Learning From Your World

Avsnitt

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  How Shared Experiences Help Us Learn & Connect | Andrew Cross, CEO of Goosechase 23.07.2026 43min

  Technology is often blamed for pulling us away from the people and world around us. But can it be designed to do the opposite? In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Cross, Founder and CEO of Goosechase, to explore how play and shared experiences help us learn, connect, and create stronger memories. We discuss: - Why experiences can be more powerful than simply sharing information - What it looks like to design technology that brings people back into the real world - How to make everyday activities more creative, engaging, and meaningful Andrew also shares the story behind Goosechase and challenges us to stop accepting ”how it’s always been done,” and instead ask ”what would make this a better experience?”
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  Why We Struggle to Speak Up, Listen & Connect | Megan Reitz 15.07.2026 44min

  What influences whether people choose to speak up, listen, and connect? In this episode, I sit down with Megan Reitz, Associate Fellow at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, to explore the habits, environments, and ways of paying attention that shape our conversations, relationships, and leadership. We discuss: - Why people stay silent, even when they have something important to say. - How busyness changes the way we listen, lead, and connect - How to create more meaningful conversations at work and in life Resources: Megan’s LinkedIn Megan’s Website
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  What's Happening in Today's Job Market? The Economy, AI, and the Future of Work | Connor Lokar 08.07.2026 48min

  There’s a lot of conversation about AI, the economy, and the future of work. But what’s actually happening? In this episode, I sit down with Connor Lokar, Senior Forecaster and Keynote Manager at ITR Economics, to discuss why today’s job market feels so different, how AI is influencing hiring, and what individuals and organizations can do to prepare for the future. We discuss: - Why today’s job market feels so different - How AI and economic trends are changing hiring and the future of work - What individuals and business leaders can do to prepare for what’s ahead
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  Rethinking Generational Differences at Work | With Alastair Greener 25.06.2026 46min

  In this episode, I sit down with Alastair Greener, speaker, author, researcher, and host of the Generationally Speaking podcast. We discuss: - Alastair’s insights from his research on communication across generations. - How stereotypes can get in the way of connection. - Why our formative experiences shape how we see the world, and what it takes to build trust and understanding across differences. Whether you’re leading a team, working across generations, or trying to better understand the people around you, this conversation offers a thoughtful perspective on communication and connection in a changing world. Generationally Speaking Website
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  Can This App Help Us Build Real-World Connection? with Brad Steckart, Founder of Sit By Me 04.06.2026 45min

  In this episode, I sit down with Brad Steckart, founder of Sit By Me, an app designed to help people connect in real life, in real time. We talk about the story behind the app, why starting conversations can feel harder than it should, and how technology can serve as a bridge to real-world connection rather than a replacement for it. Brad also shares the personal experiences that shaped his work and what he’s learning about loneliness, courage, community, and creating more natural opportunities for people to meet.
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  How to Build Exceptional Relationships | Carole Robin 25.03.2026 41min

  Strong relationships are not found, they’re built. In this episode, I talk with relationship expert and leadership educator Carole Robin, former Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty member and co-author of Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends, and Colleagues. Together, we explore the practical skills that help people build trust, strengthen communication, and create meaningful relationships at work and in life. We discuss: - The difference between functional and exceptional relationships - Why being willing to be seen and known builds trust - How curiosity strengthens relationships - The role of vulnerability in effective leadership - How to use the 15% Rule to step outside your comfort zone - One practical step to strengthen a relationship this week This episode is for you if you: - Want stronger relationships at work or at home - Lead people and want to build trust - Feel stuck in surface-level communication - Want practical tools to build better relationships - Believe connection is essential to success and well-being Resources: Carole’s LinkedIn Connect Book
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  Are You in the Right Room? | Allen Hauge on Leadership & Peer Groups 18.03.2026 37min

  Most leaders struggle because they’re trying to figure it out on their own. In this conversation with Allen Hauge, we talk about what changes when you’re in the right room. After more than 30 years working with CEOs, Allen shares how trust, vulnerability, and the right peer community help leaders gain clarity, and make better decisions. In this episode, we discuss: - Why leaders make worse decisions in isolation - The “experience trap” and how it limits your thinking - Why clarity and connection are the foundation of strong leadership If you’re leading a team, building a company, or trying to navigate complex decisions, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: you don’t have to do it alone.
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  How to Make Friends as an Adult & Build a Community That Lasts | Holly Cooke 17.12.2025 48min

  Making friends as an adult is hard, especially when you move somewhere new and don’t know anyone. In this episode, I talk with Holly Cooke, founder of The Lonely Girls Club, about what it actually looks like to build friendships and community as an adult. Holly shares how she started the London Lonely Girls Club, why showing up matters more than confidence, and what it takes to keep going when things feel uncomfortable or uncertain over time.
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  Why We Can’t Be Happy Alone: The Science of Connection | Nic Marks 10.12.2025 55min

  Happiness was never meant to be an individual pursuit. In this conversation, Nic Marks, founder of Friday Pulse and creator of the Happy Planet Index, explains why happiness evolved as a social emotion, and why our brains light up in connection with others. We explore why so many of us are stuck in “okay” lives, why individualism has unintentionally disconnected us from what makes us thrive, and how our relationships are the most powerful predictors of our health and longevity. Nic also reveals why anger spreads faster than joy and how trust transforms entire communities. And in a world where people report more loneliness, more fear, and more fragmentation than ever, his message is a wake-up call: happiness isn’t something we chase alone. It’s something we create together.
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  How Do You Trust Again After Being Hurt? | Tracy A. Malone 03.12.2025 49min

  What actually helps you trust again after you’ve been hurt or manipulated? In this episode, author and educator Tracy A. Malone joins me to talk about what it takes to rebuild self-trust after narcissistic abuse. We unpack why awareness alone isn’t enough, how “sweet words” without consistent action break trust, and why self-forgiveness is often the hardest (and most freeing) part of healing. We explore how fear and people-pleasing keep us stuck in old patterns, how to recognize your role without blaming yourself, and what it really means to trust your own voice again. You’ll walk away with simple, real-life ways to rebuild confidence, set boundaries without guilt, and choose relationships that feel mutual, safe, and real.
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  Is Love Something We Find, Feel, or Do? | Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt (Getting the Love You Want) 26.11.2025 41min

  Love is not chemistry, compatibility tests, or waiting for someone who magically “gets us.” According to Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt, the couple behind Getting the Love You Want, love is a practice that rewires us over time. In this episode, we talk about how two therapists who literally wrote the book on marriage came within inches of divorce, and why their relationship became stronger not by knowing more, but by doing things differently. We explore how conflict can actually be a doorway into connection, why our brains go to war with the people we love, and how simple daily habits (like asking for permission before speaking, mirroring, and genuine affirmations) can change how safe we feel with others… and how safe they feel with us.
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  Why We Keep Reliving the Same Relationship Patterns | Karen McMahon 19.11.2025 42min

  In this episode, divorce coach Karen McMahon and I unpack why the same relationship patterns keep showing up, even when the people change. We look at the childhood dynamics that shape how we communicate, handle conflict, set boundaries, and respond under stress. Karen breaks down the difference between being victimized and seeing yourself as a victim, why people-pleasing and perfectionism form so early, and how recognizing your part in a dynamic gives you your power back, without shame or blame.
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  How Do We Bring More Affection Back Into Our Lives? | Dr. Kory Floyd 12.11.2025 52min

  We often talk about connection, but rarely about affection - the love we give and receive through our words, actions, and touch. In this conversation, Dr. Kory Floyd, professor and author of The Loneliness Cure, explains how affection shapes our health and relationships at every level. We explore how childhood modeling and culture influence how we express love, why the same gesture can mean different things to different people, and what it really means to feel affection deprived. Kory breaks down how affection regulates stress, supports our immune system, and fulfills our biological need to belong—and why giving affection can be even more powerful than receiving it. He closes with a simple but profound challenge: Be the one who gives affection first.
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  What We Get Wrong About Connection 05.11.2025 7min

  We’re not in a connection crisis because we don’t care.  We’re disconnected because our environment (our systems, our tech, and our pace) makes real connection harder than ever. In this opening episode of The Connection Series, I share the personal and professional journey that led me to the question:  What is real connection, and how do we rebuild it in a world designed for disconnection? In this episode, we explore… The real enemy of connection (hint: it’s not our screens) Why we so often mistake interaction for connection What it actually takes to rebuild presence in a distracted world This episode kicks off a 10-part series featuring authors, therapists, researchers, and community builders who are redefining the future of connection from every angle. If you’re craving more presence, more meaningful relationships, and more honest conversations, this series is for you.
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  How to Build Character Through Habits, Purpose, and Play With Dr. Arthur Schwartz 16.04.2025 38min

  In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and a leading voice in moral development, we explore what it really takes to build character and live with purpose. We discuss: - What Really Drives Action: Why character is about behavior, not just beliefs, and how to act on what matters most. - The Power of Purpose: How even simple goals (like a push-up contest) can provide meaning and motivation. - Rewiring Your Inner Voice: How to reshape negative self-talk through daily value-based habits. - The Role of Environment and Culture: How your surroundings shape your character…and how to build the culture you need to grow. Challenge: Find an image that represents the kind of character you want to build, and keep it somewhere visible as a daily reminder. Resources: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Soar with Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt Chatter by Ethan Kross Grit by Angela Duckworth The Path to Purpose by William Damon
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  Is Empathy Enough? The Hidden Cost of Good Intentions With Dr. Arthur Schwartz 09.04.2025 26min

  Is empathy enough to create real change? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Arthur Schwartz, President of Character.org and lifelong advocate for character development, about why empathy alone doesn’t create change, and what it really takes to live with integrity, purpose, and courage. We discuss: - Why Empathy Isn’t Enough: What most people get wrong about empathy, and how too much of it can block justice and enable harm. - Character vs. Compliance: The difference between doing the right thing because you have to vs. because it’s who you are. - Building A Virtue Habit: How Arthur built a gratitude practice from scratch and why small habits matter. Challenge: Choose a character trait that doesn’t come naturally to you, and create a small daily habit to practice it. Resources: - FREE VIA Character Survey - Soar With Your Strengths by Donald Clifton (Book) - StrengthsFinder 2.0 (Book) - Chatter by Ethan Kross (Book) - Character.org
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  Escaping the Linear World: Nonlinear Thinking with Perry Knoppert (Part 2) 02.04.2025 46min

  What if your mind was never meant to fit the system? In this episode, Perry Knoppert shares what happened after he gave everything up, and what he built. From living without a home to founding the Octopus Movement, Perry explores the power of nonlinear thinking and creating outside the lines. *This is Part 2 of our conversation. In Part 1, Perry shares how his  journey began. We talk about: - The moment he realized his brain didn’t belong in a linear world - The difference between creativity and innovation - What AI can’t do, and why human intelligence has never been more essential - How fear shapes our world and what it takes to shift from conformity to connection Challenge (at 00:43:00): Perry shares a personal technique to quiet your mind and access stillness in a noisy world. The Octopus Movement Website
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  Losing Everything to Learn Everything: Perry Knoppert on Homelessness, Mental Health, and Starting Over (Part 1) 26.03.2025 30min

  What happens when someone steps outside the system? In this episode, Perry Knoppert, founder of The Octopus Movement, shares the story of the seven months he spent without a home. What began as a personal decision rooted in curiosity quickly became a deeper experience of disconnection, challenge, and insight. With honesty and reflection, Perry talks about: - Why he gave everything up, and what happened next - The emotional and mental toll of being unhoused - The unexpected phone call that helped him begin again
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  The Truth About Narcissists: Why They Manipulate & Distort Reality With Chelsey Brooke Cole 19.03.2025 54min

  After an overwhelming response to our first conversation, I had to bring Chelsey back for round two! In this follow-up, the licensed psychotherapist and author answers listener questions, breaking down narcissistic behavior and how to heal from toxic relationships. We explore: - Grandiose vs. covert narcissists - how they manipulate differently. - Why narcissists distort reality and avoid responsibility. - How to rebuild confidence and regain control after narcissistic abuse. Challenge: At [00:52:00], Chelsey encourages listeners to take one small step toward healing - replace an unhealthy habit with a simple, positive action to strengthen your nervous system and self-trust. Resources: Chelsey’s Book: If Only I’d Known Narcissism Quizzes Narcissism Resources
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  How Peace Corps Director Dr. Jody Olsen Led 7,000 Volunteers to Safety—And What It Taught Her About Life 12.03.2025 54min

  In this episode, I talk with Dr. Jody Olsen, former Peace Corps Director and global leader, about embracing courage, building trust, and making bold life decisions. From her unexpected leap into the Peace Corps in the 1960s to leading the evacuation of 7,000 volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Olsen shares her journey of stepping into the unknown, making high-stakes decisions, and fostering deep human connection across cultures. We discuss: - The Decision That Changed Everything -  How one moment led Dr. Jody Olsen to the Peace Corps and reshaped her entire life. - The Power of Vulnerability and Trust - Why embracing uncertainty and relying on others is key to building strong relationships. - Making Tough Calls Under Pressure - The inside story of how Dr. Olsen led the evacuation of 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers at the height of the pandemic. - The Loneliness Epidemic & How to Rebuild Meaningful Connections – Why so many people feel disconnected today and practical ways to strengthen relationships in a digital world. Challenge: At [00:51:47], Dr. Olsen shares her challenge: Tell a story, be a mentor, or find a hero. She urges us to connect more deeply by sharing wisdom across generations, offering guidance to others, and seeking role models in our everyday lives. Resources: Dr. Jody Olsen’s book, A Million Miles Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam (on the power of community)