Positive Directions: Recent Episodes
David Spinner
Positive Directions is about moving ourselves forward as we emerge from the challenges of COVID-19. We will be discussing a wide range of topics about bringing positivity into 3 main areas of our lives: family, friends and work.
This is the final episode of the year...2 seasons complete!!! What a wild ride from September until now. Boy have we learnt a lot - from the basics of podcasting to all the fine gems of knowledge that were dropped by our amazing guests coming from various walks of life, diverse identities, different journeys and some great laughs along the way! I hope you enjoyed listening as much as I enjoyed recording.
This episode has a SURPRISE guest!!! You have listen to find out who it is...a celebrity for sure, but which one!!!
Keep sending in your feedback and encouragement to @positive_directions_podcast on instagram and email to positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com
Have a great summer and we will be back with more great guests in the fall!!
In this episode I am joined by the energetic Dr. Victoria Mattingly who brings her passion to the work of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. We discuss all aspects of this space and how to get the buy-in from the top of the organization all the way down. We also touch on some key points of the book, Inclusalytics: How Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Leaders Use Data TO Drive Their Work, which she co-authored with her colleagues Sertrice Grice and Allison Goldstein.
Dr. Victoria Mattingly (Dr. V) holds a PhD her organizational psychology, meaning she’s trained in the science of improving the human experience at work. Dr. V and has been providing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and learning & development (L&D) consulting services to businesses and non-profit organizations for over 10 years. She has built and implemented DEI & allyship solutions with companies such as Intel, American Eagle, Dicks Sporting Goods, Mine Safety Appliance, and Vizo Financial. Dr. V is CEO and co-founder of Mattingly Solutions, a diverse and woman-owned DEI consulting firm.
Learn more at www.mattinglysolutions.com/contact
Buy Dr. V’s book, Inclusalytics: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WQB2MDD
Connect with Dr. V on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpmattingly/
For any feedback on the show and suggestions for future topics follow us on Instagram @positive_directions_podcast and send us a message.
In this short special episode I bring back previous guest Sumana Jeddy to talk about the Workplace Wellness Summit - a project she is spearheading, taking place on LinkedIn live on Tuesday May 10th, 2022 and Wednesday May 11th. Join us for this two day event filled with speakers and moderated panel discussions including a virtual networking after party. Register at www.workplacewellnesssummit.club - you will see all the speaker bios and get register for day 1 and day 2 and the best part of it - IT IS FREE!!!! So register today and we will see you at the Summit!
Follow us on IG at positive_directions_podcast for all the latest episode news
In this week's episode I chat with Gigi Robinson about how she overcame health challenges to starting her own business and accomplishing so much more at such a young age.
Gigi Robinson is a 24 year-old New York City Native. Graduated USC with a Bachelors in Fine Arts and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in innovation design, business and technology from USC as well. She is a GenZ Chronic Illness and Mental Health advocate and Thought leader in the future of work regarding the creator economy, specifically focusing on authentic partnerships and she has been working in the field of social media and the creator economy for the past 5 years. Gigi is a content creator, photographer, public speaker and most recently a Sports Illustrated Swim Search Finalist for 2022.
You can connect with Gigi on all her social media platforms @itsgigirobinson and listen to her podcast Everything You Need Is Within
I hope you enjoy this week's conversation, I know I did. Feel free to drop me a line on IG: @positive_directions_podcast or an email: positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com
This week Positive Directions is please to welcome from Spain a good friend Francisco Reyes Pereira. Francisco brings persistence, grit, and cooperation to the human resources space. He's a social entrepreneur and intrapreneur keenly curious about science, technology, and business. Knowing why people behave the way they do is one of his passions; the other is basketball. He's been a Marketing & Project Leader for seven years, creating and developing consulting projects using neuroscientific techniques and Behavioral Economics methods.
I always like to get feedback from our listeners. Feel free to reach out to me by email positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com; on Instagram @positive_directions_podcast
If you or your team is looking for workshops that help improve productivity, sales, morale, leadership and more feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or Instagram @iamdavidspinnerconsulting or by email at david@peakperformance2.com
This week I introduce to you Susan Carr. Susan works with organizations to build resiliency to workplace stress in order to reduce absenteeism and turnover, while increasing productivity, improving organizational culture, increasing team effectiveness.
How she does this is what is a bit different than most... She uses both a traditional learning format, combined with experiential learning using the wisdom of horses.... yes, horses. This is an ideal service for corporate retreats, strategic planning sessions, change management planning, or in-depth team development. For groups working remotely or in hybrid formats we support rebuilding the essential working relationships.
She brings to her sessions over 30 years of work in the healthcare system, mostly in mental health, along with leadership training and certification as both a compassion fatigue trainer, and as a psychological health and safety advisor. She is also certified in two different modalities of using horses for skills development.
I always welcome your feedback so reach out to positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com or via Instagram @positive_directions_podcast
Enjoy!
In Episode 3 of Season 2 I bring back Jennifer Todd, DrPH, received her Doctor of Public Health in Community Health Sciences from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine where she studied health disparities among Native Americans. After Dr. Todd completed her doctorate, she was a senior research evaluator for the Federal Government’s Department of Health and Human Services working on high profile programs for nearly ten years. She worked to improve the health of women and adolescents, and communicate issues around sexuality and reproductive health in a sensitive and culturally appropriate way. Dr. Todd spent five years addressing emergency preparedness and disaster, including bioterrorism and pandemic influenza, and led crisis and risk communications planning for various hazards in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
Dr. Todd left the Federal Government to lead the development of a new undergraduate program in Public Health at the University of Maryland College Park, where she served for 5 years as the charter Director. She went on to hold administrative and senior lecturer positions with Johns Hopkins Communications Program, the University of Wollongong, in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, and currently is with George Washington University.
She is the founder of Jennifer Todd Wellness, which focuses on helping employers address issues of workplace wellness, employee satisfaction and retention, and psychological safety.
We hope you enjoy this episode and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com follow us on IG @positive_directions_podcast where you can catch our fun feature Rock It or Block It! where I fire some fun questions to get to know our guest.
In this week's episode I am pleased to speak with my good friend and master storyteller Jessie Sternthal.
Jessie is no stranger to crafting positive narratives both around the big brands she works with and the little stories of her everyday life (they don't call her StoryGirlJess on Instagram for nothing.) With 17 years of ad campaign ideation and writing for brands like Air Canada, Weight Watchers, Imax, Reitmans & Liberty Yogurt under her belt, she's honed a skill that allows her to see most situations through a positive (and insightful) lens.
As a Montrealer, Concordia & Humber College grad, Jess has worked as a writer and creative director in ad agencies in both Toronto and Montreal and has made her parents proud with several advertising awards including the IDEA awards, Marketing awards, Canada Cannes Young Advertising Festival, Interactive media awards and The Cassies. She's also an avid spinner, runner, car singer and was once a terrible waitress. (True story.)
Please send us topic suggestions and any feedback to positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com or follow us on Instagram at @positive_directions_podcast
We kick off season 2 with a spirited conversation with Nicole North. Nicole is the President and Founder of Whiteboard consulting and has been leading large-scale leadership training initiatives with Whiteboard since its inception. Nicole’s formal education includes an honors BA from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University. She is also certified as a Coach and as a practitioner in Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator assessments and training, Method Time Motion studies, and Appreciative Inquiry.
She is the creator, designer, and lead facilitator of The Limitless Leader TM program that creates leaders and teams that feel limitless to create and innovate paired with accountability and grace. Nicole has been designing and delivering online and in-person delivering human skills content for the last 10 years and is a top-rated facilitator for her engagement and passionate approach to delivery.
Whiteboard’s clientele includes: IMAX, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Hain-Celestial, Toronto Hydro, Toronto General Hospital, Canada Council or the Arts, WSIB, The Ontario Public Sector, The University of Toronto, Georgian College, and Humber College.
Nicole is a retired fitness instructor who dances on her Peloton, a cottage-country lover, a vegan cook, and can out-karaoke almost anyone. She talks everything from leaderships and relationship! Bringing a positive atmosphere to the organizations she works with on a daily basis.
Thank you for listening and as always you can connect with us on Instagram, Linkedin and via email positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com
Season 2 is getting ready to kick off this month and we wanted to give you a quick preview of what is coming up - great new guests, bringing back some old ones and some exciting new segments. Get ready for another season of mind-blowing conversations and gems of knowledge.
We also plan on bringing some special items to you in the near future so follow us here - stay tuned for an announcement coming soon!!!
Have a suggestion for a topic? For a guest? Hit us up by email positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com OR follows us and DM on Instagram or Linkedin!
In this episode, our final one for Season 1, we speak with Sumana Jeddy. A Wellness Coach, burnout specialist and an M and M enthusiast. Sumana Jeddy is a content creator, educator, facilitator and founder of Jeddy Wellness, a Canadian wellness company that specializes in evidence-based workplace wellness strategies. Sumana has completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology followed by a Master of Public Health degree, both from the University of British Columbia. She spent 10 years of her career in infectious disease surveillance in public health; first as a scientist in a laboratory extracting DNA/RNA from viruses and then as a manager in public health providing advanced oversight and management of strategies for the detection and control of diseases in Alberta. She optimized disease projects that involved consulting at all levels of government by analyzing and disseminating complex public health data to the scientific community and the public. Sumana has published 20+ peer-reviewed research articles and has presented disease research at conferences in the United States and Canada. Sumana loves public health and her passion for workplace wellness and burnout prevention stems from her own burnout. Workplace wellness has changed and every workplace needs burnout prevention strategies to combat this global contagion. Sumana bridges the gap between research and practice by providing wellness strategies that are not only grounded in science, data, and empathy but are also modern, practical, and playful (aka Wellness Shots!). Sumana has over 25K followers on TikTok and some of her videos have surpassed 1 million views, because she consistently provides relatable content that is not only educational but also practical at the system, team and individual level. You can find @sjeddywellness on TikTok, Instagram, and Linkedin
WE WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND POSITIVE HOLIDAY SEASON!! We hope you enjoy this episode and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In this episode Jared and David discuss setting boundaries as we enter the holiday season. All too often family comes to visit and there is a lack of respect for boundaries around your home. People don't know when to leave, they show up unannounced or even take liberties at rummaging through your closets!!! If this is familiar to you - this episode is a perfect one to listen to as you prepare to set boundaries without feeling guilty!! Yes it is possible!
Check out this Ted Talk mentioned in the episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtsHUeKnkC8
We hope you enjoy this episode and as always you can send any feedback to positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com or via our IG @positive_directions_podcast
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
Anna Mazig is the owner of A.M & Associates, a consulting firm based out of the United States in Minneapolis, MN. Her and her team support businesses and schools to prioritize the physical and psychological safety of their internal communities to avoid worst-case workplace scenarios. They do so through focusing on three main areas: compliance, threat assessment, and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). We hope you enjoy episode 10 and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In episode 9 we have the pleasure of speaking to the energetic and enthusiastic Dr. Jennifer Todd.
Jennifer Todd, DrPH, received her Doctor of Public Health in Community Health Sciences from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine where she studied health disparities among Native Americans. After Dr. Todd completed her doctorate, she was a senior research evaluator for the Federal Government’s Department of Health and Human Services working on high profile programs for nearly ten years. She worked to improve the health of women and adolescents, and communicate issues around sexuality and reproductive health in a sensitive and culturally appropriate way. Dr. Todd spent five years addressing emergency preparedness and disaster, including bioterrorism and pandemic influenza, and led crisis and risk communications planning for various hazards in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
Dr. Todd left the Federal Government to lead the development of a new undergraduate program in Public Health at the University of Maryland College Park, where she served for 5 years as the charter Director. She went on to hold administrative and senior lecturer positions with Johns Hopkins Communications Program, the University of Wollongong, in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, and currently is with George Washington University.
She is the founder of Jennifer Todd Wellness, which focuses on helping employers address issues of workplace wellness, employee satisfaction and retention, and psychological safety.
We hope you enjoy this episode and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In today's episode we discuss the term Toxic Positivity. This concept has popped up all over the place on social media these days but many don't even know what it means, or when they are being faced with it or if they are a perpetuator of it. We take a look at how it shows up in our everyday life and a real life example from this week is discussed when David's car window got stuck in the down position and Jared showed support. We also offer tips on how to combat toxic positivity taken from some work done by Shannon Bruin, a Colorado based therapist.
Enjoy this week's episode and as always you can send us your feedback to positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com and follow us on IG @positivedirectionspodcast
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In this episode we bring in our very special guest and friend Danielle Farage. A self-title Zennial and futurist who helps companies create hybrid working opportunities. As the Director of Growth at Café, she fosters an elevated consciousness around the intersection of identity, culture, and self-advocacy. As a younger member of Gen Z, she brings people together to bridge the gap between employers and jobseekers, helping culture thrive and values align. She brings youth and wisdom to our podcast this week! Connect with Danielle on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-farage/
We hope you enjoy this week's episode and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @positivedirectionspodcast
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In this week's episode we welcome special guest Ryan Schwartz. Ryan is a certified personal trainer and PN nutrition coach. At 22-years old he went on a mission to lose 100 pounds and get healthy. He has kept the weight off since 2004 and now helps others do the same. Ryan has battled battled disordered eating, body dysmorphia, hormonal imbalances and anxiety. His goal is to empower others to chase self love, strength and health as opposed to being thin and hating their bodies. Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
If you have any feedback or questions for us please don't hesitate to email us at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram @positivedirectionspodcast
On this special Canadian Thanksgiving Edition, Jared and David discuss gratitude. We talk about what we are grateful for in our three main pillars of life: family, personal and work. We also take a deep look into how expressing gratitude to others have a positive impact on someone but also on you!!! How do you express gratitude to others? What are the things you do to show someone you appreciate them? Send us an email at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com or a DM on Instagram: @positivedirectionspodcast
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In this episode we center our conversation around the topic of happiness. How do happiness and positivity interact? Does happiness come first? or vice-versa? We may not answer all of your questions but we will share some stories and of course David will have a parable to tie it all together.
We hope you enjoy our fourth episode and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In episode 3 we welcome our first guest to the podcast, our good friend Genelle Martin. Genelle hasn’t always been so cheerful but has found positivity in her work and in her life. As a an experienced HR professional for 20 years, Genelle has seen the pleasant and unpleasant side of HR. Being a divorced single parent Genelle brings the positivity to the homfront as well. She “tripped and fell” into HR before it was a thing in the early 2000’s. In 2013, while her kids were toddlers she finished her BS in Business Administration with a concentration in HR. Genelled worked for a global SaaS based company for four years before becoming an HR leader in higher Ed. fighting to finish her Masters by April.
We hope you enjoy our third episode and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In this episode, we dive into the back-to-school time. For many children and parents, there are many challenges we face at this time of the year – with fears and hesitations that our children experience when they return to school in non-pandemic years. Now we add the challenges of returning to school after learning from home for an extended period of time students are relearning how to get back to the physical school environment. We offer some ideas on how to shift your mindset and that of your children to get them to embrace the new normal in their school.
We hope you enjoy our second episode and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In this episode, we explore how and why we came together to put out a podcast called Positive Directions. Two strangers living in different countries brought together by their voices and their drive to share knowledge and wisdom on organizational culture, we developed a friendship. This friendship spawned our desired to record a podcast about positivity in three areas of life: family, personal, and work.
Episode 1 covers a range of topics including our own personal stories of growth and development through a positive mindset. We bring some tips and tricks on how you too can develop a positive mindset to drive you to achieve your goals.
We hope you enjoy our first episode and we look forward to your feedback. Please email us with any topic ideas at positivedirectionspodcast@gmail.com
Opening song credit: Positive Directions was written by our good friend Tanya Nye. Check out all her music on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/artist/6bIfbhOAv1khVH7xvCJAPG?si=su5NaNQcRCKZm5AfFnP0wA&dl_branch=1
In this trailer we introduce you to your podcast hosts and the range of topics we will be covering on a weekly basis. Join us September 7th for our first episode.