The Catalyst with Samantha Kris: Recent Episodes
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The Catalyst with Samantha Kris explores the inner workings of embracing the unknown, from ordinary daily habits to extraordinary measures. Through real life stories, you’ll be inspired to ignite change and take action.
Duku spent the first ten years of his life in a Ugandan refugee camp. He had no idea an entire world existed around him and that one day he’d be traveling across the globe in pursuit of his wildest dreams. Duku has proven that with a little creativity and sticktoitiveness dreams really do come true, even when the odds are stacked against you.
Connect with Duku on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and via his website.
At the age of 11, Aisha’s life changed forever when child services took her and her siblings away from their parents. She learned early on that not all change can be planned for and not all forced change is bad. She shares how the adversity she faced taught her to lean in life’s plan, choose herself first, and walk away from that which does not serve her.
Connect with Aisha on Instagram or through her website.
A two month summer break turned into an unexpected five month hiatus but we're back... not exactly as we'd planned but hey, when has anything great gone according to plan?
In this episode, Mark invites listeners to challenge what others have assumed to be true and embrace their life journey as if it were a big, blank canvas, primed for creative energy. If you’ve ever felt beholden to someone else’s vision for your life, fearful of what might happen if you allow yourself to step into your greatness, you’re not alone. But if you’re the slightest bit curious of what that greatness feels like, Mark helps you begin your journey within.
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn and be sure to check out the Huddol Journeys app.
Mahalia’s world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Amidst the chaos there was one thing that kept her grounded: Sisterhood. The women in her life served as her strength and supported her through her healing, re-evaluation of her life and career, and self-discovery when she needed it most. She shares how building a great community is essential to supporting us in times of strife, and guiding us in times of plenty.
Connect with Mahalia on LinkedIn.
After a series of poor choices, Doug was incarcerated on felony drug charges and fell quickly into the depths of despair, unsure if he would live to see his 25th birthday. In an unexpected turn of events, his cellmate taught him a lesson that would change his life forever. Now Doug is paying it forward, helping people turn adversity into their advantage.
Connect with Doug on Instagram, Twitter and via his website, and check out his podcast here.
Growing up, good grades and an active social life concealed the horrible self-concept Donovan experienced behind closed doors. Unable to cope, mental illness and substance abuse took over. He longed to be seen, heard, and to better understand himself but he didn’t know how. Today, he is committed to stopping the cycle of self-disconnect among middle schoolers and dreams of becoming the Mr. Rogers of the next generation, empowering their social emotional learning.
Tania never envisioned having a family because she was so career focused and determined to help the planet by working with brands to operate sustainably. When her husband gave her an ultimatum she had some serious thinking to do. Could she really have it all? In this candid interview, Tania opens up about her decision, staying true to her values, and key considerations of having children for professional women.
Visit her website for more information about Pamper & Splurge. Connect with her on Instagram, LinkedIn and be sure to subscribe to her podcast, Sustainability is Sexy.
Becky isn’t one for tradition, she never craved stability, and is always up to something new to keep boredom at bay. Like many millennials, Becky is designing her roadmap one turn at a time. There is no end destination, she is living life on her own terms and is letting her values, interests and self-expression lead the way.
Connect with Becky on Instagram and be sure to check out her podcast, We Just Like to Talk.
Through a personal battle with depression, anxiety, and binge eating, Christine has learned to overcome her struggles by taking simple but powerful actions in movement, nourishment, and self-development. She shares her journey of hope and healing, and explains how to better listen to the messages of your body in order to understand what it truly needs.
Follow Christine on Instagram, YouTube and learn more about her services via her website.
A lifetime of planning got Melina exactly where she wanted to be… only to realize that it made her miserable. This realization sparked a panic attack that would change her life. Melina shares her experience stepping away from a successful career in television to pursue her passion and how she discovered her purpose along the way.
Connect with Melina on Instagram and via her website. Be sure to subscribe to her podcast, Don’t Forget Your Lipstick.
Despite having a successful business, Shawn found himself unhappy in his life and in his career. Upon speaking to other business owners and leaders he realized he wasn’t alone, so many people were chasing their dreams and feeling unfulfilled. He knew there needed to be a better way and sought to find it. In this episode Shawn shares his four laws of happiness and explains how they spark transformational change by strengthening your mindset, becoming more disciplined and enabling you to build better habits.
Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn and via his website. Get more of Shawn’s actionable tools by grabbing a copy of The Happy Leader here.
Dan’s girlfriend landed her dream job and there was only one catch… it would require them to move across the country. The idea of being in a new state, working remotely and away from all that was familiar scared him but thanks to his improv community, Dan was taught to follow the fear. He shares how he made the big decision to start over in a new town and how he discovered what is truly important to him in the process.
Connect with Dan on LinkedIn and via his website.
In this candid conversation, Laura Wizman opens up about becoming a new mom, making the difficult decision to leave a family business, finding the strength to pursue her own path and discovering herself through it all.
Follow Laura on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and stay up to date on her latest events via her website.
Kern Carter’s life changed forever when he found out he was going to be a father at the age of 18. After years of feeling ashamed and guilty for not giving his daughter the life he felt she deserved, he made a choice that would change everything, one he discovered he was actually preparing for his entire life. Kern reminds us that we are in control of our own story and our best chapters are yet to be written.
Follow Kern’s journey on Instagram, Medium and his website. Follow his work with Cry Magazine here.
At just 11 years old, Solange Tuyishime escaped from war and genocide in East Africa, left everything she knew behind and started a new life in Canada. For years she ignored who she really was and silenced her biggest dreams in effort to belong. Today as President and CEO of Elevate International, a UNICEF Ambassador and Mrs. Canada World 2021, Solange empowers women and girls to become strong leaders and create environments in which they can belong and thrive in.
Connect with Solange on Instagram or through her website.
Being busy is honored, encouraged, and expected, so much so that what we do has become the definition of who we are. Renée Dineen believes this crippling dependency on ‘doing’ is triggering burn-out, damaging relationships, and is resulting in a loss of our sense of self. In this episode Renée shares the power of Authentic Inaction™ and reminds us that just because we can doesn’t mean we should. Listen to learn how you can get ahead and feel happier by fighting the urge to ‘do’.
Watch Renée’s TEDx talk, Authentic Inaction: Undoing the Doing in a Do Crazy World, follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn, and learn more about her services via her website. Renée’s book, The Art & Truth of Transformation for Women, is available on Amazon.
Rachel Weinstock was outcast and bullied most of her life. She was only 6 years old when she first had suicidal thoughts and even when the bullying stopped, the long-lasting trauma turned her against herself. Today she is a speaker and transformational coach who has dedicated her life to creating safe and empowering spaces for every child. In this episode she shares how we can rally to end bullying once and for all.
Connect with Rachel on Facebook and Instagram. Get more information via her website and community page. Watch her viral speech here.
Matchmaker and Dating Expert, Kavita Ajwani, joins The Catalyst for a special Valentine’s Day episode to talk about how dating has changed since the pandemic hit. Kavita shares tips on how to make the most of online dating, she offers tools to build your confidence, and she dishes on the absolute biggest dating faux pas. If you’re looking for love this Valentine’s Day, you’ve come to the right place.
Follow Kavita and Dashing Date on Instagram and learn more about Dashing Date's services on Facebook or via their website.
2019 Kentucky State Teacher of the Year, Jessica Dueñas was a pillar of strength and positivity in her community but behind closed doors, she was battling with addiction and fighting for her life. She chose herself and her sobriety above all else, which meant walking away from everything she knew and starting over. She shares her journey of getting sober to help others who are in a similar situation and in desperate need of change.
Follow Jessica on Twitter, connect with her via her website and check out her article which was referenced in this episode here.
New York City teacher and softball coach from the Bronx, Christopher Astacio, is on a mission to change the lives of the most violent, forgotten and underprivileged youth. After seeing the impact his late sister had on the children in her community, coupled with the desire to create a better world for his own children, he committed to helping kids find their voice and break the cycle of poverty.
Connect with Chris on Instagram and support The League for Fastpitch Softball here.
HR Professional, Sally De Rosa, is on a mission to normalize diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She believes the only way to bring values downstream is to live them and believe in them. While being inclusive is a great first step, in order to drive significant change, leaders must go the extra mile to break barriers and Sally explains how.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow HRWize on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Be sure to check out HRwize.com for full information.
Just because you’re comfortable speaking doesn’t make you a great communicator. Gasp! Workplace communications expert, Lindsay Lapaquette helps you to assess how effectively you’re communicating with your team and what changes you can make to reduce conflict, facilitate cohesion and increase team performance.
Connect with Lindsay via her website, on LinkedIn, or on Facebook. Be sure to check out her YouTube channel and her podcast as well!
Retired hostage negotiator turned mental health strategist, Paul Nadeau, packs decades of experience, insight and tools into this 30 minute episode. Learn how to negotiate like a pro, resolve conflict in your personal and professional life, and break free from anything that’s holding you back by mastering the hostage within.
Connect with Paul via his website and be sure to check out his podcast, Inspire Us.
We were looking forward to 2021 all last year and if this new year has come with old stress, you’re not alone. While everyone is focused on resolutions and setting goals, Heather Rider helps us get to the root of what so often derails our intentions: stress, anxiety, perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Don’t fall into the same trap that gets you every year. Do the inner work to get the results you seek.
Connect with Heather on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram, and learn more about her work through her YouTube channel and website.
In this New Year's special, your host Samantha Kris, closes out 2020 by talking about the importance of energy management. She offers 5 game-changing questions to help you enhance, protect and replenish your energy to keep your goals in motion and ensure next year is your best one yet.
Emergency nurse, Melanie Jade, shares what it has been like being a frontline worker during the pandemic, how her own plans came to a crashing halt, and how her experience in handling life or death situations informed her business strategy for 2020. Go into the holiday season safely and informed by tuning into this week’s episode.
Connect with Melanie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or via her website. For health tips and information, follow Nomadic Nurse Agency on Facebook and Instagram.
Diane Boorman retired at the early age of 40 and it wasn’t long before she realized she had so much more to learn and to give. She’s dedicated her second act to helping entrepreneurs build their architecture for business growth. This year has been one of the best ones yet for Diane, who encourages entrepreneurs to stop using the pandemic as an excuse. Whether you are a business owner or an aspiring entrepreneur, you definitely want to tune in.
Get more business tips by connecting with Diane on Facebook, LinkedIn or via her website.
After 15 years of being in corporate law and a lifetime following her father’s vision, Eloise Gagnon realized that she had to make space for her own voice. This required difficult conversations, life-changing decisions and cultivating an ecosystem of change. Find out how she let go of imposed success and how she found the courage to walk away from the life she worked so hard to build in pursuit of happiness.
Connect with Eloise on LinkedIn or through her website and check out her online course for ore guidance.
Yael Geffen grew up in the male dominated industry of real estate in South Africa and she’s on a mission to even out the playing field. In this episode she shares how she rose through the ranks by refusing the current rhetoric and leveraging her feminine energy. She is spearheading a revolution to help women step into their confidence and become their own, as well as each other's biggest champions.
Connect with Yael on LinkedIn and learn more about Lew Geffen Sotheby's International Realty here.
The most important issues that divide us are those we yell at each other about online and avoid in person. The only place they get debated is in the media, which only deepens the sense that there is a right and a wrong, an “us” and a “them”. It is time we learn to have civil conversations about the topics that are tearing humanity apart and Sophie Tarnowska explains how.
Connect with Sophie on LinkedIn and follow her work on Facebook, Instagram and her website. If you liked what you heard, check out her TEDx talk, How to do Something Good About Bad News.
Network marketing has a bad reputation and isn’t necessarily a coveted career for many. Social marketing expert, Emma Wojtas, is on a mission to change that narrative, usher MLM’s into the mainstream and change lives in the process. In this episode she debunks myths, shares how she overcomes objections and what she’s doing to majorly stand out in a cookie-cutter market.
Get to know Emma better by following her on Instagram and checking out her website.
Vesna Antwan shares her experience with extreme burnout and the steps she took to find her way back to herself. In what she calls her year of reckoning, everything had become too much to manage. She dealt with immense guilt, shame and strain on her mental health which ultimately caused her to crash at the end of 2016. She committed to turning inward and identifying the root of her pain, and was able to put herself back in the driver’s seat and continue her journey in the right direction.
Connect with Vesna on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or via her website.
The speed of change is increasing. There is no room for complacency for today’s businesses, which means leaders need to continuously adapt and reinvent themselves in order for their organizations to survive. In this episode, Michael Rubenstein dispels the belief of a brave new world being something of the future and shares practical tools that puts our new world immediately within reach.
Be sure to connect with Michael on LinkedIn for more information.
Calling all mothers! It’s time to reclaim the power over your thoughts so you can live and enjoy life on your terms. LaWann Moses lost sight of her value outside of motherhood and knows firsthand that change is possible if you choose it. She shares what it’s been like navigating being a parent, running a business and working full time during the pandemic, as well as 5 game-changing productivity tips to take back control of your life. Don’t worry dads, you’ll love these tips, too.
Connect with LaWann on LinkedIn or via her website and be sure to check out her podcast, More than a Mother.
Kelly Bron Johnson is on a mission to help create greater opportunities for oppressed and marginalized people. As an autistic, hard of hearing, proud non-binary Black woman of mixed race, Kelly has lived through a number of challenges. Through her work she is determined to make the path easier for others, and in particular, for her two disabled racialized children. She is changing the future of work by helping companies become more diverse and inclusive, creating spaces where differences are not only embraced but sought after.
Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn, Facebook and via her website where you can also grab a copy of her recently published book!
Ana Lovera had it all; an impressive career, her dream job, and a beautiful house but when things turned violent in Venezuela, she made the hard decision to leave it all behind in order to protect her family. Full of pain and anger, Ana learned to channel her energy into something positive and began to rebuild. This is her story of survival, strength and starting over.
Stay connected with Ana by following her on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or through her website.
Atena Sadegh was always a happy person but when her mother was diagnosed with a near fatal brain tumour, everything changed. The heavy burden of survivor's guilt coupled with the realization that she’d placed her worthiness into her mother’s hands challenged her self-love in a major way. In this week’s episode Atena shares how she let go of her guilt, how she learned to love herself unconditionally and how you can, too.
Follow Atena’s journey by checking out her website, connecting on Instagram or subscribing to her YouTube channel.
In a time where job security is shaky and self-reflection is at an all time high, Kirsty Bisset offers insight for today’s aspiring entrepreneurs. She shares what it was like to be unemployed and desperate for work to owning 5 businesses and landing a spot on Fast Company’s Top 30 Under 30 list. The secret sauce to her recipe for success is failure. Learn how you can turn unfortunate circumstances into your next big opportunity in this week’s episode.
Connect with Kirsty on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Learn more about her work on her website.
Despite being raised in an abusive home with an alcoholic father, being forced to grow up far too soon and losing his wife to breast cancer at just 40 years old, Robert continues to seek the beauty life has to offer. It wasn’t always that way, however. Robert endured years of self-destruction before he realized that perhaps some of his best days were yet to come and that, if assembled, all his broken pieces could very well be his greatest masterpiece.
Connect with Robert on LinkedIn, via his website or directly at coach@robertpardi.com.
Former radio host, marketing executive and founding member of Osheaga, Sandra Rinaldi made the huge decision to leave the rock and roll world after 20 years when she realized it no longer made her happy. She went back to school at 41 years old, embarked on a self-discovery journey and completely started over. Learn how she found her path, overcame her fear and developed an unwavering belief in her ability to succeed.
Connect with Sandra on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and through her website.
Executive and life coach, Zahra Abdullah, explains appreciative inquiry, a positive strengths-based approach to change that leaders can leverage to promote more creativity, better problem solving and transformation. She also shares how this approach helped her navigate major changes in her personal life and career.
Connect with Zhara on LinkedIn or through her website.
If you like this episode please be sure to rate and review it. Hit the subscribe button to get instant access to our weekly releases!
In this episode, Samantha shares her latest career move, what sparked the major change and how purpose served as the compass on her road to fulfillment. If you're at a fork in the road in your life, this is a must listen!
Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode and if you liked this one, let us know in the comments!
Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and join the Bossing Up community.
Lateisha landed her dream job at CNN News fresh out of college and started a new life in New York, but she had nothing to show for it. Major money blocks and limiting financial beliefs resulted in debt, fear and insecurity. She broke free from her toxic money story and now, as a licensed financial coach, helps people change their mindset to attract abundance and generate wealth. Learn more and earn more by tuning into this week’s episode!
Get more information on her website. For women looking for additional guidance and resources, check out Wealth and Wellness Network.
For years Dani conformed to people's opinions of who she should be, so much so that she lost sight of who she was. Today she is a powerhouse voice and leadership coach, helping women move courageously in the direction of their dreams, go bolder and own their “extra”. Discover how she put an end to her people pleasing ways, got comfortable with being her unapologetic self and how you can too.
Connect with Dani on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and be sure to check out her website where you can order your very own copy of Get Off Your A$$ & Into Your Life.
Nine days before her 17th birthday, Rose suffered a catastrophic injury. She went from an athlete to a quadriplegic overnight. Though life has completely changed, Rose has refused to let her circumstances define her. As a mother to three young boys, a successful business owner and best-selling author, she is defying the odds and is on a mission to dismantle ableism.
Connect with Rose on Instagram and Facebook and join the movement for inclusivity.
Growing up in the Soviet Union, Marina was raised in the culture of censorship. She always felt a big voice inside her but using it was simply not an option. When she immigrated to Canada she was devastated to discover she still didn’t have a voice, this time for very different reasons. In this episode, Marina shares how she learned to own her voice, scale its reach and use it to empower others.
Connect with Marina on LinkedIn and if you like the episode please be sure to rate and review it. Hit the subscribe button to get instant access to our weekly releases!
Petrona Joseph led a very glamorous life on the outside. She was climbing the ranks in the luxury automobile industry, she was at every event and was making good money as an influence marketer but on the inside, it was a very different story. Crippling anxiety, depression and unresolved childhood trauma tormented her daily, which left her feeling empty and unworthy. In this episode she shares how she copes with PTSD, ways to free yourself from your past and the importance of vocalizing the need for help, especially in the black community.
Connect with Petrona on Instagram and if you like this episode please be sure to rate and review it. Hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode!
In 2013 Craig Stanland was arrested by the FBI and sentenced to federal prison. He lost everything and plummeted to rock bottom at a rapid pace. Craig has spent the past several years reinventing himself and now helps others to own their past, take responsibility for their reality and make choices that are aligned with their desired future.
Learn more about Craig through his website, his TEDx talk, and connect with him on Instagram and LinkedIn.
We have a tendency to use the words creative and artistic synonymously. Creative consultant, Stefano Di Lollo, believes creativity spans far beyond artistic abilities. It is human interaction, it’s divergent thinking, it’s problem solving, it’s leadership and it holds the key to healing. Stop diminishing your creative power and learn how to use it to achieve your wildest dreams.
Connect with Stefano on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate and review. Hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode!
Empathy expert, Anita Nowak, has traveled to nearly 70 countries and has spent the last 10 years studying the innate trait that unites us in our shared humanity. In this episode Anita explains that we are facing a massive collective empathy deficit, which stands to get worse as the black lives matter movement, COVID-19, climate change and other global concerns rise. Find out how together we can leverage empathy at scale to heal the world and find greater purpose in our lives.
Connect with Anita on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram and get more familiar with her work by checking out her website and YouTube channel.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate and review. Hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode!
As a victim of domestic abuse, Svetlana has endured years of hardship which resulted in several mental health issues. Unwilling to let past control her future, Svetlana has dedicated her life’s work and her voice to those who go unheard. She is an advocate for body positivity, those living with mental illness, the LGTBQIA+ community and so many other important causes. In this episode, this outspoken activist shares how she finds her strength, what she’s learned as an ally, and explains what to do when people in your life aren’t ready for change.
Connect with Svetlana through her website, follow her on Instagram and check out the amazing work she’s doing with her charity, Welcome to My Everyday.
Marisa Murray offers a new look on leadership with her Iteractive leadership model. With stakes high and pressure on employees even higher, Marisa sees a lot of rigor on performance but much less on appreciation. With the scale being tipped, it’s no wonder the rate of burnout continues to rise. Iteractive is a combination of "iterative" and "active", and is a model based on 6 leadership actions, referred to has the 6 A's. This approach is transforming some of the most well known organizations through the integration of soft skills and celebration.
Learn more about Marisa and her work through her website and connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to check out her TEDx talk, Success without the Stress: The Iteractive Leader, as well!
Before she was a leadership coach and breathwork facilitator, Victoria Bauman went through life with her head down. Her beliefs and self-worth were so tangled up in other people’s expectations until she realized she was on the path to a very empty existence. She turned to breathwork to identify and work through necessary inner shifts and her life rapidly began to improve. In this episode Victoria shares her leadership journey and guides you through a 5 minute breathwork session designed to clear your subconscious mind, emotional body and physical body of anything that no longer serves you.
If you’d like to get right into the practice, jump to the 25 minute mark.
To learn more and experience the one hour course, visit TheO2Awakening.com. For leadership advice and resources be sure to follow Victoria on Instagram.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate and review. Hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode!
Daniele-Jocelyne Otou is on a mission to impart change and social innovation, two topics that are at the forefront of people's minds in the wake of recent events. In this episode, Daniele explains racial trauma and how challenging it is to heal the wounds when they continuously occur. She candidly shares her reality as a black woman, the social and professional barriers people of colour face, and the hard work that lies ahead for allies seeking to make long lasting change, from the inner work to the workplace.
Connect with Daniele on Instagram and LinkedIn, and be sure to follow her work with Apathy is Boring and Female Department. You can find her articles on Medium.
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Gangs and violence were normal for Neldy Germain when he was growing up. Police sirens and lights still trigger childhood trauma even though life looks much different today. For this emerging culture icon, adaptability is a mindset, one that is practiced daily. Neldy offers an unfiltered look at what goes into loving himself, how his upbringing has influenced his relationship to change, and how being a black creative is an advantage. This emerging culture icon didn’t come this far to only get this far. Tune in to see where he’s going next.
Connect with Neldy on Instagram and check out The All Dressed Special podcast.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
Musical sensation, Stephen Voyce, talks about his journey of self-discovery and how he used it to reinvent himself as an artist. What began as a coping mechanism and a way to release his demons, his music has evolved to playful self-expression and a way to connect with others who are seeking to find themselves. In this episode he shares how he leverages all aspects of his multi-passionate nature, what he did to remove the barrier between him and his craft, and sound advice for those interested in rebranding themselves.
To connect with Stephen, follow him on Instagram and be sure to binge listen to his latest hits on Spotify.
Is happiness really a choice? Monique Simone thinks so. She went rogue on her relentless pursuit of happiness and found the confidence to step (and stay) outside the box. In this episode, Monique shares what inspires her to stay curious, how she learned to trust her gut and ways in which she lives life to the fullest. Tune in for tools to spark more joy in your life and tune out what doesn’t serve you.
To connect with Monique follow her on Instagram. Monique’s pump up song is Africa by Yemi Alade and some of her happiness go-to’s are celebrity chefs, Matty Matheson and Jamie Oliver.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
In a no holds barred conversation, business strategist extraordinaire, Sarah Swain, shares the challenges and opportunities that have accompanied a global pandemic as a business owner of two online media companies. She offers invaluable guidance that will help you to look at your business objectively, adapt to meet the needs of your clients, and evolve as a leader. Pivoting your business will require courage and conviction. Sarah helps you find both.
Check out Sarah’s website to see everything she’s up to and follow her on Instagram for daily business insights.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
How are we supposed to commit to our goals when the goal post keeps moving? Prince Kerr encourages us to shift our focus from achieving to adapting, as the most valuable indicator of success during these times is our ability to remain agile. In this episode, Prince explains how operating from a place of fear stagnates growth, ways to find the opportunity in every crisis, how to fully commit in times of change and more.
Connect with Prince by following @PrinceKerr on all platforms. Check out the Howell Consultations YouTube channel and be on the lookout for Prince’s upcoming One Diamond clothing collection on Instagram.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
Learn how one man’s goal to eliminate fatherlessness has sparked a global movement of intentional fatherhood. Justin Batt woke up one morning with a “dad hangover” and recognized that he wasn’t showing up in the way he wanted to for his kids. Since that moment, he has made it his mission to be more present and help other dads do the same. In this episode Justin offers an unfiltered look at:
- How pride and ego are getting in the way of men being good fathers
- The importance of identifying father wounds and their impact on your family
- Ways in which business tools can effectively be brought into parenthood
To join the Daddy Saturday movement, check out the website, the Daddy Saturday book and Justin’s TEDx talk. For additional resources, follow Justin on Instagram and YouTube and be sure to try the Alexa skill.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
Love coach, Diana Eskander, doesn’t believe in falling in love. Wait, what? She believes we have the ability to create the love we’re worthy of and it starts with knowing what we want. In Episode 12, Diana offers invaluable advice to elevate your love life. She teaches us what love-changing moments are, tangible ways to implement boundaries in relationships and how incremental changes can lead to massive transformations.
Also discussed in this episode: You are central to the patterns you see in your relationship + How to love someone whose go-to emotion is anger + Knowing when it’s time to walk away.
Get more of Diana by following her on Instagram, YouTube and by reading her blog. Connect with her directly by emailing hello@dianaeskander.com.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
The pace of change is accelerating. In Episode 11, Horst Gallo, Vice President of HR Talent Solutions & Global Mobility at IBM, shares the importance of corporate culture and how it has kept the 109 year old company ahead of the race. Key takeaways from this episode include:
- What one of the world’s largest employers is doing to remain nimble
- Ways to initiate organizational change despite fear and resistance
- How to leverage our personal experiences to drive business value
To learn more about Horst and his initiatives at IBM, connect with him on LinkedIn.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
There’s no such thing as a strategic plan anymore. The covid-19 crisis has turned businesses upside down and shaken things up. Leaders are being called upon to innovate, motivate and alleviate the worries of their employees and customers, all while being worried themselves. Stakes are high and emotions are higher, which Erin Willett, Founder of The Tap In Team, believes presents a unique opportunity for leaders to connect with their employees and customers on a very genuine level.
In Episode 10, Erin explains how a global pandemic has given people permission to be vulnerable and how vulnerability is paramount in nurturing cultures that can weather the storm and come out stronger. As we try to stay afloat and learn to navigate new waters, Erin teaches us:
- How embracing ourselves fully invites others to do the same
- The evolving definition of a strong leader
- What companies must do to thrive in an era of connection
To learn more about conscious leadership and creating conscious cultures, connect with Erin on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
Episode 09 features professional human and real life adult, Leisse Wilcox. Despite an abusive upbringing, a painful divorce, and raising 3 girls as a single mother diagnosed with cancer, Leisse is relentlessly optimistic. She has learned to take the difficult and the ugly and turn it into something purposeful and beautiful, a process she calls emotional alchemy. She is a firm believer that if we want to change the world, we must begin by making the changes we want to see within ourselves.
In this episode, Leisse reminds us that we have the ability to control our direction and she offers tips to put us back in the driver’s seat.
This is a great listen for everyone who wants to level up but is particularly for you if you are:
- Looking for ways to become more emotionally aware and intelligent
- Eager to detach from feelings which are preventing you from making positive changes
- Interested in gaming your internal system to propel you forward
Get more of Leisse by listening to her podcast, To Call Myself Beloved, or by visiting her website and be sure to connect with her on all social platforms @leissewilcox.
If you like the episode please be sure to rate, review & subscribe!
When people around the globe declared that 2020 would be the year of clarity no one expected it to come in the form of a pandemic. But here we are, being required to adapt and level up in ways we were not prepared for. We are being forced to assess our lifestyle choices, the way we run our businesses and lead our teams, and fundamentally realign with what we consider to be important. Everything is being put into perspective and once this blows over, we will undoubtedly emerge with greater clarity. Opportunities for growth, personally and professionally, will be made available but we will only be able to seize them if we’re willing to change.
In Episode 08, Samantha shares how to best be prepared for opportunity when it comes knocking and how to keep cool in the meantime. Golden nuggets from this episode include:
- 10 ways to build resilience during times of change
- Tips for leading others through uncertainty
- How to leverage change to enhance our agility
Learn more about Samantha on her website and connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
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In Episode 07, Nick Melka shares what it was like being bedridden with debilitating symptoms of lyme disease, desperate for relief. Exhausted from all the pain and medication that wasn’t working, Nick hit rock bottom and turned to natural medicines as a last resort, where he learned about the healing properties of honey and bees. Within days of consuming unprocessed honey, his life drastically changed. With the help of his colony, today not only is Nick healthy, he is building an empire and bringing people together in a major way.
Nick is proof that the actions of one individual can have far-reaching ripple effects. He explains how opportunities began to appear once he chose to be the change he sought for his community and how you can be the change for yours. Nick also shares:
- The importance education plays in initiating change
- How adversity can be the catalyst for innovation
- What the bees can teach us about collaboration and respect
To connect with Nick and support Miel MTL, visit their website and follow their journey on Instagram as well as Facebook.
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For over 125 years, General Electric has been a trusted brand in every corner of the planet. Its purpose is to solve some of the most difficult challenges across the world from supplying power, to healthcare innovation, to creating a renewable energy ecosystem and more. At the core of the company’s success is its willingness to adapt, as well as its diverse and dedicated team. With over 200,000 employees over 9 countries, initiating organization-wide change is no easy feat. Changing systems, behaviours and ultimately company culture requires a combination of empathy, strong leadership and people analytics and that’s precisely what motivates Balakarthikeyan Nagarajan (Bala), GE’s HR Executive Director.
In Episode 06 Bala offers an inside look at General Electric’s efforts to enhance its employee experience by leading HR’s digital transformation. Bala shares ways in which GE is pioneering the technological era and explains why digital transformation, particularly in HR, is paramount for companies to survive. Bala is on a mission to ignite the power of people and gives actionable tools for you to do the same within your organization. He delivers rich insight into:
- The necessity for leaders to have the confidence and courage to stop what’s not working
- GE’s ability to leverage the intrinsic motivators of its employees to strengthen company culture and drive business results
- Three biggest lessons from GE’s digital transformation that can be applied to any company undergoing change
To follow Bala’s journey connect with him on LinkedIn.
In Episode 05, Author, Speaker and Wellness Advocate, Nalie Agustin, is disrupting what it means to live with cancer in a major way. Nalie’s entire world was turned upside down in 2013 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 24. She has publicly shared her journey from the very beginning and with the support of tens of thousands of people worldwide, she beat it. Unfortunately, in 2017 the cancer returned and had spread to her lungs. Despite her stage 4 diagnosis, Nalie continues to thrive and live an otherwise healthy life, proving that anything is possible. Helping others overcome their adversities and live rich and meaningful lives has become her mission.
Through this episode Nalie shares the key to being resilient and offers incredible insight into:
- How to love your new normal, no matter your situation
- Relinquishing the control fear may have on your life
- Leveraging your mindset to beat the odds and more
To follow Nalie’s journey be sure to connect with her on Instagram, Facebook and subscribe to her YouTube channel. You can follow all things Thriver Talks on her podcast and her upcoming guide.
In Episode 04, Clinical Social Worker and Psychotherapist, Corrie Sirota offers a personal and professional perspective on how to navigate grief and loss. After losing her brother from a devastating hit and run by a stolen vehicle, Corrie’s life was never the same. This sudden loss changed her perspective on death, which in turn has changed her perspective on life and living.
Unfortunately, we inevitably all face grief and loss. Fortunately, this episode offers coping strategies as well as an understanding of why we grieve the way we do. Corrie reminds us that we can and will find life after loss. Whether you are grieving or are interested in ways to best offer support to those who are, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. You will learn:
- The key difference between grief and depression
- What NOT to say when comforting someone experiencing grief and loss
- How society, circumstance, ancestry, relationships and support all play critical roles in how we each cope with loss
To connect with Corrie you can email her at corrie@corriesirota.com and connect on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about the SCARS method in her TEDx talk, Loss and Found, as well as in her book, Someone Died... Now What.
In Episode 03 six-time best-selling author and business coach, Marsha Vanwynsberghe, shares her story as a mother who dealt with teen substance abuse. After grueling years of shame and judgement, nearly losing both her sons four days apart and feeling completely helpless, Marsha found a way to reclaim her power. We discuss how important it was for her to put down the armour she’d carried for so long, how essential taking ownership of her choices was and how the process radically changed the trajectory of her life and the lives of her family.
This episode is packed with valuable tools to help you own your story, no matter your background, and will inspire you to:
- Take back your personal power by learning to stand on your story, as opposed to in it
- Successfully make the shift from a victim mindset to an ownership mindset
- Respect and honour what you need through times of change
Be sure to check out Marsha’s book, When She Stopped Asking Why. And if you’d like to connect with Marsha, you can visit her website or find her on Facebook and Instagram.
In episode 2 we chat with Paul Simard, TEDx speaker, HuMENity Curator and Director at UNHCR Canada, about the transition from outdated to modern masculinity. He shares openly about his struggles, his growth and his mission to create a new paradigm for boys and men across the globe. He believes boys and men need to be invited to understand, engage with and embrace their emotions and to love what they find, both in themselves, and in others.
In this episode we discuss:
- The evolution of a man’s role from a provider to an equal
- What society can do to create brave spaces where vulnerability can live
- How critical self-awareness is and ways to practice it daily
Paul recommended two books which helped him on his journey, they are A Curious Mind: The Secret to a Bigger Life (referred to as Curiosity Conversations in the episode) and Face to Face, both by Brian Grazer.
To learn more about Paul and support his efforts in empowering boys, men and refugees, check out the links below. You can connect with him on Facebook and LinkedIn.
TEDx talk: The Mythical Man
HuMENity
UNHCR
The Catalyst with Samantha Kris is all about change; what sparks it, why we get stuck and how we can lean in a little more easily. In Episode 01 clinical psychologist, Dr. Myrna Lashley, helps us understand what's happening under the hood. Together we explore where resistance to change comes from and ways in which we can embrace the unknown.
In this episode you will learn:
- Powerful visualization exercises
- The importance of understanding our fears
- What children can teach us about navigating change
Connect with Myrna on Facebook or email her at myrnalashley@gmail.com
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Get to know your host, Samantha Kris. In Episode 00 she shares some of the twists and turns of her professional life, what drove her to start this podcast and what to expect from future episodes.