStaffedUp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getstaffedup/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Getstaffedup1

68. (S2E32) Your Trauma Doesn’t Define You with Jennifer Ramirez

Thu, 15 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My guest on today’s show grew up in a hostile, abusive environment. So it’s no surprise Jennifer Ramirez developed anger and self-worth issues. She became a single mom in her early twenties and survived domestic, emotionally, and financial abuse as an adult. Then she was introduced to personal development and counseling, which she credits for helping her transform her life. By the time she was 30, she had paid off $25,000 of credit card debt and graduated from college completely debt-free, while working full time and raising her daughter.

It was through therapy that she found the strength to start talking about her childhood sexual abuse, even though her family and her culture encouraged her to leave the past in the past. She realized she was the one who had to step up, speak out, and stop the cycle of secrets and shame.

In this episode we’re talking about what’s often a taboo topic and how using your voice to speak your truth courageously helps you overcome all types of trauma. I can’t wait for you to hear about the super-hard question Jennifer asked her mom and where the answer led them.

Jennifer Ramirez is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and the founder of &Rise which is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower women to be the ultimate versions of themselves no matter what adversities they've faced. She says the & means your story isn’t over yet; there’s more to tell. And the rise means rising above any adversities you’ve been through. Jennifer loves helping women rediscover their badassery.

She mentions the upcoming Bet On Us Casino Night fundraiser. You can find out how to contribute to that as well as more about her organization at WomenRiseChicago.org. You can also text the word "healing" to 773-770-4377 to subscribe for info on upcoming events, free resources, and more!

Hype Song: Survivor by Destiny’s Child

Website: https://www.womenrisechicago.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-ramirez-340537102/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenrisechicago

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrise_women

Twitter: https://twitter.com/and_rise_

And if you’re not into chatting just yet, you can go to ZenRabbit.com to find free resources, like meditations and articles.

67. (S2E31) Gratitude Through Hard Times with Chris Schembra

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

There's a funny story behind the recording of this episode and a lesson in persistence. Tune in to hear what it is.

It’s not everyday you meet someone who’s lived on a glacier in Patagonia. Chris Schembra has done that and a whole lot more on his rollercoaster hero’s journey. He’s been a kayak tour guide, he’s run a theater company, he’s created a pasta sauce. He’s won accolades and awards for his work. He also has non suicidal self-injury, depression, jail and rehab on his resume.

Chris is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of "Gratitude Through Hard Times" and "Gratitude and Pasta.” USA Today calls Chris their "Gratitude Guru."

He's a Founding Member of Rolling Stone Magazine's Culture Council, and he sits on the Executive Board at Fast Company Magazine.

Chris is the Founder of the 7:47 Gratitude Experience™ and he's used the principles of gratitude to spark over 500,000 relationships around the dinner table, serving Fortune 50 CEO's, Olympians, Academy and Grammy Award winners, Superbowl Champions as well as thousands of others who are not well-known names.

I’m honored to have a conversation about gratitude with Chris in this episode. The impact it has on you as the giver and the recipient. Where gratitude fits in the discussion of addiction. And it’s importance as a pro-social act.

We’re also talking about ingratitude. Because in all honesty, those of us who talk and teach about gratitude are not immune from falling victim to it. Chris openly shares his shocking cry for help when he was riding on the top of the world, less than 9 months ago.

Website: https://www.747club.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schembra/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.schembra/

And if you’re not into chatting just yet, you can go to ZenRabbit.com to find free resources, like meditations and articles.

66. (S2E30) The Minister of Dance with Karen Oeser

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Energized is seemingly Karen Oeser’s natural state, as you will hear. A big part of Karen’s story is about turning trauma into triumph. It’s pretty cool to hear a revelation she gets in real time, as we’re talking, about a past incident. I love when this happens on the show!

Karen’s also sharing her journey through several serious health conditions that she’s managed through alternative modalities. There’s a big focus on a favorite topic of gratitude in this one too. And how to use it – as well as some other techniques – to make yourself instantly feel better and raise your vibration. Plus how to then multiply blessings and send their positive energy out into the world.

A passionate financial literacy advocate, Karen bridges the skills gap between financial advisors and their female clients and prospects. She’s also a dream igniter who uses dance to help people wake up their inner passions so they can overcome their mind blocks and step into financial freedom.

Karen’s hype song is Gonna Fly Now - Rocky Orchestra

Website: www.finliteracyforher.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-oeser-dream-igniter/

65. (S2E29) Co-Creating with the Infinite with Brian Muka

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

A special treat for you today with guest Brian Muka. Over the past couple of years, Brian and I have had a number of deep, thought-provoking conversations. We finally decided to record one so you can learn his wisdom and experience too.

We’re discussing fear, self-worth, and self-sabotage. We’re talking about manifesting the exact situations, circumstances and people you need on your journey. And we’re covering forgiveness and self-love. It’s a lot. This one is a little longer than usual and it’s totally worth it.

A navy veteran and former bomb tech, Brian describes himself as an intersection of Jocko Willink meets Bob Proctor. As he was running his executive coaching business called Fear Sherpa, and guiding clients to harness their fear, he realized what his Fear Clients wanted was to stop worrying about money. So he became a simple money educator and fell in love with being a wealth mentor and a tax strategist.

Now business owners hire him to re-balance their underperforming assets, pay only their patriotic duty in taxes without increasing their capital outlay, and 2x-4X increase income - tax free.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. If you’d like to move away from living in a state of constant anxiousness and instead find peace of mind no matter what’s going on around you, get on a complimentary call with me. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll get insight on any issue you’d like to bring to the table. And you’ll leave the conversation with clarity and renewed energy. Find the booking link HERE.

Brian's hype song: Beautiful Day by U2

Website: linktr.ee/brianmuka

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianmuka/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.muka

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianjmuka/

64. (S2E28) People First Mentality with Ashley Harmon

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today you get to hear from Ashley Harmon about the time in her life - after a series of miscarriages - when she was doing ok enough to fool everyone around her, but really, barely keeping her head above water. And then how she pulled herself out of that dark place. And when I say pulled herself out, it wasn’t something she did alone.

Plus we’re talking about lying to yourself, re-finding your motivation and the importance of having a support system in place.

Ashley Harmon is a Regional Sales Director at Twilio with a People First Mentality. As you’ll hear, she has a passion for helping others succeed and reach their full potential. Ashley is a Dog Mom, a Human Mom and a Karaoke enthusiast. She is passionate about her family and her work, and she strives to make the world around her a better place.

Ashley's hype song is A Million Dreams

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/ashley-harmon-mba-a13291a

63. (S2E27) Less Busy, More Intentional with Sedruola Maruska

Thu, 14 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s awesome guest is Sedruola Maruska. She brings such an amazing energy to this conversation – and to her life overall. We’re talking about questioning the rules of your upbringing and growing into your own person. Being intentional with your time and what happens when you say NO to people who just want to be nice to you.

Sedruola Maruska is a social justice, equity, inclusion and diversity consultant and coach. She hosts the award-winning podcast Diversity Dish, and she’s a speaker and aspiring author.

Her passion is helping business leaders cultivate cultures of equity and inclusion, so they can attract the diverse partnerships they desire and mitigate their risk of seeming out of touch. Sedruola is a second generation Haitian-American, a wife and a mother who prides herself on having an amazing extended family network and being a citizen of the world born in Queens, New York.

Sedruola’s hype songs are:

Waka-Waka by Shakira and I Feel Better When I’m Dancing by Meghan Trainer

Get in touch with Sedruola at:

https://diversitydish.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sedruola/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sedruolamaruska/

https://www.facebook.com/sedruolamaruska/

http://twitter.com/sedruola

Find her awesome program called Personal Development 101 at

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CreXSnqkkiUTeO_GOj4bgPjOLrB2iwd3?usp=sharing

62. (S2E26) Help Them Fly with Mike Sackmary

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My guest on this episode is Mike Sackmary. And as you’ll hear, he has a great sense of humor. He calls himself a recovering rocket engineer. So it makes sense we’re talking about building rockets. Turns out you can incorporate what he learned when doing that, into your everyday life. Want to motivate people better? He’s got some ideas for you. And hear how he smartly and intentionally created the corporate culture at his company.

At an early age, Mike learned his brain loves to inhabit regions which are unseen by normal people. As a youngster, some of his rockets went up, some went sideways. His friends became nimble at getting out of the way.

Fast forward to post-college, he worked on the space shuttle, and many types of rockets and satellites. In the rest of life, he kinda sorta learned how to talk to female humans and claims he’s still working on this skill. He married a fellow nerd and she's awesome.

He started an investment fund with $10K, got to $2M and then decided to start looking for clients. The rest is history, except for the parts that haven't happened yet, which are actually future history.

Mike says the question he is most frequently asked is "What is WRONG with you?" and this is sometimes followed by "Barb married YOU?"

It seems that being good at investing and being good at rockets doesn't necessarily translate to being able to think like everyone else.

61. (S2E25) Tolerations

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Going solo for today’s episode to talk about tolerations. One definition of toleration is the allowing, permitting, or accepting of an action, idea, object, or person you dislike or disagree with.

I’m talking about the things that irritate you, but you put up with them anyway. Maybe because you don’t see a way around them. Or maybe because they’re irritating, but not enough to do something.

First I’m going to share some places in your life where you might be tolerating. Then I’ll talk a bit about why you’re allowing yourself to live with them. And then of course, what you can do to improve your situation.

Quick warning – once you see what you’re tolerating, you can’t unsee.

Or text me at 571.317.1463.

If you get value out of this episode, remember to share it with a friend or two and leave a review, ok? Thanks.

60. (S2E24) Sleepless Nights and Prayer Journals with Jenn Wallace

Thu, 16 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

It’s my honor to chat with Jenn Wallace today about the ups and downs of running your own business without any real business experience and what it means to have great confidence and faith in what God, the Universe, Spirit has called you to do. Jenn’s sharing the tools that worked for her as she managed through the unexpected end of a big dream. And she may have dropped a hint about what’s coming next.

Jenn Wallace has always felt her calling is to help people, and she loves doing that through massage therapy. As a licensed massage therapist with more than 16 years’ experience, she owned and operated a day spa in Westford, MA before the pandemic. Jenn is currently a stay-at-home mom to her three amazing children and very happily married to her husband Steve. Sidenote, Steve is actually the one who introduced me to Jenn and recommended her for the show.

She loves vacationing with her family and serving as a worship leader at her church.

By now you may have heard about the amazing 8-week, F*ck Being Fine program.

Maybe you've been feeling like life is a bit out of control for a while now and you’ve been wishing for it to change. You're ready to trade in chaos for more peace of mind.

You can take all the spa days you want, but I’m guessing you’re finding them only a temporary fix. The stress continues as soon as you get back in your car.

News flash, life is not going to change unless YOU take the steps to change it. You’re old enough to realize the phrase “Life is short” is more than an overused cliche. If you’re going to have the life you desire, it’s time to do the work now.

This opportunity is presenting itself for a reason. The next small group, 8-week, F*ck Being Fine program starts in just a few weeks. Get in and radically increase your focus, energy & happiness while learning to stay calm & grounded no matter what.

As Brian in Boston told me, "I was a miserable human..." Ever since he implemented this one thing I teach in these sessions, his life has transformed. Now he knows how to reset his mind and his energy is off the charts.

If this opportunity speaks to your heart, join me for the next cohort. Find out more at ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

Gina’s hype song is Shut Up and Dance with Me by Walk the Moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JCLY0Rlx6Q.

Website: http://peoplepossibility.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginalemon/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PeoplePossibility

Find the Positive Intelligence assessment at https://assessment.positiveintelligence.com/pq/overview

Find the Saboteur Assessment at https://www.positiveintelligence.com/saboteurs/

SPECIAL OFFER: Mention this podcast for a discount on our services for coaching and culture transformation work!

59. (S2E23) The ABCs of Life with Gina Lemon

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

On today’s show, I get to talk with human kindness leader and possibility coach Gina Lemon.

Gina’s parents divorced when she was 6 and she and her mom moved around throughout her childhood. Like many Gen-Xers, she was given a lot of independence, which translated into a constant striving for excellence, which translated into the belief that accomplishments get you appreciation. She was 17 when her dad died of AIDS, which, as you’ll hear, has informed her purpose today.

We chat all about ABCs of life, supporting other people even when they have a different perspective from you, and what can happen when you speak your truth. And of course we get into what happened when Gina realized fine wasn’t fine at all.

After leaving her corporate VP of Human Resources position in 2021, Gina started a consulting company to partner with clients who believe they can change the status quo and make a positive impact on the world. She loves helping people find their passions and live their best futures today instead of allowing the past to dictate what happens next.

You might remember a few weeks ago, my guest was Raoul Benavides. The guy who founded Heart Soul Heat – with the ghost honey. Fathers Day is coming up and this could be the perfect gift for the guy who has everything. Use code FINE at checkout and get 20% off your first order at HeartSoulHeat.com.

Oh, one more thing…

Think about your work week. Think about your home life. Do they bring a smile of joy to your face? Or are you constantly waiting for things to change? Here’s some harsh news. They’re not going to change unless YOU change them. And taking a spa day isn’t going to fix the stress in your life. Life is short. It’s time to do the work now.

Or you can keep waiting.

The next small group, 8-week, F*ck Being Fine program starts in just a few weeks. Get in and radically increase your focus, energy & happiness while learning to stay calm & grounded no matter what.

Here’s what one of the participants says about his experience: Every conversation is different now. I’m always looking for the positive. This is definitely rewiring my brain.

If this opportunity speaks to your heart, join me for the next cohort. Find out more at ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

Gina’s hype song is Shut Up and Dance with Me by Walk the Moon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JCLY0Rlx6Q.

Website: http://peoplepossibility.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginalemon/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/PeoplePossibility

Find the Positive Intelligence assessment at https://assessment.positiveintelligence.com/pq/overview

Find the Saboteur Assessment at https://www.positiveintelligence.com/saboteurs/

SPECIAL OFFER: Mention this podcast for a discount on our services for coaching and culture transformation work!

58. (S2E22) Thriving on Change with Amy Flo-Yo

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My guest today is someone who was raised with a strong sense of independence and a feeling of responsibility for taking care of others. Amy Flores-Young, known as Flo-Yo, learned early on that everything in life is figureoutable so there’s no need to get your panties in a bunch.

We’re talking about that trap of tying your personal identity to your work, the new sense of self-awareness sweeping the world right now, and viewing change as an opportunity for growth and learning.

A full-time travel professional and retreat concierge, Amy is all about transformational destinations and reclaiming the joy in travel. She specializes in working with coaches and leaders to manage the endless logistics required to wow retreat participants—from start to finish.

She is a sought-after speaker in the world of travel planning and retreats business strategy. When she's not planning and traveling, she is petting every puppy she meets, DJing kitchen dance parties, and shopping for new hoodies. I know what I need to add to the collection of Fine is a 4-Letter Word merch for her, when it comes out.

Hey I launched the inaugural small group, 8-week, F*ck Being Fine program a couple weeks ago. And it’s going really well!

Here’s an email I got from one of the participants before the first week was even finished…

I am finding when I focus on the day’s tasks, I am not overwhelmed and this brings confidence, peacefulness and a sense of power over the day.

Tired of biting your fingernails down to the quick every day while thinking about the argument you had last week with your partner and worrying about why your biggest prospect is ghosting you?

If you’re interested in radically increasing your profitability, energy & happiness while staying calm & grounded no matter what, you can get in on the next group. It starts in a few weeks. Find out more at ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

Amy couldn't pick only one hype song. Here is one she mentioned. I AM HERE - P!NK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEW8PmJQnhs

Website: www.floyotravel.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-floyo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amy.floyo

57. (S2E21) Achievement as a Love Language with Dr. Liz DuBois

Thu, 26 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My guest today is Dr. Liz DuBois. Our conversation covers a lot of ground – from being raised in a church that taught her who she is, was not ok, to her quest to find a world with more diversity and acceptance. From the similarities between addicts and high achievers, and how it’s a combination of belief systems and brain chemistry driving them. To owning and investigating your pain instead of keeping it buried deep inside.

For the past 14 years, Dr Liz DuBois has worked with high performers, entrepreneurs, and C-suite executives to navigate interpersonal, professional and business-related challenges. Using Conflict Analysis and Resolution tools and her intuitive skills, she empowers her clients to address trauma, codependency and self-worth issues so they can create world-changing companies.

Hey I launched the inaugural small group F*ck Being Fine program a couple weeks ago. And it’s going really well!

Here’s an email I got from one of the participants before the first week was even finished…

I am finding when I focus on the day’s tasks, I am not overwhelmed and this brings confidence, peacefulness and a sense of power over the day.

I’m so proud of all of them for taking the time and making their well-being a priority. There’s so much more to come during this 8 week program.

If you’re interested in radically increasing your productivity, energy & happiness while staying calm & grounded no matter what, you can get in on the next group. It starts in a few weeks. Find out more at ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

56. (S2E20) Meditation: Unhooking from Thoughts

Thu, 19 May 2022 05:15:00 -0400

Thoughts are part of the human experience. You don’t need to push them away in order to be good at meditation. Learning to bring your mind back from its thoughts is an integral part of practicing meditation.

But how do you let go of those thoughts once they’ve pulled you in?

This exercise offers you a way to “unhook” yourself from those thoughts and simply let them be. Without pushing your thoughts away or denying their presence, you can be aware of the thinking mind while remaining unattached.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

56. (S2E20) A Dream of Heart Soul Heat with Raoul Benavides

Thu, 19 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode, my guest is a man who is the very definition of someone who wears many hats. Raoul Benavides is a lifelong entrepreneur who has proudly never had a job where he had to answer to someone else, which has allowed him to live a life of freedom on his terms.

We’re talking about balancing feminine and masculine energy, accepting failure as part of the dance, and seeing a vision so clearly that you know in your heart it’s already a reality. I’m eager for you to hear his philanthropic vision because it is really inspiring. And maybe you have connection that can help him get there.

As you’ll hear, Raoul truly believes entrepreneurship is all about the balance between creativity and vulnerability. His diverse career of making his dreams come true has had many chapters. From graffiti artist to fashion student to 25 years as an editorial photographer to artist agent, grip house owner, vinyl record merchant, bug farmer, movie executive producer, chicken whisperer, and now a condiment brand founder.

With a passion for sweet heat combinations, Raoul’s latest venture is Heart Soul Heat. This one-product company makes Ghost Honey. If you haven’t tasted this all-natural ghost pepper, vinegar and honey mash up yet, you are missing out. Mmm. Mmm. It is really delicious. And Raoul was kind enough to offer listeners of this show 20% off your first order when you go to HeartSoulHeat.com and use the code FINE at checkout.

Website: https://heartsoulheat.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartsoulheat/

Raoul's hype song is Marquee Moon by Television

If you’re interested in finding peace of mind and learning the tools and techniques for staying grounded no matter what’s going on around you, you can get in on the next group. It starts in a few weeks. Find out more at ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

55. (S2E19) Owning Your Truth with Tina Kadish

Thu, 12 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode, Tina Kadish and I are talking about her definition of freedom, what happens when you don’t keep promises to yourself, and why you’ll only take action when you’re ready. Growing up an Italian immigrant family with a scarcity mindset, Tina stayed in a marriage and then a job for longer than she would have liked because she was afraid of not having or making enough money. Listen to learn how she overcame that challenge.

Today, she lives with joy, fulfillment, and freedom. After 20 years in the corporate world as a trainer and talent acquisition strategist, Tina is now a Speaker, Life Purpose and Business Coach and Author. Through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and workshops, she offers corporate women the tools and skills needed to take action, make their dreams a reality, and create financial success that enables them to give back to their communities.

Website: www.lifeisideal.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tinakadish

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tina.kadish

Instagram: www.instagram.com/tkadish

Tina's hype song is Girl is on Fire by Alicia Keyes

Tina is offering you a 30 minute complimentary call! Schedule here: http://bit.ly/meettinakadish

Today's episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. The question many people are asking lately is how do I find and maintain peace of mind?

With everything going on in your world, and the world as a whole, staying grounded can be challenging.

Yet, your happiness and well-being are dependent on your ability to find your center. To tap into your inner knowing. Your health and sanity are at stake here.

This is where the F*ck Being Fine program for individuals and companies comes in. It’s time to stop saying everything’s fine when, clearly, your hair is on fire. You want to learn how to stay calm and grounded no matter what’s going on around you?

There are people who live this way and you can be one of them. If you’re intrigued by this possibility, go to ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

54. (S2E18) Superpowers of HSPs with Cathy Spaas

Thu, 05 May 2022 05:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode, my guest is walking, talking, and jumping proof that you can make being sensitive your superpower. Cathy Spaas and I are talking about her career as an elite international showjumper, transforming relationships by working on yourself, and the X-men superpowers that come with being a highly sensitive person.

Cathy is a world-class coach to professional performers, artists, and creatives. Through her groundbreaking Claim Your Shine modality she supports these highly sensitive and intuitive people so that they can reach and sustain success in their highly demanding creative industries.

In addition, Cathy is passionate about spreading more awareness regarding the specific mindset challenges and gifts associated with being an HSP (highly sensitive person) by sharing interviews with professional artists on her show 'the Inside Scoop'. She loves riding her horses and firmly beliefs she has the most amazing family in the whole wide world.

Today's episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. The question many people are asking lately is how do I find and maintain peace of mind?

With everything going on in your world, and the world as a whole, staying grounded can be challenging.

Yet, your happiness and well-being are dependent on your ability to find your center. To tap into your inner knowing. Your health and sanity are at stake here.

There ARE people who live this way. And you can be one of them. If you’re intrigued by this possibility, message me at Lori@ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

Connect with Cathy Spaas

Because of You by Ne-Yo

https;//www.cathyspaasacademy.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyspaas/

https://www.facebook.com/Cathy.Spaas

https://www.instagram.com/cathyspaas/

https://twitter.com/CathySpaas

53. (S2E17) What Winning Looks Like with Lauren Ammon

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

On today’s episode, I have a real-life mermaid. If it didn’t involve water, then Lauren Ammon wanted nothing to do with it during her two-decades-long swimming career.

Lauren shares how fear inspired a life-long passion, her different way of meditating, and the importance of falling in love with the process of achieving.

We’re talking about her transition from high-level student-athlete to human resources professional and finally to becoming the mental resilience coach for student-athletes she wishes she’d had.

Her current business focus became clear while she was watching the 2020 Olympic games. She saw Simon Biles remove herself from the competition and Katie Ledecky do everything in her power to hide her disappointment following a lackluster race. It was then that Lauren felt deeply called to serve athletes.

Her dedication to that calling was cemented when Michael Phelps told the world “Competition is overwhelming. We just want someone to listen to us. Someone to support us mentally through the pressure-filled moments.”

Connect with Lauren

Clubhouse @laurenammon

Laurens Hype Up Song: This is Me

52. (S2E16) 6 Elements of Joy With Marissa Levin

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My guest this week is Marissa Levin. We’re

talking about her spiritual journey, moving from the unconscious

beliefs that keep you stuck in fine to conscious beliefs that allow you thrive.

Why she walked away from the company she spent 17 years building. And how the

relationships in your life can help you know yourself better.

Marissa’s been an entrepreneur for more than

30 years and recently launched Marissa International with a mission of helping

one billion people access their most joyful life. She’s also a best-selling

author, speaker, transformation catalyst, and a mom of 2 incredible young men.

I love that she teaches how to say no to the

good so you can say yes to the great. Her life mantra is “when you become part

of the universe, the universe becomes part of you.” Living with a grateful

heart, she passionately believes our best life is ahead of us at every moment.

Today's episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.

The question many people are asking lately is how do I find and maintain peace

of mind?

With everything going on in your world, and

the world as a whole, staying grounded can be challenging.

Yet, your happiness and well-being are

dependent on your ability to find your center. To tap into your inner knowing.

Your health and sanity are at stake here.

This is where the F*ck Being Fine program for

individuals and companies comes in. It’s time to stop saying everything’s fine

when, clearly, your hair is on fire. You want to learn how to stay calm and

grounded no matter what’s going on around you?

There are people who live this way and you can

be one of them. If you’re intrigued by this possibility, message me at

Lori@ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

Connect with Marissa:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

51. (S2E15) Path of Constant Transformation with S.A. Grant

Thu, 14 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My guest this week is the mastermind behind the brand Boss Uncaged. The one and only S.A. Grant. We’re talking about his lifelong passion for learning and his unconventional approach to building businesses. You’ll hear how he got his start as a marketer, the life-changing event that inspired Boss Uncaged, and what he recommends to kids in school now.

S. A. Grant is a recovering workaholic. He’s the Host of Boss Uncaged Podcast, CEO of Serebral360 - A Design & marketing agency - and Brand & Growth Strategist Consultant at SA Grant.com.

S. A. has 21 years of experience helping aspiring business owners create strategies and tactics that consistently generate more revenue, and build their online business presence. He’s published eight #1 Best Selling books and he speaks at Podfest Global, Podfest Master Class, and VidFest.

He describes himself as a loving family man, rock-climber, and novice sailor.

Today's episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. The question many people are asking lately is how do I find and maintain peace of mind?

With everything going on in your world, and the world as a whole, staying grounded can be challenging.

Yet, your happiness and well-being are dependent on your ability to find your center. To tap into your inner knowing. Your health and sanity are at stake here.

There are people who live this way and you can be one of them. If you’re intrigued by this possibility, message me at Lori@ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

S.A.'s Hype song: Turn Down for What, DJ Snake, Lil Jon

Website: podcast.bossuncaged.com

LinkedIn: https://bossuncaged.com/linkedin

Facebook: http://bossuncaged.com/facebook

Instagram: http://bossuncaged.com/instagram

Clubhouse: @bossuncaged

Twitter: http://bossuncaged.com/twitter

50. (S2E14) Meditation: Synching Heart and Brain

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 05:15:00 -0400

This one focuses on synching your heart and brain together, which helps you release stress and boost your energetic vibration. When you’re in a coherent state, all your body’s systems work together in harmony and ease.

You’ll focus on breathing slowly and deeply through your heart and then turn your attention to activating a higher vibrational frequency through which you experience peace and an increased ability to manifest positive feelings and effects.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation, go to customizedmeditation.com.

50. (S2E14) What Does Courage Feel Like?

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the 50th episode of Fine is a 4-Letter Word! I was originally hoping to host a big party when I got to episode 50, but honestly, it kind of crept on me really fast and I wasn’t organized enough to plan ahead. So let’s do that for episode 100, ok? It’ll give us all time to prepare and then we can meet up on March 23, 2023.

What we can do right now though is celebrate with stickers! I’ve got these fun Fine is a 4-Letter Word stickers and I’m happy to send you one. Just text the word FINE to 571.317.1463.

Today I’m going solo and talking about courage. What does courage feel like?

Courage is the third pillar of my Trilogy for Success framework under the F*ck Being Fine program. We talk about courage on this show all the time, even when the actual word is never used.

If you’d like to talk more about this concept, you know you can message me at Lori@ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463. We can set up a time to chat. There’s never any obligation and I think y’all know me well enough by now to know I’m not gonna hard core sell you anything.

Today's hype song is most appropriately, Courage by P!nk. (I actually used this as my walk-up song when I spoke at the Badass Business Summit last year.)

49. (S2E13) Meditation: Attracting Love

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is designed to help you FEEL gratitude for your ideal partner and relationship. When you can get into this feeling place - as if you already have it - you become a magnet for it.

It will also bring you a sense of calm and peace, lessening any anxiety you're experiencing around attracting love into your life. So you can go about your days feeling more centered and grounded.

49. (S2E13) Setting Her Own Course with Sabrina Victoria

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

I am so truly blessed to have the most incredible people show up to tell their stories on this show. Today it’s Sabrina Victoria. She’s sharing about her upbringing as a Jehovah’s Witness and how she got kicked out of that community, what she went through in the abusive relationship she thought would save her, and the lessons she’s learned that have allowed her to create this abundant and thriving life she lives now.

No doubt you’ll be astounded at her patience, organization, and courage. She exhibits all three at the highest levels.

Sabrina Victoria is the Creator and CEO of Human Better 365, a human transformation company and the creator of the Her Version Podcast. Speaker, entrepreneur and author of Envision Your Best Life 90-Day Planner & creator of Catapult Your Life in 365 Days, self-proclaimed Queen of Time, Sabrina focuses on time management and organization as the foundation of life.

Today's episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. The question many people are asking lately is how do I find and maintain peace of mind?

With everything going on in your world, and the world as a whole, staying grounded can be challenging.

Yet, your happiness and well-being are dependent on your ability to find your center. To tap into your inner knowing. Your health and sanity are at stake here.

This is where the F*ck Being Fine program for individuals and companies comes in. It’s time to stop saying everything’s fine when, clearly, everyone’s hair is on fire. The program teaches business leaders and their teams how to stay calm and grounded no matter what’s going on. So you can focus better, respond thoughtfully instead of react impulsively, work more efficiently. And ultimately increase profitability.

If this sounds like something that would be valuable in your work environment, message me at Lori@ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

Sabrina's hype song is Katy Perry's ROAR

Website: https://www.sabrinavictoria.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinavictoria/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabrinavtv

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrinavictoriatv/

Clubhouse: @sabrinavtv

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sabrinavtv

48. (S2E12) Meditation: Celebrate Wins

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 05:15:00 -0400

Today’s meditation is designed to help you celebrate your wins and integrate them into your life. Because if you don’t integrate them into your identity, they’ll just roll off as if they never happened.

And you’ll never feel satisfied.

It’s important to stop and recognize when meaningful things happen. To sit with them and FEEL the gratitude in your heart.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

48. (S2E12) The 2% Mentality with Roderick Jefferson

Thu, 24 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

The amazingness of my guests and the insight they bring keeps astounding me. You are in for another fantastic show today with Roderick Jefferson.

The first conversation he and I had, I was scribbling notes like a madwoman. Today, you’ll hear us talking about the importance of making someone else’s day a little bit better. The first wake up call that woke him up temporarily and the adjustments he made after that. The other piece of the equation to ROI. How to be a better leader. And so much more.

Roderick Jefferson’s list of titles and experience is extensive and impressive. He’s a rock star in the sales enablement world. And we didn’t focus on any of that in this show. For the record tho, he’s the Vice President, Field Enablement at Netskope with 20+ years of field enablement leadership experience. He’s also a keynote speaker in that space and the author of the Amazon bestselling book, Sales Enablement 3.0: The Blueprint to Sales Enablement Excellence.

He is currently an Executive-in-Residence with VentureScale and one of the founding members of the Sales Enablement Society. Roderick is also a member of several Advisory Boards.

When he’s not working – which he is much better at doing now – you’ll find him perfecting the art of barbecuing or playing on his bocce court with his family.

Today's episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. The question many people are facing lately is – are you in a really bad place? Or a less bad place? Either way, it’s bad.

The Great Resignation isn’t happening because people simply want more money. Studies show it's because they want to work in a culture that values them and thinks holistically about their happiness and well-being.

This is where the F*ck Being Fine program for companies comes in. It’s time to stop saying everything’s fine when, clearly, everyone’s hair is on fire. The program teaches business leaders and their teams how to stay calm and grounded no matter what’s going on around them. So they can focus better, respond thoughtfully instead of react impulsively, work more efficiently. And ultimately increase profitability.

If this sounds like something that would be valuable in your work environment, message me at Lori@ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

Roderick’s walkout song is "Brush Your Shoulders Off" by Jay-Z

Website: https://roderickjefferson.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roderickjefferson/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThevoiceofRod/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roderick_j_associates/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThevoiceofRod

47. (S2E11) Meditation: Singing Bowls Solar Plexus Chakra Note E

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is a bit different than others you've found here. In this one, you're on your own and there aren't any words. Sit or lie comfortably and simply focus on the sound of the singing bowls.

Singing bowls have been used for centuries in meditations and healing work. The bowls produce sounds that affect both the body and mind on a deep level.

The Solar Plexus chakra is associated with your personal power, meaning your self-esteem, motivation, willpower, and determination, as well as your power to transform. Additionally, your self-confidence is affected by the health of your solar plexus chakra.

In your physical body, this chakra affects your digestive system and your gut’s emotional brain. So if your Solar Plexus Chakra is out of balance, you may experience digestive or stomach issues.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to https://zenrabbit.com/meditation

47. (S2E11) Andy Frisella & Ed Mylett Saved My Life with Amanda Catarzi

Thu, 17 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today I’m talking with the one and only Amanda Catarzi. Not to sensationalize, but this is one of those episodes that is going to grab you by the throat and take you on a rollercoaster. Hopefully by the end, it will inspire you take action, and in the takeaways, I’ll tell you how you can.

Raised in a cult, a survivor of sex trafficking, and now owner of a content agency, Amanda Catarzi has seen it all.

After escaping her trafficker, Amanda dedicated the next 10 years of her life to fighting sex trafficking. She counseled the New Zealand Government, wrote federal legislation, and has gone undercover to bust trafficking rings.

Amanda is now a Fractional CMO – that’s a Chief Marketing Officer – and runs a successful content agency, Inkery Co. She is also a seasoned keynote speaker and is passionate about helping others find their voice and use it effectively.

Today's episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. You hear a lot about the Great Resignation lately and that's not happening so much because people simply want more money. Studies show it's because they want to work in a culture that values them and thinks holistically about their happiness and well-being.

This is where the F*ck Being Fine program for companies comes in. Through it, managers and their teams learn how to stay calm and grounded no matter what. It’s designed to move participants to stop pretending everything’s fine when it’s not. And inspire them to upgrade how they respond to stressful situations.

If this sounds like something that would be valuable in your work environment, message me at Lori@ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

Amanda's hype song: Ain't No Rest for the Wicked by Cage the Elephant

Business website: https://www.inkeryco.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-catarzi/

Personal website: https://amandacatarzi.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InkeryC0

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacatarzi/

Her marketing group coaching: http://www.inkeryco.com/marketing-made-easy

Safe House Project: https://www.safehouseproject.org/

46. (S2E10) Empathy For Your Inner Child with Steven English

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My guest today is Steven English. Steven and I are talking about the effects of working in a toxic environment – and boy does he have some stories. We’re also discussing his recovery journey, letting go of emotional burdens and how to find empathy for yourself.

I think you’ll also see a recurring theme with this season’s guests. If you don’t pick it up on your own, I’ll tell you what it is in the takeaways.

Steven is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, a TEDx speaker, and a trained Facilitator. He specializes in helping introvert leaders find their voice so they can create impact and leave a positive impression without having to pretend. He works with one-on-one coaching clients as well as big corporate clients.

He’s also the founder of multiple Toastmasters public speaking clubs.

In his former life, Steven was as an engineering manager and served as a trainer to Fortune 500 organizations, where he influenced and managed company-wide change management activities.

Steven's hype song is "It Doesn't Matter" by The Chemical Brothers

https://stevenenglish.net/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveenglish2/

https://www.facebook.com/steveoandthegiantcountryhorns

If this sounds like something that would be valuable in your work environment, message me at Lori@ZenRabbit.com or text me at 571.317.1463.

45. (S2E9) Meditation: Loving Kindness for Another

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:15:00 -0400

There could not be a better time than today for this special guest meditation from Carol Banens. Listen as she takes you through a beautiful exercise in sending loving kindness and light to someone you know. (Or you could choose to send energy to somewhere in the world where you think they could use it.)

Carol specializes in working with women over 50. Learn more about her at http://www.carolbanens.com/.

Check out my interview with Carol on Fine is a 4-Letter Word HERE.

And if you'd like to create a customized gratitude meditation, go to http://customizedmeditation.com/

45. (S2E9) Complacency is a Disease with Tony Jalan

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today's episode is a real treat. I’m talking with Tony Jalan about motivation, problem solving, owning where you are in life, and practicing intentional gratitude. Tony really got me thinking about the whole concept around intentionality. And as soon as he said complacency is a disease, I knew that was the title of this one.

Tony is an award-Winning Executive Sales Leader (8x) and a Certified John Maxwell Leadership coach, trainer, and speaker.

He's learned from and been coached by Olympic coaches and high-level CEOs, and read hundreds of books on leadership, mindset, business building and team building. so that he can be of service to others.

When he's not training and developing sales leaders or teaching John Maxwell philosophies, you can find him spending time with family, writing, coaching youth sports, fishing, or playing racquetball.

Here's one of the key takeaways from our conversation:

There’s not a point in anyone’s life where you’re above asking for help. Even the highest level coaches and leaders have coaches and mentors. Everyone needs someone to pull them up.

Tony's hype song is All I do is WIN by DJ Khaled feat. Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain & Snoop Dogg

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyjalan/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyjalan_leadership_mindset/

Are you enjoying this show? Please tell three other people about it. Let’s get these stories get in front of more people who can benefit from hearing them, so they can know they're not alone and there's nothing wrong with them. And so they, too, can realize it’s possible to say F*ck Being Fine.

Another way to help spread the word, is to hit that plus button at the top of your screen in Apple podcasts, if you haven’t already. And click on the follow button on the other platforms.

If after listening to this episode, you would like some more personal attention on adding peace and gratitude and groundedness to your life, I can help you with that. Pop over to the Zen Rabbit.com web page and sign up for my VIP list. That way, you'll be the first to get all the tools and tips on finding calm amidst the chaos of life.

44. (S2E8) Meditation: New Potentials

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is based on the New Potentials meditation in Dr. Joe Dispenza’s book Becoming Supernatural. It's designed to take you beyond your SELF. Beyond your physical identity and consciousness. To take your focus away from the external world of people, things, places, schedules, etc. And to put it on the inner world of energy, vibration, frequency and consciousness.

Joe’s research shows that when you do that, you are encouraging different parts of your brain to work together in harmony. Your heart and your brain become more coherent. Your autonomic nervous system is activated and is able to restore order and balance and bring wholeness to your heart, brain, body and energy field.

Before you get into it, you'll need to do a little advance preparation. Think about a potential experience you’d like to bring into your reality. Do you want to improve a specific health condition? Create a new financial situation? Improve or manifest a new relationship? It could be anything you can possibly imagine.

Once you have this experience in your mind, pick a capital letter to represent this idea and write this letter on a piece of paper. Writing it down solidifies this idea and your intention to create it. Then draw two squiggly circles around the letter. These circles represent the electromagnetic field that you’re going to tap into to manifest this.

Now clarify and write down 3 or 4 more specifics about what this experience looks like for you. The only thing off-limits here is a time frame.

Once you have those details, add the emotions you’ll feel once this experience comes into your reality. Grateful is my favorite and the most powerful. You could also include excited, joyful, energized, relaxed, enthusiastic.

These emotions are what carries your intent into the field and attracts it into your world. Once you've done this, you're ready to go.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com

44. (S2E8) Lighting a Candle & Letting It Go with Christina Robinson Race

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today, I am chatting with Christina Robinson Race about how her traumatic childhood in a tight-lipped Evangelical Christian household filled with secrets, abuse, and conditional love affected the way she raised her children. We talk about surrounding yourself with the kind of people you’d like to become, managing your professional reputation, and always finding the silver lining. Plus Christina shares a bit about how much her mom loves shopping at Target.

Christina passionately believes in living a life of kindness and grace. She describes herself as a mom, wife, and salesperson and notes being a salesperson is both a description of her career and her personality. After living in five different states, she calls the mountains of NC her happy place.

In addition to traveling and cooking, Christina’s obsessed with plants and indoor gardening after managing to keep a plant alive for more than a year in 2021. She had strong motivation because it came from her biological father, whom she finally found two and a half years ago, thanks to a common home DNA test.

Christina's hype song is Whatever it Takes by Imagine Dragons.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/crrace/

https://www.facebook.com/chrisrace/

https://www.instagram.com/chrisrace/

Find My Last Fuck candles at https://www.etsy.com/market/my_last_fuck

If after listening to this, you would like some more personal attention on adding peace and gratitude and groundedness to your life, I can help you with that. Pop over to the Zen Rabbit.com web page and sign up for my VIP list. That way, you'll be the first to get all the tools and tips on finding calm amidst the chaos of life.

43. (S2E7) Meditation: Wake Up With Gratitude

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:15:00 -0400

Today’s meditation comes from my friend Julie Boyer, host of the Wake Up With Gratitude podcast. This is a great one for relaxing and feeling gratitude for every part of your body.

Check out my interview with Julie on her show HERE.

Want to create a customized gratitude meditation? Go to http://customizedmeditation.com/

43. (S2E7) Humor Is a Multi-Purpose Tool with Lisa David Olson

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s guest has been on my list of people to invite to the show for a long time. Lisa David Olson’s humor has kept me laughing on social media for a couple of years. She’s one of the reasons I’m still on Facebook at all. And as you’ll hear, she’s indirectly responsible for introducing me to two of this show’s past guests.

In fact, humor is the tool Lisa has used to get through her fine and less than fine life situations. I was eager to talk with her about this because it’s not a tool anyone else has mentioned before. We’re discussing humor as a deflector, a connector, and an escape. And we’re chatting about beliefs around working hard, pretending everything in your life is normal, and reaching out to people when you think of them, just because.

Lisa David Olson is a keynote speaker, podcaster, business humorist, speaker trainer and embarrassing mom. She had two TEDx Talks released last year, proving the pandemic did have its happy moments.

Whether in-person or online, she delivers high-energy presentations that challenge attendees to think creatively and choose the lighter side of life.

Learn about Lisa’s 'Project in Bravery', her comedy album, book and journal at www.LisaDavidOlson.com

Lisa's hype song comes from the band Cake, "The Distance"

Connect with Lisa at http://linkedin.com/in/lisa-david-olson-80376612

https://www.facebook.com/lisa.olson.improv.buddy

https://instagram.com/lisadavidolson

Join her Counter Clockwise Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/715435915851993

If you enjoy this show, please tell 3 other people about it. It’s about building connection and community. We need that now more than ever.

When you’re ready to add a bit more peace and groundedness to your life, I can help. Pop over the ZenRabbit.com webpage and sign up for my VIP list. That way you’ll be the first to get all the tools and tips on finding calm amidst the chaos of life.

42. (S2E6) Meditation: Love and Forgiving

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 05:15:00 -0400

Part of love that we don’t often consider is forgiveness. When we’re able to forgive, we’re able to make space for and allow more love into our world.

Forgiveness is not forgetting or condoning what someone did. It is acknowledging that they made a choice that wasn’t to your liking.

When you forgive, you set yourself free. You open space in your heart for love. Who is it you need to forgive today?

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

42. (S2E6) From Chaos to Peace in 5 Simple Steps

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today's episode is a solo one. I've been hearing from a lot of people that they're running around like hair on fire, stressed out, and wanting to feel more calm and grounded. So the question becomes, are you willing to do the things that will take you from chaos to peace? That's what we're going to talk about today. Five simple steps to go from chaos to peace.

If you have another way of going from chaos to peace, that involves not doing any of these five steps, I would love to hear it. Email me or find me through my website.

I'd also love to hear from you if you do implement anyone or all of these steps, because I want to hear what's happened, how did it change your outlook? How did it change how you feel as you move through your day?

If you find value in what I shared today, please share this episode with three friends or colleagues or coworkers or networking associates.

Here's a link to Nicole BZ's episode, reference in today's episode.

And here's the link to Brene Brown's values assessment tool.

41. (S2E5) Meditation: Mindful Midlife Crisis Breathing

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:15:00 -0400

Today's meditation is delivered by our friend Billy from the Mindful Midlife Crisis podcast. This is a great one for letting go of daily concerns of life. Simply listen to Billy's soothing voice, without any background music to distract, and allow your body and mind to relax.

Check out my interview with Billy and his podcast co-host Brian HERE.

And if you enjoy this meditation, buy Billy a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MMCpodcast

Want to create a customized gratitude meditation? Go to http://customizedmeditation.com/

41. (S2E5) Cutting the Noise with Lizabeth Wesely-Casella

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today my guest is Lizabeth Wesely-Casella. Lizabeth is the founder and CEO of L-12 Services; a Washington DC firm focused on internal communications and organizational development. She and I met a few months ago at a brunch organized by our mutual friend Janette Gallardo. You may remember, Janette’s the one who turned the tables and interviewed me for episode 25.

Lizabeth and I are talking about the downside of growing up valuing social justice, the discomfort of celebrating your wins, and what happens when your calendar looks like Walt Disney threw up on it. Hear who she wanted to be when she was growing up and how she’s doing with visualizing that person now.

With more than 20 years of experience as an administrator and policy and programming consultant, Lizabeth works with businesses to improve workflow, processes, and culture by leveraging the institutional knowledge of existing team members.

Based on what she said about the importance of social justice in her upbringing, it makes sense that one of her favorite quotes is “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

Here's a link to L-12 Services Attrition Prevention Survey (7 quick questions): https://l12services.com/quiz/. It’s for leaders to take a quick 'gut check' on what's just under the surface in their organization.

Lizabeth’s hype song is High Hopes by Panic at the Disco.

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizabeth-wesely-casella/

If after listening to this episode, you can relate to Lizabeth’s over-booked schedule and lack of personal care time, and you’re ready to add a bit more peace and groundedness to your life, I can help. Pop over the ZenRabbit.com webpage and sign up for my VIP list. That way you’ll be the first to get all the tools and tips on finding calm amidst the chaos of life.

40. (S2E4) Meditation: Sleep Countdown

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is designed to help you fall asleep and get a good and restful night's sleep.

Before you get into this meditation, if you’re listening on a podcast app, you may want to change your settings to disable continuous playback or autoplay. Otherwise once this meditation is over, the next podcast episode will start and that might wake you up.

To do that on your iPhone, go to settings, find your podcast app, and turn off continuous playback.

In other apps, go to the settings and turn off autoplay. Now you’ll be able to drift off to sleep without interruption.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can get a personalized meditation, go to http://customizedmeditation.com

40. (S2E4) Everything You Want Is On The Other Side Of Fear with Brian Merrell

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, you get to hear our first interview with a guy and his story of being stuck at fine. Brian Merrell’s account is very different from the stories you’ve heard in past episodes, and also very similar. We’re talking about why he didn’t leave an abusive marriage, why when he finally did leave, he still put up with abuse from others in his life, and how he finally made the decision to hold himself to higher standards.

Brian Merrell spent most of his professional life in sales. He hosts the podcast Tattooed in Business. He's a former bar owner, an Army veteran and former Combat Medic. A single father, Brian's daughter didn't speak to him or see him for six years. In 2019, he buried 8 of his closest family members and friends and struggled to find a way to pull himself out of that darkness. By working with counselors and a coach, he learned how to open up and tell his story so others could learn from it. And to rediscover success through his failures.

Shoutout to Success Champion Networking, which is where Brian and I met. It’s a network of get shit done business leaders looking to scale and grow their businesses.

Listen, we have just passed 5,000 total downloads of Fine is a 4-Letter Word. Help me reach the next milestone of 7,500. If you enjoy this show, please tell 3 other people about it. The more listeners, the more publicity. And that means these stories get in front of more people who can benefit from hearing them. So they can know they’re not alone. And there’s nothing wrong with them.

It’s about building connection and community. We need that now more than ever.

Brian's hype song is Remember The Name. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbPNVEB8O7E

www.gy6promotions.com and brian@gy6promotions.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-merrell

https://www.facebook.com/TattooedinBusiness

39. (S2E3) Meditation: Networking

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 05:15:00 -0400

This was the first meditation I ever wrote and recorded. It's for getting yourself into a place of calm and groundedness before you walk into a networking event. Great for those who feel anxiety about meeting new people. You can use it before a party or any other event too.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can get a personalized meditation, go to http://customizedmeditation.com/.

39. (S2E3) Unleash Your Joy with Carol Banens

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This week I’m talking with Carol Banens about grief and the grieving process, setting healthy boundaries, and expanding your awareness of the present moment.

Carol is a reformed self-sacrificer who, after the death of her husband, made the decision to transition from being a physical therapist to being a transformational life coach for women over 50. She realized that she has a lot of life left to live, she’s not too old to find her joy again and that it IS possible to create an epic next chapter.

I’m grateful Carol not only agreed to share her story on this episode, she also volunteered to create a few meditations for the Fine is a 4-Letter Word community. Her first one published last week. It’s called Body Scan. Make sure you check that out and let me know what you like about it.

Carol's hype song is Bill Withers' Lovely Day. Listen to it here: https://youtu.be/bEeaS6fuUoA

Make sure to get Carol’s free guide: Unleashing your joy-Step 1 at https://www.carolbanens.com/

https://www.facebook.com/carol.banens/

https://www.instagram.com/carol.banens/

We mentioned the Abraham Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale. Here’s a link to that: https://www.themaxxco.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Abraham-Hicks-Emotional-Guidance-Scale.pdf

Remember to get thet PDF of ALL the key takeaways for free by going to ZenRabbit.com/2021takeaways. Or text “takeaways” to 571-317-1463.

If you enjoy this show, please tell 3 other people about it. The more listeners, the more publicity. And that means these stories get in front of more people who can benefit from hearing them. So they can know they’re not alone. And there’s nothing wrong with them.

38. (S2E2) Meditation: Body Scan

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 05:15:00 -0400

A guest meditation from Carol Banens today! With 30 years of experience as a physical therapist, Carol is well suited to take you through gentle breathing, noticing sensations, and focusing on relaxing each part of your physical body.

Carol specializes in working with women over 50. Learn more about her at http://www.carolbanens.com/.

Check out my interview with Carol on Fine is a 4-Letter Word HERE.

And if you'd like to create a customized gratitude meditation, go to http://customizedmeditation.com/

37. (S2E1) Meditation: Serenity Now

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 05:30:00 -0400

This meditation is focused on serenity. What do you think of when you hear the word serenity? Some people think of the Serenity prayer. Serenity comes with acceptance and taking things in stride. It's not resignation. It's Acceptance. Allowance. Serenity. Listen to this meditation to find a sense of peace, so you can move forward with clarity and strength.

37. (S2E1) Your Comeback After the Fall with Jenny Vaz

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 05:15:00 -0400

My guest, Jenny Vaz, and I are talking about picking yourself up after you’ve been knocked down. And Jenny managed to bring herself back from a very dark place.

New years and new seasons are often the times people look to revise and improve on who they are. It’s easy to keep yourself busy with all kinds of distractions – your job, family, travel adventures – to give you the illusion of being fine. Eventually though, things will unravel, you’ll fall out of the boat and into a storm churned ocean, as Jenny says, and you’ll have to figure out how to survive and hopefully get to a point of thriving. Change is constant. How are you going to manage through it?

After 20 years of life in the I.T. fast lane, Jenny Vaz felt ready to run her own business as a career coach in Sydney. She fell headlong into a dark tunnel instead and stayed there for six months. Broke, broken-hearted and isolated, she battled her past traumas and own worst thoughts in that time.

Through that experience, she developed a mindset of "Just 1% Better" for each waking day. Since then, she has gone on to create a successful coaching business to help people to heal from their trauma & overcome their fears to run successful businesses and live the lives they signed up for.

Jenny is now on a mission to share what 1% Better a day looks like, starting with the most foundational: self-care. Self-care that doesn't cost you energy or money.

Jenny’s hype song is Diana Ross’ I’m Coming Out. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/track/0ew27xRdxSexrWbODuLfeE?si=pXigZOxySLiN6pd-GPRUww&nd=1

Website: https://www.jennyvaz.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyvaz/

For community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

Get a PDF with all the key takeaways from all the Season 1 episodes at ZenRabbit.com/2021takeaways

36. (S1E36) What's Coming in Season 2

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0400

It’s the last week of the year and coincidentally – yeah, I really didn’t plan it this way – the last episode of Season 1. Like last week, this is a solo episode and a short one. Because I simply want to share with you some of the upcoming changes you’ll hear in Season 2.

First I’m going to say thank you for being a listener. I am truly grateful for you and for the time you give in listening. Someone’s time and attention are the most valuable things they have to offer and I never take them for granted.

Listen to hear what you can look forward to in Season 2, which starts with the next episode after this one.

As you move forward, if you’re ready to change how you show up and what you bring into your life, I’m inviting you to take action. Set up a complimentary chat with me to get some clarity around your values and direction and a strategy to get you on the right path. I only do a couple of these calls a week. There’s no obligation, no pressure. Just an insightful conversation. Commit to making 2022 the best year yet. Go to the F*ck Being Fine page on ZenRabbit.com to schedule.

Please share this show with a friend or colleague. If you’re feeling especially generous, leave a review, so other people like you can discover the show too.

Join me on social. On Instagram, it’s Zen_Rabbit.

Remember to take a moment to think about what you’re grateful for today.

And if no one’s told you this week, I’m proud of you.

35. (S1E35) Key Takeaway Highlights from Season 1

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0400

It's the end of the year and I thought it would be a great idea to look back at the past 34 episodes and kind of pull out some of the common themes and key points. I thought it was going to pull out three or four or five common points to share with you. And then I kept going through it. I'm like, whoa, whoa, wait, that one's really good. I can't forget that one. Oh, I gotta include this one. So here are a bunch of the highlights from this year in review.

If you have any comments about any of the information that was shared throughout the episodes, or anything that you'd like to see shared in future episodes, reach out to me reach out to me at Lori at Zen Rabbit dot com.

It would be awesome if you'd leave a review for this podcast. When you do that, it helps other people find it.

Lastly, as I was recording, it occurred to me that you might want to see ALL the key takeaways. So I created a PDF with all the key takeaways from all the episodes. You can download it at ZenRabbit.com/2021takeaways.

34. (S1E34) Meditation: Physical Sensations in the Body

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation focuses on feeling physical sensations in your body. Noticing what you feel in different areas of your body, without judgement. Connecting with and observing. It includes a discreet exercise you can use outside of meditation for immediately calming and refocusing yourself whenever you’re feeling stressed.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

34. (S1E34) Eat the Cake and Turn Left with Andi Overton

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest this week is Andi Overton. In this episode, we touch on the importance of eating cake, returning shopping carts and not honking the car horn as soon as the light turns green. We talk about how culture shock opens your eyes and the uncomfortableness of it forces you out of your bubble to see the world in a new way - and contribute to it in a bigger and better way.

Andi’s early career experience as a police officer had her thinking everyone was a dirtbag drug runner. But the intervention and persistence of her good friend Lynette helped her see she was on a dangerous path and gave her a lifeline out. We talk stress, personal responsibility and finding and maintaining healthfulness.

Andi Overton is a higher education professional who likes researching fun topics like virtual reality and the assessment of learning. It's the only way she can work video games into her Doctor of Education dissertation from Frostburg State University. A dedicated advocate for women's empowerment, she most enjoys calling out the bs against disenfranchised people of all walks of life and making friends with the new kid sitting alone. A lover of life, she has rescued many pups and kitties and with the help of her fiancé, Stacey, can now add "fish" to her list of rescues. Because why not; we all deserve a safe spot to call home.

Andi’s hype song is Closer To Fine--The Indigo Girls. Hear it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUgwM1Ky228

Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andioverton/

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

33. (S1E33) Meditation: Calm

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is designed to help you find calm no matter what is going on in your world. Turn inward for a few minutes, block out all distractions, and allow yourself to feel a sense of peace. To get grounded. And to find your center.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

33. (S1E33) Putting Relationships First with Jennifer DiMotta

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Jennifer and I are discussing her tendency to be the fairness cop, time in living and working in Germany and the differences between there and the US, and sacrifices made in the pursuit of big titles and big money. Plus, making decisions your 80-year old self will look back on favorably and what it takes to finally make a change.

Jennifer DiMotta is the Founder of Uprisors, a Leadership Wellness Program for Women. She has 20-plus years in high-ranking roles where she's led more than 1000 team members. Jennifer speaks often on female leadership and the Uprisors methodology to develop into an effective leader. She’s a Certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and earned a Masters Degree in Leadership. In 2014 she was given Colorado's Most Influential and Most Powerful Woman award and in 2017, named to the Top 100 Women to Watch. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Midland States Bancorp.

Jennifer's hype song is Lose Yourself by Eminem. Listen at https://youtu.be/_Yhyp-_hX2s

Website: https://uprisors.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferdimotta/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Uprisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uprisors/

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

32. (S1E32) Meditation: Imposter Syndrome

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Today’s meditation addresses the myth of inadequacy. Sometimes known as Imposter Syndrome. You were born a child of God. You have infinite capacity to achieve whatever you set your heart on. Nothing is impossible for you, once you make a definite decision.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

32. (S1E32) Life Will Bring You to Your Knees. Get Up. With Angela Loughridge

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Angela was raised to be stronger than life. You’re going to face challenges, and you have to be stronger then they are. That belief served her and also made her hard and angry and tired. We talk about how she found her way to role models who gave her a more positive outlook and the idea of being content and accepting while still striving to become better. She shares her experiences in some male-dominated industries and what happened when she continued to push through her time of FINE. Yes, this includes another bad boss model. You’ll hear where she feels most at home. Then stay through because she’s got a public service announcement of sorts that affects a majority of you listening.

An entrepreneur with a background in the airline, computer science, telecommunications, and banking and investment industries, Angela saw the future needs diversity of thought. Based on her belief that the generation of young women coming up after her require skills and positive direction to thrive in a society that would benefit from their strengths, she founded the non-profit organization Response. Ability. And through that organization, she is developing young women into future leaders and empowering them to understand they have the ability to choose their responses.

Angela’s hype song is Storms in Africa by Enya. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XADqpiLCsM

Find more about Response.Ability at www.responseabilityrva.org

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/response.ability.rva

On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/response.ability.rva

Reach out to Angela at angela@responseabilityrva.org

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Kuel Life.com. Between now and the end of the year, join and lock in the founders rate of only $4.99 a month. Whether you’ve been listening to Fine is a 4-Letter Word for a while now, or you’re new here, you know there’s no more time for fumbling around in life. Do your future self a favor and tap into the resources that can help you live better right now. Go to KuelLife.com to learn more.

31. (S1E31) Meditation: Kindness

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Today’s meditation focuses on kindness. Kindness is our natural state of being. Even when it feels like we live in a cruel world, we can find elements of kindness around us and we can certainly give kindness to others.

Wayne Dyer talked about research showing one simple act of kindness, directed toward another improves the functioning of the immune system and stimulates production of serotonin – which is the feel-good chemical in the brain – in both the recipient and the person extending the kindness. Kindness given, accepted or even observed as a third party beneficially impacts your physical health and feelings.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

31. (S1E31) The Magic of Life with Courtney Krulis

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s guest is Courtney Krulis from the Byron Bay area of Australian. Courtney has such an incredible energy, which you’ll hear right away. In this episode we’re talking about living up to family expectations, breaking rules, and following breadcrumbs to magical places. We’re exploring the topic of divine coincidences bringing people together to create and the strengthening of the letting go muscle. I’m super excited for you to hear about a technique that can work for those of you with hyperactive minds who have difficulty sitting quietly to meditate.

Courtney, who’s also known by some as Coco, is a published-author and professional enthusiast – I love that, professional enthusiast, I might want to take on that title myself. She’s also a multi-passionate entrepreneur who is on a mission to spread Joy to the world. She blends wisdom from spiritual practices with positive psychology to awaken people to their creativity, play and joy through 1:1 coaching, women's empowerment courses, ecstatic dance movement experiences, and corporate workshops. She’s the author of Pick Me Up Empowerment Cards, which serve as daily motivation to bring positivity and humor into everyday life. They would make a fantastic holiday gift, just saying.

Not surprisingly, Courtney loves to be on stage, inspiring people to take risks, connect their intuition, and live their one precious life filled with love, play, and JOY!

Oh and speaking of one precious life, this episode is publishing just a few days before Courtney’s birthday. So after you listen, reach out to her and wish her a Happy Birthday. 🎂

Courtney’s hype song is Open Your Eyes by Daybreaker. Hear it at https://open.spotify.com/track/42o7WEVo6rD4rOLl26TCRo?si=85e20b6b0f2840ba

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocokrulis/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtney.krulis

Pick me up cards: www.pickmeupcards.com. The updated deck with additional cards has just been printed! Place an order for standard Pick Me Up Cards and you’ll get the updated deck with Gold Plating.

Remember, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

AND today's episode is sponsored by KuelLife.com, a community of and platform for midlife women to find articles and videos on an array of relevant topics. Join at the Founder's rate of only $4.99/month before the end of the year. Go to https://kuellife.com/.

30. (S1E30) Meditation: Full Moon Lunar Eclipse

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 18:00:00 -0400

Full moon meditations are best done during the full moon energy, which starts three days before and continues for three days after the actual full moon. All full moons are a time of heightened energy, activity, and emotions. Full moons with a lunar eclipse, which is what this particular meditation was created for, amplify that energy even more.

The guided part is 11 minutes and the music goes on for another 9 after if you want to stay in meditation longer.

30. (S1E30) Meditation: Friendship

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Today’s meditation is on friendship. Listen to this one when you want to feel gratitude for your current and past friendships. And also if you are feeling like you could use more friendships in your life, you can invite that energy into your sphere now through this meditation.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

30. (S1E30) Rewriting Family History by Rewiring Your Brain with Chelsie Ward

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest this week is Chelsie Ward. We're talking about being raised with the belief that you have to be perfect, challenging what you accept as a family or societal norm, and once again, how mindset affects your physical health.

We get into rewiring your brain, reprogramming your thoughts is a constant thing you work on. You can't undo years and years and years of wiring, from the time you were a small child, all the way up to now, in one session. Understand you’re not failing or doing it wrong when the negative self talk comes back up. Know that working on reprogramming yourself every morning and saying this is who I am now, is what moves you forward on your new path.

And Chelsie talks about making a decision. A decision that she didn’t want to live the crazy life she’d been leading anymore. She didn’t want to be pretend she had everything figured out and was living without imperfections. She wanted to learn who she is at her core and be driven by a higher purpose, not her past and who she HAD been. All it takes is a decision and you can change everything.

Chelsie’s story is a story of hope and encouragement for what is possible in your own life.

Last week, I hosted a workshop where I shared how I found clarity, passion, and peace around which direction to go in this next stage of life - and how YOU CAN TOO! If you’d like to see the replay, go to ZenRabbit.com to get access to that video.

Chelsie's hype song is Pharrell Williams' "Happy." Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7dPqrmDWxs

Website www.chelsieward.com

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsieward/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ChelsieWardWellness/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chelsie_ward_wellness/

Clubhouse https://clubhouse.com/@chelsieward

29. (S1E29) Meditation: Happiness

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 05:30:00 -0400

Today’s focus is on happiness. What exactly is happiness and how do you find more of it? Happiness is a very personal thing. It can be different for everyone. Which is why you may have heard the phrase “Happiness is an inside job.” We’ll explore a bit about what that means and how you can cultivate more happiness in your life.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to http://customizedmeditation.com.

29. (S1E29) Creating Your Life The Way You Want It with Shannon Paterson

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s guest is Shannon Paterson. In this episode Shannon thought we were going to talk about her experiences as a 3X Ironman World Champion triathlete, 2x divorcee, near-death survivor, and eating disorder conqueror. But instead, we talked about self-love, female friendships, and the power to create your life the way you want it NOW. That’s how it goes in here. Conversations take on a life and direction of their own.

Shannon is a Mindset Empowerment Coach for midlife women & the founder of Live Your Truth. What she knows for sure is – that to truly feel your best, most confident, and most proud – it all stems from a self-love mindset. She says like the lionesses we are - fierce, loyal, brave, strong protectors, we need to care for ourselves with the same intensity that we care for others. We need to courageously explore new territory. And that territory lies within us. In the depths of our souls lies the source of our power. Waiting to be unleashed, waiting to roar!

Shannon didn’t mention this in the interview, but she is offering listeners a Free 30 min mindset empowerment coaching session to discuss self-love, relationships, building confidence, cultivating joy, physical health & wellness, and all topics related to helping you to Live Your Truth.

To schedule it, go to https://calendly.com/liveyourtruthgirl

AND, the first 3 women to schedule a call & mention "FINE is a 4-Letter Word"" podcast will also receive a Live Your Truth tank top. To see a picture go to: https://www.liveyourtruthco.com/product-page/lyt-tank-top

Shannon chose TWO hype songs. The first is Rise Up by Andra Day: https://open.spotify.com/track/0tV8pOpiNsKqUys0ilUcXz?si=kWq2INbOThWU77o-nnmhcA&dl_branch=1

And the bonus song is Wavin'Flag - Coca-Cola Celebration Mix by K'NAAN) https://open.spotify.com/track/02WDuAXXKumemrvsmrVBvH?si=asQJBf3ATMub7QWZas6tqA&dl_branch=1&nd=1

Connect with Shannon

Website www.liveyourtruthco.com

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/liveyourtruthwomen/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LiveYourTruthCompany

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/liveyourtruthwomen/

Clubhouse https://www.clubhouse.com/@shannonpaterson

To see the replay of the 3 Simple Steps to Say F*ck Being Fine & Improve Your Life By December 31 workshop, you can go to https://bit.ly/FBF11-9replay

28. (S1E28) Meditation: Gratitude Visualization

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Today’s meditation is on gratitude. This one takes you on a journey through relaxation, heart coherence and into feeling deep gratitude for past experiences before putting you into a state of gratitude for that which you are currently manifesting.

Combining feeling gratitude (or any higher vibration emotion) and visualizing your goals raises your vibrational alignment and increases the likelihood of manifesting them.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

28. (S1E28) Healed Through Gratitude in 30 Days with Jennifer Garman

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest in this episode is Jennifer Garman. Ten years ago, Jennifer thought she had it all - 3 kids, a dream job, a great life. Then, the rug was pulled out from under her. That great life unraveled in health crisis after health crisis. For seven years, Jennifer went from doctor to doctor looking for help. Each one prescribed a different drug, but none of them helped solve the underlying issues. Eventually she was led down the path to exploring the role our thoughts and the feeling of gratitude plays in health.

Once she finally found all the pieces to the solution, her health was completely restored in less than 30 days. Yes, you heard correctly. She was healed from years of overwhelm, fear, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and isolation in a month’s time.

In our conversation here, we talk about how she came to discover those pieces to the solution, taking inspired action, the mind-body connection, quantum physics – don’t worry not too much depth on that – and of course, more on the gratitude.

Jennifer's hype songs are On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons: https://youtu.be/w5tWYmIOWGk. And Best Day Of My Life by American Authors: https://youtu.be/Y66j_BUCBMY

Find Jennifer on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-garman-mindset-coach-6551588/

On her website at http://jennifergarman.xyz/

Or TheGratitudeMission@gmail.com

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

27. (S1E27) Meditation: Scanning & Balancing the Body

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 05:15:00 -0400

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

27. (S1E27) Survival of the Fittest with Michelle Berndt

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode, I talk with Michelle Berndt. Michelle and I met through Synapse, which is a networking organization that connects businesses and nonprofits to foster community and economic development.

The timing was perfect for her to share the story of her journey thus far and to publish her episode during October, which is breast cancer awareness month.

I don’t want to spoil the story, but to give you a little hint of what we’re covering today, Michelle kicked cancer's butt and went on to become Mrs. Texas International while wearing a wig. She’s currently the VP of Strategic Development at OneShare Health. And she lives with her husband in Dallas, Texas where they have a zoo of 2 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats, a rabbit and 20 chickens.

A few key takeaways:

1. Don’t settle for being mediocre – or just fine. Do your best regardless of where you are. You don’t have to always strive to be at the top of the heap if that’s not what you want. But do your best in whatever position you have.

2. There are things that happen in your life to bring you to your knees. We all go through situations in life that will be wake-up calls. Reality checks.

Even when it feels like you have no control over your life. You have no say in anything. You do. You just have to find the silver lining. The one thing you can control is your attitude. And your attitude then affects every single part of your body.

3. Speaking of hardships, everyone has their own level of what hardship looks like. It’s not a competition. Everyone has their stuff behind closed doors. No matter how good it looks from the outside, you don't know what others are dealing with internally. Nobody the mythological perfect life.

Michelle's hype song is by Pitbull - Feel This Moment ft. Christina Aguilera. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jlI4uzZGjU

Michelle's Website: www.onesharehealth.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-berndt-08658841/

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

26. (S1E26) Meditation: Sending Love to Your Community

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:15:00 -0400

In this meditation, you'll bring thoughts of love and light to the community where you live and the people who live and work there. Then expand that energy to your entire country and worldwide.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

26. (S1E26) Using Your Values As A Filter with Nicole BZ

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s guest is Nicole BZ. In this episode, we cover a lot of ground and you get to hear about the absolutely fascinating and meandering career path Nicole’s walked.

We talk about being in control of your own experience, creating your own reality. And the fastest way to change anything is to change your perspective. Taking inspired action to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. To use your values as a compass to know which direction to go. And her definition of failure as the only way you fail is if you quit.

Nicole is a strategic business coach with 25 plus years of leadership, management, and entrepreneurial experience. She has started, advised or led more than 38 organizations and invested more than 1,000 hours into coaching executive level business owners. She keeps the embers burning with live music, being outside as much as possible, writing, and reading.

Nicole’s hype song is I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Listen to it here: https://youtu.be/FHhZPp08s74

Website: https://nicolebz.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nbzcoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebzchannel

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebzchannel/

Find the Brene Brown values assessment tool Nicole mentioned here: https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Values.pdf

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

25. (S1E25) Meditation: Heart Coherence

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This is a heart coherence meditation, based on research by the HeartMath Intitute, to help you release stress and increase your vibration. When you’re in a coherent state, all your body’s systems are working together in harmony and ease.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to CustomizedMeditation.com.

25. (S1E25) Turning The Tables-Janette Interviews Lori

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0400

We’ve got a celebration going on today! Break out the cupcakes. This is episode 25, so I’m changing things up for this one. My friend Janette Gallardo asks ME the questions I’m usually asking my guests. This was her idea because she wanted to know more of my story and thought you, the listener, would want to know too.

She does an outstanding job and even gets me to cry. Clearly you want to hear that part, right?

We chat about the difference between learning and implementing. We can study and learn all day, every day, and it only becomes valuable when you apply that knowledge.

We cover how you are not obligated to stay in a relationship that’s no longer serving you. And,

I absolutely love that Janette shared her belief of “everything that is meant for you is going to happen.”

Here’s to another 25 – ok, let’s get real – here’s to another 125 episodes. Cheers!

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

My hype song? I chose two. Because that's my prerogative.

Carrie Underwood's Champion. Listen at https://youtu.be/HgknAaKNaMM
Van Halen's Right Now. Listen at https://youtu.be/xEI7cTBVr2A

You know where to find me.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisaitz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZenRabbit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zen_rabbit/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZenRabbit

On Clubhouse https://clubhousedb.com/user/lorisaitz

24. (S1E24) Meditation: Reaching Goals

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is designed to help you achieve your goals. If you can dream it, you can achieve it. Because you are not given dreams or goals that don’t also have a path to them. You may not know the exact path yet, but know that it does exist. Your job at this stage is to trust and believe that you can and will get there.

Use this meditation regularly to stay on track and infuse yourself with a sense of certainty around reaching your goals.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

24. (S1E24) Life by Design, Not Default with Christy Metcalf

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I’m talking with Christy Metcalf. Christy is the founder and President of C.E.O. Learning Systems. A family tragedy shaped her life, teaching her the importance of courage and perseverance. It also presented her with what she called a planned or arranged career. And she followed that plan, executed it perfectly and ended up miserable. So she used the courage that had been instilled in her and became an entrepreneur.

We chat about who supports you when you make decisions that don’t fit other people’s expectations of you, using visualization to lay out your future, and the importance of getting in tune with your thoughts and feelings. Because your thoughts direct your feelings, your feelings, direct your actions, and your actions direct your results. And then we get into what happens when you let emotions control you, what does failure even mean, and finding joy in your zone of genius.

Christy is an International Speaker, Trainer, Coach, Author, and Mentor with a true gift of helping clients identify what they want most, the roadblocks holding them back, and the plan to reach it. She believes that everything is figureoutable! Yes it is!

Her ultimate dream job is to one day is to live life in the fast lane driving the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile around the country, meeting fascinating people, and sharing their stories with the world.

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

Christy’s hype song is I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. Listen here: https://youtu.be/CwdrtwZiQ9E

Website: www.ceolearningsystems.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-metcalf/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christy.buckleymetcalf

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christy.metcalf/

23. (S1E23) Meditation: Creativity

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Today we’re exploring and enhancing your creativity. People often claim they’re not creative because they think of creativity in one very specific way – like the artistry of Picasso or Monet.

The truth is, everyone is creative in some way or another. And you probably use your creativity almost every day.

Use this meditation when you want to strengthen your creative abilities.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

23. (S1E23) The Pain of Transformation vs the Pain of Regret with Jess Lilly

Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s guest is Jess Lilly. Jess is a Heart-Centered Leadership Coach and coach trainer who is committed to creating a world full of empathetic, courageous leaders that understand it’s way more effective to play "heartball" than "hardball". She lives in Washington, DC with her loyal steed Aidan the dog, whom I’ve met and he is adorable.

There’s a lot in this conversation that hasn’t been covered in other episodes. I love that we talk about the difference between therapy and coaching, because I get this question a lot. We dive into how experiences don’t define who you are, how we are meant to be interconnected, but not codependent, and how we humans think there’s a version of life where there’s no pain.

And her Grandma Shirley makes an appearance as well. You will love Grandma Shirley.

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

Jess' hype song is Let Me Clear My Throat by DJ Kool. Listen to it here: https://open.spotify.com/track/7k3sn5TIQ3qRVJ8FPTG9kx?si=bca4d6263cb54db7

Where to find Jess:

Website https://www.jesslillycoaching.com/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesslillycoaching/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jesslillycoaching

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jesslillycoaching/

Clubhouse https://clubhousedb.com/user/jesslilly

Connect with her, mention this podcast, and get a 45 minute complimentary discovery session.

22. (S1E22) Meditation: Acceptance

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:15:00 -0400

If you’re like most people, you’re great at reliving the past over and over while worrying about what might happen tomorrow. This meditation is about acceptance. Acceptance of what actually IS, even if everything isn’t exactly as you’d like it to be. You may have heard the phrase, “what you resist, persists.” Add to that, “what you accept, you can change.”

Listen to this meditation when you’re struggling to accept a person, situation, or circumstance as it is and are frustrated because it’s not how you want it to be.

If you enjoy this meditation and you’d like to find out how you can create a personalized meditation for yourself, go to customizedmeditation.com.

22. (S1E22) Move Your Bananas To The Belt And Say Goodbye To Anxiety with Stephanie Dalfonzo

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest in this episode is Stephanie Dalfonzo. In her past life as an on-air radio personality – she was known as Stevie Knox. She was also the first automated voice back in the day. Stephanie and I have a lot of mutual connections, but we didn’t cross paths until recently. And I’m so glad we did.

Our conversation ranges from her use of the Law of Attraction before she even knew what it was, to learning how to cope with anxiety, which for her, started with beating the crap out of a bag of Cheetos. And from wearing metaphorical masks to witnessing miracles.

As an Integrative Hypnotist, Stephanie uses her voice to literally hypnotize her clients into making incredible life changes. Through hypnosis, she helps women entrepreneurs get out of their own way, see the possibilities of where they can go and how to get there.

For community and camaraderie, come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

Stephanie's Hype Song: In the interview, she said it was Earth Wind and Fire's "September." But she later changed it to "Be Yourself" by Peruquois. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFMvtBfjsVs

Website: https://stephaniedalfonzo.com/ - Get five of the techniques from her book for free!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniedalfonzo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephaniedalfonzo/

21. (S1E21) Meditation: Loving Kindness

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 05:15:00 -0400

In this meditation, we’re going to practice sending thoughts of loving-kindness, to both others and to ourselves. You may sometimes hear this type of meditation referred to as a Metta meditation. The goal of this type of meditation is to reinforce positive feelings toward yourself and all beings.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

21. (S1E21) Creating From Your Own Heart with Lisa Winneke

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest in today’s episode is known as The Wholehearted Woman and you’ll hear why when you listen. Lisa Winneke is a Visionary and Leader who is passionate about supporting women - and men - to cultivate the commitment, compassion and courage required to transform their lives and relationships, so they can embody their authentic selves and create a life, from their hearts, that lights them up from the inside out!

In the first few minutes, I ask Lisa a very personal question I thought twice about before putting it out there. But I felt like I had to ask. She was very gracious in answering. Then we get into the wisdom of children, how she holds space and processes her own feelings while holding space for her son’s pain when he lashes out at her, finding compassion for yourself and not responding with fear, hurt, and projection.

And how, as entrepreneurs, we’re both still working on pushing back on the voice inside telling us we need to be doing more to achieve success, instead of allowing ourselves to be in a state of flow where life is working for you.

Lisa’s hype song is A Sky Full of Stars by Coldplay: https://open.spotify.com/track/0FDzzruyVECATHXKHFs9eJ?si=DbhJf6x4SkqWhUi8xs0UVQ&dl_branch=1

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisawinneke/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.winneke/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisawinneke/

Clubhouse: https://clubhousedb.com/user/lisawinneke

Quick reminder, for community and camaraderie, Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. When you’re asking yourself “what’s next for me? Who am I now, in this next season of life? And where do I even start figuring out my purpose?” the F*ck Being Fine Experience is here for you. The next group starts in just a couple weeks.

Let me take you from doing just "fine" and lead you to a place of unprecedented passion, clarity, and peace. I’d love to chat with you about the steps to finding the courage to do what you know you need to do. Go to ZenRabbit.com to learn more or to schedule a complimentary call.

20. (S1E20) Meditation: Intuition

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 05:15:00 -0400

The focus of today’s meditation is on heightening your intuition so you can make better decisions. We all have intuitive abilities. Some people are more in tune with them than others. All the answers you need are within you. You just need to adjust the dial to tune into them and get quiet enough to hear them. So if you haven’t tapped into yours lately, invite them back into your world now.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

20. (S1E20) She Put An “H” On Her Chest And Handled It with Sparkle Lindsay

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Sparkle Lindsay is a woman of many strengths. She joins me in today’s episode to discuss her journey from WNBA prospect to corporate executive to influential speaker and addictions coach. As the oldest of five children, Sparkle started taking care of everyone else right from the beginning, in what she calls the “fix it role.” She carried that responsibility around and played that part so well, no one knew she was using drugs and alcohol to mask her pain.

There are several places in her story where you might get chills. And even if you haven’t faced the same heart-breaking experiences – we each have our own. You’ll relate to her stuffing down emotions, not wanting to appear weak, and putting other people’s well-being ahead of your own. And you’ll laugh at her inability to turn off that fix it role even as she was being taken off to jail with a lethal amount of alcohol in her system.

Man, she has such a triumphant spirit!

Two years and four months later, Sparkle is an inspiring speaker, published author and a nationally certified recovery coach based in Colorado, helping light the way for others on their journeys.

Here's Sparkle's hype song: Make it happen, by Mariah Carey, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q6xx0JfMBI

Her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfO9Je7sUGNOFaAv2OCVX_g

Get her gear: https://www.prepsportswear.com/team/us/colorado/colorado-springs/sparkle?schoolid=3423646

And find her book: https://www.amazon.com/Being-Better-Me-Sparkle-Lindsay/dp/1941892485/

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. When you’re asking yourself “what’s next for me? Who am I now, in this next season of life? And where do I even start figuring out my purpose?” the F*ck Being Fine Experience is here for you. Go to https://zenrabbit.com/ to learn more or to schedule a complimentary call.

19. (S1E19) Meditation: Interconnectedness

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is about appreciation and interconnectedness. Every day we interact with countless products, people and experiences. We face hundreds of situations. Everything in your life, from the lunch you eat to the clothes you wear to the streets you travel on has a story behind it. It exists because someone had an idea. Someone – maybe even thousands of someones – put in work, commitment, and love to make it real.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

19. (S1E19) It's OK to Ask for Help with Joanne Thompson

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode, I’m talking with Joanne Thompson from York England. My first UK guest! Raised to believe hard work is the key to success, and after working herself almost to death, Joanne found that wasn’t necessarily the case. Even after 10 days in the hospital, three months of recovery time and six months of being scared to go to sleep for fear she wouldn’t wake up, she still believed she could carry on as usual. Everything was fine.

We chat about the false sense of well-being and security in staying in situations where everything is fine, how to take control of your own mind, and the consequence of living with regrets.

Joanne's hype song is I'm So Excited by the Pointer Sisters. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iwBM_YB1sE

How to find Joanne:

website: https://joannecoaching.com/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/joannecoaching

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoanneThompsonCoaching/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannecoaching/

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

18. (S1E18) Meditation: Range of Emotions

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Today is a new day. No matter what has happened in the past, whether it was yesterday or ten years ago, you have a fresh start today. Right here. Right now. In this moment.

As humans, we have an entire range of emotions at our disposal. On the Abraham-Hicks Emotional Guidance Scale, there are 22 commonly felt emotions. You are always plugged in to an emotional vibration somewhere on this ladder. Listen to this mediation when you want to raise your vibration.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

18. (S1E18) Getting Back on Track with Deb Coviello

Thu, 26 Aug 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest today is Deb Coviello, Author of CEO’s Compass - Your Guide to Getting Back on Track and host of The Drop In CEO podcast.

Deb and I are chatting about what to do when you no longer fit in where you thought you did, transforming your learning experiences into a platform to help others, and baby-stepping your way into your purpose in life.

Deb says it took her 52 years before she started listening to what other people were saying about her strengths and seeing the signs, the green lights and not the red lights, that allowed her to get pulled into work that lights her up. Now she can look around and say, “oh, this is where I belong, instead of stubbornly sticking in that place where everything is only just fine.”

When she isn’t transforming lives and businesses from within, Deb is a board member of Women in Flavor & Fragrance Commerce, (WFFC), an avid Curler with the Cincinnati Curling Club, and a mother of 3. She’s been married to her husband Dan for 32 years and is a resident of Cincinnati Ohio.

Deb's very cool hype song is Road to Victory by Veigar Margeirsson. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r13PgM4Zds8

Be on the lookout for Deb’s upcoming book “The CEO's Compass, Your Guide To Get Back On Track.” You can get on the waitlist for that at her website – DropInCEO.com.

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

17. (S1E17) You Don’t Have to Sit on the Tack with Trista Polo

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode, I talk with Trista Polo about being a misfit, Imposter Syndrome and how taking responsibility for your choices changes your relationships and entire energy. I’m eager for you to hear her story of being in a similar place to some of my past guests, but finding her way to a different outcome.

Trista is a Self-Worth Coach and Advocate for entrepreneurs, CEOs and health professionals. She runs the local training system for the Hudson Valley region of a global billion-dollar company - training professionals in speaking skills and communication and producing online and in-person events. Trista is the host and creator of Trista's PL8STORY Podcast – which I highly recommend you listen to, in addition to this one – and is currently working on her novel. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, dog and cat.

Self Worth Assessment and Mini Course (currently free on her website) - https://www.iwokeupawesome.com/self-worth-assessment

More Leads Than You Can Call E-Book (currently free on her website) - https://www.iwokeupawesome.com/more-leads-book

Join Trista's I Woke Up Awesome Club on Clubhouse - https://www.iwokeupawesome.com/ch-week-in-review

Trista's hype song is Good To Be Alive by Andy Grammer. You can listen to it at https://open.spotify.com/track/41LGnsm9rkjSs3UTNMLZy2

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

17. (S1E17) Meditation: Imagining Perfect Health

Thu, 19 Aug 2021 04:55:00 -0400

In this meditation, we’re practicing imagination and imagining perfect health in your body. You'll visualize and relax into what that looks like and how it feels. You'll picture what you're able to do when you have perfect health throughout your entire body. And then what your absolute best day looks like.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

16. (S1E16) Meditation: Staring Down Fear

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Have you heard the question “what would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” It’s an interesting question because it’s asking you to confront your fears. If you didn’t have any fear, you would be living your best, most fulfilled, most joyous life. But for some reason, you have beliefs that keep you in fear.

In today’s meditation, we’re going to look fear in the eyes and see if we can make it shrink like the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

16. (S1E16) Do What Lights You Up; Messages from Snakes and Scorpions with Tabitha Scott

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s energizing conversation is with Tabitha A. Scott. A Kentucky native, who lives in Nashville - Tab is an award-winning international advisor, speaker, and best-selling author of Trust Your Animal Instincts-Recharge Your Life & Ignite Your Power. She’s a Certified Energy Manager and Certified Demand Side Manager through the Association of Energy Engineers, is Blockchain Certified through MIT, and is Certified as a Healing Touch Practitioner in human biofield therapy. It’s fascinating that she’s highly credentialed in both the engineering side and the human side of energy.

In this episode, we talk about the intersection of science and spirituality in regard to energy. How animals can help you find answers – in Tab’s case it’s been snakes and scorpions. And what you can do to achieve purposeful transformation, one small bite at a time.

I don’t know that I would’ve survived a day in the jungle with wild monkeys and scorpions. But I love that Tab did and came out of it so rejuvenated.

If you’re interested in reading Tab’s book Trust Your Animal Instincts – and let me tell you, it’s one I’ve not been able to put down, you can get it at her website Powering dash potential dot com.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabithaascott/

https://www.facebook.com/ScottTabithaA

https://www.instagram.com/tabithascotty/

https://clubhousedb.com/user/tabithascotty

https://twitter.com/ScottTabitha

Tab's hype song is Chumbawamba's Tubthumping (aka I get knocked down, but I get up again!) https://youtu.be/egN8CjfQkxc

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

15. (S1E15) Meditation: Relax and Rejuvenate

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Today’s meditation is focused on relaxation and rejuvenation. Springtime is when the world reanimates after hibernating through the winter.

Animals, plants, and ideas come back to life. You are part of nature. You’re built the same way. With the same energy stuff. The molecules may be arranged differently, but we are all one in nature.

And like every other part of nature, you can come alive, rejuvenated, in springtime or anytime. Ready to share your gift with the world.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

15. (S1E15) Becoming a Decision Maker Who Takes Action with Jack Perez

Thu, 05 Aug 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest today is Jack Perez. Jack is the founder of Kuel Life, where women can ‘Share, Learn, Shop, and Play with Our Second Act Sisters! She is a champion for change, redefining modern midlife for women through curated content and women-driven brands.

She earned an MBA from the University of Chicago – you’ll hear why and what happened after that in our interview.

Jack is an endorphin junkie who loves spending time with her son - who is on his way off to college and traveling to exotic, off-the-beaten-path places such as Cuba, Jordan, Zambia, Bolivia, and Zanzibar. She’s also an avid jump roper, Peloton-fanatic, and third-degree black belt in Taekwondo.

Listen to our conversation about being open to how new ideas come to you, making decisions and finding your purpose.

Jack's hype song is Don't Rain on My Parade - from Funny Girl https://open.spotify.com/track/7LaYzwlsD5QiYGRhWDUjIN

You can find out more about Jack at her website. https://kuellife.com/.

Want to win a FREE one-year membership to Kuel Life? Send your name and email to info@kuellife.com with the subject line "Fine is a 4-Letter Word."

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

14. (S1E14) Meditation: We Are One

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is about oneness. Based on a passage in the book Everything is Spiritual by Rob Bell. We are all one. If one part of your body is sick or broken, it affects your entire body, because all the parts make up the whole. It is the same within our families, our communities, and our world. You play an integral part in the wholeness of this world, as does every other being on the planet. Let’s see ourselves sending love and light through this connectedness.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

14. (S1E14) What is Your Part in This Situation? with Krisi Vadnais

Thu, 29 Jul 2021 05:00:00 -0400

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Krisi Vadnais. Krisi is a Hypnotherapist, Life Coach and an award-winning Public Speaker. When she is not helping women bring out their inner badass self, she is an only parent to two precocious boys who are 6 and 9. To date, her greatest accomplishment is keeping them alive and (mostly) clothed.

Listen in as we discuss being raised as a circus monkey, healing beliefs that no longer serve you, the shame and guilt around living with an alcoholic partner and forgiving yourself so you can love who you are. And, kindred spirits that we are, Krisi’s hype song is the same as mine.

Alcoholism is an exceptionally difficult topic for people to talk about. So I’m extremely grateful and honored that Krisi was willing to come on the show and share her experience.

Remember to take advantage of Krisi’s generous offer of the 10 minute video on how to do really basic EFT tapping to get rid of negative thoughts.

You can go to www.CoachKrisi.com and there is a link to click to sign up for it, or you can email Krisi at Krisi.Vadnais@gmail.com, put TAPPING in the subject line, and she will send you a FREE video of how to use tapping.

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

13. (S1E13) Meditation: Surrender

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation is about surrendering. Not in terms of giving up, but as in letting go of control. What if you surrendered your resistance to that person or feeling or situation you’re trying to control. Imagine feeling a deep state of inner peace and freedom by allowing and going with the flow.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

13. (S1E13) From Food Stamps to Fulfillment with Erin Harrigan

Thu, 22 Jul 2021 05:00:00 -0400

From Food Stamps to Fulfillment

On today’s episode, we’re exploring what it means to Pursue Success God's Way with my Success Champion Networking friend Erin Harrigan.

Erin Harrigan writes, coaches and speaks on the healing power of trading in self-reliance for surrender to make God your business partner. As a recovering driver and striver, she teaches women how to pursue success God's way to build a thriving business, and heal from overwhelm, overachieving and under fulfillment.

Erin is a wife, mom, avid traveler and lover of tacos, guac and all things 80's!

Listen to hear her story of going from living on food stamps as a child to achieving everything she’d always considered to be success. But when she got there, she felt guilty because she still didn’t feel fulfilled. Like many, she tried to fill the void by doing more and working harder. It wasn’t until she was struck by an epiphany in October of 2014 that she was able to stop beating herself up, surrender, and find her true calling.

Remember to check out Erin’s Hustle with Heart podcast and get chapter 1 of her book, Pursuing Success God’s Way, which you can do at her website ErinHarrigan.com.

You can also find Erin below.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thehustlewithheartcoach

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/erin_harrigan_entrepreneur

Clubhouse @erinharrigan

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

12. (S1E12) Meditation: Chakra Balancing

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation will help you tune up your chakras. Chakras have been described as spinning vortexes of energy that align along your spine, starting from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. There are seven main chakras, corresponding to different energy points along your spine. Each one relates to different nerves and organs and affect our every aspect of our being.

When your chakras are balanced, everything is open, aligned, and fluid. Sometimes, though, they get blocked and the energy flow is restricted. So this meditation will help open them up and bring them back into balance.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

12. (S1E12) Keep Saying Yes with Heidi Thompson

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Heidi Thompson introduces herself as a Washing-Flori-Virgi-Texa-Cali-Zonian, because she’s lived all over the country.

As a former counselor and educator turned attorney, Heidi specializes in conflict avoidance, by helping families with wills and trusts.

She’s a published author, engaging presenter, and talented performer. Her karaoke go-to is “Love Takes Time” by Mariah Carey. She spent a few years in Hollywood momaging my son’s career and got to do some of her own acting and extras work, including in the very unlikely movie “Straight Outta Compton.”

A mom and grandmom who’s been married for 29 years, she’s known her husband since she was 11 and their moms did aerobics together when they were in middle school.

Fun facts about Heidi, she’s ridden about 90% of all the roller coasters in America and at the time of our conversation, she was days away from embarking on her latest adrenaline rush of jumping out of an airplane.

I’m eager for you to hear Heidi’s unusual philosophy on life, which has contributed to her actually never having had the experience of being stuck at fine.

Heidi's hype song she shared for this episode was Roar by Katy Perry https://youtu.be/CevxZvSJLk8

You can get a free copy of Heidi’s book, Lifeguard Your Legacy, which provides an easy blog-style read of what every person should know about estate planning at www.lifeguardinglegacies.com/book-freebie.

Find out more about Heidi here:

www.lifeguardinglegacies.com

www.facebook.com/lifeguardinglegacies

www.instagram.com/drjosi

www.pinterest.com/mtmailbox

www.youtube.com/channel/UC2D7WpEhjD7tYYJtGh9ePQg

www.linkedin.com/in/heidithompson

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

11. (S1E11) Meditation: Allowing Joy

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 05:15:00 -0400

Lately, I’ve been hearing people say they feel guilty about or afraid of feeling happy. So they take measures to limit their joy or find ways to sabotage it. On one hand, this sounds ridiculous. On the other, how often have you said, I’ll be happy when… when being some randomly imposed condition?

You can allow yourself to feel joy whenever you’d like. Feeling joyful is your birthright. Listen to this meditation to feel good, joyful and alive.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

11. (S1E11) Your Heart Knows What’s Right with Tracy Kay

Thu, 08 Jul 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today I have the pleasure of talking with my good friend Tracy Kay. Tracy and I met when we were working in the same office. One day over lunch at Panera, it became clear we would be lifelong friends.

Tracy’s mom taught her to believe she could do anything she wanted. After graduating from the Baltimore High School for the Arts as a dance major, Tracy enjoyed a fulfilling career performing in musical theatre shows throughout the US and Europe. Once she started a family tho, she found herself struggling to live the life she thought society expected of her but wasn’t authentic to who she was.

Whereas manifesting her heart’s desires had been easy before, now her life felt heavy and difficult and frustrating. As she worked through the agony of thinking something must be wrong with her, and for the sake of her children, she stayed in her situation for another 15 years before finding the courage to – in her words – run through the flames away from the fire.

Today, she continues to move from “fine” to “fantastic” by listening to her inner truth and taking baby steps to move her in the right direction. She says “At times, the journey can be difficult, but living a life of regret would be even more difficult.”

Tracy's hype song is Fight Song by Rachel Platten https://youtu.be/xo1VInw-SKc

Find out more about Tracy here https://www.instagram.com/tracykaygriffin/

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

10. (S1E10) Meditation: Gratitude for the Body

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation presents you with the opportunity to focus on feeling gratitude for your physical body and everything it does for you. Even if your parts and organs don’t look or work exactly as you’d like them to, you can feel love and appreciation for them and for what they can do.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

10. (S1E10) Redirecting Your Emotions with Twinkies & Marshmallow Peeps with Wendy Isett

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest in today’s episode is Wendy Isett. Wendy and I met through LinkedIn a few months ago. So anyone who says LinkedIn is only an online resume platform is mistaken.

When we talked, Wendy was still in a career transition, evaluating her options. In our conversation, we talk about dealing with the humanness of life and evaluating what you’re getting from staying stuck in fine. Because there’s a reason you’re not moving forward and it’s usually because you’re still getting some benefit or payoff for staying there. We get into choosing how to feel, understanding what triggers certain emotions, and redirecting your thoughts.

Wendy had gotten very comfortable, and possibly even a tad complacent, in a job she held for 20 years. And then one day, she was unceremoniously pushed out of the nest. Interestingly, she had known for a while that it was time to move on. She just wasn’t acknowledging the signs.

If that wasn’t enough, she then experienced the passing of two important family members.

It never ceases to amaze me how the Universe drops all kinds of hints and arranges things in perfect order though. Wendy had started taking courses to prepare for the next phase of life, although that wasn’t exactly why she’d signed up. None the less, that knowledge would become essential in the months ahead.

Listen to hear the most important lessons she learned and applied from those courses and how you can use this same knowledge in your life.

Wendy's hype song is Brave by Sara Bareilles https://youtu.be/QUQsqBqxoR4

Find out more about Wendy at www.PatapscoCoaching.com, or on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

9. (S1E9) Meditation: Loving Yourself

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation focuses your attention on loving what is, not fighting what is not.

Sometimes we get so focused on what we don’t have and what we wish would be, that we don’t see and appreciate what we do have. Here is an opportunity to step away from the situation, see it from a different perspective, and find the possibility within it.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

9. (S1E9) I Can Always Do Better, Nothing’s Good Enough with Pam Russell

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest in this episode is Pam Russell. We’re talking about growing up in a family without any emotions, not feeling good enough under the pressure to be perfect, and what happens when you allow yourself to open up and be vulnerable in the company of other women.

Pam is a writer, journalist, mother of two daughters and a connector of women. She and I met through her Facebook group, Hot Women of an Uncertain Age. Check out her blog Brash - an unapologetic midlife at https://www.brashmidlife.com/

Growing up, Pam inferred that not showing your emotions means you’re strong, and being a girl equaled being weak, and she never wanted to be seen as girly. It wasn’t until she started talking with a therapist a few years ago that she even realized she had emotions because she had never allowed herself to access them.

This realization, along with some international travel, shifted her paradigm and caused her to question everything she’d been taught about the way we live our lives.

Listen to the end to hear what she has to say about society’s expectations.

Pam's hype song is Like a Girl by Lizzo https://youtu.be/8Pr98f4vlIg

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

8. (S1E8) Meditation: What's Next

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 05:15:00 -0400

What's Next?

In today's meditation, we're creating space so you can hear your angels and see what they have to say about what’s next in your life.

Get ready for a magic carpet journey to a castle in the sky for direction and guidance.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

8. (S1E8) The Hamburglar Put Her Over The Edge with Melissa Henry

Thu, 17 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Brandtographer Melissa Henry joins me today for a discussion about dragging around the stories we tell ourselves and finding the self-awareness and courage to change them. We dive into not feeling enough and the difference between the stress you feel when you’re doing something you love vs the stress associated with being in situations where you’re not empowered.

Melissa’s years of being in a career that didn’t particularly suit her can be traced back to her mid-teen years, when she saw her parents go through bankruptcy. That situation created a foundational belief around money that drove her initial career choice. And she admits, it still affects her today.

She spent years talking herself out of doing what she really wanted to do in life. Thinking “I just need to…” do x, y or z “before I can do that.” A therapist helped her work through many of her fruitless thought patterns. But it took her another 16 years of questioning her intelligence… before an incident with the hamburglar and an overwhelming desire to punch her client in the face… pushed her to finally make the jump.

Today Melissa is living exactly the right life for her right now.

I’m still in disbelief about the whole who stole the hamburger story. That is crazy. If you work in an environment like that, seriously, you need to get out now.

Find out more about Melissa

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-henry-731b892/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissademplephotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissademplephotography

Building a brand and a successful business shouldn’t be boring or feel inauthentic. Grab Melissa's "Boost Your Brand" guide (https://www.subscribepage.com/boostyourbrand) to help you help you stand out online, gain confidence, show up as an “approachable” expert and more deeply connect with your audience so you can build the business of your dreams faster and easier!

Melissa's hype song is Me Too by Megan Trainer https://youtu.be/qDRORgoZxZU

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

7. (S1E7) Meditation: Forgiveness

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation focuses on love and forgiveness.

When we’re able to forgive, we’re able to make space for and allow more love into our world. Forgiveness is not forgetting or condoning what someone did. It is acknowledging that they made a choice that wasn’t to your liking.

When you forgive, you set yourself free. You open space in your heart for love.

Who do you need to forgive today?

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to

explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com

with the subject line “meditation idea.”

7. (S1E7) You Have a Ghost in Your Neck with Melanie Weller

Thu, 10 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s fascinating conversation is with medical visionary Melanie Weller. I don’t say much in this one because I’m so enthralled with what she’s sharing about the intersections of mythology, anthropology, archeology, and science. And how she tranforms lives through her work with patients to improve their vagus nerve function.

We’re touch on hearing and trusting your intuition. And how the Universe gives you opportunities to find your way back to yourself. But sometimes everything in your world has to fall apart in order for you to come together whole.

Throughout her childhood and early adulthood, Melanie felt her self-worth was directly tied to her accomplishments. She racked up more and more credentials and lived what looked like a Norman Rockwell slash Martha Stewart life as a quote, unquote GOOD Navy wife.

Find out more about Melanie:

Melanie Weller collected a lot of professional credentials while she was FINE and in the process of a forceful extraction of the genie from the bottle, created a paradigm-shifting process to access genius, health, and flow in your body and business using the vagus nerve as a portal. She now leads with her inner Queen High Priestess Warrior Magician of the Cosmos, and tows her credentials behind her.

Social media links:

www.melanieweller.com

www.facebook.com/embodyyourstar

www.twitter.com/embodyyourstar

www.instagram.com/embodyyourstar

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanieweller/

Giveaway: Free vagus nerve decompression course and more at https://embodyyourstar.com

Melanie's hype song is Purple Rain by Prince: https://youtu.be/TvnYmWpD_T8

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

6. (S1E6) Meditation: Releasing Anxiety

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 05:05:00 -0400

This meditation is designed to help you feel grounded and safe in this moment. Sometimes anxiety can spin you into a frenzy. Worrisome thoughts get stuck playing on an endless loop through your mind. It doesn’t feel good and it doesn’t serve you in any useful way.

Use this one to bring yourself back to the present moment, and tap into the power of your root chakra, so you can find peace and calm again.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

6. (S1E6) Wait, You Mean, This Isn’t How Marriage Is Supposed To Be? with Courtney Boles

Thu, 03 Jun 2021 05:00:00 -0400

My guest today is Courtney Boles and we’re talking about following the rules, asking for what you want, and perceptions that may or may not be true. She also shares a couple of great exercises you can do if you ever find yourself alone and sobbing in your apartment on Christmas.

Courtney and I met through the Success Champions Networking group and connected over our mutual love for the Florida Gators. I didn’t hear her whole story before we had the conversation for this episode, but I knew she had experience moving from fine to fantastic and that others could benefit from hearing it. Courtney was raised in the Baptist church and taught to be a “good girl.” She inferred that JOY meant Jesus, Others, You, in that order – which led her to always put herself last. After 15 years of marriage to a “fine” young man, she finally allowed herself to tell the truth about what was going on in her relationship. With the help of her therapist, Rita, who she calls the patron Saint of broken and abused women – Courtney decided to take responsibility for her own choices. She shares what she discovered about her family and herself since then. And how she used one of the lowest points in her life as inspiration to learn and go bigger – like the bad ass she really is.

Find out more about Courtney:

Check out the Facebook group Making Friends at https://www.facebook.com/groups/460612554960924

Want to chat 1:1 about friendship, adventure, insurance or anything else? Let’s do a virtual coffee! https://meetings.hubspot.com/cboles

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

5. (S1E5) Meditation: Patience

Thu, 27 May 2021 10:00:00 -0400

In this meditation, we’re focusing on patience. The dictionary defines patience as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. I recently read a book called Innercise. One of the key takeaways was “everything happens in its own time.” There is always a gestation period. Whether you agree with what that amount of time is or should be is a different story.

Listen to this one when you feel frustration around how long something is taking to show up for you.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

5. (S1E5) Personal Development is Lame with Caren Cooper

Thu, 27 May 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today I’m talking with Caren Cooper about conformity, losing your identity, letting fear drive your decisions, and self-sabotage.

Caren and I met through LinkedIn. I saw a comment she made on someone else’s post and thought, I bet she has a story to share about moving from Fine to Fantastic. So I messaged her, we chatted, and here we are.

Caren was taught to conform, sit-down and shut up. So she did, for her first 50 years. Going to college, working in corporate America, and raising her children – doing what she was “supposed” to do. And everything was, eh, pretty much, fine.

She shares what she discovered about living in victim-mode and always finishing the “what if” question with something negative. And when life – ironically – got easier.

Learn more about Karen at:

https://www.facebook.com/caren.s.cooper/

https://www.instagram.com/carenc1123/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carencooper/

Caren's hype song is Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees: https://youtu.be/I_izvAbhExY

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. When you’re asking yourself “what’s next for me? Who am I now, in this next season of life? And where do I even start figuring out my purpose?” the F*ck Being Fine Experience is here for you. Go to ZenRabbit.com to learn more or to schedule a complimentary call.

4. (S1E4) Meditation: Loving Yourself

Thu, 20 May 2021 05:15:00 -0400

This meditation focuses on helping you see and love yourself as the divine being you are. This isn’t always easy. We tend to beat ourselves up for all our perceived shortcomings. We say things to ourselves that we would never say to someone we love.

Listen to this one when you are open to resetting your heart energy and finding more love for yourself.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.

4. (S1E4) Prostitutes, Pain & Power with Eve Molzhon

Thu, 20 May 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today I’m talking with Eve Molzhon, whom I met in a Facebook group called Unconventional Leaders. And this is an episode you WILL be telling your friends about. Even though Eve’s story is “I can’t believe it–crazy,” you will still find elements of yourself in it. It’s from this place of commonality that we can learn and grow and support each other.

There are so many takeaways from Eve’s story. I don’t want you to get caught up in the shocking part that is probably not something you would have or will experience. Focus on the feelings and beliefs we all share, and the lessons you can learn

You can find out more about Eve:

via here website https://doghandleracademy.com/about-us/

on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DogHandlerAcademy/

and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/doghandleracademy/

Eve's hype song is Just Like Fire by Pink: https://youtu.be/WkyDce0AQ6s

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. When you’re asking yourself “what’s next for me? Who am I now, in this next season of life? And where do I even start figuring out my purpose?” the F*ck Being Fine Experience is here for you. Go to ZenRabbit.com to learn more or to schedule a complimentary call.

3. (S1E3) Meditation: Future You

Thu, 13 May 2021 01:00:00 -0400

In this meditation, you get to meet up with future you. Journey into the future and chat with yourself from exactly one year from today. Future you is super excited to see current you and share everything that’s happened in the past 365 days. Hear what future you has to say about your health, your relationships, your goals, and more.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

3. (S1E3) If She Could Just Be A Better Wife & Mother with Helene Masyr

Thu, 13 May 2021 00:45:00 -0400

Today I’m chatting with my college friend Helene Masyr about feeling inadequate, the affects and scars of emotional and verbal abuse, the importance of finding a support system, and the meaning of her butterfly tattoo.

As someone who has moved from something so far away from fine, even though she had convinced herself that it really was fine, all the way to now fantastic, Helene shares hope and inspiration. She also shares valuable suggestions you can apply to your life.

Helene DeJong is an internationally experienced teacher, school counsellor and coach. She has a Master’s degree in Counselling and Development and has worked with children, teens, and adults in individual and group settings. She is a certified coach who is accredited by the International Coaching Federation. Additionally, she holds certifications in Applied Positive Psychology and Mindfulness Foundations. She incorporates evidence-based positive psychology and mindfulness strategies into her sessions.

Helene has worked in India, Niger, United States, Uganda, and the Bahamas; she has coached clients from France, England, Scotland, the US, as well as the Bahamas.

Additionally, Helene is a recovering people pleaser who misplaced her identity somewhere between marriage and motherhood. She is the proud mother of four strong daughters who seem so much more put together than she was at their age! Helene is committed to helping others uncover their identity, purpose, and their passion so they too can thrive.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/africahelene/

Email helene.masyr@gmail.com

6 months life coaching guaranteed price: $50 per session. Mention Fine is a Four Letter Word.

Helene's hype song is I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor: https://youtu.be/ARt9HV9T0w8

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. When you’re asking yourself “what’s next for me? Who am I now, in this next season of life? And where do I even start figuring out my purpose?” the F*ck Being Fine Experience is here for you. Go to ZenRabbit.com to learn more or to schedule a complimentary call.

2. (S1E2) Meditation: Gratitude for What Is

Thu, 13 May 2021 00:30:00 -0400

This meditation is on gratitude for what is. There’s a saying that if you can’t be happy with and grateful for what you have already, what are you going to do with more?

It’s likely that you want more in the coming year because it's the nature of your soul to want expansion. So let’s get into a place of appreciation for what’s already here, so you can open the doors for more.

Listen to this one to feel the joy and gratitude for those people, things, and experiences in your world. To feel gratitude filling up your whole body, like you’ve been injected with liquid happiness.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

2. (S1E2) Lose The Old-School Mentality About Mid-Life with Dara Goldberg

Thu, 13 May 2021 00:15:00 -0400

My guest today is Dara Goldberg. Our discussion touches on finding love for yourself instead of seeking it from external places, a better description of what’s commonly called “mid-life crisis,” shedding the shoulds, and the guilt many women feel for focusing on themselves.

Dara Goldberg is a Life Transitions Coach dedicated to helping women in midlife manage the emotions that naturally arise during life transitions, rediscover what gives them a sense of identity, purpose and meaning and design and move into a next life chapter that brings them joy, fulfillment and excitement.

Dara holds an MSW in Social Welfare Policy, spent over 15 years advising and raising millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations as a founding partner in a consulting firm and has since helped thousands of women through coaching and courses since launching her own business in 2012. She lives in Philadelphia with 1 husband, 2 stepdaughters, 2 cats, and a silly dog named Chumley.

https://www.daragoldberg.com/

https://www.facebook.com/daradoesmidlife/

https://twitter.com/DaraGoldberg1

https://www.instagram.com/DaraDoesMidlife/

https://www.pinterest.com/daradoesmidlife/_created/

Dara's hype song is RESPECT by Aretha Franklin: https://youtu.be/GhFIk4cpNEk

Come join us in the Fine is a 4-Letter Word Facebook group.

This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit. When you’re asking yourself “what’s next for me? Who am I now, in this next season of life? And where do I even start figuring out my purpose?” the F*ck Being Fine Experience is here for you. Go to ZenRabbit.com to learn more or to schedule a complimentary call.

1. (S1E1) Meditation: Renewal

Thu, 13 May 2021 00:00:00 -0400

This meditation is on renewal and clearing a channel for a fresh start. You can create a renewed start on any day, at any time. Start by flushing out any remnants of old energy left over from the past. Then fill yourself up with light and love.

If there’s a specific topic you’d like to explore in a meditation, please let me know. Simply send an email to Support@ZenRabbit.com with the subject line “meditation idea.”

1. (S1E1) Introduction to Fine is a 4-Letter Word with Lori Saitz

Fri, 07 May 2021 05:00:00 -0400

Today everything's fine. It's just fine. That's the problem. You don't really feel like you have anything to complain about. Lots of people might even envy what you have, but you're feeling this deep undercurrent of suck like there must be something more.

In this introductory episode Lori talks about:

Who this podcast is for and inspiring Gen-X Women.
Living our best life with confidence and finding purpose.
How the highs and lows teach us self discovery and courage.
What it's like to think to yourself there must be something wrong with me.

You can find out more at https://zenrabbit.com/.