Women Worldwide with Deirdre Breakenridge

We often hear about self-care and it is definitely a buzzword right now. But there are many misconceptions about what self-care really is. Ultimately, self-care is a thing, even the small things, that bring you peace and joy. That’s why Roberta Hughes joins us today because the work she does with her clients is all about finding moments of peace and joy in their life so they can feel value and purpose.

Roberta Hughes is the Founder and lead instructor at PeaceFull Living, a boutique hybrid studio that conveys a delicate and personalized Peaceful Living instruction through customized Pilates, Meditation, and Yoga classes. Peaceful Living grants clients a way to filter out life’s pressures through a delicate and highly personalized approach. Its nurturing and customized approach guides clients who desire to change their relationship with stress.

In our conversation today, we discuss how to declutter our thoughts, how to find the meaningful things that bring us peace and joy, and we even talk about social media’s role in not being able to find that peace. Roberta shares her personal journey and how she was able to find her own way to living peacefully. Her tips and strategies help you build your own toolbox of self-care practices.

Show Notes:

  • [2:07] - Welcome to the show, Roberta! Roberta shares how she started on this path as a young mother and military wife.
  • [3:31] - We learn ways to manage stress, but life pulls us out of being peaceful often.
  • [4:39] - Once we become adults, we often put ourselves at the bottom of our list.
  • [6:30] - Roberta’s clients start with the problem of not having enough time for themselves.
  • [7:44] - Creating “white space” in your schedule is the first step to making time for yourself.
  • [9:01] - Self-care does not have to be a day at the spa.
  • [10:15] - What are some of Roberta’s self-care routines?
  • [13:17] - Stimulating the nervous system is a surprising way to practice self-care.
  • [15:40] - Roberta shares a hard decision she had to make that changed a lot of her thinking.
  • [17:07] - When she saw what was possible with attention and love, Roberta’s passion developed.
  • [19:22] - Find practices that you can rely on and build your toolbox when the risk is low.
  • [20:43] - Be intentional about what triggers you.
  • [21:51] - Healthy boundaries are highly recommended and vary per individual person.
  • [23:26] - The idea of putting ourselves first does not come naturally and you may need a support system.

Links and Resources:

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW363.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Energy is a broad term, isn’t it? Sometimes something so broad can be hard to understand. So, today’s episode is all about tuning into your energy with guest Rebecca Ahmed.

Rebecca Ahmed is an award-winning speaker, business consultant, and an Energy Leadership Index™ Master Practitioner (ELI-MP), which is an exclusive training in human energy and how we can experience, express, and expand it in ourselves and others. Rebecca is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and published writer. Her work has been featured in Forbes, National Association of Colleges and Employers, Talent Management & HR, Recruiting Daily, and Talent Culture. Under her direct supervision, Allegiant Airlines won Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Interview” award. Caesars Entertainment, the largest casino-entertainment company in the U.S. retained Rebecca as their new “Chief Energy Officer” in 2021.

With all these credentials, Rebecca is an expert on this topic of energy. In our conversation today, she beautifully defines what energy really is. It’s all around us! There’s personal, mental, physical, and environmental energy. There are different levels and principles. There’s a lot we can learn, and for something this important, where do we even start?

With Rebecca’s help, we’ll learn how to be aware of our energy, how to use it for motivation, and even how to know our worth and value.

Show Notes:

  • [2:25] - Rebecca shares her path to her current role as a Chief Energy Officer.
  • [3:46] - There are seven levels of energy and some serve you while others don’t.
  • [5:05] - You start with an energetic assessment. Rebecca explains what this assessment shows.
  • [7:06] - This is self-care, but the term “self-care” has a selfish feel to it. This isn’t something secondary. This is an energetic recharge.
  • [8:37] - Energy is very contagious and can be used positively or negatively.
  • [10:40] - Are women more in tune with energy? Rebecca explains the difference she’s noticed.
  • [12:13] - When you’re in a negative space, that’s okay. You can move through it when you’re ready, but exercise control.
  • [14:09] - Awareness is the first step.
  • [15:34] - Rebecca shares that she didn’t know how to communicate her worth. Energy shifts changed that. Go in with the right tools.
  • [17:39] - When you are clear in your values, you can use them as tools to communicate your worth without feeling like you are bragging.
  • [19:46] - When you lead with pleasure, you have a smile on your face.
  • [21:23] - How does Rebecca stay up to date on the current research?
  • [22:55] - The starting point is all about knowing your value.

Links and Resources:

Energetic Impact Website

Rebecca Ahmed on LinkedIn

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW362.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Inspiration can come from anywhere, but for today’s guest, her family has been the biggest inspiration of all, creating opportunities to channel her passion into writing. Author Annette Berkovits does just that with each and every one of her books and today she shares her journey.

Annette Libeskind Berkovits was born in Kyrgyzstan and grew up in postwar Poland and the fledgling state of Israel before coming to the U.S. at age sixteen. Despite being uprooted from country to country, Berkovits has channeled her passions into language study and writing. 

Her first memoir, In the Unlikeliest of Places: How Nachman Libeskind Survived the Nazis, Gulags and Soviet Communism, a story of her father’s remarkable survival, was published in 2014. She is also the author of a second memoir, Confessions of an Accidental Zoo Curator, a poetry book, Erythra Thalassa: Brain Disrupted, and a historical fiction novel, The Corset Maker. Aftermath: Coming of Age on Three Continents is her latest release and all have been inspired by the family that surrounds and supports her.

Today, Annette not only discusses her books, but along the way she shares what was surprising during her writing process, what it was like to dive into her family’s history, and even what books she likes to read herself. Her advice is so valuable to everyone.

Show Notes:

  • [2:29] - Annette’s father left her “buried treasure” which created a desire for her to share his story.
  • [4:02] - Her father wanted to share the stories even though they were hard. He was optimistic.
  • [5:29] - Through her writing, Annette was able to bring life to these stories.
  • [6:31] - Her father also painted and his work is on display in New York.
  • [8:15] - Annette tells the story of her father fleeing Nazi Germany during WWII.
  • [11:07] - Her first book, the memoir of her father, included years of research.
  • [12:05] - Annette shares about the types of writing she has done, including poetry.
  • [13:34] - Further inspired by her family’s history, Annette wrote a book called The Corset Maker.
  • [16:19] - You should write because you want to write, not just to be published.
  • [17:56] - Annette has also been inspired by the life of her son.
  • [20:32] - As a writer, you need to read, keep writing, and promote on social media. It takes time.
  • [21:37] - Annette shares some of her recent reads and why she reads across all genres.
  • [25:14] - Annette’s simple advice is, “It’s never too late.”

Links and Resources:

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW361.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Brand equity is a big buzzword in the business world. Brands like Apple are highly recognizable not just for what they sell but also for what they stand for. Today, all businesses strive to have that type of impact with their brands. My guest today is an expert at helping women transform their business visions through building brand equity. 

Ari Kryzek, CEO & Head of Strategy at Chykalophia, is a certified brand strategist. She works with women-led firms to help them carve out their brands and build brand equity. She’s also the host of the Halo Femtech podcast honoring innovative female disrupters. 

So how can you hone in on your brand equity while staying true to your principles? In our conversation today, Ari shares her journey, her advice for women-led brands, and the questions you need to ask to dig deeper into your own story to build a brand that will create far-reaching customer connection and loyalty. 

Show Notes:

  • [2:10] - Ari shares her foundational journey growing up in Bali.
  • [4:04] - The discovery that made Ari want to step into the role of helping women. 
  • [7:07] - The main ingredients needed for a rewarding growth journey in business. 
  • [8:46] - Ari explains brand equity, the perception we attach to brands, and how it builds over time.  
  • [10:10] - Brand equity begins with aligning your values with your brand.
  • [13:10] - Ari shares how to stay true to your principles when establishing your brand.
  • [15:31] - The most important questions to ask when creating an innovative brand. 
  • [16:33] - What is the one thing that only you can deliver?  
  • [18:23] - Ari shares how flexibility infuses her creativity, curiosity, and excitement and helps her thrive.  
  • [21:28] - Ari shares resources to help you hone in on your own powerful brand message.  
  • [22:57] - How Ari’s Halo Femtech podcast is helping women thrive in all areas of their health.
  • [25:01] - Why following your heart will lead you to the right thing to do every time.

Links and Resources:

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW360.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

It’s no secret that the corporate boardroom is still a “man’s world,” but we also know that diversity at every level of an organization is so impactful. And when it comes to getting more women on corporate boards, you won’t find many more passionate than today’s guest Jocelyn Mangan.

Jocelyn is a co-founder of Him For Her, a social impact venture that aims at accelerating diversity on boards. Him For Her is building the boardroom of the future by making female candidates more visible. Prior to founding Him For Her, Jocelyn spent over 20 years in the tech field and in our conversation today, she describes her journey and the pivot she made into entrepreneurship.

So what prevents women from getting their seat at the table? Jocelyn shares the interesting myths about being board ready and the new challenges brought to us in recent years, including the challenge of personal wellness in leadership.

Show Notes:

  • [1:57] - Jocelyn spent 20+ years in tech but pivoted to entrepreneurship.
  • [4:22] - Although the job is demanding, the definition of readiness is broad.
  • [6:30] - What prevents women from being on corporate boards?
  • [7:32] - Board members are chosen based on similarities and create a lack of diversity.
  • [8:39] - Jocelyn explains the reason behind choosing the name Him For Her.
  • [10:05] - Age diversity is a real need.
  • [12:16] - Through Him For Her, Jocelyn felt a much deeper sense of purpose.
  • [13:32] - Although she uses a lot of skills she learned in previous roles, Jocelyn continues to learn new things as an entrepreneur.
  • [15:26] - Jocelyn shares the routines that keep her mind open and strengthen a growth mindset.
  • [18:20] - When it comes to effective leadership, sleep and wellness are crucial.
  • [21:09] - For Jocelyn, sleep and quality of sleep are top wellness priorities.
  • [22:34] - There are many ways to get into the boardroom. Jocelyn shares her tips.

Links and Resources:

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW359.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

When it comes to communicating, there are a surprising number of elements that go into effectively speaking to others, whether that be in a professional setting or a personal one. And it all starts with knowing your baseline.

In this episode, I explain what a baseline is and how the knowledge of your own baseline can impact the effectiveness of your communication.

As you are thinking about your baseline, you have to consider things like the sound of your voice and body language. It is broken down into three parts: voice, verbal cues, and non-verbal cues. Listen on to find out more about each and the magical thing that happens when all three align.

Show Notes:

  • [1:08] - Baseline communication is something we don’t often consider. What is the baseline?
  • [2:33] - The baseline is broken down into voice, verbal cues, and non-verbal cues.
  • [3:23] - Pitch is how you modulate your voice.
  • [4:01] - Upspeak is a lilt up at the end of a sentence and doesn’t help you come across as a thought leader.
  • [5:18] - The baseline and your voice has a lot to do with breathing.
  • [6:06] - Verbal fluency is the ability to think and grab the words you need.
  • [7:38] - Does your body language match what you are saying?
  • [8:42] - Your body helps tell the story.
  • [10:40] - Reach out to Deirdre to learn more about a baseline assessment.

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW358.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Did you get the memo or do you feel like you missed something? Today’s guest admits that for a long time, she felt that she had totally missed the memo. But in reality, she just hadn’t made her own yet.

Today’s guest is Yemi Penn, an engineer by profession, a fascinating and successful entrepreneur, author, speaker, and transformation mindset coach. In our conversation, Yemi helps us understand transformation and how we can make the necessary shifts to feeling empowered.

Yemi uses the “memo” comparison to life because many of us feel or have felt at some point that we’re not living life the way we should. We might feel like we’re not on the right path or that it's too late to make a change. But as Yemi explains in this episode, it’s never too late to start trusting yourself.

So did you get the memo? Don’t worry if you’ve missed it because it probably wasn’t for you anyway. Let’s get started writing your own memo.

Show Notes:

  • [0:25] - This week’s episode is all about transformation and feeling empowered with Yemi Penn.
  • [2:11] - Welcome to the show, Yemi! She shares how she found herself as an engineer.
  • [4:15] - Yemi relocated and realized she “didn’t get the memo”.
  • [5:14] - There isn’t one memo for everybody. Take your power back and make your own.
  • [6:39] - It is never too late to make your memo.
  • [7:54] - Trauma plays a big role in the memo we’ve missed and the one we create.
  • [11:27] - Did I Choose My Trauma? is one of Yemi’s documentaries available on YouTube.
  • [12:18] - Yemi explains how to listen to your body and how to get radically honest with yourself.
  • [14:51] - Yemi’s book Did You Get the Memo? covers a lot of ground.
  • [17:18] - The readers of this book range in age, gender, and cultures.
  • [19:37] - Yemi believes many people live by other peoples’ memos.
  • [21:18] - What keeps Yemi motivated and moving forward?
  • [22:33] - Staying busy is one way people cope with trauma, but Yemi says to quiet the noise.
  • [24:00] - Bending the rules is okay and sometimes you need to outsource.
  • [25:01] - Trust yourself.

Links and Resources:

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW357.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Today’s guest is proof that you can have it all and you don’t have to wait. Mary D’Souza has built a very successful career and focuses her efforts on living her best life. But what’s her secret?

For Mary, it has always boiled down to relationship building. In her experiences in private credit, equity, real estate, and investment banking, Mary learned what it takes to build meaningful relationships when you want to move forward with an investment. And now as the Chief Investment Officer at Misha Investments, she continues to build relationships with team members and clients.

Not only are relationships with clients important, but Mary also discusses the impact of a mentor/mentee relationship and the fostering of trust that goes into this kind of connection. She says that in order to build the best life ever, you have to surround yourself with the “best” people. To her, that means the people who share your values and people you can learn from.

Mary is full of wonderful tips that are not only great for business, but for life in general. Like not letting the things you can’t control get you down. Or choosing to be happy now instead of waiting for something to happen. 

So listen to this interview with Mary and learn about the connection between financial freedom, the value of time, and building relationships.

And of course, as an expert in finance and investments, Mary shares some very valuable information about making investments on your journey to financial freedom.

Show Notes:

  • [0:11] - Today’s episode is about time, relationships, and investments with Mary D’Souza.
  • [2:12] - Mary describes her background and the current roles she holds.
  • [4:27] - In order to be successful, you must know your audience.
  • [6:18] - Time is valuable. You have to have short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals.
  • [7:11] - What is the difference between a mentor and a sponsor?
  • [9:04] - Sometimes, you are adding value to another person when you say no.
  • [10:34] - Whatever you learn, you can use to move forward.
  • [12:35] - How is “The Great Resignation” an exciting time?
  • [14:03] - You don’t have to make the same mistakes you see others make.
  • [17:45] - There are always things out of our control.
  • [19:29] - You have to play the long game with the big picture in mind.
  • [20:27] - Don’t be too hard on yourself.
  • [22:00] - Mary advises investing early and gives basic tips on investing.
  • [23:29] - You can have it all. You don’t have to wait.

Links and Resources:

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW356.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

How do you go from med school to becoming a franchise consultant? My guest today is Kim Daly, a top consulting franchising expert, and international bestselling co-author. She is also the creator of the Daly Plan, a millionaire mindset coaching program, and the host of KimDaly.tv.

We discussed Kim's path from preparing for med school to becoming a successful franchise consultant, how to overcome limiting beliefs and realize your dreams, how to develop a millionaire mindset, and more.

Our conversation started with what a franchise business is, the misconceptions around it, and how it can help anyone regardless of their business experience (or lack of) take a proven business plan and become a successful business owner.

One of the things Kim highlighted is the importance of setting your own goals for your business, finding your motivation to succeed, and working on your mindset to become successful because success is always an inside job.

On her YouTube show, KimDaly.tv, she talks about all things franchising, from advice, tips, and facts to dispelling myths, helping people break through their limiting beliefs and success stories.

This was such an uplifting conversation. Listen to Kim share why it's important to have dreams and goals, and why you NEED to spend time imagining what you want in your life.

Ask yourself "What do I really want?" Because the true magic happens when we get clear and specific about what we want when we stop arguing about limitations and stop talking against ourselves.

"If you want to create the outcome, you have to stop the resistance", says Kim.

Another great piece of advice from Kim is "once you know where to focus your mind and your attention, success is simple."

For Kim success is owning her freedom, being free to live the life that she wants, feeling peaceful, and doing things that align with who she is.

A wonderful conversation with Kim and lots of business and life advice. 

Show Notes:

  • [0:06] - Deirdre reveals today's topic to be daring to dream.
  • [0:12] – Get some background information on today's guest, Kim Daly.
  • [2:07] – What led to Kim becoming a franchising consultant?
  • [3:51] – Kim touches upon the benefits of a franchise.
  • [6:28] – Kim talks about turning existent businesses into franchises.
  • [8:27] – Learn about KimDaly.tv.
  • [11:19] – Kim shares a moment when she had an important epiphany.
  • [14:02] – How do people go from limited belief to actual belief?
  • [17:12] – Kim reveals what her coaching program teaches people.
  • [18:57] – Hear what a successful day means to Kim.
  • [21:33] – Kim leaves us with some parting advice.
  • [23:18] – Learn where to find Kim online.

Kim’s social channels:

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW355.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

I am sitting down with Amy Pyles in this episode of Women Worldwide to discuss various topics such as how to embrace technology and become better at solving problems!

Amy is the president of Saxum, a digital integrated agency that solves complex problems for brands and organizations! Amy helps brands make more effective connections with those whom they serve – even brands as big and as recognizable as Walmart!

Tune in as she shares her journey, touching upon how she got on this path and how she launched Saxum. Amy also reveals what she believes makes an effective leader and why empathy is so important. 

Amy tells us what her approach is as a marketer, how tennis helps her manage stress, and so much more!

Show Notes:

  • [0:07] – Today's guest is Amy Pyles of Saxum.
  • [2:33] – Amy dives into what put her on her path.
  • [4:40] – Amy argues that innovation can be scary.
  • [5:50] – What makes Amy an effective leader?
  • [7:30] – What should women look at in terms of skills?
  • [9:17] – Amy talks about some of her mentors and influences.
  • [11:22] – Amy offers advice on how to find a mentor.
  • [13:15] – One of Saxum's mottos is Who says you can't?.
  • [14:40] – Amy shares one of her most important lessons learned.
  • [16:42] – Deirdre recommends the book Surrounded by Idiots.
  • [17:58] – Amy loves email newsletters and recommends some to us.
  • [20:15] – How does Amy handle stress?
  • [22:20] – Hear what a successful day at Saxum looks like.
  • [24:15] – Amy gives us some parting advice.

Amy’s social channels:

Links and Resources:

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW354.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

We have conversations just about every single day, but are you having conversations with the companies from whom you're buying products? 

Well, in this episode of Women Worldwide, I am sitting down for a discussion with Brooke Sellas to talk about just that and more! 

Brooke is the C.E.O. and founder of B Squared Media, an award-winning digital marketing agency focusing on social media management, advertising, and social-led customer care. She also teaches Digital Marketing & Voice of the Customer courses (virtually) at the University of California in Irvine. Brooke’s marketing mantra is Think Conversation, Not Campaign, and she is also the author of Conversations That Connect!

Brooke founded B Squared Media in 2012. Serving mostly middle-market and enterprise brands, their services include social media management, advertising, and social-led customer care solutions. Brooke is an “in the trenches” marketer with 18+years of sales and marketing experience and a BA from Penn State University in Media & Communication studies. She had her “ah-ha” social media moment when, in 2007, she used a burgeoning Facebook to recruit 7,500 attendees to attend a Pub Crawl benefiting cystic fibrosis, which made over $60,000 dollars for the charity.

In 2017, B Squared Media was named Sprout Social’s “Partner of the Year” for being a shining example of a social media agency. In 2018, Brooke was named one of New Jersey’s “Top 25 Women Entrepreneurs & Brand Builders,” and in 2022, she was named one of LinkedIn’s “Ten Rising Marketing Stars to Follow.”

Listen in as Brooke shares that conversation is more about self-disclosure, not just clichés and facts. She also reveals how B Squared Media came to be, the importance of brands making use of social listening and connecting on a human level, how she goes about marketing and building her company, her love for animals (especially horses), and so much more!

BrookeShe also offers listeners some advice, encouraging us to think about how to get to the core of communication and identify our values. 

Speaking of conversation, keep it going by reaching out to me and/or to Brooke! See you next time!

Show Notes:

  • [0:16] – Today's topic is about conversations.
  • [2:15] – Discover how Brooke launched B Squared Media.
  • [4:00] – Brooke explains her mantra – think conversations, not campaigns.
  • [5:48] – Brooke references a survey that she wrote about in her book.
  • [6:36] – Where does conversation need to start?
  • [8:25] – Brooke dives deeper into the purpose of her book.
  • [10:04] – Brooke discusses social listening.
  • [11:39] – Many marketers suffer from what Brooke calls Shiny Object Syndrome.
  • [12:30] – Deirdre argues that values should be part of a company's DNA.
  • [14:38] – Brooke pinpoints a pivotal moment in her career and what she learned from it.
  • [17:05] – Discover the origin of the name B Squared Media.
  • [18:31] – Brooke reveals how she goes about marketing and building her company.
  • [19:52] – What keeps Brooke inspired?
  • [21:06] – Brooke gives an enthusiastic shout out to Best Buddies.
  • [22:52] – Hear about how Brooke manages stress.
  • [25:09] – Brooke offers us some closing advice.

Brooke’s social channels

B Squared Media’s social channels

Links and Resources:

Direct download: WW353.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Have you ever had one of those moments when you just don't feel like you're in sync? Maybe your voice is shaky, you can't find the words that you want to use, and/or your body feels stiff. Join me as I fly solo today and share my tips to help you overcome these no-flow moments!

A no-flow moment is when, for whatever reason, your vocal cues, your verbal cues, and your body language are not synchronized, and I share with you how to get back into a synchronized flow! You, for starters, need to be able to recognize that you're having a no-flow moment, and I give you three no-flow moments and what you can do.

I walk you through the three different types of no-flow moments – the previously mentioned vocal cues, verbal cues, and non-verbal cues (or body language) – giving examples of each and tips on how to overcome them. These tips include mindful breathing, a verbal fluency test that can help you determine whether or not you're going to experience a verbal no-flow moment, and letting your hands flow rather than clasping them or restricting them.

These are all ways that you can help yourself so that your voice, your verbal cues, and your body language are all in sync, and I really hope that these tips are helpful for you! If you have any questions about any of what is discussed in this episode, please feel free to reach out!

Show Notes:

  • [0:13] – Deirdre is flying solo today!
  • [1:16] – Today's topic is on overcoming no-flow moments.
  • [1:39] – The first step is to recognize a no-flow moment when it happens.
  • [1:54] – Hear an example of a vocal no-flow moment.
  • [2:26] – Breathing is the best way to overcome a vocal no-flow moment.
  • [3:10] – Deirdre offers an example of a verbal no-flow moment.
  • [4:13] – Learn about a test that will help you anticipate a verbal no-flow moment.
  • [5:33] – The last one is non-verbal cues.
  • [6:13] – Deirdre argues that a lot of our body language is energy.
  • [6:53] – Discover how to combat a no-flow moment related to body language.
  • [7:29] – Reach out to Deirdre if you have any questions for her!

CONTACT ME:

Direct download: WW352.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Loss of any kind in one’s life is tragic and soul-altering. The grieving process that follows, while painful and difficult, is necessary in order to return to a place where you can live life to the fullest. Someone who knows a lot about this process is Kristine Carlson, the co-author of the book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

Richard Carlson, her late husband, wrote the book and was considered the foremost expert on happiness and stress reduction. Then one day in 2006, he left to go on a trip, and due to a pulmonary embolism, never made it home. 

This harrowing experience has forever altered Kristine’s life and her work. It was through the process of her own grieving that she realized how prepared she was despite the sudden nature of her loss. She had the tools to be able to find her way back to a life worth living. 

Much of that was due to her late husband’s work and the way they lived their lives together. 

What she realized is that most people do not have the same tools and practices to help them through loss of any kind. Now she’s using her experiences to help women all over the world find their way through grief to continue living their lives. 

Listen as she shares her story, her work, and most importantly her advice for anyone who is going through any kind of loss. Grief is not limited to loss through death. Any kind of loss can trigger grief. She’s here to help others grieve in a healthy way and find their way past it. 

Show Notes:

  • [02:29] Welcome Kristine Carlson.
  • [03:15] Is she best known for Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
  • [04:12] Was the loss of her husband the beginning of her desire to help other women? 
  • [10:12] What would prevent someone from being able to move past their grief? 
  • [13:15] Her recommendations for practicing living in the present moment. 
  • [15:55] Breathwork and yoga, when done every day, can help you become more present. 
  • [18:37] It’s important to pay attention to how you’re feeling. 
  • [19:21] However, don’t isolate yourself in grief.
  • [22:06] Were there any AHA moments as she’s gone through life? 
  • [24:33] It’s important to find your way and figure out how to heal and what you need to heal. 
  • [28:04] A couple of things Richard said to her before he died have stuck with her.
  • [30:17] Her last piece of parting advice. 

Links and Resources:

Kristine’s Website

Kristine’s Books

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff Podcast

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Direct download: WW351.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

So many women believe they’re bad at negotiations because it’s not a skill they’ve ever been successful at building. Not because they haven’t sought out the knowledge and advice, but because the advice they were given was not gender neutral. 

That’s right. Negotiation is a highly gendered skill, and that needs to change. 

Kathryn Valentine founded Worthmore Negotiations after having a bad experience with negotiations while she was in college. She had an amazing internship where she’d completed her tasks in a fraction of the time allotted. However, when it was time to present her project, she was told that she wasn’t a good fit for the company. 

Why? Because she’d tried to negotiate like a man. 

This experience led her down the path of researching more about this issue overall. Come to find out, women really do need to negotiate in a different way in order to be heard, respected, and compensated. 

Listen as Kathryn shares the three main principles women should keep in mind as they’re negotiating, her 9-step framework for helping her clients become amazing negotiators, and some fantastic resources to get you started. 

This is a jam-packed episode filled with thorough research and data as well as actionable strategies to get you going on your negotiation journey. Are you ready to lock in your next big compensation package? 

Show Notes:

  • [02:46] What led Kathryn Valentine down this path to helping women with their negotiation skills?
  • [06:13] Negotiation is a highly gendered skill and research shows that the advice women get is holding them back. 
  • [08:03] Learn some of the first steps women can take in order to increase their negotiation skills. 
  • [09:34] The three sources you should use as you’re benchmarking the value of a role. 
  • [12:30] What are some of the most common mistakes women make when they enter that salary and benefits conversation. 
  • [15:29] Do women give up on negotiations too soon? 
  • [17:16] The three main principles of negotiating as a woman. 
  • [20:11] A demonstration of these principles in action. 
  • [21:52] Learn the 9 steps she takes her clients through to help them negotiate better pay and benefits in their jobs. 
  • [27:31] Have there been any impactful moments along the way that have stuck with Kathryn? 
  • [29:25] Kathryn shares one last piece of advice for all of our Women Worldwide community. 
  • [31:07] Connect with Kathryn. 

Links and Resources:

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Direct download: WW350_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Dr. Martha Saunders, the President of the University of West Florida, has worked in higher education for over three decades. She has served in academic leadership roles in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Mississippi, and is known for her ability to manage and navigate crises. 

She credits her ability to help move through tough times to her views on innovative learning and creating cutting-edge academic programs. Higher education is facing some big challenges these days and she’s passionate about creating innovative solutions to deal with them. 

Academic leadership was not her first stop on her career journey. She actually started out in communications and helped navigate the waters of creating proper communication channels during crises. 

Those years have served her well as she has worked to make UWF one of the top three public schools in all of Florida.

Listen as she shares her story, why they were already prepared for an instance like Covid, and what it takes to truly step into innovative learning. Dr. Saunders is a font of knowledge and her views on how to properly prepare for the unknown are unmatched. You won’t want to miss out on this discussion.

Show Notes:

  • [02:35] What led Dr. Martha Saunders to academia and innovative learning? 
  • [04:24] How is her university leading the charge in changing learning structures? 
  • [07:14] Dr. Saunders shares how they attract new students with their messaging and culture. 
  • [09:20] Some of the challenges they’ve faced as the narrative shifts around education. 
  • [10:33] Ways they’ve tackled all of the changes brought about by Covid. 
  • [13:24] They were ahead of the game when it came to crisis management due to the nature of their location. 
  • [14:20] Dr. Saunders shares a big AHA moment she had and how it’s helped her in her career. 
  • [16:50] It’s so important to paint a picture for yourself of the outcome you want. 
  • [19:42] What does her work/life balance look like? 
  • [22:16] There will never be perfect balance, but remember to recenter. 
  • [22:51] The things she does to alleviate stress when things pile on.
  • [26:04] How you can raise your level of innovative learning to achieve your passion and goals.
  • [28:14] Connect with Dr. Saunders.

Links and Resources:

University of West Florida

Dr. Saunders’ Biography

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Direct download: WW349.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

For so many people, finding love is one of the most difficult things they’ve ever done. It makes you wonder, why do some people find love so easily and others have immense trouble? Venus Castleberg, author of Here to Forever: Finally Free to Be Me, joins me to chat about looking for love in all the wrong places, and where she finally found hers. 

Venus has spent much of her life jumping from modality to modality, practice to practice looking for something to fix her. What she finally realized was that she was never broken; she simply didn’t love herself. How can you find love with another person if you don’t have love for yourself? 

This realization changed so much in her life, her career, and her relationships. She’s now an Access Consciousness Certified Facilitator and coaches others in rediscovering their love for themselves. 

Writing Here to Forever: Finally Free to Be Me gave Venus even more insights into her own issues with self-love. It had always been a bucket list item to become an author, but she didn’t realize that the story she needed to tell was her own. As she wrote, rewrote, and rewrote again Here to Forever, she unearthed a love of the negative self-talk that was keeping her stuck. 

The adage that we teach what we need to learn has never had more meaning than in the process of writing a memoir. 

Listen in to hear Venus’s story and all of the advice she gives around finding love for yourself, within your being. Looking for love in the wrong places happens because you stopped trying to find it in the right one. Within you!

Show Notes:

  • [02:09] Learn about Venus and her penchant for looking for love in all the wrong places. 
  • [03:45] Is there a type of relationship that can’t be fixed? 
  • [05:03] How does somebody find the wholeness of themselves? 
  • [06:58] Why do we tend to repeat the same patterns over and over? 
  • [08:54] What did Venus want her readers to know when she wrote her book? 
  • [11:28] Did she ever reach a point while writing that she had to walk away from her story? 
  • [12:41] Venus’s encouragement to anyone who is trying to write a book right now. 
  • [14:01] Learn the tools Venus has used to fall in love with herself. 
  • [15:18] She shares her clairvoyant gifts. 
  • [16:56] What’s Venus’s definition of vulnerability? 
  • [19:29] How does she handle the stress of life and relationships? 
  • [21:34] Ways Venus stays true to herself when things get hard. 
  • [23:33] Her parting advice for everyone who’s trying to find love. 
  • [24:11] Connect with Venus. 

Links and Resources:

Here to Forever: Finally Free to Be Me by Venus Castleberg

Venus’s Website

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Direct download: WW348.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Have you ever been faced with a decision that could mean someone lived or died? Jillian Haslam, author of the new book, A Voice Out of Poverty, has faced life-threatening decisions, which kept her younger sister alive.

Jillian is an inspiration and her story is one you won’t want to miss. Listen as Jillian shares her inspirational story and learn more about the principles behind her decision-making process.

She took those words to heart and when her little sister was born and given only three days to live, she said no. Instead, she took a bowl to tea shops in the area and asked for milk. That one decision saved her sister’s life and now she’s happily married and thriving. 

Despite their poverty, her parents were unbelievably giving because no matter what they had they always had room to give. 

Growing up around such truly inspirational people helped her to never see the suffering in the situation. Instead, she and her siblings found happiness and joy. She’s now a successful author, speaker, and entrepreneur and her goal is to give back in huge ways. 

Jillian is an inspiration and her story is one you won’t want to miss. Listen in to hear all of her advice and the advice of those she’s learned from. 

Show Notes:

  • [02:30] Jillian shares her story and the decisions she made as a child that led her here. 
  • [04:55] “Your end is up to you.” - Jillian 
  • [05:51] How do we better trust and tap into our gut instinct? 
  • [09:50] Is any one principle more important than another? 
  • [11:29] What does she want readers to take away from her book when they read? 
  • [13:51] Has she had any lessons learned or aha moments as she’s built her career? 
  • [15:56] Does she have a self-care routine to keep herself balanced and centered? 
  • [18:10] Why isolation leads to depression. 
  • [19:14] As a child, how did she handle the stress of living in poverty? 
  • [22:34] Jillian shares her final bit of advice. 
  • [23:57] Connect with Jillian. 

Links and Resources:

A Voice Out of Poverty by Jillian Hazlam 

Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

Finding Your Voice - TEDx Talk

Jillian’s Website

YouTube | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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Website: https://www.deirdrebreakenridge.com/

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Email: deirdre@pureperformancecomm.com

Direct download: WW347.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

I was recently chatting with a colleague and she was sharing with me her frustrations because she felt like no one was paying attention. It got me thinking about why that might be. I’m going to impart the knowledge I shared with her here. Let me know, are people listening to you? 

First, be fully present when you’re in a meeting or one on one. Think about it, why would someone connect with you if your mind is obviously elsewhere. Be present and focused on the person you’re having a meeting with. 

Second, are you stating facts and figures or are you using the data to paint a picture of next steps? Anyone can read from a report. Anyone can read numbers and figures off of a spreadsheet. If you want to be heard, you need to be able to share facts and figures in a way that tells a story. 

Next, dig down to the essential information you’re sharing and be sure that’s all you share. You don’t want to jump down into rabbit holes and start providing irrelevant information. That’s a surefire way to lose your audience’s attention. 

Lastly, ask yourself, are you a listener? When others are talking, are you focused on them and showing them that you care about what they’re saying? If you’re not listening to others, they won’t listen to you!

What are your tips for getting others to listen? 

Show Notes:

  • [01:01] Welcome back! It’s time to talk about listening. 
  • [01:24] The inspiration for this episode. 
  • [01:37] Tip number one for getting the people around you to listen. 
  • [02:07] Are you just stating facts and figures or are you creating a story? 
  • [02:48] What is the essential information you’re sharing? 
  • [03:29] Stay away from the rabbit holes. 
  • [03:47] Ask yourself, am I a listener?

Links and Resources:

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Direct download: WW346.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Maria Brito started her career as an attorney. She grew up in a household that believed the best way to make money was to become a professional. Once she graduated and started working in law, she realized she couldn’t do that work. 

She hated every single minute that she spent at the law firm. The final straw came when she had her first child and the thought of going back devastated her. 

When she was a kid she was always writing plays and creating exciting new worlds. Maria wanted to be involved in the arts somehow. She started following the art world and figured out exactly what she wanted to do. 

Now Maria helps art collectors procure special pieces and consults on how to create art catalogs and more. 

Every single time she has made gains in her business or found that something was working, it was when she was leaning into her creativity. Without creativity, progress stops. 

Listen as Maria shares her story and why she’s so passionate about helping others find and use their own creativity.

Show Notes:

  • [02:05] Welcome Maria Brito to the show and learn how she got started down her path. 
  • [04:53] How she became an entrepreneur. 
  • [07:25] The difference between the art world 13 years ago and now. 
  • [10:01] Why her business has been successful. 
  • [11:52] What skills or traits has she honed to be able to move forward with confidence? 
  • [14:02] Learn how she uses her intuition to make decisions. 
  • [17:57] The biggest takeaways she wants readers to receive when reading her book. 
  • [20:13] How do we find the time to create? 
  • [23:00] “If you stop ideas you stop progressing.”
  • [24:04] Ways she recommends people overcome their creative blocks. 
  • [28:18] Her advice for raising your creative bar. 
  • [31:08] Connect with Maria

Links and Resources:

How Creativity Rules the World by Maria Brito

Maria’s Website

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | LinkedIn

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Direct download: WW345_V2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

In this day and age people have trouble being alone with themselves. With social media opening the door into our lives in new and persistent ways, we no longer have the solitary space to just be. Alone time however is necessary for growth, alignment, and joy. 

Listen as Rebekah Iliff and I chat about her new book and why having the space to be alone is so important. 

Rebekah is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who has spent a lot of time alone. Between getting married a little later in life to moving frequently, she’s had time to get comfortable with herself. Then she experienced a tragedy and her need for alone time grew. 

Through her grief, she authored Champagne For One which is a humorous take on why alone time is a requirement for life. When you sit in silence and spend time with yourself, oftentimes you’ll find answers to questions you’ve been asking yourself for a long time.

So, do you feel comfortable when you’re alone? Or do you avoid alone time like? If you’re the latter, listen in as Rebekah shares a few tips on how to get started on finding your comfort.

Show Notes:

  • [01:47] Welcome Rebekah Iliff back to the show to share why she wrote her new book. 
  • [04:01] What are some of the top hangups for people today in being alone? 
  • [05:21] The main takeaways she hopes readers get from her book. 
  • [07:46] Does she have a favorite story? 
  • [10:03] When she took time to process her grief, did she have to push back from those in her circle?
  • [12:27] Has Rebekah learned any big lessons as she’s grown in her career? 
  • [15:02] The first steps to take when trying to determine what you love to do. 
  • [17:45] Why the pandemic had people seriously rethinking their lives and careers. 
  • [20:14] What keeps Rebekah inspired when things get tough? 
  • [23:29] Rebekah shares her parting advice for the community. 
  • [25:58] Connect with Rebekah. 

Links and Resources:

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Direct download: WW344.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Have you ever woken up on a Monday and wondered why you’re doing what you’re doing? You dread the day and know there’s something better out there for you? Listen as Anne Benveniste shares how you can transform your career from something that looks good on paper to something that you truly love. 

Anne is a former marketing professional turned career coach. After spending years in the field of marketing and realizing she didn’t love it the way she thought she did, Anne started making changes. It wasn’t perfect. In fact, she took a bunch of detours on her road to coaching. 

But man is she happy she did.

She now helps professionals figure out what their true passion is and how they can make their careers reflect that passion. We’ve all had moments when we felt we needed a change, but so many times we resisted it. 

We are chatting all about the reasons people are looking for a career change, what keeps them stuck, and why you’ll never look back when you finally work in the realm of your passion and genius. Anne has so many amazing tips. Listen in to hear them all. 

Show Notes:

  • [02:57] Why and how did Anne Benveniste make the pivot to launch The Career Studio? 
  • [05:33] What are some of the starting steps to make changes in your career? 
  • [08:04] Does our current lifestyle prevent us from making big changes? 
  • [10:38] You have to own who you are and what matters to you. 
  • [11:56] Is complacency one of the issues she runs into when it comes to coaching her clients? 
  • [13:37] One of the aha moments that changed Anne’s career. 
  • [16:33] Which generation does she find herself working with the most? 
  • [20:16] Anne shares her parting advice for the community. 
  • [21:34] Connect with Anne. 

Links and Resources:

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Direct download: WW343.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

It’s a new year and for many of us, we’re looking to make this year the most profitable and successful ever. But how do we do that? What do we do differently to create different results from years prior? Joining me to chat all about prosperity and success is Samantha Varner.

Samantha focuses on helping other women find success and consistent profit in their businesses. She founded She Collective in 2018 to serve female entrepreneurs as a profit coach and money-making business creator. 

It wasn’t until she had to move three times, to three different countries, in quick succession that she realized the value of having and building her own business. Rather than having to obtain accreditation every single time she moved, her business would move and grow with her. 

Listen as she shares why she’s so passionate about helping women find and own their financial independence. It all starts with becoming financially aware and the first step to awareness is knowledge. Learn how to track your finances in a way that isn’t burdensome and allows you to make sound financial decisions in your business and life. 

Are you ready to find prosperity and success this year? 

Show Notes:

  • [01:45] Welcome back and get ready to learn about profitability from Samantha Varner. 
  • [03:08] How did she get to the point of launching her business to help women in leadership? 
  • [05:47] Did her background help her form her business and get it out there?
  • [07:28] What blocks women from their prosperity? 
  • [10:53] How do you become more financially aware? 
  • [12:22] Learn the steps to creating consistent profitability. 
  • [14:42] Has she had any AHA or UH OH moments that stuck with her? 
  • [14:39] What inspires her to keep going and keep helping others?
  • [20:38] Does she ever feel stressed or have to overcome challenges? 
  • [23:17] Samantha shares what you can do to find your prosperity this year. 
  • [24:40] Connect with Samantha.  

Links and Resources:

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Direct download: WW342.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

Have you ever had a perfect moment on stage or during a meeting where you just felt “on”? Everything you said came out perfectly, you felt comfortable and calm, and you were connecting with your audience? You were in your communications flow. 

Listen as I share three techniques to help you get into your flow more quickly. 

Everything starts with breath. Not just any breathing. The deep, rhythmic breaths that you take from your diaphragm. This type of breathing will help you calm any nerves and get your body ready to perform. 

Next, you’ll want to visualize your perfect presentation. Imagine yourself in front of your audience, presenting your information. Imagine it going perfectly. Imagine yourself truly rocking your presentation. If you can visualize it, then your brain will believe it to be true which helps that perfect moment come to fruition. 

Lastly, you want your words to connect with your body language. This means you need to channel your energy into your arms and hands so that you can better paint a picture for your audience. On stage body language is key to having an amazing presentation. 

Getting into your communications flow faster means having less awkward build-up as you get into the rhythm of your presentation. You’ll start off strong which will help your audience trust you more quickly and take away more from their time with you.

Show Notes:

  • [01:27] Do you know when you’re in your communications flow? 
  • [02:52] Getting into your flow starts with proper breathing. 
  • [03:48] Then you want to start visualizing the perfect communication moment. 
  • [05:07] You’ll then want your words to connect with your body language. Which means channeling energy. 
  • [06:58] Getting in flow means you’re calm and relaxed and these techniques will help you. 

Links and Resources:

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Direct download: WW341.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00am EST

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