Lifting Leaders Podcast

Caring for Ourselves and Our Environment – A Return Visit, With Our Friend, Jeff McAuliffe!

We are so happy to welcome back, our friend, Jeff McAuliffe, accomplished consultant, coach and author of the bi-weekly environmentally focused newsletter, “52 Weeks of Earth Day” If you live on this planet, you may have been experiencing confusion or any one of several emotions around what is going on, locally, nationally, and globally. We are facing a tremendous amount of change (and challenge), politically, environmentally, economically, and personally. All of this is having an impact on how we navigate our own feelings, how we interact with others, and how we look at the ways in which we must now plan for our futures. While all this can feel very heavy, we have choices. Listen in and learn about some of the choices that Jeff has been making, that are helping him navigate through this new climate we are finding ourselves in. Find out how Zooming out to take a more global view of our current world can help us, as we Zoom in toward acting with greater intention, on a more local level. Want to learn more about how to build resilience as a change agent? This episode is packed with true gems that will help us all THRIVE, in 25 and beyond.

We’re Launching This Year’s Theme and You’re Invited! Leaders THRIVE in 25!

How are you feeling? If you’re like us, you may be feeling the stresses of all the recent upheaval and uncertainty that has confronted us, over the past few weeks. We have to admit that it feels different and uncomfortable…like nothing we have experienced before. We want you to know that we are, as always, committed to our Vision, Mission/Purpose and, with that in mind, we are launching a new theme for this year – “Leaders THRIVE in 25.” Listen in and learn about our plans for keeping all of us on tract to THRIVE, this year. Want to know more about how you can THRIVE now and in the future? Have an interest in keeping your mind in growth mode, during times where the stories in your head may be steering you toward a more fixed and polarized way of thinking? Well, come along with us, this year where, together, we will explore hope and discover new possibilities.

(Encore) What’s All This Buzz About Human Flourishing…An Insightful Discussion with Judy Oyedele and Sasha Farley (Part Two)

This is Part Two of our encore episode with Judy Oyedele and Sasha Farley, two Organizational Development professionals who talk with us about Human Flourishing. We discuss how the collective power of individual mindset and behaviors, even coming from varying states of mental/emotional wellbeing is what it takes to achieve more systemic Human Flourishing. Want to know more about why Judy sees Human Flourishing as a “big, hairy, amorphous challenge?” Listen in to find out. Knowing that Human Flourishing is seen as not so much of a “nice to have” state of being but, rather, a new imperative for all of us, it seems important for us to learn as much as we can so we can decide how it might fit into our worlds. One of the many takeaways from this rich episode has to do with ways in which leaders can help further and foster Human Flourishing in their organizations. We hope you will listen in on the entire episode. You will find a wealth of information on this important topic, and we believe it will be an insightful mining journey.

(Encore)What’s All This Buzz About Human Flourishing…An Insightful Discussion with Judy Oyedele and Sasha Farley (Part One)

As we think about Leaders Thriving in 2025, the concept of Human Flourishing as shared by Judy Oyedele and Sasha Farley this time last year, is foundational and worth revisiting. We hope you find this encore edition as inspiring and informational as we do. While it seems like forever that experts have been concentrating on negative human behaviors, burn out and depression, there is a rising buzz in the world of psychology and organizational development that is shifting much of the focus toward something called Human Flourishing. Join us, as we welcome Judy Oyedele and Sasha Farley, two Organizational Development professionals who bring their expertise to the podcast and share their journeys to this complex world of Human Flourishing. Learn how they define flourishing and how it differs from fixing what’s wrong. Discover the PERMA model and how it’s linked to Human Flourishing. Learn how flourishing differs, in different countries and cultures and why Judy and Sasha say that Human Flourishing is a team sport. This topic is so important, during this time we are living in, and there is so much information to share, that we are bringing Judy and Sasha back, for our next episode, as well. Don’t miss this episode, though, as it sets the foundation upon which our next conversation will be based. We know there are a lot of gems to be found in this episode, and we think you will be glad you spent time mining with us.

What if Doing Nothing was…Doing Something?

We are just a few weeks into 2025 and the number of people who are experiencing burnout is staggering! The reality is that those of us who are in that mode were feeling that way, before the new year. So, what’s going on? And why is it that, when we have free time at work, we feel compelled to fill that time? It’s a long-standing belief in American business that being busy means you are showing value. But is that really true? Listen in as we unpack an article, written by Martha Beck, called “Making Time for Nothing.” Does just reading that make you uncomfortable? It doesn’t have to. Learn a bit about what Martha calls Empty Time Deficiency Syndrome and how that presents in our day and our life. Learn about the value of doing nothing and what that really looks like. If you need a nudge around what to do, if you have a free minute, hour, half-day, and so on, we’ll share that, from Martha’s article, as well. We hope you enjoy this episode and that, after listening, you feel a little more comfortable and, perhaps compelled, to explore doing nothing. You may just find that burnout is a much smaller challenge. Enjoy.

Having Trouble Sticking To Your New Year’s Resolutions? A Bit of Advice from Carla Ondrasik

We are a few weeks into 2025 and, already, resolutions are being ditched and forgotten. Want to know why 80% of our New Year’s resolutions fail by February, each year? If you have ever had trouble sticking to your annual New Year’s resolutions, you will want to listen to this week’s episode! We are excited to welcome back speaker, facilitator, wife of Jon Ondrasik (aka: Five For Fighting), and soon-to-be best-selling author, Carla Ondrasik. If you’ve followed our podcast over the past year, you may recall that Carla was with us, in March of 2024 (Episode 89) where she talked about the book she was starting to write. Well, it is being printed as we type and will be on bookshelves, everywhere, in the Fall. Listen in and learn more about Carla’s journey to publishing her book and hear her advice for anyone who is interested in writing. Find out about the neuroscience behind trying, and how that impacts our attitudes and behaviors. Spend some time with us and we think you will feel energized and inspired to “Stop Trying…” and just start doing. Enjoy.

We’re Back! And It Looks Like It’s Time To Ditch the Ditty!...with Lindsey Godwin and Molly McGuigan

Are you ready to Ditch the Ditty? What in the World is a Ditty, anyway?? Join us for this first episode of the new year, that we are calling “Leaders Thrive in 25!”, with two of the three authors of the book, Ditch the Ditty, which launches this week, Lindsay Godwin and Molly McGuigan (with Miriam Novotny, here, at heart!). Do you ever find yourself responding “yes,” to tasks, that no one else will take on (or are ever asked to)? Have you ever wondered how important these tasks that you really don’t want or (maybe) need to do, really are? While this phenomenon may not be exclusive to women, it is much more prevalent and, interestingly, it is often quietly, culturally endorsed. We hope you will listen in, as we believe you will find this episode to be richly insightful and will leave you wanting more…we did! Luckily, their new book launches on January 7th!

That’s a Wrap…x2!

Yes! It is Wrapping Season – beautiful paper, ribbons, tons of tape and tags, everywhere! Oh! But WAIT! We’re wrapping up a few other things, as well!! If you have been listening to our podcast, you know that we have been doing a series on Coaching for a Better World. We have officially wrapped up our series, with a beautiful two-part interview, with Hudson Institute of Coaching leaders. We had interviews with several other amazing coaches who are making a power impact in the world, through out-of-the-box thinking and coaching. Listen in and learn about some of the gems we found through these interviews…they’re inspiring! Hey! We are also wrapping up our podcast year! Before we take a few weeks off, we want to share our gratitude for this 2024 gift trip we’ve been on. And you, our listeners are the reason we call it a gift. Learn just a snippet of what is to come, in the New Year. In the meantime, however you celebrate this season, we wish you health and happiness and we look forward to bringing new episodes for you, in 2025!

“Coaching for a Better World” Series Capstone (Part B)– Rethinking Leadership – Gifts from Pam McLean and Michael Hudson!

This week, we are thrilled to continue the capstone of our special series, Coaching for a Better World, by bringing you the second part of our two-part interview with Dr. Pam McLean, PhD. and Michael Hudson. In this episode Pam and Michael help us explore the value of self-observation as a practical step in a more developmental leadership model. Listen in as Pam shares the impact of valuing/devaluing the relationship, in leadership. Learn what may be on the horizon for coaches as we acknowledge a unique gift that coaches possess. Whether or not you are a professional coach, as a leader, you will, once again, gain valuable insights from this episode. We invite you to spend this time with us, as we celebrate the close of our series, with two of our favorite leaders. Final Note: Thanks for supporting our Hope Survey. If you have not taken it yet, please visit our website and take the survey. Your voice matters!

“Coaching for a Better World” Series Capstone (Part A)– Rethinking Leadership – Gifts from Pam McLean and Michael Hudson!

This week, we are pleased and honored to begin the capstone of our special series, Coaching for a Better World, with two of our favorite iconic leaders in the coaching industry, Pam McLean and Michael Hudson. Our discussion with Pam and Michael was so rich with highly relevant and timely insights and information about developing leaders, for today and beyond. Listen in and learn about some of the concerns that are prompting many in the coaching and development industries to rethink the way leaders are developed. Hear Pam and Michael talk about new approaches and benefits to critical mass learning that dwarf any other engagement and development efforts practiced, so far. Whether or not you are a professional coach, as a leader, you will gain some valuable insights from this episode. We have so much more information to share that we will conclude this amazing interview with Pam and Michael, in next week’s episode.