VAST Institute Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Our guest Paula Intravaia, a bold and enlightened designer of educational daydreams is co- founder of Cloud Club Collective and stanch advocate for our right to daydream, YEA!
Paula is dedicated to the enhancement of human creativity by bringing research-based techniques via mobile technology and digital tools to individuals wanting to discover and unlock their latent creative. We explore the role of imagination in resilience and hear from Paula how educators, bleeding edge entrepreneurs and fourth graders each utilize the Purposeful Daydreaming to enhance their problem-solving capabilities and access their CREATIVITY VIRTUES.
We discuss the value of Positive Imagination and Purposeful Daydreaming via the lens of her experience and the many who’ve gathered at Cloud Club Collective to hone their innovative edge as Original Thinkers.
- Master tools for creating the future you want to experience
- Hone techniques for activating your positive imagination
- Design a transformative creative practice that seamlessly integrates into your daily life
- Learn how to spend quality time with your Imagination
Cloud Club is an organization dedicated to the enhancement of human creativity. We combine research-based techniques with mobile technology to create digital tools that help individuals discover and unlock their latent creative potential. If you'd like to learn more, please visit their website at Cloud Club Collective
Join Michelle and Maria Ross, author of The Empathy Edge, as we explore the whole unvarnished truth about the role empathy plays in the business realm.
Discover Maria’s motive for her extensive research into the business case for creating empathetic cultures. Hear her lessons and scientifically based approach to what she learned.
“Cultures driven by competition or ones that induce action through fear can never truly innovate.” (Maria Ross) …and as we all know the name of the game today is innovation.
You will learn:
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What is empathy in a business context? What is it NOT? (myths)
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The role of presence and curiosity in leadership.
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Is empathy an effective strategy for leaders and brands?
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How can I begin today to bring key elements of empathy into my work environment and team?
Sound and Light is an animated, unscripted dialogue with Jim Cohen and Michelle Sherman, as they recount the impact that music has made on their lives, from the ’50’s to today.
Join Jim and Michelle as they fast forward to the music of today and how it continues to influence their lives. They reflect on symphonic music, rock and roll, rock stars past and present and the powerful magic of music as a universal harmonizer.
- The imagination and math of music
- Transcendence, and the power of community
- Music as magic incarnate
Jim Cohen is an accomplished innovation design strategist, trusted advisor, mentor, and transformation sherpa. He has the soul of an artist, the mind of a business leader and the heart of a guru.
For more about Jim visit https://www.jimcohensherpa.com
Michelle Sherman is a renaissance woman, international business strategist, Inspirational speaker, published author, transformational coach, leadership mentor, citizen diplomat and visionary pioneer.
For more information about Michelle visit https://www.vastinstitute.com
Sound and Light is an animated, unscripted dialogue with Jim Cohen and Michelle Sherman, as they recount the impact that music has made on their lives, from the ’50’s to today.
More about Jim and Michelle’s adolescent relationship with music in their lives. They have a lively chat about life and music in the naughty 70’s and other intrigues.
- Exploration of all kinds - let’s go there
- The Dead and their magical influence
- The Byrds, the Springfield, CSNY, being in the room
- The spirit, the power, and the magic in the poetry
Jim Cohen is an accomplished innovation design strategist, trusted advisor, mentor, and transformation sherpa. He has the soul of an artist, the mind of a business leader and the heart of a guru.
For more about Jim visit https://www.jimcohensherpa.com
Michelle Sherman is a renaissance woman, international business strategist, Inspirational speaker, published author, transformational coach, leadership mentor, citizen diplomat and visionary pioneer.
For more information about Michelle visit https://www.vastinstitute.com
Sound and Light is an animated, unscripted dialogue with Jim Cohen and Michelle Sherman, as they recount the impact that music has made on their lives, from the ’50’s to today.
We continue the dialogue, moving on to those geeky years of adolescence. Listen in as Jim and Michelle recount tales from the neighborhood, being caught up in the heartbeat of the music that shaped them.
- From folk music to the Beatles
- From black and white to technicolor
- Youth, the Who and lessons learned
Jim Cohen is an accomplished innovation design strategist, trusted advisor, mentor, and transformation sherpa. He has the soul of an artist, the mind of a business leader and the heart of a guru.
For more about Jim visit https://www.jimcohensherpa.com
Michelle Sherman is a renaissance woman, international business strategist, Inspirational speaker, published author, transformational coach, leadership mentor, citizen diplomat and visionary pioneer.
For more information about Michelle visit https://www.vastinstitute.com
Join Michelle Purnell-Hepburn and Michelle Sherman as they explore how beautiful you are and life is, once we embrace our “curls”. Heartfelt sharing, inclusion wisdom and sincere encouragement abound with these two vibrant Curly Girls, who have seen a lot and endeavor to bring out the best in life.
Curly Girls Guide to Belonging will offer perspective, encouragement and practical tools to hone your world in a loving and compassionate manner.
Themes Discussed:
- Creativity
- Worthiness
- Self-Wisdom
- Authenticity
Sound and Light is an animated, unscripted dialogue with Jim Cohen and Michelle Sherman, as they recount the impact that music has made on their lives, from the ’50’s to today.
- The parity of Jazz and innovation
- Stories that wind from Broadway show tunes to Pete Seeger and inclusion
- The value of courage, optimism, and performance
Jim Cohen is an accomplished innovation design strategist, trusted advisor, mentor, and transformation sherpa. He has the soul of an artist, the mind of a business leader and the heart of a guru.
For more about Jim visit https://www.jimcohensherpa.com
Michelle Sherman is a renaissance woman, international business strategist, Inspirational speaker, published author, transformational coach, leadership mentor, citizen diplomat and visionary pioneer.
For more information about Michelle visit https://www.vastinstitute.com
How to remain buoyant and optimistic in times of fear, uncertainty and doubt:
- How to stop negativity from pulling you down
- What is positive Imagination and how to use it
- How to use it to dissipate the FUD in your life
Leading Your Team During Times of Crisis and Transition is part of the Don Graf bundle on Retaining and Developing Talent offered by the VAST Institute that explores the essential skills and benefits of applying Socially Intelligent Leadership skills to the art of guiding your team through times treacherous waters of crisis and market change. This episode provides guidance for those actively managing the people side of the equation in developing effective teams poised to achieve the best possible outcomes.
While many current project management training programs provide the traditional mechanics of managing the aspects of scope, schedule and budget, this VAST Learning Series boosts your ability to lead by managing interpersonal relationships judicially and empathetically for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Thought Leader Don Graf provides a finely-honed blueprint for leading a collaborative team aligned to achieving your project vision. In addition to traditional project management skills, this series will provide insights into what soft skills you and your organization need to enhance your project management proficiency.
In this Socially Intelligent Project Management Series you will learn how to create a project environment where:
- Members who are eager to solve your toughest problems and do their best work
- Unique, diverse talent pools both virtual and real-time are optimized for outcomes and profit
- Motivating your teams to perform to scope, schedule and budget, the holy trinity of PM is addressed and sustained.
- You identify client and project challenges before they become explosive
- New competencies learned
- Socially Intelligent Leadership
- Self-Wisdom
- Positive Imagination
- Healthy Relationships
Jonathan Van Valin, classical pianist, serial entrepreneur, global explorer and kindhearted change agent will explain how he witnesses and assists Spiritual Seekers ready to transcend their spiritual reluctance and Befriend the Still Small Voice Within.
- Hear Jonathan ’s amazing journey of Self-Discovery from skeptic to Spiritual Acolyte
- Explore the power of your presence and how to work with it for your greatest good
- Learn how to listen to that inner voice to bring greater peace you’re your world
Navigating the Process of Self-Discovery
Thought Leader Jeni Miller, interviewed by Michelle Sherman, offers her inspired perspective as a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Author, Energy intuitive and kind hearted change agent specializing in Bliss Born childbirth hypnosis and how to navigate the process of Self-Discovery.
- Hear Jeni’s amazing journey of Self-Discovery from marketeer to Alchemist
- Explore the power of your mind body resonance and how to work with it for your greatest good
- Learn how Bliss Born childbirth hypnosis welcomes new souls into a more peaceful world.
Innovation Design: The enlightened approach to creativity
Jim Cohen’s genius lies with his ability to lead clients and design teams across the tricky landscape of inventing What’s Next? Join us to learn how this inspired Sherpa, develops remarkable outcomes, gets the team home safely and has them feel the wiser for it.
Learn about:
- The genius of an Innovation Design approach to life
- How to apply self-wisdom and positive imagination to solve complex problems
- Discover the secret of how to harness the human condition to move your project forward
Join Michelle as she enjoys the poetic musings of Joseph Robinson as they delve into the dark moments and priceless jewels found within his hero’s quest towards authentic living as a kindhearted man, businessperson, family member and spiritual companion. Hear of his passion, wisdom and courage through the lens of his Inaugural Anthology - Laying Bare Bones.
Join Joseph and Michelle to as they explore via his poetry:
- How nature has guided Joseph’s passionate journey to peace and calm
- How to navigate the discomforts of vulnerability
- What gifts are available in the moments of doubt, sadness or pain
Once clients and colleagues have spent enough time with VAST content and techniques, they see the world a bit differently than most. They possess a respected sense of calm and confidence despite the challenges that life brings to them. We have built VAST around a simple premise, WHAT I DO MATTERS® This is exponentially true when it comes to generating a quality of business or life that honors, nourishes and delights you. The VAST Core Competencies are the engine that drives these results.
In this VAST Taste of Original Thinking Podcast, The Six Competencies to Thrive By, we explore:
- How employing these Competencies Opens Your Mind to New Possibilities and Taps Your Personal Potential.
- Learn how to amplify your professional leadership, personal effectiveness, and spiritual growth with this kindhearted and holographic model
- See how linking the six competencies, aka, puzzle pieces craft a life steeped in authenticity, optimism, and resilience.
- Discover how following their trajectory can gently generate a level of personal confidence previously unimagined
Learn how a technologist, healer and change agent found that learning to love himself was the answer he had been passionately seeking.
Michelle creative director VAST Institute interviews Seth to hear about his heroic journey to self love
- Learn why sacrifice and people-pleasing is an outdated paradigm
- Hear how Seth addressed and healed his version of culturally toxic masculinity
- Discover tools to expand your authenticity and self-love with ease
Learn more about Seth's work.
We have built VAST around a simple premise, WHAT I DO MATTERS® This tagline reflects a commitment to personal responsibility as an empowering point of view. It guides each of us to take responsibility for the life we create and the impact we have on those around us. By acknowledging this, we can intentionally amplify our success and influence in the world. Your presence and contribution to the world matters, expand it!
In this VAST Taste of Original Thinking Podcast, Personal Responsibility, we explore:
- What is an improver and what are their motives?
- The power of your word and keeping it
- Blame as a tactic meant to distract you
- The qualities that support or diminish your impact in the world
- Addressing blamers with compassion and greater self confidence
Urban Landscapes reflect how we connect as human beings. As we see migration and social density patterns shift due to a variety of factors ranging from corporate globalization to natural calamity, we have realized that most of those people end up in a city.
When confronted with this reality of urban life, we have the option of taking a positive or negative approach to the increased population density and its impact on modern life.
You can choose to be a “turtle”, hide in your shell and ignore the change, or embrace the opportunities presented for improvements in community development.
Join Michelle Sherman and Professor Sergey Vesmanov for a discussion about Modern Urban Life. Learn More
Are you ready to hear the four step path to claiming your space as an Original and Illuminated Thinker? Learn the role that cognitive replenishment, positive imagination, and your consciousness can play in tapping into your genius while healing the planet.
For those who like effective and potent solutions to the current problems that ail you/us, here is a 15 minute practical yet kindhearted approach to generating a more nourishing quality of life.
Have you ever wondered why some people self- sabotage while others hit the ball over the fence? Have you ever wanted to help solve HUGE human problems in a wise and illuminated manner? Then VAST Consciousness Studies are for you!
Consciousness is the prism through which our individual and collective presence shines. It is the filter for how we each see the world we experience. It informs and dictates our daily choices. Becoming intentional with it affords great power.
Join Michelle Sherman, Founder and Creative Director to explore how a working knowledge of Human Consciousness, and its application to daily challenges, improves your experience of life, reduces relationship confusion and helps to heal the world. Especially helpful for those seeking illuminated approaches to boost their mindfulness, leadership and healing practice.
Learn More
The Vast Institute believes that people coming together into healthy relationships is a vital step towards creating a balanced life, as well as one contributing factor to peace on earth.
We have devised a simple and kindhearted approach to constructing positive relationships. One step towards having Healthy Relationships is to know one’s self. We explore the powerful connection between claiming your personal value system and having balanced, realistic, healthier relationships with the people in your life.
The Vast Institute Healthy Relationship Program is designed for anyone who wishes to take their relationships to the next level of confidence, respect, trust and love.
Join us to learn how to navigate relationships with greater ease - https://www.vastinstitute.com/calendar
Connect with our global VAST community to share insights and get your questions answered in a dynamic, 45-minute online discussion about life, love and professional intensity.
Learn Vast techniques to gracefully navigate the currents and areas of challenge in your life. Log on every second Wednesday of the month to learn authenticity, leadership and relationship skills that create positive outcomes and build encouraging communities.
Connect with our global VAST community to share insights and get your questions answered in a dynamic, 45-minute online discussion about life, love and professional intensity.
Learn Vast techniques to gracefully navigate the currents and areas of challenge in your life. Log on every second Wednesday of the month to learn authenticity, leadership and relationship skills that create positive outcomes and build encouraging communities.
The Vast Institute® Healthy Relationship Program is designed for anyone ready to take relationships with self and others to the next level of confidence, trust, and love.
Whether you are already relationship savvy or seeking to enhance your knowledge, this course is brimming with techniques developed by VAST Founder, Michelle Sherman.
At Vast we believe that people coming together in healthy relationships is one vital step towards creating greater peace both in your life and on this planet.
Connect with our global VAST community to share insights and get your questions answered in a dynamic, 45-minute online discussion about life, love and professional intensity.
Learn Vast techniques to gracefully navigate the currents and areas of challenge in your life. Log on every second Wednesday of the month to learn authenticity, leadership and relationship skills that create positive outcomes and build encouraging communities.
The VAST Institute Masterpiece of Humanity Program provides practitioners with the Personal Integration Process crafted by Michelle Sherman over the past three-decades as a coach, visionary and thought leader for executives, entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to authentically thrive.
This program supports core competencies that are often underdeveloped in many people, including the highly intelligent. Those who choose to engage in this process become comfortable with their whole self via Personal Integration, which frees up their energy to grow in new and healthy directions.